Press Kits?

manmountain8 · #1 04-05-2008, 02:53 PM

I am writing up a press kit for our band and I'm not sure what to do. We are trying to get gigs at local clubs and also bigger festivals. I have looked up how to write a press kit online and I followed a template. It's got a cover with the band logo, a picture, band genre and basic contact info. The next sheet is the bio which has 3 paragraphs and takes up most of the page. Then we have a cd with four songs with contact info on the CD, a picture page, a song list page with 20 originals and 10 covers, an equipment list page, and finally a page with all of our contact info.
Now I've got some guy from another band telling me that the bio is too long, but I should make the song list longer, ect. I've looked up some more info and discovered that a lot of bands just make a one sheet press kit for clubs. Should I make it shorter? Should I do a 1 sheet? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks...

Spinal Tapper · #2 04-07-2008, 03:10 PM

The shorter the better my friend. Anyone who you want looking at it doesn't want to look at it for more than 15 seconds tops.

Get a decent pic, a short bio, maybe some press (if you have any) and your CD. Good luck!

mattq · #3 04-07-2008, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spinal Tapper

The shorter the better my friend. Anyone who you want looking at it doesn't want to look at it for more than 15 seconds tops.

Get a decent pic, a short bio, maybe some press (if you have any) and your CD. Good luck!

ditto. also, don't make it look like the press kit is compensating for something. short bio, contact info, four song cd (or the whole album depending on what you have), and press.

manmountain8 · #4 04-07-2008, 04:43 PM

So no equipment list? Should I make it a 1 sheet?

manmountain8 · #5 04-07-2008, 04:44 PM

No song list?

Spinal Tapper · #6 04-07-2008, 04:58 PM

I don't think you need a song list or equipment list...

You probably want to mention your genre in your bio, but songs not necessary. And as far as equipment goes - anyone receiving your press kit would hopefully assume you all have professional equipment. And if you don't then you should get some...

manmountain8 · #7 04-07-2008, 05:01 PM

Ok, sounds good. Was I going off of a Press kit template for record companies or something? We already got a record deal, just can't get a gig because no one knows who we are.

ErebusBass · #8 04-07-2008, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manmountain8

Ok, sounds good. Was I going off of a Press kit template for record companies or something? We already got a record deal, just can't get a gig because no one knows who we are.

Is it just me or does that seem backwards... I thought it usually happened the other way around. And if no one knows how you are, who do you manage to get a "record deal?"

manmountain8 · #9 04-07-2008, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ErebusBass

Is it just me or does that seem backwards... I thought it usually happened the other way around. And if no one knows how you are, who do you manage to get a "record deal?"

It's a small indie label in the netherlands. Our guitar player has an AAS degree in recording, and he happens to be a badass guitar player. He had a record deal with a sony affiliate in the 90's with another band too. The dude in the netherlands got a hold of demo and liked it so he signed us. Lineup changes have forced us to postpone our first album, and we've had to break in a new drummer and keyboard player, so we haven't been playing out. Hope that explains it.

Spinal Tapper · #10 04-07-2008, 05:57 PM

Fair enough.

I imagine your record label would have some sort of press kit for you guys...either that or I would ask your experienced guitar player to help put one together...

How come you're in charge of this???

**butchblack** · #11 04-07-2008, 09:00 PM

I'm of the one page is enough for local gigs faction. Get a good band photo, 1 page bio with the first paragraph clearly explaining what kind(s) of music you are doing. Have your contact info on that page also. Add your CD and you should be fine. Make sure your first song on your CD is your strongest and representative of what you're doing.

mattq · #12 04-07-2008, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manmountain8

So no equipment list? Should I make it a 1 sheet?

save the equipment list for the rider. if you have a label, make sure to include their corporate logo somewhere. not huge or anything, just so it's there. yeah probably do a one sheet. good picture, short bio, press reviews, ALL contact info, label logo, cd. it's enough information to get them interested and make you seem legit

manmountain8 · #13 04-08-2008, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spinal Tapper

Fair enough.

I imagine your record label would have some sort of press kit for you guys...either that or I would ask your experienced guitar player to help put one together...

