Getting the Demo Out

[Robertt8]

I apologize if this has been posted many times before...

What is the best way to get the right people to hear your music? Send a demo on CD? MP3? Tape? How many songs do you put on it? Should they be short? One fast one slow? I just have no idea. Who do you send it to? How do you get their addresses?

Thanks for any help you may give!

[Gidge]

depends on the purpose of the demo?

- to get a record deal?
- to get a publishing deal?
- to get a band booked in a club?
- to sell at gigs?

[Robertt8]

Um...well, I guess that raises another question. What's the difference between a record deal and a publishing deal? I guess it would be a record deal, but I'm not exactly sure what a publishing deal would be.

[Gidge]

songwriters usally get publishing deals...you write the songs and publishers, of course, publish them and usually have contacts to get them to other artists looking to record....

a record deal is if you are the artist/band.......

for both, CD's are the way to go....

for publishing deals , go with your best songs, whether fast or slow......

for a record deal, go witha decent mix.....as a child of the 80's we always started out with that very commercial rock/pop song then led into the commercial power ballad, then maybe some diversity...keep the songs short and sweet......if you can beg, borrow, or steal some studio time, get it professionally recorded and mastered.......

as far as getting it out there, there are internet based sites, but i think the tried and true method is gigging...get out there playing live and making a name for yourself locally and then spread out.....eventually, if the music is good, they will come to you.....

play it, and they will come.....