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*** is a press release?

mebusdriver

mebusdriver

Jun 11, 2001
900
23
42
USA, Warner Robins GA
#1
I've never had to write a press release before. But my band is playing a gig in June and the venue asked us to provide them with a press release for the show, among other things. I have no idea what this should include or what to say. I'm assuming some kind of little bio and something about the type of music we play. Anyone have any examples or ideas? Thanks.
 
#2
I would suggest
-how long you've been playing together
-big gigs you've played at
-type of music, sure
and then just ******** about how good things happen when you intertwine the musical webs of each members mind, and the sonically beautiful adaptations that are produced. **** like that :p

Do you know how long it has to be?
 
#4
mebusdriver said:
haha. no idea. but were prolly gonna go with something we were raised in the mountains and taught by ancient ninjas the secrets of sonic stringed magical sacrifices and are now drifters that only gather to practice such magic during the aligning of jupiter and mars.
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Thats.... Actually pretty awesome. Not sure if the bar would appreciate that, but its bound to get some attention.
 
#6
Here's one a little over the top, from a friend's band:

Link Removed

If you have a photo, great, if not, write a paragraph about the kind of music you play. The goal is to attract paying customers.

Also, of course, you're already posting Facebook events, etc. using your FB band page, right???

Noticing you're National Guard.... perhaps the PIO (public information/public affairs officer) will help you or suggest for you.
 
#7
This is my favorite bio, a somewhat local band called Michou have this on their Myspace.

A scientist from the future made a quantum leap back to the year 1974 and conducted an experiment in which one man would impregnate 4 separate women with 4 separate children. The 4 children were all born male, and therefore brothers from separate mothers. Following in their father's footsteps they became inner city cowboys and started a gang known to all as "the downtown rumblers". They were feared for their frequent attacks on the innocent, and their calling card: cooked macaroni noodles stuffed in shirt pockets. Citizens would walk around fearing the call "MICHOU!", which the gang would shout as they jumped from near by ice cream trucks.

The scientist, realizing the damage and randomness of his experimentation, took the inner city cowboys back into the future; the year 2011. The rumblers used their post teenage/futuristic angst to compose delicate indie music with pop sensibilities. Now their music is daring to take over the world, as the scientist sits back and collects 15% publishing rights, and an additional 5% on any gross over $200,000. The band, paying homage to their previous attack call, "michou" decided to name the group as such. Now we look to the future and watch their destinies unfold.
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:D
 
#8
As a former newspaper staffer, I can tell you that ... jokey press releases may be funny to the band and their friends, but they'll do nothing to help you get attention for your band and/or the special event you're promoting. Those releases will go straight to the trash.

So don't waste time getting overly creative with the release. Instead, provide something useful, like a brief description of the music, some info about any major gigs or recordings you've done, and maybe some very brief bio sketches of each band member. And don't forget to include email/phone contact info for one point person (not everyone in the band). If the press release is sent via email, include links to places where folks can hear your music, and to your Facebook page or ReverbNation (or similar) sites.

If you want the release to be read and acted on (i.e., generate a blurb or other mention in your local paper/online publication), keep the information short and sweet, and, when it comes to a show/event that you're promoting, don't forget to provide ALL the details - date of event, start time, admission cost, address of venue, phone number of venue, link to venue site.

Can't tell you how many times that I received "press releases" from bands that left out half of the necessary details. You can't expect a media person (the few still left at the few media outlets still left) to do your work for you.
 
#10
Print matters!

The point of a press release is so that if you luck out and get any ink, you give the journalist accurate and useful info and prevent them from ignoring or misrepresenting you. At the very least the band should communicate where they come from, their experience, and what kind of music should be expected. No body is going fill in that info for you, and you should take ownership of the impression you make in print.

True story: Recently we played 3 band bill benefit concert. My band and another had a one sheet press kit ([Invalid or Expired Link Removed]), and the third band, the ONES actually who busted a$$ organizing the event, dragged their feet getting any kind of info together for promotional purposes. When the local weekly rag gave the event some ink, that band wasn't even mentioned or given due credit in print.
 
#11
Are you sure YOU have to write a full press release? Usually the venue compiles and releases a press release, which consists of info supplied by the acts. The venue really appreciates it if they just can cut-and-paste that info you supply into their press release, rather than edit nonsensical inside references and so on that makes them look bad.:)

The idea is that people who have never heard of you and your music will have some real information to help understand what your band is about.

Standard is a little bio, style of music description, with some big name references that your band is influenced by. Whatever makes your band discernible from others. Press or fan quotes that are descriptive really help. For example a line like "Our music has been described as "searing vocals over thundering hard rock grooves" tells a stranger something about your music. "You guys rock! -my mum" is not a valuable recommendation in this respect...:) .
 
#14
There are websites that you can use to put together a what they call electronic press kit for your band. Sonic Bids (sonicbids.com) is one my band used in the past. Just Google it and also there is a lot of good information of what it should contain. Anything from contact info, music samples, pictures to where you played, how many Facebook fans your band has, etc.
 
#15
In your press release, give the facts; Band Name,location of show, address, times the show starts and\or doors open. Cover charge is there is one, Genre of the music. If the show is a benefit for a charity put that in. If you can include some quotes from either previous reviews or even people you spoken with. But make sure the quotes are relevant.
The press release is advertising, advertising is extremely important. Advertising is just as important as the set list and knowing the chord changes. Most likely no matter how awesome your show is going people are not goig to hear the music from a mile away and rush to the show. The press release is an opportunity to reach out to people that are slightly interested, so you got to hook them.

In your press release do say what you sound like, and maybe what instruments you use. In my band we have a fiddler and a bagpiper. Its amazing how many people will come just to hear the pipes.

So write all this kind of info down on a page then start rearranging it so it flows.
 
#17
invader3k said:
I've never gotten the point of band press releases. Maybe it's just my area, I've never really even seen one used by other bands.
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Yes, heaven forbid ever doing different from what every other band is doing!

If you want to stand out from a crowd, just look at what everybody else in the crowd is doing to stand out & do what they do.
 
#18
JohnMCA72 said:
Yes, heaven forbid ever doing different from what every other band is doing!

If you want to stand out from a crowd, just look at what everybody else in the crowd is doing to stand out & do what they do.
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OK, there's no need to be snarky. I could type out a press release right now for my band, but chances are it wouldn't be used anywhere relevant, at least in the near future. I actually have been in bands that have been interviewed for events. A press release wasn't needed then, either.
 
#19
I write a few dozen press releases a year as part of my day job so I have a little experience with these things.

If you really want to get deluxe you can have the press release include a quote from your bandleader / frontperson and if you want to get in good with the venue have the quote say something nice about them as well. If they have a reputation for great live entertainment, say that. Or if it's a festival that's been going X number of years, drop a reference to that. If it's a respected and well known venue, it's completely appropriate to ride that credibility and get some of it for your band by association. Don't go totally over the top to where you're obviously shining them on, but if you can prop the venue as well as getting some ink for your band, you both win and the venue will have good feelings about your band before you even play.
 

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