“The Art of Tasteful Boasting” Webinar Recap
A big thanks to those of you who helped make our first Presskit.to Webinar a huge success. The Art of Tasteful Boasting tackled the ins and outs of writing an artist/band bio and tagline. We were joined by three amazing panelists Chris Robley, Marketing Coordinator & Blog Editor, CD Baby; Julia Rogers, Editor in Chief at Musiciancoaching.com; and Jem Bahaijoub, Founder of imaginePR. The trio brought on some great new ideas on getting started with a bio and making it true to your band and music.
If you missed the Webinar or simply want a recap, the recordings are made readily available on YouTube and SoundCloud. We even listed some of our favorite points for you to quickly check out.
We hope you’ll join us for our next Webinar on May 29.
Tips & Takeaway Points:
- Jot down descriptive adjectives of your music, and questions you’d like answered about your band when you’re getting started.
- Writer’s Block?! Take a break!
- Try different approachesto your bio (overly bragging, super-humble, ego-maniac, etc.), and pick the best parts of each.
- Quoting yourself mid-way in a bio is a great way to incorporate first and third voice.
- Prioritize your achievements! Don’t be afraid to name-drop if you’ve worked with a notable industry figure (but, don’t exaggerate or lie).
- Create a few different lengths of your biography. Short versions for press or social media, and longer for your website.
- When building a tagline, try to find two descriptive things to say about your music and you as an artist/band.
- If in doubt, keep it simple! Don’t be afraid to have someone help you write.
- BE AUTHENTIC AND BE YOURSELF!!
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:
Throwback Thurs: Capitalizing on a Branded Session
Written by Mike Harmon
Whether you’re an artist that has done a branded video session before, or are planning a session for the coming weeks, it’s important to know how to make the best out of your session. Several labels, studios, and other music brands are making use of live-in-studio videos with high quality audio to benefit both the brand and the artist, maximizing exposure for both. Some companies hosting session videos with bands include our friends Audio Tree, RAWsession, Sideshow Alley, TourStop, and even non-music related brands such as Converse Rubber Tracks and Mountain Dew’s Green Label Sound.
Oftentimes with these sessions, both parties win in the case of good promotion; Artists get additional exposure through a new network, and the brand benefits by having artists with a large fanbase attracted to their content. Here’s a list of a few promotional methods we’ve found work well when promoting your branded video sessions.
Showcase Unreleased Material
Playing an alternate live version, a deep cut, a b-side of your album, or an unreleased song is a great way to take advantage of your session. This offers your band the opportunity to showcase material that your audience might not see otherwise, or promote upcoming music before it is released. Hosting videos of this type in your Presskit is a great way to grant advance, private access to press outlets for early reviews of new material.
Featured Presskit: Herra Terra (Boston, MA)
We’re psyched to announce that our featured Presskits are now supported by Audio Cotton. Need tees? Audio Cotton will make it happen and has some really affordable options, including one off prints.
Check them out at http://audiocotton.com, and be on the lookout for their new website launching soon.
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The boys in Herra Terra are no strangers to us over here at the Presskit.to HQ. In fact, we’ve followed these guys from the recording of their 2010 album Quiet Geist, to most recently setting them up on our Tour Bus for a full-on Music Video shoot at South by Southwest Festival. (Light show included!)
But Herra Terra is certainly making strides with the new sound that they bring to the table. With a unique mixture of electronic elements in their rock songs, and a live show “to boot”, Herra Terra has rightfully earned the attention of the Boston Music Scene. That’s why they’re featured as the first Featured Presskit of November, where we’ll be running a month’s worth of Featured Presskits from our own backyard, Boston!
We caught up with these guys to find out how they’re using Presskit.to, talk about some of their recent Festival ventures, and get a bit of insight on what’s in store for 2013. Check it out!!
Presskit.to: First off, you guys define your Genre as “Synth-Rock Porn-Pop.” Where did that come from?
Herra Terra: The synth-rock part is self explanatory. We are rock, then we apply a healthy dose of synthetic instrumentation. Voila! Synth rock! But porn-pop is a little more interesting. Our music In most cases induces objectophilia…which is looked at as strange or taboo in western perception. We are looking to change that in pop culture. To listen to Herra Terra (and any other thought provoking music) and get off sexually, is ok. This is a natural effect that good music should have on your sexual organs. So porn-pop is really a dream genre for music lovers and objectophiliacts alike.
Pk: How have you used Presskit.to/HerraTerra to showcase your career so far? (Or, how do you plan to use it for that purpose?)
HT: Presskit.to is exactly what is says it is! It’s a power house for serious musicians looking to get an extra edge in the Marketing, PR, and Booking departments. Once it catches on, it will spread as fast as an STD on Facebook!
Pk: It seems as though you guys kept busy at this year’s SXSW festival in Austin, TX. Any suggestions to artists that are trying to book shows at this festival next year?
HT: Try your damnedest to become an official artist through Sonicbids. So at least if your showcase/showcases were a little lackluster you have access to all an everything SXSW has to offer. If you don’t make the cut, don’t be discouraged. You can still network with hundreds and thousands of people. You can also try to set up on the street, blast faces or snag a house party while your down there.
