Creating biographies and press kits, how much information should be included ?

[m1469]

I am currently putting together a voice recital which I will be holding within 6 months and I am in the process of finding a venue to hold the event.  I have never put together an official biography for either piano nor voice, but it has come to my attention that I am needing to do so now.

What I am wondering specifically along these lines at this point is whether I should include in my voice biography anything about my piano studies and "accomplishments" / Teachers, as these have been musical influences in my career.  I am particularly curious because I Majored in Piano in University, though along with that I was taking voice lessons and involved in vocal events and choirs all along.  But, for voice, I do not have an official degree.

I do have a number of other things I can add strictly dealing with my vocal study, but I am just wondering if I should add anything about piano too, since that is a huge part of my musical influence overall ? And along those lines, should I add anything regarding voice in my piano biography ?  Or should I keep them seperate ?

I am aiming to do professional work with both.


Your advice is greatly appreciated


m1469

[pianistimo]

just like writing a term paper, get lots of professional advice.  you don't want something too casual - and often the shorter the better, imo.  if you are only aiming for long (and have a lot of stuff that doesn't add to your professional appearance it will just look long).  be honest (everyone hates people that add to their credentials, because inevitably a teacher of voice/or piano will appear).

i would just say minimal stuff about piano and make the majority of your program bio about yourself.  even a short bit about your personal philosophy of what makes music 'music.'  you seem like a people person, so i'm sure people will like your writing and connecting.  just run it by a few people that you know and admire in the vocal arena.  dropping the names of your vocal coaches can't hurt.  don't mention their personal accomplishments though, because that would sound like you are leaning on them too much.

add a large pic.  people like pics they can see.  often the pics are so small you have to bring the program to your eyes.  i like it when the font size is big enough to read, too.  people like to hear of things you are currently active in. if you have an active membership in 'whatever music related field' - or, even have a hobby or interest that is unrelated - a small sentence gets people 'into' who you are.

you could include past repertoire that you've sung (ie esp. with solos/ choirs) as that will show the difficulty of your rep.  also, any really nice comments directed your way (or printed) that people generally notice about your singing. 

[abell88]

I would suggest one or two sentences about piano in your voice info -- something along these lines: "Along with her voice studies in university, m1469 pursued a degree in piano performance and currently runs a busy (that's not really the word I'm looking for) teaching studio. " OR "m1469 Fox also teaches piano in her studio in Suchandsuch City. She has a degree in piano performance from XX University". 

I think people are impressed to see that you can do more than one thing well. My teacher, along with his B. Mus., had ARCT diplomas in Piano, Composition, and Voice (or maybe Organ?)...anyhow, I know he had three of them and taught all those disciplines.

[m1469]

Thank you both for your suggestions.  I am wondering if people can give me feedback on this :


"m1469 Fox studied Music at _________ University, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music in June of 2002.  Throughout her years at University, along with her vocal studies with ______, she also pursued her degree in Piano under the revered tutelage of Dr __________.  Since graduation, m1469 has maintained an impassioned musical life between her educational and performance-oriented endeavors with both voice and piano, as well as her thriving teaching studio where she enjoys working with her students of music and piano.  She has also earned the reputation as the trusty page turner for those _______ Concerts involving piano.

As her life-philosophy is that of ardent growth and improvement, she has continued to strive for refined yet intimate musicianship through her research, study, involvement and participation, with numerous teachers, ensembles, and organizations.  Her vocal ventures have taken her to ________ where she has coached with _______ of the_______ Conservatory of Music, and has had the opportunity to observe and perform in the vocal studio classes of ________ at the Conservatory. 

Along with her continued study with her primary voice teacher, _______ , m1469 has also taken opportunities to perform in masterclasses and coachings with such people as ______, ______, ______, ________ and ________, among others.  Over the years she has enjoyed her involvement with such ensembles as the ________ Singers, under the direction of Dr ________, where she has been featured several times as soloist, as well as the ________ University Chamber and Concert Choirs while she was attending University.  She has also had the unique opportunity to spend intensive time in vocal study during the week-long _________, hosted by the ________ at _________ University.

m1469 currently resides in _______ with husband  ________, where they enjoy _______'s rich culture, friendly and supportive community, and activities such as ______. ______, _______.  She looks forward to future opportunities to meet and perform for the people of the ______ area and beyond."



I apologize for all of the blanks, but you know, I am not ready for everyone to know who I am  .

Anyway, I am going to bring this to my teacher, but I would love other opinions on it as well as I need to get this polished as soon as possible.  Is this too long ?  Or not long enough ?  Too many names ?

