Where to send for reviews and indie labels!!!

[tanlith]

Believe me, I understand where you are coming from. Your goal is to change the scene though...not support it as it is.

This doesn't happen all at once. If you only have limited places you can go, or limited nights with original music, just do what you can. And let the club owners know what you want to see more of...

This stuff doesn't happen overnight.

The club owner is doing covers (or whatever) because people come for it. If more people come for original music, he'll change things up.

Dave's got a good point... the club owners decide on who to book based on feedback from customers. Maybe you should first gather as many original artist in your area and start going to the club on specific nights to watch the existing talent... then start talking to the club manager as a group ... it's more or less like lobbying... if you get enough people together to sway the majority of customers to a group who support and like original music then you have the edge... the owner will book accordingly so he doesn't lose a large group of customers.

In the Windsor area, there never used to be a place for the "subculture" (or goth/industrial scene) to go so a large group of us started hanging out at two different places on Thursday and Friday evening... after awhile we became the majority of the people there and soon our requests for "our style" of music were granted... the big trick is to keep your "group" in line so as not to cause too much friction with the current regulars. As long as you don't cause trouble things will go smoothly.

Anyhow, it does take a little work and some time, but creating a new scene is a lot easier then one would think. And who's to say that these "cover bands" you mentioned wouldn't rather be playing their own stuff?? Maybe they hold off because the club owner told them to... you could proabably get these bands to go along with you as well... in no time you'll be having an open mic night and booking original acts there...

- Michael -

 

[glynb]

English perspective

Can't speak for the States but IMO some towns just will not and never support an original music scene. It's about demographics. Some towns have say Universities and a corresponding high proportion of teenagers/20 somethings into original music (not dancing/clubbing). In these places you have the chance for a vibrant scene.

Other provincial towns are places where this age group move out and leave in order to go away to Univerity, so you have a different type of population and different entertainment needs. In a place like that you have an uphill struggle to get a 'scene' going. Bar/club owneres want to sell drinks to packed houses. whatever achieves that they will support, be it original music, covers, DJs, lap dancing or general knowledge quiz's !!

Of course I am generalising to make a point, but the principle is correct.

I don't buy the argument that a scene can be nurtured in any town if you simply work hard enough. In my home town of Blackpool night clubs for dancing work, cabaret shows work, bars that put on original live music don't. It's a holiday town and the people that come here aren't the 'right type' of people for original live music. Travel down the Motorway to manchester (50 minutes) and you get a very different scenario.

 

[tanlith]

Re: English perspective

I don't buy the argument that a scene can be nurtured in any town if you simply work hard enough. In my home town of Blackpool night clubs for dancing work, cabaret shows work, bars that put on original live music don't. It's a holiday town and the people that come here aren't the 'right type' of people for original live music. Travel down the Motorway to manchester (50 minutes) and you get a very different scenario.

So basicly you're saying your town doesn't have enough musicians to nurture a scene then?

- Tanlith -

 

[glynb]

I know you're sceptical (or is it ME whose sceptical?).
Thing is, I have seen it tried again and again over the years in my town (past 20 years) by various people and it hasn't worked. People start out enthusiasticaly 'This is the thing this town has been needing', 'jam night all musicians welcome', 'come down and hang out with other musiciains', etc etc. Fizzles out after a while.

It's not that I don't think that scenario CAN work, just that it hasn't worked here.

In any case, you need an audience of non-musicians idealy otherwise it's all a bit incestuous!

Geography/location has always been a factor in musical success. As an example, The Beatles arguably only existed because they lived in a port and had access to imported records which inspired them - from the USA from all the sailors. Bob Dylan's career took off when he left Hibbing and moved to new York.

There aren't many examples of a 'scene' developing in a small provincial town which has led on to producing great success, without the artist(s) involved leaving and moving to the big city.

Mutual support from musicians is good as far as it goes.

 

[tanlith]

OK... but I could argue the opposite is true... The Windsor area has had pretty much the same situation as you. All of a sudden several groups of musicians get together and create a scene... next thing you know there's bars all over town hosting jam nights... then after a summer or two of this... things go back to "normal".

Yeah, there are a couple bars in Windsor that regularly support live music... mainly blues or soft rock. No support for hard rock or the like. But for the most part... very little support for live musicians here. (Unless you want to play in Detroit, which is nearly impossible to do with this Homeland Security thing in place now)

Yet, through the difficult task of creating a scene, several well know artists made their way to stardom through the Windsor "scene" -- The Tea Party comes to mind... they burst through during one of Windsor's dry spells...

One thing that I KNOW turns a "non-musician audience" off is crappy sound... and I'm not talking about the talent of the players... if you ever get the gumption to actually get up and TRY to create a scene, be sure you have someone riding the mixing board who has some SKILL. IMHO the "sound guy" is JUST as important a member of the band as ANY of the musicians in it.

Basicly what I'm saying is this: if others have tried and failed, it doesn't mean you will... I would wager that the past attempts focused TOO much on the musicians that they didn't bother marketing (or maketed poorly) to the general public. Make it easy for people to come... DON'T charge a cover... that can kill the whole concept right from the get go... I seen a LOT of arguements about that desicion in the past... Organization is important... Another thing people don't like is when a band starts "plugging" their CD for sale in the lobby etc... I myself have walked out on a live performance over that... every 2-3 songs we got the speech "You all having a good time?" etc... "We have t-shirst and CDs for sale in the lobby!" <--- I HATE that! I came to hear music... and it's pretty hard to miss the big sales booth in the lobby with the big sign over it. Someone actually shouted out "Shut up and play something!!!"

