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Q: I would like to record a quality demo. I am struggling between using live musicians, or synthesizers in addition to my own live instrument playing (in my case, Sax). As someone with a long career in music from both sides of the production booth, is using live ALWAYS the only way to go, or can I showcase my singing and playing with quality synth tracks filling out the percussion and orchestrations?
A: First of all, if you are recording a "demo" for the sake of pitching yourself to a label, or a song to an artist, there are no exacts for who or what to use on such a recording. The main thing is to utilize anything and everything that will enhance the demo..be it "live" players, or synthesizers. The main thing you should be concerned about is taste and arrangement of the production. The purpose of a demo is to capture the attention of the person you are pitching to...9 out of 10 times their attention span is very limited, so you have to make sure your music gets to the point, and has commercial appeal.. regardless of what instruments you use...its the arrangement and substance of the "music" and not what instruments are on it. That's the only concern of the person you will be trying to play your music to. He or she couldn't care less if you're using live players, or not. Set your focus on the music. The Beatles sounded fantastic with one acoustic guitar, as in "Yesterday." However, they also sounded just as great with synthesizers on their final "Abbey Road" album. What ever works for the song...think along those lines and you'll do fine. By the way, if you're talking about a demo to showcase your "live" singing, its always best to have real players instead of singing to programed tapes. "Live" musicians add more excitement than a tape deck. Good luck!
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John Beland's "do's and don'ts" when getting a gig as a session player:
1. Don't show up late...try to arrive a bit early for levels. Be ready to start when the session is scheduled.
2. Do be prepared. Bring your outboard gear and amp and tuner etc. A studio is not a rental hall, so don't expect them to supply you with amps and other things.
3. Do be quiet when the engineer is trying to get levels from other players. Don't be jamming around while he's doing this. Its annoying and doesn't impress anyone.
4. Don't complain about the studio gear. This pisses of the engineer & producer..if there's a problem, use tact when bringing it up.
5. Don't bring your friends or family to someone else's session, unless invited by the producer. This happens a lot and it disrupts the business at hand.....
6. Do what the producer says....he's the boss. Its his show.....If the artist or the engineer is bending your ear, always double check their requests with the producer before you agree to anything.
7. Do stay out of the booth unless invited in. Session players should be on the "floor" working. They're not "producing" and it tends to be very distracting to the engineer & producer to have the bass player, or guitar player, hanging over their shoulders in the booth. Up until the late 60's, artists and musicians weren't allowed in the production booth. That's why most studios had big playback speakers on the main floor.
8. Do work as a unit with your fellow players, and remember..most of the "great stuff" you play on the date will NEVER be heard! Don't expect every note you play to make it on the mix...play as a team member. This is what separates the great session units from amateur players.
9. Do pay attention to what's going on. Time is money and you shouldn't use the studio as a chat room or rehearsal hall.
10. Finally, if you do bring your girlfriend to the studio, keep her away from the drummer. They're known for stealing girlfriends away.
Have fun......its a great way to make a living!