What are the chances of my band getting signed?

[Low_End_IIA_Vic]

www.myspace.com/isntitalwaysnj

We'll be making new recordings soon to send out. our songs on the myspace are all re-written so they sound more mature for the style we play.

if your going to be a dick don't post.

[TrevorOfDoom]

not to be a dick, and no, i didn't listen to the link, but what's the purpose of your band getting signed?
most bands these days make all their money on the road, selling merch. only thing a label really does is booking, and distribution, but you do still have to pay them to do this. and if you're savvy enough, you can hire a booking manager and just get internet distribution for cheaper than a label will charge.
the world is changing. unfortunately, record labels aren't. so they'll either get left behind in the digital revolution, or they'll have to adapt. getting signed doesn't mean what it used to.
just something to think about.

[WayneS]

The music is pretty good. Not my style but it sounds good.

Your chances of getting signed is about the same for every other decent band... about one in a million.

I somewhat agree with Trevor, however, the digital age hasnt passed the record companies yet. I would much rather be signed and tour then just tour and sell merch. I dont fancy sleeping in a van!

[Joe Nerve]

50/50. No, 20/80. Hmmm... 60/40...

Sorry, had to be at least a tiny little bit of a dick. The question is amusing.

Your asking it is very telling though. What exactly does getting signed mean to you? Do you mean to a major label and get on MTV and eventually wind up in an episode of Cribs? Then your chances are the same as anyone else's here which is equal to your chances of winning lotto. If you mean to an indie label do you mean one that's going to put you on tour with a huge band, a label that's going to sign you in case you ever make any money on your own so that they can take it, a new label that's going to be truly supportive but unable to really do anything for you, my friend Mike's label, my friend Pete's, a label that can and will help you?

Not saying this stuff to put you down, but it seems you really need to learn a little more before even being in a situation where you could sign anything without possibly getting yourself into trouble. It's a question that reaks of inexperience.

[Low_End_IIA_Vic]

i know what you mean. we don't need a label but it would make things a lot easier.

[Step]

not being a dick, and I don't really know if this a pro or a con to being signed, but you really really remind me of a band called thursday, which in my eyes is an average band

[ryco]

I agree with ToD. music can be mostly a DIY thing these days.

The only thing I see labels good for now is distribution, since they've had years to develop the lines. But even this is changing.

Believe in yourselves, consistently put out a lot new good stuff and hustle (promote) yourselves with ads in music zines and booking/playing lots of shows, pref with other bands.

If you can develop a really happening buzz, the labels will come to you.

[Bass Mule]

Not to be a dick...
The music was just alright. Not my style, but it has a lot of potential. You guys need to polish up the recordings a bit before any major label would sign you. Even some of the arrangements could use a bit of tweaking. You could go the indie route if you wanted to, and it may prove a bit easier.

I agree with Trevor. Think about your goals, and maybe evaluate what you and your band truly want. Being signed does not mean you are successful.

Plus, you're very young. The era of talented youngsters, although far from over (if it ever will be), has lost some of its luster. In other words, the gimmick of having a band of young musicians isn't so novel anymore.

[kvane]

The synth makes you guys sound like you're covering video game music. No, not being a dick, just being honest. Trevor is right. The industry has changed, the labels did not. They screwed up back in the 90's when they sued Napster, they should have got on board with it too reap the payoff. Instead, they shut 'em down. Labels still have huge power, but there's no more money left and now they're taking percentages of the concert sales and merch! A lot of bands are having to pay their labels 10%-20% of their concerts and merchandising. Sure, getting signed will force HUGE exposure all at once, but you'll be raping yourself in the end. Establish a good, solid home-base, then start branching out slow & steady. A lot of hard work, but if people dig your stuff it'll pay off eventually. Maybe not nationally, but the universe is filled with possibilities, right?

[Low_End_IIA_Vic]

before you put down anyone else's aspirations because of your own failures, you should think of their motivations.

we don't want to be on reprise or anything like that. just a label that will help us and in tern we can help them. we need an indie label if any. like finding a good girlfriend i guess you could say.

and we could have signed with universal records(a disney label) if we wanted to be the jonas brothers, but thats not us so we didn't.

[Low_End_IIA_Vic]

Originally Posted by kvane

The synth makes you guys sound like you're covering video game music. No, not being a dick, just being honest. Trevor is right. The industry has changed, the labels did not. They screwed up back in the 90's when they sued Napster, they should have got on board with it too reap the payoff. Instead, they shut 'em down. Labels still have huge power, but there's no more money left and now they're taking percentages of the concert sales and merch! A lot of bands are having to pay their labels 10%-20% of their concerts and merchandising. Sure, getting signed will force HUGE exposure all at once, but you'll be raping yourself in the end. Establish a good, solid home-base, then start branching out slow & steady. A lot of hard work, but if people dig your stuff it'll pay off eventually. Maybe not nationally, but the universe is filled with possibilities, right?

money doesn't matter..