Anyhow... if it's well organized and properly marketed to the public it can work. Maybe not forever, but possibly long enough to generate notice from someone influential. (if that's your goal)

If you live out in the "boonies" why not create a BIG scene... I lived on the outskirts of Windsor for 14yrs, I remember 3 summers in a row we got another local band (friends of ours) to join us and start a monthly Pig Roast... we'd buy a pig; dig a pit fire it up and slow roast that baby for a fer hours... we charged $15.00/head and ran outa pig the first night. We played outdoors and partied till 4:00am... The next month we bought 2 pigs and a keg and charged $25.00/head and STILL didn't have enough to go around ... we ran out of food around 2:00am but the party still went strong till around 4:00am... usually we would either just break even or be +- $50.00-$100.00 -- but it was packed... most times other local musicians would be there having fun and we'd let em play a tune or two with us...

Ahhh the good old days!

- Tanlith -

- Tanlith -

 

[the dude]

you've taken over my thread(one of them, HAHAHA) you nazi bastards!!!!!!!!!!





I am joking.

please continue!

 

[glynb]

Hijacked!

Yeh, we did take over the thread and changed direction.

So, to come back to the point about where to go for reviews.
What I have done is look through other artists web sites. Look at their reviews section and see where they have got their stuff reviewed. Go and visit those sites and submit your stuff. Then maybe wait for 6 months or so while they sift through the backlogue!

Also go to other artists sites and visit the links page and look for places that do reviews. Whenever i find one I add it to my favourites in Explorer under a 'Reviewers' folder. Its amazing how many places there are to get reviewed once you start researching and as you're aware one link leads to another, and another,.....

Another method to get you started with a couple of reviews to post on your site is to offer to review another bands CD and in return they review yours. Then you can post a review on your site 'Review of our CD by Fred Rocker of top band The Turds' and so on. At least it gets you started whilst you await the other reviews coming through.

Don't know of any record lables taking people on, if I did I'd be there myself!

 

[Del]

Demo Submission Club

There is a consulting company in NY that offers a demo submission service. The company is called Flaherty Consulting & Management. (212) 502-3536. The service lets you send in your demo and they will submit them to A&Rs at major labels for you. The plus is that you will get a letter from the A&R in like 4-6 weeks at least letting you know that they did in fact receive your demo. This is better than waiting 6 months or more and never really hearing anything from the label at all.

They suggest no more than 5 songs on a CD. You can submit to 3 labels at a time for 50$US.

 

[Buffalo Bob]

Wow! Spam everywhere!!!!!!

 

[bdbdbuck]

Wow! Spam everywhere!!!!!!

Where in the HELL have you been bud? Man, the trout are jumpin outta the rivers here...... thought you were comin up!!!



bd

 

[glynb]

Re: Demo Submission Club

There is a consulting company in NY that offers a demo submission service. ..
They suggest no more than 5 songs on a CD. You can submit to 3 labels at a time for 50$US.

Wow, what a fine service!
Actualy for $50 I WILL REVIEW YOUR SONG. How about that? Let me know if you're interested. I have a special on at the moment, two reviews for $99.

Ron Slick
Mug-u Records.

 

[Buffalo Bob]

Hey Buck! Looks like I missed the rainbows this year. Been busy trying to fool the wily snook down here. We might move to a house right at the bottom of the mainland- the top of the Keys, so that has taken up all my time.
Did you get some good fillets this season?

Bob

 

[bdbdbuck]

We might move to a house right at the bottom of the mainland- the top of the Keys, so that has taken up all my time.
Did you get some good fillets this season?

Bob

Top of the keys eh? Got any bonefish or tarpon there? I normally don't keep the fish, unless they're stocked.... I like the natives most of all, a lot more sporting.

bd

 

[Buffalo Bob]

Hey Buck-

Tarpon? Bonefish? Yeah, we got em. Seatrout, snook, reds, kingfish, grouper, blue marlin, sailfish, tuna, you name it. We're an hour from Islamorada, the "Sportfishing Capital Of The World." We'll be living right on the border to Everglades National Park. Plenty of panther, gator, Seminoles and some of the best fishing in Florida. Freshwater is great in the glades, too - like 50-100 bass in the 5-10# class in a day!
I do miss the trout fishing, though. There's nothing like the pure peacefullness of it - only a trout fisherman knows that feeling. And they're smart. Most of these other fish will grab anything you put in front of them. The trout, you have to outwit. I love that.
Darn. Maybe I'll blow off work today and see where Mr. Snook is hiding...............................

 

[bdbdbuck]

Hey Buck-

I do miss the trout fishing, though. There's nothing like the pure peacefullness of it - only a trout fisherman knows that feeling.

This is goin to sound like an old fart, but...... my favorite thing to do is find a nice flat boulder in the middle of a rushing river and have a little nap. Talk about mental therapy man!

OH, you forgot to mention snakes.... I don't like snakes. We have rattlesnakes and copperheads here, I try to stear clear of em at all costs! Sounds like a great location though.


bd

 

[Mons]

Hey The Dude, just wanted to throw out a 'good job' on the CDBaby stuff. I especially enjoyed 'Dazed Company'. My only suggestion would be to get a recording where all those wonderful instruments that you have incorporated are a bit more 'clear'. Things seem to be a bit muddy. Otherwise, go for it, man!