I have a love/hate relationship with Sonicbids. On the one hand, its a great tool for artists who need to create an effective electronic press kit (an essential weapon in your band’s arsenal) and a great way to browse for engagements that you may not come across through more traditional booking channels… such as song placement in films or on airline music channels. You can also submit your music to a variety of blogs and online magazines. My band has gotten some pretty cool press through this channel, thanks to a mention in FILTER Magazine.

On the other hand, there’s a lot of junk there. Not only are you competing with 245,000 other Sonicbids artists for the spotlight (what else is new?), but you also have to be discerning in your submissions: there’s a lot of slick, hollow pay-to-play showcases, and other “opportunities” that won’t really deliver. Still, there’s plenty of genuine engagements within their databases.

Now that Sonicbids has been acquired by ArtistData earlier this month, the submission process will soon get a lot easier. Instead of paying $5 to $20 a pop for submitting your EPK, soon many opportunities will be free. The larger gigs like SXSW will still charge, but it means that you’ll be able to release your profile to as many gigs as you like.

Here’s a few tips for what to look out for when scoping out opportunities on Sonicbids, but really these guidelines would apply to any event booking scenario:

  1. Narrow It Down – I highly recommend using the filters (genre/category) on the Find Gigs interface. It’s the fastest way to sift through all the listings to find the one that works best for you.
  2. Waste Not – Read the listing carefully. Is this is the right gig or placement for you? If the listing is for a blog that reviews country acts, don’t submit your music metal band. Its a waste of your time, and theirs.
  3. Research – Check out any websites associated with the listing, or google the event’s organizer. This could give you an indication of how legit the gig is, or if its really right for you.
  4. Personalize – If the submission allows a form for comments or a bio, be sure to address the event organizer (personally, if possible) and explain why your band is the best fit for the gig. Copying & pasting excerpts form your bio is fine, but make it easy for the reviewer to scan.
  5. Don’t Whine – The folks who post these gigs have to review thousands of entries. They can’t always offer explanations to the other 999 artists they didn’t choose – so they often elect to send the denial form letter that Sonicbids provides. Don’t get bent out of shape if you’re not selected and post whiny comments on the gig’s listing. Its unprofessional, and there’s plenty of other fish in the sea.