Just be brutally honest.


Thanks,
m1469

[abell88]

Overall, I think it's very impressive (wish I could say all that great stuff about myself!). Here are a couple of points you might want to consider:

Since graduation, m1469 has maintained an impassioned musical life between her educational and performance-oriented endeavors with both voice and piano, as well as her thriving teaching studio where she enjoys working with her students of music and piano.

I think this sentence is just a little too long and compounded. Perhaps you could break it down into a couple of shorter ones.

she has continued to strive for refined yet intimate musicianship through her research, study, involvement and participation, with numerous teachers, ensembles, and organizations. 

I would probably take out the comma after "participation" -- depending on exactly what you want to say. 

Along with her continued study with her primary voice teacher, _______ , m1469 has also taken opportunities to perform in masterclasses and coachings with such people as ______, ______, ______, ________ and ________, among others

Do you really need the "among others"? To me it seems like an extra tag-along that doesn't add to the value of the sentence. Just name the ones you're proudest of.

She has also had the unique opportunity to spend intensive time in vocal study during the

What made this unique? Were you the only person ever to do it?

Hope you find these thoughts useful, m1469.

[Bob]

Making a press kit?  You must be doing the private teaching-performing thing.


I would emphasize either voice or piano, but include significant and important information from the other area.

If it's a voice gig, use the voice press kit.  Piano, use the piano one.


I remember hearing you should include a professional quality photograph.  Black and white.  I don't know why you couldn't do it yourself, but it's supposed to be taken by a professional photographer.  They must know something.

Include your biography.  People you studied with.

Really, I would leave out bits about who taught what exactly.  Don't lie, just be vague.  You studied with Proffesor X at Y University.  Don't say whether they teach piano or voice.

I would emphasize all the voice stuff for voice -- put it first.  Same for piano. 


At the very least, I would put a line in there about "studying voice" for piano, or "studying piano" for the voice one.  From either angle, it looks good that you've put a little serious effort into that other area.  It may look bad if you put too much about the other area in a version of your press kit though.


What else in a press kit?  Newspaper clippings, comments from reviewers....  All with a nice, slick look.

Maybe a demo CD?  I don't know what the restrictions are for that though. 

Contact information of course.  Agent information.


I suppose you have to aim for the next level up.  You can't leap into a world class career.  Aim for the next level above yourself.  Your credentials and this press kit will probably reflect that -- after you make a few steps up to that next level, you can weed out the less significant information from your press kit.


Reading other comments...
Yes, clear and concise.  With lots of action words.

I like the idea of a personal philosophy or some kind of personal ideas about music in there.  Of course, those will have to be something about experiencing emotions and how much you enjoy sharing your music with the audience, won't they?


I like the idea of including a very short bit about who you are as a person -- I don't think people want to see the "workaholic" musician.  They want a well-rounded one.  This performing is just an extension of a rich, full life.  That idea.

Include teaching too.  At least a sentence.  I don't think that looks bad at all.


Yes, I think you're supposed to include a repertoire list in a press kit.



Hmmm... (reading m1469's comments)

No offense, but who cares were you went to school?  Even if it's top-notch I would put that a little later.  If it's not top notch.... then the reader will be thinking "So?..." or "I see this person went to the university of nowhere.  Great."

I would start with who you are professionally.  "m1469 Fox is a freelance musician (or 'artist') and teacher."  Something like that possibly.




  I've got a better idea how old m1469 is now. 




Hmm....    Some of this needs work.  It's ok, but....  I would leave out a few words -- "revered tutelage," "impassioned" (though that might fit in somewhere, impassioned).

Leave out the page turner bit.  That's not relevant at all and sounds like you're scraping.  You could spin it -- You "support the ________ concerts."  And you do that turning pages. 



Second paragraph -- Ouch!  A little wordy.  "Vocal ventures" sounds weird -- too cutesy. 


This sounds like a first draft.  You've put some work into, but it doesn't sound professional.  Too much "upped" words and things that maybe aren't really significant. 


Who will view this?  Who's it aimed at?  I would guess you need something for the person who hires you and something to put in the program for the audience.

Oh yes -- I think press kits need a resume.  Which might be a list of performances I think.  I'm not sure.

And the letter -- a letter of inquiry, application... the cover letter.  "Hello, I see you are looking for _____.  Well, I am just what you're looking for."



I would take out "life" philsophy.  Just put a philosophy of music or philosophy of music education or performance.  Maybe not even labelling it "philosophy." 


