Hello, Gang. Just wanted some ideas on good ways to have OTHER people promote one's entertainment. I pretty much do everything myself with the exception of one national group for churches. I have found almost no success with the websites that say, "List with us for a year for $100" and list anyone that's willing to pay them the $100. Nothing against the sites, but they put SO many listings on no individuals really get much.

Tony, I've had the same experiences with the so-called promotional websites. I would suggest that GigMasters may be the exception as I know a number of entertainers that have gotten considerable work through that site (doesn't work so well for school show performers for a few reasons).

One way to pump up your profile is a targeted approach to using Youtube. For instance, if you type the words "school assembly biology" in the search see what you get.
Bookers for school programs are nearly as likely to search on Youtube as on Google. Have a link to your website on the Youtube profile and this now has potential to work for you.

Frankly, things have gotten alarmingly slow over the last year but the more we can do to be among those who remain standing, the better.

The market always has a way of pruning out the dying branches. BUT for the branches that remain the next year's harvest is always better than ever! Remain standing. (...and having done all, to stand)

There are some sites that offer free "basic" listings in hopes that you'll upgrade. You can't beat free! I look at them as the icing on the cake. An example is the listing here on Axtell for performers. No charge! www.schoolshows.com is inexpensive at about $40 per year, I believe.

Was listed on SchoolShows.com for years. Zero

I too was on School Shows for years. Nothing. But I had a free listing at the time and they just forgot to take it off.

I DO get occasional leads from Eventective. You sign up and pay only if the party sounds good to you and if you're available that day. It's 2.50 per event that you decide you want the contact info for. I rarely get leads for kid shows, which I specialize in.

You probably have to live near a major city to make it work for you, which I do.

I have been listed on GigSalad for approx. 15 months now. And, I have received several well-paying bookings from this. It was fairly inexpensive for the return that I have received! I believe I paid $100 for the 15 months?? Give or take a little...

Just my 2 cents!! It's worked for me!

Shari

I was just surfing the Internet today and discovered a reference to Gigmasters and discovered them for the first time. Let's see, it's now the year 2013 - this thread's a bit old - but I was wondering if anyone has had success with Gigmasters or Gig Salad (which really seems more up-to-date to me)? Has it been worth it for anyone the past few years?

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Robbie
www.theventguy.com

Thanks for the reminder, Robbie. I went on Gig Salad today and got a free listing.

I've had a listing with Gig Salad for about 6 months and have gotten some work from there. Gig Masters works differently with bidding. I know a number of entertainers that GM has worked nicely for. For what I do - not so much.

I too have a free listing on Gig Salad and I occasionally get work through that listing. I am on Gig Masters and I can say that I am very pleased with what I have gotten through Gig Masters. Every time renewal comes around I think, "Is this a good investment?" But when I look at the price of the membership compared to the total made through gigs from Gig Masters I can say that it has been money well spent. I know that not all people have had the same experience, but I will stick with them. Maybe it is a location thing. Here in the Midwest people have a harder time finding entertainers so tend to look at on-line listing. I have had a wide range of types of booking through Gig Masters as well. Just my experience for what it's worth!

I'm not sure how widespread they are, but we have Thumbtack in California. It sends me a lot of inquiries, which also go to several other entertainers. They are for private parties, and in my case, I only respond to those for kids under 9. After several no's I dropped my price $25 to test the waters and started getting booked with them. The drawback is that each time you click that you want to respond to the client it costs you $4 to $6. I do think that if the client asks for you specifically then it doesn't cost you. Therefore, I put high up in my listing that I respond only to those who ask for me specifically.