Haggle Your Way to the Stage: 4 Things to Know When Negotiating With Venues
As an artist, touring can be the heart and soul of getting your music out to the masses in the most personal way possible. But venues, like any other business, want to make a profit. So, talent buyers spend a lot of time vetting artists that will pack their venues. What are they looking for and how can you make sure you have everything you need to play at the venue you want? Brandon Waadenburg gives an in-depth look into the world of music venues and how you can come out on top when you are looking for your next gig.
Negotiations for any business takes strategy and preparation. The same is true for negotiating with music venues. Come to the table knowing your worth. If you have a loyal fan base that is consistent in coming to shows, let the talent buyer know that. Have specifics on your past performance and stress how the venue could have similar success. The goal is to give them everything they need to make booking you an easy choice for their bottom line. Check out Brandon Waadenburg's tips on negotiating with venues on MusicThinkTank.com.
"Well-established venues often have set prices Doesn’t mean haggling is out of the question. Just means, they are used to a certain amount of “yes sir, that will be great, sir” and not a lot of “I was reviewing the contract and I’m not fond of section D.” Hold this in tension with your amount of influence. Even hot venues will bend their prices for the right artist."
