There are three key ingredients to making a good recording. These are the choice
of venue, the choice of repertoire and more than anything else the quality of your
performance. Each of these aspects is directly under your control – diligent rehearsal,
choosing your material carefully and selecting a room that is appropriate for the band
and the music are of paramount importance. Of course, you shouldn’t be on your own
for some of these decisions – using a recording company that can advise on aspects of
all three can be of great benefit.
Once you’ve decided to make a recording, you then have to make some more
decisions. The first is who is your intended audience? Does it include your regular
concert goers, family members and friends; is it being made for something more
specific like collectors of ‘serious’ music or is to send as part of an advertising
package? How big is your target market? This has a profound impact on costing later
on, and whether or not it’s a financially viable project. For example, if you only think
you’ll sell 100 CDs at £8 each you may be surprised to find that you’ll be in the red
when all the costs are taken into consideration. Obviously, if you’re making the CDs
as a promotional tool, then different rules apply as the costs may be recouped by
engagement fees, for example. Finally, what music does your target market want to
listen to? Remember this recording ultimately needs to appeal to your audience, and
the experience of doing the recording is what you take away – rather than having a
CD full of your favourite pieces!