Workshop details below!
Press Relief: DIY PR Workshop 2024 Details:
I’d love to teach you how to do your own PR!
This workshop takes place on your schedule, since most artists are juggling multiple responsibilities. Modules arrive weekly for four weeks, beginning shortly after you sign up. You will have lifetime access to the materials and videos (no need to stress about taking notes or remembering every detail!) as well as future updates of Press Relief, future guest speakers, and first dibs on future workshops for other topics.
You can go through materials online at your own pace, no homework, no required participation. Periodic bonus guest Zooms are always optional. Join in, or treat this like a reference to skim at your own leisure. We will record and upload bonus guest Zooms, provided the guest is comfortable with that.
Last year’s bonus guest speakers worked at Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Adult Swim, and Consequence of Sound, and I’m excited about who will be joining us to impart their wisdom and experience this year.
Press Relief: PR for Self-Released Artists Outline:
Materials arrive weekly for four weeks. Dive in at your own pace, and implement when you’re ready.
Developing your narrative and identifying angles: most media can’t cover something without an angle, and it’s up to you to do the deep dive, as the person who knows you best!
Preparing your press materials + press kit.
Identifying target outlets, finding contact info of the best person to pitch, and building a media list.
Creating a workable timeline, announce to release.
Crafting your pitch and press release, and knowing when and how to use them.
Pitching, following up, and building relationships with media.
Interview preparation.
Integrating press with your overall release plans.
How to seek out, engage, and work well with a publicist down the road.
Miscellaneous media: radio stations that have blogs? Blogs that have playlists? Magazines that have podcasts? We’ll chat about it!
Now that touring is returning, later this year we’ll have an update from guests who market tours and promote shows.
Workshop format:
Weekly video lectures (you can also listen to these while multi-tasking during busy weeks.)
Templates, guides, checklists, and worksheets to work through at your own convenience.
Bonus guest Zooms with industry experts and media throughout the year. These are scheduled around guest availability, so I can't guarantee who will join us. (Last cohort’s guest speakers worked at Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Adult Swim, Consequence of Sound, and more.)
Who is this for?
This four week program was created with self-released artists in mind. So many artists (and labels) are not yet in a place to hire a publicist. Good publicists are pricey, because they provide a valuable service, and bring years of expertise to your project. Too often, I see artists who can't afford a publicist just turn their release live on Bandcamp and hope for the best, with no lead up or game plan. I wanted to provide another option: the guidance to do your own publicity, develop your narrative, pitch media, and build awareness around your release.
Fledgling publicists
Small label owners
Signed artists who are working with a label without publicity funding
Self-released artists
…have all taken this course with positive feedback.
A PR push for an album often begins 3-5 months before release, so better to get a handle on PR early than late!
While I can't guarantee that editors and music writers will connect with your music or have the bandwidth during a given week to cover you, I will share with you my step-by-step process for pitching media and maintaining relationships with press, based on over a decade of experience. Publicists can't guarantee coverage at specific outlets, either!
I also can’t force you to put in the time and effort to reach out to media and tell your story, so as they say, “your mileage may vary.”