Writing a song is a huge accomplishment—one of those things very few people will ever do in their lifetime. But writing a song is just the beginning of a much longer journey.
Some have written hundreds of songs and never took the next step: recording a demo.
What is a Demo?
A demo is a professionally recorded track that takes the lyrics you’ve written and puts them to music.
Most songwriters already have an idea of what they’d like their song to sound like. If that’s you, all you have to do is record a worktape (a rough version of your song being played and sung) using a personal recorder, phone mic, etc.
From there, someone can use that song to create a number chart (kind of like sheet music for studio musicians), record the demo track, and have a professional singer lay down vocals.
Why Record a Demo?
There are a few reasons you might want to do this if you are a songwriter.
You may want to hear a professional version of your song.
Sometimes, it’s cool just to hear a professional version of something you’ve written! I will never forget the first time hearing one of the songs I had written after it was recorded by professionals.
I had done plenty of recording on my own, but there was nothing like hearing it with a fresh take on the music. That’s a perfectly legitimate reason.
You may want to pitch your song to professional artists.
One of the most common reasons for recording a demo is to pitch the song to professional artists.
It is quite difficult to get your song in front of well-known artists (and to be honest, even lesser-known artists). The reality is, they are bombarded with requests to record new music from multiple directions week in and week out.
When you do have something to offer, then, you must absolutely put your best foot forward. If you have a chance to share your song with an artist, ideally, you will presented them with a professional, polished version that helps them hear the song how you truly intended.
If all they have is lyrics in front of them, or a low quality recording you made yourself, it is highly unlikely they will take the time to consider your offer.
You may want to make your song available for others.
Maybe you don’t have lofty goals of having your song recorded by a popular artist. Even so, you’d like for someone to have the chance to find your song and use it.
Ultimately, this will be an issue of exposure. There are not many places where you can publish a demo version of your track for bands/groups, soloists, church performers, etc., to find your track.
This is where BuyDemoTracks.com comes in. We can place your demo in front of performers who are actively looking for new music, and even pay you royalties each time someone requests to download your track. Learn more here.
Can I Record a Demo Myself?
Yes, you can. However, whether or not you should will depend upon a variety of factors.
If you have extensive music industry experience, a professional recording setup, and the contacts necessary to get your music in front of the right people, this is absolutely something you can do yourself.
If you don’t have any of the above, it could be a better investment of your time and money to have professionals record the demo for you.
This will ensure the demo is the quality you need it to be in order to gain the attention of potential artists.
Who Can Record a Demo for Me?
When it comes to choosing a studio or a musician to record your music, there’s good news and bad news.
The good news is there are a lot of options to choose from. Many reputable musicians have home studio setups, and there are many full-time professional studios that would be happy to record for you.
The bad news is that, even if you have a professional demo recorded, there is still no obvious bridge from having the demo recorded to pitching the song to potential artists.
Also, the many options could be overwhelming. Who should you choose? How can you be sure they are the right fit for your demo?
BuyDemoTracks.com was actually created to solve both issues. We work with an extensive list of professional studio musicians and manage the process from end to end.
Then, after the demo is recorded and you are happy with the finished product, we will place your song in our online catalog visited regularly by established, up and coming, and occasional artists and performers alike.
This process does not have to be a mystery. If you’ve written a song and are ready to request a demo recording, click here to get started.