Selecting the Right Festival Fit: Criteria for artists to consider when choosing which festivals to target for bookings

This article, drawing insights from Flows Festival’s talent buyers, Jernej Pavlič (stage name Jerpa, whose music is linked below) and Manuel W., explores the nuances of matching an artist’s style and career stage with the ideal festival. Flows Festival, known for its unique blend of electronic music and holistic experiences, provides a platform for artists to connect deeply with audiences.

The interview delves into the importance of understanding where an artist stands in their career when choosing a festival. Smaller festivals often welcome new talents with fresh energy, while larger events seek established names that promise crowd engagement. Artists are advised to research festivals thoroughly, using resources like local electronic music portals or platforms like Resident Advisor. 

Learn More About The Festival At flowsfestival.com.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this Ask The Experts Interview:

• How To Match Career Stage and Festival Size: Align your career stage with the appropriate festival size for better booking opportunities.
• How To  Importance of Networking: Build and utilize connections within the electronic music community to secure gigs.
• How To  Research Festival Genres: Investigate the festival’s genre to ensure your music style is a good fit.
• How To  Early Application Strategy: Apply to festivals 6-12 months in advance, especially for larger events.
• How To  Prepare a Strong Pitch: Create a compelling pitch with links to your music and well-curated media like photos and videos from past performances.

What role does an artist’s career stage play in selecting the right festival?

As a DJ, I learned that you mostly get gigs through connections, and I say this most positively. The electronic music scene is a very close-knit community, and with so many new names out there, it’s just easier to call or book someone you know to someone that you haven’t met before. 

But if you’re being proactive about your upcoming gigs, knowing if your career stage matches the festival’s size will save you a lot of energy when reaching out to new festivals or potential gigs. If you’re an up-and-coming artist, smaller festivals will dig your vibe because you bring fresh energy and new fans into discovering new sounds. 

But if you’re already a big name, those more prominent festivals will want you since you’re a crowd-puller and can excite their event. 

Also, it’s easier to match budgets like this, which is a big factor in bookings.

Curious about festival prep for DJs? Dive into ‘How DJs Prepare for Festivals: Four Acts Share How They Get Ready for the Same Gig’ – get the insider perspective here.

Where can artists find reliable information and resources on different festivals?

Usually, there is a local electronic music portal in every country – you might want to check those out, or for some bigger ones, use Resident Advisor.  It’s a great way to find past or upcoming events. Also, ChatGPT can be helpful (laughing).

What signs a festival might not be the right fit for an artist?

The biggest sign is that they booked artists before that don’t match your style. Smaller festivals, especially, like to go for a particular genre, and you might want to check if it fits yours. If you’re an up-and-coming DJ and you’re still discovering your style, it must match your online persona. It’s tough to book a DJ for a melodic techno festival when all of their sets online are on the tech-house spectrum.

Dive into the current challenges of the festival scene with ‘The Most Annoying Aspects of Today’s Festival Scene and Electronic Music: A Deep Dive into Ravers’ Frustrations’ – understand and explore the issues faced by today’s ravers here.

When is the ideal time for artists to research and apply to festivals?

I say 6-12 months before the festival starts. The bigger the festival, the sooner you must put your name out there.

How should artists prepare their application or pitch to stand out to festival selection committees?

Send an email and briefly say something about yourself with links to your social media or music streaming platforms (Spotify, SoundCloud, Mixcloud). Prepare a Dropbox or Google Drive folder with your best photos and videos from your gigs – it will help festival organizers and bookers better understand who you are and how you can fit into the lineup.

Who can artists consult for insights and advice on selecting the right festival?

I think the best people who will help you learn more about a specific festival are the artists that have been booked there before. You can always check the past lineups, find an underground, low-key artist playing there, and reach out to him on social media. The best thing about the electronic music community is that everyone is friendly and always wants to help.

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