Demo solicitation for labels

[SpiderFingers]

I've heard that a band can't just submit a demo to a label. The label has to solicit the demo from the band. How does some break the ice to get to that point?

[Scheming Demon]

Some labels will not accept unsolicited material, some will. You have to do some homework, contact these labels and find out if they will accept a demo.

 

To get them to come to you, you have to get your band to the point where you almost don't need a label. You need to finance your own CD. Play locally & gain big followings. Then play regionally and gain big followings. Say where you consistently draw 500 people or more every time.

 

Sell thousands of copies of your self-produced CD. That will get label's attention. Of course this is all very hard to do and will take years of serious effort.

[murphmusik]

Or....get an entertainment lawyer, or band manager to represent you. Someone who already has those ties or working relationships.

[The Naysayer]

I agree with both of the above posts. Both are different ways to do it, but even with a manager, many of those are even looking for the same thing a label is. Their reputation is on the line when they take artists to their label contacts.

 

I dunno. Why you even want a label these days? With the internet, smart marketing, and websites, you can be your own label practically. It's all about supply and demand. If you make amazing music, it's inevitable that people will want it. That simple. Then you have a monoply on your own music and can direct people where to get it and don't have to give your profits to some guy in a suit that doesn't care all that much about you anyway and hasn't even listened to your record once all the way through.

 

hope that helps.

 

-stu

[SpiderFingers]

The reason I'm seeking a label is last year I did a tour with a Latin artist signed to Univision. I got see the kind of $$financial$$ backing an artist from a label like that has. Believe it does NOT compare to what I could do with my own label. Not by a LONG shot man. I also learned it's NOT a one in a million shot but just a matter of hard work & having you stuff together. It REALLY opened my eyes. ANyways that's why. As for management I AM my bands manager. HOwever booking local gigs & booking a tour is another thing altogether. I do not by any means claim to know it all that's the reason I"m here asking for advice. If I could find someone to manage that would bust his ass just as I am for this band I would not hesitate at all to hand the reigns over. Thanks for the feedback.

[fuzzball]

To get a manager like you want you will have to prove that your band is worth the effort. Keep it up work hard and they will come for you. I have been approached 2 times and I have turned them both down. I like to remain fairly unknown yet I like to record and jam, go figue I guess I wasent built to be a superstar.

[SpiderFingers]

I'm going to continue as we are. I have very set goals of where I want the band to be in 3 months, 6 months & 12 months down the road. I think you need that. I am VERY relentless in how I push every member of the band & they don't mind it. Right now we are working on just keeping gigging & getting tight & getting the arrangement for the original stuff for the demo & finding the right studio. But the bottom line is to stay together & gig while pushing each other to be better MUSICIANS.

[BlueStrat]

Just kep in mind that label support and backing is a loan, not a gift, and that they don't generally risk capital on bands that aren't proven producers. The best way to get signed by a label is to prove you don't need one, by having your own management (preferably by an agency like the Piedmont, Rose, or William Morris), your own transportation, a fan base of a few thousand people, a circuit you're already touring, and can show you've sold at least a few thousand CDs in a year or so. Labels are like insurance companies: their job is to make money by minimizing risk. The day of the unknown artist getting signed and being given tens of thousands of dollars to get set up are long gone. I have friends signed to Blind Pig records (major blues label out of San Francisco) and they still have to have their own booking agent, transport, road manager, and have to pay back the record company the 26k they spent to make their record and pay back half of the thousands spent to promote it.

[SpiderFingers]

I'm fully aware of that.

[EnzyteMan]

Go to some local clubs. Clubs often find out about bands from a promoter or manager who contacts the clubs and gets them interested in hosting the bands.

 

Those guys often know people who are in with at least a few labels in their area, and could facilitate something if you get a meeting with and impress the promoter/manager.

 

If he/she feels that he/she will make money and not get embarassed by bringing you to a label exec's attention, you'll get in right there.

 

That also takes a lot of work and commitment.

 

Also, if you can get booked to a large venue (regional music fair, state fair, battle-of-the-bands in a big city, major ballroom, etc.) and do a great show, usually there will be at least one person in the audience scouting talent for somebody.

 

But again, you have to rock your cock off...if you don't stand out as something special and apart from the rest, they'll think "this guy won't sell a million albums, so who needs them?"

[SpiderFingers]

I know what you mean. I just booked us for a house band at a place about to open up. we got the gig based on our appeal here locally. We did a freebie & the guy had heard of us from other clubs & really wanted us. I think we're doing ok. Still need a long way to go though but we're in it according my "timetable" if you want to call it that. I told the bar owner "you really don't care how good or how bad we play, you just want us to pack it out like we did with people buying drinks & thus making you money. I REALIZE that. That's why we're here.":D