Craft and Biz: Is the 1 + 1 demo dead?

In this day of easy access to technology, it seems that simply being a songwriter isn't enough.  Many of the folks who frequent this forum are also accomplished producers and recording engineers (not including me).  Do you find that this is necessary for pitching your songs?  Are you trying to pitch your songs to others?  I can think of a few folks who typically just post 1 + 1 demos, including Chicken Monkey, Rhino, and LCK.  I think CM and Rhino are writing for their bands, so they probably aren't trying to pitch their demos.  LCK, what about you?  And the rest of you who are doing full productions, are you pitching your songs?  Performing them?  Just posting them for the rest of the world to come and find them?

The reason I'm asking is twofold.  1) As a hobbyist with a full time (and then some) career and a house/property to keep up, I'm likely never going to have the time to learn recording/engineering skills, nor am I likely to ever be well-rehearsed enough to perform on a regular basis.  So, having someone else pick up my songs is pretty much my only shot at getting them aired outside my house (assuming, of course, that I could actually write songs that someone else would want to perform).  2) My son is a pretty good songwriter/performer, but he also has no skills in the production/recording arena.  He can do the live performance routine quite well, but is not likely to be making full productions any time soon.

So, what are you doing with this music you're making?

Yes, the days of pitching a one take demo are probably gone.  Even Leek's tunes weren't produced enough for the insider he met a few weeks ago.

That said, getting up to speed isn't nearly as difficult as you make it out to be.  A few hours a week for 2-3 years is all you need to get where I am.  And that could be accelerated now that this board is now more open to discussing that stuff.  

To answer your last question, I workshop stuff here, post it to youtube and musicianstogether and then move on to the next one.  

First off... 

As far as "getting someone else to pick up your songs". What does that mean to you? Getting your songs performed by another artist? Like someone in your town? Because that is quite possible. I know quite a few very good singer/songwriters that fall a little short on the songwriter side. Not all, but enough, also realize this. 

Personally, I think a great goal for someone like yourself MU, is to befriend these singer/songwriter types and let them see how your either participating in cowriting, or them flat out performing some of your tunes, is a worthwhile move on their part. 

And that's all about local networking. And friendships built.

As far as what I'm doing with my produced demos? I'm trying to make the next one good enough. And trying to find the time (and passion) to go back and revisit some of my key tracks to recut at a higher level. 

But first this freaking remodel so I can get back into my studio!!!!!!

P.S. I do see LCK having some success getting his tunes covered. And of course Stick as an artist himself. 

+1. Well, post it to soundclick, pimp it on fb/twitter/tumblr, and then move on, but yeah.