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![Questions and Answers [Number 3]](qanda.gif){kind=small}
The Questions are real, and serious...real worries and real doubts, suspicions answered by DEC. Are you worried about making and producing Hit Records, Hit Songwriting, Record deals, Publishing deals and Performing? This WILL help you! Uncle DEC helps all those who ask! Can he help you?
Quick Reference: check the numbers of the questions then scroll to the answer.....why not ask your own question?
(1) "ASSIGNMENT OF COPYRIGHT...AND THAT 'HOOK' THING?"
(2) " How would you square stuff by Britney, NSync etc -and stuff like say Zombie Nation?
(3) " Would you recommend that I buy a keyboard. If so...which do you personally think is the best one to purchase?"
(4) " I am starting a new label and all my prospective artist have the gedders about signing a contract. It's always "When do I get paid" and "Do we split 50/50 on sales?"
(5) "I need to know how working through your program is going to benefit me?"
(6) "I'm now looking to buy a keyboard to practice on. Any model/place I can buy it from in London you recommend?"
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(1) Dec, By definition, a lot of the demo's we get sent by local bands are great stuff but all fitting into pretty targetted area's which wouldn't particularly do well in the charts. The one artist who really impressed me recently was a young lady from Canada called Naomi Carmack - http://www.naomicarmack.cjb.net - Her main worry is that record companies reject her work without listening to it, saying things like: "we don't accept unsolicited material." She has an amazing voice (My opinion, of course) and she would fit right in to the "teen pop" sensation, even though she's 21 now. What I really need, I suppose, is some contacts in the big music companies. Regards Simon
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Hi Simon
You said: "they get a reply saying things like "we don't accept unsolicited material" - the old problem with small bands."
This is one of the 'secret' ideas I discuss and give a 'way forward' to singers and bands...it's pig easy! I always get stuff listened to...and I have NEVER sent one demo in my life! I am in the middle of a deal for my 60th album (yes, sixtieth!) brought about in exactly that way....no demo!
Briefly...
The second word in Show Business is 'business'. The second word in Record Industry is 'industry'...so it doesn't take a rocket scientist to work out that we are in a highly professional, highly 'business skills' orientated BUSINESS.
Does a Television manufacturer send an unsolicited new demonstration TV to Asda? NOPE!
Does a Scalpel designer send an unsolicited demonstration model to Guys Hospital? NOPE!
So why, oh why, do the thousands of acts send unsolicited CRAP to all the Record Companies and Music Publishers? Beats me! Only helps buy Mercedes cars for studio owners.
First you send a BUSINESS letter (how many band members do you know that can do that? Answer: Nil!) The object of the business letter is to generate enthusiasm for your product and to present a 'business plan'...a vision of the amount of money that the Record Company will make...thereby increasing the share value and increasing the A & R chief's annual bonus....simple or what? And the word 'credibility' never enters the discussion...only the amount of money to be made.
The Record Company/Publishing Company want to know the Database/Fanbase number...the amount of HIT material ready and the numbers of screaming fans in the queues down the street when the band plays live....simple? They want to know where they can see the 'house full' signs next week....easy?
That's all I have ever done...and that is all the majority of production companies have ever done.....so logical, so easy...but the hard bit is learning to WRITE! The next hardest thing is learning to TALK. The next after that is learning to LOOK RIGHT (probably the problem with your girl from Edmonton...there is always a reason for non-success)
There has never, ever been, in the history of the Record Industry any band/singer who deserved success that didn't get it!
The EASIEST part of the whole deal is the MUSIC! And tragically that is where 99.99999% of the bands and artists have got it wrong! They will say that I am talking through my ar*e...but ask them to check their bank balance against mine! I ain't swapping...
Spend more time in the gym and the health food store and less time in the boozer and the rehearsal studio...spend more time at 'Toni & Guys' and less time lying in bed with a hangover. Spend more money on designer stage gear and less on Saturday night Spliffs. Spend more time at the 'Tan Shop' and less time at the DHSS office. Does all this have a familiar and not so comfortable ring to it?