Another good thing to do is link up with other artists and local artist groups from your area. So when you’re down there you can meet up and conquer the universe! Last year we set up on Presskit.to’s tour bus and performed a set and filmed a video of it! The biggest tip I can give to a SXSW hopeful is schedule your time wisely. The fest is vast; there are a lot of things to accomplish, and tons of good food and artists to see. Last year we saw countless amounts of artists, some including Tenacious D, Kimbra, Fiona Apple, Bad Rabbits, Gemini Club, and Band of Skulls, to name a few. We also hit up a bunch of music business-related clinics and conferences. Sonicbids took over three floors of an old bar and set up a stage on the roof. They also had a stage on the first floor showcasing some pretty amazing music as well. Also, when you walked in there was a table to throw your stickers and demos on. We got rid of demos and stickers…to say the least. SXSW is a seize-the-moment type of fest. Just pimp yourself out, enjoy the ride, eat food, drink booze and don’t be afraid.
Pk: You guys got to perform at the 2012 KAHBANG festival in Bangor, ME this summer. What was that experience like? Any notable “Wins” from that show?
HT: The KAHBANG fest has potential to be one of the biggest music and art fests on the east coast during the summer seasons. We made a bunch of connections, hung out with Deftones and our boys in Bad Rabbits. It rained most of the weekend and put a big damper on the volume of people that could of been there. Bangor, ME is a beautiful place. Everyone who likes partying their face off should make the trek next year.
Pk: What’s up next for you guys?
HT: We will be releasing our new album, “Hyperborean” in 2013. If you’re hankering for the new shit, you can hear a few rough cuts on our Soundcloud page. We will continue playing festivals and shows throughout 2013 in support of our new record. You can follow us on BandsInTown, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and of course check out Presskit.to/HerraTerra. Or just pop over to HerraTerra.com if your feeling frisky. We are constantly keeping you up to date on anything and everything Herra Terra.
Pk: Thanks guys!!
Featured Presskit: Hello Bear (Norwich, UK)
We’re psyched to announce that our featured Presskits are now supported by Audio Cotton. Need tees? Audio Cotton will make it happen and has some really affordable options, including one off prints.
Check them out at http://audiocotton.com, and be on the lookout for their new website launching soon.
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Between their Melodic vocals and Punchy guitar and bass lines, Hello Bear caught my ear instantly. With the visual image to accompany the sound, these guys are ripping up the UK’s Pop/Rock scene both on the Airwaves and on Stage.
We had the pleasure of interviewing Hello Bear’s Manager James Richardson about how they’re using Presskit.to/HelloBear to showcase their career, and how some of their awesome initiatives have brought them the success they’ve seen thus far. Check it out!
Presskit.to: How have you used Presskit.to/HelloBear to showcase your career thus far?
James Richardson: We’ve used our Presskit extensively for a recent radio campaign (which we received national airplay from Amazing Radio amongst others) and we’ve been sending it to other promoters to secure more shows/future touring opportunities ever since. Just recently actually we managed to secure a great London show to coincide with the Single we’re launching in November. I really think our Presskit aids us in our pitches by having lots of relevant content plugins like Soundcloud and Youtube available in a visual way. Being able to showcase your notable achievements into categorized Wins is another feature we’ve found useful too.
Pk: In 2010 Hello Bear won the Next Big Thing Competition. Have you seen any notable Dividends from this Win?
JR: I think we’ll let the giant cheque do the talking here ;)
Pk: You guys have included several of your Music Videos in your Presskit, and they’re all great! Have you seen these Videos as a useful way to showcase the group when reaching out to Agents, Promoters, etc.?
JR: Thanks very much! It’s very important to show a visual side to the band’s music, and I think it helps promoters to really ‘get’ what they’re about, and how they can fit into one of their nights. I mean, without seeing what the band is like live it can sometimes be difficult to understand what a band is all about just by listening to one of their tracks. Hello Bear is quite a fun, animated band so it always helps to use videos to showcase this kind of thing.
Pk: In March, Hello Bear was featured in Artrocker Magazine. Can you tell us a little about that Win?
JR: They were featured in the ‘New Blood’ section which is their area for showcasing the best new artists around, and basically who Artrocker think you should be keeping an eye on. It was great to be included in that feature and they were very kind to the guys in this review. We also had a full page ad the following month which was great as the album was released then.
Pk: What’s up for Hello Bear in the coming months? Anything we should keep an eye out for?
JR: Next month (the 12th of November) we’re going to be releasing the fourth and final single from their ‘This One Girl…’ album, it’s going to be called ‘64 Hit Combo’ and the video is going to have a thumb wrestling theme to it! They’re also gearing up to record the 2nd album which we’re hopefully going to encourage some label interest with.
Pk: Thanks James!!
Featured Presskit: Left On Red (New York, NY)
We’re psyched to announce that our featured Presskits are now supported by Audio Cotton. Need tees? Audio Cotton will make it happen and has some really affordable options, including one off prints.
