1st person 3rd person

["samba -" <sambacomet@hotmail.com>]

  I personally prefer 1st person bios,but I recognize the issue with being 
taken seriously. Depends on who youraiming at .The very worthwhile fine 
arts 
world is different than the straight up music busniess. I sometimes avoid 
this conundrum by writing bios for other people,and have had them done for 
me. I think it's more important to satsify the reasons the conventions 
exist 
than it is to follow them to the letter.I like for the aesthetic of the 
art 
to be reflected in the aesthetic of the promotional material. For example 
promoting an african music group I printed everything in brown ink in a 
woodcut looking font on unbleached handmade looking ,grainy 
paper.Earthiness 
,texture, roots. I used very rhytmic traditional graphics that continued 
the 
theme,and abssolutely no photos of the band standing in front of a wall. 
this was expensive ,but very efective. It's true that people will judge 
your 
professionalism on presentation,but that doesn't mean the presentation has 
to be formulaic.  If the bio reads like an application  form,why would I 
want to read all the way through ?  If for instance,one's school or 
educational background has no obvious relation to the art being promoted 
,does it matter? If the facts aren't entertaining or at least 
interesting,one can use an Artist Statement instead of a bio,and says 
something interesting-briefly.  An Artist statement in addition to a bio 
can 
be a worthwhile addition.The point either way, is for them to have 
something 
to say about you in press releases, etc. so providing good copy is more 
important than perfect form. Good copy includes  ,catchy phrases,you 
know,soundbites,hooks.It's another chance to be creative.
  I would add to Matt's list of bad adjectives Jazzy

_________________________________________________________________
Download Messenger. Join the i’m Initiative. Help make a difference today. 
http://im.live.com/messenger/im/home/?source=TAGHM_APR07