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As the owner of an independent record label, I am often asked how to put together a great press kit. I found that young musicians understand their music, but are often intimidated by the marketing end of the year. This article will help you understand how to position, if it is a Latin singer build their base, or a group upstart garage just looking for a break to be.
What is a press kit:
First, there is nothing magical about theTerm "press kit". All we are talking about some 'history on you / your band, some basic facts, good quotes of music, some good photos, and a sample of your music. You can use this to newspapers, lawyers, radio stations, sending A & R representatives, promoters and anyone who is willing to spend five minutes to review your material. Furthermore, the Internet, there is talk of a mail address or EPS. An EPS is exactly the same as a conventional press kit,unless there is an electronic file instead of a paper which will be posted for download.
The main purpose of the press kit is to arouse the interest of artists and their music.
What's included:
Includes a limited amount of basic information about yourself. It 'nice to say where it came from, but no one really wants to hear talk of a power that you like to sing at primary school. Sometimes less is more.
Talk about your music. Who do you soundhow, and who have music as a memory of das The reader must be able to have a good idea of what the music sounds like just from your description. Be nice and feel to be free, here (a bit 'strange, but stay professional). Something to say how your band sounds like a cross between "Maroon 5 and Green Day after 20 cups of coffee" helps the reader to understand. Remember, if you do not generate enough interest in the first minute, they will never listen to your demo.
Talk about whatAre good. What makes your relationship special and is different from others? What skills and experience to bring to the table? Remember, if you are looking for a recording contract, it must demonstrate to your readers that you have to spend all the right ingredients for them to have hundreds of thousands of dollars in marketing. Introduction of a new artist is risky, so it is necessary to help the record exec understand why you are a good investment.
Include data and / or magazine clippings as you generate them. GoodQuote from a reputable source (not your brother-in-law) can be a lot of credibility to your press kit. It allows the reader to know that it has already been reviewed and your material is worth hearing. Ninety percent of press kits unfortunately end up in the trash can do some good business and an overview of the positive moment that is required to listen to marry, and who knows – maybe even become famous.
Possible) with a side of a bio (biography, and a separate page focused on quotes providedAbout music, or you can combine the two, what some call a "pager". My personal preference is to cook everything on a closure of a pager. My desk is cluttered with papers and separate. If you are quoted is separated from your biography, there is a possibility that I may move one way or another. With the advent of digital photography and high quality color printer, you can also have a small image on a pager to make it even more complete.
DoEnsure that the language and the general tone of the press are in line with your photo. If you have someone to help you write your biography, be sure to listen to music and know what you all first hand about having something that sounds a great power, but not the real you.
Add a couple different 8×10 pictures that show different characteristics about you and your band. Includes photographs, it is appropriate in a news article would be, but also highlight your business from a visualPerspective. Your press kit should look professional, but the pictures should reflect your style and your music so that your image is much more crazy and creative. Be sure to clearly label the image with your name and contact information.
If you do not have a good picture of your band, one of the best ways to find common ground, you go to a modeling agency and request a postponement of a good local photographer. The photographers are often willing to do a great work for about $ 300 for the entirePackage. Make sure you have an agreement in advance that you are the copyright after the shot and get high resolution digital images on your CD (with a version of this page) you can picture them in any more pressure reseller. A photographer working with models is a very different place from a photographer, the photos of the family. They have a much better idea of what you want, you will encourage your creativity, and are much more willing to give the copyright.
A sheet of the current agreement canalso be useful showing where you last played and where you play in the near future. This can be shown that the actual music and follow in the community.
And of course the music. Send a demo CD of good quality, better addressed if we allow it. Avoid burning your CDs on your computer at home with a stick on the label – it seems cheap. There are many new CD duplication services on the Internet that you want the production of a CD with a color printed, andPrint on CD, even if you only have a few copies (CD replication is for batches over 1,000, but the duplication of CDs in batches as small as 1). Expect prepared with about $ 5 retail disc for 1-5 CDs to pay, with the fall of prices for larger batches. Be sure to clear name for the CD and the issue with you the name and contact information. The worst thing in the world, what might happen, who love music, but have already lost the rest of the press kit and do not knowThe name of the band.
What not to include:
Did not too expensive. To say that you love the greatest band that ever lived will be corrected, but not likely. Being positive and promote themselves, but focus on statements that are credible. The people in the world of music to listen to hype all the time, and most of them are deaf. HYPE is good for use with the general public about things such as posters (often think), but your press kit reader is more sophisticated and willas the cheap theatricality.
Also includes much of your personal history, it can act as an amateur with a fleshy tell anything. Your readers want to understand the music of today, only your psychologist needs to know every detail of your childhood.
Include everything that makes it even more desperate. You want to participate as a standard of professional artists. Remember that your great music. If your band is called the Chicken Heads, then it might be too sweetinclude a rubber chicken in the box, but otherwise I would stick to the basics – bio, quotes, concert sheet, pictures and music.
How to Package E:
Add a professional look, personal cover letter to the person sending the press kit targeted. Your message should be different if it is sent to an A & R rep, on a label seeking a record deal than to send to your local newspaper for a revision in their music section. Be brief and to the point. Also,clearly and precisely state what you want from them.
All together in a package organized. How likely mailing your press kits, make sure that the CD does not turn the photos and that your kit will look like you want. You might also want to try a press kit (it is sent across the country to the wrong address, and then return to sender address) to rate the packaging.
Their music is art, but in your printBusiness:
Remember to be professional. The person you are sending this to the press will probably be hundreds of them, most of them are garbage (and it is there that end up too). Their music is his wild and crazy, but your press kit should be more like corporations. Asks someone to spend their precious time to read your material. You can also ask to be expensive, with a high risk of financial relationship with you. The person you are dealing with it in the musicSociety, have to earn their livelihood. The only way they can do with a lot of talent, a lot has. By presenting a professional package that gives them the confidence that you are dedicated to making great music, and not just joking.
A word of unsolicited press kit:
Do not waste your time and money sending a press kit to someone you have not already spoken. Call is always in contact and first ask who you are and what their process, to be transmitted. If possible, havesomeone to whom the person as a mediator and make the initial introduction (this can work miracles, white). The music is all about creating contacts and use the network. After sending the press kit, please call in a few weeks and do the follow-up, which has received, and has the opportunity to review it.
Example
To see an example of a press kit, visit the Web site at http://www.legendvega.com Legend Vega.
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