Check them out at http://audiocotton.com, and be on the lookout for their new website launching soon.
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When we first checked out Left On Red, it was no secret that this duo packs some serious punch. From busking the streets of NYC in their early days, to hopping up on stage with Tom Morello at the 2012 Newport Festival, Left On Red has captured audiences from their home in New York City to the southern tip of Florida.
Check out how they use Presskit.to in innovative ways to correspond with Booking Agents while on tour, and what’s happening in their world in the following months!
Presskit.to: How have you used Presskit.to/LeftonRed to showcase your career so far?
Liah Alonso: Presskit.to/LeftonRed has been really helpful in sending info about our band in text messages and tweets. Everything is there, so there’s no slow load time as there would be with other sites. It has also been helpful for booking more shows while on tour because we are often going to new venues and personally meeting the booking agents. On the spot, we can easily pull the presskit app up on our phones to discuss dates and bookings.
PK: Left on Red busked on the streets of NYC a lot early on in your career together. Do you think that experience has had anything to do with your current successes?
Editor’s Note: This dude’s got moves.
Absolutely. Playing in the subways was a great way to connect with people and see what sounds resonated with them. The person who stops and listens or buys a CD when they hear a subway performer is unexpectedly engaged; they are happily surprised and life is more musical, less lonely and we got to witness the power of music like that first-hand on so many occasions. Playing in the subways also prepared us to always expect the unexpected, and furthermore to not let distractions take away the focus from the music. During our subway performances we would see lots of people doing lots of kinds of crazy things. We have seen people taking their clothes off while we were playing, people crawl out of the subway tracks, people slamming into our gear…not to mention the challenge of playing in the cold and hauling gear up and down many sets of streets and stairs. Equipment malfunctions, busker face-offs…SO many challenges. We would play for 4 hours at a time, sometimes twice a day. We feel fortunate that now we are on the road and the set-backs that are typical for a touring band just don’t seem bad when you compare them to where we have been and when we dream about where we are going.
PK: We hear that! You guys recently did a string of shows with Rage Against The Machine’s own Tom Morello in NYC and at the Newport Folk Festival. How was this experience for the group? Was there any notable “Wins” you can identify from this experience?
It was an amazing experience to open up for Tom Morello and to share the stage with he and Jackson Browne at The Newport Folk Festival! To be invited to perform was a huge win in itself. Tom has been an inspiration to us since we were Rage Fans, activists, and since we had the pleasure of opening for him at The Winter Soldier Convention in Washington DC 4 years ago. We would happily and proudly stand behind Tom’s music and activism in the future.
When people hear that we opened for Tom it gives our music more credibility. That’s just how the game works. For example: Commuters walked past world class violinist Josh Bell when he played his really expensive violin in a subway station in DC. I think he may have only made 30 bucks or something ridiculous like that. Bell tours around the world making crazy money and playing for fancy, deep-pocketed people and that’s awesome! Even so, In the subway tunnels people ignored his talent because they couldn’t frame it into their experience or understanding of great music and where it happens. This example illustrates that in some cases, you are just a peasant playing for change until well-respected famous people stand behind your art, or until you’re on a big stage or TV screen. You are annoying until you are famous and it’s harder for people to open up and really believe in what you are putting out there without the big production. In short, we are super thankful to Tom for believing in us and to all our fans who have stood by us from our subway days till now. In true Left On Red style, we will keep taking our own direction and making positive kick-ass music. The world will take notice when it’s ready.
PK: It looks as though you have a full tour schedule hitting Florida starting this weekend. What was the booking process like to book such an extended tour in one state? Any suggestions for artists hoping to do the same?
LA: Florida tour! Yes, it’s getting cold in NYC now and this will be our fourth run of Florida. We came down the first time upon a fan’s recomendation and only managed to book two gigs before getting to the Sunshine State. We figured that in the worst case scenario, we could busk on South Beach to fill our off days. Once we got to Florida, we performed at a songwriter’s showcase and people were psyched about our music and were really generous about sharing their contacts and favorite places to see music locally. We followed up and came back and continue to expand our miles and friends and fans as we go.
The process of booking the tour is ongoing but we made sure we had 3-6 gigs each week, and that we established residencies in the clubs we liked. We then took risks on new cities and venues because we knew what to expect and count on. My advice for acts hoping to to the same is to get on the road and not be afraid. To be tenacious and follow-up with people. To say thank you and express gratitude because it’s nice to do. To build a community with musicians doing the same thing as you and be interested in others. Also critical advise; “LIKE” Left On Red on facebook;)
PK: What’s up for you guys in the coming months?
LA: LOR will continue to play shows in Florida and NYC until we break for the Christmakuh/NewYears celebration time when the music biz will go into a delicious hibernation. In our off days from performing on this tour we are booking Spring and Summer 2013 and looking to do a National Tour and break into the festival circuit. We are also focusing on promoting our new album TRACKS. We are putting together material for our next album and may record it here in FL.
Pk: Thanks, Liah!
