I don’t cover computers and audio although I do have some tips on home recording. I spent several years using all the big home recording computer software systems and found them expensive, unreliable, time-consuming and user-hostile. I could write a book about it but I do know some people are quite happy working with them. The only system that worked for me was Atari with Notator and Unitor. I’d cheerfully use that again but I stick to hardware these days.
I don’t have any ready-made legal agreements. A lot of people ask for forms and legal wording but it isn’t something you want to play around with. If you can’t afford or don’t want to use a lawyer, stick to plain English. It’s far better to write out your band agreement in English and all sign it, than to use a 25 page contract off the Internet that nobody understands.
It is important that you understand legal jargon but you don’t need to write it.
There are getting on for 1,000 external links on the site but I don’t attempt to keep a complete directory of music sites and services here. You need to collect your own record label, distribution and publishing contacts, and you should get up-to-date recommendations for duplication, CD media, etc. from good music or technology forums.
I recommend the Unsigned Guide as a good general music directory for DIY artists.
There are tips on songwriting and recording techniques but obviously the creative output is all down to you. If you don’t have anything to say, or a definite point to what you’re doing you’ll find this difficult. If you’ve just started writing it will take you a few attempts to find your own voice.
Musical performance is a personal thing and a subject in its own right, although it’s rarely mentioned. Mechanisation and imitation are often used as a substitute in modern music. Although some artists over-perform, particularly vocals, there is often no creative performance. When people say they can’t regain the feel of a demo, they are talking about the performance. It’s an art that’s well worth exploring.
I don’t cover promotion techniques here although I do warn about so-called promotion schemes and ineffectual middlemen. There are genuine promotional services but you always need to prepare your own message.
Promotion is simply getting the attention of your potential market. CD distribution and promotion are closely related. People often see distribution as a cost eliminated by downloads but physical distributors always do some promotion (sometimes a great deal).
Online promotion and visibility work the same way as the real world always did although there are some new tools (email, links, blogs, podcasts, web radio, downloads, community sites, etc.). Contrived new age mumbo jumbo such as viral marketing and street teams are hype. Buzz marketing is consultancy nonsense, it’s nothing new. The real thing (word of mouth and fan support) is still the most effective promotion. New-fangled tools don’t change that.
Getting on the Internet is not promotion. A link exchange is not promotion. Setting up a band site is not promotion. Uploading your tracks to an MP3 host is not promotion. Sending promos to radio is not promotion. A page on MySpace is not promotion (even with a thousand spam-friends).
