Post by soulchemist on Feb 27, 2007 22:36:38 GMT -5
So I am curious what everyone has going on these days in the realm of press kits. I have seen many types of press kits from EPK's, to hand sewn CD cases sealed with wax, glossys, and binded kits.
Most people in the world use computers these days, so the idea of what is needed in a press kit has evolved since the day of the binded folder & printed literature.
I remember the days of getting photos together spending money to have them printed, putting collages together, all paper trail type of stuff. Most bands are broke as hell & usually have problems rounding money up to get a kit together.
The age of computers has really cut the cost of a press kit once you make the initial investment. A Band could realistically put all the info on a disc or DVD, or power point slide show complete with bio's, music, video, favorite colors, and enjoyable sexual positions.
So my question is how many bands in Waco truly have a press kit ready go? If someone from an Indie label came to your show & wanted something to take with them that would be an accurate reflection of the your band & product, would you be able to hand them something?
A full length Album of originals on CD would be nice, but costly to give to every promoter from here to Timbuktu. But a DVD or enhanced CD made presentable on a smaller budget might not be a bad idea. No wasting money & time printing glossys, just pop it in the CPU & go, everything from pics to contacts, merchandise, websites, on line stores, mp3's and such.
Things can be simple or intricate, but I always ask myself who is the intended recipient? It needs to be simple enough for an idiot to get it, but visually pleasing enough to set what you are marketing apart from the sea of EPK's in the vast world of everyone ripping off each other's ideas for the current formula that works.
We are very lucky in the fact that we have SXSW in Austin every year, you can bet your arse the hard working bands that are looking for attention will be there creating a buzz, even if they don't have a South By South West showcase. There are lots of South By So What, showcases in Austin for Texas bands, and plenty of streets to jam on to create a buzz.
Promo Cd's are good samplers to offer to people to help create a buzz about yer music. Again I look at the intended audience and try to cater to the creative side that intrigue music & art lovers. You kind of take a chance putting cash into a small run sampler that could be used as a coaster, but I still think they help in creating a buzz.
So is anyone besides Common Ground going to SXSW, to either play, or promote, or just enjoy the vibe?
Most people in the world use computers these days, so the idea of what is needed in a press kit has evolved since the day of the binded folder & printed literature.
I remember the days of getting photos together spending money to have them printed, putting collages together, all paper trail type of stuff. Most bands are broke as hell & usually have problems rounding money up to get a kit together.
The age of computers has really cut the cost of a press kit once you make the initial investment. A Band could realistically put all the info on a disc or DVD, or power point slide show complete with bio's, music, video, favorite colors, and enjoyable sexual positions.
So my question is how many bands in Waco truly have a press kit ready go? If someone from an Indie label came to your show & wanted something to take with them that would be an accurate reflection of the your band & product, would you be able to hand them something?
A full length Album of originals on CD would be nice, but costly to give to every promoter from here to Timbuktu. But a DVD or enhanced CD made presentable on a smaller budget might not be a bad idea. No wasting money & time printing glossys, just pop it in the CPU & go, everything from pics to contacts, merchandise, websites, on line stores, mp3's and such.
Things can be simple or intricate, but I always ask myself who is the intended recipient? It needs to be simple enough for an idiot to get it, but visually pleasing enough to set what you are marketing apart from the sea of EPK's in the vast world of everyone ripping off each other's ideas for the current formula that works.
We are very lucky in the fact that we have SXSW in Austin every year, you can bet your arse the hard working bands that are looking for attention will be there creating a buzz, even if they don't have a South By South West showcase. There are lots of South By So What, showcases in Austin for Texas bands, and plenty of streets to jam on to create a buzz.
Promo Cd's are good samplers to offer to people to help create a buzz about yer music. Again I look at the intended audience and try to cater to the creative side that intrigue music & art lovers. You kind of take a chance putting cash into a small run sampler that could be used as a coaster, but I still think they help in creating a buzz.
So is anyone besides Common Ground going to SXSW, to either play, or promote, or just enjoy the vibe?