[kvane]

Originally Posted by Low_End_IIA_Vic

money doesn't matter..

Then it depends on what it is you seek. The exposure?

[Bass Mule]

??? No one is putting down your aspirations. You asked for an opinion. We gave you one. If your goal is to get signed, awesome. More power to you. Do I think you'll get signed? Not today, based on the myspace link you provided. Maybe someday. As far as signing with universal, but turning it down because you refuse to compromise who you are? Well, that's most of the unsigned bands out there.

[BadB]

Your songs are pretty good. As for getting signed (or whatever you call making a living off of your music), you need to get in with people that can promote you and your music. You need to be persistent, get a respected agent, and make all the right moves. Don't surround yourself with flaky people, especially band members. Getting signed to a label doesn't mean crap if you are not making any money. If you are not interested in being a touring band that lives on the road, there are others ways to make money.

[Low_End_IIA_Vic]

Badb knows whats up

[spc]

[quote=Low_End_IIA_Vic;5556707]before you put down anyone else's aspirations because of your own failures, you should think of their motivations.

QUOTE]

Which poster is that supposed to be aimed at? That's a pretty rotten thing to say to someone. I now won't check out your link JUST BECAUSE of that response. How would we know what your chances are of getting signed? And then to come off at the mouth like that? Honestly, I don't get it. If you want to be treated with respect, respect yourself by not talking like you already know everything...there's no faster way to kill an artistic endeavor than by telling yourself (and thereby, others) that you already know it all.

And if getting signed is your thing, why would you turn down a Disney label?

And money doesn't matter? Tell that to the guys here who do this for a living...
I am not doing this for a living, so, yes, for me the money doesn't matter. If I'm playing with people and not having fun, or NOT LEARNING anything, then I promptly remove myself from the situation.

You had better prepare for criticism, you'll be getting it (good and bad, wanted or unwanted) at every step of the way.


shawn

[jimmyjames77]

Your music aside, which I purposely didn't listen to, you can be the best band in the world, with the best songs ever written, have top notch production and there still will be so many different things that need to happen for you to get signed. I spoke to an A&R guy before that told me the story of how Coldplay was passed up by a major company before they got signed, and they are huge now.
A sure fire way to get signed though is to either sell 15,000 copies of your album, all by yourself and show the companies this, or bring 1000 people to every show you do. The companies will be finding you if that's the case. Both scenarios are almost impossible but that is how lazy the major companies are. They don't want to FIND talent they want it to be brought to them... It really is sad.
Later,
jim.

Originally Posted by Low_End_IIA_Vic

www.myspace.com/isntitalwaysnj

We'll be making new recordings soon to send out. our songs on the myspace are all re-written so they sound more mature for the style we play.

if you're going to be a dick don't post.

[fenderhutz]

I am coming out of posting retirement for this one.

Honestly, it seems like you are the one being a complete "dick" (in your words) when someone is giving you honest advice about how the music industry is a sinking ship right now. You aren't going to accept any response unless it's someone swooning over your music.

If you agree that another poster "knows" what's going on, then why ask the question. It just seems like a shameless request to get your band listened to on here. Honestly it's not a bad idea to promote your music, but this is a backhanded way of doing it.

Big labels are going to be the thing of yesteryear for alot of bands, not dealing with the adult children that actually run the business and that are scared out of their mind because they can't/won't change to meet the demands of the changing music business. You want a good answer here it is:

1: work hard (don't rely on a label, YOU make it work)
2: network with other bands and indie labels
3: promote on the internet and locally as much as possible
4: make your "image" larger than life
5: be professional, ALWAYS (even for 4 people in the crowd or how crappy a club can be)
6: stop being pretentious (your band isn't selling 100,000 songs a week yet)
7: be energetic and and excited all of the time about your band in public when someone asks

There you go.

[BadB]

Traditionally, a band will get signed, produce a cd, and tour to support their music and themselves. Most bands that do this will make a nominal living while living out of a tour bus. Extremely successful arena acts will make a boat load and will be able to dictate the course of their careers. It's all up to you and the choices that you make.

[heytrid]

the answer is not to a label where you will not still be working your asses off to pay for your touring

plan on sleeping in the van, working 8 months of the year to pay for the other 4 when you are touring and playing/gear, selling a cd or a shirt in order to eat that night.

if you plan on that anything else will be gravy

Also not trying to be a dick but right now the indie market is flooded with that "sound" you have to find a way to set yourself above the other bands that have a smiliar sound if you want to live off your music comfortably.