| I have a lot of people email me and say, "You should | | | | a community. They will love you for it. |
| play at [fill in your festival or venue here]". I love | | | | Tell a friend. Fans are what make successful |
| those emails. I just wish I had time or someone to | | | | musicians. So share my music, especially with people |
| follow up on each of those suggestions. Sadly, most | | | | in your area. Help me make new fans by talking |
| go the way of the wind... but not all of them! | | | | about my music. Whenever someone starts talking |
| The most-exciting ones are when people follow | | | | about something cool, people perk up and listen. |
| through to bring me to their events. Here are several | | | | They want to be a part of the cool stuff too. But |
| tips that you can do to insure that I, or whatever | | | | until you talk about it, they will never know. |
| musician you enjoy, will perform at your event. | | | | Sign up at Someone told me once that for every fan |
| First, contact the venue and let them know about | | | | signed up at Eventful, you can expect twice that |
| me. They may be familiar with my music or the | | | | many people at your show. Meaning, if I can get 30 |
| music of the Brobdingnagian Bards. They may be cat | | | | people signed up on Eventful in a specific area, I can |
| lovers or listen to one of my many podcasts. They | | | | expect about 60 people to show up at my gig. It's |
| may recognize my contribution to the Celtic Geek | | | | not a lot, but that's good enough for any small venue |
| musical movement. But until you contact them, you | | | | to consider booking me. |
| may never know. That's how The Bards started | | | | Find Sponsors. When I look at most of the gigs that |
| performing at I-Con many years ago. I called them | | | | never happen, it is usually due to money issues. It |
| up. Turns out the Entertainment Coordinator was a | | | | costs money to bring me anywhere. If you don't |
| fan from the years. | | | | have, or are unwilling to pay those fees and the |
| Get Involved. In college, they said that the quickest | | | | venue can't afford it too, find a sponsor or two. You |
| way to improve in ballroom dancing was to join the | | | | can do that through Celtic organizations, the city, |
| board. Everyone who did became one of the best | | | | non-profits, small businesses or corporations, or by |
| dancers in months. If you enjoy the Celtic culture, | | | | getting a bunch of your friends to pool their money |
| get involved with local Celtic organizations, festivals, | | | | together and paying for it themselves. |
| pubs, whatever. Talk to people there. Get to know | | | | Be a Promoter. The absolute best way to make |
| them and become involved. The more you know | | | | anything happen is to do it yourself. Then follow |
| about the intricacies of the events you're a part of | | | | through the process working with the venue and me |
| the easier it will be to say, "Hey, Marc Gunn will make | | | | to make sure each of us receives what we need to |
| a great addition to our festival." Plus, when you get | | | | make it worth our while. |
| involved, you have the added joy of helping to build | | | | |
