|
Band Press Kits are an integral
part of any musicians band or a music career. Sometimes they are referred
to as media kits or an artist bio. Band Press Kits are used for music
promotion, music publicity, booking agents, and band promotion. We will
attempt to show you how to create a successful band press kit for band
promotion. Below you
will find sample press kit information, musician press kit ideas, and band press
kit tips. Basically, you would send your press kit and demo to a venue if
you want to secure a gig or show for your garage band or local band. Press
Kits are also given to booking agents to book your band or act. They would
take a copy of your press kit and demo and decide if they want to book your
indie music act. If you would like to see a
Band Press Kit Sample Outline try this link.
Listed below are a few ideas to help get your local band, garage band,
solo career, or songwriter career off the ground. If you are a local
band or garage band target clubs that usually book your genre of music.
Check out your local music newspapers to see what genre of music plays in
certain clubs etc. Submit your Band Press Kit to these venues or
clubs. Songwriters or indie music acts should send their press kits to
record companies, producers, or music publishers that accept their type of music
also. Hopefully, with some of the press kit ideas below, you could take
steps to secure a gig, submit a demo, or move your talented garage band out of
the garage and into a gig. We will also link you to Band Press Kit
articles and Press Kit Books below.
How To Create A Successful Press Kit
Press Kit Cover - The cover of your
press kit should introduce your indie band and tell the venue or booking agent
what type of music you play. It should display your band Logo in and Eye
catching and to the point manner. Always add your contact
information whenever possible. Include your Name, Band Name, Phone number,
Address, E-mail address, Website URL, and any other contact info necessary.
Artist Bio Page - Introduce your
garage band or indie music act, tell your genre of music, names of the members,
specific info about your band or style of music, how many people in the act,
name some quality clubs that you have played, and what areas or cities do you
perform. Does your act have a sound guy for live performances or will the
venue need to provide one? Does your band have lights or a light show?
Highlight this information and any key characteristics about your act.
Include your Fan Base, (Do you have one?). Are you a Tribute band,
Original band, Acoustic act? Remember in most cases for your band to make
money or get another gig at a club, you must bring in people to see the show.
So if you don't have a fan base, Reflect upon how you will promote the show on
your website, or send flyers to the venue. If you just want to get your
bands foot in the door, the best bet is to try open mic nights, and leave your
press kit for the owner for possible future gigs.
Band Photo - If you are
serious about your band, you'll want to get some Professional 8x10's taken of
your act. The better the Picture quality, the more seriously someone
important may look into your press kit. If you can not afford
professional taken pictures, blow up some of your best band pics to 8x10.
Smaller individual shots of band members could be displayed, with a description
of the picture. Use your imagination. You may even want to include
your best picture on your cover.
Equipment Page - If you did not
cover equipment in your Artist Bio above, this is the place to do it. List
the types of equipment your band will bring to the venue. Include Brand
names, wattage of amps, whether you have a PA system, Mics, etc. If you
don't own a PA, target clubs that have there own PA. But, be aware
that you need someone to run the PA, so find out what they charge for their
sound guy or sound tech, and whether you can bring your own. Does your
band have lights and someone to run them too? All this info should be
included in your equipment page of your press kit.
Booking Information - Have a page
with contact Names, Phone, Web address, fax, and e-mail address so the venue can
find the info quickly. It's best to have booking Info all through your
press package. Also, include booking info on your indie bands demo CD's,
tapes, or flash drives that you send with your kit. I don't recommend
flash drives for bars, but more for song submission to record companies, music
sync. co.'s that ask for them.
Demo CD, Tape, or Flash Drive - A
venue or club will want to hear what they are paying for. Create a demo CD
or tape with usually no more than 3 Songs. Use your best material.
Place a label on your CD with your song titles, and all your booking
information. This is in case the club owner etc. would lose your press kit
and only had your CD, he would still be able to contact you. Make your CD
or Tape look and sound as professional as possible. This will get the
venue's attention, and make them listen to your indie material and possibly book
your act.
Song List - Place a list of some of
the material your rock band performs in your press kit. Include a list of
your best Cover Songs, Original Music, and any other material you may want to
add.
Gig Sheet - Include a gig sheet of
where you have played or where your band will be gigging in the future.
Newspaper Clippings (Copies) and CD Reviews - Obviously if your
local band or your act is just starting out, you will not have clippings just
yet. But, why not contact your local municipal paper, college paper, city
paper, etc, and see if they would cover one of your shows. You would be
surprised at the response you can get, especially from local municipal or school
newspapers. Include any copies of Newspaper Clippings in your press kit.
It's more professional to scan the clipping or find it online and attach the
file to your word document. This shows credibility and that your an established
act.
Business Cards - Include your indie
acts business card in your press kit. If you do not have any band business
cards you can get them made at many copy stores. Programs like
Microsoft Word or Word Perfect are great for making Band Business Cards.
Most Computer word processors include business card templates. They can be
made fairly easy with a printer and business card paper. Always give your
business card out at shows. You never know what person in the crowd may
have significant contacts. Include Band Name, Contact Name, Phone, Website URL,
E-mail address, and any eye catching fonts or graphics (if possible) on all your
Band Business Cards.
Press Kit Envelope - Even your
envelope including your Press Kit should catch the club owner or bookers eye.
Use a loud color, or place stickers on your envelope that may catch a venue
owners eye. Your indie act may want to be more conservative w/ submissions
to record companies, but be inventive and get them to open your press kit and
listen to your indie demos.
Need Affordable Server Space
- Host your Band Website or Online Press Kit On I Power. They are
one of the most affordable Hosting Companies around with great customer service
and web creation tools.
Press Kit Articles & Tips - Here are links
to a few good press kit articles to help construct your Band press kit.
Music Industry Books for DIY Musicians
|