Like the others say, check out other people out there who are successful and already have these.  Steal their ideas.


For teachers, I would put something like "m1469 has studied with x, y, z at ____ schools of music."  And then "m1469 has also ____ taken lessons, mastclasses, something like that, studied briefly or just 'also studied' with ______ teachers."  If you only took a masterclass, maybe leave them off or put them at the end in a place that shows they were less important.


I don't know whether being married or having kids is a good thing to put on there either. 



Hmmmm..... I wonder if it will sound like name dropping, and 'school' dropping.



And of course, no typos.


Maybe you can take it to some English professor nut or an English teaching assistant or creative writer and have them correct all the grammatical mistakes you aren't aware of and "hype" the language up.  Or maybe there is a service, or agent, that can do this for you.



It's too wordy.  Everything is "unique" "intensive" "ardent."  Too many words.  I know they are there to heighten things, but it's too much.  The idea that the words are there makes them important.


Clear and concise -- The person reading this might not spend ANY time reading the entire thing.  Which bring up format -- make sure it's clean and sharp and what you want to project is done with it.  Show it to a friend for 5 seconds (literally) and ask them what the most important ideas are.  I have heard the average time spent reading a resume is 11 seconds.  Keep that in mind.



Leave out the week long camp.  I would put the most influential teachers in there.  I would include what they do -- Music is music, so a piano teacher may have done wonders for your voice.  But still emphasizing the voice more for voice, piano for piano.


If it's performance, the teachers and institutions really aren't the most important thing -- you are.  You should come first. 

I would guess the order might be...
You
What great things you've just done
some more performances you've just done
The great people who you studied with who influenced you
A few other "tidbit" people and experiences
You other influences/areas -- teaching, piano for the voice one/voice for the piano one
Then a sentence about you as a person


I wonder about the quotes part.  I think those might go on a separate sheet.  Short blurbs surrounded by white space.  This is what the Times says, "blah blah blah."  This is what the Gazette says, "yak yak yak."


You want to keep it geared toward the job you apply for.  Leave out things like "primary teacher."  That means nothing to anyone besides college.  To everyone else, they are a teacher, someone you studied with, an 'influence' maybe.



Brutally honest?  And it needs to be done soon?  It will probably be done in a year (I'm guessing).  This looks like a first round.  It doesn't have the professional edge yet.  Target it to the job.  Leave out the insignificant stuff -- it looks "less."  Dress up the language -- cut the verbage, nothing cutsey... There are certain action words that will sharpen the effect. 

Hmmm.... I don't know exactly what this block of text you wrote it for.  There must be something in the list of stuff I put up there -- Is it for the person who hires?  Is it a list of comments and quotes?  Is it the biography that goes in the program?  Is it a press release for a newspaper?  (That's another area, newspaper press release.)


Think about who it's for and what it's for.  The first step is getting hired, so it's for those people who hire -- at least a letter to them specifically with supporting materials.  You might be doing something, a concert, on your own -- In that case, it's a bio for the program, an entirely different audience.


Think about what that reader wants -- If they hire you, they want you to bring in income -- They want a track record and praise from other people who know.  If it's Joe Blow Audience Member, they want to be inspired, want "spice" for their listening, want to feel that the musician is really into the music and wants to communicate to the audience.

So, it's about the reading audience.

And it's also creating the professional "performance" you.  "m1469 Fox, concert pianist"  "m1469 Fox, freelance artist"  "m1469 Fox, vocal soloist"


Yes... you need a business card in that packet too.


And send lots of mailings and network.




I bet your teacher will say the same things I am.  And then you should go to someone who does this professionally -- an agent or advertising person, or another performing musician.


You've gone to lots of concerts -- take a look at the bio's in those programs.


You also need a "prepared speech."  Not formal, but something you will say to sell yourself to this person you talk to.



I don't know what this text you wrote is for.  Otherwise, I might dice it up like Abell.  I wouldn't worry about grammar at this point.  Worry about who it's for, what is should get across (which is not necessarily what it says), the ideas, then focus the language, then clean up the grammatical mistakes and finalize the format.




How do I know all this?  Because I've written similar things.  My first round looks very similar to this.  It's like working on a piece of music -- after a few years, it looks pretty good, but what do you expect from that first attempt?


This writting is only one part of course.  You have to sell yourself and there's the performing part too.


I mean no offense by any of this. 


Hmmm... last paragraph....  Stop all the lists.  culture, community, and activities such as this, that, the other.... AND!   blah, blah, blah including! on and on and on.


