How many CD's is a good number to bring?

[AndyKotz]

Thanks Ellwood...

I did the CD design online with Discmakers short-run, self-service CD duplication and the business cards (actually, it is one 2-sided, business card) I did using the free Avery software that you can download from Avery itself. You can also design CD inserts, booklets and labels on that too.

It's so easy to do things like that with a Mac and an hour's worth of time. I give credit to Mac because I LOVE them. I have 2 PC's and 3 Apple computers in the house and the Macs can do circles around the PC's.
SO much faster... at everything! Especially the music... but, I digress...

Technology can be a great thing... sometimes.

[mojobone]

I've considered not bringing any; nobody wants 'em at this kinda shindig. I'll bring a few retail copies of Sunday Depression, and anything newer can be streamed at leisure from the cloud. My music hosting sites are listed on my card, and if I need to burn something, I'll bring some LightScribe discs. I'm thinking a business card/digital download card combo might make for a nice option...

[Casey H]

I'll bring SOME. I usually bring 2 different flavors- (1) With vocal songs along with their backing tracks and (2) Pure instrumentals... Maybe 5-8 of each but no more than that.

*IF* you want to drop CDs in the boxes for listening panels, definitely bring some CDs that you consider disposible in case you can't (or don't want to) find them afterwards.

Casey

[mazz]

If swag is your thing, I've seen USB flash drive wristbands (kind of like the Lance Armstrong ones with a USB connector on one end) at trade shows. I'm sure there's other things too. How about a USB swizzle stick or Martini olive spear. Yeah, there we go!


http://technabob.com/blog/2006/09/21/us ... ristbands/


http://www.usbcustomflashdrives.com/?gc ... gwodYQbpPg

http://www.usbcustomflashdrives.com/?gc ... __card-usb


BTW: I just signed up for GameSoundCon in SF the week after the Road Rally. They are holding a demo derby and in order to submit, your demo has to be on a USB flash drive. Nowhere was the word CD mentioned in the submission guidelines.

[peeyo]

I'm liking the USB business card idea.
Is it a good idea to put songs on a CD or USB dealio that are unsigned? Give them songs that can be signed or do you just put your best work on their? Whether it's signed or not?
PO

[eeoo]

Paul, I asked that same question last year and Cat Herder advised to just bring your best stuff whether it's signed or not.

eo

[Casey H]

Paul, I asked that same question last year and Cat Herder advised to just bring your best stuff whether it's signed or not.

eo

I think that varies a little depending on who your target is. Cat Herder is usually looking for COMPOSERS so what matters most is the level of talent, not necessarily the specific tracks. (e.g. Hire good athletes)

If I was giving a CD to a traditional music library exec, I wouldn't want the CD to contain all tracks that are already signed. There may be more interest in the tracks themselves in this scenario. Giving a CD of tracks, none of which are readily available, to a library person might annoy them. Yes, you could offer to write more tracks that are similar to the signed ones and that works out well sometimes, but it could also be lost opportunity.

This is one reason why sometimes exchanging business cards and following up later is better. It gives you time to think about how to best represent your music to this new contact based on what you learn about them.

There is no definitive right or wrong answer here.... Just pointing out some things...

Casey