Press Kit Epk

---
name: press-kit-epk
description: "Build an electronic press kit that bookers and blogs actually read — the three-sentence bio that isn't 'genre-defying', a one-page layout with streaming numbers presented honestly, the photo and live-video requirements, and pitch emails tuned per target (venue, blog, radio, festival). Use when a musician says 'I need an EPK', 'venues keep ignoring my emails', 'write my band bio', or 'what do I send festivals'. Produces the EPK content, the one-page layout spec, and four pitch email templates."
---

# Press Kit EPK Skill

The people an EPK is for — bookers, blog editors, festival programmers —
give it fifteen seconds. In those seconds they're answering three
questions: what does this sound like, can they draw/play live, and are
they professional enough to not be a problem. Most EPKs fail all three
with a 400-word bio about the artist's journey, no comparable artists
(the one thing every booker wants), and links that need three clicks.
This skill builds the fifteen-second version: sounds-like up front,
honest numbers presented right, one live video that proves the show, and
pitch emails that do the target's job for them.

## What This Skill Produces

- The **bio, three sizes**: one sentence (the sounds-like line), one
  paragraph (the pitch version), one page (the print/program version) —
  all specific, zero "genre-defying journeys"
- The **one-page EPK layout spec**: what goes where and why, ordered for
  the fifteen-second skim (works as a PDF or a simple page — see
  [[portfolio-page]] for the web version)
- **The numbers, presented honestly**: which stats help at the artist's
  actual size, which to omit (silence beats small numbers presented
  apologetically), and the local-draw line bookers actually care about
- **Four pitch emails**: venue, blog/playlist, radio, festival — each
  two paragraphs, each leading with what the *target* needs
- The **asset list**: photo requirements (live + press, print-res), the
  one live video that matters, streaming links that work in one click

## Required Inputs

Ask for (if not already provided):
- The music: genre as the artist says it, and — pushed for explicitly —
  three "for fans of" artists (two familiar, one cooler; this line does
  more work than the whole bio)
- The true story: where based, what's released, one genuinely
  interesting true thing (the odd venue, the day job, the recording
  story — real beats grand)
- The honest numbers: streams, followers, typical local draw, notable
  supports/rooms played
- What exists already: photos, live footage, past press quotes
- The current target: who is this EPK trying to convince first?

## Framework

1. **Lead with sounds-like.** Sentence one of everything: "[Artist] makes
   [plain description] — for fans of X, Y, and Z." Bookers route by
   comparison, not by adjectives. "Genre-defying" tells them nothing;
   "shoegaze with country bones — for fans of A, B" books shows.
2. **Bio truth over bio myth.** The paragraph version: sounds-like line →
   one true specific thing → the current release/tour fact → the live-show
   sentence. Cut every "embarking on a musical journey"; keep every
   checkable fact. Press quotes only if real and attributed — never
   invented, never "critics say."
3. **Numbers strategy by honest size.** Strong numbers (real draw,
   notable supports, a genuine playlist add): state plainly with dates.
   Small numbers: omit rather than apologize — "consistently draws 60+
   in [city]" is a booker's language; "1,200 monthly listeners" argues
   against you. The local-draw line is the venue email's load-bearing
   sentence.
4. **One live video beats six.** Bookers book the live act: one
   well-shot, well-mixed live performance (even single-camera, great
   audio) linked prominently. The asset list is ruthless: 2 photos
   (one live, one press, print-res), the video, one-click streaming
   links, contact that's a person.
5. **Pitch emails do the target's job.** Venue: date-flexible ask +
   draw + the sounds-like + one link. Blog: the story angle + the
   sounds-like + "premiere available" if true. Radio: the single, the
   clean edit exists, the local angle. Festival: the live video first,
   the fit with their past lineups named. Two paragraphs each; the EPK
   link carries the rest. Subject lines included — they're half the
   open rate.

## Output Format

```
## The bio, three sizes
[One sentence · one paragraph · one page — sounds-like first in all]

## One-page EPK layout (top to bottom)
[Photo strip → sounds-like + bio paragraph → the numbers that help →
live video link → releases → quotes if real → contact]

## Your numbers, deployed
[Use these: … · Omit these (and why omission beats apology): …]

## Pitch emails
[Venue · Blog · Radio · Festival — each with subject line]

## Asset punch-list
[What exists ✓ · what to produce, cheapest-first]
```

## Quality Checks

- [ ] The for-fans-of line exists and contains real artists the user
      confirmed
- [ ] Every bio fact is checkable; zero journey-language survived
- [ ] Numbers section explicitly omits weak stats rather than dressing
      them
- [ ] Each pitch email leads with the target's need, fits two paragraphs,
      and has a subject line
- [ ] No invented press quotes, playlist claims, or draw figures —
      gaps are filled with the punch-list, not fiction

## Anti-Patterns

- [ ] Do not write the mythology bio — specific and true beats grand
      and vague in every inbox that matters
- [ ] Do not present small numbers apologetically or pad them —
      omission is a strategy, inflation is a reputation risk
- [ ] Do not bury the live video below the fold of the layout
- [ ] Do not send one generic pitch to four target types — the four
      templates exist because the targets want different things
- [ ] Do not gate the music behind sign-ups or three clicks — one click
      or they're gone

## Related

[[release-day-countdown]] — the EPK's busiest fortnight;
[[band-agreement]] before the bookings bring money; [[media-pitch]] for
the general-press cousin; [[personal-bio]] for the human behind the act.