what to do

[rnrmachine]

Hey John,

A quality piano/vocal or guitar/vocal could definitely get forwarded IF it really sells the song. A couple weeks ago during the TAXI TV segment that Michael has been doing on Monday nights, they played an actual demo of a Rascal Flatts song that was submitted in Nashville. Here's a link to the video, the demo starts around the 51:00 mark. This will give you an idea of what the bar is for piano/vocal demos in Nashville.

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/7962423

hth,
- Big Blue

/wave BBB

Very hard to tell mix/master quality of that demo but that song is obviously a clean recording and a hit all by itself. That singer kicks it!! Shawn McConnell (no clue how to spell that properly) YOU ROCK DUDE!!

It seems that more and more you need to make a marketable song/production of broadcast quality, just in order to sell a song. Real shame if good songs are getting turned downed because audio quality/performance isn't there... Don't the new wave of A&R folks have vision enough to see a diamond in the rough??

Rob

[jonathanm]

Don't the new wave of A&R folks have vision enough to see a diamond in the rough??

Well, I think it's more an issue of time and selection. That is, they have very limited time, and a TON of great sounding demos in front of them. They only need a handful, so which ones would you go with: the diamonds in the rough, or the nicely cut diamonds already in a beautiful setting?

The problem isn't the A&R people not having vision (heck, they're paid because of their vision). The problem is the competition. They're polishing the apple, so we have to also.

[ernstinen]

The problem isn't the A&R people not having vision (heck, they're paid because of their vision). The problem is the competition. They're polishing the apple, so we have to also.

I'll second that! I learned in Pete Luboff's workshops in Hollywood that if your demo doesn't capture the attention of A&R in the first EIGHT BARS, they'll toss it in the trash. It's unfortunate, but true. Ya gotta get right to the point, the hook, the production, the fantastic vocal, whatever. Something that will capture their imagination. These guys/gals don't have the time to listen beyond that.

On the other hand, when my band almost got signed to Atlantic Records because of our live shows, I had many conversations with A&R people, most notably the son of the owner of Epic. This guy was a total loser, yet he was the top A&R guy at the label. He would say things like "Your music sounds like I'm listening through a pane of glass." WTF? He also said "Don't you listen to radio?" How do you answer THAT? --- It's a tough biz. Our drummer said "I'd tell him to kiss my A$$!" --- In retrospect, he was right. You have to go with your muse, and not kowtow to the unimaginative and untalented. --- Stick to your guns --- You'll never regret it!

Just IMHO,

Ern

[fret17]

The problem isn't the A&R people not having vision (
On the other hand, when my band almost got signed to Atlantic Records because of our live shows, I had many conversations with A&R people, most notably the son of the owner of Epic. This guy was a total loser, yet he was the top A&R guy at the label. He would say things like "Your music sounds like I'm listening through a pane of glass." WTF? He also said "Don't you listen to radio?" How do you answer THAT? --- It's a tough biz. Our drummer said "I'd tell him to kiss my A$$!" --- In retrospect, he was right. You have to go with your muse, and not kowtow to the unimaginative and untalented. --- Stick to your guns --- You'll never regret it!

Just IMHO,

Ern

That brought back a memory ......when I lived in LA.....I used to go to the "Cassette Roulette" to pitch music every week....man was that a waste of time and money...what "Last Stawed" it for me was this A&R guy from a major lable (who obviously didn't want to be there or take it serious)..who stopped almost every tape within the first 4 or five seconds...and to make matters worse...the people running the thing kept giving him beers when he asked for one (Which was every 10 or 15 minutes)...he kept getting drunker and just pissed eveyone off....$20 bucks of a submission...$10 bucks at the door...oh how I just love this business!

[mojobone]

The problem isn't the A&R people not having vision

The problem is them not having 'hearing'. lol, J/K

[jonathanm]

The problem isn't the A&R people not having vision

The problem is them not having 'hearing'. lol, J/K