It’s easy to dust your hands off when you’ve completed a gig, but there’s still some work to be done. The way you handle the end of a booking is just as important as your opening quote. We have some tips on making sure you nail the follow-up and land more referrals and repeat business!
Make a graceful exit
Showing up early for your setup and gathering last-minute details is essential to starting a gig on the right foot. After all is said and done, the way you wrap things up is important too! When you arrive, verify your end time with the host and let them know how your routine will close. Pack up without intruding on the rest of the event, and locate your host to bid them farewell. Thank them for the opportunity and shake their hand. While some event planners may have a tip ready for you, it’s important not to overstay your welcome and hang around waiting for one. Tips are certainly appreciated but not a required part of bookings, so treat them as a happy bonus rather than putting pressure on your client.
Express your gratitude
Even though you’ve already thanked your client in person, a follow-up thank you note can go a long way. Within 24 hours of the event, write a quick message or email letting your client know how much you enjoyed being a part of their event. Or take things a step further with a handwritten card! We love the idea of personalized thank you cards that will leave a lasting impression with your client.
Include some specific details about what you liked about the event to make it more personal for each client. For example, “I loved seeing your fiancé’s eyes light up when I played Simply the Best!” Try to avoid inauthentic fluff and choose something that you honestly enjoyed. Your clients will love that you noticed the small details that were so important to them.
Ask for a review
If you’re booking your gigs on the GigSalad platform, we already do much of the heavy lifting when it comes to recruiting reviews. Even so, a personal request from you may be more successful. While the event is still fresh in your client’s mind, send them a quick message to ask for feedback. We’ve found that expressing our gratitude for a planner’s time yields the most success in gathering positive reviews. People love feeling like they’re doing something good or helpful for their fellow humans, so try and inject this idea in your review request! Here are a few sample messages:
Hello Moira, thank you so much for the opportunity to be a part of your wedding! I had a great time performing for your friends and family. I’d be grateful if you could take a few moments and leave a review for me. I hope to work together again in the future! Thank you again.
Hi David, it was wonderful being a part of your birthday party! I hope everyone had a great time. If you have a moment, I’d appreciate a quick review to share your experience with future clients. Thank you!
Hello Alexis, your anniversary party was a blast! I’m so thankful we got to work together. Would you mind leaving a quick review for me? Your comments will go a long way with future clients, and I’d be so grateful for the feedback. Thank you again for the booking and best wishes to you and Ted!
Request a referral
We all know that word-of-mouth is the most successful form of marketing. It’s no different in the gig world! Every mom knows another mom who may be planning a birthday party. Corporate event planners share resources to help their events go smoothly. When a gig goes well, grab the opportunity to ask your clients to share your info with their friends and colleagues! While it’s important not to do unsolicited networking at private events, it’s still good to have some business cards or information on you in case a guest approaches you. After the event, you could include a quick line in your thank you card or review request to encourage happy clients to share your name with others. You could also put together a small referral card for your business, and share that with your client upon leaving the event.
Create a follow-up list
Reaching out to past clients is a great way to secure future bookings. As you begin booking gigs, build a client contact list to use in your future marketing efforts. We suggest a simple spreadsheet with their name, phone number, email address, and some notes on their booking. Having your list in this format will make it easy to upload to various platforms for marketing like Mailchimp, Facebook, and more. Whether it’s an email blast letting clients know you’re available for holiday events, or an Instagram ad showcasing your new performance set – a client list can come in handy! Even if your past clients don’t need to book again, staying at the top of their minds may inspire them to refer you to a friend.
💻 Read this: A Simple Guide to Online Marketing
When the event didn’t go as planned
As much as we strive for perfection, mistakes will inevitably occur. When they do, it’s important to own up to them with your client. At the very least, take stock of what happened and learn how you can improve things the next time around! Sweeping issues under the rug or failing to take responsibility will come back to haunt you on future gigs. Your clients will appreciate your transparency and you’ll grow as a business owner and artist. After you’ve apologized in person, it doesn’t hurt to send a follow-up apology card with an offer of some kind. Maybe it’s a deep discount on future services or a free smaller service for another event. Humility is a virtue for a reason, so embrace those blunders and do your best to make it right. A bad review is usually the fruit of a poor experience with performers or service providers, but don’t let those drag you down.
🌟 Read this: How to Handle Reviews: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
A bit of hustle after the gig is over is crucial to ensuring your clients are completely satisfied with their experience. Not only that, but you’ll stand out as someone who went the extra mile and added personal touches that are often lost in business today. With some hard work after the event, you can take your customer service, marketing, and bookings to the next level. ?
Megan is the Director of Customer Experience at GigSalad and has gained 9+ years of insight on what makes a great event on both sides of the booking process. Her favorite things include books, true crime podcasts, coffee, hiking, puns, and making people laugh.
Unfortunately, until this virus goes away, it will be difficult to book any events where people
gather in small, medium and large groups.
Ed Svoboda
Red Raven Orchestra