What Should A Demo CD Include

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What Should A Demo CD Include
Posted on: 29.05.2013 by Lanie Priske
I am making my first demo CD and so far I have a link to my mixcloud, a demo mix, and contact info is their anything else that could be overlooking that i could put on it.
Alvina Culwell
05.06.2013
Originally Posted by manchild
If we're talking big time clubs, then all that stuff is def a must have as part of your EPK.
Totally agree. Here in LA an EPK is king over just a demo. And a lot of bands (not sure about DJs, but probably so) just host theirs online and can submit to directly to promoters/club owners via email link rather than spend money burning CDs that (as someone previously mentioned) often get tossed in the trash.

You can do your own EPK. I am in the process of building mine in Flash Catalyst. I am including my music, photos, links to my social media and website, press, lyrics, and bio.
Darlene Strohbeck
05.06.2013
Originally Posted by manchild
I don't want to make it look like im bashing this post, cause those are good tips on making your stuff look professional, but.........

All the promoters/owners of big time bars and small clubs/lounges that I've gotten to know, literally laugh and throw that stuff away. If we're talking big time clubs, then all that stuff is def a must have as part of your EPK. From my experience, if they are going to give an unknown a shot, it's not because you impressed them w/ professional looking stuff, it's gonna be because you walked up to them and had a face to face convo, you seem like you know what you're talking about, and they listen to your demo after and liked it. Again, just from my own personal experience, having professional looking stuff will obviously never hurt you, but it might not help any either...so make the decision if it's worth your effort.
I agree to a certain point. I woulnd't go too out of my way to put together a demo CD. That's like spending hours working on a reume. You're wasting your time when you're more likely to get a response from the sheer "volume" not from any one effort.

Originally Posted by hellnegative
Its worked for me at TAO, LAVO, The Bank, Marquee, and with Rave promoters around here. My website has a link to my pk. Either way Im happy playing on the radio every week.
Well if it worked for you, then it must work for anyone, without any exceptions
Gaynell Rydberg
29.05.2013
Originally Posted by hellnegative
Its worked for me at TAO, LAVO, The Bank, Marquee, and with Rave promoters around here. My website has a link to my pk. Either way Im happy playing on the radio every week.
Wuddafu!!!! Wanna hook me up whenever I go to Vegas lol.
Addie Engbrecht
29.05.2013
Originally Posted by hellnegative
I use printed cd's, custom artwork, unclude a tracklisting, sticker, business cards, and usually a flyer for whatever event Im playing at next.
I don't want to make it look like im bashing this post, cause those are good tips on making your stuff look professional, but.........

All the promoters/owners of big time bars and small clubs/lounges that I've gotten to know, literally laugh and throw that stuff away. If we're talking big time clubs, then all that stuff is def a must have as part of your EPK. From my experience, if they are going to give an unknown a shot, it's not because you impressed them w/ professional looking stuff, it's gonna be because you walked up to them and had a face to face convo, you seem like you know what you're talking about, and they listen to your demo after and liked it. Again, just from my own personal experience, having professional looking stuff will obviously never hurt you, but it might not help any either...so make the decision if it's worth your effort.
Lanie Priske
29.05.2013		I am making my first demo CD and so far I have a link to my mixcloud, a demo mix, and contact info is their anything else that could be overlooking that i could put on it.
Jonathan Chiuchiolo
06.06.2013		I'm a big advocate for putting in track markers just when you start mixing... chances are if have done your groundwork right the promoter listening to your mix will know most of the tunes but they will want to hear your transitions.. If ever I had to do that with a single track mix I found someone else instead who took half an hour to put in markers. Don't kid yourself no-one will listen to your mix throughout on the first listen, you will maybe get 10 minutes of their time to impress them, if they like it then you will get a proper listen.

Lastly always make the mix suit the set you are trying to get. set the mood at the start & don't play bangers until the end! If you include a tracklist they will know what's coming so there is no need to rush at the start. Don't try to be too eclectic.. chances are you are applying for an established successful evening with a crowd who know what they like and the manager/promoter won't want to risk losing what they already have. That doesn't mean you cant put your own style into a genre as there is lots of sub-genres of anything you can believe of, but don't play tech-house, electro, commercial at an underground techno club and visca versa, stick with the mood of the evening .
Sydney Lashway
06.06.2013		Simply put,

Music (duh!)
-a concise, well put together body of work that describes you (key word = concise)
-for productions, well mixed. Nobody wants to listen to low quality regardless how amazing the music is (2013, no excuses)

Contact Info:
-E-mail
-Twitter
-Soundcloud, click, bandcamp whatever. If they like your stuff you want to be easily accessible

I believe those two are the MOST important, the manner in which you present it is up to you.

