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whats the difference?

AdamsGod	Date: March 17, 2008 @ 9:12 AM so were working on a presskit and it should be ready within the next 2 weeks or so. in our presskit, we have: -5 song EP -Bio -2 photos -2 show reviews -lyrics page -contact info and website -a button and sticker. now that this is finally close to being done, i was told that i HAVE TO GET AN EPK DONE!!!! looking at those epk's i'm a little lost.. they pretty are a presskit only, online or on dvd or whatever. of course, theres an option to put a video up and create a neat page but how much of a difference does it really make? should i go ahead and actually get an epk done too? should i drop the regular presskit and do only an epk? a little overwhelmed here i guess. and if i wanted to get an epk done, how the hell would i even start?! HELP!??
Distilled1	Date: March 17, 2008 @ 11:16 AM we did regular press kits but that was um 2000... I started to do a epk but never did as we have been a stagnant band for a while (I hope this changes soon) from what I have read if you are looking for label backing weather major or indie. they both prefer the EPKs now as it is much easier for them to go over the DVD is also a great idea the A&R guy (damn is there any any more) pops it in and can see it all right there, the same way the epk is.. If I remember right as well some of the company's that do epks are real good at getting it out and listed in the proper channels, for a decent cost (if your interested in that as well), its also easy for you to send the epk via e-mail to indie labels and radio that take un-solicited material . here in Chicago booking agents want epks for booking over regular press kits. But there is something cool about a "True" press kit like your button/sticker thing and many reviwers (mags and djs) will dig that. if you stick to the true press kit send it out in noticeable packaging envelopes that have your logo real big or something that makes them want to open it ... we did condoms ! yep Trojans ribbed with a Empire Day sticker saying our fans come first and when I sent out would make the envelope by hand out of a enlarged copy of that on it don't know how well it worked but the mags and DJs liked it
Distilled1	Date: March 17, 2008 @ 12:19 PM I was going to use this place http://www.sonicbids.com/ for bookings and to send to tv stuff its a bit confusing but they have a lot of stuff you can do from their web portal
AdamsGod	Date: March 18, 2008 @ 1:02 PM its strange, cuz when you go to any labels website, they all ask for presskits to be mailed out, i havent found one label asking for an EPK. i just dont know
Woof	Date: March 18, 2008 @ 3:53 PM Distilled's example is a pretty good showing, AdamsGod. I used to set up PR for a couple companies, and most of the legwork was making phone calls and sending emails. That's when an EPK comes in handy. Say, for example, you want to let a few trade related magazines or ezines know about your work. You call the editor and have an introductory talk, and after providing an overview (as briefly as possible) of what your work is about, you ask for the appropriate persons to send an email to. The email contains the same overview that you used to explain yourself to the editor, plus a link to your EPK. The reason for this, is because if a publication decided to do a writeup on you, they can listen to your work easily, and download hi-res (300dpi bmp or tiff, usually) photos for use with the article. It also doesn't hurt to have your press releases available for download as doc files. Good luck.
AdamsGod	Date: March 18, 2008 @ 3:58 PM On 18th Mar 2008, Woof said: Distilled's example is a pretty good showing, AdamsGod. I used to set up PR for a couple companies, and most of the legwork was making phone calls and sending emails. That's when an EPK comes in handy. Say, for example, you want to let a few trade related magazines or ezines know about your work. You call the editor and have an introductory talk, and after providing an overview (as briefly as possible) of what your work is about, you ask for the appropriate persons to send an email to. The email contains the same overview that you used to explain yourself to the editor, plus a link to your EPK. The reason for this, is because if a publication decided to do a writeup on you, they can listen to your work easily, and download hi-res (300dpi bmp or tiff, usually) photos for use with the article. It also doesn't hurt to have your press releases available for download as doc files. Good luck. well, that makes sense! so are you saying to just completely put aside my hard-copy presskits? should i be focusing 100% only on epk's? i think i'm slowly (very) understanding that the traditional presskit is no longer effective. i guess its time to find a specialist that does epk's.
Woof	Date: March 18, 2008 @ 4:17 PM Well, look at it this way: The recording industry's in a position now, where they're really only gonna bet on a band that's a sure thing. And they probably receive a ton of hard copy press kits every week. What's gonna interest them, is what kind of buzz you're creating. That's why Dan's feature in GP was such an important step. The more places (and I don't mean OMD websites or someone's blog) that you can get people talking about you, the better. That's when it's time to get some talks going with the industry. You present "Where you've been featured" as part of your hard copy press kit. This is a big hurdle, and often amounts to very little in this industry. Remember, everybody's up to their neck in artists approaching them and sending them stuff. One good approach I've caught wind of over this last year, is to go with an independent distributor/promoter. This doesn't get you all the way, though. You use the CD that they promote for you as a demo, more or less, to get the attention of bigger companies. I became aware of this approach, because I'm a Takayo Ookoshi fan, and she went through this company: http://www.pauolehauoli.com/ Naturally, you'd want to find representation closer to home. But it's a good model.
Woof	Date: March 18, 2008 @ 4:27 PM PS. The Pauole Hauoli website's "About Us" page used to list their services in the "About Us" section in English. I guess they changed that. They do everything from booking your studio time, to video production, to packaging, to distribution. They set up personal websites and blogs for bands, and so on...
GeneHilbert	Date: March 19, 2008 @ 4:01 AM Do both...... I have both. Even if it's just a Myspace page, do it. Or set up a dedicated web site.
kingo	Date: March 19, 2008 @ 4:18 AM Is there a website for independent musicians to easily create an EPK? Cuz it seems like that could be a good "skin" idea for artist's pages here.