Ways to use Presskit.to: Professional/Personal Resume
Here’s Part 3 of our blog series outlining ways to use Presskit.to. For Part 1 on Creating a Presskit for an Upcoming Album Release, click here. For Part 2 on Creating a Presskit for an Upcoming Tour, click here.
Don’t call us. We’ll call you.
The job market in today’s economy is a dog-eat-dog world. With the competition greatly outweighing the number of available jobs, it’s important that individuals remain on their toes and find tactful ways to set themselves apart from the rest of the crowd.
The days of the PDF Resume are over. Gone are the lines of hyperlinked text directing to your latest portfolio accomplishments. Present yourself like an Amateur Professional - NOT a Professional Amateur. Presskit.to is the best platform to showcase your abilities as an individual and a professional competing in the job market. Check it out!
Cover Art: You, of course! Make sure it’s a picture you’re okay with using in a professional setting.
Title: Naturally, the Title of your Presskit should be your name, if you’re using it as a way to present yourself as an individual. List your Hometown as wherever you’re active in the Job Market.
Tagline: Throw in a few words about yourself, such as “2010 Graduate of University of California, Santa Cruz” or “Law School Student currently applying for Internship Opportunities.”
Media+
Audio: Include anything you’ve done that can be encompassed in an audio form: speeches, interviews, lessons, spoken word/poetry, performances, or even an “about me” introduction to your potential employer.
Video: Include some videos of you performing, speaking, teaching, or even a video introduction of yourself. This section can be used to show people what you do.
Images: Throw in your Headshots, Photos of you “hard at work”, or PDF’s where you’ve been written about, etc. Feel free to get as creative as you’d like!
Files: Include your most recent Resume in your Files section.
About
Bio: Write a concise biography of you as an individual - from school credentials and areas of study, to past and current experience in your working field. Be detailed, but remember that no one appreciates hearing your life story.
Members: Well, this section is fairly self-explanatory. Add your name as well as the current or past positions you’ve held professionally in the Role/Instrument field.
Links: Add relevant links to your professional career in the links section, such as your LinkedIn profile or your personal website. Mark the 4 most relevant links to your career as Featured Links. Note: If you choose to post your personal Facebook profile in the Links section, you may want to do a sweep of the information that’s listed on your profile to make sure it’s work-friendly.
Wins: Add your accomplishments to the Wins section, like Graduating from College, winning a Scholarship, or any awards that you’ve gotten over the years. You can take a lot of accomplishments from your resume in the event that you don’t know how to brag about yourself!
Contact
List your email address and phone number, and street address if you feel comfortable.
Calendar
List any important events that you plan to attend, or use this section to plot out your un-availability for the next series of months. For example, you could list “Going on Vacation” as one of the Calendar items, and specify the duration and other details.
Ways to use Presskit.to: Upcoming Tour
Here’s Part 2 of our blog series outlining ways to use Presskit.to. For Part 1, click here.
Congratulations!! Your tour kicked off with a BANG!
Well, unfortunately, that “bang” we’re referring to was your transmission disconnecting itself from the undercarriage of your 15 passenger. Bummer, man. As you patiently await AAA’s arrival, you wonder how the hell you’ll make it to Saratoga in time for your 9 o’clock set.
Presskit.to probably can’t help you out in that kind of a situation while you’re on tour. What it can help with, though, is a TON of other things. One of the hardest parts of getting a tour together is the planning of it. Placing phone calls to venues, promoters, bookers, and getting lost in email chains has just about worn you out. So let us help with the clerical side of things so that you can prepare to rock the faces off audiences nationwide.
Title: The title of your Presskit should reflect the name of the Tour. (i.e. The Thickness West Coast Tour)
Tagline: Use the Tagline to describe the tour in short detail.
“The Thickness will embark on an 18 day tour along the West Coast.”
Cover Art: The Cover Art should reflect the press images used on the tour, a flyer for the tour, or the album that the tour is supporting.
Media+
Audio
Include songs from the album you’re supporting in the Audio Section. Also include a song by the opening acts on the tour.
Video
Add performance videos, tour announcements, promotional videos for the tour, the Kickstarter video that funded your tour, and on-the-road documentaries to the Videos section.
Images
Add Tour Flyer images, Press photos, and Live shots to the Images section.
Files
Add your Technical Requirements, Stage Plot, Press Release, Riders, and Day Book to the Files Section. This will be extremely useful to send to Production Managers, as well as Promoters throughout the tour.
About
Bio
Under the Bio section, include a summary of who’s performing on the tour, why the band is touring, and which venues/cities the tour will be stopping in.
Members
Include Bands performing on the tour in the Members section.
Links
Add links to bands’ Facebook & Twitter pages to keep up with them on tour. Also include links to the group’s Online Store, Official Web Page, and any Venues in which they’ll be performing.
- Tip: Be sure to include a link to your main Artist Presskit in your links section, and make it one of your Featured Links for easy access.
Wins
Add Wins for the tour as they are completed. For example, “First Show of the Tour” or “Sold-Out Hometown Show” could be notable milestones of the tour.
Contact
Be sure to list the Tour Managers, Business Managers, and Booking Agents that are working on the tour. Also include a contact person for the Band.
