The deal with music business

[lighthouse]

Well, as I need help and I know there are lots of talented people here who want to give it a try for real on the music business, AND I know that here are people who have lots of experience on that, I would like to ask you guys.....

So lets say I have a CD recorded or a really good quality demo, what should I do first if I want to get a deal (yes I´m pointing high :D, so what the F"#$k lets give it a try )....a manager?, a lawyer?....a website?....should I send my demos to the labels and just wait?, should I try to finance the record myself and "then" send it for promotion to some labels?, I mean, prog and similars aren´t exactly mainstream, so I think there should be lots of options you can manage.....

Thanks guys, I think this could be of great help to a lot of us here ;-)

Juan Pablo

[Tigerfolly]

Originally Posted by lighthouse

Well, as I need help and I know there are lots of talented people here who want to give it a try for real on the music business, AND I know that here are people who have lots of experience on that, I would like to ask you guys.....

So lets say I have a CD recorded or a really good quality demo, what should I do first if I want to get a deal (yes I´m pointing high :D, so what the F"#$k lets give it a try )....a manager?, a lawyer?....a website?....should I send my demos to the labels and just wait?, should I try to finance the record myself and "then" send it for promotion to some labels?, I mean, prog and similars aren´t exactly mainstream, so I think there should be lots of options you can manage.....

Thanks guys, I think this could be of great help to a lot of us here ;-)

Juan Pablo

Websites are simple, easy to maintain, and they allow you a myriad of ways to market yourself. And these days, they're simply required for any artist in any industry. Plus, by actively networking on forums such as this one, as well as other webpages with similar content, you can reach out internationally. One of the bands I was in had a huge pocket of fans in the former Soviet Union all because of our mp3.com site. Anyone can learn how to do a webpage, and everyone knows someone who can do it. Hosts are cheap (my current host cost me $10 for a year of outstanding hosting) and easy to find. A well organized and concise website is quite simply essentially marketing these days.

Managers become necessary when you simply can't do everything yourself. Most managers already have established connections with various elements of the industry, whether it's studios, live venues, festival booking, tour management, or labels. Some managers specialize and only work in marketing or booking. It really depends on what you're trying to do in music, and how things work where you're at. The point you need a manager is the point when you say, "I could do nothing but work on everything BUT playing and writing my own music and still be behind." You can always get a manager at any time, but a lot of times you're paying someone to do things that you yourself can do with a little effort. The question comes down to, "Do you really want to do it?"

Lawyers are nice to have around for anything. Even small local bands can sign contracts with venues, and sometimes it's nice to have a lawyer draw up a contract for you. Whenever you're dealing with paying money for a service, it's good to have a lawyer consult you on the paperwork you're going to want to have. If you're booking a contracted show with a venue, if it's not your contract, you may want consultation on what you're getting yourself into. If you're the party initiating a contract, you want a lawyer to make it a watertight document in case it does come into question at some point. When you hire management, lawyers are great to consult with and ensure you're not getting a shitty deal. And all of this is before even thinking about record labels, publishing, copyrighting, or incorporating. The question of "when do I need a lawyer?" can only be answered with, "whenever you can afford it". Befriending a lawyer early on is a very, very good thing to do. Talk to EVERYONE you can and see if there's in your circle of family and friends. Even the smallest amount of trust goes a LONG way when dealing with lawyers.

And as far as sending your demo out to places, you don't need anything but your product to do that. Send it out to everyone you can. Get it in the ears of everyone you can. It's nice to have a lawyer, manager, or website to help with your promotion, but in the end it doesn't really matter what you choose first, because the end goal is always the same.

Basically, it all comes down to your needs. Your mileage may vary.

[ChrisMcCoy]

Wow, that's a daunting question.
Back in the 80's we had a manager, lawyer and lots of contacts.
We used to submit cassettes via the manager and lawyer to the A&R reps.
Things have changed alot since then.
I wouldn't even know where to begin.
Good Luck !
C.

[lighthouse]

Thanks for answering guys, yeah it is daunting.....actually I´ve been working very very hard, even stop working as a full time designer for almost two years now on this songs, recording, mixing and stuff like that, and now that we´re like about two or three months near the end of the process I don´t know where to start to move the pieces. I´m already working on a website that´s almost done, and lets say I have some people to send demos to, but is a really strange feeling cause in my country there´s almost none market for our music, I mean we´re only 4 million people here, so if you make the numbers the number of "fans" we can make is almost nothing to make a living or at least make something to cover your expenses. So my intention is to go abroad with my music, and were to start....(the show off section of this forum I guess, LOL).

Guys thanks for the advice, man I really apreciate it!...

anyone else??

