Throwback Thursday: I the Mighty SXSW ‘12 Bus Session
Last year at the SXSW Festival in Austin, TX, we had the pleasure of hosting several phenomenal acts from across the country to perform on our Tour Bus. We coined the intimate, stripped down videos our SXSW ‘12 Bus Sessions.
For this week’s Throwback Thursday, we’d like to feature one of our favorite sessions from San Francisco based band I the Mighty. Check out their performance of “Cutting Room Floor,” and be sure to visit http://presskit.to/SXSW to tune-in to what we’re doing this year!!
Get Hired: Think like a Hiring Manager
Written by Sophia Moon.
Standing between you and your dream job is a gatekeeper, namely the hiring manager who sorts through hundreds, sometimes thousands of submissions to match candidates to open positions. They are experts at spotting careless errors, have no tolerance for missing information, and will unemotionally eliminate unfit candidates to get to a manageable few that show the most promise.
The challenge of dazzling a hiring manager is manifold - to provide the right information to stand out amongst all the candidates, while selectively adding samples from your portfolio that best represent you and your work.
A helpful exercise, I find, is to think like the hiring manager who comes across your Presskit and resume. Let’s assume for the purpose of this exercise that you are absolutely qualified for job “X”. How do you create a Presskit that showcases your talents and compels a hiring manager to see you as a strong candidate for your dream job? Now, go assemble your Presskit to include all of that relevant information and content. Every individual has unique experiences so with a media-rich Presskits you can really distinguish yourself with examples of your work.
Check out T.J. Petracca and Reynold Roque’s Presskits for great examples.
Below is a basic checklist of items your Presskit should definitely have. (Note: these are the minimum Presskit requirements for Justine Taormino to submit your Presskit for opportunities on the Berklee LA Opps Board as well.)
- Name: Your Name, Band Name, Company Name - whichever is relevant to the job you are seeking.
- Cover Image: High-Res Professional Headshot or band photo; or company logo.
- Current Location
- Professional Skill
- Video Introduction: Read blog post on Video Introductions here.
- Professional Resume: Upload to your Presskit in the Files section, under the media tab.
- Media: At least one (1): audio, video, image
- Bio: A short description of yourself and your work (Tip: list your accomplishments in the Wins section)
- Wins: Highlight a minimum of 2-3 notable accomplishments
- Contact Information
- Links: Website and social media presence (Tip: Avoid adding personal social media links.)
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Sophia Moon is the Chief Marketing Strategist for Presskit.to. She holds an MBA in Marketing from the D’Amore-McKim School of Business; and a BA in Sociology from Brandeis University. Sophia specializes in brand management, content strategy and social media marketing. She is a well-respected, independent Singer-Songwriter, currently working on her second album, Shades of Love (Acoustic R&B) .
SXSW 2013: Do it Like a Local
Heading down to Austin for SXSW ‘13?
If you haven’t already micro-managed your calendar to the point where your schedule is mapped out by the minute, check out this video from Flow Nonfiction on how to “Do it Like a Local” for SXSW ‘13.
From the best places to drink & grub to the most unique showcase spots (yes, even the local Dentist has a SXSW music showcase at their office), Flow Nonfiction’s “Do it Like a Local” video gives you plenty of ideas for what’s worth checking out in Austin.
Don’t forget to tune in to Presskit.to SXSW ‘13 Radio for live showcase streaming, exclusive Artist interviews, and your favorites from the Presskit.to Bus Sessions at SXSW ‘12!
Get Your Song on the ALL NEW Presskit.to Radio!
In celebration of South By Southwest 2013, Presskit.to and Backbone Networks have teamed up to create a pop up radio station that will stream curated tunes 24/7 throughout the month of March. We’ll be broadcasting the live stream of three awesome SXSW showcases as well as insightful interviews with music and tech entrepreneurs while we’re down in Austin.
And we want our awesome users to be a part of it!
Make A Great First Impression With A Video Introduction
Written by Sophia Moon.
It’s a dog eat dog world out there and that dream job you’re applying for has applicants lined up from here to Timbuktu. Having a neat Presskit that showcases your professional resume, wins, and media will definitely put you in the lead, but a video introduction might be just the personal touch that could set you apart from a sea of candidates.
To that end, here are some simple steps to creating your own introduction video.
SAtN Interview with Jonas Forth, Creative Director of ThingLink
ThingLink, an Image Interaction tool is widely used across creative industries. Many examples of ThingLink can be found in our very own Music Industry, in fact. Alongside major labels, artists, and publishers, your good ol’ buddies at Presskit.to have used ThingLink to create an interactive experience for last year’s Presskit.to Takeover at SXSW.
Our friends at Stand Above the Noise sat down with ThingLink’s Creative Director Jonas Forth to discuss the Music Tech space, how artists can make the most out of the tools available to them online, and the importance of engaging your audience.
Check out ThingLink online for more information.