Calendar
Add tour dates to the Calendar, and be sure to include information in the description about the show. For example:
“Doors at 6pm. 18+ show. $5 presale, $10 at the door. Tickets available here.”
How To Create A Stage Plot
Written by Mike Harmon
A solid stage plot and input list can or break your gig.
If you’re an artist that has a gig coming up, you should provide the sound engineer with a stage plot and input list at least a day before you get to the venue. This will give the engineer important information about your band’s stage setup, instrumentation, and how they’ll organize inputs into the PA. If you don’t provide the sound engineer with a stage plot and input list beforehand, you may run into a few snags with equipment, stage layout, or even how the front-of-house mix will sound.
It is best to build your stage plot and input list on a large scale, as if you were playing a large venue. That way if you’re playing at smaller venues, the engineer can use their better judgement as to what won’t be used (for instance, they might not mic up the whole drum kit in a smaller venue). Another important point of your input list is to list the instruments in order that they would likely be put into the PA; make sure to keep instruments and microphones that are related to each other in consecutive order. For example, group the drum mics in together, as well as the vocal mics.
Bands on a larger level may have full EQ and monitor levels detailed on their input lists, while smaller bands may only have a plot where each of the amps/instruments need to be placed. Both are helpful, and the more detail you can give the engineer about your setup and sound, the more seamless the technical side of your show will go!
Check out the sample stageplot below, and try building your own design free over at freestageplots.com and stageplot.com.
Lady Abadishes Stage Plot:
Ways to use Presskit.to: Album Release
Here’s part 1 of our blog series outlining ways to use Presskit.to.
So, your band is just about to release your debut album. (Or your 3rd album. Maybe your 50th…) Regardless, any new release deserves it’s own publicity. What better way to showcase a new album than to create a Presskit specifically for it?
*Cue Billy Mays voice*
That’s right, folks!! Presskit.to is the PERFECT platform to not only showcase you as an artist - but all of the Projects related to your music career!
All kidding aside, there are multiple uses of Presskit.to that you can take advantage of, and an Upcoming Album Release is a perfect example.
Upcoming Album Release
Cover Art
The Cover Art for your Presskit should reflect that of your album - it’s Cover art! This is the first thing that will catch the viewer’s eye, so give your Album Art the chance to stand out!
Title
Different from a Presskit for a Band or Artist, the Title of your Presskit should be the name of the album.
Tagline
This is an opportunity to give a little more insight about your album. Feel free to give a little detail into a certain aspect of the album. For example, one could write:
“The Band’s 3rd studio album, recorded at Avatar Studios in New York City.”
Media+
Audio
Use the SoundCloud audio section to showcase some of the New Album’s material. Add two or three songs as a teaser, or add the whole album and make certain songs Private. This gives a great opportunity to Share your unreleased material with a Publicist that’s reviewing your album before it’s released.
Video
Add “Making of the Album” videos, In-studio documentaries, the Kickstarter video that funded the project over the edge, or anything else that’s relevant to the release of your new album.
Photos
Be sure to include a Hi-res image of the Cover Art, as well as any other PDF liner notes or Press images used with the release of the album.
Files
Use the Files section to include PDF files of Song Lyrics, Liner Notes & Album Art, Artist Logos, and a Zipped Folder containing the Album’s songs in MP3 Format. Remember: You can set these Files to Private to ensure that the general public won’t see anything you don’t want them to!
About
Bio
The Bio section of your Presskit can be used to discuss the process of recording your new album - from the writing stages, to where you recorded, who you worked with, the track listing, and any Thank You’s you’d like to include. Feel free to insert as much info about the album as possible, as this is a great place to insert anything special about this album and its awaited release.
Members
Add Band members, as well as Producers, Engineers, Additional Musicians, and Songwriters related to the album in the Members section. This can act as a place to properly credit those who recorded and worked on the album.
Wins
As your album gains momentum, try adding some Wins to your Presskit. Album Release Dates, Radio Rotation, and Benchmarks in Sales can act as Milestones for the album, while Album Reviews can serve as great Press quotes!
Links
Add all relevant links related to the band to the Links section of your Presskit. To tie your Album’s Presskit back to your Artist/Band Presskit, make your Artist Presskit a Featured Link for easy access. Be sure to include a link where someone can buy/download the album!
Contact
Add contact info for the Band, Record Label, Publicist, or Management in the Contact Section.
Calendar
Use the Calendar Section to list Release Dates, In-store Signings, Radio Interviews, or Tour Dates surrounding your new Album.
Featured Presskit: Drew Ryan’s Mixtape (Los Angeles)
We’re psyched to announce that our featured Presskits are now supported by Audio Cotton. Need tees? Audio Cotton will make it happen and has some really affordable options, including one off prints.
Check them out at http://audiocotton.com, and be on the lookout for their new website launching soon.
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Using a Presskit for an Album!
Here at Indie Ambassador we’re all about people that are doing new, cool, and creative things to leave their mark in this ever-changing music world we live in. Whether you’re getting your music out there by busking on the streets, or dressing up as Jesus and singing on Chatroulette, being creative in the way that you market your music is key in today’s industry.
