Being part of a music festival is a dependable way to broaden your fan base and attract the attention of influential figures in the music industry. Earning a coveted spot on a festival lineup not only showcases exceptional musical talent but also demonstrates a strong commitment to advancing your music career and expanding your fan base.
Typically, festival organizers prioritize securing headline acts before filling the remaining slots with up-and-coming artists. This often includes musicians who are in the early stages of cultivating a fan base and actively promoting their latest creations. A key aspect of festival culture is that attendees frequently encounter new artists and interact with projects they were previously unfamiliar with.
To increase your likelihood of securing a spot at a music festival as an independent artist, follow these guidelines:
4. Carefully prepare your festival applications
Securing a spot at music festivals goes beyond talent and luck; it necessitates thorough research, meticulous planning, and unwavering dedication. To get booked, you must identify suitable festivals, establish an impressive online presence for your music, compile top-notch electronic press kits, adhere closely to submission guidelines, and strategically navigate your music career progression. Let's delve deeper into the steps you can take to secure festival bookings for your band.
1. Tighten up your live show
Participating in a music festival is a fantastic way to increase your visibility. Due to this, there is fierce competition for festival slots available to independent artists and groups. To enhance your chances of securing a spot, your live performance needs to be unforgettable. Improve your skills, stage presence, and song selection by regularly performing gigs.
When submitting your application to a festival, you are not just promoting your music or yourself — it is primarily your live performance that captures the interest of festival organizers. A captivating live show demonstrates your prowess as a performer, showcasing your ability to engage an audience. These attributes catch the attention of artistic directors and play a crucial role in determining which artists are selected for music festivals.
Concentrate on building relationships with local promoters, talent scouts, and fellow musicians as you gain experience through performances, refine your stagecraft, and expand your local fan base. The music industry is highly interconnected, particularly within your local music community. By consistently presenting yourself as a professional act with an exceptional live performance, your reputation will spread, increasing the likelihood of catching the eye of a talent booker and being chosen for festival appearances.
2. Determine which festivals are right for your music
Performing your show live can provide valuable insights for your future steps in applying to music festivals. With a fresh perspective, you can more effectively assess which festivals align best with you or your group.
While it may be tempting to apply to every festival that is open for submissions, a more strategic approach is to be selective. Respect the promoter’s time; realistically evaluate if your music fits the festival’s vibe and if your band is prepared for a festival audience.
Begin researching potential festivals well in advance, focusing on those that cater to your music genre. Look into where similar acts have played, and explore festival directories for application opportunities.
Once you’ve assembled a list of a few festivals that seem promising for your project, do some digging into their artist lineups from the last few years to see which indie acts have been selected. Then do some digging into the acts themselves: are the artists based in the same area as the festival? Do they have a solid local draw? How strong is their social media presence? Have they gotten press mentions? Do they have a professional press kit available? Are they represented by an indie or major label, or are they completely DIY?
Try to identify any trends among the acts previously selected by your target festivals for slots in their programming. See how your you stacks up in comparison to help determine if it makes sense to submit an application.
Use a spreadsheet or artist management software to stay organized and track progress on your target festival submissions. For each festival that seems like a good fit for you, track information such as:
Festival name
Festival date
Festival location
Festival website
Name of artistic director / festival programmer
Submission URL / contact info
Submission deadline
Submission fee (note that some festivals increase the fee as the deadline approaches)
Submitted? [yes/no]
Date you submitted an application
Accepted? [yes/no]
Date you received notification of their decision
Additional notes
Regardless of whether your application is approved, keeping track of this information annually will assist you in making strategic decisions on where to apply next. You can revisit this spreadsheet each year to determine if you should reapply to a specific festival or switch to different ones as your career progresses.
Make sure to include all crucial deadlines in your calendar and set reminders to avoid missing out on opportunities.
3. Build a compelling electronic press kit
Securing a spot at a music festival as an independent artist is challenging, but it is achievable and many artists manage to do so. Keep in mind that the competition for festival slots is fierce, with numerous artists vying for a chance to perform. It is essential to ensure that your application is professional and distinctive.
While having exceptional music is a primary requirement, it is often insufficient on its own. Festival organizers also scrutinize other factors to determine an act's suitability for the festival stage, such as the performance history, press coverage, awards, and interviews, as well as the timing of their latest or upcoming releases, the quantity and quality of their recordings, and the consistency between their studio and live performances.
