Re: [microsound] labels

[Frans De Waard <frans@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

as a worker for one of the labels mentioned below, I can say that 
this is an intelligent piece of writing. It sums up a lot of things 
to consider before sending a demo. We at Staalplaat get a lot, 
released work and unreleased. We try to listen to everything, but we 
simply can't release everything. also we can't write to everyone with 
specific reasons why we don't want to release it. Staalplaat has a 
disclaimer on the website about demo's. The difference between some 
labels and Staalplaat, is that we say you can do it, but there also 
labels who just say: no demo's. some more comments:

> 1. label you damn cd, ok? it's not cool, or artsy or creative to 
> send a cdr some place with out any info on it. do you know how many 
> all silver cdrs we get? do we know who did them when they get 
> separated from the case? did you know we use them as coasters? put 
> your contact info on every piece of material you send. period.

YES YES YES
> 4. email, or better yet, get this, CALL them and say hi before you 
> send it out - let them know that you are sending something. it 
> really helps and starts a relationship.
>
> 5. keep in contact with them the entire time. email, phone, 
> whatever. you really need to be aggressive about getting someone to 
> listen to your work. don't feel like you are bothering them at all. 
> don't.

this can work very counterproductive... "oh it's THAT guy again, tell 
him I'm not here"...


> 6. do your home work - read their vision and listen to all you can 
> that the label has released BEFORE you send your material in, to 
> make sure what you are sending fits in esthetically with what they 
> release. don't send them booty house if they release click house. 
> don't send them minimal clicky field recording if they releases 
> thick depressing wall of noise stuff.


interesting, but I think it works differentely... you can send 
different kind of music, but you should think why it should be on 
that label. What do you intend to add to that label with your music?

> 9. if you hear from them and they don't want it, ask them if they 
> know of anyplace that they know of that might be interested.

Maybe you can do for the other labels, but not for me. I don't want 
to act like the phonebook. I say, check stuff like microsound, 
internet, vital weekly, I don't know, but I can't devote my time to 
handing out lists of names and addresses (plus that I usually don't 
know the demo policy of those)



> if you do all of this and don't even get a response, well, chances 
> are they aren't interested.
>
> > mille plateaux responses=null
> > mego responses=null
> > staalplaat responses=null
> > tiger-beat response =null of course.
>
> those labels you mentioned are huge (relatively) - they have a full 
> roster and are inundated with demos. find a smaller label and see if 
> they'll check your stuff out. chances are, the smaller the label the 
> nicer the personnel.

yes, I agree. we are a huge label, so you know what personnel we have...:-)


best

Frans de Waard