What Is A Media Kit

Band Press Kits are an integral part of any musicians band or a music career. Sometimes they are referred to as media kits or an artist bio. Band Press Kits are used for music promotion, music publicity, booking agents, and band promotion.

Below you will find sample press kit information, musician press kit ideas, and band press kit tips. Basically, you would send your press kit and demo to a venue if you want to secure a gig or show for your garage band or local band. Press Kits are also given to booking agents to book your band or act. They would accept and possibly require a copy of your press kit and demo and decide if they want to book your indie music act.

Listed below are a few ideas to help get your local band, garage band, solo career, or songwriter career off the ground. If you are a local band or garage band target clubs that usually book your genre of music. Check out your local music newspapers to see what genre of music plays in certain clubs etc. Submit your Band Press Kit to these venues or clubs. Songwriters or indie music acts should send their press kits to record companies, producers, or music publishers that accept their type of music also.

Hopefully, with some of the press kit ideas below, you could take steps to secure a gig, submit a demo, or move your talented garage band out of the garage and into a gig.

Cover Letter - Let them know why your sending the Press Kit.

Cover - The cover of your press kit should introduce your band and tell the venue or booking agent what type of music you play. It should display your Local Band Logo in an Eye Catching and To the Point manner. Always add your contact information whenever possible. Include Your Name, Band Name, Phone Number, Address, E-mail address, Website URL, and any other contact info necessary.

Artist Bio Page or Intro Page - Introduce your garage band, tell your genre of music, names of the members, specific info about your band or style of music, how many people in the act, name some quality clubs or events that you have played, and in what areas or cities you perform. Does your act have a sound guy for live performances or will the venue need to provide one? Does your band have lights or a light show? Highlight this information and any key characteristics about your act. Include your Fan Base, (Do you have one?). Are you a Tribute band, Original band, Acoustic act? Remember in most cases for your band to make money or get another gig at a club, you must bring in people to see the show. So if you don't have a fan base, Reflect upon how you will promote the show on your website, or send flyers to the venue. If you just want to get your bands foot in the door, the best bet is to try open mic nights, and leave your press kit for the owner for possible future gigs.

Band Pictures - If you are serious about your band, you'll want to get some Professional 8x10's taken of your act. The better the Picture quality, the more seriously someone important may look into your press kit. If you can not afford professional taken pictures, blow up some of your best band pics to 8x10. Smaller individual shots of band members could be displayed, with a description of the picture. Use your imagination. You may even want to include your best picture on your cover.

Equipment Page - If you did not cover equipment in your Artist Bio above, this is the place to do it. List the types of equipment your band will bring to the venue. Include Brand names, wattage of amps, whether you have a PA system, Mics, etc. If you don't own a PA, target clubs that have there own PA. But, be aware that you need someone to run the PA, so find out what they charge for their sound guy, and whether you can bring your own. Does your band have lights and someone to run them too? All this info should be included in your equipment page of your press kit.

Booking Information - Have a page with contact Names, Phone, Web address, Fax, and E-mail address so the venue can find the info quickly. It's best to have Booking Info all through your press package. Also, include booking info on your indie bands demo CD's or Tapes that you send with your kit.

Demo CD / Tape - A venue or club will want to hear what they are paying for. Create a demo CD or tape with usually no more than 3 Songs. Use your best material. Place a label on your CD with your song titles, and all your booking information. In case the Club owner etc. would lose your press kit and only had your CD, he would still be able to contact you. Make your CD/Tape look and sound as professional as possible. This will get the venue's attention, and make them listen to your indie material and possibly book your act.

Song List - Place a list of some of the material your garage band performs in your press kit. Include a list of your best Cover Songs, Original Music, and any other material you may want to add.

Gig Sheet - Include a gig sheet of where you have played or where your band will be gigging in the future.

Newspaper Clippings / Reviews - Obviously if your local band or act is just starting out you will not have clippings just yet. But, why not contact your local municipal paper, college paper, city paper, etc, and see if they would cover one of your shows. You would be surprised at the response you can get, especially from local municipal or school newspapers. Include any copies of Newspaper Clippings in your press kit. This shows credibility and that your an established act.

Business Cards - Include your indie acts business card in your press kit. If you do not have any, you can get them made at many copy stores. Programs like Microsoft Word, or Word Perfect are great for making Business cards. Most Computer word processors include business card templates. They can be made fairly easy with a printer and business card paper. Always give your business card out at shows. You never know what person in the crowd may have significant contacts. Include Band Name, Contact Name, Phone, Website URL, E-mail address, and any eye catching fonts or graphics (if possible) on all your Band Business Cards.

Envelope - Even your Envelope including your Press Kit should catch the club owner or bookers eye. Use a loud color, or place stickers on your envelope that may catch a venue owners eye. Your indie act may want to be more conservative w/ submissions to record companies, but be inventive and get them to open your press kit and listen to your indie demos.

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