Specialties in BookLive represent the instruments or roles that artists can perform. Properly managing specialties ensures accurate musician matching and streamlined performance staffing.
Understanding Specialties #
A specialty is an instrument or role that an artist can perform. Examples include:
- Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass (strings)
- Flute, Clarinet, Oboe (woodwinds)
- Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn (brass)
- Piano, Guitar, Drums (rhythm section)
- Vocalist, DJ, Emcee (non-instrumental)
Assigning Specialties to Artists #
When adding an artist to a personnel list, you must select at least one specialty. To assign specialties:
- Navigate to your personnel list
- Click Add Artist
- Enter or select the artist
- Choose one or more specialties from the dropdown
- Save the entry
Multi-Instrumentalists #
Many musicians play multiple instruments. BookLive handles this by:
- Allowing multiple specialty assignments per artist
- Creating separate list entries for each specialty
- Counting the artist only once in unique member counts
For example, if Sarah plays both violin and viola, she’ll appear in both the Violin and Viola sections but count as one member.
Updating Artist Specialties #
To add or remove specialties for an existing artist:
- Go to your personnel list
- Find the artist and click to edit
- Modify their specialty selections
- Save your changes
When you add a specialty, a new entry is created in that specialty section. When you remove one, the corresponding entry is deleted.
Parts Within Specialties #
Some specialties have parts for more granular organization:
- Violin → First Violin, Second Violin
- Voice → Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass
- Saxophone → Alto Sax, Tenor Sax, Baritone Sax
Parts help with more specific musician assignment for performances that require particular roles.
How Specialties Affect Scheduling #
Specialties are crucial for:
- Performance staffing – Seats are assigned by specialty
- Availability checking – Find available artists for specific instruments
- Auto-contracting – Automatically fill seats based on specialty matches
- Substitute requests – Find replacements with the right skills
Best Practices #
- Be comprehensive – Add all instruments an artist can perform
- Stay current – Update specialties as artists develop new skills
- Use standard names – Stick to common specialty names for consistency
- Consider proficiency – Only add specialties the artist can perform professionally
