12 TOP ITEMS TO INCLUDE IN A KIT TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE FIRST IMPRESSION

2008-06-09T11:53:00.000-07:00

If you are sending out materials to a club, agent, etc., for an audition or
to get a gig, there's a few things you need to include in your package.
Today's competitive entertainment business has high standards and an artist
or band may only have one chance to grab a prospect's attention. Your "kit"
needs a well-written sales pitch cover letter that clearly defines you--
what makes you different, talented. That image must tie in the design of all
the kit materials like your letterhead, business cards, pictures, and audio
CD/DVD, and the envelope. A cheap looking kit makes you look unprofessional.
Most good kits cost about $8 a piece. Make sure you address your kit to the
decision makers and be ready to follow up within a week of mailing it. Here
are the most important things your kit should contain to stand out from the
crowd:

1. MAILING ENVELOPE. Choose a color other than plain brown.

2. FOLDER WITH CUSTOM COVER. Fun color or metallic folder with a printed
full color label attached to the front cover that defines your uniqueness.

3. PHOTO. 8”x10” professional glossies with logo and contact information.

4. DEMO TAPE WITH CUSTOM DISC LABEL & JEWEL CASE. About 3 songs with your
best one first and your contact address and phone number on the disc. Don't
shrink wrap.

5. COVER LETTER. Be concise, good grammar, spell check. The letter needs to
sound different depending on whom you are targeting (club owners, agents,
party organizers, schools, media editors or producers, radio DJs or
directors, TV/video music buyers, A&R reps, music publishers, lawyers). You
may want to define your fan base, your staying power, your original sound or
look, anything that makes them feel they will be successful at booking you
or representing you.

6. ARTIST OR BAND BIO. A short, one page bio that defines your musical
identity, originality and style of music. Pump it up with your achievements,
fans, drop names, whatever it takes to maximize your talent and popularity.

7. BUSINESS CARD. With matching graphics, insert it in a pre-cut slot on the
folder’s inside pocket

8. GIG SCHEDULE. Past and present list of your musical employment history.

9. PRESS CLIPS OR PRESS RELEASE. Printouts of magazine, newspapers, or
radio interviews in which you've been featured with quotes from
interviewers. Or include a professionally written one to two page article
about the artist./band.

10. SONG LIST. Showcase your originality.

11. VIDEO. Clips of your best stuff-- live performance or an in-studio,
lip-synched shoot will be all you need.

12. GIFTS. A creative object with your name printed.

2008-06-02T13:40:00.001-07:00

“First impressions are crucial in the music industry... artists are made or broken on the basis of a first impression... Go for quality. Don’t compromise!... Your high-quality act deserves high-quality representation.” -from The Self-Promoting Musician by Peter Spellman

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12 TOP ITEMS TO INCLUDE IN A KIT TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE FIRST IMPRESSION