So you want to sign a record deal huh?
Doesn’t everyone? What sort of a question is that.
Join the cue, stand in line and take a ticket - says the guy at the reception desk at most record label offices.
Let’s face it, a record deal is the one thing every band desires for, but for whatever reason they can’t seem to secure one.
I’ve written previously on various other posts about the enormity of trying to secure a record deal in this day and age.
However, in my humble little opinion, I honestly believe that the best way to position your career to secure the right record deal you are looking for is to follow an ancient mystical Kabalistic concept that I learned about a few years ago.
The Short Long Way Vs The Long Short Way
In life, there are generally two main ways to achieve an end result. There are so many goals and visions people may have, but in our case we are looking at trying to secure a record deal.
One way is to take the path of least resistance and figure out the shortest possible way to get from A to B or from unsigned act to securing a record deal. This path is generally the “quick fix” or the cut corners path. It’s the “cheat notes” option or the “let everyone else do the work for me and I’ll sit on my couch until I get that phone call I’ve always been waiting for from Mr X and Sony BMG” option.
Unfortunately, we are all suckers to the short way in one way or another in all our lives. The path of least resistance is sometimes to tempting. Getting out there and making things happen yourself is something that is sometimes put in the “to hard” basket, so we’ll sit on our buts and wait for success to knock on our door.
However, the question at hand is where will this path ultimately lead your band or music career? Down a much longer path to get to the finish line. A much longer path to secure that record deal you believe you are worthy off
Think about it for a moment
The short long way of trying to get a record deal is all about expecting other people to get the hard work and effort done for you. Expecting people to bank on you and your band before you can prove your worth?
C’mon. Wake up, smell the coffee and get real.
The Long Short Way To Success!
Alternatively there is the opposite path known as the long short way.
In the beginning, this path is tough and full of mud. It’s hard work and requires effort. It actually requires that you go out and make things happen. It requires that you go out and learn the ropes of the business. That you knock up a few points on the board in relation to selling your records and playing live.
Overall, the long short way is much harder in the beginning but much easier in the end.
In relation to signing a record deal, the beaming smiles on the faces of the band during that photo opportunity moment when everyone is sitting there signing contracts, is not so much because they are signing a contract, but more because all the hard work they went through to get to that moment has finally paid off.
Their smiles are a result of all the work that went into the long way short way approach of getting to where they are at the moment in time.
The long short might take longer to get your deal but ultimately it will shorten the rest of the trip once you achieve your goals.
Bringing It All Back Home
Aside from this concept applying to all areas of our lives, it especially holds true with a record deal.
The simple cold hard truth is that no record will even want to look at you unless you can prove some sort of track record. Until you can prove to them that you have gotten your hands dirty and the pay off is working.
Unfortunately this is the reality of the music business.
In this current economic climate both in the music business and beyond, unless you embark down the path of the long short way, securing a record deal will feel like you a fish in a fish tank swimming round and round over and over again.
Tags: Music Recording, The Music Industry
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