I like "impassioned."  That might work somehow, carefully.  You won't have to tell the audience or a manager that you're passionate.  That will come across in your personality and you're a musician -- of course, you're passionate.

"friendly, supportive community"  Yes, every community is supportive.  What if it's not?  I imagine supportive community is implied.



Instead of "hopes to find other people"   that part at the end, put something like "Mrs. Fox can be reached at ______."  A phone number or email or mailing address.  This might be tricky -- the being married part (Ms. is all purpose), an email is ok, the phone number should be ok -- but your personal phone message might blur the personal/business idea, a teaching studio would be a great address for mailing and business calls.

[Bob]

Hmmm... just for fun....


You say it's for a voice recital.

You say you're in the process of finding a venue.  This is either for a manager type person or the program bio for the audience.

lol.... I didn't even realize you didn't have a "voice degree" until I reread.  So what?  No one will care if you have a voice degree.  They only care if you can sing and if you can manage yourself on the business side.  After looking at the degrees and teachers, I didn't really see that.  All that registered in my mind was -- She went to college for music, has done some performing, and studied with these teachers.  That's the effect I'm talking about -- what's the effect on the reader?  What really registers in their mind?





So it's for a voice recital, but I can't tell if it's for the hiring person or the audience.  So this is general then....


"m1469 Fox is..... Who are you?   "freelance musician" or "freelance artist always sounds good and means you're doing everything or anything.

-> Maybe.... "m1469 Fox is a freelance vocal artist."


-> "m1469 has performed......" and list these.  If they're aren't any, don't put any.


(btw, first name is good or "Ms. Fox")

(Hmmm... how much space will there actually be in the printed program anyway?)


"m1469 studied music at _________ University"

Or,

->"m1469 studied voice with _______ at ______ University."


I don't know about this...
->"... and continues to study with _______."


cut -- graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music in June of 2002. 
This won't matter to a hirer or a listener.  Of course, you're educated.


"Throughout her years at University, along with her vocal studies with ______," 
This must be your voice teacher?  Maybe up front then?  If it's a TA or something, just put their name, don't put their title.


she also pursued her degree in Piano under the revered tutelage of Dr __________. 
I think you "completed" the degree and not just "pursued" it right?  You're done "pursuing" it right?

Hmmm.... something like....
->"m1469 also earned (or completed) a degree in piano performance at _____ University while studying with ______."



"Since graduation, m1469 has maintained an impassioned musical life between her educational and performance-oriented endeavors with both voice and piano, as well as her thriving teaching studio where she enjoys working with her students of music and piano."
Of course, you've been studying music since graduation.  Impassioned of course.
->"m1469 enjoys teaching ...., ....., and piano."  Music isn't piano?  I would list them -- music theory, music history, piano....  As long as it's significant.   Music theory lessons are music theory lessons.  What does "music" mean there?  Voice?  Theory?  Otherwise, I'd just leave it piano.


"She has also earned the reputation as the trusty page turner for those _______ Concerts involving piano."   
(Cough!  Cough!)  This doesn't really need to be here, does it?  Maybe it sounds amatuer?  Trusty?  Like a trusty white horse, or a trusy sidekick?   (Sorry, it's funny.)  A trusty shotgun?   
Maybe...
"She supports the _____ Concerts."    "Supports" could imply monetary support, but you spend your time, so that's fine.
"She is involved with the ______ Concerts."    "Involved" sounds like you might be performing in some way on voice or piano.
"She assists the _______ Concerts."


As her life-philosophy is that of ardent growth and improvement, she has continued to strive for refined yet intimate musicianship through her research, study, involvement and participation, with numerous teachers, ensembles, and organizations.  Her vocal ventures have taken her to ________ where she has coached with _______ of the_______ Conservatory of Music, and has had the opportunity to observe and perform in the vocal studio classes of ________ at the Conservatory. 

lol... I can't even read this paragraph.  It's work.  Hmmm... to wordy.... then too vague.

Maybe...
->? "She strives for musical excellence in performance, including studies with _____________."
Still not right...
->"m1469 has a variety of experiences including ______ (list these things)."


"Along with her continued study with her primary voice teacher, _______ , "
Ok, you're still studying with this person.  Put that person up very near the front."

OOO... good stuff...

-> "m1469 has (cut also) taken opportunities (needs present tense) to perform in masterclasses and coachings with such people as ______, ______, ______, ________ and ________, (cut among others). 
"among others"  If they're not important important enough to list, don't mention them. 


I might combine this with the previous idea -- striving.  If you want to show breadth of experience, mention that (although I wonder if it "dilutes" your appearance as a vocalist.)  "Such people" sounds wrong.