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Stand Above the Noise is a documentary-style series of video interviews, filmed and produced by Dotted Music. From Berlin and Helsinki, to a host of cities dotted across Europe, we have been encounter musicians and essential names in the music business, including representatives from the likes of Universal Music, Soundcloud, or Live Nation. Learn how to be remarkable and make this business work for you with Stand Above The Noise, a contemporary insight into the contemporary music industry.
Throwback Thursday: The Music Placement Process Explained
Written by Anishka George
Music placement in film, television, and advertisements has quickly become a significant revenue source for musicians and the music industry. Most importantly, it has become a new platform for A&R and allows the opportunity for relatively unknown artists to break. Any genre of music has a place on film and TV, but the most “licensable” music tends to be of the indie, electronic, rock, singer-songwriter, and pop varieties. But how does this side of licensing work exactly? What’s the process? Few people know the extent of detail involved in film and TV licensing, but after this article, you won’t be one of them! Keep reading to get a better understanding of how a synch license comes to fruition, from the initial song choice to that final signature on the licensing agreement.
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Anishka George holds a B.S. in Music Industry from Northeastern University, specializing in Music Licensing, Intellectual Property & Copyright Law.
Landing Musician-For-Hire Gigs with your Presskit
A musician-for-hire is someone who provides a service to an event coordinator, talent buyer, or group of people that caters to the event’s specific needs and generates a notable yearly income.
You know, the guy that’s singing “Don’t Stop Believing” in the background of a picture-perfect wedding reception, or the guy kicking off “Hava Nagila” at the most anticipated Bar Mitzvah of the year. Even the cover band at the coolest bar in town is an example of musicians-for-hire work. There’s plenty of work like this out there for us to make a living from - but how do you set yourself apart from the rest of the bands trying to compete for these kind of gigs?
Well, although there’s no short answer, there are several steps you can take to set yourself ahead of the competition and create a “wow-factor” for yourself. Indulge:
Presskit.to Recommends: Unsigned Only
Tired of entering music competitions whose prizes leave something to be desired? Or that leave the judging up to average music fans that are there just to vote for the band that invited them?
These are common pitfalls of online music competitions, which is why we were excited to come across Unsigned Only.
Now in its second year, Unsigned Only is a music competition that goes above and beyond other online music competitions. Here, artists are judged by world-renowned musicians and industry vets, and the Grand Prize winner is put in direct, personal contact with influential record label executives who are the ultimate decision makers. We know what you’re thinking - that the chances of winning are slim, right? We can’t promise it’ll be easy, but with “high touch” competitions like this you can rest assured that the people judging your talent actually know what they’re talking about. You can learn more about the competition on their site, or check out the info we’ve included below.
And, if you’re interested in registering for the competition and choose to do so online, it’s the perfect opportunity to use your Presskit!
Click here to enter with your Presskit link
(Paste your link in the “Where can we listen to your songs online?” field)
Or check out other submission options
[Webinar] Advanced Tips: Landing A Job Using Presskit.to & The Berklee LA Opps Board
A lot has happened since Presskit.to teamed up with the Berklee Center in LA to create a solution for connecting alumni (like you!) with amazing opportunities in the music industry. Most recently, we launched the Berklee LA Opps Board, which means Justine is ready to take your Presskit submissions for some amazing jobs & internships in the LA area.
We can’t stress enough how important it is for you to complete your Presskit(s) because Justine can not submit incomplete Presskits to potential employers.
Our very own Ben Maitland-Lewis, CEO of Presskit.to and Berklee Alumni ‘05 has been hosting a series of weekly webinars throughout the month of February on topics ranging from “Creating A Kick Ass Career Presskit” to “Mastering the Berklee LA Job Board.” If you missed them, no need to fret, because this week we’re wrapping up the series with an “Advanced Tips: Landing A Job Using Presskit.to & the Berklee LA Opps Board” and Justine Taormino will joining Ben to answer any questions you might have. So, check webinar details below, RSVP, and start jotting down those questions.
Webinar Details
Advanced Tips: Landing A Job using Presskit.to & the Berklee LA Opps Board
**This webinar is free and open to Berklee Alumni only**
Because your success is our success, the Presskit.to team is committed to helping you get your Presskit(s) complete and looking & sounding its best. Head over to the Presskit101 page to meet some of our team members and check out our Presskits. Then, click to connect with one of us - send us your Presskit link via email and you’ll get real feedback from a real person - the person you choose.
We’re really excited to hear from you and to check out your Presskit(s)! So, don’t be shy… be prepared.
Throwback Thursday: Navigating Radio Placement as an Independent Artist
Since the beginning of its era, radio has been the driving force of music discovery for most people. Whether a major label is pumping millions of dollars into a nationwide radio campaign for the next big hit or a college student is playing their friends’ band during their 1-hour radio show once a week, radio has become ingrained in the music industry’s business model. And even though radio doesn’t make or break an artist like it used to, there are still a number of people out there who don’t discover music on the internet, and rely solely on the radio stations they’re familiar with for new tunes.
