[seans]

Hi Everybody! *waves*

I'm Sean, a 25-year-old Folkie guitarist from Devon. This forums looks great, I'm already tucking into lots of useful recording and marketing stuff. I'm at the stage of marketing my first mini-album/EP, so advice is invaluable if any of you have any tips!

Sean  

[tone]

Hi Sean! Welcome aboard the ship of dreams

Glad you could join us. Where in Devon are you? I happen to be in Devon myself, just on the Dorset border.

Tone

[seans]

Hi Sean! Welcome aboard the ship of dreams

Glad you could join us. Where in Devon are you? I happen to be in Devon myself, just on the Dorset border.

Tone

Hi there tone,

I live near Teignmouth, down by the estuary in a village called Shaldon. A lovely setting for songwriting indeed!

Devon's a great place isn't it?

Sean

[tone]

Yes it is! Unless you're in Plymouth, and then it's awful :p

Do you ever do any gigs in Exeter? I spend a fair bit of time down there - would love to see you play...

[seans]

Yes it is! Unless you're in Plymouth, and then it's awful :p

Do you ever do any gigs in Exeter? I spend a fair bit of time down there - would love to see you play...

True, true 

I haven't started gigging just yet, although I will start in Exeter when I do. Just focusing on writing at the moment and trying to build up the confidence to get on stage again.. Do you play there? Do you go to any of the folk clubs or acoustic nights? I was thinking of busking in places like Totnes and Torquay first, as a sort of stepping stone. Got myself I Crate Limo recently!

[tone]

I haven't started gigging just yet, although I will start in Exeter when I do. Just focusing on writing at the moment and trying to build up the confidence to get on stage again.. Do you play there? Do you go to any of the folk clubs or acoustic nights? I was thinking of busking in places like Totnes and Torquay first, as a sort of stepping stone. Got myself I Crate Limo recently!

I don't go to any of the open mic nights in Exeter - although I'm trying to find a venue to start a new one with a friend of mine.

I mostly play around East Devon and South Somerset though, but I'll let you know if I have anything coming up in Exeter.

What's the amp like? (I know nothing of these things :p )

[seans]

The amp is great for acoustic guitar, I found that I needed to turn the trebles down quite a bit though as the piezo tweeter can give it a bit of a thin squeakiness. But after a bit of tweaking it sounds great and it's got a pickup and mic input - so I could technically plug my guitar in and mic it up, and have a balance between both inputs. Although I don't have a dynamic microphone so I've just been practising with the pickup for now.

Please keep me in the loop about your open mic in Exeter, I'll come along and play! And let me know if you have any gigs!

[Harbidge]

Hi Sean

I'm new here too.

Ive done a bit of promo for different releases ive had.  I managed to get into Classic Rock and Kerrang in the UK and in a magazine in L.A.

Ive found the key to promo is first have the songs to back yourself up, be honest about your music but the biggest thing is pestering people, in a nice way of course.  I emailed Classic rock 2 or 3 times a week for a couple of months and left answerphone messages for the editor a few times and eventually they listened to the CD asked us to submit some stuff for the magazine.

You need to identify the right mags.  All of the mags have contact names and phone numbers usually in the first couple of pages.  The other thing to do is read who is reviewing the bands or artists you like and giving good reviews and befriend/target them. If they like it they will fight your corner with the editors.

Hope thats of use to you.  I did it and it helped me.