T
Thorguitarist
New member
How does a band get signed...And Is there anyway of getting endorsed by a certain instrument company
dcwave
New member
Well... usually the band has someone, often the youngest person, buy a pair of knee-pads... 
N
nickjc
New member
ain't that the million dollar question bro?
for both questions, it's basically about being professional, polite, and honest. poeple will respect you even if you don't have much knowledge of the way things work, as long as you give them respect.
If you want to get sponsorship from an instrument company, put together a bio, and a portfolio of what you can offer them - ie. plugging at live gigs, liner notes on future releases, etc . . . if your offer is strong enough that they think it will be of benefit to them , and if they like your music, and if they like you, you may get the deal.
same thing with record companies. put together a professional package and give it to them to look at. be respectful - call them first and ask if you can. find out if the label accepts unsolicited demos (ie. demos that haven't been recommended by a colleague). most major labels only accept solictied demos, which sucks, but they filter through hundreds of artists a day, so what do you expect?
one of the main things is to put yourself in a strong position at the outset. ie. if you come to a record label/instrument company with a strong live following and perhaps a couple of independent releases, you are likely to get a better deal, as you are bringing what they want to the table - a paying audience . . .
o' course, it's much more complicated than that, or we;d all be signed, huh?
but thems the basics as I see 'em
for both questions, it's basically about being professional, polite, and honest. poeple will respect you even if you don't have much knowledge of the way things work, as long as you give them respect.
If you want to get sponsorship from an instrument company, put together a bio, and a portfolio of what you can offer them - ie. plugging at live gigs, liner notes on future releases, etc . . . if your offer is strong enough that they think it will be of benefit to them , and if they like your music, and if they like you, you may get the deal.
same thing with record companies. put together a professional package and give it to them to look at. be respectful - call them first and ask if you can. find out if the label accepts unsolicited demos (ie. demos that haven't been recommended by a colleague). most major labels only accept solictied demos, which sucks, but they filter through hundreds of artists a day, so what do you expect?
one of the main things is to put yourself in a strong position at the outset. ie. if you come to a record label/instrument company with a strong live following and perhaps a couple of independent releases, you are likely to get a better deal, as you are bringing what they want to the table - a paying audience . . .
o' course, it's much more complicated than that, or we;d all be signed, huh?
but thems the basics as I see 'em
Massive Master
www.massivemastering.com
I've been signed to a few indies and I've had a few decent endorsement deals... Marketing is everything - and WHO you know is at least as important as WHAT you know. You know?
Having something that's readily marketable is a HUGE first step - If labels can save money by simply making a new master from whatever you're pushing, it's a good thing. Keep track of every station you can find that plays your stuff - Every club, every magzine review, etc. That's just for starters... If the band is "worthy," things will happen slowly on their own to a point.
Gear endorsements are a weird animal - There are several classes with different companies. Some are carte blanche, where you get anything you need whenever you need it, but you "own" a base of gear that's agreed upon. Many work like a lease, where you're supplied with the latest stuff as it comes out, but it's not "yours" in the end. A Class "C" is typlically when you're paying dealer cost (or lower) for gear you then own, and they will normally maintain at no charge. Pushing the stuff in advance is a good thing... If you play Ibanez guitars, mention it in your liner notes and perhaps use a logo if you can get forgiveness - I mean "permission."
Getting to know people at the companies is paramount if you don't already have "industry insider" representation. Order a $2 part from someone in the parts department. After you get the part, write a thank-you note and send a couple CD's to the guy.
One idea for starters - Pick a local music store you deal with on a regular basis and a local magazine that they advertise in. If they're having a special next month on instruments that you play, offer to share the cost of the ad with the store if your band can be featured in the ad. You'll have to get a GOOD photographer, which isn't free, but it's a good ice-breaker that you can send to these companies in your promo kit. It shows that you're already pushing their gear, and are obviously respected enough that the store would use you in the ads.
Without "big time" representation behind you, it's a long, slow process - Determination is a must. Again, if the band is worthy, it'll happen if you keep at it.
Having something that's readily marketable is a HUGE first step - If labels can save money by simply making a new master from whatever you're pushing, it's a good thing. Keep track of every station you can find that plays your stuff - Every club, every magzine review, etc. That's just for starters... If the band is "worthy," things will happen slowly on their own to a point.
Gear endorsements are a weird animal - There are several classes with different companies. Some are carte blanche, where you get anything you need whenever you need it, but you "own" a base of gear that's agreed upon. Many work like a lease, where you're supplied with the latest stuff as it comes out, but it's not "yours" in the end. A Class "C" is typlically when you're paying dealer cost (or lower) for gear you then own, and they will normally maintain at no charge. Pushing the stuff in advance is a good thing... If you play Ibanez guitars, mention it in your liner notes and perhaps use a logo if you can get forgiveness - I mean "permission."
Getting to know people at the companies is paramount if you don't already have "industry insider" representation. Order a $2 part from someone in the parts department. After you get the part, write a thank-you note and send a couple CD's to the guy.
One idea for starters - Pick a local music store you deal with on a regular basis and a local magazine that they advertise in. If they're having a special next month on instruments that you play, offer to share the cost of the ad with the store if your band can be featured in the ad. You'll have to get a GOOD photographer, which isn't free, but it's a good ice-breaker that you can send to these companies in your promo kit. It shows that you're already pushing their gear, and are obviously respected enough that the store would use you in the ads.
Without "big time" representation behind you, it's a long, slow process - Determination is a must. Again, if the band is worthy, it'll happen if you keep at it.
distortedrumble
all up in yo grill!
aah the dreaded "industry insider". make sure that if you find an "insider" and you can meet this "insider" with other "insiders" get to know the other people's names and something about them and what not. don't limit yourself to one contact. that one contact might be a bad egg. try to get to a point where you can cut out so many middlemen and bottom feeders which like to refer to themselves as "industry insiders".
J
Jimmie
New member
I have a partial endorsment with GHS guitar strings. Basically I pay thier cost to make strings. I got that endorsment when I sent them a press kit about what I was doing musically, and said I always play thier strings and will add GHS's name to my CD's and promo stuff.
Basically if you want a deal, don't play "Blues" like I do, join American Idol.
Play clubs, make records and keep trying to sell your idea to record labels, eventually someone will take the offer. From what I know, record labels want to see how much and how far you can get without thier help and how devoted you are.
Good luck
Basically if you want a deal, don't play "Blues" like I do, join American Idol.
Play clubs, make records and keep trying to sell your idea to record labels, eventually someone will take the offer. From what I know, record labels want to see how much and how far you can get without thier help and how devoted you are.
Good luck
lykwydchykyn
New member
distortedrumble
all up in yo grill!
jeez.....thanks for the insight......so this is what happens when artists make their own labels.....they're probably fucking other bands in the ass to pay off their own debts.
lykwydchykyn
New member
Well, I wouldn't go that far; but from what I've seen, artists who stay in the biz for long typically expand their livelihood into production, songwriting, starting a label, managing, or some other sideline that's much more profitable than simply being an artist. I'd imagine artists mostly start labels with noble intentions of trying to change the industry and give some talented artists a chance, but sooner or later they find out that you can't run a label and be a "nice guy" about it. As they say, there are at least three sides to every story...
distortedrumble
all up in yo grill!
yeah three sides.....the record company, the artist, and what can be proven in court