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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
 | Why choose Azalea Studios?
 | We offer an alternative to the downtown “hustle &
bustle” recording session. Although we are suitably equipped for the most accomplished music
professionals, we also specialize in
singer/songwriters and cater to the novice or “first-timer.” We have a
knack for calming studio jitters or anxious tendencies and for bringing
out the absolute best in our clients to help them make a high-quality,
professional recording.
Perhaps you’re an out-of-town songwriter who needs to record a song
demo? No problem. We can do it all for you. You don’t even need to be
here.
We also offer standard day-long workshops and personalized one-on-one
consulting on studio-related issues such as CD/cassette manufacturing,
do-it-yourself recording, song writing evaluations, and several other topics.
Yeah, we know that most studios don’t offer these services… but we’re
not most studios.
Whether this is your first time or your hundredth, if you’re in the market
to record, take a look at what Azalea Studios has to offer. We think you’ll be
pleased. We’re Azalea Studios. And there is a difference.
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| Do you accept outside material?
| No. We don't accept outside material because we don't have the
resources to support it. Even though we're sure your
newest stuff is fabulous, you'd be wasting a tape or CD,
postage, and your time and effort by sending it to us. We are NOT a
publishing company, management company, booking agency, or a record label.
Yes, we do provide many of these services for one artist--Nancy Moran. (That's
because I own the company!) If you're the next
greatest-thing-since-sliced-bread band or artist, we're excited for you!
And if you haven't got a clue how to get started, how to get heard by the right
people, or where to go next, perhaps we can help educate
you about the business and coach
you in the right direction. But please, hold on to your tapes and CDs.
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| Are you looking for new artists?
| No. We do not currently have the resources (time, money, or personnel)
to promote, book, or manage another act. In fact, we are currently
shopping for some of these services for Nancy Moran as well.
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| How do I find a manager?
| The first question to ask yourself, is "Why do you need a manager right now?" If you don't know the answer to this question, or
if your answer is something like "because that's what I thought you're
supposed to do," then you probably don't need a manager right now. On
the other hand, if you have an act that has outgrown your own resources, perhaps
you do need a manager.
Finding the right manager is a process
that can take years to achieve. So, we can't fully address the issue in a couple
of paragraphs and give you an adequate answer. Let me
suggest that while you're looking for that right team player you may want to
check out Jeri Goldstein's Manager-in-a-Box system. It's like having a manager...but only when you really need one.
Also, we'd be happy to consult with you
in your search for the right person. Contact us for
more information on how we can help you.
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| How do I find a booking agent?
| I gotta tell ya...this is a toughie! Honestly, a good booking agent
is very hard to find...mostly, because there aren't very many of them. The
best thing you can do for yourself is to book yourself. When you are
playing everywhere--trust me--the booking agents will come looking for you.
But that's the answer everyone hates,
right? In the meantime, ask around. Ask your friends about their agents.
Ask venues which agents they like to deal with. Invite agents to your gigs when
you are in the area. Sure, they might not come to the gig...invite them
anyway!...Every time!
Also, check out Jeri Goldstein’s excellent book: How To Be Your Own Booking
Agent (and Save Thousands of Dollars). There’s no other book like it on the
market. Even if you have an agent, you might want to read this for ideas.
Or come to our Booking Yourself workshop here in Nashville...or bring our
workshop to your organization.
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| How do I make my own record?
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Just because you don’t have a record deal, doesn’t mean you can’t
release a record (CD, cassette). So, if you’ve always wanted your own
album...make it yourself!
Making your own record requires a LOT of planning and pre-production. And it
also takes more than just recording music. Here’s a partial list of the tasks
you’ll need to accomplish to release a professional disc: hire a producer,
find a studio, coordinate studio time with musicians’ schedules, hire a
photographer for cover photos, hire a graphic designer for the CD and cassette
artwork, mix your recordings, master your recordings for final output, find a
manufacturer for CDs and cassettes, register your recordings with the U.S.
Copyright Office and your performing rights society, get a bar code number from
the UCC (if you want to be “retail-ready”), etc. And I haven’t begun
listing tasks on the “releasing” side yet!
You can see by this list, that a LOT of effort, time, and money goes into
making a professional recording. We’ve recorded and released three of our own
albums on CD and cassette, and coached many others to release their own. We can
help you with your recording and release through our Making and Releasing Your
Own Record workshop or one-on-one through our coaching and consulting service.
If you’re interested in making your own record, contact us for more
information.
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| How do I find a record label?
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Let’s get one thing straight from the beginning: Record Labels are in the
business of making money. That’s not a negative comment...that’s reality.
Every business survives only if it makes enough money to survive. Would you
expect Taco Bell to stay in business if it wasn’t making a profit selling
burritos? Of course not. So, why do we think that record companies should be any
different? Yes, we’d all like to believe that our personal artistic endeavors
can sell millions upon millions of records simply because we’ve poured our
hearts and souls into them. You might even think that you’d sell millions of
records “if only the world had a chance to hear your music”. Maybe you
would...and maybe you wouldn’t. Artistic genius and worldwide popularity do
not necessarily go hand-in-hand. And what record labels are looking for is
worldwide popularity!
Once you understand this, you’ll have a better understanding of how to
approach and interest record labels: prove your marketability to the
labels...mainly by selling records! A large following is great, but the labels
don’t make money from gig income. They strictly make their income from sales.
On the other hand, some big record exec might hear you at a gig and decide
you are the greatest-thing-since-sliced-bread and sign you on the spot! The
chances of that happening are slim...but it could happen! You decide if you want
to leave your recording career up to chance or not. |
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For more information on these questions or for questions not answered here,
contact us about our coaching and consulting services.
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