Press Kits - and the demo within
I have been researching and many just say put a 3 song sample of your album in the press kit. This would be for booking gigs by the way. My question is a simple one. When booking gigs back in the day when I was in a rock band, we got away with tossing the club owner or the guy responsible for booking, a CDR of our music. Now as a song writer not only trying to book gigs locally but plan localized tours would it be a shot in the foot to send a CDR instead of a professional CD?
Hear is why I ask...I have a full length CD released on CDBaby, Amazon, itunes etc. It has the barcode and everything. It is not cost effective for me to send a full length CD to someone to which I have already read over and over will probably only want 2-3 songs anyway. I also don't want to have a bunch of 3 song cds pressed or duplicated with printed covers as this costs money as well. I will if I have to, but if I can get away with sending out a CDr demo and a bio / press and pic that would be nice. I am also wondering in this technological age, since people are on the computer most f the day anyway are more people just sending out cards with website info on them so the booking person does not have to keep track of a CD, look for a player? Are people fine with sending them to a website to check out the tunes? I would imagine at the same time, they are busy and you are requiring them to look up your music rather than a cd player to play the disc in but just a thought.
At the same time I do not want to lose a chance at a good gig at the cost of one CD.
Your thoughts.
Thank you for your time.
Hear is why I ask...I have a full length CD released on CDBaby, Amazon, itunes etc. It has the barcode and everything. It is not cost effective for me to send a full length CD to someone to which I have already read over and over will probably only want 2-3 songs anyway. I also don't want to have a bunch of 3 song cds pressed or duplicated with printed covers as this costs money as well. I will if I have to, but if I can get away with sending out a CDr demo and a bio / press and pic that would be nice. I am also wondering in this technological age, since people are on the computer most f the day anyway are more people just sending out cards with website info on them so the booking person does not have to keep track of a CD, look for a player? Are people fine with sending them to a website to check out the tunes? I would imagine at the same time, they are busy and you are requiring them to look up your music rather than a cd player to play the disc in but just a thought.
At the same time I do not want to lose a chance at a good gig at the cost of one CD.
Your thoughts.
Thank you for your time.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Aaron Johnson on -
Hey Tim,
In answer to your question a CDR should be fine for the majority of places you want to be booked at. If professionalism is a big concern then a neatly labeled CDR in one of those slim jewel cases one can buy in a 50 pack at Walmart with a clean, uncluttered cover is the way to go. Of course you would want to make sure that all the songs play through with no skips, etc... But honestly that should be just a back up. A professional resume with with easy to remember and easy to type URL address (nothing with a sentence worth of crazy gibberish at the end) to sites were your music can be heard is awesome. Better yet, back up your submission of a physical press kit with a "thanks for your time and consideration" email (if the venue/manager/owner/etc... has one) with working links to your web pages and a reiteration of your contact and booking info.
It also doesn't hurt to "do your homework" and research the places you want to play before you contact them. That way you can assesses whether or not an extra degree of professionalism is called for.
I know I'm not staff but I hope this answers your question and helps. Good Luck!!!
Cheers
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Permalink Reply by Tim Kelley on -
Thanks Aaron, I welcome any and all input not just staff. I am new here so I just picked staff to keep it simple. I appreciate the input.
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