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By Ben Dransfield
In today's entertainment industry, there is only one way for a cover band
or solo entertainer to get hired: a Video Promotional Package. With the ubiquity
of the internet, it is an absolute must for getting booked. Because of the
accessibility of high quality audio editing software, the days of audio promo
are over because it is impossible to know how authentic the performance is.
Virtually every potential client will request a video, so the sooner you get
this prepared, the better.
Luckily, as internet speeds have gotten faster and faster, uploading a video
to a hosting site such as YouTube or Vimeo has never been easier. This is an
excellent option for quickly sending materials. As an agent myself, getting
physical promo packs in the mail not only costs you money, but takes longer
to review and is harder to file. Digital promo packs are strongly encouraged
instead of hard copies.
Knowing what should be in a promotional package and knowing how to actually
create one are two totally different animals. Good intentions can often be
misguided, unfortunately! As a booking agent for dozens of musicians and acts,
I've seen hundreds of packages ranging from excellent to hopeless. Here are
some tips on all three components of your pack to make sure your package is
as strong as it can be:
Video
- Absolutely no longer than 10 minutes. In fact, around 5-7 minutes is ideal.
- Do not include whole songs. Each clip should be no longer than 1 minute.
It is usually best to include the most recognizable part of the song.
- A
selection of 7-10 songs is best. It is important that the songs are as varied
as possible. If you are a party band, make sure you have contrasting songs
from each genre you perform to show your versatility.
- Interact! If you record
in a live venue, make sure you have moments of talking to the audience, or
urging them to sing a long. If you record in a studio, make eye contact with
the camera and show how much fun you are having.
- NO MUSIC STANDS! It is
very difficult to interact with an audience with your face in a music stand.
A lot of bands and entertainers use stands and sheetmusic as an aid on live
gigs, which is ok if done discretely. But for video promo to a potential
new client, first impression is vitally important and having no music stands
is much more professional looking.
- Try to have at least 2 camera angles
and alternate through them in your final cut. If you don't have access to
a professional quality video camera, this is a great way to enhance the production
value.
- If you would like to be represented by a booking agency
such as ours, it is helpful to have an "agent friendly" video
that contains no contact information.
- Concerning attire, it is important to look
nice. Avoid jeans, sneakers, sandals, and t-shirts.
Songlist
- Include the name of the band or performer at the top
of the song list.
- Divide the selections based on genre, not by artist
or alphabetically.
Biography
- Use correct grammar! Remember, first impression.
- Avoid long lists that make the biography excessively long.
- A bio of around 200-250 words is best. This comes to about 1-2 paragraphs.
- If possible, include a band photo or headshot on the bio.
Go forth and get booked!
Suman Entertainment Group supplies musicians and entertainers
to the cruise industry and the Miami, Florida area. If you are band or soloist
interested in work, please consult our website for more information: http://www.sumanent.com/
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