Press Kits vs. Myspace

[fatbassman]

It's the electronic age right? Yeah, well aparently many club owners are still old school and want to have a physical press kit in hand... I get it, there are times when a PK would be great to give out... I just don't know how big of an investment I should be thinking here... That's where you all come in. Spend 500+ on a great PK or just make simple PK's that point people in th direction of our website and our myspace?

[ChiefLongDong]

If you have the resources then do it, otherwise, spend money on studio time or whatever other gear you need to get the band sound you want, and jazz up your myspace.

[DudeistMonk]

You don't have to spend $500 on a press kit. I don't see press kits every day, but I remember a thing or from press kits that came into the office where I used to work (from bands and acts that used the college auditorium).

You just need:

A demo CD (that is on you anyway)

Photos of you band. (put a live shot and a group shot in there printed on photo paper)

A write up about the band, where you are from, what makes you so ground breaking ext.

Equipment list

Photocopies of articles or reviews

A list of places you've played

A few business cards

List of Demands (if your the Stones)


Just make it look really neat and professional. You should be able to make like 20 of these for $50 bucks in an afternoon.

[runmikeyrun]

no need to over do it- only send press kits to those who REQUIRE it. When i was booking a space, it didn't matter how awesome a press kit i got, i still might not book them because they sucked. Plain and simple. Plus myspace is easier, you just hit the reply button and type away. BUT... I think some places still require a kit because they're old fashioned, like to get free cds, or like to get better details but mostly i think it's to weed out the lazy weekend warriors who aren't going to bust their ass to promote a show because they're too lazy to make a press kit in the first place. A professional looking press kit says you're more motivated than most of the other bands out there, and therefore more likely to practice regularly, work to promote a show, have a following, and will follow through. This is the impression you want to give. Think of a press kit as your band's resume- you wouldn't apply for a job with your resume hand written on a piece of notebook paper, right?

Whenever i sent out kits for shows or to try to get a record signed, I had the stuff listed above in it. I tried to consolidate it, no one wants to read through 10 pieces of paper especially if they're opening a bunch of kits per day. I had one standard 8x10 promo photo, a page with a short (2-3 sentence) bio, 3 one or two sentence blurbs from reviews of previous material/performances, and a list of big shows and bands we'd played with, narrowed down to the top 5 biggest bands because, again, no one wants to read 20 band names. For your cd, make sure it is professional looking (doesn't have to be pro pressed, just looks neat- no handwritten cd-rs) and is of the best sound quality you can afford to have. We've gotten three record deals out of that simple of a press kit.

Your bio is the most important since it should include, in a nutshell, how many guys in the band, the style (omit comparisons or other bands- this leads to too high of expectations by the listener- leave that for the reviews), how long you've been playing, and where you plan to go from where you're at right now. Don't make it too long winded or people will stop reading half way through. Be concise and to the point.

Don't forget all methods of contact info: mailing address, phone, email, myspace, website, facebook, etc. Some people will only use the phone or only email so include every kind of correspondence. And it goes without saying to check your messages every day.

[IanStephenson]

MySpace just screams "bunch of teenagers who want to get drunk with their friends and pretend they've got a real gig". Of course that's not always true, but it does brand you a bit. Also remember that everytime you put "myspace.com/blahblahblah36" on a poster everyone remembers the free ad for myspace and never remembers what your part that gets them to your band.

However a good website, with links to your myspace embeded works well - it is basically on online press pack. More and more places that we call are very happy to just check the website - listen to a few tracks, see the gig list and book is on the basis of that. It is easier for everyone - we don't have to make/post anything and the venue can listen to the stuff immediatly, and get more reliable info than from a press pack. They also don't end up with piles CD's cluttering the place...

BUT - the big BUT... (heheh - he said big but!) some places don't like that. Some venues simply don't have fast internet (I know!!!). Others just prefer the system they've always used. At least one venue round here has a very strong web prescense but only accept press packs because they get 20 emails a day from bands asking for gigs. Asking for something in the post weeds out 90% of those - the ones who can't be bothered to put something together, probably aren't going to put much effort into anything else.

The physical press pack also has the advantage that if the venue is booked up but likes you then they may put your CD into the "yes" pile, and call you back a few months later. Your website is gone as soon as they click on a link from the next band.

Basically you need to rememeber that you want to make it EASY for the venue to book you. Call them up (email is great for follow up/confirmation) and/or arrange to visit them, and ask them what THEY want - some will want a press pack, some want a website, some willprefer both. If you were applying for a job you'd read the application instructions - some have form, some want a letter, some want a CV, some you tell them you worked with their cousin Dave on a construction job... Do things their way, and you might get the job. Do it your way, and you won't.

[sevenyearsdown]

It all depends what level of expectations you have for your band. My band is just a trio of hobbyists who like to play a couple of times a month, so we just do the myspace thing and try to establish good relationships with the places we like to play.

In general if a place says they need a press kit, we don't persue them any further...but like I said - we are just hobbyists happy to play at the corner pub for 30 people.

If you are looking to compete for gigs, make it, or anything along those lines...then yes a press kit is probably a good idea.

[Bongolation]

Press kits?

I'm not saying they're always a waste of money, but I sent skows full of those things to the Staten Island landfill when I had my fifteen minutes as a NYC music bigshot.

The interns got the T-shirts and anything they couldn't wear or sell as scrap went into the dumpster.

Work on a really, really good website and try not to make asses of yourselves in pompous, ungrammatical "statements." They're sure a lot cheaper to update when you go through various inevitable changes.

You'll save money, and if you still think you need press kits, go ahead afterward.

[gregoire1]

We just made a press kit. (to get a specific gig). This band already dad a demo cd and the band leader is an amature photographer. It was very simple and straight forward. I hope it works!

[Zappstorius]

[quote=IanStephenson;6889553]MySpace just screams "bunch of teenagers who want to get drunk with their friends and pretend they've got a real gig".QUOTE]

I completely disagree with this. EVERY band that I know of, major label, indie or unsigned has a myspace page. Most venues do as well.

Now if you're trying to book Fillmore West, for example, myspace might not be the best way to contact them...but for most "clubs" myspace is fine.

A press kit is great for places that NEED A PRESS KIT. It most definatley should be part of your arsenal, but IMO myspace, a website & a press kit go hand in hand. It's not an either/or senario. It's a both.

[D.A.R.K.]

[quote=Zappstorius;6914040]

Originally Posted by IanStephenson

MySpace just screams "bunch of teenagers who want to get drunk with their friends and pretend they've got a real gig".QUOTE]

I completely disagree with this. EVERY band that I know of, major label, indie or unsigned has a myspace page. Most venues do as well.

Now if you're trying to book Fillmore West, for example, myspace might not be the best way to contact them...but for most "clubs" myspace is fine.

A press kit is great for places that NEED A PRESS KIT. It most definatley should be part of your arsenal, but IMO myspace, a website & a press kit go hand in hand. It's not an either/or senario. It's a both.

+1
download the kit to a hard copy if they must have one and send it.

[IanStephenson]

Originally Posted by Zappstorius

I completely disagree with this. EVERY band that I know of, major label, indie or unsigned has a myspace page.

Of course most band's HAVE a myspace, but it's not their primary contact/official public face. www.myspace.ca/rush2112 may be your chance to pretend you know Ged' but rush.com goes on the posters. Which one looks like a serious band?

MySpace _WAS_ a great way to keep fans involved, but it's a poor public image. It also puts you three years behind the fashion. MySpace is dead (at least in the UK). All the "cool kids" left when their parents started setting up accounts.

Do it all, but when you need to contact a business, then look like a business.