Most independent artists treat venue booking like throwing darts in the dark—mass outreach with generic pitches, hoping something sticks. Christal Hector, founder of TuneHatch and member of the National Independent Venue Association's Industry Affairs Committee, explains what actually happens on the other side of that email.

TuneHatch was built venues-first, solving venue problems before creating artist tools. That origin gives Christal an insider perspective most artists never get: what venues actually look for when evaluating artists, what makes them say yes to a show, and what behaviors separate artists who get booked repeatedly from those who struggle.

In this conversation, we dig into the frameworks behind successful booking and touring. You'll learn the venue's mental checklist when an artist reaches out, what proof points actually matter beyond social media followers, how to approach booking systematically instead of randomly, and what makes touring financially and energetically sustainable.

Find links to things mentioned in this episode at UnstarvingMusician.com

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Resources

The Unstarving Musician's Guide to Getting Paid Gigs, by Robonzo

Dreamhost – See the latest deals from Dreamhost, save money and support the UM in the process.

More Resources for musicians

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