After 15 years of Mixcloud, we have acquired Encore, the UK’s leading online music marketplace. As we get to work building tools to help artists and DJs grow, connect and make money from music, we want to highlight the platform Encore gives to musicians at a large scale. 

A one-stop shop for your live booking needs, Encore helps artists make money by connecting them with customers looking for acts for their events. Whether you’re a singer, trombonist or play in a mariachi band, over 5000 customers browse the platform a month looking for musicians for their weddings, parties and everything in between. The best part about joining Encore? It costs absolutely nothing to join! The platform is committed to guaranteeing more gigs. Once you’re booked via Encore, you will be charged a 20% Service fee that goes towards the costs of marketing musicians, improving the platform and providing our musicians with expert support.

In this article, we share how you can get set up on Encore and secure your next live gig.

What you need before you sign up

When you sign up to Encore, you’ll need to put your best foot forward and have your profile look presentable and attractive to potential customers. Your profile will be vetted by the Encore team before it goes live. This is to ensure it meets the standards the platform sets and that you’re gig-ready. To that end, consider gathering the following before you sign up:

1. A professionally shot video showreel of previous performances so you can be seen in the context of live performance. This will be approved by the Encore team.
2. Professionally shot photos of your performances.
3. Public Liability Insurance (PLI), which protects businesses from claims made by the public for injuries or property damage that occur during business activities.

These will boost your profile and allow you to start applying for roles as well as being found. 

Get your profile ready

Now it’s time to build your profile, which is your shop window for customers to peek in and book you. It should contain the following:

1. A profile picture and cover photo that helps you stand out from the crowd.
2. A tagline that best describes what instrument you play, like classical guitarist, violinist, bagpiper or saxophonist. 
3. A biography about yourself, your experiences and previous musical achievements.
4. Reviews by customers who’ve booked you or jobs at which you performed. You’ll need at least two verified or unverified reviews on the Encore site.
5. A video showreel
6. A 25 song setlist for clients to review before booking.
7. Completed job alert settings such as musicianship and location. This allows Encore to know what kind of jobs to send to you and which jobs you will be a good fit for.
8. Your artist name
9. Your PLI and VAT status

It’s important to note that bands and groups can have profiles and that a musician with multiple projects – such as a band, a duo and a solo project – can have multiple profiles linked to their Encore account. When applying for gigs, it’s crucial that your profile contains all of the information and content that a client expects and wants to see when deciding who to book. A lot of them will have never booked live music before, so it’s even more important that they’re given all the information they need to make the right decision for their event.

Strengthen your profile

To make the most of the platform, get your profile to 100% strength by having lots of media, reviews and accurate pricing. Customers will look at the quality of the media and the number of great reviews. They’ll want to see pricing that accurately reflects what they are likely to pay if they book you. Make sure you have a great quality of communication and informative cover notes. They also go a long way when trying to make your profile shine!

Make use of your member benefits

Now that you’ve created your profile, you’ve entered an exciting new world where your next gig could soon be approaching. Encore has built a comprehensive suite of tools and benefits to tap into as they support you along your journey. Its referral scheme allows musicians to refer clients to the Encore site for gigs that they’re not able to fulfil themselves, and earn commission on the booking the client makes on Encore. Meanwhile, musicians can use Encore Pay+, its payment infrastructure, to facilitate secure payment for all their direct, non-Encore bookings.

On top of this, the Encore team is on hand for around the clock help. They put together in-person and remote events for musicians. This gives members an opportunity to meet the team and each other. As well as give insight into how to make the most of the Encore platform. Most of their in-person events also feature guest speakers, from Encore’s most booked musicians and Musicians’ Union representatives to Music Business experts. Encore also has a Help Centre with written articles dedicated to answering your every query.

With that, you’re all set for your next gig!

Stay tuned for more from Encore and Mixcloud as we work together to enhance the experience for DJs and musicians. Watch this space!