Just cut and condense it all...
->"m1469 has performed in masterclasses and coachings with ________ (list people)."



"Over the years"
You getting up there?


I see you're being more specific here.  Listing ensembles from college will give you a "fresh out of college" appearance.  Not necessarily bad, but "green."

-> "m1469 has performing with the _____ Singers under the direction of Dr. ________"
Leave out the soloist part.  Maybe you can slip that into a conversation.


 she has enjoyed her involvement with such ensembles as the ________ Singers, under the direction of Dr ________, where she has been featured several times as soloist, as well as the ________ University Chamber and Concert Choirs while she was attending University.  She has also had the unique opportunity to spend intensive time in vocal study during the week-long _________, hosted by the ________ at _________ University.

I would cut the week long thing.    If there was anybody famous, thrown that name under "also studied with" after you list you're "real" teachers.


m1469 currently resides in _______ with husband  ________, where they enjoy _______'s rich culture, friendly and supportive community, and activities such as ______. ______, _______. 


-> "m1469 resides in _____ with her husband."
If you decide to show you're married.

->"She enjoys ______ and _______."
It's about you, not your husband.  Don't mention to many extra things.  Something like "She enjoys ice skating and high diving."   You could throw your current current teacher back in her -- "m1469 resides in _____ with her husband where she enjoys ______.  She continues to study voice with Dr. ________."



She looks forward to future opportunities to (cut meet and) perform for the people of the ______ area and beyond."
Of course you look forward to future opportunities. 
Hmm... I'm thinking recital program here though.  This could be a good line for a hiring person.  This is a good line.

If it's for a hiring person, make it separated somehow and able to able to be read by itself.
"m1469 Fox looks forward to opportunities to perform for audiences of the ______ and _____ (next larger size region).


Otherwise, list you contact information.  I would do that even in the program since you want exposure.

-> "m1469 Fox can be reached for engagements through the Fox Music Agency 123/123-1234, email too.







This is what I see in there...



m1469 Fox is a freelance vocal artist.  She has performed with ________ (cut this sentence if there isn't anything current.  Maybe put the college performances.).  m1469 studied voice with _______ at ______ University (and continues to study with __________?).  m1469 has a variety of experiences including ______ (list these things).   She has performed in masterclasses and coachings with ________ (list people, cut them if they're not so important).  m1469 has performing with the _____ Singers under the direction of Dr. ________ (put this sentece in as the second sentence if it's important enough, if you don't mind putting an older performance up there).  m1469 also earned (or completed) a degree in piano performance at _____ University while studying with ______.  m1469 enjoys teaching music theory and piano.  She resides in _____ with her husband where she enjoys ______.  She continues to study voice with Dr. ________.

m1469 Fox can be reached for engagements through the Fox Music Agency 123/123-1234, email too






I'm done.  It's still m1469, m1469, m1469 up there, or she, she, she though.

Those sentences -- about the piano performance degree and teaching I think.... maybe need to be there just to bulk up the degree/teaching part, but they also tell the reader how you're making your living.  You should probably be teaching voice too if you're not.  That looks weird to do piano and not voice.


That's the meat of what I see in what you wrote.  It probably needs some action/present tense words to strengthen it more. 

Hope that helps.  I've gone through similar things in terms of writing.  What you have looks like a first step, but it needs to be compacted down into something denser.  It's not necessary to spell everything out for the reader -- think about implying it.  You don't have to say "accomplished musician" because you imply that with all the rest.

Maybe it helps to think of it as 'solidifying' who you are?  You can't really overplay who you are because it will either sound pompous, misleading, or just isn't true.  You don't want to underplay yourself -- you want to create something that states very solidly "This is who I am."

And it will grow and change with time as your career develops.  You get some performances on the next level under your belt and you can update this -- throw out the less important stuff and add the new stuff to pump it up.

Good luck.

Bob

[m1469]

OKay, I am deliciously overwhelmed with the feedback.  This is perfect !!  I have something to work with here.

I don't really know what I am doing, as might be obvious.  For example, I am not sure what is a "press kit".  A person at a place I am looking to hold the concert just asked if I had one and I said "oh yes, I will be getting that to you shortly".  And, perhaps I should provide a resume, as well as a biography ?  I don't know how it all works.

Yes, Bob, you have a better idea of how old I am.  However, I could have gone to school at any age 


Thank you, thank you, thank you.  I will post a revision very soon.


m1469


ps-  I will just add that a number of things that I mention are there because they are local knowledge for the people in the community.