Sending demos to
record companies is not always a
very good way of getting known.
You'll end up in a huge pile of
CDs on an A&R person's desk
and it's very hard to stand out
in those circumstances - however
good your music is.
If you have a massive following,
the industry will come to find
out what all the fuss is about.
Spend time making your music and
live shows amazing rather than
mucking about with demos.
Promote yourself properly. Make
sure that everyone who's likely
to come to a gig knows where and
when you're playing, every time
you play. Use mailing lists,
email lists, local press, fliers
and posters to promote your gigs.
A&R people don't turn up at
gigs randomly, so there aren't
really any places to play to be
'spotted'. Also you don't have to
play London to get your name
known. A&R people have
contacts all over the country. If
you're causing a stir, they will
find out.
Don't just concentrate on record
labels. There are lots of people
like PR companies, lawyers,
publishers and producers looking
for new business. These people
get a lot fewer, demos so yours
will be in a much smaller pile.
Be patient - it normally take
artists a couple of years at
least to get to the stage where
they're ready to sign. Spend some
time learning to work as a group
and developing your songs and
performance before you divert
time into trying to get signed.
Don't be too eager. The more
desperate you are to get signed
the more likely you are to sign a
contract that's not right for
you. Take your time and consider
each offer carefully. Don't take
something just because you
haven't got anything else.
With underground styles like
dance and hip-hop, labels look
for tunes that are happening in
the clubs. Consequently, you're
better off ignoring the labels
and getting your tunes straight
to DJs.
A demo addressed to someone by
name is much more likely to be
opened quickly. Find the right
labels by checking the sleeves of
records you like. Call and get
the name of the person who
handles your kind of music.
Phone the person before you send
any material. Then leave at least
10 days after sending the demo
before you call again and see if
they've got it. Give them some
time to listen to your music and
don't hassle them.
A&R people tend to hang on to
promising demos and see what else
is sent, so try and keep a steady
flow of demos coming. A new
recording every few months will
keep your name up and show that
you're still active on the scene.
Once you start sending out demos,
make sure you keep your website
up to date. If people like your
demo, it's the first place
they'll go to see what you're up
to and maybe check when you're
gigging.
Everyone at every level gets
knocked back several times on the
way to the top. Don't take this
personally and don't be
disheartened. One person's
negative opinion doesn't mean
that much. Keep at it!
