Members roulandmaw Posted April 2, 2008 Members Share Posted April 2, 2008 This is a 2 parter... Part 1 Well. It's that time. We've got a bunch of shows thus far without a demo... But it's time. We need a good quality (doesn't have to be perfect) demo to make an impressive press kit and hand out to the up and coming artsy-fartsy revitalization effort downtown elite bar-owners and managers. So... The million dollar question is... What do I look for in a recording studio? Any super red-flags to be aware of?What about gear used? And software, for that matter? Anything to stay away from? Also. What's a good deal on recording time? What should I expect as far as how long it's going to take. What they'll charge to mix/master. Should I expect a "mastering" fee? Part 2After we get the demo recorded what about a presskit? What's the good? The bad? The ugly? Any red flags there? Do bar owners really want a bio of all of the band mates interests and crap like that? Are there definite turn offs and things to avoid when compiling a press kit of some sort? Short and sweet, long and lengthy? Are bar owners interested in pictures of our band standing in an alley somewhere looking at random objects? Or in a field with our hair blowing as we ponder mysterious thoughts? Marketability without the cheese, if you please. As always... Any feedback would be great. Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nerol1st Posted April 2, 2008 Members Share Posted April 2, 2008 Depends on what you want. I would look for someone who has done allot of music in your style. A facility running pro tools HD is usually a good indicator of quality equipment. I wouldn't limit yourself to this though. Recording takes as long as it takes. You can make it go faster by knowing your arrangements down pat prior to entering the studio. This is one of the biggest time wasters. The better you know your stuff the faster it goes (and the less editing later, again saving you money). If your trying to do it the cheap semi ghetto way then look for someone like me in your area . It will be ghetto though. I usually have cords running everywhere and record people out of my apartment. As far as red flags go just look at the reputation and listen to some of there past work. If it sucks then you can put 1 and 1 together. If your going to be putting together a press kit I recommend 3 songs. Also: I doubt bar owners will listen to the whole thing. I have talked to quit a few "booking people" (usually bartender that likes doing booking on the side) and sometimes they don't even bother listening to the stupid thing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted April 3, 2008 Share Posted April 3, 2008 You should pretty much expect to pay for any service - tracking, mixing and mastering. You should also expect to pay more for someone who has an excellent reputation for quality work, and for a very well equipped studio. As far as what it will ultimately cost, I'd rather pay more for someone who knows what they're doing and who is familiar with / experienced with working with similar musical styles than for the less well equipped, less experienced engineer. Also, it largely will come down to how well prepared and rehearsed your band is. That's the biggest thing right there - know your stuff and be READY before heading in to record. I agree with the "3 songs max" rule for demo CD's. The odds are if you have not knocked them out with the first track (make sure to place your catchiest, strongest song first!), chances are they won't bother listening to the second or third. Also, make sure your CD is representative of what you guys actually do at your live performances. You don't need a ton of overdubs or sweetening added for this type of demo - I'd suggest staying away from too much extra stuff that you don't do live. Also, make sure the three songs you select are not only your best songs, but also representative of your live shows. If you do primarily hard rock, then that should be the dominant theme of your demo. In addition to a good demo CD (properly labeled both on the J Card / Sleeve AND on the disk itself with all the contact info, etc.), a press kit should include a group photo or headshot, a page with any press reviews or notable quotes / recommendations from club owners and booking agents you've worked with before, and a brief (one page max!) band bio that relates to the MUSIC - they could care less about your side interests. Every single item, every page should have your contact info on it. Band name, management / representative's name, phone number, email and website / MySpace addresses. I like the "one folder to hold it all" approach - simple folders are available at most office supply stores; usually with cut outs to hold business cards, and sometimes even CD's. Make sure everything is well laid out and looks organized and professional. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.