hello,
Here's an Idea, I did this once when working on a promo pack. I went to a booking agent and asked to see some of the promo packs for thier acts, also a club booker will have big stacks of them sitting around.
It helps to see what other people are doing.

simonsez
...having,"More fun in the New World"

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csimons@tapeop.com
http://www.tapeop.com

Good work Bear, some great tips. And that's a great idea Simon! When in doubt, steal! hehe

All I would add is this; it doesn't matter what your package looks like if you send it to someone who isn't looking for demos. It's just going in the trash. If you know somebody who knows somebody, whatever. That's nice and all, but the recipient still has to be someone who is actively looking for bands, or it's still going in the trash. Find out which record companies/agents/pd's/etc. are looking for new talent before you start throwing stamps away.

Be yourself. A band doesn't have to be manufactured to have an "image". A photo that tries to make you look like something you're not is misleading and speaks to your sincerity. But a photo that captures the essence of who you are will be easy to live up to. All you have to do is show up. If you happen to look like KISS, then good for you.

This must be said... DON'T FORGET COMMON SENSE! I have seen promo kits that actually forgot to have an address and phone number! Don't let this happen to you. Make sure to include every conceivable way to get in touch with you, the name of the band, the demo cd, etc. That one last re-check could save your career.

Your promo package should represent what you are in the least amount of space possible.

I don't believe that people look at the biggest, brightest packages that come in.

Make sure you make contact with someone who receives the mail for the person you are sending your demo. That is as important as the person who will listen.

A&R, publishers, managers, agents lawyers all get many many packages daily. most of these people have things come up every day that moves your package under the next day's mail.

The big point is PUT THE BEST SONG FIRST. Don't try to sequence an album. Hit them with a few of your best cuts. make them want more.

These same people go through what you go through, so they shouldn't get too bugged at being bugged. they may send songs to artist and labels, tracks for movies... They go through what you go through.

You'd be surpised at how everybody returns your call when they need you, nobody returns your call when you need them.

This is the same for managers, A&R people, publishers etc...

Never take the record business personally.