Artist management challenges - booking for rookies

BOOKING

Where to start from… Don’t have to tell you that this process is rather complex…  

OK, so let me see… For us one of the most important things is definitely the X factor that one artist has. How to recognize that? That’s why we travel a lot, meet people, see things and finally form a final opinion and we make the draft of the line-up. If an artist fits to our vision, than he’s good to go! ;) And if all the parameters combine, you've got yourself a perfect material for the festival!

Some of the qualities we appreciate are definitely not just being a great and well known dancer but also having good teaching qualities and passing the knowledge, personal contact and impression, level of complexity :) (be it internal or external; you just don’t need extra stress!) and one of the most important ones – socializing and social dancing! That’s the answer to all of you asking yourselves why we had never invited this one or that one – he/she simply didn't fit into our vision!

READY, STEADY, GO!

You probably ask yourselves how to reach artists and how to make them consider you’re important…
Sometimes it’s not easy at all, you tried different media but they are not responding. It happens they reply after one or two months, even more… But at that point, what usually happens is that the train has already left the station. You just have to be patient and persistent, try different ways, and start your booking on time. In this job, everybody knows everybody, so keep on! ;)

The next step is definitely contracting the price which can be much easier than finding a suitable flight option, trust me on that! The price negotiations depends upon your budget of course, your good will, sometimes, and your negotiating skills. Don’t forget – you are on your own side! How to learn that?! Well, that’s some good material for another blog ;)

Artists have some rather special demands, wishes etc. After years of experience, I must tell I don’t fall much for that any more. The event’s prestige, of course, is one of the things that allows you to be the party that can set demands. Sometimes you're ahead, sometimes you're behind – but try to make the best combination for both sides as long as you don’t have extra expenses or go beyond your possibilities as that will ruin you in some way. Remember also here – you’re on your own side!

My advice is: be modest in quantity and try with less rather than going full speed and causing yourself a headache to die from. 

I wish you a good start! ;)