diary of a record label

This is where I recount my tales of confusion, excitement and woe as I try and figure out how to release records. Who knows what might happen? Certainly not me.

Google: asking for trouble

Here's some things that are asking for trouble, according to Google:

- Wireless workplaces
- Booze and babies
- Aggressive driving
- Ephedra
- Popping blisters
- using more foreign troops in Iraq
- Tourists
- Javascript AND cookies
- Hiring Nick Colter
- Talking about employees
- Housing plans
- Hitchhiking
- Carrying a gun
- Getting the Spouse's Signature
- Multiple threads in XSP

posted by marceline on Friday, October 31, 2003

STATE OF PLAY - PACKAGING

Okay, here's the surprise packaging concept - the records will we packaged inside A BOX! And what's more it will be a box full of fun stuff and surprises and some of the contents of every box will be different so you never know what you might end up with. Exciting packaging is the obvious solution to 'downloading is killing music' claims. Who wants an MP3 when they could have a box of delights? People without record players I guess, but the less said about those LOSERS the better.

Anyway, the box idea was suggested by someone (sorry, forgotten who) on the Indielabels list in response to my request for exciting packaging ideas. I had a real horror of my record ending up looking like a Fierce Panda release. Apparently Simon's a decent guy and all that but FP just seems so pedestrian and unexciting, like zines made using MS Publisher. Plus, since I will likely only ever make this one record, I want it to be the most exciting thing ever. I think a box will do this admirably.

John Jervis tried to get us a joint deal on lotsaboxes but they weren't playing so John got his seperately and apparently they look great. I am very excited and can't wait to see one in real life. I was so excited that when we were sent the dimensions I got some paper and made a mock-up box so I could see what it looked like. "Look, it's my box!", I said to flatmate Ally. "That's a piece of paper", he replied. Sigh.

Also, Simon has done me a proper professional print specification for the inserts so I can get some quotes. It's very exciting and makes little sense. I have done nothing at all towards getting print quotes except randomly ask Glasgow-based people to recommend printers. Must ask some more people.

posted by marceline on Thursday, October 30, 2003

STATE OF PLAY - RECORDS

This is the most exciting bit really. Once I have an actual piece of vinyl that I caused to be created I will be highly impressed with myself. It's turning out to be slightly more complicated than I imagined though. I decided to get them pressed at GZ (or The Czech Place as everyone seems to call it) since they seem to be the cheapest, friendliest and most, er, informational, in that their website is actually really helpful. John Jervis offered me the excellent advice of getting the 2 7"s pressed up at separate times to save me some trouble and so I'm working on the Sunnyvale/D&D 7" at the moment. This is because the band I'm in haven't actually recorded our track so it makes sense not to hold the entire thing up for one track.

So yesterday I printed off a stack of PDFs from www.gzcd.cz which will hopefully explain how to do everything correctly. All the recording master stuff makes no sense to me at present. Sampling Rate? Bit Resolution?? Hopefully all will become clear. I do feel very thankful to have friends who run labels, record bands, do sound for bands, manufacture records, understand graphic design/printing stuff etc etc so I'm never without someone to ask for help.

Jason from TOD/ARS is in town this weekend. I should really have gotten some flyers together to promote the record/website but it didn't really occur to me. Also I am skint and may not even get along to any of his public appearances.

posted by marceline on Friday, October 24, 2003

STATE OF PLAY - FINANCES

This is the big one I think. Most people who know me were slightly baffled at how I could afford to release a record when I'm currently so poor that eating properly is difficult enough and I've lacked the cash to replace my colour-broken monitor for over a year. But it's often the case that it's easier to find �1000 than it is to find �100. Cue BANK LOAN. Yes, they scare me too. But I figured this all out very carefully - take the fact that I'm now in a full time, long term state of employment (we'll leave out just how badly they pay me for now) and take the fact that borrowing enough money to release a record and pay off my credit card would still leave me with repayments less than my current credit card repayments and I think we have a Good Plan. Particularly since I'm also fairly confident of making back a reasonable amount of my outlay on this record.

So I duly applied for a loan and was approved and then I left it for fear of accidentally (or 'accidentally') spending the cash on non-record things. Which then obviously resulted in my complete inability to remember my password when I could do with actually getting some money. Much headbashing later I had to admit defeat and phone customer services, the shame! Even worse, it turned out it was my username I had got wrong so I shamefacedly logged on successfully while the over-friendly customer guy was telling me the password changing procedure. Still he seemed overjoyed when I told him (where do they find these people?). And then I looked at the account screen for ages and didn't quite feel able to ask for the money yet since they give it to you practically immediately. Plus I've yet to phone my bank and admit to similar password idiocy (what can I say? This has NEVER happened to me before. I'm normally great at remembering passwords) when my 'just driven back from the south of france in 24 hours' brain had a stupid fit and got me locked out.

Instead I have turned my mind to FORMS.

posted by marceline on Friday, October 24, 2003

Hmm, where to start?

Most of the general back story is on the About Us page now so I guess it's more helpful to just start off with where we are now and fill in things as they come up. I'll probably have to do these in stages as I'll no doubt start rambling and then get distracted. Bear with me.

posted by marceline on Thursday, October 23, 2003