Thanks
Juan Pablo

[Taurus]

Know people. It's better to have 10 guitarist/mixer friends than 10 keyboardists as friends.

[Ael]

That's a great question to ask as I was considering myself...it's a bit weird cause the music industry is right now placed so much on looks for a lot of things (in most popular genres I guess) that it's sickening...it used to be you could go out to clubs and play at open mic nights and really play out and someone would eventually notice you quickly and snap you up but it seems that now it falls to who has bigger boobs or a more muscles than someone else and who can be a marketing tool for a record company...it's very weird...

I think your best bet is to first get a press kit...I think I read somewhere that the main thing you have to focus on is putting out the best you can possibly put out at 100% of the time...most venues wont take a look at you for booking possibilities unless you submit a press kit...so I think the first thing is to hire a professional photographer to get pictures of your band - and really good ones...pay an expensive price, borrow money, just go all out if this is what you want...next get a professional to write up a one page bio summary..make sure all spelling and grammar is correct and have a business card with all your contact information on it...the next thing is obviously a demo...record it as well as you can, get it all done professionally (within your limits)...I know that record companies can look at a bio and see a spelling mistake and chuck the whole package or listen to a demo that hasn't really been mixed down that well and throw the whole thing out...I think nowadays with so many people trying to get in they sort through all the stuff with that kind of narrow blinder in their mind...

The website is a great idea - post sound samples and book shows to get yourself heard and give people a chance to hear you...I'm trying to play at more open mic nights and write original material/do covers to get people to know who I am and it's working little by little...but I hope the advice helps, it's so weird this day with the way music is marketed it's tough to know what exactly these people want in order to givge you the deal.

[ZuL]

Originally Posted by lighthouse

.....actually I´ve been working very very hard, even stop working as a full time designer for almost two years now on this songs, recording, mixing and stuff like that,

Woah, so how you manage to sustain your finances for those 2 years? Im definitely thinking about goin into the music business in the future as well, but like you...i have no idea where to start on the business end as well.....and sustaining finances WILL be my biggest problem

For now im a student by day, restaurant waiter by night and squeezing whatever time i have left for music

I have a few big plans to start off my own music business but dont we all?? lol

[havyyck]

Originally Posted by Ael

That's a great question to ask as I was considering myself...it's a bit weird cause the music industry is right now placed so much on looks for a lot of things (in most popular genres I guess) that it's sickening...it used to be you could go out to clubs and play at open mic nights and really play out and someone would eventually notice you quickly and snap you up but it seems that now it falls to who has bigger boobs or a more muscles than someone else and who can be a marketing tool for a record company...it's very weird...

I totally agree that it's all about the package, the mtv persona. The way to make BIG bucks these days is to be a POP STAR. Someone who can sing, dance and do television appearances. Get into fashion and be "hip and cool," so other companies can sell your image. This has NOTHING to do with music. The old days are GONE!!!! I mean JORDAN devoted his life to music and probably doesn't make SQUAT on his solo albums. BUT, Paris Hilton got a GREAT record producer to do her album for FREE because her name has VALUE. Regardless of talent. She was paid ONE MILLION for her album. I bet Jordan NEVER got that....

That says it ALLLLLL.

[Ael]

Originally Posted by havyyck

I totally agree that it's all about the package, the mtv persona. The way to make BIG bucks these days is to be a POP STAR. Someone who can sing, dance and do television appearances. Get into fashion and be "hip and cool," so other companies can sell your image. This has NOTHING to do with music. The old days are GONE!!!! I mean JORDAN devoted his life to music and probably doesn't make SQUAT on his solo albums. BUT, Paris Hilton got a GREAT record producer to do her album for FREE because her name has VALUE. Regardless of talent. She was paid ONE MILLION for her album. I bet Jordan NEVER got that....

That says it ALLLLLL.

Yeah, and she's also a huge sex symbol so people will buy it just to look at her...just like people go to see "Dukes of Hazzard" for Jessica Simspon in a bikini (not that she isn't hot, but come on that doesn't make it a "great" movie like a few friends of mine said it was)...unfortunately the days where people like jordan or any artist could walk around in New York and play out and get noticed by keyboard or any other magazine or record company as an "up and coming" talent are practically over...I'm sure there are still stories of this hapenning but everything is so streamlined these days with music that it's doubtful.

[lighthouse]

yeah guys, I know we´re not gonna be millonaires, but that doesn´t matter I guess, if we´re true musicians, what we do is what we care about, not the money.....of course money is important but I guess you only need to be recognized as much as you need to make a descent living out of it, afford to have a house and be able to raise a family....at least for me that´s more than enough. Like a good day job if you know what I mean



Juan Pablo