What Would the Setbacks Do?
Email questions to advice[at]thesetbacks.com
Rock'n'Roll Catch 22
December 24th, 2002
Scruff from Ottawa writes:
I'm in a small time local band and we're looking to take our musical careers to the next level. We're having a hard time with bars taking us seriously because we don't have a professionally recorded CD to give out. I was wondering if you guys could share some wisdom as to how to make a good professionally sounding CD with a limited budget AND how to get gigs at cool places like Zaphod's and Babylon.
 Trevor |
Sadly the key to booking shows is convinving the owner that you will draw a big crowd that will drink a lot. Once you've done that it will be easier to play shows at the same place again. They don't care if you have the most beautiful sounding cd available, as long as you make them money.
Of course a good cd does help get your foot in the door, but you've got to be a big draw. The benefit of a good sounding cd is the press and other references you can get through it. It sounds like my advice is all over the place, and it is. And that's because we're just a small time local band. Though all together we have in previous bands played every venue in town from The Downstairs Club to Barrymore's, every situation has been different, every booking has been unique. Just keep plugging away and the breaks eventually start coming. |
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 Steve |
I'm with Chet on this one Scruff. Drop a line to Redroom Studios at arturo00@hotmail.com. Spend a day or two there and do two songs. After you've got the tracks recorded, go and get them mixed and mastered...this is not something you should overlook or skimp out on. We went to a place called Little Bullhorn Productions here in Ottawa. Mixing and mastering is well worth the money and will make your songs sound about ten times better. Now you'll have two good songs you can burn onto CDs and distribute to clubs...getting a show will be much easier and it will only set you back a few hundred bucks. It's a good investment. |
 Paul |
Well Scruff, sadly a good recording of yourself is key. Luckily recording is getting cheaper and easier.
My suggestion is to go to a local studio (we went to Redroom Studios) and just do a 2 or 3 song demo. If you are well practiced it won't take long which means that it won't cost much. You will then have a good sample of your music to send to local venues. You will then be able to get shows and make money to record a full length album. You will probably even be able to sell the demo for a couple bucks at your shows to make more money. It is a slow process but well worth it in the end. Don't give up. |
 Chris |
Scruff,
Gotta agree with the rest of my band. Hook up with The Neptunes and or Timbaland, maybe take some time off from your other band, and create street credible urban pop music, which will take you to the top. After a while, you'll probably get sick and tired of your other band, and will flourish in a solo career after publicly breaking up with Britney. Best of luck... chris |
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