March 26, 2014 How (and why) to write a brief music music bio for live event promotion
As a concert presenter, I’ve found that many artists are lacking an easy-to-use bio. By that, I mean a bio that is ready for cutting and pasting. The key to putting together a good event-oriented bio is to understand what it is most often used for. Typically, it will be used by presenters to create a press release, a web site listing and perhaps a Facebook event for your show. So it’s important that your bio is not too long, or too short, and that it presents you in the way you want to be presented. Keep in mind that what you write is often exactly what will appear in print or on a web site.
As an added bonus, having this type of bio readily available will be appreciated by the presenters you are working with, and save them lots of time. This will increase the chances that they will do everything the can and should do to promote your show, and it might make them more eager to ask you back again.
Whether it’s for a press release, a listing, or an event blurb, the first paragraph that the presenter will write is pretty standard. It will introduce the show and, in many cases, it’s all that anyone will read. The lead paragraph will contain your name, the date and the show’s location, plus a brief description of you, and why you’re notable. This could include a skill or skills(s), an accomplishment (contest, Grammy, TV appearance) or an association with someone more well-known than yourself. It will likely read something like this:
Really Good Concerts presents singer/guitarist extraordinaire Bob Loudly on Tuesday, December 27 at 8 pm at the Yorkville Dungeon on Pleasant Avenue in Yorkville. Loudly is known for his intricate compositions, agile guitar style and frequent appearances on the Goodnight show. Tickets are 18.50 in advance, or 27.50 at the door. Tickets may be purchased in advance at Crickets Garden Center.
In the presenter’s ideal world, the second paragraph can be completely cut and pasted from your bio. It should go into more detail about who you are and what you do. It should answer many of the following questions: “What would one expect to experience at your show? Are you bringing an accompanist or other band members? How’d you meet? What are some features of your sound and performance that distinguish you from the next artist. Do you make people laugh, or cry? Are you heartfelt and romantic, or sly and cynical? Do you write topical songs for economic justice?
The third paragraph is best focused on your accomplishments. You’ve had this many records, had songs recorded by Joan Baez, used to play in Prince’s band, appeared on the American Idol, or won the Emeryville Songwriting Contest and Barbeque Competition. In some cases, such as if your accomplishments are very recent, you might put this paragraph second, and put the who and what stuff third. Finish paragraph three with a quote – hopefully from someone we might recognize. Yo-Yo Ma says, “Bruce Kaplan is a mandolinist of rare sensitivity, and he can really rock out, too!”
The fourth paragraph is for deeper color. Perhaps your father played with Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. Or you hold a Ph.D in nanotechnology from MIT, or anything else about you that is interesting and a bit unusual. But be warned – in many cases, this item may not be used, so don’t bury anything too important down there.
Now find a nice photo, where you are the not only in focus, but you are the focus of the picture. An uncomplicated or blurred background is a plus. Another plus if you are holding your instrument of choice. It needs to be at least 1000 pixels wide and 800 pixels tall. You should give the photographer credit unless you have agreed with them not to receive credit. Finally, include a link to one of your best YouTube videos.
There – you’re done! You have given the presenter everything they need to promote your show.
Bruce Kaplan plays mandoling and electric guitar in the duo Claudia Russell and Bruce Kaplan, as well as presents concerts and helps small business with marketing and strategy. As the de facto publicist for the duo, has gotten coverage in the S.F. Chronice, Boston Herald, East Bay Express, American Songwriter, Sing Out magazine, and on NPR’s All Things Considered. He lives in the San Francisco Bay area town of Pt. Richmond, and produces the Pt. Richmond Acoustic concert series.
Reader Comments (1)
This is your Harry Lime moment. Your bio should sound as though it were objectively written, although it is obviously anything but. If you look at any book cover, the bio will be in the narrative mode even though the author has probably written it themselves. So instead of writing “I have lived in Switzerland and I speak 3 languages”, try “John has lived in Switzerland and he speaks 3 languages”.