Sending Your Demo. Doing it Right
Tip #1 - Put your contact information on everything.
This may sound simple but it is one of the biggest mistakes
people make when they send me demos. Use a clear font like Arial
or NY Time Roman at decent size. If you are sending a CD make
sure the CD is clearly labeled with your name, phone number,
email address and website if you have one. This same information
should appear on your business card if you have one as well.
Make sure if your sending a picture you include your information
on that as well. Most professional headshots can have your name
and contact info at the bottom of the photo. If you cant afford
big time photography at least right your contact info on the
back of the picture with a sharpie marker or something. If your
using a folder or some other type of portfolio make sure the
information is on the outside of the folder as well. Important
Indusrty Tip. Include your government name on your info
especially if your under 18 or still living with some one else.
There is nothing funnier then returning a phone call to some one
name "Blaze" Or "Murderer". This is a true story. Ring, Ring .
Your mom picks up the phone. "Hello is Murder there" - "Who"
There aint no murder here what r you talking about. Is this some
kind of sick joke" Then a younger brother in the background
yells "that's Frankie mom hes a rapper."
Tip #2 - A Good CD Cover. Unless your Demo is
professionally duplicated stay away from a crazy looking CD
cover unless you feel itwill really make you stand out from the
crowd. Bad CD art work screams "I'm new at this throw my demo in
the trash" If your not an art genius or cant get good artwork
for your CD then just leave it off. A Clear Jewel case with a
nice crisp white label and black text looks pretty professional.
Bad covers are a big turn off.
Tip #3 - You got 15 seconds, maybe a minute. The 15 sec
rule is a must. One of the most common mistakes new rappers and
singers make is not getting to the point. Most people in the
music industry have very short attention spans when it comes to
listening to demos. If 30 seconds of the beat have passed by and
you have said is "What Whuh, Yeah Uh Uh, Yeah we going to do
this." Its going in the trash. By 15 seconds I should know your
stage name and being hearing some lyrics. Do your shout outs at
the end of the track. Get to the point. I wouldn't wait to long
to get a hook in there either.
Tip #4 - Good sound quality. We have reached a point
that recording quality is no longer expensive. Studio time can
be found dirt cheap in many places. Equipment has also become
affordable enough to put your own small studio together on a
very limited budget. That said most people demos still sound
like crap. Distortion, Static, Noise, cant hear the vocals. The
list goes on and on and on. There are 2 ways to solve thisGet
some one that knows what there doing or have some one teach you
how to do it. If you are going to a studio ask to hear something
they have recorded. If it doesn't sound good or clear then find
some one else. When recording yourself I would recommend having
some one that is more experienced do the mixing. I would even
recommend talking to whom ever your going to have mix your
project or tracks before you start recording . Doing this will
make life easier for both of you and you'll end up with a better
sounding product. Most people always ask why is sound quality
important? Why cant they just heart my talent? Well part of the
answer to that is very often the recording is so bad it is
impossible to make out the lyrics, let alone want to listen to.
Its also important because your demo is competing with many
others that actually do have good sound quality.
Tip #5 - Get help. If you are putting your demo together
and have questions it is better to seek help and do things in a
more professional manner then do everything your self and
sacrifice quality. Use the people that you have around you for
help. Friends can be good at offering you suggestions and its
always good to have another view of things. Incorporating your
family and friends into your project will also show them you are
serous about what your doing and gain there support. Now im not
saying you should get your mom to do your graphic design or
something but to put out a professional looking and sounding
product you will need help and support. Peace Producer /
Engineer - Jazdout
Beats, Recording, Production,
Remxing and Sounds
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