How to respond to gig leads

There are two important things to remember when responding to leads — always do it and do it as quickly as you can. It's common courtesy to respond to every lead you get, even if you must decline it. If you are interested in the request, then let the client know right away. The first to respond often gets the gig! 

Pro tip: Responding quickly to leads will help you achieve Top Performer status.

There are three ways to respond to a lead: send a quote, send a message, or decline the event. All the basic event details will appear as the first message in the thread below the response options for easy reference. More detailed information can be found in the Event Info section.

Send a quote

If you have enough information about the event to provide an accurate quote, go ahead and send one. The sooner you can send a quote, the sooner the client can accept it and the gig will be booked!

When you send a quote, you are telling the client you are available and ready to be booked as long as they accept your price and terms. Make sure you are available for the date and time requested, and you can hold that date until your quote expires. Learn more about sending a quote.

Pro tip: Make it faster and easier to send quotes by creating saved quote templates in advance.

Send a message

If you want to talk before sending a quote, send a message first! Sometimes, making a personal connection with a client can be very helpful before giving an official quote. You also may need to ask questions about their needs or get more information about their event. You can create saved messages in advance so you can respond with just a click of a button.

Our messaging tool provides a quick and convenient way of communicating with clients, but if you prefer to speak over the phone, you can include that request in your first intro message. Paid members can access the client's phone number (if provided) after the first message or quote is sent. If important details are discussed over the phone, we encourage you to send a follow-up message on GigSalad briefly recapping the conversation so a record will be saved with the final booking.

Pro tip: Remember to sell yourself! Never assume a client has already looked through your profile and knows everything about you. In fact, they may not have requested you specifically. So be sure to pitch your services fully. Direct them to your profile for more info, or attach images or videos directly to your message.

Decline the gig

Not every lead will be viable. Perhaps the service they are requesting isn't quite what you do, or you aren't available on the requested dates. Whatever the reason, it can be helpful to include a message with your decline so the client has more information. Perhaps they can adjust their needs to accommodate you.

If you're not interested in the event, you should still decline the request. Don't just ignore the lead; the client could be waiting for your response. Declining only takes a second and will let the client know they should consider other options.

Once the event planner opens your message or quote, the "Sent" status below the thread item will change to "Seen" so you'll know it has been read.

Frequently asked questions:

• Can I save canned responses to choose from when I reply to leads?

  
  

  You can create both saved messages and saved quotes! You can add them in advance or save messages and quotes as you send them. After multiple responses have been saved, there will be a dropdown box where you can choose the appropriate one when responding to a lead. You can edit and tweak each as needed before you send them.

  
  

• Can I send files and videos with my messages?

  
  

  You can attach service brochures or riders (PDF format only), photos, and MP3 files to messages and quotes. Also, if you include a YouTube or Vimeo link within the body of your message, we will automatically embed the video, making it easier for the client to view without leaving the thread.

  
  

• Can I call clients to discuss their events before booking?

  
  

  If you are a paid member, you may access a client’s phone number once you’ve sent a quote or message through the platform. Note that not all clients choose to provide their number with their request. If they don’t, you won’t have access until after the gig is booked. Read more about accessing client phone numbers.

  
  

  If you are a free member or the client didn't provide a phone number, you may send a message and include your phone number or request theirs in order to connect directly. Remember, if you have an expired or free listing, you must book through GigSalad or mark leads as booked if they are handled off the site.

  
  

• I have my own contract I prefer to use. Do I have to use GigSalad's booking platform?

  
  

  Marketplaces have become a primary resource for finding and securing services of all types, and entertainment is no exception. This means making payments and creating online agreements are an accepted alternative to paper contracts and physical signatures. That may be how you've always done business, but we've built our platform to streamline the process for you and your clients.

  
  

  If you have additional terms and conditions that need to be known for your bookings, you can include those with your quote right on our platform. When building a quote, click "Add additional terms?" or create saved quotes in advance with different terms and services built in.

  
  

  If you have your own contract and process for handling gigs that simply don't work with our booking platform, that's okay, too. You won't get all the benefits of booking on the site, but you can still pay the service fee to mark a lead as booked and have it count as a verified booking.