Occasionally the Electronic Postman arrives at the AAS Fictional Offices with a bundle of post from people asking if they can send demo tapes, and lots of packages full of the same. We LOVE getting this sort of thing, it makes us happy, and to help INCREASE the general level of JOY, here are a few TIPS we would like to share. Do please note though, this is what WE think, sending to other people might be different. Or the same. Who knows? Anyway:
1. Make sure you have sent the right thing, and that it works.
This sounds BLEEDING OBVIOUS, but is TRUE. Please check what you're sending to make sure that the tape actually works, or that the CD was copied properly, otherwise we will probably think it is Experimental, and be Confused.
2. Get the Postage Right
Neither a first NOR a second class stamp will cover the cost of sending a tape, let alone a CD-R, so do please nip down the post office, weigh your package, and make sure it's got the right postage on it before senidng. Otherwise we have to go to OUR post office to collect it, pay the extra, AND pay a fine. Although we at AAS are NICE, it doesn't put us in the best frame of mind for listening to a demo, now does it?
3. Send us the Good Stuff
Sometimes people send us a tape and say "This is rubbish, we will be recording some new stuff soon" ... er... so could you send us that instead please? This is pretty true, apparently, whoever you send stuff to - put your most DIRECT and appealing track first, then we will go "Golly!"
4. Don't ask us to download anything
We get LOTS of emails saying "Download our great new track!" and while it's GRATE to know that people are using the modern interweb, it costs us money on our phone bills and LOTS of time to sit and wait for stuff to download, and to be honest we can't be arsed with it. Just send us a CD of something and THEN if we like THAT we'll get downloading!
5. Say Something Interesting
Please send us some FACTS about yourself, that will make us go "Cor! That's Interesting!" Now, we don't want to sound unkind or anything, but we do get quite a lot of band biogs telling us the name and ages of the band, a list of gigs played, and several paragraphs about the "powerful sound" and "dynamic, committed, energetic" nature of the band, and it's a bit boring. Tell us why you are a band/DJ/Hep Mixologist, why you are sending us your stuff, and what it's supposed to be all about - if it helps, try and answer the question "What is it that makes you lot different from absolutely everybody else?". Also, Hilarious Remarks and/or saying "AAS is really good" ALWAYS go down well.
6. Don't Wait For A Reply
We're not as ruthlessly efficient at getting back to people as we'd like to be. Sorry. All three of us have Proper Jobs, honest, so don't get a lot of time to send back tapes/write detailed criticisms of everything we get. If we like it we'll DEFINITELY be in touch, so please include an email address so's we can ACTION it quicker. We're also trying to send out postcards to all the bands who send us stuff, at least in the UK, so watch those letterboxes kids!
7. Just Music Please
In theory anyway, we are a Record Company. We can't help you put together a band, set your poems to music or anything like that, so please don't waste the stamp asking! Also, we're always happy to answer any questions from students about Being A Label, and that sort of thing, although we get a bit less impressed when people ask us to write their thesis for them.
That's pretty much it - basically, send us a Working Copy of Something Exciting (that is Music), with an SAE if you'd like a definite reply, and if we Like it, we will let you know. PEASY.
