demo preparation

Subject: demo preparation
From: gwonya
Date: 31 Oct 02 - 09:38 AM

I intend to finally do some recording and am hoping for
a few suggestions regarding putting together a studio demo.
This would be primarily vocals and acoustic guitar. I can
play other instruments but wish to resist any temptation to
overdub. Would you suggest including other musical friends
join in or should I go it alone? How many tunes? How to locate
a suitable agent for occasional comfortable performances?
Should I include music played on other instruments or stick
with the guitar?
Any suggestions would be very much appreciated. Thanks folks.
Steve.

Subject: RE: demo preparation
From: gwonya
Date: 31 Oct 02 - 09:44 AM

...sorry about the sentence structure up there!

Subject: RE: demo preparation
From: MMario
Date: 31 Oct 02 - 09:59 AM

what is the purpose of your CD? is it for sales, or is it primarily to show what you do in a performance?

Subject: RE: demo preparation
From: Willie-O
Date: 31 Oct 02 - 10:09 AM

If it's primarily a demo to get live gigs, the appropriate presentation is pretty much what people would hear if they saw you live. That's the by-the-book response.

And as such, if you have a friendly small-room venue that you could record a live show in with approprate audience reaction, that would be good.

If you have friends who MIGHT play with you on gigs, by all means get them to join you on the recording. Then you have flexibility when negotiating gigs "I can have that awesome fiddle player with me for $xx more".

And I don't think a modest overdub played by yourself is a sin. You want the recording to sound reasonably full, and hey, it's a showcase for your talent, so show em your talent.

There is no one answer, except to get the best live-sounding bed tracks you can, and you'll know if they need something more added.

W-O

Subject: RE: demo preparation
From: gwonya
Date: 31 Oct 02 - 10:53 AM

...yes the hope would be to reflect performance potential.
Thanks for you input. Any other elements typically required
in a portfolio eg photo?

Subject: RE: demo preparation
From: gwonya
Date: 31 Oct 02 - 10:57 AM

...I bet grammer is important!

Subject: RE: demo preparation
From: MMario
Date: 31 Oct 02 - 10:59 AM

BTW - from your posting record see that you are a relatively new poster. Welcome to the MudCat Cafe! Hope you enjoy it here

Subject: RE: demo preparation
From: GUEST,another pedant
Date: 31 Oct 02 - 11:17 AM

I bet the spelling of grammar is even more important....

Subject: RE: demo preparation
From: GUEST,Ian B at work
Date: 31 Oct 02 - 12:16 PM

Might I suggest that you record your basic guitar and vocal tracks yourself, and keep friends out of the session - then invite them to join later, and add their parts at a different session. That way, they don't influence what you want to do, and you can edit them out again if it's a bad idea!!!

Don't hit people with too many tracks. Three or four at most.

Good luck
- ian B