Your demo
should have three or four songs, no more. Don't even
think of putting another on there, they'll throw out
the demo without even listening to it. As record
companies want to make money, you should put your
most commercial songs on it, not your best. It's
preferable if the songs don't exceed three to three
and a half minutes. It should be done well enough for
them to get the gist of it, but when it's done too
well, it may also give the impression that this is
what you want recorded and nothing else. They don't
care for hotheads. If possible (if you own a CD
burner or know someone who does), submit your demo on
a CD.
If you
have to submit it on a tape, use a metal or chrome
tape rather than the standard quality. All tapes are
made of metals, but the "Metal" ones don't
degrade and are much more resistant to temperature
variances. Don't be afraid to spend money on the
medium. As for presentation, you've always been told
that a nice presentation goes a long way. That is so
true. If you present it in a way that's original, it
will attract attention. Your demo might end up on the
top of the pile to be listened to at the beginning of
a session rather than at the end when nobody's
interested anymore. Don't forget a presentation
letter, tell them who you are and where you come
from, which bands you've played with, if you've had
some media coverage and include the clippings. And
make sure to include a few photos, you can just scan
them in and print them. It's cheaper and the result's
the same. Don't forget to include the lyrics to every
song on the demo. This is crucial. They want to gauge
you as a writer.
You've
just recorded a demo that you want a record company
to hear, so where should you send it? Hint: Record
Companies. Take a CD that was issued in your country
and look behind it. Odds are that the address of the
record company will be on it. That's where you have
to send it. Send it to record companies in your local
market, not in another country. If you can't find the
address, do a search on record companies on the web.
If you don't have a contact person's name, put a
label on the envelope clearly indicating the word
"Demo". The person who receives it will
know what to do with it. Record companies get these
all the time, so they have policies in this matter.
As for submitting it in person or by mail, it doesn't
really matter. Odds are you won't meet the execs
anyway. You'll more than likely just hand it in to
the receptionist. However, you're sure it will be in
if you go in person.
Having a
copy on your website is also a good idea. I've heard
of one or two sites where you can post your demo and
they claim it will be listened to by rec company
execs. DO NOT APPROACH THESE. They get enough demos
mailed to them, do you really think they have the
time to go on the web and find some more? I don't
know what's behind these sites, but I don't want to
find out the hard way. Don't bother sending your demo
to a producer, they don't listen to demos.
Don't
forget to mail yourself a copy first for copyright
protection, however, record companies aren't
interested in wasting time being sued, so there's
very little chance they'll steal your material.
Submit
all copies of your demo at the same time. NEVER
accept the first offer, tell them you're expecting a
call from someone else. If they really want to sign
you, they'll call back with a better offer, it's all
part of the game and they all play it. If you get one
phone call, you're more than likely going to get more
calls. Then you start them bidding against one
another. If you get the one phone call only and they
haven't called back a week later, call them back. Ask
them to repeat the offer. Tell them what you would
like, or tell them you've been offered more somewhere
else (you don't have to give them any names). Don't
make any outrageous lies, though, they'll know it.
Don't sign for the sake of signing.
Even if
nobody calls back, they'll write back. They'll send
you a letter explaining what they liked and disliked
about your demo. Never sign for just one album. Look
for at least two, but no more than three albums. By
investing more in you, they're more than likely going
to back you up a lot more. Take all that advice into
consideration and use it to record your second demo.
Don't even worry if the second demo is turned down, I
know of one singer who was signed with his seventh
demo. Persistence is the key!
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