Canadian Guitar Player Musicians Instant Press Kit

By Mark Grove




Introduction

What is in this kit and how to use it 1


Section A – Tools to help you represent yourself

Creating your biography 2

Your resume of experience 3

Creating a Demo 4

Completing your portfolio 5


Section B – Tools to help Canadian Guitar Player promote you

An on-line interview 6

A review of your music 7

Your own personal web page and Introduction to the Press Kit

Musicians have always been trying to come up with a way to make a press kit that doesn't end up in the trash bin of a record label, agent or club Manager. But the question is how do you assemble a press pack that is simple, to the point yet get your message across in a way that convinces someone to actually call you back.


A good bio and press kit is just like a resume when you're applying for a job. No matter how talented your band is, if your press kit is too long winded and doesn't state specifically what someone wants, it gets the old heave Ho. Now I may be getting off topic a bit, but your demo tape or CD is also a part of the Press kit and an important part of it. When a club Manager I know received a tape from Blues Traveller in the late 80's, he took a listen, but it was a little too rough sounding and not what this blues promoter was looking for. This goes back to what I said in the last paragraph, send any press material or demo to people who book or promote the type of music you play and create.



Don't get cute thinking you'll convince a club that caters to heavy metal, or power-pop to book you. It's not worth having your press and demo kit thrown out. You may think you're intelligent enough not to send your package to people who don't want the genre you play, but it happens all the time. Take the time to research a club, agent or Record label to find out exactly what type of music they prefer, and what they want as far as a demo and press package goes. Call people and talk to A&R reps at labels, Club Managers and agents. This shows initiative on your part. Keep a file on everyone you contact, and write off part of your long distance charges when your band becomes a business. Believe me it's worth it. And if you show yourself to be a solid musician who has drive and determination, labels and clubs will hound you, and that's a good thing.




Submitting Press kits to Record labels:



First of all, I think that the majority of independent bands shouldn't send Press and demo packages to Major labels, because very few make it past the initial stages. And if you do make sure your press pack and demo meet all their requirements for submission. Most Major labels have subsidiary—or smaller labels that cater to the indie market and use these labels as a "farm system” to capture a niche market, which is what most Independent labels are looking to do anyway. You're better off looking at a solid indie label, which is where you'll get your start to learn the basics of how a label runs, and how to approach selling your CD's. Learn all you can about running a label even if you want someone else handling that end of your music business.



Now back to your Press kit. It's vital that you state in your press kit what type of music your band plays or creates. Don't say we play Rock, Jazz, blues, hip-hop and anything. That's the kiss of death for a band. Say you play one type of music and your music is similar to a certain artist. If you just play covers, state that in your bio. But if you write original material along with cover material state what type of music your original's are. Then send a 3 song demo with your best song first.

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We here at Canadian Guitar Player like musicians to think differently, and approach Press kits creatively, rather than just coming out with something generic. Most bands just starting out aren't creating a buzz in their cities, and therefore are shunned by the media and clubs. That's where we come in. Even a band that's still in the basement can create a press package that gets results and shows creativity on your band's part.


Canadian Guitar Player.com Instant Press Kit


By Mark Grove


Co-writer—Gerald Ingram

Creating your Biography


This biography portion of the press kit focuses on who you are and what you play.


This is a basic introduction of who you are.


- Name of your band.


- Type of music played.

Don’t make this generic. Specify a specific genre of the music industry that is your greatest strength and defines you as a band. If you do other types of music, list them as a “secondary” interest.


Band member’s names and instruments played. The following is an example of details to include.
Vocals
Lead and backup
Guitar and Bass Players
- Name and Model of Guitar
- Strings and Gauge
- Amplifier
- Cabinet
- Effects
Drummer
- Name of kit
- Sticks
- Cymbals
Other Instruments played and details


- When and How did your band form?


- Do you write your own lyrics and music? If yes, list which members contribute what here.


- State Goals your band wants to accomplish in order of importance
Example:

1: Sign with a good independent label or major record label.
2: Come out with an album done our way to keep our artistic integrity
and intentions as original artists.
3: Want to be a regular touring act regionally, then nationally.

What type of bands would you like to open for in clubs, concerts etc.


Your Resume of Experience

CD releases—Name of release
Label Artist

CD sales numbers—onstage,retail,online
On any music charts?
College or commercial radio play?

Clubs played at or currently playing?

Opened up for any bands—or headlined any dates where a band opened up for you?

Name of band or bands opened for?

Has your band done any battle of the band competitions?

Has your band done any touring—supported any bands on a tour?

Name clubs on tour—regional or national tours?

Strictly originals or Covers or a mixture of Both:



Other music fields band members involved in:
Example: songwriting
Studio or live session work with other musicians
Article writing in music industry (Magazines or on-line.)


Writers of songs
All originals?
All covers?
Percentage of covers and originals

Creating a demo

Ideally a demo of your music should be 3 songs on a CD. If you have a tape, it’s not too difficult to transfer the recording to a computer equipped with a CD burner. Make the first song your best and try to make the other two as different as possible to show diversity in your abilities. Too many artists fall into the trap of repeating the same sound with only slight variations of lyrics and melody.




Completing your Portfolio

Does your band have photos? Include them if possible.

A website or blog?
What is on the website?
Website address?

Has your band ever been interviewed?
When and where? Provide copy if possible.
Has you music ever been reviewed
When and where? Provide copy if possible.

Contact person. Example: representative for the band, Agent or Manager
Name:
Phone:
Address:
Email:
Website:




This information along with the previous 3 pages makes up your personal press kit you can send to anyone in the industry.


The following section is an optional public press package you can use to enhance your personal press kit. It takes advantage of the easily accessible and increasingly popular Internet advertising.

An Interview with Mark Grove, writer for Canadian Guitar Player Magazine

Answering the questions on the following pages will give us a good idea on how to set-up your Press-kit. This can be edited to suit situations when you’re looking for club work, sending demos to labels, or when an individual musician wants to send demos of their own songs to Industry people looking for new material. Once submitted along with a copy of your complete press kit, an article featuring your band will be published on-line.


We can also do regular articles and interviews for your band on Canadian Guitar Player.This will help bands just starting out, or established ones a vehicle for compiling regular media material they can use. It’s a continuing process, and your band is always evolving. The Canadian Guitar Player Instant Press kit is a good way to make sure you always have someone helping you with a press package suited to your needs at the moment.








A review of your music

If your press kit submitted to Canadian Guitar Player includes a demo, it will be reviewed and a general impression will be returned to you. Not all submitted demos will be reviewed on CGPM, however some of the more favorable reviews may be published on-line.


Your own Web page!

Having a website is equivalent to having your press kit published on-line. Easier than mailing a package, sometimes just providing a link to your webpage will get you the same (or better) results. This webpage is service included for one year, with the purchase of this press kit.
By itself a $240 value!

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Current price for this service (at the time of this publication) is $40 per month.

Canadian Guitar Player
Musicians Instant Press Kit

Mark Grove
markgrove20@hotmail.com
Writer, Interviewer, Editor, Creative Consultant
Gerald Ingram
gerald@gsipromotions.com.
Web Designer, Publisher


Mark Grove