7 Tips For Independent Rappers To Get Noticed By SXSW Booking Team

It’s about that time of year where thousands of independent artists are applying for an opportunity to perform at an official SXSW – Austin, TX showcase via SonicBids.  For 2015, the week long music fest is from March 17-22.  Getting picked up to perform is a great opportunity to put your name in front of some of the most influential people in this music business.  More than 100 shows in a few blocks in one week!!!  There are many un-official showcases also thrown by independent promoters, labels, and websites.  The key to get noticed is your MUSIC, bottom line.  It’s literally impossible to get on a official showcase at SXSW unless you have a very large fanbase or are envited, or you apply and showcase your brand to the SXSW talent selection team and get picked up by them.

Here are seven tips from the actual talent team.  [Source]

–Have Live Videos. Even a rough live video shot with an iPhone says more about an artist’s energy and audience rapport than say a sleek video. It makes all the difference in the world.

-Be creative with your EPK. Don’t use your Sonicbids EPK bio page to give folks a lengthy dissertation on you life’s story.  Find a way to stand out from the rest. It tells a lot to the perspective booker.

-Show you care. Don’t be lazy with your EPK. Take time to pick professional photos (ideally live shots), put together the best songs you have, fill out your calendar shows, and in general, show you care.

-Build your online presence. Sonicbids offer promoters like the folks from SXSW access to things like number of facebook fans, Last.fm listens, twitter followers, latest blog posts about a band, and more. Folks like SXSW don’t just want to know what you say about yourself – they want to know what others say about you too.

-Get some bloggers to review you. Reviews matter. Getting press matters. And nowadays, getting some cool bloggers to talk about your music maybe is even more important than a review in your local paper. Search for who’s writing about music in your area. Chances are, they’d love to get an interview. They get access, and you get exposure. It’s a win/win.

-Show you can draw a crowd. Ultimately, the club that’s showcasing you at SXSW needs to sell beer to pay the bills. Make sure you communicate in your EPK (photos, video, calendar dates with capacities, reviews) that you know how to pull them in.

-Build up your relationships. Old-school, right? Perhaps, but relationships matter. I can’t tell you how many times promoters meet bands that never bother following up, staying in touch etc. If you want to make a living playing your music, you will need to hone this skill. Yes, having your hometown alt-weekly writer, or some indie music blogger put in a word for you can make a difference. Business is all about making relationships, not breaking them.