Conference napalm::commusic_v1

    
>    How to package it.
 
    Make sure you have your name, address and phone number printed clearly
    on *both* the tape itself and the case.  Make sure the song titles are
    clearly labeled and that copyright information is listed.  Make sure
    all the songs are on one side.
       
>    How many songs to include.
    
    No more than four or five, many demos have only two or three; since
    many listeners may fast-forward through the tape every time they hear
    something they don't like.  Until someone asks for more material,
    anything over 15 minutes is probably too much.  
    

>       <<< Note 2300.1 by AQUA::ROST "Bikini Girls With Machine Guns" >>>
>    Make sure you have your name, address and phone number printed clearly
>    on *both* the tape itself and the case.
    Should you print your name on the shiny side or the dull side of the
    tape?
    Tom

    There's all kinds of theories about what the 'best' way to submit to
    record companies is.
    
    First, what are YOU doing ?  You asked for suggestions on what labels
    to send to.  I have an exhaustive list of 'new age' record companies,
    but you might play the bagpipes for all I know.
    
    Are you a songwriter, and you want the record company to buy your SONGS
    for other artists to record ?  There's a bunch of theories about how to
    submit songs for consideration.
    
    Or are you the artist, submitting what is essentially a completed album
    master ?  There's another whole set of criteria here.
    
    FYI, I fall into the last category, and, of the major labels I
    submitted my cassette album to, most did not respond.  Several did,
    only to return my tape unplayed, stating that they only accept new
    material referred from ESTABLISHED artists, or ESTABLISHED producers,
    or music industry attorneys. 
    
    karl

    If I can jump in here with another question for Karl -
    
    I fall into the New Age (almost completed) tape category and am
    starting to gear up for the push - I thought I'd send out a couple
    of my best completed songs as an intro to generate interest while
    I completed mastering the rest of the tape.
    
    Karl - I was following your progress there as you were posting it
    a while back - but I wasn't aware that your material was returned
    UNPLAYED and that there seems to be a catch 22 syndrome. It sounds
    like if you have no inside contacts at a company, that you should
    get a good music attorney and go that route - that being the only
    way that they'll listen to your material.
    
    In a KEYBOARD article a year or so ago (New Age Synth Heroes issue)
    it sounded like you could at least get your tape listened to.
    Does that mean that it's a waste of time submitting to Windham Hill,
    et al.? (You say that you have an exhaustive list ...?)
    
    Bill

    
    In my case I am the artist, composer, player of all instruments,
    everything. My style is kinda light pop/rock with an occasional
    modern country sound to it. Tough to really peg down.
    
    I have both originals and remakes of existing songs. I do everything
    on a Tascam 4 track. All my material is final-mixed in stereo onto
    cassettes. I think, and have been told the quality is remarkably
    good cosidering the limitations I'm working with.
    
    So, givin the above, any suggestions on who/where to send to. I
    would appreciate specifics if anyone can provide them.
    
    I guess its pretty obvious I don't know much in this area and need
    some help. Any help is much appreciated.
    
    Mike
        
    

<<< Note 2300.4 by NRADM::KARL "It's computerized, no thing c,an go wrong nothing c an g" >>>
    
>   There seems to be a catch 22 syndrome. 
    
    You bet it's a catch 22 - it's a private club with a guard at the door.
    
    >It sounds
    >like if you have no inside contacts at a company, that you should
    >get a good music attorney and go that route - that being the only
    >way that they'll listen to your material.
    
     Solid idea - do you know a reputable one that won't rip me off ? 
    -or cost $500/hour ?  Your idea of a music attorney  is closer to my
    idea of what an AGENT does.  Do you know a reputable one that won't rip
    me off ?  And has decent contacts ?
    
>    In a KEYBOARD article a year or so ago (New Age Synth Heroes issue)
>    it sounded like you could at least get your tape listened to.
>    Does that mean that it's a waste of time submitting to Windham Hill,
>    et al.? (You say that you have an exhaustive list ...?)
    
    yes I submitted to Windham Hill and all the rest.  Yes it was a waste
    of time.  At least Windham Hill had the courtesy of returning the tape. 
    In fact I got some of my addresses from that article (avail as
    reprint).  My impression is that the Keyboard article was the final
    nail in the coffin.    
    
    But, like most things, it only looks insoluble if one thinks that the
    only possible success comes from the traditional artist>large label
    relationship.  In addition to submitting to large labels, I had made
    sure to keep the addresses of every large new-age-oriented DISTRIBUTOR	
    that I could find.  Record reviews are a good source of distributor
    addresses.  Independent distributors are willing to deal with tiny
    independent labels.  Of course, some of the distributors just won't pay
    on time.
    
    Mike, I'm not ignoring you - I just don't know anything about your
    (ill-defined) market.  Everyone says, "don't worry about submitting a
    glossy production" - I say the better it sounds on tape the better your
    chances are - no matter what genre.
    
    karl

    RE: 6 - I knew all that stuff applied to the top-40 market, I guess it
    finally happened to New Age - you may be right about the Keyboard
    article. Anyway - thanks for your comments.
    I'm going to see if I can get some local air play as one step towards
    making contacts.
    
