ShowBird Artist Interview

This growth wasn't a coincidence. Eddie continued to hone his profile, expand his repertoire, and consciously invest in personal contact with clients. By prioritizing personalized services and highlighting his strengths, he steadily strengthened his position on ShowBird.

The numbers behind the success

Eddie's development is not only noticeable during his performances, but also clearly reflected in his results:

• Bookings: From 6 bookings in 2021 to 85 in 2025
• Customer Satisfaction: 72 reviews with an average of 4.8/5.0

Who are you and how did you get on stage?

"I grew up in Rheden and started playing the violin at age seven. It was a small village, so I didn't have other violinists around me like you might in a big city. From a young age, I also learned that I couldn't build a career on it.

That's why I tried other things first. I worked in education for a while, but it wasn't for me. I was asked to teach music, and I really enjoyed it. That's when it became clear that that was where my passion lay."

Violin is quite a niche. How do you view it now?

"When you're young, violin is much more niche than, say, singing or guitar. But that's precisely what has become my strength. I've embraced the niche, and now I truly have a niche audience. For example, many requests come from the Turkish community or the Native American community. Those are simply special markets. If you're in a niche, you have to add that to your repertoire. That's where people can look you up. It's triggering when people see that you know those specific songs."

"I've started embracing the niche, and I now have a truly niche audience. For example, many requests come from the Turkish community or the Native American community. It's triggering when people see that you know those specific songs."

How did you end up at ShowBird?

"Through another artist. I saw on Facebook that he was booked through ShowBird. So I signed up, without any expectations. At first, not much happened. My act was called something like "Acoustic Guitar with Violin Music," just a bad title.

At my first booking, I played my own repertoire at a birthday party. During that performance, a woman asked if I could play a special birthday song for her husband. So I took one of my own songs and turned it into a birthday song. The next request was a woman who also requested a song that wasn't in my repertoire. Then I thought: I can say no now, or I can embrace it. I said yes and immediately started learning it. That was a real moment that opened up a whole new world for me. After that, the bookings started coming in much faster, and now it's been almost five years since I signed up."

You go the extra mile for your clients. Is that intentional?

"Yes. You essentially end up with a custom-made arrangement. I can play anything you want. And if I can't do it yet, I'll prepare it or create it. That's why I've ticked that box in my profile: open to song requests. And I've clearly stated that in my lyrics.

I practice my songs outside of work. If I don't know a song, I translate it into sheet music. That way, I learn it quickly and can add it to my repertoire. My repertoire has grown so large that sometimes I don't even get requests anymore. Everything I learn stays with me. I now have 71 songs, in all sorts of styles, so I have something suitable for many people."

"I can play anything you want. And if I can't do it yet, I'll prepare it or make it. That's why I checked that in my profile: open to requests."

Your bookings grew from 6 to 85 per year. How do you view your pricing?

"At the end of each year, I take a moment to reflect. How many bookings have I had? What did I earn? How much time did it cost me? If it was a successful year, I raise my fee a little. Not big jumps all at once, but small adjustments.

For example, I get a lot of bookings in Belgium. Then I also look at travel expenses, travel time, and my net income. At one point, I noticed I was earning less than I thought because I wasn't accounting for my time and expenses accurately enough. That's when I adjusted my fee again."

What do you think was the biggest success factor?

"A few things, actually. ShowBird gave me the tip to adjust my text. That really worked. You quickly underestimate how important your profile is, but that is your first impression.

"Changing my text really worked. You quickly underestimate the importance of your profile, but that's your first impression."

I also keep expanding my repertoire with everything I learn. The more songs I have, the greater the chance someone will find exactly the one song they're looking for. That makes it easier for people to find me.

"I keep adding to my repertoire with everything I learn. The more songs I have, the greater the chance that someone will find the song they're looking for and find me."

But ultimately, it's also about the performance itself. You simply have to deliver something good. Many requests come from repeat clients. If you make an impression, your network grows naturally. So I really engage in conversation with my clients. What exactly does someone want? What should the moment mean? I try to let the client be the director of their own event. They can provide a list, specifying how, what, where, and when. I fully cater to that.

"I try to let the client be the director of his own event."

And of course, the customization. That remains the core. If someone wants something special and I can make it happen, I will. When I see someone touched by what I play, it touches me too. That's incredibly satisfying."

"Customization is key. When I see someone being touched by what I play, it touches me too. That's incredibly satisfying."

What do you do differently during a performance?

"I'm flexible. I don't play by the minute. If I have to start at five o'clock and I'm already done setting up by four-thirty, I just start playing quietly. That way, I set the mood and the tone for the evening.

And the same goes the other way around. If my hour is officially up but I'm still in the middle of a song, I just finish it. I don't cut it off abruptly because the clock says so. For me, it's not about exactly sixty minutes. It's about the moment. When people are into a song, I don't want to interrupt that feeling. Customers really appreciate that, and I see that reflected in my reviews."

Eddie Solomon demonstrates that growth on ShowBird isn't a coincidence, but the result of conscious choices. By embracing his niche, continually enhancing his profile, and continuously investing in his repertoire, he's managed to expand his bookings year after year. The key success factor? Customized service and genuine engagement. By actively involving clients in the process and giving them the space to prioritize their wishes, they become, as it were, the directors of their own event.