EPK's - Do I Need One and Are They Effective
Tuesday, August 23, 2011 at 12:05PM There has been a lot of talk about epk’s; how to create one; what to put on there; how effective they are; and the basic, should I have one?
The answer is yes. You should have one.
On it should be a really good photo of you; no more than: two really good reviews of your recordings; two really good reviews of your live shows; two testimonials from concert promoters; two songs that you are not only proud of, but showcase your particular gifts; one video of five minutes or less of you performing live which should include not only the performance, but the audience performer inter action and audience reaction.
It should all be on one page.
Don’t crowd the page so much that it looks like a visual attack on the visitor.
You want every point to be obvious and you want every visitor to notice every point. If you glom too much stuff on there, then they don’t see anything.
At this point, you control what is said about you; how you are perceived, so make certain that everything you put up there is something you want repeated.
It doesn’t matter that you got to know yourself sitting by the Illinois river. It doesn’t matter that you have three sisters (unless they are famous); studied Chinese or still live with your mom.
Put up there everything that would actually make someone want to see and hear you.
As it happens, I did study Chinese in the Air Force. And it also happens that my Freelance Human Being CD was hailed as a masterpiece by FI Magazine and listed as one of the Top 200 CD’s of All Time.
I foolishly put in the bio that I studied Chinese, as well as the FI Magazine kudos.
When I got to one of my gigs, there promoter had put in his calendar that I spoke Chinese. He didn’t mention my Top 200 CD of all Time.
Think about it. You’re sitting home reading the mail and the venue calendar comes in. You read that I’m coming and that I spoke Chinese for the Air Force. Is that going to get you out of your seat and racing down to see me perform a show (wherein I speak NO Chinese)?
Just put in there EXACTLY what you want them to say, and maybe they’ll get it. No guarantees, but it’s a more sure bet than putting in all sorts of superfluous flotsam and jetsam that they must wade through.
Keep each paragraph short and to the point. The are few things more daunting on a webpage than for it to be black with tiny print. NOBODY will read it except the folks who already love you. That’s preaching to the choir and a waste of everyone’s time.
Do all your minutae on the blog you create. See? I’m doing it right now.
Reader Comments (2)
Great post, I enjoyed ready reading it, Keep posting good stuff like this.
The EPK's completely necessary almost if you are a music person!
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