booking light

Every host at CIYH can easily communicate to artists how Receptive/Responsive they are to artist emails. This is so important and so helpful to both sides that I want to make sure you understand and USE it.

 

A Green Light

This means the host is both receptive AND responsive to artist emails for bookings. Specifically - the host is very likely to listen to at least one song and respond within a week or two, whether the response is affirmative or not.

 

A Yellow Light

This means that either receptiveness or responsiveness may pose a challenge to the artist. Here are 7 GREAT REASONS for a host to make their booking light yellow.

1. Quality: They are very picky. That means they aren’t likely to help out a new act, or to book an act they’ve never heard live. Perhaps they only book acts recommended by people they respect.

2. Specific: They are very genre or type specific. Maybe they only do bluegrass, or only female singer-songwriters, etc.

3. Slow to respond: They may review artists on a periodic basis, possibly creating a folder in their inbox that they go through on a monthly basis. Maybe they make decisions by committee or listen in groups. Slow = more than 2 weeks.

4. Shy to reject: These hosts are uncomfortable responding to artists they don’t want to book. They are afraid to hurt feelings, and aren’t comfortable using a form email that says - “thank you for contacting us. Unfortunately, we don’t feel your act is a good fit for our series.”

5. Booked: While they still want to regularly check out new talent, their schedule is extended to a point where they don’t want to make more commitments.

6. Slack: Let’s face it… some of us are just disorganized - admit it or change it. Use that yellow light.

7. Taking a SHORT communication break: They simply need a few weeks without house concert obligations. Vacation.

Some hosts feel guilty about using the Red Light option. Don’t! If you realistically aren’t engaging with artists at this time, you are DOING THEM A FAVOR BY SAYING SO. The truth can set you (or a lot of your time) free!

 

A Red Light

1. Taking a REAL break. These hosts need more than a few weeks to not think about music or house concerts.

2. Not interested: These hosts joined the CIYH community, but prefer to seek out performers on their own. Maybe they’ve been hosting for a long time, and only book acts they are familiar with.

 

The “HIATUS” option.

This is like a “leave of absence” for hosts who need an extended break (a few months or more) due to a move, baby, or other major life changes. Hiatus hides the host from CIYH listings, but preserves their information so they can come back very easily when the time is right.

 

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None of these choices affect a host’s ability to promote their events, or make changes to their listing. The booking light is simply a tool to save valuable time for hosts AND artists. Please use the booking lights!

 

As of today, we have:

  • 196 hosts with a Green light - how many of you respond to every inquiry within 2 weeks?
  • 110 hosts with a Yellow light - are you really interested in hearing from artists at this time?
  • 41 hosts with a Red light - no one is contacting you from your host listing - is that still the way you want it?
  • 6 hosts on Hiatus - we hope to see you again soon!

Please log in to your host profile and “make that change.”

-fran