ACS PressKit.org

There comes a time in many musicians’ lives where they feel they need management. Remember, not only signed artists feel they need management, sometimes people in the independent music field feel this way as well. A manager is someone who, in a nutshell, runs the business side of the artist’s career in the music industry.

An artist or band manager will play many roles. One role they fill is handling all the music contacts. These music contacts include club owners, agents, labels, A&R, promoters and many other professionals in the music industry. The manager may also handle marketing, promoting, tours, budgeting and booking shows. A manager may have to wear many hats so it is important to pick someone who is reliable and trustworthy.

When searching for a manager, there are many questions you should ask yourself before settling on one particular person.

1.First, does this manager typically handle your genre or field of music? If you are an Indie artist, then make sure this manager is prepared to deal with the field of independent music. Are they more into hip hop while you have a more alternative rock feel? It is important to pick a manager that specializes in your genre.

2.Trust your instincts and ask yourself how trustworthy they feel after meeting with them. Are they just tooting their own horn or are they the real deal?

3.How are their references? Ask or call around to other music contacts to see what they say. Hearsay is important in the music industry, believe it or not.

4.How experienced are they? If they are just beginning their career then how well connected are they? But then again, they may put more effort into your band if they have something to prove. Make a list of the pros and cons of each.

5.Do you know anyone else that has worked with them? Find out how ethical they are. You don’t want to butt heads with your manager over ethics in the music industry.

6.What style of management are they? Are they go-getters or laid back? Talk to other artists who have worked with them, if possible.

7.Keep in mind that managers usually work for a percentage of what you make. Try to avoid a manager that asks for a salary.

Having a valued and honest relationship with your manager is crucial. You want to be on the same page as your manager whether you do independent music or are signed. Make sure your manager is making the proper music contacts and truly believes in you. After all, you don’t want to work with, for or beside someone who doesn’t have your best interests in mind.

Press conferences are one of the most common affairs in the corporate world. A press kit thus becomes a crucial print item that is extensively used in the business world. Booklet is an important part of a good press kit and it should be printed well. A good press kit carries the impression of the organization and you should not compromise with it at any cost. Here are a few things that you should keep in mind while printing a booklet for a press kit:

A press booklet should always be a small but detailed printout. It should be comfortably fit into a press kit. It should have complete information about the company that a news person may need.
The size of the booklet in your press kit also matters and the size of the booklet shouldn’t be too large and it should fit in well inside the booklet.
Your booklet should contain complete contact details for the news person to make any clarification if they require it.
Your booklet should have graphics and charts to let people know the performance of your company. It should also have images which promote your business.
It should be printed on high quality paper as it carries along with it the impression of the organization. There should be no compromise on the quality of the paper.
Make sure that the image file that you take for printing is of very high resolution. This will ensure that the end product also comes out good.
Insist your printing agencies to use high quality ink for your booklet. This will ensure that your booklet looks good. You can also use metallic ink for your booklet as this makes it glitter.
Make sure that the booklet that you are printing is in full color. This will make it look attractive compared to a single color booklet.
Try a gloss coat on all your booklets as this will bring that element of shine and make your booklet stand out against others.

To print a booklet for your press kit you will need the services of a good printing service provider. This is where a printer like PrintPapa comes in handy. They have expertise in all kinds of printing and designing services. They use the state of art printing technology for the printing posters, banners, business cards, letterheads, rack cards etc. They have built a list of successful clientèle over the years due to their high quality service.

This is a promotion video for asian music. Video Clips: Otsuka Ai – Frienger Fei Lun Hai – Aidao DBSK/TVXQ – Rising Sun Arashi – Right Back To You This video was made as a school project for Norwegian class…. Made by me and my friends…

Is it true that in the world of independent music that marketing is considered a sell-out? Well, whether that is a stereotype or completely true, it does not matter because it is not a sell-out, at all! If you are an Indie musician who wants to taking an anti-corporate stance or huge labels in general leave a bad taste in your mouth you can still market in the music industry with out being left with the feeling of selling out. There are other music contacts to be made and other ways of getting your music heard with out going corporate.

The fact is, there are ways to build your fan base and amplify people’s interest your independent music – without selling out. If you are an independent music maker, here are a few ways you can do some marketing without selling out to the music industry.

First, you need to put aside your anti-marketing frame of mind and think about what is best for your career in the music industry. Finding ways to reveal your ideas and creations through your sound to more people, which in turn is essentially marketing shows that you believe in what you are creating.

Doesn’t the music you develop deserve to be heard around the world? Of course you think that way unless you only want to play for yourself. Marketing does not have to be a negative word. There are ways to market and advertise your music without “selling out” as independent music artist.

Think of your fans, they are your best promoters and marketers! Marketing isn’t all about dealing with media and big corporations. If you’re not comfortable with dealing with those people, forget about them and focus on your fan base. Have you considered provided them with ways to “spread the word.” They may already be doing just this for you. Fans probably already market for you and they will be your most passionate music contacts and promoters.

So now, you just must increase your fan base’s size and your marketing will increase. See, this is done without the use of those outlets you may despise. What is better than that? What do your fans love about your music? Once you know this, it becomes even easier to find more prospective fans that would also be interested in your music and your message.

Independent music marketing does not have to be corporate nor selling out, now does it? You are sharing what you love with those who love what you do. Use this concept to your advantage. The music industry is all about money and there is money to be made. Take a little piece of the pie without feeling like you are turning your back on your beliefs.

While music is an artist’s commerce, promotion and publicity are necessary to get as many people as possible aware of you music. Since you can’t physically go introduce yourself or your band to every radio station, music magazine or club, it’s important to have a professional press kit. Press kits give a first impression so take the time to create the best press kit you can.

The first thing in a press kit is a biography. You don’t need to start at birth or wax poetic about your childhood. This kind of biography focuses on your musical life – the type of music you perform, whether or not you write music, where you studied music, venues you have played. If you have a web site, make sure to give the site address.

The next thing you need is a professional quality photograph. Do not include a snap shot or a picture taken by a friend in your backyard. Check around and get prices from photographers who specialize in headshots. You should be able to get a good photograph for under $100. The picture is more than just showing people what you look like. It should also be reflective of who you are as an artist.

If you have any good reviews or if there have been any articles written about you, make copies and include them in your press kit. But don’t include anything that is too old. You want the material to be current.

The centerpiece of a press kit is your music.  If you have a website with videos, you can use that if need be but the best way is to include a demo CD with the press kit. You want the demo to be professional quality so your music is presented with good, crisp sound quality.

Decide whether or not you want the press kit printed out and snail mailed, or if you want to send the press kit via the internet. If you go for the printed copy, jazz it up by using subtly colored stationary and making a label for the CD. You want it to be eye-catching without going overboard.

For mostly stupid reasons, a lot of unsigned artist might feel that getting a record deal with a major or independent label is easy to do, and with a contract success will be guaranteed. And to do this, they feel that all they have to do is send out a few demos and BAM there it is like magic, but thats not the case cause over a million artist send in demos every year and over a million are rejected. So I will give you the major reasons why.

Reason Number 1 – Sending Unsolicited Recordings

Sending Unsolicited Recordings before you send out any demo packages you must always call, email, mail or fax the record label and ask permission to send in your demo package, cause most record companies do not accept demos just sent out of no where, just for the simple fact that you can send them your demo, and then a month later an artist comes out with a song similar to yours, and then you would be able to sue cause you could say that they got the idea from the demo that you send in, so for the record companies protection they keep track of whos demo CDs that they listen to, just to protect them from a lawsuit (note that all unsolicited demos will be returned without being opened) so dont waste your money on mailing the CD.

Reason Number 2 – The packaging

The next reason has to do with demo packaging cause 50% of all the demos sent out to record labels, look cheap with tape all over the envelope, or some messy hand writing with graffiti of their Rap group on the front and back, and the envelope without a return address are some of the main symptoms of poor packaging, but an overall poor quality in the packaging of the demo and the package will not be opened regardless of the music, cause they feel that if the package is of poor quality then the music and the artist are also of that same type of quality.

