Blank to Bookable
Busy bookers won’t chase info. Send a tight promo pack - bio, live clip, photos, links, and a sample set list - so they can see the fit and say yes fast.
'‘Never forget that you only have one opportunity to make a first impression – with investors, with customers, with PR, and with marketing’ - Natalie Massenet
Venues and agents are busy. They already know the vibe they’re booking for and see a stack of promo every week. If your first email doesn’t include the basics, many won’t reply.
Your promo pack = instant “are you a fit?”
Send this up front in your first message:
1–2 sentence bio: sound + audience + where you fit.
Live clip (30–90s): recent, good audio, one link that proves you can hold a room.
High-res photos: one portrait, one landscape (promo + live).
Links hub: site or single page with socials, EPK, contact.
Sample set list: shows the style they’re booking; covers clearly marked, originals noted.
“Don’t be upset by the results you didn’t get from the work you didn’t do.”
Remember the venue’s lens: live music is a way to bring people in and keep them spending. Bookers choose acts that fit the room and deliver reliably. Your pack should make that obvious - fast.
Activities & how-tos
Promo shots (fast + affordable)
List where they’ll live (EPK, posters, socials, streaming artwork).
Mood board 6–8 reference shots; note what you like (framing, colour, attitude).
If DIY: vary compositions (head/shoulders + full length), shoot plenty, control light.
Better: trade or hire a gig shooter who understands your genre. Avoid being your own photographer - objectivity matters.
Band bio (short + specific)
Read bios in your lane; borrow structure, not sentences.
Pick a tone (straight, playful, cinematic) - and keep it consistent with your posts.
Keep it to a few paragraphs max; lead with what you sound like and proof (supports, festivals, residencies).
Draft → step away → edit. Ask a friend to tighten. Update as things change.
Demo / live audio
Solo/duo: home recordings can work if the mic is decent and the mix is clean.
Full band: consider a budget studio or live-room session for clarity + punch.
Ask peers (or even agents) for studio recs; check genre fit, rates, and vibe before booking.
Choose the song that hooks non-fans fast, not the one you had the most fun writing. Covers are fine if they represent your actual set - credit the artist.
Sample set list (show the fit)
Covers rooms often want ~4 x 45-min sets (~40 songs). List 20–40 representative tracks if you can.
For originals, 30–60 minutes is common; originals first, optional 2–3 covers to anchor the vibe.
Always include song + artist; label originals as (Original). No surprises.
Quality over quantity (what bookers actually click)
One great live clip > five so-so videos.
Two clear photos > a folder of almosts.
One link hub > a list of scattered links.
Blank to Bookable: write a two-line bio, pick your best 90-second live clip, and attach one sample set list—send it with your next pitch.
Want a 1-page EPK & Pitch Checklist you can fill in? Say the word and I’ll share the template.
This series, the content and any observations or suggestions made are based on my personal experience, anonymised to protect privacy. Nothing here is financial, legal, or medical advice - please seek professional guidance for your own situation.