7 Best Practices for Submitting Your Artist Website to Music Festivals

You’ve poured your heart into your music. You’ve honed your craft in practice rooms and on local stages. Now, you’re dreaming bigger: seeing your name on that festival lineup poster, feeling the energy of a massive crowd. It’s the goal for so many emerging artists, but the path from your garage to the main stage often runs through a simple submission form and one crucial link: your website.

Let's be real: a festival talent buyer is sifting through hundreds, if not thousands, of applications. They don’t have time to dig. Your website is your 60-second audition. It needs to scream "professional," "can't-miss," and "ready for this."

So, how do you make sure your site gets a "yes" instead of getting lost in the shuffle? Here are the 7 best practices to get your website festival-ready.

1. Nail the First Impression (Your Hero Section)

When a booker lands on your page, what do they see first? This is your hero section, and it needs to tell them who you are instantly.

• High-Quality Hero Image: Ditch the blurry phone pic. Invest in a professional photo that captures your vibe and brand. This is your digital handshake.
• Clear H1 Title: This should be your artist or band name. Simple.
• Genre & Tagline: In a few words, tell them what you sound like. "Indie-Rock Soul," "Synth-Pop Dreamscapes," or "Gritty Folk Storyteller." It gives them immediate context.

Pro-Tip: Your hero section should make a booker want to scroll down. It sets the tone for everything else they're about to see and hear. With a platform like About My Sound, you can update this entire section in under a minute, keeping it fresh for every new opportunity.

2. Make Your Music Unmissable

This is the most important part. If a booker can't find and play your music within five seconds, they'll move on.

• Embed a Player: Don’t just link out to Spotify or Apple Music. Embed a player directly on your site, preferably right below your hero section. You want to keep them on your page, immersed in your world.
• Curate Your Best Tracks: Don't upload your entire discography. Choose 3-4 of your strongest, most representative tracks. Put your best foot forward.

3. Show Them Your Live Chops (High-Quality Video)

A great recording is one thing, but a festival is a live event. Bookers need to know you can command a stage and put on a show.

• Feature a Pro-Shot Live Video: A well-shot, great-sounding video of you performing live is non-negotiable. It’s the most direct proof you can offer of your stage presence and ability to connect with an audience.
• Music Videos are a Plus: Official music videos are fantastic for showing your artistic vision and brand, but a live performance video is what truly sells your festival potential.

Pro-Tip: In your About My Sound dashboard, the "Videos" tab lets you easily embed your best YouTube or Vimeo links directly onto your site, so your performance speaks for itself.

4. Tell Your Story (The "About" Section)

Who are you? Where are you from? What’s your music about? The About section is where you build a personal connection.

• Craft a Compelling Bio: Keep it concise but engaging. Start with a strong opening paragraph that summarizes your sound and journey. Avoid clichés and write in your authentic voice.
• Easy-to-Find Social Links: Include clear links to all your active social media profiles. It shows you have an engaged community and can help promote the festival.

5. Prove You're Active (The "Shows" Section)

An up-to-date show schedule shows a booker that you are a working, active artist. Even if it's just local gigs, it proves you're grinding and have experience.

• List Upcoming and Past Shows: An active "Shows" section is a sign of professionalism and momentum. It demonstrates that other venues and promoters have already taken a chance on you.
• Keep it Current: A tour schedule that ended six months ago looks sloppy. Make sure you're regularly adding new dates and removing old ones.

6. Think of Your Website as Your EPK

Forget about messy PDF attachments. Your website is your dynamic Electronic Press Kit (EPK). A booker should be able to find everything they need without ever leaving your page. This includes:

• Your Music: (See point #2)
• Your Bio: (See point #4)
• High-Res Photos: Have a "Photos" or "Media" section where they can easily view and download professional press shots.
• Live Videos: (See point #3)
• Contact Info: A clear and obvious way to contact you or your manager/booking agent.

7. The Technical Details Matter (Mobile & Speed)

A booker might be reviewing your submission on their phone while backstage at another show. If your site is slow to load or looks broken on mobile, you’ve lost them. The experience needs to be seamless. A modern website builder handles this for you, ensuring your site is responsive and fast on any device.

Ready to Build a Website That Gets You Booked?

Your music deserves to be heard on the biggest stages. Don't let a subpar website hold you back. About My Sound was built for artists like you, providing a simple, professional platform to showcase your work and land your dream gigs.

Get started in 2 steps and build your festival-ready website today.