Let me share an email that made me respond favourably.

The agent wrote.

Dear Deni,

Blah blah this is just a courtesy email

(Oh! I think, someone's being courteous and called me dear, a good start, we're friends already)

to check you received blah blah's demo

(this lets me know she values it and him, good impression again.)

Please, let me know if you have any openings, but even if you don't
I am interested in receiving all and any feedback about this particular act

(She values my opinion, she'll take negative crits, she'll discuss it with me and I won't be forced into taking an act I can't use. hell, she might even listen to my problems with money and an audience who'd rather sing themselves than listen to someone else...)

etc..etc....

She's doing her job of selling her performer, well without being over the top....


On the other hand, a really great performer, who wrote well and really sold himself on paper and on stage, turned out to be very arrogant and unfriendly in person. The audience got the feeling he wasn't really WITH them when the gig was over.... You really have got to be a good people-person, or if you're not, take someone along who is, to chat up the CD buyers and the people who're booking you. They had you once becuase they liked your music, but they'll give you repeat business because they like YOU, you're pro, you're reliable, you'll put bums on seats and you won't treat them like lackeys.
good luck, you'll need it
Deni

(Book into one of my seminars about selling yourself..... :-} )