house concerts and 21st century touring

Give Hosts a Second Chance
by Fran Snyder

Following up is not rude, it is professional. If you go through life assuming that every no-answer is a rejection you will miss out on some great opportunities. People are busy and distracted. Give them another chance.

Here’s how:

• When you send out emails to prospective hosts, make a list. An easy way to do this is to “Print Screen” once you’ve done a search and have a results page that you want to work from.
• As you email each appropriate host, write the date next to the host on your printed list.
• When you get replies, add a check mark or some result (booked, passed, later) next to that host on your list.
• After 7-10 days, reach out to the ones who did not respond.

Caveat: If your emails are impersonal or off-target, people are much less likely to respond. How about using their first name and some reference to the info in their profile?

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