We're a record label, duh. More specifically, we're an independent record label that for the most part has released punk, hardcore, ska, and reggae records.
We're not a huge label, and more than likely, will never be, and that's just fine with us. We can't make your band "huge", and we're not going to help your band do things like "tour". We release records, that's just about it. We do as much as we can with what we've got, but that ain't much, so if you're looking to be the next big thing, you stopped by the wrong place. We don't care if we sell 100 or 100,000 copies of a record (although we'd like the latter more than the former). If kids like it, cool. If not, We don't give a fuck because we do, and that's why we put out records with bands we like and our friends.
We're slow at mailorder. Believe it or not, we actually have full-time jobs doing something that actually pays the bills because putting our records sure as fuck doesn't.
We're punker than you, so just deal with it.
Yeah, that just about covers it.
Jump Start Records
PO Box 1469
Southampton, PA 18966
[P] (215) 322-4618
Distribution Information
Interpunk.com
http://www.interpunk.com
Revelation
Records
http://www.revhq.com
[P] (714) 842-7584
Smartpunk.com
http://www.smartpunk.com
Sonic Rendezvous
(Europe)
http://www.sonicrendezvous.com
Very
Distribution
http://www.verydistro.com
[P] (215) 426-9662
For distribution questions, Jeremy at (215) 322-4618 or drop an email to jeremy@jumpstartrecords.com.
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
1.
How can my band get signed?
2. Do we pay for bands to record?
3. Do we promote shows?
4. Do we distro other labels and bands that aren't on
Jump Start?
5. Do we answer all our email?
6. I work/deejay at a radio station.
Can you send me some promotional copies of your releases?
7. I write a zine. Can you send me some stuff to review?
8. I write an online zine. Can you send me some stuff
to review?
9. Do we think we're cool, special, or Mr. Punk Rock Elitists?
10. Where do our bands record or how much does our studio
costs?
FAQ 1 - HOW CAN MY BAND GET SIGNED?
"My band just recorded our first demo, and we totally rock. We're now looking for a label to put out our stuff. Can I send you our demo?"
This is probably the most asked question we get via email, so it's a perfect place to start. Are we looking for bands? Yes. Does this mean you should send us your demo? No. Jump Start is a small label. Yes, we like getting stuff in the mail, but don't email us expecting to get 'signed' based on some demo you recorded at your drummer's house on a four-track that you got as a Christmas present last year. We have some criteria when looking at bands, so if you meet many or all of the points below, drop your demo and/or press kit in the mail:
1. Your band has been together for more than a year.
If your band hasn't been together for at least a year, don't waste your time. That's unless of course you sound like AC/DC or Angus Young is your new lead guitarist.
2. Your band plays at least 75 shows a year.
If your band isn't gigging out over 75 shows (or damn near) a year, don't bother sending your demo. You don't get any better, or your name out there for that matter, by playing for your mom and dad in your bass players garage or basement. "Living in a town with no scene," is not an excuse. If you're not playing at least 75 shows a year than your band isn't doing enough to support any release that we'd like to put out.
3. Your band has done some sort of touring.
Yeah, so you play 75 shows a year. Have you done any sort of touring? By touring, I mean playing a show that is more than three or four hours from your hometown, then doing another show that's three or four hours away from that show. Do this about six times in one week and you've got yourself a tour. You follow? It's hard for us to sell records to a distributor if you've never played a show outside your home state. Of course, you won't make money by touring, but suck it up. A little hard work never hurt anyone. You tour in hopes that the next tour you do willl actually make money instead of losing it. It's been a general rule of thumb of ours that if you're not losing money, then you're not in a band.
4. You spent more than $50 to record your demo.
I'm not saying you've got to spend $1000 on a recording in order for us to like it, but don't expect me to like something that cost you $50 to record. In most cases, quality comes with the money (and time/effort) you put into a recording. We have put out stuff from bands that spent $300 to record and mix a record, but that's only because they didn't dick around in the studio and knew what the hell they were doing. In most cases, you get what you pay for. So instead of sending us your first demo that you spent $100 to record, take some time, write some new material, and go back and spend some quality time in a recording studio. It takes a lot of practice to know what you're doing in a recording studio, and it pays off in the long run.
