To make musicians’ self-promotion easier, we’re diving into an important piece of writing advice that most musicians never get—and it’s a crucial concept: Welcome to Show Don’t Tell for your Bio.
What does “show don’t tell” mean? It means you first need to . . .
Stop hiding behind empty adjectives
Do you describe yourself, your music—or your teaching—with over-used Bio buzz-words, worn-out adjectives and phrases such as:
Accessible
Boundary-breaking
Committed to, dedicated to, or a champion of . . . the music of our time
Creative
Critically acclaimed
Distinctive
Eclectic
Emerging
Engaging
Fortunate to . . .
Genre-defying
Has studied under (sounds subservient: use “with” instead)
Highly esteemed
Innovative
Intersection
Juxtapose
One of the most . . . of her/his generation
Passionate
Quickly establishing herself/himself as a sought-after . . .
Renowned
Seeks to . . .
Strives to . . .
The next . . .
Under the tutelage of . . .
Unique
Up-and-coming
Visceral
Is it OK to use a few of these words and phrases? Maybe.
But the majority of musician bios are overridden with such clichés. These words and phrases are used as filler—they’re stand-ins used to TELL readers instead of SHOWING them.
That’s a problem because clichés don’t reveal what’s specific and memorable about who you really are, what you do, and why. Avoid adjectives wherever you can: stick with nouns and verbs—say it straight.
We’ve all done it—tried to “puff up” our materials by using familiar language found in other musicians’ Bios. And you may try to justify it saying to yourself, ‘I just want to come across as appropriate and professional.’
But if you’re using these worn out words, the truth is you’re coming across as indistinguishable from everybody else. What’s worse, you’re also coming across as un-inspired and un-inspiring.
Use clichés and here’s what your readers think . . .
That you are either . . .
A) too lazy to come up with something more original.
B) don’t care that you’re boring the pants off anyone who reads what you’ve written.
OR
C) just too scared to tell us something more revealing, more memorable, and more human. Like many musicians, you hide behind clichés instead of standing in the light and showing us who you really are.
I get it. We’re all human and writing marketing materials brings up all our self-esteem gremlins because deep down, we don’t believe that we’re “enough.” So we reach for the “easy” words and phrases that come to mind—we copy other people’s clichés hoping they make us sound impressive—or at least legitimate.
But the truth is, we all have far more interesting stories to offer than what we actually use. The trouble is we may not know what in our stories is newsworthy or how to present it.
What gets readers hooked and curious enough to click ‘play’?
In an effective Bio, readers get a balance of types of material. We do need concrete facts for context and credibility—a handful of names of venues where you’ve performed, the range of repertoire you play, and with whom you’ve collaborated. We also need examples of what’s special in one or two of the projects you’ve taken on. The devil is always in the details—give us what’s surprising and noteworthy.
Further, readers want to know what drives you—what your purpose is as a musician—without resorting to sweeping generalizations or clichés. If it’s a performance bio, we want to get a true sense of your sound and/or what your audiences experience at your concerts. And if it’s a teaching Bio, we should learn what you’re like in the studio with students.
Example of ‘Show Don’t Tell’ in a Bio
Here’s a portion of composer Angélica Negrón’s bio (a version from a few years ago). At the start we get the surprising instrumentation she’s written for. It’s the “accordion, robots, and toys” that gets me to keep reading.
“Puerto Rican-born composer and multi-instrumentalist Angélica Negrón writes music for accordions, robotic instruments, toys and electronics as well as chamber ensembles and orchestras.”
And later, there’s this passage. It starts with an impressive credit—that she’s artist in residence at a prestigious venue. That’s fine. But what gets me hooked is the description of her current project. It gets me curious and energized to read more and hear her music. This matters because the ultimate mission of your bio is to get readers curious enough to click “play.”
“Angélica Negrón is currently an artist in residence at National Sawdust working on a lip sync opera titled Chimera for drag queen performers and chamber ensemble, exploring the ideas of fantasy and illusion as well as the intricacies and complexities of identity.”
Don’t get me wrong. I’m NOT saying you have to have an impressive artist residency, or that you have to write for drag queens, robots, or toys.
I AM saying that you need to give readers a sense of what’s noteworthy and what’s maybe unexpected about you and your work. So instead of TELLING us, for instance, that you’re ‘innovative,’ give us an example instead—SHOW US—so that readers come to their own conclusion.
In a sense, “show, don’t tell” is a version of “show me the money.” It means, don’t give us generalizations, worn out adjectives, or empty promises. Show us the proof.
Challenge: describe what your performances are like without resorting to cliché
Of course if you have a review quote that describes your performances in a memorable way, that’s fantastic. If not, think about what audience members (particularly non-musicians) have told you after concerts.
Caution: if you describe your sound as ‘warm,’ ‘resonant,’ ‘rich,’ or ‘deep’—you aren’t actually giving readers anything distinct. These words are so over-used that they come across as boring advertising copy. They don’t help us conjure up a sense of your performances in our imaginations.
You’re looking for memorable language that’s neither comparative nor generic (so no terrific, beautiful, or “the best”). Then you can use the memorable descriptors in a phrase like, “Known for her L, U, and Q performances . . .”
To introduce yourself and to pique readers’ interest enough to get them to click ‘play’—you need something better than boring adjectives.
No clichés in site in this bio
Violinist Szuhwa Wu zeroes in on what her performances are like: what her audiences experience and what she aims for.
“Focused on creating performances that are vibrant, multi-faceted sound worlds, violinist Szuhwa Wu has designed concerts that challenge and disturb, surprise and enthrall audiences.”
Note: this kind of bold description will only work if it’s backed up with specifics that “show us the money” and Szuhwa’s bio delivers:
“Her multi-disciplinary projects have included a performance based on the essays of Montaigne, a recital pairing traditional Chinese music with newly commissioned works, and a set of ‘Musical Promenades’ in 6 architecturally significant sights, including Palladio’s Italian villas.”
Describe your purpose without sounding fake or full of yourself
Here’s an excerpt from pianist Nathaniel LaNasa’s bio in which he reveals his creative motivations as a collaborative pianist, and the mission of his duo:
“Exploring intersections of storytelling, speech, and movement, pianist Nathaniel LaNasa frequently partners with vocalist Lucy Dhegrae. The duo is committed to building a new repertoire that challenges conventions of the voice and piano partnership . . .
‘The magic,’ Nate says, ‘lies in expanding the spaces of our shared inspiration. For me, it’s all about dancing with the tension and flow of musical dialogue.’”
Yes, in this example there are two items that appear on my cliché list: “intersections” and “committed to.” But I’d argue that because everything around these words is particular and unexpected, that this is not “musician Bio as usual”—and so it works. See what you think.
Let’s be clear: overhauling your Bio takes real time and effort.
No one ever said writing Bios should be quick and easy. But having an effective Bio—one that you are proud to use—it can make it all worthwhile.
That’s why I recommend finding a mentor or coach—an experienced writer who can help you tease out your story and communicate it directly. That way, your Bio can spark readers’ interest and serve as a “call to action,” so you can book more of the work you love.
Find more help with writing a compelling musician’s Bio HERE.
And if you’d like to find out about receiving coaching from me, details are HERE.
Let’s get your brighter future started now,
Dream Big, Plan Smart, Live Well