Enter Drew Ryan.
In promotion for his new single “Losing Hope,” Drew brainstormed marketing tactics to maximize exposure around his release. After soliciting some of his favorite Indie artists across the country, Drew compiled a Mixtape of artists to accompany the release of his single to draw in a larger audience. We caught up with Drew about how he released the Mixtape through his Presskit, which is what makes this week’s Featured ‘kit so unique! Remember, you can create a Presskit for more than one use!
Presskit.to: You used Presskit.to in a unique manner by creating a Presskit for your MixTape that was released in August. Can you tell us a little about how you used Presskit.to in the promotion of this release?
Drew Ryan: Presskit.to was a great way of offering up my single “Losing Hope” and my free mix tape exclusively through a digital release, which made it really easy to get the word out quickly to media outlets and fans. The unique and easy to navigate layout of my profile made uploading the tracks, artist info, images, videos, and other media that went along with it a painless effort on my end, and a fun experience for everyone who visits my page. I linked to my Presskit.to profile in my email blast to fans and media, and sent it out to over 1,500 people.
PK: You’ve included songs by several of your musician friends on your MixTape, all surrounding the release of your single “Losing Hope.” What was your thinking behind this marketing tactic, and how has it worked out so far?
DR: Since I was releasing a single, I wanted to give listeners something extra for taking the time to check it out. My track “Losing Hope” was a collaborative effort with my friend and platinum recording artist, Dylan Charbeneau. In keeping with the spirit of collaboration, I thought putting together a mix tape that included some of my friends’ music would be a great way to give listeners a cool freebie to download with my single, and to share some of my favorite bands with everyone. The best part is that all of the music on there is really different, and no one genre is the same. You’ll hear everything from hip-hop, to indie-rock, to an Americana folk singer you’d swear was straight out of the 1920s. So far, I am extremely lucky to have amazing people in my life who all support what I do, and I’ve received nothing but positive feedback on Losing Hope and the mix tape. People really love the concept, and since it’s completely free, they are happy to share it with their friends, which was my whole goal in doing this project.
PK: Any specific mixtape Wins you can tell us about?
DR: I was actually just approached via Facebook by a casting director who heard my mix tape and dug it, so she met me out in Hollywood to cast me for a web series pilot for the video site VEVO. She asked me to get her in touch with my friend Scout, who she also heard on the mix tape, because she wanted to audition her as well. I think Scout is touring up north in Washington now, so I*m not sure if she was able to do it, but yeah. I think that’s a pretty cool win so far.
PK: Do you have plans to release an EP or full-length album any time soon?
DR: I would love to start putting some of my newer stuff down and get a record going, but I’m really busy for the next few months being back in college and studying Environmental Sustainability. I think my next project will definitely tie in with what I’m learning and doing there, though there’s always something in the works.
PK: What’s up for you this Fall?
DR: I’ve got a gig in Vegas this weekend, but I’m mostly just concentrating on my schoolwork, my songwriting, and getting myself in the studio as much as possible. When I’m not in or reading for class, I’ve been reading a bunch of great books on how to be a more efficient songwriter. So, I guess I’ll be spending this Fall getting better at the things I love to do the most.
PK: Thanks, Drew!!
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Presskit Quick Tips:
- Presskits can have Multiple uses: Drew used one of the Presskits on his Pro plan to build a Presskit solely for his Mixtape. Artists can use this concept for upcoming album releases, tours, and more!
- Make the most out of your files: Drew uses the Files section to host all of the MP3’s and PDF Track listing for his Mixtape for the users to download. If you’re making a Presskit for a specific Album, try adding a Zipped folder of the tracks in your Files section!
Featured Interview: Indie On The Move
Indie On The Move is an online service that connects artists with venues and press outlets, to make booking shows and tours across the US much easier. Artists and venues can sign up for a free account and browse venues, show availabilities, and gig classifieds. IOTM even provides valuable tips for approaching a particular venue’s talent buyer. On the flip side, venues can browse bands in a given area or post available show slots to be filled by interested artists. Our team has followed along since the early days and really respect their dedication to independent artists and the DIY/DIT (Do It Together) movement. If you haven’t checked them out definitely do so!
We recently had the chance to chat with Indie On The Move’s beloved President, Kyle Weber, to learn a little more their service and how it has evolved over the last three and a half years. He also gives some great advice on contacting venue bookers and music professionals.
Presskit.to: IOTM has been a free service since day one. Has it been a struggle to sustain the business over the years while providing an awesome service that requires a lot of manual upkeep?
Kyle Weber: It has been and will continue to be A LOT of work, but I would not say a struggle. We are actually working towards putting in some new features that will make the manual upkeep easier on the administrative side of things and will cut down on the man hours. Additionally, we get a lot of great user input and have amazing workers and investors that really believe in our product.
Pk: Have you seen any interesting emerging trends — either on the venue side or with artists — in the live music sector since starting IOTM?