How come you're in charge of this???

The label has only heard an older demo from us. Their website just says that we've postponed the release of our album. Our guitar player can't even spell. His bio was a jumbled mess of run on sentences. I am a good writer and my girlfriend is a pro photographer and graphic artist. That's why I'm in charge.

megadan · #14 04-09-2008, 02:02 PM

The answer to any question about "press kits" is generally:

www.sonicbids.com

That is assuming you're a band looking to move up, as I think the OP is. For cover bands it's probably not as useful.

EADG mx · #15 04-09-2008, 02:05 PM

I'd put an equipment list/PA requirements if you're sending the kit to a venue or music festival. If it's a label etc, don't bother.

manmountain8 · #16 04-10-2008, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by megadan

The answer to any question about "press kits" is generally:

www.sonicbids.com

That is assuming you're a band looking to move up, as I think the OP is. For cover bands it's probably not as useful.

We had sonicbids last year and we got like one gig from it. I submitted to 50 some festivals and didn't get squat. We just have to get out there somehow because no one knows who we are.

manmountain8 · #17 04-10-2008, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EADG mx

I'd put an equipment list/PA requirements if you're sending the kit to a venue or music festival. If it's a label etc, don't bother.

I just finished up our one sheet. Should I try to squeeze it on there after the bio? How important is the Equipment list?

megadan · #18 04-10-2008, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manmountain8

We had sonicbids last year and we got like one gig from it. I submitted to 50 some festivals and didn't get squat. We just have to get out there somehow because no one knows who we are.

The thing you have to realize (Sonicbids users in general) is that it's not Sonicbid's job to get you shows (all though they try to make you think they can do that)... it's just a tool to replace physical press kits.

The way you "get out there" is not by sitting in front of your computer emailing people who've never heard of you to try and play huge festivals.

The one, and only*, way to "get out there" is to get out there and tour. Play shows in as many towns as you can, then play them again, and again, and again. Back and forth across the country.

Also, you have to not suck (not saying you do, I've never heard your band). If you do those two things, you've made it. There's no shortcut, no trick, no magic formula. You get out there, and you kick ass in front of people. That's the way it is, the way it always has been, and the way it always will be.

Once you do that for long enough, festivals will be emailing YOU trying to book you.

*unless you get an iPod commercial

manmountain8 · #19 04-10-2008, 04:40 PM

Yah, I know we just have to get out there somehow. We might be playing at a global marijuana march in May in front of 500 people which will be great exposure. It has been really tough trying to break in to this click in MN though. It's this psychedelic hippy folk thing that's run by Wookiefoot and MJG Productions and they think we're just too hard for them. The rock clubs can't fit us either because were to groovy. I don't know, maybe we just suck. Tell me what you think.

http://www.myspace.com/SlyMcGee

BigLoopDuke · #20 04-10-2008, 04:58 PM

One of the reasons you may feel the cold shoulder is that it takes multiple contacts to develop relationships. Honestly, they (clubs, festivals, labels, fans) don't care. There are plenty of other bands to fill the slots. I spend more time cultivating our database than any other activity. (We run our own label, though) It's a full-time job that is really inconvenient with my real full-time job.

I've spent the better part of a year growing our database of clubs, publications, etc and it starts with an introduction. This could be an EPK, it could be a phone call, it could be an email or MySpace invite. Just get on their radar. I've found the Indie Bible to be pretty user friendly too and the Musicians Atlas. Both have given us a bit of traction. We provide a rather descriptive stage plot with all of the connections to the FOH or soundboard. It would help if my GAS didn't keep changing stuff, but whatever...

We've stopped with the hard copies of anything. Too much $$$ wasted for what we do. We also sell the majority of our music through iTunes. Plus, all of these groups are overwhelmed by bands' materials, so the turnaround between communications are getting to be longer and longer cycles.

But, I feel your pain. We're a hip-hop BAND that's trying to find a niche. Cornfed radio has no place for us, but the Internet does and that's been our focus.

If you want to get cemented into your community scene, figure out which local music committees are active and participate. It's meetings and constant crap, but it's networking and contacts. I'd kill for the opportunity to be part of the Twin Cities thing.