Press Kits

Every Band has a press kit and needs one these days. What is a press kit? Well a press kit is a nice little package that tells the story of your band. Think of it as a resume that's going to get you gigs, reviews, and any other opportunities you can think of.

To start there are a few basics every press kit needs:

• A cover letter
• Band or Artist Biography
• 8 X 10 photographs (go with black and white)
• The most recent press clippings / quotes
• A Cd sample of your music
• Web site links and information
• Minimal swag or merchandise (more for reviewers and venue booker's)

These are the standards for basic press kits that you should have ready to go at any time.

First thing to start out with is a cover letter. Now your going to do a few of these for different uses. You will need a basic cover letter for getting a show, one for getting reviewed, one if you are trying for a recording deal or other industry avenues. Each letter should be directed at a specific person and should be a fairly short simple introduction.
You want to cover the basics like who you are, what you are intending to do, and what you can offer. Always write in a positive tone and thank the person you are soliciting. You don't have to go into lots of detail. If you are looking to play a show, ask if you would be able to play a show in a opening spot or as a head liner. If your trying to get a review of your new Cd, ask if you can get feedback on your music and if it would be possible to contact the person who is giving it a listen. Or ask if they can contact you.

The Biography. Should be about One page long. It needs basic details that cover what you have done, if your have made a CD, where you have played, how the band came together, some back ground on each member of the band, how the band came together, or any other odd or exciting things that have happened to the band in the last Three to Five months. Also include any information on upcoming shows, interviews, or Cd release parties or plans. Try and keep everything to one page in about 3 or 4 paragraphs. then have some one read it over before you print a bunch and send them out.

The photograph or band mug shot. You want a good 8 X 10 photo of the artist or the group. Really basic nothing to overly crazy will get things rolling. A black and white photo is usually best for reproducing if you are getting reviews in the paper. Plus the information on your web site will have colour photos of high resolution if more are needed. Always put on the back of the photo your band name, web site, contact information and names of each person in the photo. This is a good thing to do in case someone looses or has a stack of press kits at hand and can not remember what photo goes with what kit.

If you have press clippings that you can include you will want to have the most recent in each press kit. You don't need to send a whole stack of them either usually three to fire will work. keep a file with each press clipping on its own page. For each page have the mast head of the paper and then the article below or beside. Make copies and if you find good or interesting quotes you can high light these onto a separate page with the basic information you would need, For example: Mike Somebody from the Armpittville Press says " These guy rip up the stage with gut wrenching rhythms and crazy tsunami vocals that stick with you for days!"
The quotes or sound bites are also great for on web sites where you can link the quotes to an online article.

Next you will need a sample of you music. If you have a full length Cd or a 3 to 5 song sample or EP add it in, make sure all the information is with it like song order, song names, name of band is on the disc, contact information web site address. If your sending out you own recorded sample make sure you have you best songs on it. By best songs I would say most engaging, catchy and reasonably recorded. Also include a lyric sheet to each song if you go this route.

Make sure you if you have a good web site try and mirror it with your bio. Think of your band web site as an extension to your press kit. You may even want to have an area on your site for additional press kit information. Like high resolution photos, samples of your songs, more information on each band member. Your site should have most of that any way as well as any up coming shows, Cd releases, or what ever else you can think of.

For swag and give aways think simple and useful. If you have stickers put in a few or band postcards, pens, bottle cap openers, key chain or what ever you can think up. Everyone like to get free things that are useful.

Now the over all package should be neat and tidy, easy to drop into an envelope or drop off in person at venues. Remember in the end it will be the first thing people are going to see that represents you or your band. Always keep it up to date. You may want to do this on a regular basis either every month or every three months depending on how busy your become.

That is the basics of a press kit and should give you a good start.

Rock and Roll and have Fun.