Demos

   Put your best track first.

   Catch the listeners attention within the first 20 seconds. Make them want to listen to more.

   Use only 2 to 3 songs on a demo.

   Keep songs fairly short and punchy.

   Make sure that the sound quality is OK and not too fuzzy or quiet / loud.

   Always put your name and phone number and every conceivable contact detail on the CD.

   Don't send out lyric sheets. [Hmmmmmmm! Can't say I agree with that...says Dec...important way for the listener to scan lyrics and see are they commercial - with enough hooky repetition]

First Gigs

   Don't gig before you're ready. Better to practice until you're confident you can perform in front of an audience.

   Try for small gigs at school, college or in your local church or community hall.

   Use your first gigs to try out various songs, sets and running orders. Perfect your performance and decide on a set that you're comfortable with.

   Make sure that you're well rehearsed.

   Make every gig a special event. Create a buzz. Think about sound, lighting, presentation and the order of the songs in your set. Look and sound professional even if there's only ten people watching, Always do your best - you never know who might be in the audience !

   Play a couple of try-out gigs before launching yourselves at a bigger venue.

   Turn up early and be well prepared.

   [If you are young] Get your family or an adult to help with transport and equipment. Make sure the stage set up is safe and the electrics have been checked by an expert.

   Get the audience involved. Talk to them, [but only if you have something of relevance to say...rehearse the talking! British acts talk ten times too much.] 'work them', get them excited! If you're a pop act, you might use choreographed dance routines. If you're an indie or rock band, build up the excitement. Save the best till last and go out with a bang!

   Keep your set short and sweet. Don't bore the audience by playing too long. Make them want more. A 20-30 minute show is ideal.

   Be prepared for a few failures. Not everyone gets it right every time. Learn from things that go wrong.

   Once you've started playing gigs, don't forget to tell your friends and fans. Posters, leaflets and fliers are good ways of publicising your gigs, and these can be produced cheaply and run off on a photocopier.

   Don't do too many gigs in one area.

Keeping it Live - Next Gigs

   Once you've built up a good crowd at your gigs, think about playing in larger venues. Build things up over time.

   Start thinking about doing gigs outside your immediate town or city. Build up useful contacts in other areas.

   If you're at school, think about putting a schools tour together. You'll need to get your music teacher or head to speak with other schools.

   Once you've built up a following, think about starting a fan club, fanzine or mailing list. [Perhaps the most important part...database/fanbase...your Email list has to be 30,000+...Dec]

You can start your own mailing list by collecting the names and addresses of fans who come to your gigs. Then you can send them information about future gigs, merchandise and band gossip. But remember keeping a mailing list going costs money [in stamps and envelopes / notepaper]. [But Emailing costs practically nothing...except your time...says Dec]

Producing a fanzine can be a cheap and easy way of publicising your band. If you have access to a photocopier and word processor, it couldn't be easier. [Again - a weekly or monthly Ezine with audience pics. in costs next to nothing!...says Dec]

Band Biogs

   If you are planning on getting gigs, you may be asked for a band biography. A band biog is a one page description of who you are, what sort of music you make and any highpoints in your musical career so far.

   Your artist / band biog should be typed and not hand written. Make it look attractive to the reader.

   Keep the biog short and simple - no more than one page.

   Include any good quotes from reviews in the press if you have these.

   Try to give the reader an idea of what sort of music you make.

   Biogs are also useful for sending to journalists and record labels if you are mailing out demos.

Hot Shots

   Include photos with your biog if you have good ones.

   Photographs should be simple and eye catching. No dodgy snaps. [there is a complete section in 'The Art Of Live Performing' to help you with the photographic session]

   Make yourself look striking and interesting. Simple but striking is best.

   Always put your name and phone number on the back of a photo. [Write ALL your contact details - plus the title of the pic. on a label and then stick it on the back of the picture...work out for yourself why...Dec]

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