any links to putting together a bio

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jugalo180

jugalo180

www.moneyistherecipe.com
i need a template or format of some sort for putting together a bio. can anyone shoot me some links to some detailed info on this?
 
bio for what?

Hi,

I don't have any links sadly, but I did a University course on the Pop Music Industry, and they got us to make bios, so maybe I can help (got an A for mine :D :D ).

It really depends on who you're sending it to. Is this just a general bio to go in press kits and to send to labels etc etc or just for one purpose?

Also, there's no real format for a bio - and if there is it's been so over-used that it's not going to get you noticed (which is the idea, right?).

In any case, basically you need a brief history of the band, possibly with an interesting story - especially for mags - they will be reading this and wondering how they can make a great story from it. Some good bios even get cut and pasted almost word for word into mags.

You also need to be sure that you defnie your music - using other artists as reference points is a good way - you may think that your music is ünique and indefinable", but that doesn't tell the potential listener anything - AT LEAST mention the instruments you play - is it guitar music or electronic. etc?

and for god's sakes put your contact details on there!!! seems simple but so many people focus no other stuff and neglect this simple detail . . .

other than it's pretty much wide open - whatever you think will capture the mind of the reader - the idea is to give them enough so that they know what you're on about, and so that they might feel like checking you out .

dunno if this has been helpful at all, or whether you lknow all this stuff, but there you go anyways.

good luck :)
 
wow

thanks alot nickjc. i'm creating hip hop music as of now, and this will be for the radio stations, promoters, and record labels.

i have another question since you said to be creative then i can just use resume' format, paragraph or bullet and go from there right? should the bio be no longer than one page?
 
I do some Cd reviews for a magazine and I can only tell you what I like in a bio:

Don't be to brief, but not to long either. A page isn't a rule, you can go over that, but don't push your luck:nobody reads several pages with trivial information.

I would not forget to put in some influences! I know as an artist no one likes to be related to much to some one else, but trowing in some influences makes it for journalists a lot easier to give you a place. (it also gives yoy more chance that journalists don't put in references you don't want to!)

Also, don't forget the power of pictures!! Th eimage counts!
 
yeah I second what BrettB says about pictures - have a good couple of photos in there - your music obviously isn't ruled by your image, but if a photo is interesting enough it makes someone want to look further . . .

around a page is the general rule, but it's not set in stone. get a friend to review it to see if they get bored, or if they want more info . . .

the resume idea sounds cool man - ie. "2 years experience taking suckas to school, excellentcustomer serve-yo-ass . . " something like that anyway.

so yeah, basic components are:

-bio (1page-ish)
-contact details (IMPORTANT)
-3-4 good size photos
-a CD of you best tracks (no more than 3, and your best, most gripping hard hitting lead single up front)
-anything else you might wanna add to get attention - like maybe a one-dollar note with a message saying "if you want more of these . . ."

anything goes, but just remember, the people who read these get hundreds of them a week, they don't have much time, so what you give them has to be immediate, it has to grab them by the balls, shove them up against a wall and demand that they spin your track . . .

again, good luck, holla if you need a hand
 
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