Step up your game! A newbies guide to growing your bookings!
There's a number of free or cheap things you can do as a newer performer that will help you appear more professional. There is no guarantee (ever !) of growing your bookings. But take some of these tips to make yourself more appealing and ‘bookable’ as a newer performer. These ideas are all free or low cost, and just involve some time and effort. I think they are worthwhile and will go towards you establishing yourself as an artist.
Let me say first up, that these aren’t without challenges. Burlesque can be a great, but tricky industry. You are your own brand, producer, performer, costumier and promoter at all times. These are a few tips and tricks to help you. I also really recommend making a small financial investment and take a workshop or having some mentoring with a seasoned performer. This could be a burlesque artist you admire, or anyone professional in the creative industries. Some professional coaching will help guide you on your journey and see you really improve and evolve.
In the meantime, give some thought into these low budget tips that can really help give you some cred as a performer.
Have a proper email address in your stage name
It's pretty easy to set up a GraceCherry@gmail address. It costs nothing but will make you seem legitimate to any external producers or clients. Remember clients and producers may not know your non-stage name. And if you like to keep some privacy you may not want anyone to know this. Have an email account for your stage persona is important so that they can easily find your emails and know who they are getting correspondence from.
In my opinion, a Facebook email address isn't enough. Take a few minutes and set up a proper email account.
Have a Signature
And no, I don't mean a signature act. (Although that's great too). When you set up a proper email, embed a signature at the bottom with your stage name, tagline (if you have one), email address and website/social media links. This is pretty straightforward in any 'normal' job. In burlesque it should be no different. This signature will make sure your correspondence always has your name attached and prompts people to any of your social media channels or website.
Manage your social media accounts
I know many performers that don't use a website anymore, or use these minimally. Given trends for new forms of social media (Myspace anyone?), I've always enjoyed having a website as a steady form of traffic. But if you are starting out a website is a bigger investment of money or time. I think a Facebook 'fan' page or an Instagram can give you an affordable choice that still lets your audience find you. People can be prompted to send you a message, check out photos, videos and see your events.
Having a maintained social media presence helps you separate your personal social media life from your performance side if you wish. If that appeals to you, it helps keep some barrier between you and your stage persona. And it looks professional and enables media contacts, producers and performers to search for you.
And if you are establishing an online presence make sure you use a platform you maintain. Rather than having 10 accounts that aren’t well looked after, choose one or two options that are targeted. Each medium is completely different in its communication and target audience. If you aren't performing full time and can't be tailoring messages on Twitter/Facebook/Instagram/Pintrest/ Google + ......then don't. Have one account and keep it updated regularly with great content.
Get organised
I've taken and recommend Sarina Del Fuego’s ‘Business of Burlesque’ workshop. It was the best money spent. But you could book a private class with any performer or producer you trust and respect. In burlesque or in another industry. Learn how to be organised and be invaluable as an artist. And learn from the mistakes that the rest of us have made. And believe me, I've made MANY.
Staying organised is the best piece of advice I've been given. Both by Sarina and a number of other artists. It’s an easy thing to do that can make you seem more professional Consider how you can make yourself more prepared by:
Keeping a paper or virtual diary with your bookings and maintain it regularly
Replying to your e-mails or messages promptly
Setting yourself rehearsal reminders or scheduling rehearsal times
Keeping your music backed up on USB/CD/IPod or Iphone and have it with you at all your events;
Keeping a charger, adapter and usb-ipod cable on you;
Having a back up stash of tit tape, safety pins and sewing kits.
If you reply promptly, are prepared and have all of your equipment ready you are a producer’s dream. Ad if you can then show up on time, share your space and be friendly to staff and artists .....BRAVO.
Keep time
I have a thing about lateness. As Scarlett Jezebel always says to me, lateness screams that if you think your time is more important than theirs. Be on time. If you are genuinely running behind, let your producer know as soon as possible. If you take home one message, it's that you should value the time that everyone (producers, venue staff, backstage staff, and your fellow artists) puts into an event.
One final thought? Putting the effort into your social media presence and your image is great. It's time well spent. But so is putting the effort into networking with your peers. Go to events and invest in other people. This is not about 'kissing ass'. It's about being real and building your own set of contacts in an industry. Get people to want to invest in your success as an artist. And this doesn't have to be in burlesque only - look at visual art shows, festivals, community events, circus and cabaret shows. There is a whole world of performance out there that can inspire you. These people might then be also inspired to help you. You have to take time to put yourself out there and build your own connections and tribe of artists that want to support you.