Demo Production and Distribution – A Producer Perspective
can complete. So if you send a demo with ten songs on it and someone else’s demo has one song, you can bet that the “out” pile will grow quickly with one-song demos. There’s also the psychology that implies, “I’ve sent you the song you need!” This is particularly true in pitching songs to producers for a specific artist. Along those same lines, most people resent getting tapes/CDs with 20 songs and a letter that says, “I know you’ll like at least one of these, so just pick out what you want.” They want you to do that and send them three songs or less. Songs you totally believe in. If you’re not far enough along to be able to decide, you’re not ready. When sending CDs with more than three songs, highlight three you want the listener to focus on first, and include the numbers of the cuts in your cover letter and lyr
2. Place your best and most commercial song first. If you have a strong up-tempo song it’s a good bet to start with that. If they don’t like the first one, it may be the only shot you get. If you’re sending a cassette, put all the songs on the same side and put the label only on the “play” side.
3. Never send your original master tape or CD. You may never see it again and it’s not fair to saddle its recipient with responsibility for it.
4. Always cue your tape to the beginning of the first song. You