For those of you here who are signed....

[The Metal Guy]

What perks do you get? And how did you get signed and how did it come about?

[The Metal Guy]

None of ya'll are endorsed by anybody?

[Foxworthy925]

ya, I guess not. lol.

I hope there'll be some replies. I've been wondering the same things.

[Dave Muscato]

If you're endorsed by somebody, that means that they like your products. Luthiers, amp companies, cabinet makers etc are endorsed *by* musicians, not the other way around. Put another way... If you are a musician (and not a bass company, etc), you don't get an endorsement; you give one.

IME, most deals involve distribution, promotion, and booking. Are you talking about recording contracts?

[pklima]

Recording contracts: promotion, distribution and a percentage of all sales (varies by CD, vinyl and merch). Depending on the label there may be an advance though they know that my costs are low so I don't need an advance to cover recording costs. I've been able to do one-album deals.

As for how it came about... released some stuff on CD-R on a tiny label, a guy with another CD-R label traded for it then asked me if I want to release something on his label sometime. This kept up for about five years - label owners trading for or buying my stuff from labels or distros - as I moved up to slightly larger labels or the labels I was working with grew. These days I get an e-mail about every 2-3 months from somebody asking me if I'm interested in releasing something on their label. I only do one-album deals.

No endorsements. I'm too cheap to spend much on gear and have no fashion sense so who's gonna want an endorsement from me?

[The Metal Guy]

Originally Posted by Dave Muscato

If you're endorsed by somebody, that means that they like your products. Luthiers, amp companies, cabinet makers etc are endorsed *by* musicians, not the other way around. Put another way... If you are a musician (and not a bass company, etc), you don't get an endorsement; you give one.

IME, most deals involve distribution, promotion, and booking. Are you talking about recording contracts?

Thanks for the reply, no I'm talking about being signed by bass companies like Fender or Gibson or whatever.

[Marcus Willett]

In my case there is no free stuff, just a good to great deal on products depending on the company. In general, smaller companies cannot afford as big a price break as the larger companies.

I just generally tend to like the products the smaller companies offer.

If you're a big name like Nathan East or Marcus Miller I've no doubt you can get sweetheart deals, but I'm happy with the companies I'm signed with. They all make products I would use regardless of any deal or price break.

[The Metal Guy]

So you get a discount? Can I ask how much?

[casualmadness]

I think it would depend on the company and the artist. My old teacher used to endorse Carvin. They sent him two LB76's, two cabs and an amp, as well as a monster box filled with shirts, jackets, stickers, coffee mugs, etc. It was all free. He played a Modulous Q6 and swore by it. But anytime he appeared publicly it was always with the Carvins.

[Marcus Willett]

I'd rather not say; that is in poor taste.

I can tell you the deals I've seen range from 25% off list to 80%

depends on the company and the endorser

[The Metal Guy]

Originally Posted by casualmadness

I think it would depend on the company and the artist. My old teacher used to endorse Carvin. They sent him two LB76's, two cabs and an amp, as well as a monster box filled with shirts, jackets, stickers, coffee mugs, etc. It was all free. He played a Modulous Q6 and swore by it. But anytime he appeared publicly it was always with the Carvins.

Holy heck, he must be really famous or something.

[casualmadness]

Originally Posted by The Metal Guy

Holy heck, he must be really famous or something.

No he isn't famous. He's just a very accomplished musician. But to be honest, most people have probably never even heard of him.