Whenever I am looking at what the pros did to get their band started, I always get mixed results. Some say you must have a real gigging band to get signed, others say you just need a demo. Well, after reading many band biographies of bands that I like, the demo seems to be the way. Nightwish had a record deal with Spinefarm long before they actually did a live gig.

Sadly, at this stage, I cannot form a band. I just can't find the people to do it. However, I have friends and friends of friends that play instruments and would be willing to do studio work, but not put in the time for a band. I put out an ad in the local magazine, and it has been nothing but frustration. The average age of people that respond is 40. Plus, they saw the word "metal band" and called without even looking at what influences I wrote. They all wanna make music like Judas Priest. It would have benefited them to look up who Dark Tranquillity was.

The ad has 3 more weeks yet, so I am still somewhat hopeful. Should nothing come from it I may decide to go to a real college next semester (Right now, I waste my time at community college during 2 days a week, work 45 hours a week, and spend the rest of the time working on my band, while still going out a few night a week, just so I won't go insane.). So, I might get another job, work 60-70 hours a week and save all the money and buy loads of instruments and PA crap before I head to college. Then, at college, I can learn how to play drums. Plus, by having a kick ass PA, I might be able to attract people to join my band.

The music I make is pretty much accessable metal (clean vocals, or sometimes more towards the melodic death metal voice, the occassional piano line, with other keyboards here and there), so I am thinking that if a label would sign a brutal death metal band with a VERY small audience, if they actually listen to my demo, they would want it cuz it is more accessable.

Ok, I seem to be rambling, so I'll get to the point with some numbered questions:

1. Do most colleges have recording software that they would let students use?

2. Would most colleges have free practice space they offer to students? (I'm pretty sure that most, if not all, do.)

3. Finally, the important question. Can you guys list some record labels that are a good choice to send a demo to. Could you possibly add their website and give me an idea on what type of bands they sign. Sure, I could send my demo to Nitro records, but they only sign punk bands, so I obviously wouldn't. I think Century Media and Nuclear Blast may be too big of a label. I am sure that they get hundreds of demos a week, so I doubt that they will listen to mine.

Whew..............

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well you should ask the college in regards to practice space.

theres a small reocrd label called avant-garde. i'm not sure if they do your genre of music, its mostly black metal

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at the university i'm soon to go to has a
studio for recording...it's not the same
but whatever.

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I'm a music major at a university, so I'll tell you what I know. Most universities keep all of their practice rooms locked unless you pay them some lame practice room fee, and then usually only if you're taking private music lessons from a professor. Most of the rooms are so small anyway that squeezing more than two people in one is a chore. As far as the recording stuff, my university doesn't have that, but almost any sizeable college town should have a studio of some kind. Good luck!

One more thing about the rooms - I've often seen the smaller rooms left unlocked for people to use for free, but that's only great news if you play the clarinet