In this article, we’ll be exploring the worlds of Internet and Terrestrial radio, looking into the characteristics of each, determining when it’s smart to submit your music for airplay, and how to prep the necessary materials to submit. Although there is no true test for how one’s music will get airplay on the radio, this article can serve as a simple guide to independent artists seeking some info on the medium.
Understanding Music Publishing with Corinna Poeszus (Universal Publishing Production)
The world of Music Publishing is often a gray area for independent artists - whether it’s too confusing to navigate, or simply isn’t explained well enough, many independent musicians remain uneducated on the topic. Publishing can take your career from 0 to 60 in a short period of time, and aside from being one of the most lucrative channels of the music industry, its ability to launch an artist makes this a “double-whammy” for anyone who is able to capitalize on it. With the combination of associating your music with a notable brand and being exposed to a large audience, landing your music in a licensing opportunity could be one of the most desired achievements of independent artists today.
Stand Above the Noise sat down with Corinna Poeszus, G.M. of Universal Publishing Production, to help you better understand the world of Music Publishing. Check out their interview, and find out more about how Composers, Artists, and Music Supervisors interconnect to fulfill the client’s needs for music licensing.
We’ll be teaming up with Stand Above the Noise to bring you more content over the following months on the blog, so be sure to visit http://i.standabovethenoise.com for more information!
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Stand Above the Noise is a documentary-style series of video interviews, filmed and produced by Dotted Music. From Berlin and Helsinki, to a host of cities dotted across Europe, we have been encounter musicians and essential names in the music business, including representatives from the likes of Universal Music, Soundcloud, or Live Nation. Learn how to be remarkable and make this business work for you with Stand Above The Noise, a contemporary insight into the contemporary music industry.
The Power of Personal - When Traditional Marketing Still Counts
Written by Jem Bahaijoub
As a new artist it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the constantly evolving new media world. With new marketing platforms bombarding us every day, it’s difficult to see the forest from the trees. So what should you do to market your debut EP? How can you build up a fan base from scratch? Next time you feel a panic-attack coming on and start screaming “where do I start?!”, take a deep breath and remember that we were sociable before we were social. So cast your smiley text faces and FB invitations to one side, and go back to basics. The foundational elements of direct-to-fan marketing all started in the physical world….
Put Your Face In A Face
Always remember that your most important marketing tool is yourself. Nothing can ever replace the importance of face-to-face interactions. You may not have time (or the money) to attend every industry and event conference but remember that every time you step outside of your house a marketing opportunity presents itself - at your local coffee shop for example (can you leave postcards on their counter?), going to see other local bands (how about a gig swap?), even at dinner with your extended family (get them on your mailing list!). The power of personal will ALWAYS trump the online world. Why? Because you are instantly more memorable in real life, and people will be willing to help you out more if they know you as a person.
Webinar: Mastering The Berklee LA Opps Board
Webinar Details
Ben Maitland-Lewis
Founding Alchemist & CEO Presskit.to
Presskit.to/Ben
@maitlandlewis
Throwback Thurs: You Have 5,000 Fans on Facebook… Now What? Exploring Your Facebook Strategy, Part 1
Written by Laura Maxwell
So you’ve got 5,000 fans. Congratulations! Your friends, family, and first hardcore fans came out to represent on Facebook. To get to this point, you’ve very likely asked everyone you know to “like” your Fan Page, posted awesome videos from shows, and even given away some free CDs. So how do you up the ante?
Industry folks are using social media presence more and more to identify up and coming bands. Aside from the quality of your music, your engaged fan base and the rate at which it is growing is increasingly being used as an early indicator to your potential and marketability as an artist. Showing up online and getting your fans to show up there too only helps your future as a full time musician. Getting to this milestone is a first huge step in spreading the word about your music. Your current Facebook strategy could be nonexistent, dwindling in effect or still working well but it never hurts to figure out where you want to go from there. Some bands take years to hit 5,000 fans, others have done it in less than a year. Either way, it’s time to evaluate and build on the momentum you’ve created.
Evaluating starts with defining your goals as a band. Do you want to be a household name, become a respected niche artist, or just continue playing music in your basement as a release from your day job? If you want the latter, 5,000 fans is pretty awesome for someone with no desire to make a career from music. Stop here. Want the former? You’ve got a ways to go…
These three steps will help you start thinking about how you want Facebook to work for your band.
1. Choose an artist that represents the social media presence you would like to emulate. This should be based on their content sharing style and level of engagement from fans.
- Sharing Style: There are many different styles of communication on Facebook. You could be funny, playful, serious or just a grounded, easily relatable musician. Whatever fits most with your image. Are you a glorified rock star, a bashful singer-songwriter, a lovable hipster, or a down-to-earth guy or girl next door? Decide how you want to be perceived so you can show who you are through everything you do.
- Engagement: How do you want your fans to engage with you? Think about the quality of information that is shared through your example artist’s page and what the response is from fans. Are they getting a bunch of likes on their status posts? Comments? Analyzing this isn’t so you can copy them, it’s so you can get an idea of the themes that attracted you to them. Your well-executed strategy should do the same for your potential fans.
