One of the common problems with bands or artists who are just starting out is their belief that people will eagerly check out their press kit and get back to them. Believe it or not, a lot of press kits will find their way into the bin. Or, if you're lucky, yours will get filed away for a few years. You just never know how much a person can make if he or she sells that highly embarrassing first demo back to the artists if they make the big time ;)

But let's get real.

Think of your press kit as a financial investment on your part. A good bio, a few print-ready photos and a CD takes quite some work to put together. Getting a hundred press kits out there requires not only effort but money as well. You want to make your press kit work for you. Obviously, you want people to find out who you are, but there's always the chance that you'll get a few gigs from a well made press kit. Do that and you can cover your costs.

So here are a few tips on putting together a reasonable press kit. I'm going to keep it simple and talk about how to deal with the music press. I'm talking from experience as a music journalist.

1) Music magazine editors and journalists are not total bastards. Many of them love music and work hard to find ways to squeeze new talented artists into their publications. Make sure your press kit is addressed to someone specific who writes about music in your genre. There's no point in trying to win over a death metal writer with quiet folk songs. If you don't target a specific person, your kit will probably get opened last. If you address your kit to a specific person, they have to at least open it.

2) Music magazine editors and journalists actually need you. Contact them. Again, many publications have columns which focus on up and coming new bands. And editors are always on the hunt for extra content. In some cases, you might argue that certain 'Hot New Artists' features are nothing more than advertorial fluff on behalf of the majors. But finding and championing new acts is important in the development of a publication and a career. Everybody wants to discover the next big thing or at least claim they did.

3) If you've sent your press kit to a specific person - which you should do - ring them up and ask them if they've had the chance to check out your kit. Ask them if you could regularly send short press releases so you can keep them up to date with things. Keep it friendly, but formal. Don't ask them if they liked your music. It could either embarrass you or the person you're trying to establish a relationship with. Put it this way, if the person does like your music, they'll let you know.

4) Don't expect everyone to like your music. You probably don't like everyone else's music.

5) Make your kit stand out. Don't be just another press kit. You don't have to spend big to do this, either. Sending your kit in an oddly shaped box, or perhaps adding a novelty toy to the kit might work out to your advantage. Don't send condoms. It's been done a thousand times before. Personally, I'd listen to any band that sent me a whoopee cushion!

6) If you want a journalist at one of your gigs, try to make sure that you have a full house. Make sure you put on a great show. Start the gig when you're meant to. Unless you're The Strokes, keeping everyone waiting for you could possibly explode in your face.

Better still, arrange to meet the journo before you have to go off and get ready to play. Keep things pleasant and buy him/her a drink for their troubles. And whatever you do, make sure their name (plus one for a friend) is at the door. Let them in for free. Believe it or not, I've turned up to do a live review only to find that my name wasn't on the door. It was embarrassing to stand there with a crowd of people behind me as I tried to explain the situation. I was broke at the time and didn't have enough money to get into the venue. So, after a couple of minutes of haggling, I left. No one from the band ever contacted me about the review that was never written.

These tips aren't exhaustive, but you should find that they will help you and your press kit get noticed. Just remember, people do want to hear from you. It's just that you should be careful about how you do it.