Reason Number 3 – Your press kit is weak

This one has to do with the contents of the package, as far the press kit it self cause this is what they look at first, before playing your demo. The press kit must include a biography, an 8×10 photo of the artist or group, and a demo cd, the first parts of the press kit are the most crucial to getting your song played, and the first of the two which is the picture and this needs to be of a good quality as far as the look of the picture and the quality of the paper.

(Please do not use a picture printed from your computer, Which may cause automatic rejection)

And the other part is the bio and after glancing at your picture and only if the picture is acceptable they will then begin to look at your bio and this should be a good look into the people behind the music, including where they came from, how they started in music, what they have done, in music and where they plan on going with their music.

(Please do not hand write your bio, For which may cause automatic rejection)

A failure to make a quality press kit will definitely hurt your chances of getting your cd played, and that is only half the battle, so it would be advised that you duplicate a good cd with printed labels.
(Please no handwriting on the cd)

Reason Number 4 – No Contact Information

No Contact Information on any thing. All material sent out must include the same contact information as far as your name, address, email, and phone number on the bottom of your bio, place this information on the bottom of the picture and on the demo CD, plus try to include a business card as well. Basically saying that, if the record labels do not know how to reach you, then they wont reach you. So it would just be a waste to even listen to the CD if they cant call you back.

Reason Number 5 – Your demo is wack

Now that we have gotten the A&Rs attention it now boils down to the demo CD, and first of all if your demo is wack then thats just it you are totally wack dont get mad or complain just accept it and move on to a new career, but if you are not wack and just misunderstood then the next few reasons should help you out of a slump.

Reason Number 6 – Poorly Recorded Material

Number 6 is a reason that sometimes is beyond an artists control, and it has to do with the quality of the recording of the CD, and its due to the fact that the recording industry is like the car industry, where the more you pay for a car then the better the car functions, but all cars not matter how much you pay do the same thing, Drive! And thats the same in music with studios where the expensive ones function better than the garage studios, but they basically do the same job.

So the main ways to record good music no matter where you record, is to first remember sound levels, please do not record your vocals or the beat to loud into your computer and do not burn the CD with the songs very loud, cause it would be better to turn up the volume on a low volume song than it is to turn down a song where the sound is to distorted from being burn on the CD to loud, and another sure fire way get a good sound is to find a good engineer to mix down your music. Plus it is always a plus to consider some digital mastering which would in turn make your CD ready for radio or video play.

Next in this section I want to talk about the format of the songs and how the vocals were recorded. Like 3-4 double and ad-lib tracks covering the main vocals of the song so the listener can barely understand, another bad thing is to have to long of an intro into the song where the beat is just playing or the artist is just talking for more than 8 bars. Then you need to cut that out of all your songs (demo wise) and get straight to the point weather you put a hook first or you start with a verse, do not let the intro go on for more than 4 bars.

Reason Number 7 – Picking the wrong type of songs

Reason number 7 has to do with you picking the Wrong type of songs to put on your demo CD, and the worst type of song off the top is a slow song. Unless you are vocalist and your main focus is to sing slow songs or ballads for the market that your are trying to sell records in, then it is best to be avoided especially if you plan on entering the mainstream market of record sales, cause in this business of music a majority of the time, it is accustomed to record singles for radio play, cause lots of radio play equals a high number of record sales for that album, and if an A&R cannot envision your music on the radio or playing in the club.

They would not be able to see you as an artist that can sell records. Now just try to think about how many slow songs are big on the radio right now. Not to many huh? Another thing to consider when choosing the songs for your demo is to eliminate to explicit lyrics from the music cause it kills all chances of it being played on the radio. I even remember an instance where a certain well know A&R took a demo he received to a club the same night he got it and had the Dj play the song to watch the crowd react to the music, and the response was so good that he signed the artist to a major label deal two days later. So you need to be ready.

Reason Number 8 – To many songs

Now we are at number 8, and it is to have too much material, just remember that a demo CD is not an album, so you do not need to put any skits on your demo or long shot outs to your crew and then do not put To much material on your demo, just because you and your friends think that all the songs are equally good, please dont fool your self, cause when you put to many songs, you start to test the patience of the A&R and it first shows a lack of professionalism and more of a desire to have your music heard than it is a desire to sell records.

