Well, because it's one of the things I know pretty well I can say the photo is OK, but what gets the gig is the demo, the first 10-15 seconds of it at that. That's about how long it takes these people - who listen to this stuff day in and day out for a living - to decide if its going to work for them. The demo is everything in that biz. The packet - press kit, or just kit if you prefer - is pro forma, so what really stands out, the only thing really, is the stuff on the demo. After all, you're booking music, not quotes and a photo.
And don't send the kit and demo to the venue, it will just wind up in the trash. Find the name of the person who does the booking and send it to them personally, and follow up. Even better if you can get to that person ahead of time so they are expecting it in some sense. The problem with the venue is that all a booker needs is a phone and some way to play music, so they tend to work elsewhere. They only show up at the clubs to meet the band, so it tends to be later in the show at that, or backstage.
