Recording a promo CD of cover songs

Siamsa Sessions

Hi all,

I'm currently doing some solo gigs around a few pubs and I'd like to do some more. Getting them is the problem, so I was thinking about recording a promo CD to give out with the business cards (and directions to the website).

They're pub gigs so I'd be trying to promo popular cover songs I do.

Does anyone have any advice as to where to start on this route?

e.g. Have others found promo CDs help with getting cover gigs? What kind of costs are involved? etc.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Kieran.

Fandango

I dont have much experience on the covers scene but I suppose its a very wide area with a huge range of talent etc so a promo CD would be a good idea. Id say if you are recording the songs live, make sure to get someone to do them professionally as you want the recordings to represent your live show properly and a dodgy recording can be very off-putting. Cost-wise, last live video we did cost around €200 if I remember right. This was for sound, mix and a HD video though so would probably be a bit cheaper for just audio.

Waking-Dreams

Just be careful. Technically, you would be required to obtain a mechanical licence because you are recording other peoples’ copyrighted songs with intent to distribute (albeit free copies I presume?). It is okay to perform covers live as the venues have to pay IMRO but when you record cover songs yourself it is a different story.

Fandango

Waking-Dreams wrote: »

Just be careful. Technically, you would be required to obtain a mechanical licence because you are recording other peoples’ copyrighted songs with intent to distribute (albeit free copies I presume?). It is okay to perform covers live as the venues have to pay IMRO but when you record cover songs yourself it is a different story.

That is true alright. I would presume for a cover artist they wouldnt care as they would pick up royalties as the artist gets gigs but always safer to cover your a$$ on things like this. Never tried it but I hear it can be a right pain getting that licence too but better safe than in court I suppose

Siamsa Sessions

Thanks for the info folks.

I've someplace to start from now.

Fandango: If you don't mind me asking, who did you get to record and mix your video? PM me if you prefer.

Thanks again.

paulheu

IF you are doing a straight from the desk recording and your engineer is decent you should be able to get reasonable results. I'd be willing to help you out on this is you like. You can find some of my stuff on Soundcloud, just search for thatsoundguy or I can give you a link to a shared folder to get some other samples.

Siamsa Sessions

paulheu wrote: »

IF you are doing a straight from the desk recording and your engineer is decent you should be able to get reasonable results. I'd be willing to help you out on this is you like. You can find some of my stuff on Soundcloud, just search for thatsoundguy or I can give you a link to a shared folder to get some other samples.

Thanks for that. Will be in touch.

Fandango

Sorry for the delay getting back to you. We used a group called ScreenPhonics (http://screenphonic.com). This is the video they did for us Here

Siamsa Sessions

Fandango wrote: »

Sorry for the delay getting back to you. We used a group called ScreenPhonics (http://screenphonic.com). This is the video they did for us Here

Thanks. Have got side-tracked the last few days here with a few new gigs, but will get back to the recording plan over Easter again.

Nice video too, by the way.