I started working in the music business about 30 years ago. I've done a lot of things in the business. I've been a musician, a band manager, music marketer, and a promoter. Probably my least favorite part of the business is booking agent.

Booking never came easy to me. It's all about organization, contacting people, and most-important of all, follow up.

When I was booking 1-3 shows at a time, it wasn't too bad. But to be successful in the music business, you have to juggle and book a lot of gigs. You have to make big decisions every time you contact someone. It's tough.

It got easier when I started using the GTD (Getting Things Done) System by David Allen (affiliate link), but only in conjunction with Evernote.

Here's how I use it.

I have a Notebook titled “Booking”. Underneath that I have four sub-notebooks:

1. Follow Up Booking
2. New Venues to Contact
3. Reference Bookings
4. Upcoming Shows

Every time I get a new place to consider booking. I drop  them in New Venues to Contact. When I’m ready, I compile all of their contact info for the new venue. Then I email the venue.

Once I contact them, the Note moves to Follow Up Booking. I post the date I emailed them. I include a link to the email on Gmail. Then I set a reminder to follow up in two weeks. I check back every 2-4 weeks. After a few months, I check the contact information and start over until I get a yes or no.

If I get a no for booking, then I tag the venue as uninterested and dump the Note into Reference Booking.

If I get a yes booking, I rename the Note with the date of booking. I move the Note into Upcoming Shows. I create a list of things I need to do to promote the show. That includes creating events, adding the event to my gig calendar, scheduling emails, creating graphics, etc.

I also duplicate the Note and put that into the Follow Up Booking so that I can try booking the NEXT show at the venue.

After the gig is done, I move it to the Reference Booking Notebook. And I also schedule a Follow Up thank you for the show.

There are still some kinks to work out of this booking method. But I have never been happier to book shows since I started using the GTD system.