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By Mike Barry
Band press kits have long served an important role for bands, booking agents,
managers, record labels, and media outlets. Essentially, musicians are best
presented to the public when they maintain a degree of control over the way
their look, sound, and style are discussed by others. The primary objective
of a press pack is to clearly demonstrate these characteristics in a simple,
easy-to-follow way.
Respecting Tradition
Prior to the internet, narrow protocols
governed the creation of a band's press materials. Most bands included a black-and-white
photograph, a one-page written bio at around a 500 word count, and a CD copy
of a 3-song demo or recent album release.
The photographs usually included a white border at the bottom with contact,
label, and management information. However, these customs are less important
in the Information Age as labels, media representatives, and concert promoters
are likely to rely on services like Google to find out further information.
Choosing the Right Group Photo for Your Band
The photograph
will probably be the first item in your press pack to get pored over by the
recipient. Music industry professionals put serious consideration into the
looks of the artists with whom they work. This is an unfortunately superficial
reality. It is wise to spend some money and hire a professional photographer.
If the funds aren't there to do this, you can always get a friend with a nice
camera to take some shots. Witty or quirky photos are acceptable, as they help
your band stand out among the many submissions professionals typically receive.
However, take care to ensure that each band member can be seen clearly in the
shot as the primary purpose of the photo is to demonstrate their appearance.
Writing a Bio
You might choose to write your own bio or to pay
a professional writer to do so on your behalf. Either option is acceptable
provided that the results are of sufficient quality. A traditional bio is written
in the third person. It is probably a good idea to keep your bio at or around
500 words in length. Anything longer risks going unread, and anything shorter
implies that the band does not have much history. The tone should express a
band's attitude in a fun and readable way while also demonstrating key career
benchmarks. If you play over 200 shows a year, have a music video, or have
an album out on a prominent label, these pieces of information should appear
in the bio. These specific details are what artist reps at musical equipment
companies look for when determining who should be offered free equipment in
exchange for an endorsement.
Choosing Songs for Your Demo
Bands often have lots of different
songs with different feels. It can be hard to choose the ones that best represent
your sound. The most effective choices are those that your audience enjoys
the most. Choose songs that have a clean, crisp recording; poorly recorded
demos might dim some of the excitement in a band's sound. Songs that feature
exciting parts in the beginning are especially useful as many music industry
executives skim through the first seconds of each track when evaluating the
styles of bands.
For labels, management companies, and booking agencies, online statistics
are often more important metrics to consider when judging the commercial viability
of bands. As a result, press kits are becoming less critical when interacting
with these types of professionals. Electronic press kits are an alternative
that might be more compelling to music industry execs. However, music news
websites and magazines prefer physical press kits as many reviewers enjoy collecting
CDs and materials from bands. Build a great press kit and present yourself
to the music industry in your own unique style!
Mike Barry from Gazzmic writes articles of interest to music industry professionals.
Common topics include social media, press kits, and general business tips for
musicians. Gazzmic is a revolutionary new company that is building a simple
content management system for bands. Musicians are invited to apply for the
company's closed beta program; participants will be able to promote their music
over a free custom mobile application platform for the iPhone and Android Market.
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