Demo question

[Steve West]

Hey All:

Im putting together a 3 song Demo to send to publishers and Im wondering whether to put my best songs on it unplugged (just guitar and vocals) or if I should put the with minimal tracks (guitar, Bass, drums & vocals) or put the full Band tracks from my CD (lots of instruments,backing vocals etc..)Ive been told that publishers perfer

the unplugged type recordings. What do you guys think

[henrysb3]

I'm in no way an expert, but if the CD tracks are so full that the lyrics don't come thru clearly, you'd be better off with a simple cut. If you've come up with a great lick that enhances the song, add judiciously. Ask some others to listen to your tracks to see if they can understand the lyrics with full instrumentation and then with a more spare mix. Best of luck,

 

 

Henry

[Steve West]

Thanks Henry, that's a good idea. If you have some time, maybe listen to my song clips at CDBaby

and let know if the words seem clear enough. I always send a lyrics sheet but maybe all the instruments are a little too distracting.

[I I mjrn]

The difference is a question of targeting.

 

The main thing is that the performance(s) & arrangemnets sell the material & that the recordings sound of pro quality; these days, if that standard's not met your presentation will seem too amateurish.

 

How detailed the arrangements should be will always be a choice you'll have to make because different specific targets & markets may have different preferences. Some may need to hear a setting to influence them; others may want to listen into the songs to imagine their own arrangements.

You can potentially block a song out of someone's seletion with an arrangement or stylistic setting that they find unapealling...but, hey, ya can't please everybody---or can you?

 

One thing is to consider doing more than a single setting or approach for songs, especially if you have an idea what different targets for sales like or want.

 

Songs that can fit a variety of settings will get through more people's entertainment filters.

[Steve West]

I&I:

Thanks for your thoughts on this. I'm lucky to have a number of different versions of my songs available. I just need to spend the time to research the "market" potential (if any) for them. Wouldn't you think though, that a good publisher would be able to see the potenial of material in it's minimal form. I aways thought that it was their job to pick the gems out of the pile.

[jabney]

hi Steve,

 

"I aways thought that it was their job to pick the gems out of the pile."

 

Yes it is - so they can discard such gems. No smilie face on that reply, because it's true. Songs that some folks absolutely love are suspect. Why? Because if some people love them, it is likely that other people will dislike them enough to TURN THE DIAL. Radio doesn't want songs people love or hate. Radio wants songs people will tolerate enough to listen until the next round of commercials.

 

The initial listening is likely to be done by a recent college graduate who is hoping for a promotion. That screener is not going to be judged by the quality of his or her choices - rather, by the quantity of 'reasonably safe' choices provided to the boss. Chances are that the screener is not a music lover at all. They chose the music business because of the perceived glamour and while the music plays a minor role, the emphasis is on the business.

 

Self-publishing is probably going to be the only way great songs will be released in the future - unless something changes.

 

But if you feel your songs fit the 'tolerable' middle of the pack, then give them the fullest production you can - and maximize the shit out of the levels. The file should look like a crew-cut when viewed in a wave editor.

[Steve West]

Jabney:

Thanks for your input. I guess if my songs are "tolerable" it would be fine to get them out there so I might have some time & money to work on my own great songs. I'm also a little discuraged with the way the music biz works. With the Clear Channels taking over it really does make it harder for us to get our songs listened to. Good luck with your music.

 

Song clips

[jabney]

hi Steve,

 

Sorry if I came across as too negative with the term 'tolerable.' I too have some songs that I hope are gems and some others that I hope may be tolerable. I do think self-publishing may be the best route for most music these days. And I was (sadly) sincere in the recommendations in my last paragraph.

 

And to think, the "Crewcuts" only connection to music used to be as the name of a fifties group for people who thought Pat Boone was a little too wild :-) Now it describes how the vast majority of popular 'stuff' looks when viewed in a wave editor.

 

And, the topic did get me started on a new set of lyrics. Don't think they'll go over big on Music Row, though :-)

[Steve West]

jabney:

Hey, no need to apologize, it is really easy to be a little negative at this end of the music biz. Now if I could just sit down and write a song like "Shaboom,Shaboom" ;-) Now you got me trying to think of names of songs out there that are about songwriting. I know there must be many but all I can think of off the top of my head is Manilow's "I Write the Songs" LOL

[jabney]

hi Steve,

 

On the album "Hearts and Bones" Paul Simon asks, "Hey songwriter, Do you want to write a song about the moon?" And goes on to say, "Then do it - Write a song about the moon."

 

PS, I love that whole album.

[Fulc]

Listen to Who Are You, which has no fewer than three songs about writing songs on it: New Song, The Music Must Change, and Guitar and Pen.

 

Remember also that if you are discouraged by what Clear Channel is doing to radio, there are still other outlets for your music on the internet. Few if any will have the reach of a Clear Channel, but if that's what it takes for you to be comfortable with what you're doing, then that may make more sense.

 

Find out what they'd accept. You know enough not to shotgun your stuff out there cold, right?

 

All that said: IMNTLBHO if you're focusing on getting a publishing deal for your songs, then I guess you should probably go minimal as far as the supporting arrangement-- you don't want anything detracting from the song. If OTOH you're looking to highlight your own performance prowess, then go for a full arrangement and as close to the finished product as you can get.

[Steve West]

Fulcrum:

Thanks for the imput. One would hope that after 30 years playing music I would have a little more clue as to what I want ;-)Playing out small venues and doing the CD was great but getting my music heard by more than just a handfull of folks is turning into a major task.

Sometimes I wonder if it's worth all the hassle.

 

Steve\'s CD

[Welsh Knight]

Hi Steve..get in touch with me?..would be good to chat to a fellow song writer. I am new here, so let me know what you do, and where you are based? Cheers mate.

[tchipman]

Steve,

If you've been writing songs for a while and have a good library built up why not try Taxi. The music business has always been hard, seemingly not fair, etc, but there really are very few overnight successes. And, very few BIG breaks anymore.(where does Jay Leno and Dave Letterman get some of those bands they have on? UHG!)Taxi at least gives you some hope that someone will listen and give you a knowledgable opinion. And it might even improve your writing if you can take the heat. From what I've been reading I would try to decide what the very best version of each song is and send that one. But like others have said make sure you can hear the vocals and the words.And make the vocals as dry as you can. Too much reverb or echo on a vocal really screams amatuer and sounds kind of stupid to boot.

Good Luck

Tim

[Steve West]

Tim:

Thanks for responding. I've read a few threads here and on other forums about whether TAXI is worth the money and as far as I can tell the jury is still out on that. I've been emailing a few publishers and asking them what they want to hear and most have said to send it both ways so I think that I'll try that approach for a while and see. Are you a TAXI member? Has it helped you?

[Eric VB]

Steve,

Looks like I'm following in your footsteps. Keep me posted!