Demo submission - How To

Every week we get asked how people should submit demos to record labels and managers.

My basic answer is that you shouldn't.....that is, not until you have some level of fanbase built, something going on around you already that you have built (a local following, sold out gigs, buzz on blogs etc) and then, hopefully, some of the people that can help you succeed in your efforts will come looking for you.

That's much better.

When you submit your music to me (with my 'manager' hat rather than my 'music business advice' hat on) what you're really asking me is to say 'no - I'm not interested'. If it's not mind bogglingly good, it'll get ten seconds attention (if it gets any at all) and we'll remember that artist as not being good enough - therefore chance blown. It's much easier for us to say 'no' after a very brief look than to actually take a considered view. So, really, you're sending a demo looking for rejection.

Much better to wait until you have some 'heat' and people are coming to you, or to try and get the attention of lawyers, PR companies, promoters, venues etc - the first line of defence if you like. Network with people like this at gigs and online.

Why? Well when a music biz exec gets an email or a call from one of those 'gatekeepers' saying that they have seen or heard a great artist, then we all take notice. Crap, isn't it?!

But, don't fight it (unless you are ardently DIY forever, which you know we think is the best way to be these days anyway).

However......if you are going to send a demo to someone - and this applies to those on that first line of defence as well, then Simon at Sentric has just written the gospel of how to do it.

I've written this blurb so that I can use this post as my answer to those regular queries!

Simon says:

Arguably there is no ‘perfect’ way to send demos to industry people, but there are definitely wrong ways. So many wrong ways. More wrong ways than a faulty Sat Nav. And each person you send a demo to may very well have their own preference such is the beauty of us all being individuals by our inherent human nature. All this to one side though, the following is how I personally would utterly adore to receive all demos in the future.

Read and digest his views here. I wholeheartedly agree!

And read my view on demo submission from 2009 here which says much the same thing, just in a different way!