Introduction to Press Pack
Press packs are they important ? Are they still relevant to today’s gigging bands
and performers? Well yes, but Performers are notorious for not doing them. They will
practice all day, vocal and note perfect, and now they want the bookings, but they
don't do the work it takes to get them. Is it simple? No, but like your chosen instrument
you have to start somewhere and the more you do it, the easier it gets
Some Music Press Pack History
Back in early band days and not so long ago, they were normally sent out by post
and were quite expensive to do. To send out a thousand Press Packs you would need
to print out a 1000 photos, sometimes 2000 to give them a choice, also print a press
release in 25 words, 50 words, 100 words etc. These were often done by copy writers
who charged an arm and a leg to do them, and still do. Also a CD was in the package
or tape or vinyl in the early days. They would be sent out to anyone you thought
might give you publicity or bookings, such as Club Owners, Agencies or the press.
The press were always looking for articles for their papers etc. so if you gave them
one that saved them time, they would be over the moon and you got to be in print.
Press Packs on the web
These days we have the world wide web, so all you need to do is relate this history
to the web. You have put up your gallery, so they see you can perform, music clips
from your album, so they can hear you, so what else do they want?
The main things are a collection of photos and different size write-ups. There are
other parts you can add but we will not deal with them here today.
Press Pack Photos
Say “thank you Bob” because I’m giving away valuable information to my rivals here.
I am a photographer and do this type of work.
Just put yourself in the position of the people who may or may not book you. In a
sense -My Position. This web-site needs a small image of the performer for the Home
Page and a larger one on the Listings page. That’s fine, but the person you are asking
either spends a lot of their time updating and looking after the web-site, or they
spend a lot of money on the same. So give them a real choice. Offer images that reflect
the performer, but still go with the web-site in question. E.G. “Your purple photo
does not go with my orange acoustic knights”. So give him the choice of a black background,
a white background or an image with no background at all. Use you imagination and
look at the problems the person you are asking to book you has got.
Press Pack Write-ups
Finally (on this article anyway) we have the Press Pack write-ups. Again, try to
see it from the perspective of the club owner or the people who need write-ups. This
club needs a small write-up for the Home page to get people’s attention, and a more
intuitive write-up for the Listings page. Give them write-ups to choose from, 25
words, 50 words, 100 words. You would not believe the time this would save me if
all the Guest artists had these on their web-sites. If you email a guy to say “Giz
a Gig” Yes, your music has got to be good, but if the other guys music is as good
as yours, but you have done your Press Pack, then he will look with more favour on
you because you have just saved him 2 hours work. Also there are dozens of places
on the web that need write-ups just the same as the papers etc. A few years ago The
Leicester Mercury would welcome outside writers to submit their articles. There are
countless music mags out on the web that would welcome a write-up on your music.
Do a search and find the right ones. Don’t try to submit your folk music to Local
Thrash Bands Weekly. Use your head. One last word about the words. Look how I’ve
written this article, a sub title, then a paragraph about the sub title. Start with
this method, and you can sort out how to do it better later if you wish. Oh yes One
Last, Last word. I’m not good at this but I’m learning how it’s done so I can look
after our site, so when you’ve all learned how to do it save me a few more hours
and write me some articles for it.
Happy Writing
Bob Spencer
