Guide
The Art of Following Up:
You finish a great gig. The crowd loved it. The team were happy. You pack up your gear, head home… and then what?
For many bands, the hard work stops there, and so does the momentum.
After 15 years working in the live music scene, I’ve learned that the artists who consistently get rebooked aren’t just talented. They’re the ones who follow up properly. And yet, so many musicians have no idea what to do after a show without feeling pushy or awkward.
This guide is your roadmap to turning one great performance into a long-term relationship with venues and promoters. These are the steps I saw the most professional artists follow, whether they were playing to 50 people or 5,000.
When the final song ends and the crowd starts to clear out, venues already have their eyes on the next event. Most are juggling dozens of artists and enquiries. As good as your performance might have been, a single gig rarely guarantees a repeat booking.
Following up isn’t about bothering anyone. It’s about showing professionalism and building a relationship.
Bands who consistently maintain these relationships were always the first on our list when we needed support acts, headline slots, or last-minute replacements. They made our jobs easier, and that never goes unnoticed.
Right after your gig is your “warm window” the time when the venue remembers you clearly and goodwill is at its highest.
Here’s what the most professional bands always do:
1. Say Thank You
Either in person or by message, thank the venue manager, the promoter, and especially the tech team. A genuine thank-you travels fast internally.
2. Collect Feedback
Casual comments from staff, the sound engineer, or fans are gold.
They help you improve, and referencing them later shows attention to detail.
3. Grab Photos and Clips
Even one good photo or short video can help you later.
These visuals are perfect for social posts and follow-up messages.
4. Post on Social Media
A simple “Thanks for having us” post, tagging the venue, is extremely effective. It shows appreciation, drives engagement, and leaves a good impression.
5. Update Your EPK
Add:
An up-to-date EPK makes rebooking you easier.
Following up doesn’t have to feel awkward, and it shouldn’t be long.
Here’s the formula:
1. Start with a genuine thank-you
Keep it personal, not generic.
2. Reference specifics from the night
Call out something memorable:
It shows you’re paying attention.
3. Include useful assets
Attach:
4. Make your intention clear
If you want to headline next time, say so, politely.
5. Keep the tone friendly, not salesy
The goal is to open a door, not force it.
On the night.
Thanking the venue and tech teams is key, make sure to find them in person.
Within 24 hours, a simple thank-you.
Short, polite, memorable. Nothing more.
One to two weeks later, the booking follow-up.
This gives the venue time to breathe, look at their calendar, and reflect on the show.
Don’t wait months
You’ll be forgotten, and the opportunity disappears.
When I was running our venue, bands often talked to us enthusiastically about future gigs on the night… then never followed up. Meanwhile, the bands who did follow up, even with a short message, were the ones who always got booked again.
Following up shows you care. Not following up makes the venue do all the work, and most won’t.
Make it as easy as possible for the venue manager to say “yes.”
Include:Highlights from the show
Remember: the person handling future bookings might not be the one who booked you originally. Clear information helps them pitch you internally.
I’ve watched bands lose out on rebooking opportunities for preventable reasons. Here are the big three:
Confidence is good. Pushiness isn’t. Keep the tone helpful and professional.
Too fast feels desperate. Too slow feels forgettable.
Personalise every message. Venue managers can spot copy-paste templates instantly.
Here’s a small tip: End with an open question like “Are you currently booking for [month]?” It invites a real conversation.
Getting rebooked isn’t just about your music. It’s about how you behave off stage.
Here’s what consistently stood out:
Do:
Don’t:
I wish these weren’t so common…
Nothing kills a potential relationship faster than entitlement. And nothing builds one faster than professionalism.
We always remembered the bands who were respectful, friendly, and supportive of the night as a whole. Those bands were always first in line when new opportunities came up.
Following up after a gig isn't a formality, it’s the bridge to your next opportunity. It shows initiative, professionalism, and appreciation. Done well, it tells the venue, “We enjoyed this. Let’s do it again.”
Master this, and you’ll turn one successful gig into a consistent calendar of shows.
Ready to take your band’s organisation and communication to the next level?
Try Stage Portal free for 30 days and see how much easier gig management can be.
Discover the latest insights.