How to: Photo Needs of Media For Musicians
By Joan Stewart
The Publicity Hound
Research First
If you have a promotions budget that allows more than just the basics, do some online
research before making any decisions about what to include in your media kit.
Jahnke suggests you visit the websites of the bands or individual performers
you enjoy, or feel some affinity with musically, to see what they’re doing
with their online kits. Many of the images she has produced for musicians
can be found here.
"There are lots of ways to provide this material in electronic format and it would
behoove the readers to do some on-line research to see what they like and what they think
works, as a viewer," she said. "One of the wonderful things about the web is
that it levels the playing field. A self-funded musician with a brain, a good designer and
a good web programmer can create a web presence as appealing as a major label artist, and
it's accessible just the same way."
Remember, too, that media kits aren’t used only for the media. They can double as
your primary promotional package. What you include depends on who is receiving it. Here
are some things to consider:
- Cut-by-cut lists of the musician’s songs. You can
also include a comment from the artist about each song
- A list of media coverage you’ve already gotten
- An audio clip or a sample CD
Frequently asked questions
- Quote sheets (do not include this for the media)
A video of concert footage, with one of the artist’s
songs playing in the background, as well as a voice-over telling a little about the
artist, previous achievements, booking info, etc.
- Email address and phone number of the primary media
contact.
Now that you know what the media expect, it’s time
for you to decide where to begin. Notice the word begin. A media kit should be a work in
progress—always updated, always useful and always representative of the same quality
found in the music you create.
Joan Stewart, a publicity expert, publishes "The Publicity Hound’s Tips of the
Week" ezine for publicists, public relations practitioners and anyone who wants to
self-promote. Subscribe at http://www.PublicityHound.com
where you can also read more than 40 other free articles on how to generate publicity.
Contact Joan at 262-284-7451 or at jstewart@publicityhound.com
"How to" Home
TOP |
