Next step: Label or agency?

[Rodimus Prime]

I'm in a band from a small town in Canada. I believe that we are really on to something in every regard: our live show is tight and entertaining, our music is fresh, interesting and catchy, we launched a new cd, and we are all somewhat accomplished musicians. However, we are from a small town in Saskatchewan and we want to play more. We can only do so much living in a place where there is no music scene.

 

We are looking to be able to be networked and get out more to play for audiences as much as possible, so what could be a next step for us?

[Chicken Monkey]

I'd think about replacing your singer or lyricist, and then moving to a bigger scene.

[BlueStrat]

Move to Toronto or even Vancouver. If you can make a dent in the scenes there, you might have a shot at a label or an agent.

 

As a point of criticism, I thought your songs are well recorded and produced, but they are quite generic sounding, IMO, and don't veer off a fairly well-worn path that already exists. Don't get me wrong, what you're doing is done quite well, but you sound like a hundred other bands, and what you are doing is sort of 'coloring inside the lines', if you know what I mean. It's maybe marketable, maybe not, I couldn't tell you. It doesn't take any risks. Maybe that's what's selling these days.

[daddymack]

I think if anything, I would look for an agency that would book you into larger gigs within a 500 mile radius, although in Saskatchewan, that may not get you far. A label won't give you the time of day until you are selling out decent sized regional shows and moving CDs and merch.

[Rodimus Prime]

 

Move to Toronto or even Vancouver. If you can make a dent in the scenes there, you might have a shot at a label or an agent. As a point of criticism, I thought your songs are well recorded and produced, but they are quite generic sounding, IMO, and don't veer off a fairly well-worn path that already exists. Don't get me wrong, what you're doing is done quite well, but you sound like a hundred other bands, and what you are doing is sort of 'coloring inside the lines', if you know what I mean. It's maybe marketable, maybe not, I couldn't tell you. It doesn't take any risks. Maybe that's what's selling these days.

 

 

THANK you! you know, in a small town you kind of become the hometown hero and you have to take what people say with a grain of salt because you don't know if they just don't know any better or are being nice. We have more songs that are a wee bit more off the beaten track i guess and i'll upload them later today for eval but even THIS is what we're looking for.

I take myself seriously enough to listen to people, but not seriously enough to get offended. so thanks

[ari]

 

I take myself seriously enough to listen to people, but not seriously enough to get offended. so thanks

 

 

That's a good attitude, IMHO. Sounds like you guys are ready to test out your material to a bigger audience. Just one word of caution from my experience is that if you do move to a bigger city, be sure to check out the scene to make sure it is the right scene for you and your music, socially and musically. Don't just automatically move to Toronto or Vancouver just because they're Toronto or Vancouver. Different cities have different vibes. For example, Austin, Texas is a great music city, but I wouldn't recommend a metal band or a rap act to move here. It's better to be a top dog in mid-sized town than being a misfit in a big city.

 

Good luck! Keep the faith in your music.

 

ari

[Rodimus Prime]

Thats a good point. Thanks ari.

[Rodimus Prime]

ok, here are some other songs from the disc that may be a little less generic.

Tripmeter

Listen to "Drive to the Sun" and "Everytime"

[sharnrock]

I thought the solo song was really good. The rest of the songs didn't really hold my attention. Production is top notch on all of the songs though. Great job.

[X the Dead Pawn]

This is just my opinion but, why do either?

I really wouldn't sign my career over to somebody whose career is to pick the next flavor of the week. Indepent is the way to go. Your your own boss. Get all the profits. Don't have to get managers or all those press people. It's you and noone else that decides where you go and when you want to do it. I got several friends in the punk scene who are very succesful in their scences. They gig pretty reguarly and they sound really good. They do it more as a pasttime but, if they asked for money they'd proably make enough to pay for their bills.

[ZachMetal]

I agree with basically everyone's comments so far; great production, professional pictures, professional web site, etc. Seems like you guys are ready for the next level, just make sure you move to the correct place, and you guys should be fine.

[Chris Guitar]

Hi guys, I must say that alot of awsome stuff has come out of Canada. If you guys sound just like you do live as you do in the studio, you are on your way. Beautiful mix on the Album. Never under do the harmonies. It will sell.

[daddymack]

This is just my opinion but, why do either? I really wouldn't sign my career over to somebody whose career is to pick the next flavor of the week. Indepent is the way to go. Your your own boss. Get all the profits. Don't have to get managers or all those press people. It's you and noone else that decides where you go and when you want to do it. I got several friends in the punk scene who are very succesful in their scences. They gig pretty reguarly and they sound really good. They do it more as a pasttime but, if they asked for money they'd proably make enough to pay for their bills.

 

hmmm.."very succesful in their scences"..."They gig pretty reguarly"..."They do it more as a pasttime but, if they asked for money..."

So basically, you feel they are successful because they play a log of gigs for free?

Also, if you were reading the OP, they are in a relatively remote area, and have pretty much exhausted the local scene. For them to branch out on their own power is a logistical problem.

[MartinC]

 

I got several friends in the punk scene who are very succesful in their scences. They gig pretty reguarly and they sound really good. They do it more as a pasttime but, if they asked for money they'd proably make enough to pay for their bills.

 

 

Very successful, but no money? OK. Different strokes, but it would be interesting to see how successful they would be if they expected to be paid real money.

[Rodimus Prime]

hey, thanks for the huge compliments on the sound of the production. We have worked really hard on this for the last few months and did all the engineering ourselves.

 

Yeah, we're doing the indy thing right now and thats getting us some shows but we really want to pick up the pase. As i mentioned before we live in a small town in the middle of nowhere so we're really disconnected with scenes.

 

Thanks for all the sincere criticism and compliments.

[X the Dead Pawn]

Hope everything goes well for you.

 

 

Very successful, but no money? OK. Different strokes, but it would be interesting to see how successful they would be if they expected to be paid real money.

 

 

They have money. Each of them own their own record labels and each of them choose music as a pasttime because the worst thing in the world is to grow tired of what excites you.

 

 

So basically, you feel they are successful because they play a log of gigs for free?

 

 

Yes. Yes, I am. Their a punk band(s) so anytime they can play in their scence is a good day. Also, They have branched out. They all uset to live in Missouri. Now one of them lives in Missouri, one in Austin, TX another (me) in another part of Texas around Dallas. Then one in lives in Philly. Finally one is in Airizona.