help, how do I get signed?

11 Jan 02 - 01:37 PM (#625900)
Subject: help, how do I get signed?
From: GUEST,DaisyA

Hi, I am putting together a demo tape to send to people, has anyone out there been discovered/had experience of who to send demos to? All advice gratefully received, Daisy

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11 Jan 02 - 03:24 PM (#625990)
Subject: RE: help, how do I get signed?
From: Jim Dixon

Send your demo tape to anyone in your neighborhood who might hire you. But first, do a little research. Look around you to see where other musicians that play your type of music are playing. Go there, talk to the musicians, and ask them questions. Or talk to the managers of those venues. Don't be shy.

If you're a beginner, your most likely gigs will be in coffeehouses. Expect that your first gigs will be unpaid, but you will be able to put out a tip jar. If a manager seems reluctant to commit to a date, offer to play at a time when they don't normally have music. For example, if they only have live music on Fridays and Saturdays, offer to play on Thursday or Sunday. If you start this way, you may not even need a demo tape. Even if you make no money, you will gain valuable experience, and learn to feel at ease in front of an audience.

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11 Jan 02 - 03:26 PM (#625994)
Subject: RE: help, how do I get signed?
From: Mrrzy

Oh, and the best of luck to you in this endeavor!

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11 Jan 02 - 05:44 PM (#626094)
Subject: RE: help, how do I get signed?
From: alanabit

I am not sure whether you are looking for gigs or for a record contract. If it's the former, I won't contradict a word of the previous posts. If it's a record company, I should mention the following: There are some record companies - usually small affairs run by genuine enthusiasts - which exist to make music available to people. They run on low budgets and do not have the resources to sell records in a way that the majors do. (Promotion costs are the major part of the company's investment). Now, if you are looking for a big deal, you will face a considerable obstacle course before you even get signed. However, assuming you do get an offer, it is worth bearing in mind that major record companies are not altruistic charities. If you are offered an advance of royalties you probably think you are being offered some free money. No you are not. In fact you are probably going into considerable debt for some time. Furthermore, it is likely that the terms of your contract will dictate the way you make, present and sell your music for as long as the contract runs. If you are looking for this sort of deal, get good advice, management, experience and a damned good solicitor (US attorney) before you even think of signing anything. Good luck with it all.

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11 Jan 02 - 06:30 PM (#626122)
Subject: RE: help, how do I get signed?
From: 53

go to 16th avenue in nashville, and walk in and out of record labels, maybe you'll have some luck, we didn't. BOB

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11 Jan 02 - 06:59 PM (#626150)
Subject: RE: help, how do I get signed?
From: catspaw49

Well BOB, your answer may lie in This Song

Spaw

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11 Jan 02 - 07:26 PM (#626165)
Subject: RE: help, how do I get signed?
From: 53

that's a good one spaw, but john sebastian and the loving spoonful were not signed in nashville. and neither was midnite run when we tried. it's all about money. If you watch cmt much you'll see what i mean.

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11 Jan 02 - 08:33 PM (#626218)
Subject: RE: help, how do I get signed?
From: SeanM

My immediate reaction to "how do I get signed?" is "Stop playing folk music for starters."

What is the purpose of the group/your show? If you're trying just to get signed and make money... well, you're REALLY in the wrong genre. If you're trying to entertain people and are just hoping that this will eventually lead to getting a contract through a major label, that's different.

For the latter, I'd suggest building a fan base locally to begin with. Maybe look at doing a couple CDs without the niceties of a major distributor, so that you can sell them at shows and festivals. Play as much as you possibly can live - it'll help build a loyal following as well as increase your chances of being seen and heard by someone with the ability to advance your career.

Play anywhere you can that will help. This may mean turning down some shows later, but until you've enough of a reputation and following to start filling larger venues, don't turn down anything without some serious thought as to why. Be professional in ALL sets - word about that gets around. If you get to be known as a tight group that conducts themselves professionally, it will likely get around that you're a good group to have play. Likewise, if you don't play well consistently, are troublesome to get along with and the like, then you're not likely to get any shows, let alone a contract.

If you can get the fan base and the good reputation, you SHOULD be able to keep performing shows and possibly releasing new CDs on your own with some degree of success. You might even be able to do a small amount of touring. But the idea is to get as much exposure as possible, and to keep as much of that exposure positive as possible.

And after that (or even during), you MAY get some interest in someone signing you. Then things get really dangerous. I have NO experience from that point on, but I'd very strongly back up the need to have an attorney at least go over any contracts you'd be offered. The amount of stories of perfomers marching blindly into contracts that would have made the indentured servant market wince is truly dumbfounding. If you reach this point, the best of luck and the blessings of whatever you consider fortunate to be blessed by.

M

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11 Jan 02 - 09:54 PM (#626255)
Subject: RE: help, how do I get signed?
From: 53

there is a lot that goes into getting signed, and a lot more after and if you do. there is so many out there looking, and sometimes its just a matter of who has the most money and that talent has nothing to do with it, you can just look at the country venue today and theres a bunch of bullshit singers, and the only reason that they have recording contracts,videos and bands is that daddy had lots of money, money talks, and if you don't have any, then you walk.

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