DIY Press Kit

A press kit is a collection of basic information about a band or artist which is sent out to media outlets in the hopes of generating press coverage. There are three key elements to a press kit : band/artist bio, glossy, and a promo disc.

Contents 1 Bio 2 Glossy 3 Promo Disc 4 A Final Word About Presentation

[edit] Bio

There are certain things which should be stated in a band bio. The first is where the band from, and if one has traveled an unusual road to that place one now calls home, make sure to include that journey and whatever bumps one may have encountered along the way. Unique paths always catch the attention of the reader, and it is important to keep in mind that most journalists and editor see an awful lot of press kits. The idea should always be to make sure one's band stands out.

The second thing to always include in a bio are one's influences. It doesn't matter if you think your music doesn't sound anything like the music you listen to, listing influences allows people to consider a band before hearing any of its music.

As off putting as that may sound, most media outlets have more than one reviewer, or writer, and listing influences may help in your press kit getting passed along to somebody who can truly appreciate what is trying to be accomplished.

Lastly, always make sure to include a page of upcoming dates if there are any shows booked. Even if the press kit recipient is interested in a band, there's a good chance the reader will not put forth the effort of finding out when the next show is if its not included in this kit.

[edit] Glossy

Glossy is an industry term which refers to a promotional picture of band/artists which is included in things such as press kits. Traditionally, these pictures are 8X10s with a gloss finish (hence the term "glossy").

It doesn't really matter if the picture has a matte or gloss finish, it is recommended that one stick with the 8" X 10" size. This allows the recipent to get a good look at an artist, which may be helpful should looks play a large part in a band or artists' creative endeavors. The 8" X 10" sizing is also convient for the one putting together the press kit as it can be easily included with other materials.

If one should decide to take your own glossy, instead of hiring a photographer, here are a few tips and ideas.

• Digital photography is ideal. Even if one has to be purchased for this reason, in most cases the price of the camera will be cheaper than hiring a professional. Many major chain drug stores and discount retailers such as Target sell disposable digital cameras.

• Just like their non-disposable counter parts, throw away digital cameras have the option of deleting bad shots and often retail for $20-$30 apiece.

• After a final image has been decided upon developing and reproducing the image is just as simple as taking it. Many retailers offer online photo drop off of digital pictures which allows one to upload the pictures onto their site, and then order prints from home.

• The average price for the development of an 8" X 10" is two dollars each, but the price per print usually decreases when ordering in bulk.

[edit] Promo Disc

It is imperative that a disc with at least some music is included in your press kit. It doesn't matter if its only a four song sampler, or an entire album, don't take the chance that based on your bio and glossy that the writer in question is going to be so interested that they're going to hunt down your web or myspace page to find out what the band sounds like.

The thing which one should make sure of, in regards to a promo disc, other than including a disc that is, make sure that the name of the band is on the actual disc. This helps to ensure that the proper artist is associated with their music.

[edit] A Final Word About Presentation

Once these items have been compiled, put them all together in a folder before sending them out. The folder doesn't have to be anything flashy, Atlantic Records, for example, sends out all of its press kits in simple black folders with just the name of the label on the front.

Of course, one could decide to design an entire folder with their name on it (as some have) and send that out, but its not necessary.

Share this: