As a gigging performer, having an online profile can help you reach a wider audience and secure more gigs. With thousands of great musicians on GigSalad, we’ve seen what the most successful members do to make their profiles stand out and boost their bookings. Here are our expert tips for musicians on creating a great profile that will help you impress potential clients and do more of what you love!
Media tips for musicians
Images, videos, and audio samples on a musician’s online profile are key to making a memorable first impression. They provide a glimpse into your performance style, professionalism, and sound, helping clients visualize how you’ll fit into their event. Quality media also builds trust, showing potential clients that you’re trustworthy and invested in your craft. Learn more about how to use your media to set yourself apart from the competition.
Make a great first impression
Your profile photo is the first thing potential clients will notice, so make it count! Try featuring your musical instrument or microphone in the shot — it’s a great way to show your style, and action shots are intriguing. For bands, an action-packed performance photo is ideal, giving clients a clear view of your group’s size and setup.
📷 Pro tip: Highlight your versatility by adding gallery photos that show various size options and gigs!
Showcase your talent with videos
High-quality videos are your all-in-one tool to highlight your professionalism, experience, and sound. A promo video that mixes different performances to show off your personality can paint a full picture of you as an entertainer in just a few minutes. If you don’t have a promo video yet, no worries! Gather a variety of videos, like polished music videos and live performances illustrating your stage presence, to give potential clients a taste of what you offer.
Fill in the gaps with audio
While audio tracks might not carry the same weight as videos, they’re still a great way to share songs that haven’t been captured on film. Upload a variety of songs and genres to highlight your versatility and show your range of music capabilities. By doing so, you may sway potential clients who are undecided about booking you.
⭐ Pro tip: In addition to media, request reviews and let your past clients do some showcasing for you!
Writing tips for musicians
On your profile, you have multiple opportunities to describe your unique sound, talent, and experience. With clear, on-topic writing that shows your personality while also being informative, you can guarantee that potential clients understand why they should hire you for their event.
Keep your initial overview brief
Write a clear, concise overview about yourself or your band. Keep this section short so it’s friendly to visitors who may be looking over multiple options (between 100 words and 175 words). Write in the third person to create a professional tone. Highlight your musical style, your experience level, and a sentence or two about your performances.
Check out singing guitarist Stefan Heuer’s excellent overview:
“With over ten years of experience performing at weddings, private parties, and corporate events, Stefan is a first thought for professional entertainment. Heuer has performed on legendary stages such as Whisky A Go Go, Rams Head On Stage, and countless others. His diverse setlist consists of popular hits from the 60s to today’s Top 40. Stefan travels nationwide and is an excellent choice for your professional entertainment needs. Looking for a full band sound without the full band price? Look no further. Book Stefan today!”
👉 Want more expert advice? Read advice from musicians and more on our monthly Member Spotlights.
Share the rest in a detailed bio
While your overview text should be brief, you can offer a detailed biography explaining more of your background. In this section, you can provide more insight into your level of professional training, years of experience, and even a little personal history. Writing a strong bio can also be helpful for clients when creating marketing material and advertising your performance!
✏️ Pro tip: Use Grammarly to catch grammar and spelling errors, as well as adjust your writing tone.
Set client expectations
Those booking musicians online are often hiring entertainment for the first time. Help potential clients really understand what to expect with clear descriptions. Consider breaking it down by the gig type, like singing guitarist Sarah Lightman has expertly done:
“Cocktail Hour:
While pictures are being taken, envision me dressed to impress across from the delicious appetizers serenading the guests with the couple’s favorites. From love songs to the ones that hold dear memories and deep meaning, you’ll hear me performing each one just loud enough to fill the space where everyone can easily take selfies and enjoy their conversations.
“Marriage Proposals/Telegrams:
Picture me as the perfect surprise treat to set the mood to your proposal! As you prepare your speech for your sweetie, I’ll play 1-2 songs of your choice to support the magical once-in-a-lifetime moment that you’ll be talking about for years.”
💯 Pro tip: Be sure to complete your profile with details like a set list, musical influences, and setup requirements.
Get the leads you want
Make a few careful adjustments to your profile to attract the clients you want. Using the calendar tool, choosing the right categories, and updating your location and travel preferences will ensure you receive the right types of leads.
Choose your categories
The categories you select for your PromoKit directly influence the types of leads you’ll attract. Choosing the right categories for your services is crucial to your success on GigSalad. Every category you add to your profile creates a unique search result where potential clients can find you. Take the time to explore all the categories that could match your style or performance to maximize your visibility.
A few of the most requested musician categories are specific musical topics such as mariachi band, violinist, bagpiper, and saxophone player. Other very popular categories are broad and cover a wide range of genres, such as singing guitarist, cover band, party band, and tribute band. Don’t be afraid to experiment with some broad or unique categories to expand your reach!
😀 Want more categories? Paid members can list themselves in 15 or 20 categories based on their membership level.
Use the calendar
Use the calendar on your profile to display your availability and opportunities for potential clients to see you perform. You can add new events, such as public performances or private events booked outside of GigSalad. If you are unavailable for a period of time, you can block out dates so that you do not receive leads for these days, ensuring you’re not spending your time declining requests.
📅 Pro tip: You can sync an external calendar with your GigSalad calendar to stay updated easily!
Set your location(s)
You must set your location when you join, but you can change it at any time. From the lead preferences section, you can change your location and customize your travel distance by time, distance, or radius. Customizing your travel distance allows you to receive leads from the exact area you want.
When setting your location, think about both where you live and the level of competition in nearby areas. In some cases, listing a nearby city instead of your smaller town can be more beneficial for attracting clients. You can also increase your reach and gig opportunities by purchasing additional locations.
Crafting an exceptional profile can attract the clients you want and increase your chances of bookings. Your profile is more than just a digital presence — it’s a reflection of your passion and skills. With a bit of effort and creativity, you’ll be well on your way to creating a strong online presence and sharing your talent with more clients. We hope these tips for musicians help you refine your profile and book more gigs doing what you love. Happy gigging! 🎸🎤
GigSalad works, but don’t just take our word for it!
Check out these talent spotlights to see real stories from real GigSalad users and learn their tips for success.
🎧 Meet wedding DJ Queendoq
🎸 Meet singing guitarist Austin Ellis
🎷 Meet saxophonist Alex LiveSaX
🎶 Meet jazz musician James Apollo
Matt Holland is a Customer Happiness Agent at GigSalad. With 10+ years of experience performing as a jazz drummer, he has gained insights into the life of a gigging musician as well as what makes an event go off without a hitch. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, cooking, and watching the newest TV shows with his wife.