5. You're an indie-rock-emo band.
To quote Dillinger Four: "Very seldom is it 'indie', and very rarely does it rock." Don't send it.
6. Your band sounds anything remotely like Korn, Limp Biscuit, or the like.
You're lame. Don't send it.
7. Your band wants to be the next big thing..
You're a fuckin' asshole. You even think of sending us your shit I guarantee we'll send a letter bomb back in it's place.
8. You don't know how to use a spell-checker on a computer or are to lazy to have someone proof read your press kit.
It's your postage. Yeah, we can't spell either, but this our website and label, so eat a dick.
9. You must swear an oath of allegiance to the greatest rock band to ever walk the face of the Earth....AC/DC.
We're dead serious.
Of course, there are always exceptions to the rules, and we'd be the last people on the planet to follow every last one of the criteria above. But, if you can't pass a majority of what we talked about above, you may want to reconsider whether or not you want to send us your stuff.
FAQ 2 - DO WE PAY FOR BANDS TO RECORD?
Yes, we do pay for bands to record. We've been burnt a few times because of it, so we're much more careful about what bands we consider working with.
Yes, we do promote shows, but unfortunately right now we are only doing shows on a very irregular basis. Please do not contact us about booking a show for your band because chances are we won't be able to help.
FAQ 4 - DO WE DISTRO OTHER LABELS AND BANDS THAT AREN'T ON JUMP START?
We no longer distribute other labels releases except for a limited amount of releases, which can be found in our Web Store.
FAQ 5 - DO WE ANSWER ALL OUR EMAIL?
Even if we could, we probably wouldn't answer all our email because some of the stuff we get is just complete garbage. We do try to answer as much as possible, but don't be surprised if you get a response a month later.
FAQ 6 - I WORK/DEEJAY AT A RADIO STATION. CAN YOU SEND ME SOME PROMOTIONAL COPIES OF YOUR RELEASES?
Well, this is always a tricky one. Being a small label, We don't have a lot of money to spend on sending 200-300 CDs to radio stations all over the world. What we do plan on doing for all future releases is work with an independent radio promotions company to service between 200-300 radio stations nationwide. If you work at a foreign radio station, please send us a letter with a few copies of you most recent playlists and we'll see what we can do. There are no guarantees you'll receive anything. Remember, we're a small label, and don't have a lot of money.
FAQ 7- I WRITE A ZINE. CAN YOU SEND ME SOME STUFF TO REVIEW?
If you write a zine and would like to receive promotional material, send us a few copies of your most recent issues. This does not guarantee that you'll ever see anything from us, but we don't send stuff out to people we don't even know or someone who's just running a "zine scam" to get free CDs. If you put the time and effort into your zine I'm sure you'll be seeing stuff from us as well. In addition, we do not advertise in zines that haven't been around for a while. So, if this is your first issue, don't bother asking us to advertise in it. We are a very small label with a very small budget for each release. Put out a few issues and get back to us. We are willing to trade CDs or merch for ads, so get in touch.
FAQ 8- I WRITE FOR AN ONLINE ZINE. CAN YOU SEND ME SOME STUFF TO REVIEW?
We are very hesitant to service new online zines, as most of them suck and a lot of them close up shop shortly after getting online. If your online zine has been around for a while and looks pretty sharp, chances are you already get stuff from us.
FAQ 9 - DO WE THINK WE'RE COOL, SPECIAL, OR MR. PUNK ROCK ELITISTS?
Not in the least. In fact, we would probably surprise many people with how lame we are. We rarely shower or bathe, don't excercise as much as we'd like, and take huge shits (which is actually pretty cool). What's it to ya? Then again, as NOFX says, it's our job to keep punk rock elite.
FAQ 10 - WHERE DO OUR BANDS RECORD OR HOW MUCH DOES OUR STUDIO COST?
We don't run or own a recording studio, so we do not record our own bands. As for where our bands want to record, that is entirely up to them. We don't interfere with our band's decisions of recording studios, producers, and whom they'd like to work with. That's part of their artistic choice and process, which we respect greatly. If you'd like some contact information for some great studios, get in touch with us. Since our bands have recorded in many different studios, we've had the experience to know what we've liked from each one, and could easily suggest some great places for your band to record.
Check back later for more FAQs as we think of them. I'm sure there's more, but this is all I can think of right now.