What are ARRIVE’s Gigging Guidelines?

So, you’ve received your first booking through ARRIVE. You’ve discussed the details with the client and you’re ready to go. 

• How can you make sure your booking goes smoothly and you get that all-important 5-star review after the gig? We use four criteria to help you earn great reviews for your performances. You can see how you’re doing by checking these star ratings on your profile.

  Whether you’re a seasoned pro, or just starting out, we strongly suggest that you read these guidelines before taking your first booking on Arrive.

  Satisfaction

  • Keep your profile up-to-date. When a client books you for a gig, they want to know that the talent they are booking matches the performance they see and hear on your profile.
  • Stick to the brief. You might be the greatest concerto soloist on earth, but if the client has asked for background music for their restaurant then you should probably reign in the Rachmaninov for now. The best professionals are those who are able to adapt to the needs of their clients.
  • Exceed expectations. People book musicians and other performers for some of the most important events in their lives. This may be just another gig for you, but for them, it’s a day they’ve spent months – maybe years –planning. Here are a few ideas for how you can go the extra mile to ensure the musical side of their event is as perfect as possible.
  1. Ask for song requests or their favourite artists in advance
  2. If appropriate, consider getting the audience involved
  3. Be considerate if it’s clear the event organizer is stressed

  Professionalism

  Behind every great talent is a work ethic of the utmost professionalism. Allow yourself plenty of time before your gig to prepare and practice. 

  • Preparation. Do you need to source any sheet music or equipment prior to the booking? Do you know the dress code for the event? Have you made travel and eating arrangements? In the words of Scar from The Lion King: “be prepared”.
  • Practice. While all musicians are busy people, the best professionals make time to thoroughly practice the music they perform before a booking, regardless of its difficulty. Your focus should be on delighting your audience with a brilliant performance, not on reading the notes.
  • Work ethic. Even though everyone around you may be letting their hair down, you’ve been booked and paid to provide a professional service, so be punctual with your breaks and remember that even during setups and breaks you’re on show.

  Communication

  Responding quickly and politely to your clients shows them that you are an attentive and considerate performer. 

  • Timely responses. Your average time taken to respond to client messages is recorded as your response time. This is shown to clients when you apply for jobs. Clients using Arrive tend to expect fast responses, so talents with lower response times are typically booked more frequently than others.
  • Confirm everything in writing. If you take a phone call with a client, help both of you keep accurate records by sending a follow-up message summarizing what has been discussed.
  • Keep your client updated. If you need to make a change to your booking, such as an alteration of the line-up or set timings, let the client know as soon as possible. 
  • Keep your client updated. If you need to make a change to your booking, such as an alteration of the line-up or set timings, let the client know as soon as possible. 
  • Be courteous. Make sure you maintain a polite and courteous tone of voice throughout your communications with a client. It might sound obvious, but just being nice makes a big difference.
  • Download the Arrive app. Download the Arrive app on Android or iOS so that you can respond to messages anywhere.