ACS PressKit.org

Aside from studio rehearsals and playing guitars, a start-up band must consider other important things to gain more opportunities. This can be done through creating a band portfolio to be submitted to various recording studios and companies.

Every musician of a start-up band must participate in conceptualizing for the overall look and theme of their portfolio. It is also important for them to consider printing some materials like CD covers, band profile, band photo and list of songs. Here are the things that compose a good band press kit or portfolio:

The Cover Page – This page must introduce your band and the type of music you play. Your band logo must be included, along with the band name. Provide contact details if necessary, including telephone numbers, address, email address, website and URL.

Band Profile – This must provide specific information about the band, as well as the individual members. You can tell your band’s history of how you were formed, who plays specific instruments, and what kinds of songs you cover or compose.

Band Photos – You can resort to online printing for fast and quality photo prints. Quality band photos speak of professionalism that is why it is important to take it to consideration. It is also essential to make use of quality stock to maintain the quality of the image for a long period of time.

Demo CD – Provide a CD that contains at least three of your best songs. This will give recording studios a hint of what kind of music you have. Through the demo CD, recording companies can decide whether you have the potential or not.

Song List – Provide a list of songs to be included on the band portfolio. Include the original music and even your best cover songs.

Business Card – This kind of printed material is used to create a visual identity and show professionalism. Furthermore, a business card can be carried anywhere by a recording company’s representative. With this, your band may get an exposure through a small card.

An impressive press kit can make your band step up from the rest. But the most important thing to be considered by a start-up band is to come up with good and original music to be enjoyed by everyone.

If you are an artist, publicist, musician, band or any professional looking to make a good presentation and first impression, then you are definitely in need of a press kit, electronic press kit or media kit as it is sometimes called.

Years ago, a press or media kit was something that artists, musicians, publicists only thought about, because the cost to create and distribute them was so expensive.  So, what is a media kit? It is your professional resume that encompasses your biography, press clippings, photos, work (CDs), press releases, and any other additional information that will make you look good in the eyes of the media (if you’re looking for exposure), record label execs, associates, potential business partners or whomever you want to have a full overview of who you are, or what it is that you are selling or doing, by presenting to them a professional product.

Now most media kits can range about $40 dollars a piece, because you have to pay for the material and paper, professional pictures, CDs (if applicable), folders to place the content in, business cards.  Then you have to consider mailing it which will cost around $5.00 per mailing.  If you have that type of money to spend on creating and sending out a press kit, then I would suggest that you do so, as it is a good investment, if given to the right people, who will use it to help catapult your career or business.

I have, however, discovered a reasonably priced service website for my clients – http://www.grindmodepress.com, where they give to you a free, no-risk trial of their basic service to create an electronic press kit or EPK/OPK as it is sometimes called, that also will allow for you to create press releases in addition to your electronic press kit (your press releases automatically attach to your press kit, so you don’t have to add it to your press kit), and distribute/e-mail them right from the website, with an unlimited amount of people that you can send to, so there are no restrictions as to how many time that you can send.  The service auto-formats the electronic press kit and press releases for you (allowing for hyperlinks, pictures, creates PDF & print version), for distribution, so even a novice can create and distribute with no problems.  They also give you the ability to distribute a single song, for instant feedback that you can manage right from your control back panel.  The site also gives media leads to some of the key magazines, newspapers and allows for social bookmarking, which all of this is invaluable for some people who may not have media outlets to send their electronic/online press kits to.  It is literally a one stop media shop.  I forfeited the trial and signed up for the yearly package which was literally very inexpensive, and actually saved me more money than if I had went with their monthly plan, which also seemed to be inexpensive for all that you get.  I do not usually endorse products, because I get nothing from it, but if I had to have an instant media kit, and could not afford a traditional one, then I would sign up for this service at http://www.grindmodepress.com, because it is a win/win situation.  The most powerful part of the site is your control back panel.

In concluding, I say as a professional publicist with over 25 years of PR experience, everyone needs a press kit or as I would call it, a professional resume that paints a professional picture of them, so even if you opt not to try the service that I have above-mentioned, then I would say that you should invest in a traditional media kit.

Alan Jakes

alanjakespr@gmail.com

If you are an artist, publicist, musician, band or any professional looking to make a good presentation and first impression, then you are definitely in need of a press kit, electronic press kit or media kit as it is sometimes called.

Years ago, a press or media kit was something that artists, musicians, publicists only thought about, because the cost to create and distribute them was so expensive.  So, what is a media kit? It is your professional resume that encompasses your biography, press clippings, photos, work (CDs), press releases, and any other additional information that will make you look good in the eyes of the media (if you’re looking for exposure), record label execs, associates, potential business partners or whomever you want to have a full overview of who you are, or what it is that you are selling or doing, by presenting to them a professional product.

Now most media kits can range about $40 dollars a piece, because you have to pay for the material and paper, professional pictures, CDs (if applicable), folders to place the content in, business cards.  Then you have to consider mailing it which will cost around $5.00 per mailing.  If you have that type of money to spend on creating and sending out a press kit, then I would suggest that you do so, as it is a good investment, if given to the right people, who will use it to help catapult your career or business.

I have, however, discovered a reasonably priced service website for my clients – http://www.grindmodepress.com, where they give to you a free, no-risk trial of their basic service to create an electronic press kit or EPK/OPK as it is sometimes called, that also will allow for you to create press releases in addition to your electronic press kit (your press releases automatically attach to your press kit, so you don’t have to add it to your press kit), and distribute/e-mail them right from the website, with an unlimited amount of people that you can send to, so there are no restrictions as to how many time that you can send.  The service auto-formats the electronic press kit and press releases for you (allowing for hyperlinks, pictures, creates PDF & print version), for distribution, so even a novice can create and distribute with no problems.  They also give you the ability to distribute a single song, for instant feedback that you can manage right from your control back panel.  The site also gives media leads to some of the key magazines, newspapers and allows for social bookmarking, which all of this is invaluable for some people who may not have media outlets to send their electronic/online press kits to.  It is literally a one stop media shop.  I forfeited the trial and signed up for the yearly package which was literally very inexpensive, and actually saved me more money than if I had went with their monthly plan, which also seemed to be inexpensive for all that you get.  I do not usually endorse products, because I get nothing from it, but if I had to have an instant media kit, and could not afford a traditional one, then I would sign up for this service at http://www.grindmodepress.com, because it is a win/win situation.  The most powerful part of the site is your control back panel.

In concluding, I say as a professional publicist with over 25 years of PR experience, everyone needs a press kit or as I would call it, a professional resume that paints a professional picture of them, so even if you opt not to try the service that I have above-mentioned, then I would say that you should invest in a traditional media kit.

Alan Jakes

alanjakespr@gmail.com