I've damn near given up. Bamalama Records originally started as something to put out stuff by my band but I was suddenly inundated with bands wanting to put something out. 99% was mediocre but even the 1% that was worth putting out was more than I could afford so we did a comp CD and cassette (even though I was opposed to CDs and started this as a vinyl-only label). Both sold out quicker than I expected - within a couple of months (250 CDs, 250 cassettes). The packaging cost nothing - it was all cut and paste and Xeroxed at my office. The cassettes we had on hand (we found in cleaning out the garage) so we duped those ourselves and the CDs were duped for almost nothing. My vinyl? Gone nowhere. I have a beautifully done 4 song EP on gold vinyl by the Million Sellers (late 50s/early 60s rock n roll with some Bobby Fuller influence - fantastic) and I split the cost with the band (good friends) so we both have 250 pieces each. I've sold one, given away a few and can't even get the podcasters on here to take 'em for free (what's your problem! It's free!). The guys in the band have actually sold almost 100 in Japan (4 record shops over there have taken them) but I can't even give mine away. I did see one of my promos on eBay and it went for more than I'm selling them for! (I emailed the guy to tell him what a shithead he was - he said he wanted it because it was a "promo"...what the fuck? I have a box full of 7" I'll turn into promos with a hold punch if ya want!) I don't know if I want to continue - people keep emailing me wanting another comp and I don't know if I'm interested in doing that again. I mean, it was good for cash flow but it's not what I wanted to do with this label. If I do another comp, I need different bands and one or two that were known by more than 4 people. So I'm in the same quandary - releasing what I want to/what is cool/what will sell. At least with the comp, I kind of liked some of it but none of it blew me away. I have another record I'd like to put out soon so I may do another comp just for the sake of cash flow. I'd really like to have some stuff on it that I really liked. My fear is if I continue doing these comps, we'll be thought of as that label with mediocre comps! That's the last thing I want! Attracting good bands to the label is difficult if they don't know anything about you but it's hard to get any rep without good bands. And it seems the shittiest bands are the ones that think they're the best and that they're doing you some kind of favor by sending you their music.
I didn't start doing this to make money but it would be nice to recoup some costs!
