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Becoming the Man | Starting An Indie Label

Seth

16:14 / 21.02.02

So...

If one were...

Strictly, extremely, hypothetically...

...thinking of starting a record label...

What kind of advice would you give them? How would you go about it? And why?

...cos my sister's friend's cousin's girlfriend's Mum wants to know...

[thread title altered for clarity by Flux = Moderator]

[ 22-02-2002: Message edited by: Flux = Triangle Body Mode ]

Saveloy

16:50 / 21.02.02

A mate of mine (and a mate of his) did this a few years ago, with the intention of releasing stuff dead cheap for The Kids, who were too poor from spending all their money on guns and bombs to fight The Man to be able to afford the records The Man didn't want them to hear.

All they did was get someone to record a couple of tracks, which they then got pressed up as singles by a factory in Czechoslovakia dead cheap. They sold them for a quid a go, to cover the costs.

Haven't heard from them for a couple of years, I'll try and get back in touch, see how it's going. The label was called Short Fuse, and they released two singles and had a ton of stuff in the pipeline last I heard.

Saveloy

08:03 / 22.02.02

Sod-all help to you, I suspect, but I'm posting it anyway:

Short Fuse Records

No star here laces

12:02 / 22.02.02

You need to apply DIY ethic strictly.

i.e. do what you can with funds available at any one time.

So start out by burning 20 cds and selling 'em locally. With the cash, burn 200 and sell 'em in London. Then with that cash pay to get 500 7" singles pressed up, send 150 of 'em to DJs and sell the rest.

etc.

The easiest error is to borrow money and press about 2000 copies of your first release which you then find is unsellable. Much better to do low risk stuff first and find your niche. Affiliate yourself with local clubs and pirate radio stations. Sell your shit at gigs. Make it seem very cool and exclusive - word of mouth will work its magic and people will start trying to buy mail order.

Main thing is let it grow organically...

Oh yeah, also, make sure your first release is by someone other than yourself.

rizla mission

12:14 / 22.02.02

I'd think the most important things would be:

a)put out fucking brilliant records

b)have enough cash floating around to send lots of free copies to important folk

c)"play the waiting game"

Which I guess is pretty obvious, and, er, I know next to nothing about record label protocal, so, er..

The Return Of Rothkoid

12:40 / 22.02.02

quote:Originally posted by Rizla Year Zero:
c)"play the waiting game"Although it's worth bearing in mind Homer's Law: The waiting game sucks.

Anyone for Hungry Hippos?

That inanity finished with, let me point you to IndieCentre's guide to starting a label which should be a bit of a help.

[ 22-02-2002: Message edited by: The Return Of Rothkoid ]

tSuibhne

17:14 / 22.02.02

tip for saving cash:

Dischord Records gets all their packing material (boxes, etc.) from dumpster diving in DC. I'd imagen this could save a pretty good sized penny.

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