Perception it's a bitch

I have to admit my wife has some great points. One such point is that music listeners need to hear independent music before they love it. You know
kick the tires around, find a great song, become one with the music and lyrics, connect emotionally with the music/band - then they can become true fans.
That's basically what radio does for commercial music - play it hundreds of times then you love it or hate it. I experience this at Aces shows, for people
familiar with our sound they love what we do. For others they may need to hear it a few times in order to be "sold" on what we're doing.

I've also come to the realization that unless you're a well known band/artist, it benefits you to have a record label's support to get you to the next step. Think of it as before you had a girlfriend or boyfriend. When you don't have one, no one is interested in you. But when you have one people start to think "hmm they
must have something to offer" I've experienced this with job hunting. When I was un-employed no one would talk to me, couldn't get an call let alone an
interview or job offer. It's always the "if this guy was good he'd be hired" syndrome! Of course this is perception, but perception is real. So as a band
on a label we differentiate ourselves from the thousands of other bands with CD's. We don't get the "well if they are so good why aren't they signed"? - again
perception. Think about it, with technology being what it is today, we all know someone or have a family member putting out a CD recorded in their home studio,
doing the graphics with Photoshop, pressing the CD's with Disk Makers and selling online with iTunes or CD Baby. I mean I've seen some very impressive self
released CD's. It's actually great because lots of great music which would have otherwise gone un-noticed is now able to get it's time in the light. But one difference is that getting a booking agent, getting meaningful gigs, getting fans interested in what you do is simply at a different level when you have a label. Now as the music industry continues to evolve, in the short term I feel people think that if a label is willing to invest their money into an artist, than that band is
slightly more justified/professional for your ears and money. This actually came to me after my wife put on a great documentary called "Before the music dies" - an eye opener. Hell I'm just one of the lucky ones who can test this theory! As well as being very honored to be on a label who likes my/our music. - derek