Face-To-Face meetings, and knowing how to conduct yourself in one has got to be one of the most important facets to being a new, up and comer. If you can sell yourself, without sounding desperate you're good. This has been on of the things that really helped me when I first started in hip-hop production.

If you have a Bio on your site, or in your PK...make sure it's well written. Remember, as a DJ/Musician you're a brand. Anything that's done is poor taste, or sloppily directly reflects your brand's image.

That's all I could believe of for now.
Alvina Culwell
05.06.2013
Originally Posted by manchild
If we're talking big time clubs, then all that stuff is def a must have as part of your EPK.
Totally agree. Here in LA an EPK is king over just a demo. And a lot of bands (not sure about DJs, but probably so) just host theirs online and can submit to directly to promoters/club owners via email link rather than spend money burning CDs that (as someone previously mentioned) often get tossed in the trash.

You can do your own EPK. I am in the process of building mine in Flash Catalyst. I am including my music, photos, links to my social media and website, press, lyrics, and bio.
Darlene Strohbeck
05.06.2013
Originally Posted by manchild
I don't want to make it look like im bashing this post, cause those are good tips on making your stuff look professional, but.........

All the promoters/owners of big time bars and small clubs/lounges that I've gotten to know, literally laugh and throw that stuff away. If we're talking big time clubs, then all that stuff is def a must have as part of your EPK. From my experience, if they are going to give an unknown a shot, it's not because you impressed them w/ professional looking stuff, it's gonna be because you walked up to them and had a face to face convo, you seem like you know what you're talking about, and they listen to your demo after and liked it. Again, just from my own personal experience, having professional looking stuff will obviously never hurt you, but it might not help any either...so make the decision if it's worth your effort.
I agree to a certain point. I woulnd't go too out of my way to put together a demo CD. That's like spending hours working on a reume. You're wasting your time when you're more likely to get a response from the sheer "volume" not from any one effort.

Originally Posted by hellnegative
Its worked for me at TAO, LAVO, The Bank, Marquee, and with Rave promoters around here. My website has a link to my pk. Either way Im happy playing on the radio every week.
Well if it worked for you, then it must work for anyone, without any exceptions
Audrey Pinda
29.05.2013		For CD's I just pass out, I burn copies of my most recent mix on my computer, write on them in permanent marker, and make sure it has my soundcloud address on there. Sometimes I'll get fancy and put them in a nicer case, and then I'll include more information.

That being said, passing out CD's is such an important thing people don't do nearly enough. I've definitely received CD's and helped booked artists because I tossed it into my cars player and really enjoyed it, and otherwise I might have never heard of them. You never know who is going to get one of your CD's.

Some people go over the top with it. Split tracks with their mixes, get them professionally done. Which is awesome. But for someone starting out? Buy 100+ CD's. Burn your favorite recent mix. Pass that shit out with your name on it, and enjoy
Emelina Chillson
29.05.2013		Shoot me a demo.
Gaynell Rydberg
29.05.2013
Originally Posted by hellnegative
Its worked for me at TAO, LAVO, The Bank, Marquee, and with Rave promoters around here. My website has a link to my pk. Either way Im happy playing on the radio every week.
Wuddafu!!!! Wanna hook me up whenever I go to Vegas lol.
Emelina Chillson
29.05.2013		Its worked for me at TAO, LAVO, The Bank, Marquee, and with Rave promoters around here. My website has a link to my pk. Either way Im happy playing on the radio every week.
Addie Engbrecht
29.05.2013
Originally Posted by hellnegative
I use printed cd's, custom artwork, unclude a tracklisting, sticker, business cards, and usually a flyer for whatever event Im playing at next.
I don't want to make it look like im bashing this post, cause those are good tips on making your stuff look professional, but.........

All the promoters/owners of big time bars and small clubs/lounges that I've gotten to know, literally laugh and throw that stuff away. If we're talking big time clubs, then all that stuff is def a must have as part of your EPK. From my experience, if they are going to give an unknown a shot, it's not because you impressed them w/ professional looking stuff, it's gonna be because you walked up to them and had a face to face convo, you seem like you know what you're talking about, and they listen to your demo after and liked it. Again, just from my own personal experience, having professional looking stuff will obviously never hurt you, but it might not help any either...so make the decision if it's worth your effort.
Emelina Chillson
29.05.2013		I use printed cd's, custom artwork, unclude a tracklisting, sticker, business cards, and usually a flyer for whatever event Im playing at next.
Addie Engbrecht
29.05.2013		Facebook and Twitter if you have them, possibly an extremely brief Bio, but not really necessary...really depends on the caliber venues you're targeting. One piece of advice, most people that listen to your demo aren't going to listen for more then 10 min, and usually a lot shorter, so make your point very early on with that in mind

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