No doubt about it...we record a lot of demos! Demos are very important for songwriters and artists because demos represent your creative vision and musical ideas. We record demos for clients who live here in Nashville, and through the mail. If you want to record a demo, and you can make it to Nashville, great! If you can’t make the trip to Nashville to record, you can still utilize all the wonderful talent that is available here.We work with clients from all over the country and the world! As a matter of fact, we have a client in England, who, after reading the article “It’s A Jungle Out There”, (excerpts below) sent us one of his songs to demo. We cut a great sounding, full-band demo on his song, sent it back to him within a week, and since then, he has sent us several more songs to demo!The process for a mail-order demo is easy. Send us a work recording of your song(s). A work recording can consist of you simply singing the song into a tape recorder, or you can supply us with your own guitar or piano music and vocal on tape, CD or e-mail an MP3. And enclose a lyric sheet. That’s all we need. We write out the music (using Nashville number charts), follow any specific instructions you may have, hire the musicians; then we record.Our pricing has a broad range. It can be adjusted to your specific needsA guitar or piano/vocal demo for $235A full band demo for $600-$1200.00These demos include a CD master of your song(s). We have examples of both these types of demos (click Hear, Here), so you know the high level of quality you can expect from us.(For our demo reel on CD, please call or e-mail us.)We are not the cheapest demo out there. And we are not the most expensive. That’s not our goal. We have been in business for 30 years because we promise, and deliver, a great product, something you will be proud to play for anyone. The musicians we hire for your demos are the best in town - they have played for artists like the Dixie Chicks, Jo Dee Messina, Trisha Yearwood, Steve Wariner, Tom T. Hall, Suzy Bogguss, Pam Tillis, Reba McEntire and many others. And the singers we work with, are the best in Nashville.We’d like the opportunity to record your demos. If you have any questions, Contact Us.
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It’s A Jungle Out There...
We seem to get a lot of questions about demos, often because there are no “industry standards” for demos, it’s difficult to compare apples to apples, and the level of quality varies greatly from demo to demo.
We get so many great questions about demos, that Bob Angello, our studio owner, wrote an article that was published by NSAI in their newsletter. It helps to clarify some important things to consider when shopping for a studio to record your demos.
It’s A Jungle Out There
excerpts from the published article,
© 2001 Robert Angello
...typically, the first question is, “How much do you charge for a demo?”
Value in a recording session cannot be defined by price alone. If a songwriter can get a full band demo for $75, or one for $450, all things being equal, logic would dictate that cheaper is better....unless...all things are not equal.
Here are some creative considerations:
Is “sounding like the radio” a consideration? Most publishers are looking for “radio-friendly” material that they can pitch to artists. Your demo needs to fit that format and reflect that sound. Someone (maybe an intern) who is auditioning new material for a publishing company may not have the experience needed to see through an average or below average demo.
Is a real piano a consideration? Ask Billy Joel!
Are real drums a consideration? Feel is everything in music. Compare the theme of the 80’s show L.A. Law to the Ally McBeal show. Real drums make a huge difference.
Will the demo producer allow creative input from afar? Beware of the studio that gives you the feeling that “you get what you get”. It’s your song. Here are some practical considerations:
Does the studio have any kind of longevity in the business? If they do, they must be doing something right, because of the competitive nature of the studio business in Nashville.
Do they have a real address or just a P.O. box? Remember, most demos are paid in advance and it can be difficult to track down a P.O. box holder in the event of dissatisfaction or non-delivery. Make sure you know to whom and where you’re sending your money.
Do they come recommended by a legitimate organization (NSAI) or friend who has used their services? Anyone can buy an ad in a songwriter magazine but a personal or professional recommendation is much tougher to come by.
Gotta get it right. It's a Jungle Out There...
We look forward to hearing your songs and working with you.
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