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: After Writing

Why Are You Making a Demo?

By Pamela Parker, Esq.

Writing songs is a business. A creative business, but nonetheless a business. And to be successful at converting your songs to money, you have to think strategically about everything you do after the song is written.

Starting with the demo.

Suppose you write a song. You're pleased with it, you think it has potential to be successful. So you whip out your 4 or 8 track recorder and make a demo. Or maybe you like the song so much you whip out your credit card and book some studio time.

When your demo is done, and you're happy with it, you start to think about what you want to do with it. Some options:

• use the demo to teach your own band the song
• use the demo to pitch your act to live venues
• use the demo to pitch your act to record labels
• use the demo to pitch the song to a music publisher
• use the demo to pitch the song to a specific artist
• pitch the song for use in a soundtrack (movie, tv, internet)

With the exception os useing the demo as a work tape for your own band, the demo for each of the above options must meet certain requirements in order to work for each purpose. If you didn't record the demo with the purpose in mind, there is a really good chance that your demo will not be of use to you.

For example:

• if you recorded it solo acoustic, it won't work to book a four piece electric band (and vice versa)
• a rough cut demo won't give a label a good enough idea of your sound
• a medium quality recording may be sifficient for a msuci publisher who pitches only the songs themselves, but a high quality recording will be necessary if the recording itself is to be pitched, as in to movie and tv productions
• demos for a specific artist typically need to be in a key and voice similar to the artist you are pitching
• any use of your original recording in a film, tv, internet or other similar project will require you to demonstrate that you have the right to license the work. That means you will have to be able to produce clearances on the use of the performance from all musicians and others who worked on the recording. Did you have contracts with the performers?

Rough cut demos made with your own equipment will never cause you a problem, but they may very well not be what you need. On the other hand, an elborately produced recording for which you spent money on a studio and musicians may turn out to be a complete waste of money if it's not right for your ultimate purpose.

Before you spend money or substantial time on a demo recording, BE SURE you think through the purpose of your demo and get all your details in order so that you can move forward with the demo as a valuable part of your business plan.

Full post as published by After Writing on December 19, 2006 (boomark / email).