How to make an EPK that bookers actually read

An EPK (electronic press kit) is a single page or document that gives promoters, bookers, agents and journalists everything they need to decide about you quickly: a short bio, your best music, live video, photos, evidence you can draw a crowd, and contact details. Bookers skim, so a good EPK puts the most useful information at the top and keeps everything else one click away.

Most EPKs fail because they're too long, too vague, or hide the two things bookers want most: what you sound like live, and whether people will come.

Key takeaways

Lead with a one-line description, your best track, and a live video. Most bookers decide in under a minute.
Show honest evidence of draw: past shows, ticket numbers you can stand behind, the size of your engaged local audience.
A web page is easier to read on a phone than a PDF, but keep a PDF version for people who ask.
Include tech essentials (line-up, stage plot, input list) so a promoter knows you're practical to book.
Never invent press quotes or numbers. Bookers talk to each other.

What bookers are actually looking for

A promoter deciding whether to book you is asking:

What does this sound like? And does it fit my night or venue?
Are they good live? A studio track tells them little about the show.
Will people come? Can this act sell tickets in my city, or help a bill sell?
Are they easy to work with? Clear contacts, tech info, professional communication.

Your EPK should answer all four in the first screen or two. Everything else is supporting detail.

What to include in an EPK

1. Name, one-liner and contact

At the very top: your artist name, a one-line description, where you're based, and who to contact for bookings.

A good one-liner says what you sound like and who you're for, in plain words. Compare:

Weak: "A genre-defying sonic journey."
Better: "Glasgow four-piece playing loud, melodic guitar music for fans of 90s indie and modern shoegaze."

If you have an agent or manager, put their name and email here. If not, use a dedicated booking email rather than a personal one.

2. Your best music

Two or three tracks, with your strongest first. Use links that play instantly in a browser, without requiring a login. Don't make bookers dig through a whole discography.

3. Live video

This is the single most important element for live bookings. A short, well-shot clip of you playing to a real audience shows what the night will be like. If you only have phone footage, choose the clip with the best sound and the most crowd visible.

Even a simple, steady, decent-sounding clip of one song is better than nothing. A live session recorded in a rehearsal room is the next best thing.

4. Evidence of draw

This is where many EPKs are thin, and where honest specifics stand out. Include what you can genuinely stand behind:

Recent headline shows: venue, city, capacity and how many tickets you sold, or "sold out" if it did.
Notable support slots and festival appearances.
Your local audience: for example, the number of fans on your mailing list in a particular city, if it's meaningful.
Streaming figures only if they're relevant and current, such as monthly listeners concentrated in the cities you want to play.

Never inflate these figures. Promoters often check with the venue or the last promoter you worked with, and an exaggerated claim can lose you the booking and the relationship.

5. Short bio

Two versions:

Short (50 to 80 words) for listings and quick reading.
Longer (150 to 250 words) for press and anyone who wants more.

Write in the third person, lead with what's interesting now (a new release, a tour, a notable support), and leave out your full life story. Avoid listing every influence.

6. Press quotes and support

If you have real quotes from press, radio or respected tastemakers, include two or three short ones with the source. If you don't have any yet, leave this section out rather than padding it. Never invent or paraphrase quotes.

Radio plays, playlist additions and notable support slots can go here too, briefly.

7. Photos

Three to five high-resolution press photos, including:

At least one landscape and one portrait.
At least one live shot.
Credit the photographer and make sure you have permission to share.

Make them downloadable in full resolution. Promoters need them for posters and listings.

8. Tech and logistics

This section tells a promoter you're easy to book. Keep it short:

Line-up and number of people travelling.
Stage plot (a simple diagram of who stands where).
Input list (what needs a microphone or DI).
Any essential backline you need or can share.
Typical set length options.

You don't need a full rider in your EPK. A link to a fuller tech spec is fine.

9. Upcoming dates and links

Upcoming shows, plus links to your website and main social channels. Keep this compact; it's supporting evidence, not the main event.

What to leave out

Long biographies and childhood origin stories.
Every track you've ever released.
Vague superlatives such as "unique", "groundbreaking", "unlike anything you've heard".
Social follower counts on their own, without anything showing they turn into ticket buyers.
Out-of-date information. An EPK announcing a "new single" from two years ago suggests you've stopped.
Large attachments in your first email.

Web page or PDF?

Format	Pros	Cons
Web page	Easy to read on a phone, video plays in place, easy to update, one link to share	Needs somewhere to host it
PDF	Familiar, can be printed, works offline	Video and audio must be links, harder to read on a phone, easily goes out of date

A web page is usually the better main format because bookers often read on their phones between other tasks. Keep a short PDF version for people who ask for one, and update both at the same time.

A single landing page can do the job well. If you're building one, how to build a landing page for a gig or tour covers structure that also applies to an EPK.

How to send your EPK

The EPK supports your pitch; it doesn't replace it. When you email a promoter or venue:

Personalise the first line. Mention their night, venue or a recent show they put on.
Say exactly what you're asking for. "We're looking for a headline date in Leeds in March" or "We'd love to be considered for support on [artist]'s show."
Give your strongest evidence in one sentence. "We sold out a 150-capacity room in Sheffield in October."
Link the EPK. One link, not attachments.
Sign off with contact details.

Keep the whole email to a short paragraph or two. Follow up once, politely, after a week or two if you don't hear back. Then move on.

A sensible booking-pitch subject line is plain and specific: "[Artist name] - headline enquiry, Leeds, March" works better than something clever.

Keep it updated

An EPK is a living document. Update it:

After every notable show, with the numbers.
When you release new music.
When you get new press or radio support.
When your line-up changes.
When photos are more than a year or two old.

A quick check before each round of pitching is enough.

Building the evidence over time

The strongest EPKs are backed by data you've collected: tickets sold per show, fans on your list in each city, people who came back a second time. Start collecting it now, at every show. A QR code at the merch table linking to a sign-up form is the simplest method; see the merch table: sell more and capture fan details. Backline records which show each fan signed up at, which makes it easier to say with confidence how many engaged fans you have in a given city.

If you're working towards your first headline date, how to promote your first headline show explains how to turn that evidence into a sold-out room, which then goes back into your EPK.

Frequently asked questions

What is an EPK?

An EPK, or electronic press kit, is a single web page or document that gives promoters, bookers and press the essentials about an artist: a short bio, music, live video, photos, evidence of audience and contact details. It's designed to help someone decide quickly whether to book or feature you.

What should be at the top of an EPK?

Your artist name, a plain one-line description of your sound, where you're based, booking contact details, your best track and a live video. Bookers often skim, so the most important information should be visible without scrolling much.

Should my EPK be a PDF or a website?

A web page is usually better because it's easy to read on a phone, video plays in place and you can update it without re-sending files. Keep a PDF version too for anyone who asks for one. Make sure both say the same thing.

What if I don't have any press quotes?

Leave the press section out. A clean EPK with strong live video and honest evidence of your audience is better than one padded with weak or invented quotes. Add real quotes as you get them.

How long should an EPK be?

Short enough that a booker gets what they need in a minute or two. As a rough guide, one scrolling page or two to three PDF pages is plenty. Put detailed tech specs and longer bios behind links.