🎵 Artist Quick Start Guide

Everything you need to set up your profile and start getting booked on Island Gigs.

Welcome to Island Gigs — the platform connecting artists and venues across Cyprus. This guide walks you through setting up your artist profile and getting your first bookings. Estimated reading time: 5 minutes.

📝 STEP 1: Setting Up Your Profile

Your profile is your digital portfolio. A complete, professional profile attracts more bookings!

Essential Information

🖼️ 1. Add Your Photos

Your photos are the first thing venues see. Make them count!

Profile Photo — A clear headshot or professional photo (circular display)
Cover Photo — A wide shot of you performing or your branding (landscape format)

💡 Tip: Use high-quality, professional photos. Avoid blurry or poorly lit images.

✍️ 2. Write Your Biography

Tell venues who you are in 10–500 characters.

What to include:

Your experience level
Music style or specialisation
Types of events you perform at
What makes you unique

💡 Tip: Keep it professional but personable. This is your elevator pitch!

🎭 3. Choose Your Category

Select the role that best describes you: Singer, DJ, Band, Musician, or other performer types. This helps venues filter and find the right type of artist for their event.

🎸 4. Select Your Music Genres

Choose 1 to 5 genres you perform — Rock, Jazz, Electronic, Pop, Hip-Hop, House, Techno, Traditional, and more.

💡 Tip: More genres = more visibility in searches, but stay authentic to your style.

💰 5. Set Your Pricing

Set price ranges (minimum to maximum in Euros) for:

Private Events — weddings, parties, corporate events
Public Events — clubs, festivals, public venues

💡 Tip: Research local market rates before setting prices. You can always negotiate!

📍 6. Add Your Location

Enter your address or use GPS to set your location automatically. Venues often search for local artists to reduce travel costs and support local talent.

📅 7. Set Your Availability

Let venues know when you're available for bookings. Choose from three options:

Option	When to Use
✅ Always Available	You're open to bookings anytime
🔴 Not Available	You're not currently taking new bookings
📆 Specific Dates	Choose exactly which dates you're free

How to set specific dates:

Select the "Specific Dates" option
Choose individual dates from the calendar
Add multiple dates as needed
Update regularly as your schedule changes

💡 Why it matters: Venues prefer artists with clear availability. An updated calendar shows you're active and professional!

Optional (But Highly Recommended)

✉️ Contact Details — Email and phone number (these are kept private from venue users on your public profile and only shared within confirmed bookings)
🎵 Songs — Add YouTube links to showcase your music
🎬 Videos — YouTube or Vimeo performance videos
📱 Social Media — Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok links

🚀 STEP 2: Publishing Your Profile

To publish your profile and become visible to venues, you must complete at least 80% of your profile sections.

How to Publish

Complete the essential sections listed above
Navigate to "Review & Publish" in your profile menu
Check your completion percentage (aim for 80% minimum)
Tap the "Publish" button

⚠️ Important: Unpublished profiles do not appear in venue search results.

✅ Published = Bookable! Venues can now discover you and send booking offers.

💼 STEP 3: Working with Offers

Island Gigs uses an offer system to connect artists and venues. You can both send and receive offers.

📤 Sending Offers to Venues

When to use: You found a venue you'd like to perform at.

Browse venues in the app
Find a venue that matches your style
Tap "Send Offer"
Fill in: your message, proposed dates and times, and your fee (optional)
Review and send — wait for the venue to respond

Possible outcomes:

✅ Accepted — Booking confirmed!
❌ Rejected — They declined (don't take it personally)
💬 Message — They want to discuss or negotiate

📥 Receiving Offers from Venues

When it happens: A venue discovers your profile and wants to book you!

You'll receive a notification when an offer arrives
Open the offer to review the date(s), time(s), event type, and offered fee
Choose your response:

Action	What It Means
✅ Accept	Confirm the booking — you're committed!
❌ Reject	Decline politely — the offer is closed
💬 Message	Negotiate terms, ask questions, discuss details

Offer Status Reference

Status	Meaning
🟠 Pending	Draft offer, not sent yet
🟢 Sent	Offer delivered, awaiting response
🔵 Accepted	Booking confirmed by both parties
🔴 Rejected	Offer declined
🔴 Revoked	Offer cancelled by sender

💡 Tip: You can revoke an accepted offer if plans change, but do so professionally and as early as possible.

💡 Best Practices & Tips

🎯 Profile Tips

✅ Aim for 100% completion — complete profiles get significantly more views
✅ Use professional photos — first impressions matter
✅ Keep your bio updated — mention recent achievements or new styles
✅ Add videos and songs — show, don't just tell

📅 Availability Tips

✅ Update regularly — keep your calendar current
✅ Set realistic availability — don't overbook yourself
✅ Mark yourself "Available" — venues prefer active artists

💬 Communication Tips

✅ Respond promptly — fast responses = professional reputation
✅ Be polite and professional — even when declining
✅ Ask questions — clarify details before accepting
✅ Honour commitments — only accept offers you can fulfil

💰 Pricing Tips

✅ Be transparent — clear pricing builds trust
✅ Know your worth — don't undervalue yourself
✅ Be flexible — room for negotiation can lead to more bookings

🎸 Quick Action Checklist

☐ Complete your profile (aim for 100%)
☐ Add professional photos
☐ Write an engaging bio
☐ Set your pricing ranges
☐ Set your availability
☐ Add songs or videos
☐ Publish your profile
☐ Browse venues in your area
☐ Respond to offers promptly
☐ Keep your availability updated

Island Gigs — Connecting Artists and Venues | Version 1.0