COMPILATION CD's
It's no secret that I personally believe that paying to have your song on a compilation is a sucker's game-unless the promoter is spotlessly reputable with a history of success and credibility.

If you're approached to be on one, ask to get a copy of the last one to judge the quality of what they produce. Ask for references of two types-three clients who you can contact that will be willing to relate their experiences and three A&R people or media people who are on the mailing list and with whom the promoter has a relationship who can vouch for them. That will immediately put off the dishonest ones. Ask for a sample feedback report sent to a client and what responses does he ask for from recipients. Does he supply a postpaid response envelope or card? If he says he's going to be distributing them at MIDEM, PopKomm, South by Southwest or other trade fair, request proof of attending and if they are doing it from a stand that they are occupying solely.

PAY TO PLAY
So they want you to play a gig and pay for the privilege? Don't do it. They want you to pay a fee to enter your songs in a showcase so that you can get one of the coveted positions in their event that will be attended by A&R pros, music business wheelers and dealers or other glitterati? Don't do it.
The money goes straight into the promoters pocket and I've really not seen these sort of 'showcases' work for artists-too often the audience of pros never shows. Again, ask for references of bands that have played and had results. If they hesitate to tell you, it's likely that they followed the trail of tears before you would embark on the trip.
(EDITORS NOTE BELOW)
My personal experiance with new music showcases are sickening.. Every band wants to be heard. Each year the winning band in the showcase (all bands had to pay $100 to enter) got first place either by
1. related to the promoter
2. Knew all judges involved (who were selected by the promoter)
3. Were currently opening for a band who's lead singer was on the panel of judges)
The New Music showcase has nothing to do with new music at all, as all the winners were 70's rehash bands who had no image, originality or anything . I don't mean the new 70's cool trend, I mean old guys who play good but are seriously out of date ! The catch was in the prizes : The prizes weren't really prizes.

1. You get 10 free hours in a big time studio : So f**king what ! It takes ten hours just to get set up in a big studio. These engineers usually charge anywhere from $60 to $200 an hour to record. Who's gonna pay all the money to finish recording all your tracks, Master it. etc... YOU WILL PAY FOR ALL THAT. I bet you won't even own the master either, it will belong to the engineer. SUCKER

2. Other prizes included_a satellite up load of your song ( You can do this yourself anywhere, that is what MP3.com is for )
3. A band won free radio adds & exposure as a gift from the radio station who is in on the scam. When they went to get their prize, they were informed they already recieved it. Getting their name said on the radio each time they advanced to play another round of the showcase ( which also means another night they play for free).
Lastly :the top prize was to get a POSSIBLE opening slot for a bigger band in that club.
Okay sounds good.. but you just played 4 free shows to get to this spot & the bar owner made a killing in packed house beer sales since he got 5 bands a night playing for free.
Guess what ... who was the big name act you opened for. I am not going to even mention it, it was not worth it at all. & the winning band sucked any way, ( as they won through knowing the judges) The winning band got 1 gig at this night club. If they were so good, how come they weren't good eneough to even play this normal club at least occasionally ?
Also, the bigger band had it's own opening bands on tour with them, So the winning band played so friggin early, no one was there yet.
(EDITORS NOTE COMPLETE)
SIGNING THAT DEAL *
There's a great saying that if the offer's too good to be true, it probably isn't. And if you're rushed into signing a deal-like one band we know at the moment who were told that if they didn't sign a deal with the management company run by the record company owner, then the distributor would refuse to put out the record they had already recorded and were in the process of releasing-don't sign the deal if you're being pushed. A great deal is one that comes about due to negotiation and time making sure that all points are right for both parties, not slanted to the originator.

LOOSE CANNON BY PHIL TRIPP

http://www.themusic.com.au/im_m/archive/011002-277/tripp.html

Things to remember *
1. People offer help load/unload your equitment - Be weary. Here's my story.
A guy we kinda knew & had seen around, has offered to help us load up our equipment.
Cool, we all seen him before & assumed he must really know one of the guys in the band.
He came back to our house & Helped put it all away. The following night, we all went to the bar for some drinks. This guy who helped us out the night before had went to our house while we were @ the bar & began stealing our gear.
He ended up owing money to the local bikers so he skipped town & took our stuff with him to pawn off. Well, we never seen this guy again.
Also people can take your stuff & run, You can't chase them because you got to guard what's left in the van. be very cautious !!!