    RE: 5 - Mike, a few quick suggestions - buy the Song Writers Market
    handbook for 1990. It lists record companies, producers, etc.
    I believe it also has pointers in how to submit your songs.
    Make your submitted package as professional looking as possible - i. e.-
    if you can swing it financially, have someone design a letter head for
    you - or do it yourself but have a professional shop print them up for you.
    Have as much of the up front visible package as together as possible.
    
    You should call up labels ahead of time and ask their permission to
    submit your material, or else, like Karl says, they probably won't even
    give it a listen. I used this approach a few years back with some top-40
    tunes, and at least the material was listened to, and I got curteous
    replies back. I sent to some major labels, as well.
    
    About 10 years ago or so I was going through what you are, and
    here are some quick pointers:
    
    If you can find a seminar on the music business, take it (get
    references first on the course to make sure it's worth it).
    
    Prepare a proffesional looking, as well as sounding package.
    
    Use the telephone, it will save you time and will serve to help make
    contacts and get your material listened to. Don't submit material
    without first contacting the labels that you want to submit to.
    When you submit, include a stamped self addressed envelope if you want
    to get your tape back.
    
    It may be tough, but I don't believe that it's a closed market. Keep
    trying. Labels, producers, etc. are always looking for hot new talent.
    It's just that they get so much presented to them, and this is why you
    should establish contacts, call before you submit, etc. and make every
    aspect of your presentation professional.

    
    Re: -.7
    
    Thanks very much, I appreciate the info.
    
    Mike
    

    
    MIKE,
    
      I  started about 3 years ago.I did a demo at a studio. I sent for a
    list of all the record companies in Nashville. Well, I got the
    list,sent many tapes to record companies and artists. My response was:
    
    About 50% of the addresses had changed with no forwarding address,or,
    forwarding time expired.
    
    About 10% were returned saying "We donot accept unsolicited material".
    
    About 10% were addresses of Fan clubs rather than the artist,and,I
    received a letter indicating the artist wasnt accepting songs,that,you
    had to work thru an agency.
    
    About 10% were small labels,and,was willing to help me,if,I came up with
    several thousand dollars.
    
    About 10% were rip-offs,you know "suitte *** ".They would "test" my song
    for a fee. Yea,right!
    
    About 10% wrote and said they listened to my material,and,found it not
    what they were looking for.
    
    I sent out about 50 packages,at a considerable cost. I decided there
    were a couple of keys. First,go where the action is,to make personal
    contacts and "bug the hell out of them".
    
    Seek an inside contact,while playing every chance you get,mostly for
    free.Its "who you know".
    
    Money. If you dont have any,you have to find someone who does.
    
    Right now,I am working to put out a two song cassette single. I plan to
    market it myself. I chose a single because the costs are lower,you are
    more likely to sell it.
    
    good luck
    
    Mike
    

    Nobody's mentioned Songwriter's Market.  Go to the library and look
    this up.  It will list publishers and details like what they are
    looking for, what format, addresses and so forth.  Like others, I
    submitted stuff to these guys.  They all said it was nice, but not what
    they wanted.  But, at least I had a high hit rate as far as folks
    listening to my stuff.  You'll find a lot of publishers there and will
    have to narrow it down to a reasonable number.
    
    Steve

>Note 2300.10                       Demo Tapes                          10 of 10
>MIZZOU::SHERMAN "ECADSR::SHERMAN 235-8176, 223-3326"  9 lines  29-MAR-1990 12:45
>                     -< the obvious needs to be said ... >-
>    Nobody's mentioned Songwriter's Market.  
    
    
>Note 2300.7                        Demo Tapes                          7 of 10
>NRADM::KARL "It's computerized, no thing c,an go wr" 39 lines  27-MAR-1990 14:28
>    RE: 5 - Mike, a few quick suggestions - buy the Song Writers Market
>    handbook for 1990. It lists record companies, producers, etc.

    In writing as in music, it's important to send exactly what a publisher
    is looking for to that publisher.
    I think Philip Glass made it because he played anywhere anytime for any
    money for 12 years.  What I don't know is how he got a bunch of friends 
    to do that
    with him for so long before he could pay much or anything.
    That included europe
    Tom

    Ah stands corrected.  
    
    Steve

    
    I knew the odds were stacked against me in getting anywhere with
    my material. Sounds like the odds are even tougher than I realized.
    Sounds like you need equal measures of talent, hard work, and luck.
    
    I'm not discouraged, but I will be realistic about it. The bottom
    line is, I enjoy doing the music for myself. So if nothing happens,
    which is likely, I still can do it for my own pleasure.
    
    I appreciate all the responses. I plan to pick up the Song Writers
    Market Place book.
    
    Mike
    

.14 - by all means, keep doing it for yourself.  I still say making music
is the best, safest, most legal, least destructive mind altering drug we
can engage in.  Nothing beats it - really makes we wonder why so many fine
musicians have fallen prey to the more dangerous substances out there. 
Perhaps as a mistaken way to keep feeling fine while not playing (recording,
listening - choose your venue).

        Personally for me, the business side always cast to much of a shadow
on an activity which has always been a joy. (ok, drives my wife nuts, but..)
I've never tried to sell other than performances in the distant past. I think
i got material good enuff though - just not important.

        bs
        

      re -1
    
    And so say all of me !
    
    				PK.