Developing a Buzz:Press Kit

From Rejon.org Wiki

Overview of Press Kits

• QUESTION: Why would you want a press kit?
• QUESTION: How will this help you as an artist?
• QUESTION: Who is your press?
• QUESTION: Who should it be sent to?
• QUESTION: Can the press kit itself be an art object? (duchamp, etc)

• DEFINITION: A Press kit is a pre-packaged set of promotional materials of a person or persons represented for promotional use. The kit will usually include a CD or demo along with reviews, photos, and background information on the person, band or group and is distributed among media sources, i.e., radio stations or journalists for publicity. They are often distributed to announce a release or for a news conference. [1]

• Why use a Press Kit?
  • QUESTION: How is news constructed?
  • Press Releases
  • Big Events
  • Personal: Helps sort/consolidate your ideas

• Generic Press Kit vs. Specific Press Kit
  • Generic
    • One that you can hand out to anyone at anytime
  • Specific
    • Tailored to a specific context
    • Context - person, time, company, grant

• Necessary Parts
  • Cover Letter
  • Business Card
  • Resume and/or CV
  • Representation of Work (photo, DVD, CD, etc)

• Optional Parts (Specific)
  • Letters of Support
  • Press Clippings
  • Press Release(s)
  • Demo Reel
  • Photos
  • Headshots

• Design: Look and Feel
  • How is your press kit packaged and kept together?

• Online and Offline Versions
  • Now it is important to have physical and virtual versions
  • K.I.S.S. (Keep It Simple Stupid)
  • Make it so your online and offline are the same/similar
  • Online Version
    • PDF (and HTML if you can)

• Examples
  • HOWTO
    • howto musician press kit
    • General Press Kit HOWTO
    • http://www.ehow.com/how_8794_create-press-kit.html Another HOWTO]
    • http://www.papress.com/designityourself/chapter_topics/press_kits.html
  • Online PRESS KIT
    • http://www.openoffice.org/press/2.0/
    • http://creativecommons.org/presskit
    • http://www.w3.org/Consortium/presskit-single.html
    • http://www.sfmoma.org/press/pressroom.asp?do=kit&id=134
  • PDF Press Kit
    • http://www.shuttlepresskit.com/EXPEDITION12/Expd-12_presskit.pdf
    • http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-news/electronic_irs_press_kit.pdf

• Business Cards
  • 3.5 in (width) by 2 in (height)
  • Vistraprints.com
  • Colors?
  • more colors, more expensive
  • type of paper
  • Cost?
  • What Information?
    • logo?
    • Name
    • Title
    • Phone
    • website
    • email
    • address
    • keywords