7 members (rpirone, Gary E. Andrews, bennash, JAPOV, Sunset Poet, Guy E. Trepanier, David Gill),
930
guests, and
262
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Welcome to the Just Plain Folks forums! You are currently viewing our forums as a Guest which gives you limited access to most of our discussions and to other features.
By joining our free community you will have access to post and respond to topics, communicate privately with our users (PM), respond to polls, upload content, and access many other features. Registration is fast, simple, and absolutely free; so please join our community today!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Leafs
by Gary E. Andrews - 03/04/24 12:47 PM
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 161
Serious Contributor
|
OP
Serious Contributor
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 161 |
My band is just about ready to start looking for shows. I'm in the process of putting together a presskit, and I'd like to find out what people feel should be included in a good presskit. We have a 4-song demo CD along with a short bio that I put together: http://www.phantompower.org/blogages/presskit01.jpg . We've also got a good photo of the band to throw in. I was looking at the website of a place I'd like to solicit for a gig, and it says if you're going to submit a presskit, that you should include "genre/demographic/draw capabilities." I'm not really sure what they mean by "demographic" and I don't know what to tell anyone about draw, as we haven't played any shows yet. We might be able to bring in about 20 people, but that's it. So let me know what you think. -Shawn ------------------ http://www.phantompower.org/ [This message has been edited by flatlandsmedia (edited 08-19-2004).]
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 327
Serious Contributor
|
Serious Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 327 |
Your demographic is the kind of audience that would like your music. Age, income level, interests, even race and geographical location sometimes.
Depending on the location of the gig you try to get, and the type of environment, your draw can vary greatly. If you are going to play a club, do a little research and find out what type of bands play there on a regular basis, and how many people usually are there on the night of the week you are likely to be scheduled to play.
Use that to "determine" your draw. If the club usually has 100 people on that night, tell them your draw is around 100 people. The fact is that if it is a club gig, most people are going to the club whether you guys are playing or not.
Some venues, clubs or otherwise, will want to see a video of your band in a performance situation. It doesn't have to be a great video, but it needs to show how you do in front of a crowd. Get your girlfriend to video the first couple of gigs you do so you have it when someone requests it.
You're a new band, just starting out, so you'll have to take whatever gigs you can get. But once you have built a reputation and a resume', you can get better gigs.
A good way to at least be able to cite a few performances on your bio, play at some of your friends' parties, or set up in a local park and play for the folks there. Heck, play at your nephew's birthday party. Whatever you can get to get some gigs under your belt. Not only will it give you something to put on your bio, it will give you a chance to get over some of your nervousness and build your confidence.
That's one thing you want to exude on stage at an important gig - confidence. Even if you're scared to death, don't let 'em see you sweat. (Well, OK, you can sweat as long as you put on a show like Stevie Ray used to do. That sucker would literally be soppin' wet by the end of his shows!)
------------------ Chris
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 23
Casual Observer
|
Casual Observer
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 23 |
As far as not having press quotes to share in your press kit yet, in my early days I made it a point to sign up for workshops of known artists, esp. those where there's a performance critique. When I got a good response, I asked the known artists if they'd give me a quote for my press materials. Then, instead of press clippings, you can have a page that's just titled "What people are saying about Oconomotowoc Music". You can also get a lot of mileage out of studying with a well-known person and then doing the same thing, if you can afford it and such a person, is in your area. Be sure any person like this is in your genre of music - i.e., if you do jazz, don't ask for a quote from a country artist. hope that helps! michelle www.michellelatimer.com
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 49
Serious Contributor
|
Serious Contributor
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 49 |
i am a 25 year-old songwriter who played in rock and metal bands since i was 13. i just recently left the "stage" aspect of music to focus on my songwriting. in the 11 years of playing gigs, usualy 8 a month, i must of made a hundred different promo packs for the numerous bands i played in. i realized that promo packs are very important to bands especialy in the early stages but they don't have to be "epic" novels on every aspect of your musical career. most promoters and club owners don't really have the time to read a 14 page autobiography on a rock band. here are some tips on how i approached making my promo packs:
page 1. * make a simple cover page with the band logo on it. don't forget to put all contact info. on it as you should for every page.
page 2. * write a 3 to 4 paragraph bio on the band. keep it quick and get to the point.paragraph 1 should include a brief introduction of the band and a quick history introducing the founding members. adding a quote or two after introducing any member adds a professional touch to it.paragraph 2 you can introduce other members that were added after the initial "concept" of the band was created. paragraph 3 should include the sound or genre you fit into or the style you are going after. also, throw a quick summary in there. (don't forget contact info.) pages 3,4,5,6,7. * throw an individual picture of a band member with a one paragraph individual bio undernieth the pic. keep the bio short. you can also throw a little humor in them also. (one page per band member.)
page 8. * a list of venues played. if you dont have many under your belt, then find some names of venues in your area and surrounding areas and throw them on there.i promise that they won't call the venues to do a "background check" on you! promoters just wan't to know if you have any power to pull heads. if they see that you have played some "decent" shows, they will think you can pull 10 or more heads to the show.
page 9. * put any press you have on your band here. if you don't have any, call a local,small newspaper and ask them to do a short artical on your band. chances are they will do it and try to get a photo of the band in there. i always got an artical done everytime i asked. they will do it.
page 10. * this page should be a full band picture. get a camera, buy a roll of black and white film (7.00$) and have a friend shoot away. develop the film, take it to kinko's and have them blow it up to a full page. have them make 2 inches or so on the bottom of the blown up picture white all the way across. you can use this space for your small logo and your contact info.
put all this in a folder and there is your promo pack. it will cost you $30.00.
if you want to make it realy cool, go to office max or staples, or k-mart, and buy some empty dvd cases. shrink the bio and put it in the slot on the inside of the dvd case. of course you can put your cd in the dvd holder of the case. it's cheap, small and different. promoters love it and no bands do it. it looks good for you.
hope this helps you.
|
|
|
We would like to keep the membership in Just Plain Folks FREE! Your donation helps support the many programs we offer including Road Trips and the Music Awards.
|
|
Forums117
Topics125,690
Posts1,160,843
Members21,469
|
Most Online37,523 Jan 25th, 2020
|
|
"I left my home, only to find a new home, full of heart, soul and dreams. Then, I left that new home, heart intact, but much stronger and energized from the experience" -Brian Austin Whitney
|
|
|
|