Press Kit Help?

[Syyle]

My band and I are looking at a huge box of CDs of our latest album. We are thinking of making up press kits to send out to local/regional venues.

 

What sort of information do we need to include? Do we need things like a Cover Letter, Stage format, song list (we are originals only), etc etc.

 

And how formal/stylized do these need to be? Do venues look for a flashier press kit, or one that is more straight forward and has the information readily available?

 

OR, is a press kit even needed in this day and age? Should we count the CDs as lost revenue, and look more towards an electronic press kit?

 

Thanks for any help.

[daddymack]

what, pray tell, is on these CDs?

 

A good presskit/promo pack should have, the basics: contact info, a brief bio, pics of the band (NO BRICK WALLS or RAILROAD TRACKS!!!), a resume of gigs/venues, reviews if you have any press, and either a sample of your music (live...they know how you can do anything and everything in a studio) or the website where samples can be heard.

 

No two venues are the same, so you should try to find a balance point between solidity and flashiness. Also you should definitely consider an EPK for e-mailing.

[richardmac]

Agree with every daddymack said, and one addition - if you want local press, try to present your band as having an interesting story - not just "we all dug the same music so we like put together a band, dude." Newspapers and magazines like the human angle, something interesting.

[Ronan Murphy]

 

and one addition - if you want local press, try to present your band as having an interesting story - not just "we all dug the same music so we like put together a band, dude." Newspapers and magazines like the human angle, something interesting.

 

 

This can not be overstated. Very Important!!!