Phase 2, Part 1: The Ultimate EPK (Electronic Press Kit)
It feels like absolute ages since we wrapped up Phase 1, and we know we have been away for a while.
Now that the festival is over for another year and the dust has finally settled, we thought it was high time we got back to business.
To kick off Phase 2, we are tackling those pesky EPKs that cause so many grassroots bands endless headaches.
As a festival promoter or booker, opening up music submissions during booking season means facing a wall of hundreds, sometimes thousands of emails.
Most promoters give an email roughly 15 to 30 seconds before deciding whether to click your link or hit Delete.
If your Electronic Press Kit is a massive zip file attachment, a broken Google Drive link, or a six page essay about your garage jams from school days, it goes straight to the bin.
An EPK is not a museum of your band history. It is a sharp sales pitch designed to prove three things instantly:
What you sound like.
What you look like.
Why booking you is a safe, high value decision.
Here is how to build a clean, razor sharp EPK that promoters will actually read, respect, and act on.
The Non Negotiable Rule: Single Link Access
Golden Rule: Never attach files like MP3s, PDFs, or JPEGs directly to a promoter pitch email.
A large attachment fills up inbox quotas, triggers spam filters, and frustrates busy promoters. Your entire EPK should live at one single, clean web address, such as a dedicated page on your website, a private hidden link, or a platform like Bandzoogle or Presskit.to.
Anatomy of a Main Stage EPK
Your EPK page should be simple, fully responsive on mobile devices, and easy to scan quickly. A booker should find everything they need without clicking through endless submenus.
1. The Embedded Audio Track (Your Absolute Best Work)
Put your strongest track right at the very top. Do not hide it at the bottom of the page.
Top 1 or 2 Tracks Only: Do not dump a 12 track album on them. Give them your single strongest, highest quality production track first.
Embedded Streaming: Use an embedded, clean audio player like SoundCloud or Bandcamp with a clear Play button.
Streaming vs Download: Provide a streamable preview, but include a clear link to download a high quality audio file like a 320 kbps MP3 or WAV for radio or press play if required.
2. High Resolution Photos and Assets
Promoters need images for festival posters, social media banners, and printed event guides. Give them options:
Landscape and Portrait Options: Include at least one high resolution landscape photo, which works best for website headers and banners, and one portrait photo, which is ideal for Instagram stories and flyers.
Transparent PNG Logo: Provide a downloadable vector or high resolution PNG file of your band logo with a transparent background. Promoters hate having to crop out white backgrounds from JPEGs just to place your logo on a poster.
Live Action Shot: Show that you actually play live and command a stage. One killer live shot speaks volumes compared to four people standing awkwardly against a brick wall.
3. The Short Bio (The Elevator Pitch)
Keep it tight. Promoters are not going to read your memoirs. Split your biography into two distinct versions on the page:
The 1 Sentence Pitch: "An aggressive four piece groove metal band from Leeds blending heavy down tuned riffs with melodic choruses, built for fans of Gojira and Lamb of God."
The Short Bio (150 to 200 Words Maximum): Highlight major achievements, key support slots, festival appearances, streaming milestones, or notable press quotes. Skip the origin story explaining how the guitarist met the bassist in science class.
4. High Quality Live Performance Video
Promoters do not just book recorded sound; they book an experience. They need proof that you can deliver a great show on stage.
Embed a Short Live Clip: A high quality live video with professional audio mixed from the soundboard or clean live room footage is worth a hundred glowing reviews.
Avoid Raw Phone Footage: Do not embed a shaky phone recording filmed from miles away with distorted microphone audio where you cannot hear the vocals.
5. Technical Rider and Stage Plan
Showing that you are organised and easy to work with for technical crews instantly sets you apart from most amateur bands.
Stage Plan Diagram: A simple visual layout showing where the drums, amplifiers, pedalboards, and vocal microphones go on stage.
Input List: A simple table detailing what signals you send to the mixing desk, such as Channel 1 for Kick, Channel 2 for Snare, and Channel 3 for Bass DI.
Gear Requirements: A clear note outlining what equipment you bring compared to what you expect the venue or festival to provide.
6. Clear Contact Details and Social Links
Make it remarkably easy for promoters to reach you or check your current online audience.
Single Point of Contact: Name, direct telephone number, and a professional email address for booking inquiries.
Direct Links: Direct icons leading to your Instagram, Facebook, Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Music pages.
Essential EPK Checklist
Component | What to Include | What to Avoid |
Delivery | Single webpage link | Email attachments or Zip files |
Audio | 1 or 2 top singles embedded | Full 14 track unmixed demo albums |
Images | High resolution live and promo shots with transparent logo PNG | Low resolution mobile phone screenshots |
Bio | Short summary with highlights and sound comparisons | Detailed school origin stories |
Video | Clean live video with clear audio | Shaky, distorted phone clips |
Technical Info | Stage plan and input list PDF | Assuming you will figure it out on the night |
The Verdict: Make It Easy to Say Yes
Bookers do not reject bands purely because of their music. They often reject bands because pitching mistakes make the group appear disorganised or difficult to manage.
Treat your EPK as a single page business card.
Respect the time of the promoter, make your best material instantly playable, and provide the technical details needed to get your band onto the bill without fuss.
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