Develop a press kit for your band to showcase these critical details. A well-crafted EPK is essential for increasing your chances of landing a festival slot. Displaying a polished and well-organized EPK directly on your artist website indicates to festival organizers that you are organized and committed to your music career, demonstrating that you will approach any festival opportunity seriously. 94.2 Blazin offers cost-effective services. Our Marketing and Promotional Support Service aims to promote your music across different media channels such as print, broadcast, and digital platforms. This support includes EPKs, written articles, interviews, features, reviews, and other content that showcases and discusses your project.
Your press kit should include:
A great bio
Create a brief and captivating musician biography that showcases your uniqueness and the impressive aspects of your current project or release. Make sure to include key details like notable performances, festivals, nominations, and media coverage. Keep your bio concise and focused.
Professional photos
Even if your music is top-notch, festival organizers will not view you as credible unless you present yourselves professionally. It is essential to have high-quality photos to enhance your online presence in your press kit.
Aside from the usual press photos, incorporate some live shots that capture your stage presence and appearance. This allows event planners to imagine you performing on their festival stage, highlighting your live performance expertise.
High-quality live video
Demonstrate your capability to deliver an unforgettable performance to a festival organizer by incorporating a live show video in your EPK. Opt for footage from a modest venue that showcases your stage presence and proficiency in performing live, as this can indicate a promising festival act. Ensure that the video is well-shot and features high-quality audio for maximum impact.
Press and reviews
Including reviews of live performances or albums, along with any significant media interviews, can add credibility to your music and increase your chances of getting booked for music festivals. To streamline your press kit, feature a single quote from each review that highlights the excellence of your performance skills, and provide a link to the complete article for more information.
Social and streaming links
A promoter or booker frequently review social media presence and streaming activity. These metrics can demonstrate your dedication to cultivating a strong fan base as an artist, potentially influencing how you are viewed for a sought-after festival slot. Ensure your EPK contains links to the social and streaming platforms where you are most engaged or have the largest following.
Contact information should be added directly to your EPK as well.
4. Carefully prepare your festival applications
After gathering your basic application materials and creating your top digital press kit, refer to the spreadsheet you made to learn about each festival's submission requirements. It's crucial to follow each festival's instructions precisely to ensure you don't miss the opportunity to perform at a festival due to missing a specific guideline.
For example, take note of whether a festival necessitates an online application form or a direct email submission. Check if there's a submission fee or any additional materials required. Each festival may have different requirements such as word limits, links, or the number of videos, so make sure to gather information for each festival submission separately.
Prior to the application deadlines of your target festivals, familiarize yourself with their specific guidelines. This will allow you to manage your time and resources effectively to prevent any delays when the deadline approaches. Failing to meet the submission requirements could result in your application being rejected without consideration of your music. Pay close attention to the submission details to present yourself in the best possible light!
5. Submit your applications
When including a website link in an application, make sure to provide the URL to the digital press kit that you have diligently prepared. By doing so, the evaluators of your application will have convenient access to all the necessary information about you on a single organized page.
After submitting your application to a festival, it is advisable to patiently await the outcome of your proposal rather than bombarding an artistic director with emails, calls, or messages inquiring about your status. Particularly if the submission guidelines explicitly state not to make such inquiries, refrain from reaching out – as it could lead to being blacklisted.
There is one exception to this guideline, which is if a significant development occurs in your career post-application submission. This could include securing a spot at another prominent festival, receiving a high-profile review or media coverage, or landing an opening slot for a well-known artist. In such instances, it is acceptable to send a follow-up email to the festival organizer, informing them of the noteworthy update. Ensure that your online press kit is also updated accordingly to reflect the new information for visitors to view.
6. Follow up
Upon receiving a positive response from a festival granting you a slot in their lineup, celebrate! Promptly and professionally respond to them to finalize the details of your performance.
If a festival booker contacts you without an offer, express gratitude for their consideration and express interest in being updated on future opportunities.
Should your initial festival applications not result in bookings, do not lose motivation. Festival performances are competitive, and securing a slot may take time. Persistence is key, as demonstrating talent, professionalism, and a growing fanbase can lead to future opportunities. Remember that many festivals have off-season events, so maintaining respectful communication is crucial for potential consideration. First impressions matter.
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During breaks between application periods, focus on honing your live performance and expanding your network of musicians and industry contacts both in person and online. Explore local, national, and international music organizations and become a member. Investigate their showcase opportunities at music conferences, as festival organizers often scout for new talent at these events. Take advantage of performing at house concert series, local fairs, and various venues as you strive to earn a spot at a music festival.
If you remain dedicated to advancing your music career and consistently refining your skills year after year, your hard work will eventually lead to securing a performance slot at a music festival.
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