I do bookings for a folk club. I am desperate to book new artistes on the up but find it nigh on impossible.

Artistes don't respond to messages or e mails. Why make a phone call when 15 e mails will do as well!

I am fed up of poor myspace sites and impossible demos that can not be replicated on stage!

I have already ranted on Mudcat about people who claim support gigs on my space and facebook when all they have done is turn up and done a floor spot

Artistes expect you to sit on a date for a month whilst they sort out if they can do it! Don't even start me on agents!

PLEASE DONT BE PATIENT.
Do some work. Get out there, go to clubs and get seen, show you can do the job, THEN ASK FOR A BOOKING. Or, if you are wrong for the club you will at least have avoided a disaster.

This was always the way in the good old days when Roy Bailey had a full head of hair and we all thought we were bright young things. Now we all hide behind e.mails, downloads and "my space". The new tradition seems to be run on laptops or Blackberries and we seem to all have forgotten that "getting a booking is selling".

Selling is about establishing a need, building a relationship then demonstrating that your goods or services are of value. Only when a need is established proceed to negotiating a price and asking for the business. Please explain how spamming folk club organisers meets this criteria. The only people who can sell my e mail are the very well established or those willing to prostitute their product on price. I assume that you are neither of these.

Artistes, unless you are well enough established that the bookings come to you, please get of you're backsides and get out and see people. Find a sensible balance and call people (don't pester, call at meal, times or after 9.30 pm).
Then perhaps follow up with an e mail.