How to Build Your First Music Press Kit (EPK)
You know you need an EPK, but you're not sure where to start. Here's exactly what to include, how to format it so bookers actually read it, and the free tools that make building one straightforward.
If you've been playing open mics and you're starting to pitch venues, you've probably heard the advice: "Make sure your EPK is ready." An electronic press kit — EPK — is the document or webpage you send to bookers, promoters, and music journalists so they can evaluate you quickly. It's not a resume and it's not a portfolio in the traditional sense. It's a focused pitch tool, and getting it right makes every booking conversation easier.
This guide covers exactly what belongs in a first EPK, what format works best, the free and low-cost tools available to build one, and the mistakes that make otherwise solid material land badly.
What to Include
A first EPK should be short enough to read in two minutes and complete enough to answer the five questions every booker has before responding to a pitch. Those questions are: Who are you? What do you sound like live? Where have you played? How do I reach you? And — the unspoken one — will you draw anyone?
Bio
Write two paragraphs, not ten. The first paragraph covers who you are: your genre, your sound, where you're based, and how long you've been performing. The second paragraph adds context: what makes your live show distinct, any notable milestones (residencies, festival slots, press mentions), and your audience. Write it in the third person — "Maria Chen is a Chicago-based folk singer-songwriter…" — because that's the form bookers, journalists, and promoters are used to copying and pasting. Keep the total length under 150 words.
High-Quality Photo
One photo is enough. It should be a clear, well-lit image that looks like you on stage or in your element as a performer — not a low-light snapshot from a bar, not a selfie, not a photo of you holding a drink. You don't need a professional photographer for this. Natural outdoor light, a clean background, and a friend with a recent phone produce better results than most artists expect. Horizontal (landscape) orientation works better across more layouts. Include the hi-res file as a downloadable link; don't make a journalist or booker track you down for a print-quality version.
Live Video
This is the single most important element in your EPK. Bookers do not book acts they cannot see perform. A one-to-three minute clip of a real live performance — even from a phone propped at the back of a room — is more persuasive than any recording, any bio, or any number of social followers. If you don't have live video, make getting it your next priority. Ask a friend to record your next open mic set. The quality of the footage matters less than the authenticity: bookers are watching to see how you command a room, not evaluating your production budget.
Include one primary live video link at the top of your EPK. You can add a second if it shows a meaningfully different setting (a full-band performance versus a solo acoustic set, for example), but don't pad the list. More links do not mean more credibility.
Past Venues and Notable Performances
List the venues and events you've played — this is the social proof section. Be honest and specific. "Played regularly at The Listening Room Open Mic in Nashville for two years" is more credible than "extensive live performance experience." If you've had slots at festivals, opened for known acts, or played residencies, list those. If you're early in your career and your history is mostly open mics, that's fine — include them. Bookers want to know you can show up, play a set, and not create problems. A consistent track record of open mic appearances communicates exactly that.
Contact Information
An email address is all you need. Include your name and the email on every page of your EPK, not just at the bottom of a single page. If you have a booking manager or agent, list their contact instead of or alongside yours. If you have a dedicated booking email address (something like booking@yourname.com), use that — it signals that you take this seriously and makes it easier to keep booking conversations organized.
Optional: Social Links and Streaming
A link to your primary social media presence and your Spotify or Apple Music profile are worth including, but treat them as supporting material, not the main event. Your Instagram following tells a booker something about your draw; your Spotify monthly listeners tells them something about your reach. Neither replaces a live video. Don't lead with streaming links — they show what your recordings sound like, not what a room feels like when you're in it.
Format: One-Pager, PDF, or Webpage?
There are three common formats for an EPK, and the right choice depends on how you'll primarily be sharing it.
| Format | Best for | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|
| Single webpage | Embedding links, keeping content current, sharing via URL in emails | Requires a website or a dedicated EPK service; some bookers prefer a document they can save |
| PDF one-pager | Email attachments, printed handouts at industry events, offline sharing | Links must be clickable to work; can feel static if your material changes frequently |
| Google Doc or Notion page | Quick setup, easy updates, shareable link with no hosting required | Less polished than a designed page; may not print cleanly |
For most independent musicians early in their career, a well-designed single webpage is the best long-term investment. A PDF is a good starting point if you need something ready quickly. Whatever format you choose, the URL or file should be something you can drop into an email without a second thought — not a Dropbox folder that requires the recipient to create an account.
