Side Door allows Hosts to discover and directly communicate with Artists, plan the details of a show, and manage ticketing if they choose.
There are two main ways to find Artists as a Host:
a) Discover an Artist’s Show Call in the Connect tab
b) Create your own Show Call and let Artists discover you
*Plain and simple, a Show Call is a request for a show – either a Host seeking Artists or an Artist seeking Hosts (more on Show Calls here).
Discover Artists in the Connect tab
1. To message Artists you will need to make sure you have created a Host profile, and
have logged into Side Door. (Haven’t done that before? Click here).
2. After logging in you can access the Connect tab from the left sidebar menu on your desktop/laptop’s browser, or at the bottom menu if you’re using a mobile device (see image below). Here you can find Show Calls from Artists looking for Hosts.
NOTE: Currently, Artists cannot message other Artists without a Host Profile and Hosts cannot message other Hosts without an Artist Profile.
3. Click on the top menu with the blue magnifying glass (pictured below) to adjust your search parameters. Make sure Artists is selected under “Search for.” Here you can also filter your search based on Location, Dates, Genre, Badges or whether a PA system is required.
4. Browse Artist Show Calls in the search results, or use the map to view the location of each Artist’s hometown. If you’re interested in an Artist, click on their Show Call to check out their profile and Show Call details, or send them a message.
*If you check All Artists at the top left of the map, Artists without an active Show Call will appear as red dots on the map. Make your space visible to all of these Artists by creating a Show Call.
5. After sending them a message, a Show Call Thread will open in the Messages tab. This can be found by clicking the Messages icon at the bottom of your mobile device (see image below), or on the left sidebar if you’re using a desktop/laptop. Any responses will appear here. After the Artist responds, the ability to begin booking a show will appear directly in the chat. You can delete a Show Call Thread at any time by clicking on the three little dots in the top right of a chat and selecting Delete Thread. You may also take another look at the Artist’s profile by clicking on their name at the top of the chat.
Create Your Own Show Call
Have a specific show you’d like to plan, but need Artists? Create your own Show Call and let Artists find you. By creating a Show Call, you’ll appear in an Artist’s search results when they’re looking for Hosts in your location, and they will also receive an email notifying them of recent Show Calls. This will allow Artists to message you directly and initiate the show booking process. For full details on how to create a Show Call, please see the article here.