How to Build an EPK (Electronic Press Kit) That Gets You Booked

A booker is deciding between you and three other acts. They have ten minutes, a budget and a boss who wants an answer by Friday. Whatever they can find quickly about you is what they'll base the decision on. That's the job of an electronic press kit, or EPK: one place with everything a buyer needs to say yes.

A good EPK doesn't need to be elaborate. It needs to be complete, current and easy to open on a phone. Here's what to put in it, whether you're a comedian, a keynote speaker, a magician or a band.

What an EPK is (and isn't)

An EPK is a short, organized introduction to your act for the people who hire you: talent buyers, meeting planners, college activities boards, club bookers and agents. It answers their questions before they have to ask: What do they do? Are they good? Will they fit our audience? How do I book them?

It isn't your full website, your life story or a folder of every photo you've ever had taken. If a booker has to dig, the EPK has failed.

The one-sheet: your EPK on a single page

Many performers start with a one-sheet, especially speakers, where a "speaker one sheet" is expected. It's a single page (often a PDF) that sums you up:

Your name and what you do in one line: "Clean corporate comedian," "Keynote speaker on customer experience," "Interactive close-up magician."
A strong photo.
Two or three sentences about your act and who it's for.
Credits that matter to the buyer: TV appearances, festivals, notable clients, awards.
A link to your video.
How to book you, with a name, an email and a phone number.

The one-sheet is the summary. The rest of the EPK is the detail behind it.

What to include in your EPK

1. A short bio and a long bio

Write two versions. The short bio (50 to 75 words) is for programs, emails and the emcee's introduction. The long bio (200 to 300 words) is for buyers who want the fuller picture. Write both in the third person, lead with what's most impressive to this market, and keep them current. A bio that mentions a "new" special from four years ago tells a booker you don't update things.

2. Professional headshots

Include at least two: a tight headshot and a wider or live shot. Make them easy to download at full size, because planners will use them on posters, programs and social posts. Label the files with your name, not "IMG_4471.jpg."

3. Your demo reel

Video is usually the deciding factor. Link to a short highlight reel (two to four minutes) and, if you have it, a longer unedited set. If you work in different markets, give each reel a clear title: "Corporate highlight," "College set," "Club set." Our guide to building a demo reel bookers will actually watch covers what to put in it.

4. Credits and social proof

List the credits that make a buyer feel safe: TV and streaming appearances, festivals, well-known venues, notable corporate clients, colleges, awards. Add two or three short testimonials from real clients, with their name and organization if they've agreed. Social proof from someone in the buyer's own world (another planner, another school) carries the most weight.

5. What you offer

Spell out the formats you do. A comedian might list a 45-minute headline set, a 20-minute feature, emcee or host duties, and a clean version. A speaker might list keynotes, breakouts and workshops, with titles and a line about each. A band might list set lengths, the number of musicians and the styles you cover. Buyers book faster when they can see their event in your list.

6. Technical and hospitality needs

You don't need the full rider in the EPK, but a short tech summary saves back-and-forth: microphone type, whether you need a projector, stage size, power, load-in time. Link to the full technical and hospitality riders for buyers who need them.

7. Booking details

End with how to book you: your name or your agent's, an email address, a phone number and, if you have one, a booking form. Mention your typical travel area and whether you're available for fly dates. Don't make a booker hunt for how to reach you.

EPK tips for each type of act

Comedians: say clearly whether you work clean, and offer a clean reel for corporate and college buyers. A comedian press kit should also list the clubs and festivals you've played.
Keynote speakers: lead with outcomes ("what your audience will leave with") and the titles of your talks. Planners often share your one-sheet with a committee, so make it stand on its own.
Magicians and variety acts: show the audience reacting, and explain the format: strolling, close-up, stage or a combination.
Musicians and bands: a musician EPK should include a few live tracks, a set list sample, the band lineup and your stage plot.

Keep it to one link

The best EPK is one link that works on a phone. A web page beats a PDF attachment because you can update it any time, and the booker always sees the current version. Keep a PDF one-sheet as well for planners who need to forward something to a committee.

Wherever it lives, check it every few months: new photos, new credits, an updated reel, a refreshed bio. An out-of-date press kit costs you bookings quietly.

Put your EPK to work

An EPK only helps if it reaches buyers. Put the link in your email signature and on your website, and send it with every pitch. A booking email that gets a reply is short and links to your EPK rather than attaching it. When a buyer asks for "your materials," you can reply in one line.

If you use GigTools, your act page is already most of an EPK: your bio, headshots, titled demo reels, credits and approved reviews on one public page, with a booking request form built in. You can also send a client your promo kit (bio, headshot and links) for their posters and programs in a couple of clicks. See how it works for comedians, speakers and musicians.

Complete, current and one click away: that's the press kit that gets you booked.