Press Kits and Backlines

[bbass75]

Janek,

I was wondering if you send press kits to all or most of the venues that you book around the UK area. I know some places require them and some don't, I was just wondering what your overall experience is and if you don't mind sharing what you send in and with your press kit that would be great too.

I was also wondering about what you do about gear when your on tour. I know a lot of the players you take with you on tour are endorsed so that probably helps but I was wondering what you do in situations where no backline is given and you don't have any gear with you. Thanks!

James

 

[user3653753]

I attached the press kit I send out to the clubs so you can check out what it looks like.

The reality of sending anything anywhere be it via email or snail mail in the physical form, is that you're going to get about 2% reaction to it. You send 100 press releases out and you might get two replies. So you can imagine the amount of material I send out to put a tour together that has 20 or more concerts on it. In fact, take the club in your home town of san diego "dizzy's", I can't even get a reply out of them, and they seem to have no interest of bringing a band like this to their club at all.

The only real way to book a successful tour is to build up contacts as a sideman on the road with other people, and then capitalize on them later on by contacting those people you've already met with the promotional material for your own group.

Then as you start out with small tours into new territories you can slowly meet new people and expand the scope for the next tour.

I did a week in the UK last nov, then two weeks over the whole of europe this past april, and now I'm expanding it to almost a month that will include europe, singapore, malaysia, new zealand, australia and maybe even the united arab emirates over nov/dec this year. You just have to start somewhere small and be dedicated to getting where you're going.

As far as backline on gigs goes I tend to only take gigs in venues that can provide a large amount of the backline with their house gear. Both Jojo and I are hooked up in a big way with companies so we can call upon them to supply gear where we need it which is useful.

On the next tour I will have to get a decent sized pelican case to travel with the gear I want I think. All my pedals, CD's, T-Shirts, cables, Trumpet players pedals, Jojo's kick pedal, midi keyboard. Then carry on is bass, trumpet, cymbals and all of our laptops. I also have to try and fly star alliance everywhere so as not to be charged overweight baggage, as I'm a gold member with them and get a huge baggage allowance on any flight, plus access to their lounges so I can feed the band and relax if we have long layovers anywhere remote.

Easy,

Janek

 

[Christian Houmann]

Hey Janek

Not to be a pain in the ... but the letters is to small in your press kit to read it. I uses Mac and can't zoom in without it's all blurry.

And I would love to read, so if you have spare time to attach again it would be great

 

[user3653753]

talkbass has some kind of compression on attachments which makes them a 1/4 the size of their original quality. that kind of sucks. PM me you email address and I'll send them to you if you like.

Easy,

Janek

 

[Kobaia]

if you're looking to go to San Diego. look up the Anthology. Invalid Link Removed

there is also 2 jazz jam sessions a week. one at the south park bar and grille(all ages), and the onxy room(21+)