Whether you are a function band looking to book in more weddings, or a solo musician playing original material at music venues, at some point you’re going to need to summarise who is in your band, and what you’re about. You’ll probably have to send this information to a music industry contact, and so it could be very important to your act’s future.
A great biography should offer the reader everything they might need or want to read about your act, in a clear format.
Ideally, you should aim to have several versions of your bio, ready to go at any time. They should all be different lengths, and optimised for wherever they might be needed. In this blog, we offer you our top tips on how to write a great band biography…
1. Prepare different lengths
Chances are, you’ll need various different versions of your biography available, depending on the situation. For example, a magazine feature is going to need more information than your facebook bio. Having three versions (a short, medium and full-length) will be a good place to start.
- A short biography that’s around 100 to 150 words, with a brief summary of what your band is about. This will generally be for social media.
- A medium-length biography of around 500 – 600 words. Great for promoters, or for emailing.
- A Full-length bio of 750 to 1000 words. Either to be placed in your EPK or on a dedicated page of your website.
2. Start with a quote
Structuring your biography is not easy and will, of course, vary depending on what sort of act you are. If you have any media coverage, or a great quote from another reputable artist, it is awesome way to begin your bio.
3. Use a paragraph for each subject matter
It’s a bit of a general rule, but try and have a different subject matter for each paragraph of your bio. For example: one on the history of the membership, one for notable previous gigs and venue, etc. Obviously, this will work best with your longer biography drafts.
4. Put yourself in the mindset of the reader
When thinking about what should go into your bio, it’s important to put yourself in the place of the person who will be reading it. IE. try and think about what they would want to know about you.
If you’re a singer-songwriter, then your audience may well want a more personal bio – something that speaks a little to your life experiences and your influences, as well as your musical career. This will help to show a little of what goes into your songwriting process, and where your material comes from.
If you’re a session player, then you might want to stick to a list some notable credits, like artists you have played with and studios you have worked in.
As a function band, you must think about potential clients and agents. What would impress them? Testimonials to your professionalism, work ethic, reliability and popularity will always be a good idea.
There are a whole host of different musical scenarios where you might require a biography, but the point is to optimise your biography for your individual musical situation. That said, if you’re struggling with your bands bio, there are some staple features that you can always look to for inspiration.
5. Learn the ingredients of a good biography
If you’re looking for a quick reference list, here are some pieces of information you might want to include:
- Press quotes
- Band members
- The history of your band and back catalogue
- Notable venues you’ve played at
- Notable people you’ve played with
- Awards you’ve won
- Current events/ latest releases
For those seeking professional guidance in crafting compelling musical narratives, there are job opportunities for music consultants eager to assist artists in shaping their unique stories for maximum impact and resonance.
Have you written your acts biography? Do you have any tips for someone just starting out with writing one? Post them in the comments below…
Share this:
