Promo Package - What makes it stand out?

Subject: Promo Package - What makes it stand out?
From: Maryrrf
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 04:11 PM

This came from the thread about Jim Moray

"As a Festival Organiser who gets deluged with material from singer-songwriters, much of it pretty dreadful, I found the Jim Moray promo package stood out from the crowd and that's why I booked him. Having seen him perform and having witnessed our audience reaction, I would happily book him again. End of story."

I'd like to hear from people who book acts - what makes a promo pack stand out. I know the music has to be good, but I have a feeling a lot of times people get so much they don't listen to everything. Is it content (i.e. venues they have played, reviews, etc.), or is it neatness and obvious professionalism about doing the kit up (nice photos, crisp copies, nice folder?). Color??? Style of the promo pack?   

This has been touched on before and I've pulled those threads up, but it won't hurt to get more input. Basically, my question is - what makes you look at the promo pack and be favorably disposed towards the artist before you listen to the CD, or makes you decide to actually listen to the CD instead of putting it to the side and forgetting about it?

Subject: RE: Promo Package - What makes it stand out?
From: Fortunato
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 06:14 PM

A good question Maryrrf, I like to hear responses myself.

Subject: RE: Promo Package - What makes it stand out?
From: smallpiper
Date: 09 Jul 03 - 07:42 PM

My personal opinion is that if some one has bothered to send you a cd and you don't listen to it (even if you just flip through the tracks) then you are the one who is missing out. as an organiser you have an obligation to do the best you can for your punters - you took on the job so do it! If you pay too much attntion to the hype the chances are you are going to miss out on some jems - ok so you have to wade through a lot of crap but that is part of the job.

Subject: RE: Promo Package - What makes it stand out?
From: treewind
Date: 10 Jul 03 - 04:09 AM

I saw that message, quoted from the Jim Moray thread, and wondered what it was that attacted the organizer's attention. Obviously if it was the music on the demo CD that's fair enough, but elwhere in that thread it was strongly implied that Jim paid a publicist lots of money. Presumably that impressive promo pack was (part of) the result. I can see that an investment of that sort is a good idea if you are genuinely talented but unknown, but I'm surprised that such an attitude holds much sway in the folk world.

But assessing material like that is terribly subjective, and anything that looks good, communicates it intention clearly and looks like an effort was made, even if that was paid for, will get noticed.

What is a "promo pack" anyway? What's supposed to be in it?

Also there is a thread on Making a Demo CD which may be relevant to this.

Anahata

Subject: RE: Promo Package - What makes it stand out?
From: M.Ted
Date: 10 Jul 03 - 04:23 PM

There is probably more to the story than just that the promo pack got someone's attention. Most likely, a booking agent made an initial call, got some positive feedback, and followed up by sending the promo packet--The promo packet simply verified everything that the agent said on the phone--

That is a bit hedgy, I know--as a one-time concert/music festival planner, I can tell you what I needed to to hear from a booking agent: That an artist had the right kind of show for my audience, that the performer(s) was good, both as a musician and as an entertainer, and that I could count on them to deliver a good show--

A good promo package backs that up, with clippings, a tape or CD, a promotional piece that clearly tdescribes the show, and a backgrounder, press release, and publicity photos for my promotional needs(fliers, ads, PR)--

Sadly enough, smallpiper, organizers, planners, and program directors do everything on the run--they don't have time to do a lot of listening, research, or auditioning--A friend that booked concerts for a campus radio station once told me, "I don't even have time to throw out the unsolicited CD's that I get--I have a group volunteers who do that--"

Subject: RE: Promo Package - What makes it stand out?
From: Phil Cooper
Date: 10 Jul 03 - 04:40 PM

I used to be on a concert committee. What we did was listen to cuts from tapes and CD's at meetings. We also would read aloud the bits that described something of what the artist's music was about. We did not wade through the pages of reviews or copies of newspaper articles. I would like to think we preferred substance over form. I'm not sure what other organizations do. I have heard that the college market almost requires a slick presentation, but do not know that for a fact. When I was the committee chairperson, I tried to listen to the whole demo recording that was sent and then play what I thought was the outstanding bits for the committee.

Subject: RE: Promo Package - What makes it stand out?
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Jul 03 - 05:51 PM

No one had enough time to check out all submissions when I was with an arts center in Rhode Island. I was given several first-rate LP's (Fair Stood The Wind/Geoff Kaufman of Mystic Seaport fame was one of them) and cassettes (pre-CD days) when we shut down. One of the cassettes had nothing but print on it; it was early days for Ad Vielle Que Pourra.

I put some stuff about promo in another thread a year ago or so. I'll see if I can find it and put a link in.

kat

Subject: RE: Promo Package - What makes it stand out?
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Jul 03 - 06:03 PM

Mary, did you see this old thread? Lots of really good points in it and a couple of useful links: clickety.

Subject: RE: Promo Package - What makes it stand out?
From: Maryrrf
Date: 10 Jul 03 - 06:22 PM

Hi, yes I'd seen that thread and reread it just now. There is some good stuff on there. What caught my attention in the post was "his promo package stood out from the crowd". It sounded like it was the package itself that attracted attention before the demo was even listened too. I wanted to know what made it stand out because I think the case you described is pretty common - there isn't enough time to check out all the submissions so what makes one submission get listened to and others tossed into the pile. Obviously it would help if they've heard of you before, but what if they haven't.

Subject: RE: Promo Package - What makes it stand out?
From: M.Ted
Date: 10 Jul 03 - 07:53 PM

Two reason I liked to see newspaper clippings--first, hopefully the reviewer can give some idea of what the show is like and how it goes over, second, as a source for quotes for whatever promotional literature we had to put together--not form over substance at all.

Many times, what you hear on the the tape/CD is a product of a studio process and doesn't reflect the way that the artist really comes across--