General Music Chat

does visual really mean that much in an audio art?
Or even, should it?!

I doubt if even a small percentage of those whom would hear a Demo were "artists".

More to the point, another question if you will gents.

If "we" as musicians are in the position of providing entertainment, Would not the visual be important as well.

Whether deliberate or not, an artist projects an image of themselves and the work they represent. A choice is made to either take control over your image or it will be chosen for you by random chance. It doesn't necessitate going into a big production like KISS or GWAR. But, just simply choosing either a casual or more formal look will effect the audience response to the rest of what you're bringing them. You can't help but make an impression somehow.

That's true Mike. My some 50 years of experience in life would have me think we have damn little control over what others may perceive that image to be.

Such is life.

Sans.....a big problem I have with the new medium of demo exchanges is the quality of the final product. So I prefer listening to someone's CD rather than an MP3 or Youtube cut.

I've heard plenty of songs/music from differing artists/genres, that just don't cut it because of the quality of the recording. For example, if Im auditioning drummers, I want to know if that drummer is in touch with the tone he's putting out. Hard to do from listening to it through the new formats out there. Especially if you have to listen through computer monitors.

Sometimes, when checking out somebody's music, I stop listening just 15 seconds into the song. Mostly because it sounds like crap through my high-end sound system.

And this means that the hook or novelty of the song has to catch me from the very beginning, or I just wont listen to the entire song, which is not fair to the musician......but it's my ears and patience that are at stake.

So....maybe this is what Mike was trying to say, or maybe not. But what a lot of musicians out there are just not getting is, that your music might be great, well played and written.......but if an AR man or investor doesn't take the time to listen......you're not getting that big budget recording contract, or that well-paying road tour agreement.

We (musicians) are all striving for different goals. In some cases, an MP3 demo (because I believe that's what an MP3 really is) will do the job. But the CD recording has a better chance at getting listened to (by the "Right" people) because of the sound quality.

Sound quality is also an issue, as you said. I've heard really awful-sounding demos burned to CD, that just says to me "We don't give a f*ck." Sometimes such an attitude could work in your favor, but usually not. A poor recording just tests the patience of the listener further, giving them incentive to shut it off.

Naglfar,Metallica, had bad demo's but look at them now.Seeing as Naglfar and also Metallica are signed. I'd say I disagree. There are lots of bands I could have listed, that are now signed. I'd think they are looking for originality and energy over how amazing the recorded audio is. True it still has to be within listening reason. Though Metallica's garage demo did them well.