After our recent post on the do’s and don’t’s of playing an Industry Showcase, we got some feedback from a couple of the industry members who attend our showcases. Here’s what they had to say:

From Jimmy Landry:
“The best advice I can give to anyone these days who may be showcasing for any tastemakers, publishers or labels is simple: You need to be authentic to who you are in terms of an artist.  If you are an R&B singer at heart and have heard from folks that you need to be more aggressive, you can’t come out in front of professionals as a rock act (without working on that genre personally) – they will see right through it.  You have to keep in mind that any credible A&R rep is dealing with the best of the best on a daily basis, and can spot any instances of insecurity relating to genuineness.  Now more than ever it has to come from within the artist in an authentic way – if you don’t have it, you don’t have it – but at least you will find out.”

Jimmy R. Landry
Producer/Mixer/Songwriter/Musician
Former A&R: Capitol Records, Elektra Records
Current: Artist Relations: Cakewalk/Gibson

From an A&R rep at a Major Label:
“1. Be fully prepared. Examples – Set list, warm up, Quick sound check
2. Have a demo (2-3 song)  prepared incase the A&R rep wants to have a better listen.
3. Confidence, and have fun with it! (as if it was any other show). We can smell fear (haha!)”