datamusicata

We’ve been working on a new one sheet for all wood and stones (www.allwoodandstones.com) and it occurred to me that perhaps many of you don’t know what a one sheet is or what part it plays in marketing your music. Soooo......

I was first asked to create a one sheet when I started my own label and got national distribution. They sent me several examples and I proceeded to essentially send them a bio. A one sheet is not a bio. It is a brief one page explanation of what your CD is and why they should buy it. The same would be applied to a one sheet about you as a performer.

You don’t need to explain how you got your inspiration sitting by the river contemplating your navel. You put a brief title—your name and the name of your CD would be a good idea here.

Then a photograph so that they can see the REAL you. And the real you should be a photograph that makes you look professional and competent and perhaps fun to be around. But mostly professional and competent. You don’t want a shot that makes you look like your parents are first cousins.

Live shots are very difficult to come by that are actually flattering or professional looking. When one does show up it is usually the product of five hundred shots of the artist playing and then maybe one of them will deliver the goods.

My photo shoots are always at least three hundred shots, just to find one where I don’t look like someone you wouldn’t let mow your lawn. So go over the shots carefully. You are competing with every famous artist who has ever had his photo taken, so it’s got to be good. Otherwise you just look like someone who is trying but not getting there.

Now on to the CD. You want bullet points here. A couple of things that you can say briefly that nail what the CD is about; what the artist is about; and then a couple of brief quotes from folks that matter, you don’t want to put in a quote from your Auntie Griselda. Nobody ever cared what she thought was good.

And getting reviews is not easy. There are so many people making music and recording it right now that it is difficult to sift through the caca and find the real gems. And there is no one to do that for all the print media, so you have to engage them right off the bat...and THAT’s what a one sheet will do, should do.

Intrigue a stranger; encourage a stranger to actually want to hear what you’ve done. So you don’t want to fill the one sheet with copy. That is simply daunting and discouraging to someone who is getting these things every day in every package. Just a couple of things that prove that you are the real thing.

And if you have been fortunate enough to have shared the stage with some people who are already famous, then list them. Not all of them. Just the ones who would impress or intrigue the reader. And if you’ve actually played Carnegie Hall, then mention it. That’s a big deal. Real rooms and real artists demonstrate that you are not someone who just does this in your room in front of your mirror.

And lastly, engage the services of a real graphic artist and listen to what they have to contribute. They do this all the time and actually do know what they are doing. You don’t want them questioning your artistic decisions, so, a little reciprosity goes a long way. Now if you just don’t like something you should definitely share that, but remember this isn’t a bio or a history. It is a one sheet and just needs to intrigue someone enough to make them want to know more about you. Good luck.