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Here at 'M-Promotions' we have a section of the site totally dedicated to helping out the bands that are unknown or unsigned and want to get that taste of fame!Below are a few tips:
Once you have got a slight fan base, you have your sound, you have some songs, next up is a demo. Here are some tips to get one made:
Unless you have a very well soundproofed room, amazing recording equipment, a mixing desk etc. then it may not be a good idea recording it at home.Check your phone book/yellow pages/thompson local/whatever for recording studios, phone them all and find out how much they charge.
You probably have many songs by now, pick your best. Do as many as you can afford and don't choose it unless you are 150% happy with the song.
Once you have that all-important CD made then make a copy for everyone in the band including yourself, lock the master copy away somewhere safe, you don't want any harm coming to it! Copy it loads of times, pop to your local PC shop and buy all the blank CDs they have! Take tons of copies of your CD to gigs and sell them. Send some copies to record labels, big and small, but make sure they have an eye-catching, professional cover on them. Also don't send your CD to a label that deals with another genre to what you play! Don't fear rejection, labels will send you nice polite letters saying "fuck off", keep sending out your demo, there must be one label that might have you! If you are still having no luck getting signed, it might be that your music just isn't good enough, sit down with the whole band and try writing some new, fresh material...
Practice - This is definitely the most important! Every spare second you have get your band together and practice, you need to sound good together!
Sit down and talk - Work out what you want, sounds, styles etc. You don't want to be a death metal band with a guitarist who plays hip-hop!
Start off as a 'covers' band - When practicing, at first start by covering your favourite songs, this makes it easier to know if you sound good as a band and improves your skills. It would be advisable to get your own songs before you start playing live...
Jam - The easiest way to make songs come together is to sit and randomly play together. Make stuff up, if it sounds good, keep it!
Be original - don't copy another band if possible. Get influences but dont copy!
Play as many shows as you can - When you (as a band) feel ready to play in front of people, do it and do it often! Every town must have at least 1 place that lets local bands play, they will usually sort out shows for you so pick up the phone book and call anywhere you can!
Promote your gig - Make flyers and give them to anyone and everyone, put posters up in shop windows, hire a plane and litter your town with leaflets! At least one person will be bored, remember the flyer and check you out!
NEVER be put off - So what if at your last show you played to your family and the staff at the venue? It's good practice and soon people will start recognising your name or hear about you from somebody else and check you out!
Don't be afraid to spend money - Fame costs money, you will need to spend it, it will be worth it! Some venues you have to pay for but these usually charge entry and will give you a cut. Also management costs money, making your CD costs money, advertising costs money, the large amount of beer drunk at jam sessions for "inspiration" costs money but all these things help you get big!
If You are a band that are looking for representation and are both hard working and ready to take on the challenege of 'stardom' them e-mail us at bands@m-promotions.co.uk and we'll see what we can do for you!