Unit 2 preview · 7 lessons

Get Booked

Seven lessons on who buys, why they pick you, and where the gigs come from. Here is how every lesson opens, and the first real call you make. Pick any one lesson and play the whole thing free, no card.

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Lesson 2.1 · about 20 minutes

Who You're Really Selling To

The planner, the couple and the bar manager are buying three different things.

A bar manager, a bride's mom and an office manager all ask the same question: what do you do? They're buying three different things.

Skill: Know the Buyer

Lesson 2.1 Who You're Really Selling To: the first call in the game, played on a phone or laptop — The first call, as you see it in the game. Your act's name goes where it says Your Act.

Your first call

A bar manager: "Thursdays die after 8. We're trying live music, 8 to 11. What do you do?"

A"Acoustic covers, 60s to now, solo with a full PA, and I've played plenty of slow Thursdays. $250. Song list attached."
B"Thursday's dead because nobody knows about it. I'll promote it: my list, my socials, my regulars. $300."
C"Mostly uptempo, no dead air, a lift when the dinner tables turn. The people you've got at 8 are still there at 11. $250."

Every option is something a working player really does. Which one would you pick? The game shows you what each one costs or earns.

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Lesson 2.2 · about 20 minutes

Why They Book One Act Over Another

What tips a booker your way when every act has a PA and 300 songs.

Every act has a PA and 300 songs. Here's what tips a booker your way.

Skill: Be the Pick

Lesson 2.2 Why They Book One Act Over Another: the first call in the game, played on a phone or laptop — The first call, as you see it in the game. Your act's name goes where it says Your Act.

Your first call

Priya again. Three quotes at $900: you, the duo, Video Guy. Her note: "All in budget. The CEO is picky about anything going wrong. Deciding Friday."

ADrop to $800 "to make it an easy call."
BSend a 40-second clip from a company party last year with: "Here's a room like yours. Happy to answer anything."
CReply today, three lines: never canceled, set up before her first guest, two lines from company hosts.

Every option is something a working player really does. Which one would you pick? The game shows you what each one costs or earns.

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Lesson 2.3 · about 20 minutes

Scouting the Scene

What the other acts charge and offer, and where the open room is.

Before you call one room, know who's already playing there, what they charge, and which nights nobody has.

Skill: Scout the Scene

Lesson 2.3 Scouting the Scene: the first call in the game, played on a phone or laptop — The first call, as you see it in the game. Your act's name goes where it says Your Act.

Your first call

You've read two sites. The Harbor Duo: The Dockside on two Saturdays this month, Brick & Vine one Friday. Mike: Sixth Street Tap every Wednesday, Marlow's every Thursday, "$150 any night." The log is empty.

AKeep reading. Four rooms are easy to remember. Write it all down tonight.
BLog all four rooms and the $150 as a signal. Then open each room's own page for the nights the acts didn't show you.
CLog the four rooms, then call The Dockside now. It's before 10, the owner's probably doing the books, and you've got your opener ready: is Friday open?

Every option is something a working player really does. Which one would you pick? The game shows you what each one costs or earns.

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Lesson 2.4 · about 20 minutes

Your Setlist Is Your Product

Packages a client can picture, price and say yes to.

Nobody buys 300 songs. They buy a night they can picture, with a price on it.

Skill: Package the Set

Lesson 2.4 Your Setlist Is Your Product: the first call in the game, played on a phone or laptop — The first call, as you see it in the game. Your act's name goes where it says Your Act.

Your first call

A Friday bar night, 9 to midnight, $300. The room is up, the bartender is slammed. A guy at the bar, three drinks in, leans over between songs: "Play something slow for my girl. Here's a twenty."

A"What era are you two? I'll get you in the next few."
BTake the twenty. "Next set, I'll get it in." Open the 10:30 set with it.
CTake the twenty. Play something slow next, for his girl.

Every option is something a working player really does. Which one would you pick? The game shows you what each one costs or earns.

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Lesson 2.5 · about 20 minutes

Name Your Price and Keep It

Quote it, hold it, and change what they get instead.

The number is the easy part. Keeping it is a conversation.

Skill: Keep Your Price

Lesson 2.5 Name Your Price and Keep It: the first call in the game, played on a phone or laptop — The first call, as you see it in the game. Your act's name goes where it says Your Act.

Your first call

A nonprofit's spring gala. The committee chair writes: "Our music line is $350. It's board approved and firm. Cocktail hour and dinner, three hours, Saturday the 9th, in town. Can you make that work?" Your three-hour private number is $500. Your 90-minute number is $350.

A"My three-hour rate is $500. Here's what it covers."
B"I can do 90 minutes for $350: the cocktail hour, into the start of dinner."
C"$350 is fine for three hours. Happy to help the cause, and it's a good room."

Every option is something a working player really does. Which one would you pick? The game shows you what each one costs or earns.

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Lesson 2.6 · about 20 minutes

Where Gigs Come From

Booking sites, your site, referrals and venues: work the pipeline.

It's January and March is empty. Here's where the gigs come from, and how to keep them coming.

Skill: Fill the Pipeline

Lesson 2.6 Where Gigs Come From: the first call in the game, played on a phone or laptop — The first call, as you see it in the game. Your act's name goes where it says Your Act.

Your first call

A GigSalad lead: a 50th birthday, Saturday March 14, 3 hours, 20 minutes from home. Budget on the form: $200. Your 3-hour party number is $400. The lead went out to six acts.

APass. $200 is half your number, and a quote takes 20 minutes.
B"3 hours is $400. For $200 I can do a one-hour dinner set." Plus one line from a client.
CSend the full quote: rate sheet, three packages, the song list and two videos, so she sees the whole value.

Every option is something a working player really does. Which one would you pick? The game shows you what each one costs or earns.

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Lesson 2.7 · about 20 minutes

Getting Heard

Reviews, video, social and word of mouth that lead to bookings.

Put reviews in the email. Short, to the point. Here's how to get the reviews worth putting in.

Skill: Get Heard

Lesson 2.7 Getting Heard: the first call in the game, played on a phone or laptop — The first call, as you see it in the game. Your act's name goes where it says Your Act.

Your first call

Three gigs last weekend. Thursday, a restaurant where the owner asked you to turn down twice. Friday, a bar where the manager paid cash and said "good night." Saturday, a welcome party where the host's mom said "unforgettable." The bar's renewal is next month, and you're asking for $50 more.

AText the Friday manager: two lines on how the bar did, in his words.
BSend all three the same review link. One habit, every gig, and let the page fill up.
CEmail the welcome party host: "unforgettable" is the warmest line you've had all year.

Every option is something a working player really does. Which one would you pick? The game shows you what each one costs or earns.

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Unit 2 · Get Booked

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