The Promo Kit…
A professional promotions package includes a number of standard items traditionally delivered to the prospective booking or publicity agent by hand with printed material and a demo tape. Fast forward to today's market: most of the traditional promotional materials can be published on the artist's web site far more easily and elaborately than in the traditional promotional package.
The Traditional Promotions Package
1. Large Business Envelope - properly addressed - don't use manilla (white preferably)
2. Cover Letter - most important personal aspect of the kit
3. Bio - One page only for entire band or individual artist (see #14)
4. Songlist - Great for cover bands, skip it for original material
5. 8x10 B&W Photo - Name of Project, Contact Name, Phone
6. Demo Tape - High bias cassette, 3 tunes
7. References
8. Reprints of Club Ads
9. Reprints of Major Publicity
10. List of Upcoming Gigs
11. Jacket - Brochure folder containing your promo kit, design the cover
12. Business Card - Name, Contact, Phone
13. Rolodex Card - Name, Contact, Phone
14. Video Brochure - Great for Bio & Performance Demo, pro work is costly
15. Prize - "Cracker Jack" prize makes your kit memorable with your logo
16. Gig Poster - Blank Area to write in Venue, Date, & Time
Working Musician's Ongoing Promotions
Updated with references back to items in the traditional promo kit.
1. Gig / Booking Calendar - printed handbill sized calendar of monthly gigs, with booking contact name and phone [7,10,12,13,15.16]
Check out Band Merchandise for more ideas on how to get more mileage from this ongoing publicity expense!
2. CD / Demo - Could be a Product for sale or a 3-5 song demo, only on CD {{6}}
3. Promo Photo / Gig Poster {{5,16}}
4. COMPLETE WEB SITE - this is the showpiece for today's working musician Largely supplants the need for a traditional Promo Kit - with the right elements you can reproduce all of your promotions material right from your web site
a. Home Page - Publicity Photo, Booking Contact Information [2,5,11,12,13,14]
b. Gig Calendar - Keep your calendar current, print handbills from web [10]
c. Guest Book - Let Friends post messages, photos & comments - a great incentive for folks to return to your web site [15}
d. Mail Lists - Market your Gigs - email friends & fans that sign up -
create private lists for venues, agents, media, musicians, etc. [2,10,12,13,15]
e. Photo Gallery - Performance photos, fan photos, publicity reprints [5,8,9]
f. Music - Play short sound bites from your demo or product CD -
download your demo in compressed audio formats - if you play cover tunes, keep your song liste here too [4,6]
g. News - Reprint announcements, reviews, publicity, club ads, etc. -
great way for touring bands to keep in touch [7,8,9]
h. Artist Pages - Photos, bios, maybe even video or your band or project members [3,14]