JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Industry Message Forum Getting Songs Cut

It's kinda like going to a job interview well prepared with your resume, well-dressed, hair cut, clean nails, etc. How you present yourself speaks volumes.

Your music has to speak for itself. It can't speak well if it's dressed in old jeans. It's your calling card. If the singer doesn't deliver the lyrics well (and on key), if the music isn't well played & decently recorded, those who listen will just move on.

I think a great recording starts with a great song. I wouldn't go anywhere until I'd had a worktape go through various critique processes and rewrites. Don't neglect this or you will end up with great recordings of so-so songs.

Then, I'd choose my demo house based on a) the style of music I write, b) verifiable success stories from other songwriters in that genre who have used that house, c) pro reviews.

Like, if I decided to take some songs to a particular demo house, I'd get one song cut only, and have that demo reviewed by several people I trust. If the vocals & music cut the mustard, I'd be confident enough to use them again.

Personally, when looking for assistance with production, I look for musicians who I know are signing music they've produced.

Cutting demos is serious business. Like, I see listings for songs (not film/tv) that ask for specific instrumentation & groove to support the song - even tho the artist would re-cut it. It seems that nowadays the demo has to sound pretty radio ready, which is terribly frustrating (and costly) to songwriters, especially when getting a song cut is so competitive.

Why not take a different angle? Go to live music events in your town, get to know what local artists play music in your genre, hang out and chat with them, pitch your songs to them if possible. If they cut a song or two, you'd have a demo and a credit.

HTH