KW: The first major trend that we saw was the disappearance of Myspace. One day it was there and almost every venue and band had a page that was kept up-to-date. Then all of a sudden everyone jumped ship and we found ourselves removing almost all Myspace links from the venue listings. With the daily venue checking that we do, we tend to observe a lot of what is going on on the web and how venues and bands are utilizing those services. Facebook and Twitter are obviously still huge resources for everyone, but we have noticed that people have kind of stopped using the [direct] messaging on there. Now if you want someone to see your message, it needs to be posted publicly either on their wall or on your wall with a tag.
Live streaming has popped up somewhat recently, but with all the copyright infringement issues that it can cause, only a small percentage of the IOTM venues actually utilize it the way that it can be.
Pk: You guys have been at this for quite a few years now. Do you have some notable successes (or “Wins”) — company, artist, or otherwise — that you’re proud of?
KW: Of course! Growing from about 950 venues to north of 5500 in just 3 and a half years is a big one for us. Keep in mind, those are live and active venues too; we remove all listings from the site for venues that have either stopped hosting live music or have shut down. Since the site was first launched (solely as a music venue database), we have been able to add additional sections that cater to show/band availabilities, classifieds, live streaming, radio, press, forums, and more, all that assist in the success of our users’ experience and ultimately their music careers. And that is where the real “wins” lie, in the success of our users. Check out these testimonials: http://www.indieonthemove.com/forums/view/17.
Pk: Booking Agents, Venues, and Music Professionals receive hundreds of emails a day. Do you have any tips or best practices for artists hoping to stand out when contacting intermediaries that they don’t already have relationships with?
KW: Definitely. Keep your emails short, concise, to the point, and grammatically correct. More than 4 or 5 sentences is too long in my opinion. The thing to keep in mind is, like you said, agents, venues, and professionals receive hundreds of emails a day. The last thing that they want to do is have to spend 5-10 minutes reading a really long email. Typos and spelling errors look very unprofessional and might stop someone from reading on. Remember, this email is your first impression a lot of times, make a good one.
Start with a short intro (name, band name, genre, city of origin, etc.); then mention 1 or 2 of your biggest selling points as well as exactly what you are emailing them about (if emailing a venue about a show, include any desired dates), make sure to include a hyperlink to your music (the exact page that the music is on, don’t expect someone to go looking around; think just 1 click), and thank them in advance for their time. If you have a direct solicitation, be sure to mention that in both the title and the body. Lastly, a good subject will help ensure that your email will get opened, so spend some time on it.
Pk: Are there any new IOTM features or initiatives on the horizon that you’re excited about?
KW: There most certainly are and I am VERY excited about them, but I can’t really divulge what we have in store. We are always working towards making the booking, performing/touring, and promotion process easier, more efficient, and as successful as possible, so you can bet that the features will be along those lines.
Pk: Anything else you would like to mention?
KW: Yes, Indie Ambassador is awesome. Thanks for doing the interview!
Pk: Thank you, Kyle! Right back at you.
Featured Presskit: Carosel (Paris, FR)
We’re psyched to announce that our featured Presskits are now supported by Audio Cotton. Need tees? Audio Cotton will make it happen and has some really affordable options, including one off prints.
Check them out at http://audiocotton.com, and be on the lookout for their new website launching soon.
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“Where did this duo come from?!”
This was the first thought that went through my head while listening to Carosel’s cover of “Skinny Love” by Bon Iver on their Presskit. Interestingly enough, the answer to that question is quite complex.
Our friends in Carosel hail from across the Pond…the Atlantic, that is. Forming in Dublin, Ireland in 2007, the group has seen a number of successes ranging from Touring the UK, appearances in international press & radio, and a strong momentum following the release of their EP Stars. They’re now based in Paris, but keep strong ties in both Dublin and London.
We had the pleasure of interviewing Carosel’s own Michelle Phelan (Singer/Songwriter) and Emily Gonneau (Carosel’s Manager; Unicum Music) on their recent successes, and what’s coming up for them this fall. Be sure and check out Presskit.to/Carosel to listen to their music and learn more about the group!
-Mike
Presskit.to: How have you used Presskit.to to showcase Carosel’s career so far?
Michelle Phelan: As we sing in English and have had many various achievements from gigs to synchs and press in different countries, Presskit.to was the best tool to help us convey a general sense of all that was going on for Carosel as a whole, our situation being quite unusual (Irish band, Paris-based and with ties in London). And as we use SoundCloud a lot, it was really useful to be able to sync our songs with our Presskit.
PK: A lot of bands use covers as a marketing tactic to grow interest for their original music. Does Carosel have any unique strategies behind their cover song choices?
Michelle Phelan: So far I’ve just chosen songs that I’ve loved like, the Depeche Mode cover. Its a song I’ve always adored and hoped I’d do justice to. As for pop songs, I think when I find myself with something stuck on loop in my head I can’t help but want to try and recreate it stripped back. It happens organically as I keep singing it to myself and it evolves into a cover version. I think all songs should be able to stand alone acoustically and thats the test of a good song.
PK: In April the group successfully raised 2,500€ to fund the mixing and video shoot of “Je Reviens.” How has this Win been going so far?