IT ALL STARTS WITH THE LETTER!
And that, Simon, is demonstrated to me every day of the year by the dreadful scraps of A4 lined paper that arrive with the hundreds of UNSOLICITED demos.....ALL of them utter '15 years too late' CRAP!
I am not being mean and arrogant when I talk like this...I am honest and truthful, and giving a lifetime of highly successful experience...this stuff you will CERTAINLY not hear from Record Company A & R men. This experience I share with the Members of 'The Serious Writers Guild' ......so hot that The Musicians Union actively discourage their Members from getting involved with me. Conspiracy? What do you think?
Regards
"where the 'lil guy gets the same chance as the big guy"
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(2) Dear Dec, How are you? I found your website very useful and I'm so glad it is on the net! My name is Igor Stojcic and I am from Wingham, Canada. I'm 15 years old and I love to perform and write lyrics very much. I would like to have a record deal. My motto is: "Practice, Practice, Practice because without practice there is no succeeding". Every day I work very hard on my vocal lessons, on average I spend about 2-3 hours singing per day. I know that I have to send them a demo tape, but what and how am I supposed to record on that tape if I want to send it to a professional. One day I will go on MTV and IF I win any awards I will Thank You So Much for all your help!!! I look forward to receiving e-mail from you! Igor Stojcic,
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Hi Igor.....
You are now subscribed for my 'A Minute with Uncle Dec' for FOUR weeks...enjoy....
Be careful if you are having 'singing lessons'. The majority of singing teachers are quite old fashioned and 'straight'. They only groom singers for 'straight' roles like Broadway.
If your teacher is steeped in the Charts then OK.
If you are teaching yourself then here is a great tip:
Go to your local 'switched on' Hip Hop/Smooth Groove' record shop and get the best 'female' compilation album available.
Pick the first track, third track, fifth track etc. (this is so you don't just pick your favourite track). Put on earphones and if you have a microphone use it. Then write the lyrics exactly (or type them, even better). They may already be on the CD insert.
Listen carefully to the lead vocal track and make notes on all the 'tricks' that the performer uses, stops, starts, glide up, glide down, vibrato on/off, movement etc. Your words sheet should end up almost black with notes! Devise your own way of making these notes.
Then 'ape' the voice completely...in other words, copy it exactly so that when you sing with it you cannot hear the difference between you and the artist on the record.
The fact that it is a female voice will ensure that folk don't say you copied someone else's style....
Also the fact that it is a female voice will push you to sing in keys you wouldn't dream of, so your falsetto voice will come very strong.
The fact that it is a compilation album will mean that you pick up vocal tricks from a lot of differing singers.
So when you come to write yourself, or perform yourself, in a studio with a producer, then you will have dozens of great natural phrases latched in your sub sonscious.
Hope this helps....
And STUDY our business......learn piano...the most important instrument!
Happy New Year...
Regards
"where the 'lil guy gets the same chance as the big guy"
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(3) Hello Dec I have written a number of lyrics. How should I go about trying to market them? Timothy
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Hi Timothy.....
First time I've had that question!
hmmmmmmm!
A fact of life, Timothy is that lyrics without music is POETRY.
And one of the biggest mistakes made by amateur songwriters is that they write poetry and then think of putting the stuff to music..... WRONG!
Of course, there have been great collaborations throughout the history of music that have been lyricists and composers. One of my best pals is Don Black [he wrote the lyrics for 'Phantom of the Opera', Lloyd Webber wrote the music]
But you will find that rarely has there been a situation of a lyricist being able to 'sell' his lyrics....at least, I have never heard of that situation...again I repeat that that would be thought of as poetry. Bernie Taupin didn't sell his lyrics to Elton John...they collaborated and had mammoth Hits.
So, the short answer to your question is that it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to 'sell' lyrics in this day and age.
