Bios are deceptively difficult to write. Your bio is your way of introducing yourself to both fans and music industry types. You need to strike the right balance between providing useful information and going into so much detail no one makes it past the first paragraph. Simply put, bios are like resumes. Basically an outline of you and your talents, your objectives, and what you can offer.
This brief summary will show you how to put together a bio that will strike interest from the public, record companies, managers, agents, etc.
4 Easy steps that will jump-start your career:
Know Who The Members Of Your Group Are: That may sound like a easy thing – but in some cases – it actually isn’t so easy as it sounds. If you are a solo artist or if you are part of a group , it’s simple. But what about the hype man, who always plays on your records and at your live shows, but hasn’t officially been asked to join the group. What if you write all the songs and think of it as your project, but you always have the same members backing you up? Before you can write a bio, you need to know whose bio you’re writing, so decide who gets a bio mention.
Choose An Approach: There are two main ways to write a musician bio:
The Straightforward Approach: This in an formal bio -Just the facts, ma’am/sir, including brief outlines. DO NOT write a novel. Write what really stands out about you/band, write facts, do not include other opinions.
The Not Straightforward Approach: This in an informal bio - Creating a story/characters simply a brief note or talking to someone via phone.
The straightforward approach is much easier. You explain your inspirations, accomplishments and offer a little bit of background information, to the point. The not straightforward approach can be very effective but is VERY hard to pull off.
See below for more info about pros and cons of each
Highlight The Most Important Accomplishments: This step is where you’ll make the really crucial decisions about your group bio. This is the initial questions to ask yourself or group. What are relevant facts (what matters) and what is irrelevant information (what doesn’t matter)? Group bios should be short (one page), so you’ve got to use your space wisely. Do not double space, write in CAPS (which is the worst internet etiquette “Netiquette” – SCREAMING!), and DO NOT use different font styles or colors.
What do you want people to know about you/your group?
What is going to make them want to listen to your music and stand out from others in the same genre?
What makes you unique?
The best bios highlight musical accomplishments and musical influences and then add some color with a FEW personal stories. Think of what you want to know about the members you like or what you expect to learn when you read about a group in a magazine, and then include that same information in your own bio.
Editing Your Bio: As my suggestion to you, play around with a few drafts of your bio. Your first draft will usually contain some info that you could probably leave out, hence, ROUGH DRAFT. Try to narrow your message down to really good stuff so that you leave your readers intrigued. Be clear and concise. Ideas that are all over the place and not getting to the point, will cause one to be disinterested and you will miss out on an opportunity. It’s also good to get a few outside opinions on your bio before you make it your final draft. Get a few friends, family members, peers, and colleagues, who are willing to give you constructive criticism, and be sure to have them read it thoroughly.
Helpful Tips:
Pros and Cons; The Straightforward Approach: Taking the straightforward approach to your bio is the easiest way to go. First, it is the easiest to write – you don’t have to get caught up in trying to be clever without being corny – all you have to do is stick to the facts. Also, your bio will give journalists all of the info they need to write about you without having to do a lot of research. This alone can make the difference in getting a review of your band and not getting a review. We can assist you or create a bio for you at an affordable price. Contact us. The con is that your bio will be a lot like everyone else’s, so you may have a hard time standing out.
Pros and Cons; The Not Straightforward Approach: This kind of approach can be extremely difficult to pull off. Creating a story about an artist can come off as cheesy, pretentious, and just plain simple. You could generate a lot of eye-rolling and you risk getting people to write about you for all of the wrong reasons.
Don’t Start at Birth and birthplace: The worst mistake artists make in their bios is telling their story from birth and where, when, and how they were born. There’s no need to go into so much detail. No one really needs to know that you played the lead role in your grade school’s production, what hospital you were born in, and definitely what time! Stay on point about the things you’re doing now, and save the rest for your memoirs for a future book.
Update Your Bio Frequently: Lastly, keep your bio updated as new things happen. If you record a new album, perform at a big show, get awards/accolades, or anything else that will boost popularity, be sure to add it to your bio. Do not over-exaggerate, this will destroy your credibility.
I hope that this information helps you in creating your bio.
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