[BrianMitchellBrody]

If you were to record a demo disc that will be promoting to small clubs, restaurants, etc...

How many tunes would you include?

What type of tunes would you play?

Would you play the full chart of parts of several songs?

Would you include improvisational parts?

Do you think using an ink jet printer with Avery label maker software adequate for demo purposes?

I am asking because I am starting a professional demo recording in a studio with both audio and video of live performances for a disc for such purposes.

I need great ideas that you think or have used successfully that you feel gets you hired.

Thanks.

B

 

[Thomas]

Keep it short. You know the folks generally in charge of hiring know little to nothing, don't care and won't be impressed, they just want to hear snippets of popular music they're likely to be familiar with. Also make a longer, more professional version to present yourself to good management/booking agencies, they may know the difference.

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

Keep it short. You know the folks generally in charge of hiring know little to nothing, don't care and won't be impressed, they just want to hear snippets of popular music they're likely to be familiar with. Also make a longer, more professional version to present yourself to good management/booking agencies, they may know the difference.

I have been keeping my demos around 6-10 minutes but I wonder if only doing snippits of charts is confusing the no-nothings or if it would be better to have 3-4 complete songs instead of 8-9 partials?

B

 

[Pete Thomas]

Many people will just listen to the first minute (or just 10 seconds) of a demo anyway, so I would recommend you have 30 second extracts of 3 or 4 tunes. But then follow them by the full versions of some people want to hear more. If you have more tunes, then have full versions of as many tunes as you have. Provided the CD starts with those few extracts you listen to more.

As for this:

What type of tunes would you play?
Would you include improvisational parts?

Just do what the band is about, you are selling the band so the demo should not be significantly different from your live act, otherwise people might hire you and then be unhappy that they don't get what was on the demo.

Unless you are trying to get work at a jazz club club, improvising is not as important as the main tune to include on the extracts.

 

[jvsax]

Making a disc is not a bad way to go, but these days you'll probably get better results by setting up a band page on reverbnation, myspace, facebook, and sonicbids. You can then build an electronic press kit and email it to people. It's cheaper than making discs and the venue managers like to see that a band has a social media presence to help promote gigs. You'll be able to reach venues that otherwise wouldn't even be aware of your band.

 

[Nobby Keys]

I think what Pete said is right. Have a few short snippets at the beginning of the CD with longer or full versions on later tracks. At least this way you can put it in their hands and not relying on them looking you up on the internet etc.

 

[Pete Thomas]

Making a disc is not a bad way to go, but these days you'll probably get better results by setting up a band page on reverbnation, myspace, facebook, and sonicbids.

This is good, but I think should be done in addition to a CD. Same applies, an online audioplayer can start with 3 or 4 extracts, then the full versions and more tunes.

The thing about physical media is that people can pass it around, not everyone is into social networks. (Record labels and press mostly are, but not necessarily venues)

If it's a CD and you have videos, then either an enhanced CD (trickier to produce yourself) or DVD is a good way to go. If it's a DVD, then include a CD as well, as often people want to hear stuff in their car on the way home.

RE: printed labels, they are OK, but a direct to disk printer is better, I use an Epson Stylus Photo 720 and it's very good. It's worth taking time on the artwork of the CD and packaging plus any promo material.

 

[musiciscool]

How does using snippets work out with the copyrights and mechanical licensing? Would you still have to pay full price per tune, per cd?

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

How does using snippets work out with the copyrights and mechanical licensing? Would you still have to pay full price per tune, per cd?

From my research on this topic I have found most publishers don't really have time nor care about small fry recordings that are not being sold.

B

 

[vonbraig]

You demo disc should have no songs. No one listens to demos ever in my experience. Ask when you can play for the owners. Do NOT offer to do a fee gig. Play solo, if you are the leader, do a Med Bluesy thing head one chorus, head. Then play the most beautiful ballad you can. Sorry but that's what I do now and it works very well. If you play soprano tread lightly. It can work great or kill you. Nobody but Willie plays much soprano and I used to a lot so I"M back playing it and having a lot of fun even though it is "hard" to play.

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

You demo disc should have no songs. No one listens to demos ever in my experience. Ask when you can play for the owners. Do NOT offer to do a fee gig. Play solo, if you are the leader, do a Med Bluesy thing head one chorus, head. Then play the most beautiful ballad you can. Sorry but that's what I do now and it works very well. If you play soprano tread lightly. It can work great or kill you. Nobody but Willie plays much soprano and I used to a lot so I"M back playing it and having a lot of fun even though it is "hard" to play.

I have never played for free but no demo means no gig in my city. As far as your advice about soprano not really sure who Willie is...

