Press Package?

RLeahey14 · Post by **RLeahey14** » Monday Feb 18, 2008

I wasn't sure where to post this or if there is another thread already on this subject could someone please point me in that direction.

But I was wondering what all should be included in a press packet for a band and other things such as where do you hand these out to use for promotional purposes. The last thing I was wondering is if it is worth it to have a press package to hand out because playing heavy metal I know it would probably turn more bars away then getting them to book us for shows. Thanks for anyone who helps.

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Monday Feb 18, 2008

8x10 photo, CD, short bio (single page with a paragraph for each member, FACTS ONLY -- no buzz words), press page with any mentions you've had in the press, and a cover page written directly to the person you're giving the kit to stating why you want to play there, along with your contact info. All in a binder like you'd use for a term paper.
These are not to be handed out willy-nilly. Try not to give them to the barmaid. If necessary, seal it all in an envelope addressed to the manager (promo packs cost money, and you don't want your CD in the barmaid's car).
Do not put your pricing in the promo pack. That will be negotiated. Don't give too much info, let them contact you for that. You want to get them to call you, remember that while putting the package together.
Anybody else have advice?------>JMS

BDR · Post by **BDR** » Monday Feb 18, 2008

Never used one, mostly out of a lack of time to produce one. It's always been my opinion that the majority of press kits land in the circular file.

I've always been a "club name dropper" when it comes to booking a new venue. Of course, this works better the longer you've been around and the more clubs you've played in.

r:>)

Banned · Post by **Banned** » Monday Feb 18, 2008

BadDazeRob wrote:It's always been my opinion that the majority of press kits land in the circular file.

That seems to be sad but true. For a lot of bars, "send us a press kit" is a nice way of saying "we aren't interested".

Press kits are great for non-bar gigs, though. Festivals and things like that.

Fourth River · Post by **Fourth River** » Monday Feb 18, 2008

we have a diagram of our stage set up in ours as well.. we everything that JMS suggested as well as a DVD that we have... you can also make an online presskit through sites like sonicbids.com n'at...

never count yourself out by the style of music you play.... alot of the time it's confidence that wins people over... sell it.. and they'll buy it...

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Monday Feb 18, 2008

Fourth River wrote:as well as a DVD that we have

IMO, that is the most important promotional tool that a band can use when trying to get a foot in the door, even if the sound quality blows. Giving club owners and promoters empirical evidence that you can both bring and entertain a large crowd will do a lot more than writing a bio about how you formed in the Spring of '03 and having a picture of how your singer wears his jacket.

floodcitybrass · Post by **floodcitybrass** » Monday Feb 18, 2008

Who is your target audience?

Bars:
I think face to face time is the best. Word of mouth is going to your best friend. You would probably be fine with just a cd/dvd.

Festivals/Private Event:
You need a complete promo kit: CD/DVD, Flyer/photo and band bio, schedule of events. And by all means, include a rider.
WWW Marketing - Get a real web site not just a myspace page. Myspace is ok but I generally think they are too busy and non professional looking.

BDR · Post by **BDR** » Monday Feb 18, 2008

floodcitybrass wrote:WWW Marketing - Get a real web site not just a myspace page. Myspace is ok but I generally think they are too busy and non professional looking.

100 percent agree. Plus, who knows when the "MySpace bomb" goes off and the service is no more ... there will be A LOT of bands without a Web presence.

No such thing as a free lunch, ya know.

r:>)

witchhunt · Post by **witchhunt** » Monday Feb 18, 2008

BadDazeRob wrote:
floodcitybrass wrote:WWW Marketing - Get a real web site not just a myspace page. Myspace is ok but I generally think they are too busy and non professional looking.
100 percent agree. Plus, who knows when the "MySpace bomb" goes off and the service is no more ... there will be A LOT of bands without a Web presence.

No such thing as a free lunch, ya know.

r:>)

I agree on top of that. I personally won't waste a second of my life looking at anything on Myspace.

Feelgood · Post by **Feelgood** » Monday Feb 18, 2008

In the bio, keep it short, about one paragraph. Really what people want to see/read is how often do you play, and how many people do you pull per show.

greaser · Post by **greaser** » Monday Feb 18, 2008

Be sure to include your website address AND your myspace (especially if your playing originals)....myspace might not last forever, but right now 50% of the places we contact to book a show with(usually outside of this area anyway) want to see our myspace before they want to see our official website. I'm in the process of booking a tour for my band this summer and every venue or promotor I've contacted from Ohio to Texas is interested in our myspace because they can see how many "hits" we get (profile veiws). I've booked the entire tour so far through myspace, and have worked out what we're getting paid. I am not a fan of myspace in the least, but in the last year it has helped us book shows and sell cd's and downloads from itunes more than our official website ever has.

BDR · Post by **BDR** » Tuesday Feb 19, 2008

greaser wrote:....myspace might not last forever, but right now 50% of the places we contact to book a show with(usually outside of this area anyway) want to see our myspace before they want to see our official website. I'm in the process of booking a tour for my band this summer and every venue or promotor I've contacted from Ohio to Texas is interested in our myspace because they can see how many "hits" we get (profile veiws). I've booked the entire tour so far through myspace, and have worked out what we're getting paid. I am not a fan of myspace in the least, but in the last year it has helped us book shows and sell cd's and downloads from itunes more than our official website ever has.

Yes, at this time in history, if you don't have a MySpace site for your band, you're retarded, but there are SOOOO many bands that are relying on it as their sole Web presence and that, too, IMHO, is retarded. As was mentioned earlier, they're not the most professional looking sites, by and large, but they are excellent for networking, not only with fans, but also with clubs.

As withchunt said though, some people aren't involved in MySpace at all and won't, therefore, where do you send these people to learn about your band? We have identical photo galleries on our MySpace and official sites because, if you don't have a MySpace, you can't view photo galleries on other people's sites which to me is gay.

Bottom line, that day could come at any time when MySpace is no more. When that happens, a lot of bands are going to be FUCT.

Get, maintain and keep an official site, peeps. You're only screwing yourselves if you don't.

r:>)