However it would be extremely EASY to find a composer who desperately needs commercial, 'in yer face', 'today', lyrics that would slot easily between the Number One and the Number Two records this week in the charts....in fact, if you wrote those kind of lyrics and had 'start points', in other words an idea of the way the song should be finally put together, then people would beat a track to your door.
'Eminem' is basically a modern day poet who is also a great actor with words and a great talker...he also has the brilliant 'start points' and people like 'Dr Dre' put the stuff together...Get it?
Hope this helps
Regards and Happy New Year.
"where the 'lil guy gets the same chance as the big guy"
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(4) HELLO DEC
I am a student and a Member of 'The Serious Writers Guild' .
I have tried to pay for the full ten months but now find I cannot afford it. Music is my life, I just have to do it. I cannot concentrate on my 'A' Levels at school and I think I will give up school and just follow my dreams. I have a place at University but I'm not sure...what would you advise? Antoinette Oloo
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Hi Antoinette
Apologies for not getting back to you sooner
I have been on a nation-wide tour and then Christmas/New Year....now I'm back at what I love doing - looking after the 'Members'.
I am sad that you are in financial straits...always the same at your age...and I admire you for making the commitment to join The Serious Writers Guild. I will still send you the full course....don't worry about the money....some day YOU will be able to help someone just like I am helping you.All I ask is that you do everything I suggest in the releases! That way you WILL have success.
As regards your education. Do not fall into the trap of thinking that music is everything in your life...it isn't! Education, education and then education is what you SHOULD be looking at.....
"When you are educated you can choose to act uneducated" just as "When you are rich you can choose to act poor" but it certainly does not work the other way round! Think about it.
All the biggest and best Pop Stars, who have endured and made great careers, have ALL been educated. Because that is the only way to meet like minded people, to share the ideas, to work together. It is a fact of life that education gives you the skills for business, for life, for music....all the stuff you NEED for a long and great career in Show Business.
Go to University, study, study, study. Revise every day from day one (that is singularly the best bit of advice you will ever get). That way exams become a doddle, just like a game of tennis....you will look forward to them...to show off what you know and what you are capable of.
Of course you will find the odd exception in the Music Industry...but Antoinette, they are few and far between...and they do not last! I achieved 9 A levels and then read Civil Engineering at Dublin...I only practiced for six months before going to the UK on tour...and then it all started....but I thank Goodness every day that I got all that education....I could stand up to all the crooks, the bent solicitors, accountants etc. and knew that they could not win against me! Education was the key! They assumed I would be stupid...they were wrong...big time!
I am always here for you....let me have your Email address..
"where the 'lil guy gets the same chance as the big guy"
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(5) Dec I don't have the cash to buy great gear so what should I do? For now I just have to do the best I can with what I have on the table. Need to start somewhere to get somewhere. Roger (Sweden)
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Sorry Roger, I assumed you were using midi....if not, why not?
I would not stray away from the 'Industry Standard' way of doing things...
I get the feeling that you have no proper Monitor system...if you have not, do not buy anything other than Yamaha NS10S, no matter what you read in the mags. or hear from friends....again Industry standard right throughout the world....the drivers and tweeters are available as spares and you have precisely and exactly the same monitors as Dr Dre, Max Martin, Dec Cluskey [grin].
You then need the most powerful reference amp you can afford.....1000 watts?
Don't even think of a Hi Fi amp or the computer amp....again you need 'Industry Standard'. Never use an amp with 'tone controls' (amateur in the extreme) ...preferably use an amp with 'soft start' [so it won't 'click' or 'thump' on power up...damage your speakers]. I even use power amps with no 'volume controls'. (Quad professional)
It is essential; to use a 'DC protector' in line. (around £7) They are available from a 'Maplin' type store for sound enthusiasts. They will protect your speakers against the power amp descending to Direct Current. Will save you a fortune in burnt speakers. Over the years those little £7 suckers have saved me fortunes...particularly with the big P.A. speakers.
As we always say: "Ten thousands Indians can't be wrong"...USE INDUSTRY STANDARD
Regards
"where the 'lil guy gets the same chance as the big guy"
Ask Dec
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