B

 

[JohnGalt]

Depends what kind of music it is.
If its pop/top 40/cover music, a montage of a handfull of songs edited together is nice. People will be listening to see if you sound as good as the original.
If it's original music, full songs (maybe an albums worth?) are good. The listener may not listen to the whole thing, but will jump around from track to track listening to a little here, a little there.
If you are promoting yourself as sax player/ bandleader, then the listener (potential hirer- either club manager or band leader looking for side-man) might listen to the tune, your solo and forward to the next tune when the bass solo kicks in ...
A full album is never a bad thing, it shows you put the effort in.

 

[Bill Mecca]

once you've got the disc done, check out kunaki.com on demand printing, full color on the disc and the insert, packaged and shrinkwrapped $1 for less than ten, more than ten and the price flucutates depending upon thier stauts, never seen it more than 1.50.. .they just moved from NY to Nevada and a bigger facility.

I've been very happy with them for the videos.

 

[sirspinbad]

so you send them the disc and they do the printing?? or they do the discs as well??

 

[BrianMitchellBrody]

once you've got the disc done, check out kunaki.com on demand printing, full color on the disc and the insert, packaged and shrinkwrapped $1 for less than ten, more than ten and the price flucutates depending upon thier stauts, never seen it more than 1.50.. .they just moved from NY to Nevada and a bigger facility.

I've been very happy with them for the videos.

I have a local guy who does this for me but his minimum is 100 Cds so this is a great lead, thank you. It's not like I need 100 demos more like only 30 at a time.

B

 

[Bill Mecca]

You have to download/install their program. You create your artwork and burn a CD. You designate the information, artwork in the app, then it uploads from the CD. the app is pretty cool, as in the fact that no matter how long it takes it will not fail. You can get one free copy to check the quality. ( one free copy, not one for each project).
I believe it's only PC though. poke around the website and you should find all the info you need. It's all rather impersonal, they suggest you look at kunaki as a machine. ;-)

 

[MartinMusicMan]

Make the CD look as professional and slick as you can. It's about marketing. The cynic in me says that it doesn't even matter what's on the CD. Sometimes I think the CD could be blank, as long as it's printed in full color with a picture of the band. But the best thing is to produce what looks like a record company product, with color graphics on the CD itself and a full sleeve. Have track and personnel listings, invent a record label or production company name, shrink wrap it, and put the band's web site url prominently on the back. It's more about the packaging than the recordings. Sorry, but that's reality. Also print up nice looking cards, larger than a business card, that look like something you can put on cocktail tables to advertise the band's appearance. Let the club owner or manager see a few of those. And tell him or her about your email list and how you'll promote the gig on your web site and Facebook page, etc. When you get the gig, offer the CDs for sale. It's all about the promotion. The playing has to be good too, but if you don't make it look like your playing is good, they tend not to believe that it is. I have friends who finally came to see my band, they had a great time, really loved the music and the show, and afterwards said, "You never said the band was good." Well, duh.

BTW, I have not followed my own advice. But I've seen other successful bands who have.

 

[MartinMusicMan]

It's not like I need 100 demos more like only 30 at a time.

Get 100.

 

[Keith Ridenhour]

I would copy the process of anyone in your city that is successful. Look at what they offer. As far as selling bands in my area. We usualy direct them to videos of our performances at different places. THey seem to want to see us perform as much as hear us perform And as others have said short is best. They make decisions quickly in my experience. If you can make it up in tips offer to play for less than your compitition. Its all about getting that first gig and then piggybacking that into others. By all means video your performances with a decent mike on the cam. It can be a one shot thing but all you are doing is showcasing what you sound like and the vibe you produce as you play. Are you entertaining/engaging?? Is about connection with audience not impressing the jazz police who wont go to see your band anyway.So showcase what you present in the most professional way Good luck K

 

[Merlin]

Ah, another zombie thread!

Interesting thing to me these days is that video demos/showreels are practically a necessity. People want to see the visual presentation as well as the aural.

I would copy the process of anyone in your city that is successful. Look at what they offer. As far as selling bands in my area. We usualy direct them to videos of our performances at different places. THey seem to want to see us perform as much as hear us perform And as others have said short is best. They make decisions quickly in my experience. If you can make it up in tips offer to play for less than your compitition. Its all about getting that first gig and then piggybacking that into others. By all means video your performances with a decent mike on the cam. It can be a one shot thing but all you are doing is showcasing what you sound like and the vibe you produce as you play. Are you entertaining/engaging?? Is about connection with audience not impressing the jazz police who wont go to see your band anyway.So showcase what you present in the most professional way Good luck K