The Anatomy of a Press Kit
From "...Ask Darcie"

Press kits usually contain some or all of these elements...

1. Use a plain colored folio, preferably with your name on the front *you can use Avery 5160 or 8160 labels to make this sticker in the Microsoft Word Labels template*

FROM YOUR SIDE

Use a folio color that compliments your overall band look, website colors, etc.

2. Resume or Bio (both in some cases - especially for freelance vocalists and instrumentalists) with all projects and artists you have worked with in your career.

Highlight venues and artist names in Bold print,

All album and event titles (ie. tour names or festival names) in Bold Italic print.

Include anything you would feel would catch attention. Sometimes the smallest blurb can be what media latches onto.

3. A separate list of the tours you were on, television appearances, music placements in film/TV/advertisements, videos you were in, and albums you sang on, etc. Include Artist, Title, Label if possible, and date

4. A photo that expresses you as an artist - this can be your cover art

5. Your CD, clearly marked NOT HANDWRITTEN. Include your name, contact info, and © symbol and year on all your CDs

PRESS

1. Reviews (either quoted with writer and publication credit - include those posted by users of Cdbaby.com) or xerox copies of reviews

2. Xerox copies of any tour programs, event marquees, credits sheets, playbills, newspaper and magazine articles, etc.

You can condense this by making masters of the publication logo and pasting the article below to save paper and $$ - copy from the master and write in the date if it is not visible on the headline or footnote

ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS TO CONSIDER INCLUDING FOR BIG MEDIA, RADIO STATIONS, RETAILERS and LABELS:

1. Radio station list (station call letters/station number/commercial name and cities they are in) where your music is in rotation or where it has been in rotation (you can add this later)

2. Retail stores (brick and mortar and/or online) that carry your CD, sales figures if possible

WHO NEEDS WHAT

Non-Commercial Radio: Bio, CD

Commercial Radio: Bio, CD, and any other material they request in the response to airplay consideration

Low to mid level venues: Black and White press kit

High-level venues: Use your judgment, but some you may want to send color press kits

Low-level press: Bio, CD unless they ask for more (if they are interviewing you they might need a full press kit, minus the sales stuff - but indicate where the cd is found, and radio stations you are on in this case) BLACK AND WHITE IS FINE

Mid-level press and TV: Black and White Press kit unless they ask you to send a color jpg. or photo

High-level press and TV: Color press kits (meaning any documents that were originally in color should stay in color) MAYBE any video you have

Record Labels/Distribution Companies: Color Press kits, a few extra free CDs, and any video you have

Estimated costs: (not including cost of photos, video, CDs, packaging/postage) Color: $8-10 per kit, Black and White $2-4 per kit

Any places receiving a full press kit should be accompanied by a customized letter. The bio should have your site address and contact info for whomever is doing your business stuff.

Every piece should be xeroxed from a publication or typed in a word processing program. Each item should be on a separate page. NEVER handwrite any element of your press kit, unless it is a date annotation on a press document (in the bottom or top right corner) or autograph.

Let me know if you need any other information!!
Darcie