OK, so now you have your band. Quite often, you don’t have a gig because people need to hear or see you before they’ll book you. So get a demo together. It’s likely you’ll be doing quite basic gigs first of all, so a rough demo is OK. Record a rehearsal and see how it sounds. Borrow or hire a camera and shoot some footage. If you want to make a more professional demo right off the bat, then you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg. Of course, it’s better to go to a professional studio, but recording music always takes longer than you think it’s going to, which puts the price up. With the advent of the home computer, home recording is available to anyone, and there are a zillion enthusiasts out there who have learnt, or are learning the art of being a sound engineer.

See if you can get a fixed price for the project, rather than by paying for the hour if you have a budget. They might be into it, and it also means that it won’t take forever to finish (providing no corners are cut, of course. Once again, trust your instinct). Again, you might find them on Craigslist or similar forum, or someone you’ve heard of through the grapevine, or at the rehearsal studio or the notice board of the local coffee shop. Hopefully you’ll know how you want the band to sound, and if they know their salt they’ll play you what you need to hear. And, also hopefully, you’ll know if they’re for you, it’ll feel right. Don’t go for and it and just hope for the best. Do, however, try to get an experienced engineer, one who knows his or her stuff. Some gigs book from just a crappy rehearsal recording, but the better gigs demand a more professional approach. So you might be able to get away with something basic at first, although at some point or other you’ll need a proper demo.

Choose wisely. If you’re using bedroom recording guy, or somewhere in between, you can still get great results. Technology has come on amazingly, and with the right knowledge and with a good mastery of skill (for recording and mixing is an art unto itself), a simple computer set up can become a very sophisticated recording studio. Hear their mixes and judge for yourself.

Three songs should be enough. Try and choose songs with different dynamics, and, obviously, choose your best three songs. Many organizations (especially web based ones), events, managers, record companies et al require to also see you. If funds are low, then make your own DVD. You might know a great animator or film maker who wants to try it as a project. If they need to see you live, then get a friend to shoot you at a rehearsal or a gig. Or hire a camera, then edit the footage later. Or hire a club or rehearsal space, create a vibe, get your friends to come and film a few songs. If you have a budget to spend, you can still do everything relatively cheaply. The bigger the city, usually the easier it is to arrange because there is just that much more demand for it. Hire a proper cameraman, lighting guy and makeup artist. Get a place with a vibe, get a plan, get as much as advice as you can, and shoot it. Learn how to edit or find an editor. You’ll then hopefully have a DVD that shows your talents and looks relatively professional. Or with just a digital camera you can get a basic recording (and even edit later on your computer to make it look a bit more professional).

Once you have a demo that you’re happy with, you’ll need to package it. Hopefully someone in the band knows photoshop or similar software, or you know someone that does. Artwork for promo packages does not have to cost an arm and a leg, this is something you can easily do yourself.

Then you’ll need to get some copies made. You don’t have to get a thousand made. CD duplicators come and go at an alarming rate, but there are many out there that will just print 100 or even 50. Just do a google search and see what you come up with. I found a good one here in San Francisco called mixonic.com where you can get them made singly if you want. The cost goes up the less you order, of course. However, it’s pointless to get a zillion made when you’re only approaching a few venues/managers initially. I guarantee that once you’ve been playing for a while and have started a fan base and got a good set together (and have made a few more connections), you’ll want to make a CD you can sell at gigs.

You’re also going to need some photos of the band. If you don’t have the cash, then try a few things out and see what you can photoshop. Or find a photographer you like and do a shoot in an interesting setting. One word of caution: avoid “The Brick Wall”. There’s a whole website dedicated to bands who’ve had promo shots done against a brick wall, i.e. it’s become a huge cliché. A bit like picking up a guitar and playing “Stairway to Heaven” in a music store. If you’re a solo artist, it’s more important to get some professional shots done. Look around and find a photographer who specializes in photographing artists, if possible.

Then, last but not least, get a brief bio of the band. The line-up, where you’ve played, and the genre of music you specialize in. If you’re a solo artist, then the same thing applies. You’re experience, your range (if applicable), plus your musical genre. You don’t have to get that detailed with a bio. They just want to find out a bit about you. However, the more real experience you get and connections you have, the more impressive the bio. But if you haven’t had a whole lot of experience, there’s no point mentioning stuff that simply isn’t relevant.