This post is not about any host in particular. It’s an attempt to reinforce our message that
1. a quick reply is usually not as hard as we make it out to be, and
2. that even a “no” is greatly appreciated by most artists - so they can move on.

If we spent just half the time that we complain about how busy we are, doing the work we are complaining about, I think our productivity would skyrocket.

It’s a familiar chorus - “I’m too busy to respond to all the artist inquiries.”

However, in the time that it takes to write that sentence on your blog, in a forum, in an email, you could instead hit “reply,” and write any combination of these four-word-or-less phrases.

  • Sorry, not interested.
  • Not a good fit.
  • No thanks.
  • Try again next quarter.
  • Try again next year.
  • Thanks but no.
  • No thanks, good luck!
  • Try Russ and Julie’s 8^)

Do some of these sound rude? I guarantee you that to a professional musician, none of them are as offensive and exasperating as silence.

CIYH hosts should keep in mind - one of the key features we’ve built in for you is the ability to control the amount of inquiries you receive. Login, and change your booking light to green, yellow, or red. A red booking light hides you from artist searches… you will not receive inquiries from our artists when you choose this setting. Do this when you go on vacation, or reach your limits for how far out you’d like to book.

You can change that setting as often as you’d like.