Free and Low-Cost Tools
You do not need to spend money to build a professional-looking EPK. These tools cover the full range from free to modest cost:
- Canva — Free tier covers everything a first EPK needs. Use their press kit or one-pager templates as a starting point, drop in your photo and text, and export as a PDF or share via link. The paid tier adds more templates and brand controls, but the free version is sufficient.
- Squarespace or Wix — Both offer templates designed for musicians and creatives. The cheapest paid plan (around 2–16/month) gets you a clean, mobile-friendly webpage with a custom domain. If you don't already have a website, this is worth it — your EPK lives at yourname.com/press or similar.
- Linktree or Beacons — Free tools that let you build a simple link page. Not as polished as a full site, but faster to set up. Beacons has a dedicated EPK feature that covers the core elements. Good for an interim solution while you build something more complete.
- Sonicbids or ReverbNation — Both offer built-in EPK tools aimed specifically at musicians. ReverbNation has a free tier; Sonicbids is paid but includes submission tools to festivals and venues. Useful if you're also submitting to curated opportunities that accept applications through those platforms.
- Google Sites — Completely free, connected to your Google account, and produces a clean shareable URL. Not the most visually impressive option, but it handles text, images, embedded video, and links without any technical setup.
Common Mistakes
- Making it too long. An EPK that requires scrolling through five pages, three videos, and a full discography is asking bookers to do work. They won't. Keep everything to one page or one screen if possible. If you have additional material — more photos, full setlist, past press coverage — link to it rather than embedding it all.
- Using only studio recordings instead of live video. A polished recording tells a booker what your music sounds like when produced. It does not tell them what your live set is like, how you handle a room, or whether you're worth taking a chance on. Live video answers those questions. Studio recordings supplement it.
- Forgetting to update it. An EPK that still lists your 2022 open mic appearances in 2025 looks like you've stopped performing. Set a reminder every three to six months to update your past venues, swap in a more recent photo, and refresh your bio if anything significant has changed.
- Breaking links. Before you send your EPK to anyone, click every single link in it. Dead video links and 404 pages are one of the most common ways otherwise solid EPKs fail silently. Check them on mobile too — some embed codes that work on desktop don't play on a phone.
- Writing the bio in first person. "I am a singer-songwriter from Austin…" reads like a social media caption, not press material. Third-person bios are the industry standard because they're designed to be copied and used in event listings, social posts, and media coverage. Write it the way you'd want a venue to post it.
- No clear contact information. It sounds obvious, but a surprising number of EPKs make the recipient dig for an email address. Put your booking contact in the header or in a dedicated section that's impossible to miss.
FAQ
Do I need a professional photographer for my EPK photo?
No, but you need a good photo. Natural light, a clean background, and someone who can take thirty shots until one looks right will get you there without a paid shoot. If you can afford a session with a photographer who shoots musicians, it's worth it — but don't let not having one stop you from putting together an EPK. A well-lit, in-focus phone photo is better than waiting.
How often should I update my EPK?
Review it every three to six months. Update your past venues list whenever you play somewhere new and notable. Replace your primary live video whenever you have a significantly better clip. Keep your bio current if your genre, lineup, or story has shifted. Beyond that, don't overthink it — a slightly dated EPK that you actually send is better than a perfect one you're still working on.
Should my EPK be a PDF or a webpage?
Ideally both: a webpage for linking in emails and social bios, and a PDF version you can attach when a booker or festival specifically requests one. Start with whichever format you can build faster and add the other over time. The content matters more than the format.
What if I don't have any notable venues or press mentions yet?
Lead with what you do have. Consistent open mic appearances, a mailing list with real numbers, social engagement, or a strong local following are all legitimate social proof at an early stage in your career. Be honest and specific rather than vague: "I've played The Corner Café's Tuesday open mic for the past year and draw 15–20 people regularly" is more credible than "extensive performance experience." Build the credential list by playing, and update your EPK as it grows.
An EPK is not a permanent document — it's a snapshot of where you are right now. The goal isn't to make it perfect before you send it; the goal is to have something that gives a booker what they need to say yes. Start with your bio, one photo, and one live video link, and build from there. The musicians who get booked are the ones who show up, in every sense of that phrase.
Want to find the open mics where your live video and your next set of venue credentials start? Browse open mics near you on Open Mic Search and start logging the performances that fill out your press kit.