Believe me that there is a big difference between the two. So try to understand that record companies are working hard to sell records and they are not here to share the art of music with the world. So just try to limit it to 3 or 4 songs and nothing over 5 minutes long.

Reason Number 9 – Sending The Wrong Music To The Wrong Label

Now we have reason number 9 and this one happens quite a lot and its when an artist sends their demo to any record labels and it has to do with reason number 1 where you need to call the labels and find out if they produce your type of music. Cause wouldnt it be a waste of time for a country singer to send her demo to def jam records. Where there will be a very high chance that she will be rejected due to the fact that this certain record company might not produce or even know how to market and sell that certain type of music. But then again the major labels can handle pretty much anything.

Still it is advised that you do your research by going on the companies websites and check the rosters of artist that have already signed to the labels and see if your style of music fits in or if there is any room for you being a new artist. Where you might see 7 rappers out of 8 artists on a certain label, then that company may not be looking to sign any rappers at the moment until they can release the artist they already have. But then again if you are that good then other artist will not stand in your way, where the label might release your album first. You can never tell.

Reason Number 10 – You are just not what they want

You must remember that this industry is ran by people and not a machine that always makes the right choice, and you can actually have a all the bases covered and came with a damn near perfect demo package and still the A&R wasnt feeling it. Then dont be discouraged cause the person you gave your demo to could have been having problems at home, or about to be fired from that company or thinking about leaving, and they just couldnt hear that good marketable music, or they had already signed enough artist for the year.

And a few major reasons is a lack of development in the image, sound, and star quality of the artist, no experience in live performances or ever selling records as well as a lack of team players like a manager, agent and entertainment lawyer, cause it is always a major plus for a record company to see other professionals believing in your project as much as you do, to where it helps the record company believe in you as much.

If you’re an author, media coverage is the best and most cost-effective way to increase your book’s sales. What media coverage does, that no ad can do, is build your credibility among your target audience. When they hear an interview with you on a local radio program, read a newspaper article where you’ve been used as an expert source or watch a television segment featuring you, your book and your expertise, the audience is engaged. And an engaged audience is who will purchase your book. Most people skim right over ads in magazines or newspapers, not paying any attention to them. But interviews and stories — people read them because they want to; because they trust the source; and because they want to broaden their horizons. And that’s where you come in, but first you need to get media coverage.

Whether you’re dealing with Good Morning America, Dr. Phil, Oprah or your hometown TV station and newspaper, having an online press kit is the key to getting media coverage. Why? Because the media is, and always will be, busy!

From the smallest to the largest outlets, the media is hammered daily with experts, authors and business owners vying to be sources in their broadcasts, blogs and in the pages of their newspapers and magazines. Having an online press kit gives you an edge by making the media’s job easier. Journalists don’t want attachments; they want everything organized and at their fingertips. When you link to your online press kit you can easily — with a click of a button — show the media just how newsworthy you are, while making their job easier.

Here’s how an online press kit will make the media’s job easier and help you increase your book’s sales:

Organization— When journalists visit your online press kit, your “Home” page tells them why you are important and why they should be interested in you. Your “About” page provides three different biographies for three different media purposes.  Your “News and Story Ideas” and “Questions to Ask” pages give them interesting angles they can cover on you and your book. An online press kit organizes everything the media may need to use you as an expert source and makes the media’s job easier.

Professional presence— You’re an expert and you have to present yourself as one in every way. Journalists don’t work with sources they think aren’t professional no matter what they have to offer. Do you wear flip-flops and cut-off shorts to an interview? Of course not. An online press kit shows the media that you’re the go-to person when they need information on a topic, whether it’s breaking news, product or academic reviews and analysis, or a source for human-interest features.

Story ideas— The media serves their audience, so you have to show them how you differ from the competition and how your story fits in with trending topics. Story ideas help the media see how you and your book fit into the latest trends, conversations and breaking news.

When you’re building relationships with the media you need to use everything at your disposal to give yourself an edge. With the advent of the Internet, it’s become much easier to put yourself and your ideas out there for the media and public to see. But if you want to shape your image in such a way that can boost exposure for you and your book, you have to position yourself as an expert with a unique perspective with something different to offer. An online press kit allows you to do this in a way that’s professional and easy for the media.