| 1. |
Let's get the awkward bit out of the way first: We apologise but we can't return demos unless you supply an SAE. Also, as everyone how works at Stolenwine does so for free and in their own time, we cannot provide feedback on each demo we receive - the sheer volume and the time available makes it impossible! However, we sometimes we mention demos we have received in our Office Blog, so it could be worth a look there. |
| 2. |
We can play CDs, MiniDiscs or good old-fashioned cassettes. We aren't snobs, so don't worry if you don't have the kit to burn CDs - a tape will do just as well. |
| 3. |
Whatever format you choose, make sure your name and some kind of contact details - an email address or a phone number would be best - are marked clearly on the body of the CD, MiniDisc or tape itself. |
| 4. |
This may sound obvious, but please please please make sure that if you send us something you put the correct postage on it. A first class stamp is not enough for a CD, and it isn't a good introduction to your band for us if we have to pay the postman to get your demo. |
| 5. |
Please don't email us MP3s of your songs. We don't have a high speed internet connection, and probably won't be in a very good mood with you if we go to check our email and have to wait until next Wednesday while it downloads your files. If you have some music on the internet then by all means send us an email including a little bit of information about yourselves and a link to your music. We'll try to listen to it if we have time, but to be honest we'd prefer it on a physical medium because it's far easier for us when we all sit around with a few cans sifting through the demo pile looking for our next big signing. |
| 6. |
Try to find out a little about who we are and what we're about before you send anything to us. Musically, we're a broad church, but if you're stuff is Swedish death metal or Euro trance, for example, you'll probably just be wasting a stamp and providing us with a new coaster. We're always more interested in the people who have taken the trouble to find out a bit about us - it's obvious stuff, but it shows us that they've made an informed decision and like the look of us, rather than just sending things to everyone on a list they've got from somewhere. |
| 7. |
Make sure you tell us a little bit about yourself - where you're from, who is in the band, what you've been up to, who you've played with, etc. Being ellusive might be cool, but we'll only ask you for all this stuff in the end anyway. |
| 8. |
If, after it hearing it, we don't want to release your music, please don't be disheartened. It could be we don't feel it is right for Stolenwine, it could be too similar to something we already have, it could be we don't have enough money at the time... It could be any of hundreds of reasons. There are hundreds of labels out there, so the right for you probably exists and is waiting... |
| 9. |
To prove you actually bothered to read this, doodle a small picture of a dog somewhere on the envelope. We like to confuse the postman a little... |