MP: The song is now mixed and mastered and we are thrilled with it. It was so important for us to write something in French because of all the time we have spent in France. Its a country dear to my heart. The video is still in the prep stages; just getting some ideas now and we plan to shoot something this autumn.
PK: What’s happening next for Carosel?
EG: With the funds raised through the Oocto crowdfunding campaign, we will be shooting a video for “Je Reviens” in the coming month or so. Parallel to that, we have just finished a mini-album of 6 beautiful songs + 1 cover. We have just signed a publishing deal for Australia and New Zealand with Source Music and are about to announce another with a just as excellent publisher for the USA: Wonderlous. We are absolutely thrilled with these partnerships, as we are confident that they are respective teams that will help get our songs out to wider audiences worldwide. We will be progressively building up momentum before we release the mini-album - as we are talking to people, we can’t say anymore, but 2012 has been great and 2013 will be even greater!
PK: Thanks Emily & Michelle!!
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Presskit Quick Tips:
- Spice up your Images section: Carosel includes screenshots of their most recent press in the Images section of their Presskit. This adds diversity to their Media, and shows off their Wins visually!
- Make it easy for others to find you: Featured Links are a great way to direct industry professionals to your group’s most important web presences, so be sure and feature your 4 most important external links.
- Don’t forget your files: Carosel provides two versions of their logo in their Files section making it much easier to access their branding.
Featured Presskit: For Sleeping or Jumping (Boston, MA)
We’re psyched to announce that our featured Presskits are now supported by Audio Cotton. Need tees? Audio Cotton will make it happen and has some really affordable options, including one off prints.
Check them out at http://audiocotton.com, and be on the lookout for their new website launching soon.
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For Sleeping or Jumping is like the angry middle child of your family—rebellious and unpredictable by nature. To call them “Metal” is an understatement, as the members of FSOJ push the limits of the genre with their raw musical ability and in-your-face live show. In fact, they’ve kicked enough ass to have members of Dillinger Escape Plan (Ben Weinman, Guitars) and Glassjaw (Ryan Siegel, Producer) work on their EP Dead Languages. With a large amount of buzz from the press and a new record on the way, For Sleeping or Jumping is quickly blowing up from the Boston scene and overloading your home stereo.
We sat down with FSOJ’s Drummer Taylor Pile last week to ask him a few questions about how they’ve been using Presskit.to/ForSleepingorJumping to book shows, earn press write-ups, and employ various marketing tactics.
Presskit.to: How have you used Presskit.to/ForSleepingorJumping to showcase your career thus far?
Taylor Pile: Where do I start..
Press: While I am not a publicist, I do often reach out to blogs personally after they have featured us - letting them know they can check our Presskit to stay updated with us for all things touring, album releases, and make sure to check our “Wins” to check out the bands momentum!
Music! (Duh): We are currently working on a full length album. Since Presskit.to gives users the ability to share private content and revoke its access at any time, our band will be able to share exclusive content with the team helping release our next effort (demos, mixes, etc.).
TP: I have made custom Flash Drives for our band that have all our music, videos, contact info, etc. on them (which conveniently fit on your keychain!). We use these to send promotional material out to radio stations or labels, and have already landed a good amount of people on our team because of them. The thing is - information often changes, so I always include a link to our Presskit saved on the flash drive with a quick note that this is a great way to see what’s been going on since the date on the postage stamp!
PK: You guys shot music videos for “Beardrops.” and “Bone of Contention.” How has this helped to showcase the band when you’re sending out your Presskit to Industry contacts?
TP: The videos - that were so kindly and well done by Chris Thomas of Strewnshank Productions - have been one of the biggest catalysts for the success our band is seeing today. They have been featured on Alternative Press (twice), MetalSucks (twice), Metal Insider (twice) The PRP, AOL Music, Highwire Daze - I could keep going or you could just check my Presskit to see who’s been taking notice to our band due to the videos.
Featured Presskit: Vinyl Thief (Nashville, TN)
We’re psyched to announce that our featured Presskits are now supported by Audio Cotton. Need tees? Audio Cotton will make it happen and has some really affordable options, including one off prints.
Check them out at http://audiocotton.com, and be on the lookout for their new website launching soon.
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Vinyl Thief is not the kind of group you would expect to hear while walking the streets of Nashville, TN. Proving that “Nashville music doesn’t have to come from the back of a cowboy’s pickup truck or from somewhere inside Jack White’s garage,” their Electro-Rock sound certainly lives up to the juxtaposition they pride themselves on. We caught up with Vinyl Thief Publicist Wes Davenport for an interview about how he incorporates Presskit.to/VinylThief into his role, the band’s recent accomplishments with Hypebot and Kickstarter, and what the group has in store for the fall.
Presskit.to: How have you used Presskit.to to showcase Vinyl Thief’s career thus far?
Wes Davenport: Every email I send out has a hyperlink to Vinyl Thief’s press kit in my signature. If it’s a press pitch, it’s always in the body as well. Having that link there is such an essential thing. Journalists and bloggers are very time-constrained people. They live life on deadline.