Woof	Date: March 19, 2008 @ 4:28 AM Damn, Kingo... that's brilliant! One of those "Why hasn't anyone thought of this before?" ideas... and those are always the best.
kingo	Date: March 19, 2008 @ 5:27 AM Someone at DMusic better get on it before I go make my own site just for that. I'll be getting right on that. Just a sec.
Distilled1	Date: March 19, 2008 @ 5:29 AM yes it has been done and this isn't the only one. http://www.sonicbids.com/
Distilled1	Date: March 19, 2008 @ 5:32 AM like Gene said as well it doesn't have to be one thats done with a company that you pay the privilege to have it listed like the above. Just a web site with all the info right there and not all flash and fancy for fans but an Easy navigation to all that would be included in your EPK. take a look at the epks on sonicbird (mainly for live booking) and see what they have there are other places aas well out there though like Gene said you can do it your self have a page on your web site that says press kit. and a link thats all you need.
Woof	Date: March 19, 2008 @ 5:34 AM I meant the skin idea here at DM. That would make a great subscriber feature.
kingo	Date: March 19, 2008 @ 5:35 AM I agree. If the redesign accepts skins then it shouldn't be too much difficults. Right?
Distilled1	Date: March 19, 2008 @ 5:36 AM yes could be just a EPK the issue would be the tabs ... although right now each artist page really is set up as an epk. overview.bio.music. if you set up the overview right it would be an epk
Woof	Date: March 19, 2008 @ 5:41 AM The only features that would need to be added are upload/download capabilities for hi res pics & graphics (sometimes requested to be made into a .zip file, .doc and .pdf files, and the info on the tabbed pages might be more efficiently rearranged to include tour dates, press clippings, booking info, etc..
Distilled1	Date: March 19, 2008 @ 5:45 AM :nod; someone want to list in a new forum thread all that should be on one and how the tabs should be? first page should have... its a very good idea.
Woof	Date: March 19, 2008 @ 6:03 AM How about, we find a layout we like (from among the best sites dedicated to this), post screenshots, and model it after that? It's usually the quickest path...
kingo	Date: March 19, 2008 @ 6:19 AM Anyone have any favorites? Today's the first day I even knew what "epk" meant, and it took the first post from Woof in this thread for me to figure that out.
Distilled1	Date: March 19, 2008 @ 6:36 AM Contents of an EPK depend on the industry and target audience. For instance, an EPK in the music industry might contain: * biographical & contact information * monochromatic, high resolution, press photos (for easy reproduction) * music clips (with accompanying lyrics) * stage plot * performance requirements * tour dates * press reviews and interviews, etc. * promotional videos * contract and/or technical rider * "RIYL" or "Recommended If You Like" list: a listing of artists of similar styles or genres
Distilled1	Date: March 19, 2008 @ 6:38 AM the Sonicbirds ones include all this la5 on theier front page has a nice one. short and sweet. Oh my George Clinton and the P-Funk have one Kick Ass ''' Flashlight...
Woof	Date: March 19, 2008 @ 6:48 AM Well I looked at Sonicbids, and it's missing a few standard things, so we'll have to go beyond that. It's well organized, but usually the tab labelled "Press" is intended FOR the press, i.e. contact info, downloads, etc.. I can't stress enough, that a wide variety of file types needs to be available for download. Some editors want email attachments, some want pdf, some want word documents, and even the graphics formats can vary. I've had people request any graphics to be sent to them as Photoshop (psd) files even... although that was rare. That was my "excuse" for calling the editors, instead of just sending off an email. It was like: "Hello. I'm working on behalf of company X, who has just released a new line of (insert brief description), and I'd like to get a press release out to you, but I wanted to check to make sure we did it right. What formats to you usually require to consider a release suitable for publication? And that would be sent to you, personally? Etc. What's cool, is that a lot of mags are hoping that you'll advertise with them, so they're friendly and accomodating when you're pitching them, because they want to pitch you right back. Haha... I usually let them know that, this being a new release and all, we really want to see what kind of return we get on the PR, and then decide where we're going to advertise. Then they want to send THEIR press kit to you, which of course you are so grateful to accept, 'cause it would be a big help in making future decisions. That's how it works, folks. I know it's a lot of info. It's provided because, the better you know the process, the easier it is to make sure all of the bases are covered.
AdamsGod	Date: March 19, 2008 @ 1:36 PM great stuff guys! after reading this and doing more research, I've contacted the band and we have decided! Were gonna go with both. and the epk will be hosted on my site: www.adamsgod.com but will be: www.adamsgod.com/epk.html thanks to everyone for the help and suggestions, when the epk is done, up and running i'll make sure to send a link to all of you.. and if youre interested, i wouldnt mind sending you guys the 'hard copy' presskit! w00t.
NickSawyer	Date: March 19, 2008 @ 2:42 PM A button and sticker??
AdamsGod	Date: March 19, 2008 @ 3:11 PM On 19th Mar 2008, NickSawyer said: A button and sticker?? hehehe... damn right!
zedsalt	Date: March 20, 2008 @ 3:44 AM A cleverly packaged and worded presskit used to be a creative endeavor all to itself. Now it's onesheets and EPKs where people are advised against "getting too clever". sigh
AdamsGod	Date: March 20, 2008 @ 5:16 AM sad, isnt it?
zedsalt	Date: March 20, 2008 @ 5:39 AM a little
AdamsGod	Date: March 20, 2008 @ 5:47 AM dont worry.. I'll make it to the top still
Distilled1	Date: March 28, 2008 @ 7:21 AM heres a really nice EPK http://www.gbleighton.com/presskit.html
AdamsGod	Date: March 28, 2008 @ 10:02 AM i dont agree with you on that at all bro. looks awkward and clunky to me.