A great press kit makes it easy for presenters and media to understand your ensemble, hear your best work, and contact you quickly. Use the guides below to plan your materials, prepare assets, and publish a polished kit that supports bookings, coverage, and fundraising. The best of the Backstage Blog Do You Still Need a Press Kit in 2025? (Spoiler: Yes, and Here’s Why) September 16, 2025 No Comments In an age of Instagram feeds, YouTube channels, and TikTok videos, it is natural to… Read More Press Releases and Posting Your Ensemble’s Press Kit November 15, 2016 No Comments Whether it’s for local concert promotions, touring overseas, or just posting on your website, a… Read More Choosing Sample Repertoire for Your Ensemble’s Press Kit October 12, 2016 No Comments Whether it’s for local concert promotions, touring overseas, or just posting on your website, a… Read More Prepare Recordings for Your Ensemble’s Press Kit September 26, 2016 No Comments Whether it’s for local concert promotions, touring overseas, or just posting on your website, a… Read More Taking Engaging Photos for Your Ensemble’s Press Kit September 13, 2016 No Comments Whether it’s for local concert promotions, touring overseas, or just posting on your website, a… Read More Writing Captivating Biographies for Your Ensemble’s Press Kit August 24, 2016 No Comments Whether it’s for local concert promotions, touring overseas, or just posting on your website, a… Read More 1 2 Next » Download our Free eBook Creating the Perfect Press Kit Whether it is for local concert promotions, touring overseas, or just posting on your website, a well-constructed press kit can be an invaluable tool for raising the profile of your ensemble. If you’ve never created one before, it might seem like a large project to tackle, but don’t worry! Our step-by-step guide walks you through the process with everything you need to know. Download Now Frequently Asked Questions Find answers to the most common Press Kit questions for ensembles. This FAQ covers what to include, bios, photos, audio and video, press releases, file organization, sharing, updates, and permissions. What is a press kit and who is it for? A press kit is a curated set of materials that quickly explains your ensemble to media, presenters, donors, and partners. It supports coverage, bookings, and sponsorships. What should a basic press kit include? Ensemble bio, director bio, two or three high-quality photos with credits, two or three recordings or videos, recent quotes or reviews, contact information, and a press release. Do I need both a web page and a PDF? Yes. The web page is easy to update and share. The PDF is ideal for downloads, forwarding, and offline reference. How should I write and size bios? Keep a short bio of 75 to 100 words and a full bio of 200 to 300 words. Maintain a one-sentence tagline for programs and social. Use consistent third-person voice and update after major milestones. What photo specs and credits should I use? JPG or PNG, 3000 to 4000 px on the long edge. Keep 300 dpi originals and export web versions at appropriate sizes. Include at least one landscape banner and one portrait headshot. Always include photographer credit, captions, and alt text. How many recordings or videos and what formats? Include two or three representative tracks or clips. Provide streaming links (YouTube, Vimeo, SoundCloud) and downloadable MP3 or WAV if requested. Label title, composer, venue, date, and featured soloists. What is the correct format for a press release? Top line: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE; Headline; City, State or Country, Month Day, Year; Body with quotes and facts; Ensemble or Director bio; Contact information; ### to indicate the end. What permissions and releases do I need? Secure written permission for photos and recordings. Obtain releases for identifiable minors and private locations. Confirm licensing or courtesy language when required and store agreements in a shared folder. How should I organize and name files? Use clear names, for example: ensemble-name_press-photo1_photographer-lastname.jpg. Create folders for bios, photos, audio, video, press, and logos. Keep a version number or changelog for updates. How often should I update the kit? Review at least annually and after leadership changes, premieres, awards, tours, or major media coverage. Replace outdated photos and fix dead links immediately. How do I share the kit with media and presenters? Send the web page link plus a single PDF. For large assets, share a view-only folder link. Include a short personal note, your direct phone number, and expected response time. Can I tailor the kit for different audiences? Yes. Maintain a core kit, then create variations for presenters, festivals, sacred venues, education partners, or donors. Keep branding, facts, and credits consistent across versions. How can I measure performance? Track page views, outbound link clicks, and PDF downloads. Use UTM tags on campaign links. Review performance after major announcements and update weak sections.
Do You Still Need a Press Kit in 2025? (Spoiler: Yes, and Here’s Why) September 16, 2025 No Comments In an age of Instagram feeds, YouTube channels, and TikTok videos, it is natural to… Read More
Press Releases and Posting Your Ensemble’s Press Kit November 15, 2016 No Comments Whether it’s for local concert promotions, touring overseas, or just posting on your website, a… Read More
Choosing Sample Repertoire for Your Ensemble’s Press Kit October 12, 2016 No Comments Whether it’s for local concert promotions, touring overseas, or just posting on your website, a… Read More
Prepare Recordings for Your Ensemble’s Press Kit September 26, 2016 No Comments Whether it’s for local concert promotions, touring overseas, or just posting on your website, a… Read More
Taking Engaging Photos for Your Ensemble’s Press Kit September 13, 2016 No Comments Whether it’s for local concert promotions, touring overseas, or just posting on your website, a… Read More
Writing Captivating Biographies for Your Ensemble’s Press Kit August 24, 2016 No Comments Whether it’s for local concert promotions, touring overseas, or just posting on your website, a… Read More