The final week!
Exercise 1: Review of my current press kit.
1. My bio:
* Where does it first take the reader? Well, it's a pretty snazzy introduction of who I am, what I am about, the name of my band, and the preparation to talk about my new CD.
* Does the introduction (the first few lines) bring the reader in? Are they interesting or do they use the classic band mistake words such as “unique” “melodic” etc.? I'd say it's pretty darn interesting. : )
* Are there other clichés you could avoid like explaining each song on the album
and what it means etc. (keep in mind the reader has possibly not listened to your
new music or ANY of your music for that matter). We are cliche free baby!
* Is your pitch located somewhere within the first few lines so people can get an
immediate hit of what you are all about? Re-write the beginning of your bio to
include a sentence that sucks the reader in and has your pitch within it so that the reader becomes instantly engaged:
The first sentence of my bio:
It’s always a dynamic, organic experience when singer/songwriters—after a period of creative transition—awaken their higher consciousness, lock in on the next level of their musical journey, and emerge with a vibe that transcends all that came before.
* What is the most interesting thing about you / your band as a STORY? I am "The Green Vegan Rawker", conscious rock star.
*Would this bio be captivating to people who have never met you – if not is there a missing aspect that you could add to make it more enticing? I believe it's pretty rockin'.
To read my full bio, please visit http://www.oneworldrevolution.us
2. Aside from bio editing, what aspects of your overall press kit could you improve?
For Example:
Overall Design
Layout/ Formatting / Text
Stronger Press Quotes
Niche Angles – are they all included?
It's been a few years since I've actually been asked to mail out a hard copy of my press kit so I require piecing one together again. I had been relying on my online presence alone. Basically, I require printing my postcards, updating my Press Quotes page, and designing it so it is consistent with my new CD art.
WRITTEN EXERCISE: Getting Quotes To Add To Your Press Kit
I have quite a few quotes already and I am currently working with a traditional publicist so more quotes are coming in. I will make a few posts on facebook, twitter, and my email list to get a few more quotes. This may assist me in acquiring a few new fans too.
How To Post A Perfect Press Kit On Your Website
1. Your Music – album or live tracks:
Make sure you have some music available at your website or a very obvious
link to your MySpace page where people can hear the music instantly. Many
newspapers are now including MP3s of artists coming to town in the online
versions of their papers so make it easy for them to grab the tracks to add to their own sites – this is additional excellent exposure for you.
I do. It is both an embedded player that my web guy has on the site and also a widget I embedded from ReverbNation.
2. Biography – Must Include Your USP / Pitch:
Make sure you have a short succinct bio that can be easily located on your site,
in addition to the long form one, the blogs and all of the opinions from each
band member – which are fun for your fans but not for music writers who will be
looking to get quick information. Make sure this bio is easily cut and past able so
writers can drop it into a preview or a column.
USP – Also include a short summary (like less than 6 words) that sums up your
sound for calendar editors.
TIP: MAKE SURE THE BIO IS CUT AND PASTEABLE! Do NOT have your bio in Flash format make sure that editors can easily cut and paste it right off of your site.
I require putting together a short-form bio and the short summary. My bio is totally cut and pasteable, I do it all the time!
3. Photos – Make Them Easy To Find And Download
I have a photo and band logo that is click downloadable, I do require renaming them though.
I will summarize my MSi9W's Challenge experience in a separate blog. : )
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