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Claude, et al, On Tuesday, July 22, 2003, at 02:55 AM, Claude Voit wrote: >> I sent 5 or 6 CDs to LD members all around the world for >> review and got NO fucking review. Just a few thoughts . . . if you want to get reviews from people on this (or any other) list: 1. Write to them and ask them first if it's okay to send a disk in hope of receiving a review. Most people will agree. But, many folk's lives are busy these days and they may not have time. If anyone ever wrote to me and received a "yes" answer I'd definitely follow-through with whatever was promised. I'd make it a commitment. And, if the answer is "no" or "not right now," be patient. After an appropriate interval, ask again later. You never know. Doors that were closed sometimes open unexpectedly. These folks are probably not being mean. They are being practical -- especially if they are not "professional" reviewers. 2. If you want a review, it would be a good idea to expect at least a little criticism. It's a review, not a press release. So, if they don't like it don't complain too much. Most folks don't want to "dis" a colleague publicly. Occasionally, I'll get sent unsolicited CD-Rs and simply don't happen to like them very much. Hey, there's no accounting for taste and it's a free country (or so I am told). I may then privately e-mail the sender (off list) to that effect and spare them any perceived public embarrassment. But, more often than not, I am still rather reluctant to hurt anyone's feelings to begin with. Unsolicited CD-Rs may not get a review at all -- especially if I'm really busy and don't have the time. I know, excuses, excuses. 3. Make sure the recipient knows who and where the CD has come from. I have gotten CD-Rs with no return address, no liner notes or credits and all kinds of inkjet graphics with very creative band names on them . . . all totally without giving any clue as to who the people are who are in the band and who sent it to me in the first place. If you write or e-mail and ask first -- no problem -- you're golden. But, if you do happen to submit an unsolicited CD, make sure there is a note with it saying who you are and what you are hoping for from the person you sent it to. Don't EXPECT that they will be amused enough by the pretty pictures to do a web search for your band name in order to find out your identity. It's not likely to happen. I do not believe Claude has ever sent me anything BTW. But, I have received stuff that came either at a lousy time (or I was not feeling well) or there was no identifying information or a name I did not recognize from LD (or anywhere else). They go in my file drawer full of CDs -- maybe I'll get to them eventually. However, no promises were made, so maybe not. This is the way the world works. My own experience of sending out music proves it. My one-and-only CD (so far) "Flux Aeterna" has gotten dozens of great reviews from all over the planet and radio airplay from Siberia to Adelaide on 30+ stations (not even counting the internet ones). But, when you realize that to get that response I had to package and send out 750 CDs (all at my own cost and postage expense) the result seems a rather pitiful percentage (probably less than 10%). At that rate, if you sent out only 5 CDs 10% is just 0.5 (that's halfway between one response and none at all). I'd say that for sending out only 5 CDs your "response rate" was only a little below average and (therefore) nothing too surprising. Actually, speaking as a person who has done his share of direct marketing professionally, 10% is pretty darn good. If you think about the junk (snail) mail you receive in the post daily. Those companies would KILL for a return of 3% or 4%. Getting 10% would be a humongous, major miracle for them. Such an achievement would rate a raise and a bonus for somebody, that's for sure. Anywho, those are my thoughts. Don't be too hard on the folks you send unsolicited CDs to (unless you DO solicit and they DO agree beforehand). What you got was about "par" for the course. It's disappointing, true. But, it's not unusual at all. Best, tEd ® kiLLiAn http://www.mp3s.com/tedkillian http://www.pfmentum.com/flux.html http://www.CDbaby.com/cd/tedkillian http://www.guitar9.com/fluxaeterna.html