Free Download Etiquette and Getting DJ Gigs When You Live in the Middle of Nowhere

Hey Jake, Shout out to mining. Be careful down there. I guess the key is just to take your time, meet everyone, and see how you fit in. I'd make a mixtape and throw them on some USB keys or CDs to give to people while you are down there. I'm sure you have probably been to the good parties, so toss them to the door person, the DJs, or the club owners. Buying them a drink wouldn't hurt either. Just be gentle with it, you don't wanna turn anyone off. Offer to play early or late and for free. I'd also try and find smaller spots, or underground radio stations you could guest on. You never know who's gonna show up where, so just try and play. Worst-case scenario, you have a mixtape you can put up on SoundCloud and share with fans/friends/blogs/etc. Good luck my friend.

In the interest of giving the best answer, I humbly defer to my friend Nick Catchdubs from Fool's Gold. Thanks Nick! *Every label wants to be Columbus. So sure, I definitely want first crack at music that is genuinely unreleased (especially if it's being pitched to me as such).* *That said, there's no hard and fast rule to signings. We've released tracks picked up off SoundCloud, and we've given official release to songs that have been "out" but were never snagged by another label. Honestly, outside of a couple "first!" internet types, no one cares all that much. If music is genuinely good when it's put up for free, it will still be good when we give it a proper retail release to a wider audience. Most music is still "new" to the vast majority of people out there, and most music sent in for demo consideration isn't getting signed anyway! In regards to etiquette though, my biggest gripe isn't SoundCloud freebies. It's people sending "personal" emails with 20 different label demo addresses in the cc field. Or those charmers who cap things off with a p.s. to the tune of "other labels are interested in it, but I wanted to offer it to you" – why, so we can sign a social climber? If being signed is that important to you, you can learn to be patient enough to wait a bit after sending your tunes to labels before offering it up to the public yourself. In the meantime, there's no reason why you can't give away dope tracks that aren't signable in the first place (bootlegs, tracks with crazy samples, etc.). Or throw up a snippet of an original if you're just that anxious. But it's better to breathe.* *Be original, make good music, don't be a dick. Repeat steps one through three. You'll be fine, whether you're signed or not.* *Column 17*