Do you include signed songs on your Rally CD?

[devin]

For your Rally CD, which of the following song types would you include?- the best songs that haven't been picked up yet- the best songs, even if some songs already have non-exclusive contracts, but could be signed again (non exclusively in the near term, obviously)- songs you've signed to exclusive contracts, because these are good examplesMy guess is having songs that are without restrictions whatsoever would make life easiest for new/existing clients....so perhaps the best answer would be "new songs that are even better than the ones previously signed exclusively" Your thoughts?

[Casey H]

For giving out CD's to industry folks (with no established relationship), I wouldn't include songs that were signed to exclusive deals. There's really no point- you could even annoy the receiving party if they listen, like something, and then realize the song wasn't even available. It might also make them wonder about how you would act with songs THEY sign exclusively. Non-exclusively signed tracks are fine.It does depend on your purpose. If you want to discuss some songs that were signed exclusively with a mentor or in a class, you could have a separate CD handy.Putting songs that are signed exclusively on your website is a little different- it's more of a showcase. However, if the songs are signed exclusively, you should get permission from that party and credit them on the site. CaseyPost-edit note: Some might suggest including exclusive songs on the CD but noting it on the CD tray liner or envelope. I don't like that because CD's get separated from their package all the time. The world of an A&R person listening to hundreds of CD's is often not a very organized one.Post-edit note #2: I'm assuming this is about songs, not custom compositions. A custom composer needs more of a calling card as to what he/she is capable of, based on previous work. A songwriter generally wants to try get songs signed.

[mazz]

I included anything that was the best example of my work, exclusive or not. Then I put a little asterisk beside anything that was available and put the indication "available for licensing" at the bottom of the label.I also put "for demo purposes only" in big letters on both the CD and the cover.Mazz

[devin]

Both opinions are excellent gents, thank you.I can see if I were selling myself as a "prolific composer" (<-- term from a TAXI listing), then placing examples of locked up songs on my promo CD would still make sense. As in "Look what I've done before, of course it might not fit the scene you're syncing right now.....but it is an example of what I can create from scratch for your current project. Is next week soon enough?"I'm not able to sell myself as the "call me today, have it tonight" composer. At this stage of my music career, I'm still creating alot of my music ahead of demand, to have it available. In this case, I'd just have stuff that they could actually use, as per Casey's note, with me at the Rally for moments of opportunity.Both reasons appear valid, given my goals....and I may have figured out the difference just now!Maybe?

[Casey H]

Hi DevinYou really don't need to take a lot of CDs to the rally. Giving them out widespread never works-- you only need to give a CD in certain situations such as if you struck up a conversation and where asked for one.People sometimes hand out CDs to every important person they can-- panelists, A&R folks, etc. Think about how many CDs those people get at an event like that. They all get thrown in the trash.So, since you don't need a lot of CDs for the rally anyway, make up some of each kind--- Maybe 5-10 of each...CheersCasey