Submit Your Demo

Tag: SRA

  • It’s a 2020 virtual wrap!

    We did what we promised. We were not going to be beaten. Against the odds, with a lot of hard work, some brilliant behind the scenes technology and a brilliant production team we brought you Virtual Demo Factor 2020.

    Not live in the New Adelphi Theatre in Salford as part of SRACon, but in the comfort of your home, Demo Factor was in ACTUAL LOCKDOWN but you can’t keep a good thing down. With the support of the SRA but more importantly those who were brave enough to upload their demo, we had a show.  

    Absolute Radio’s Ben Burrell (and first winner of this competition all those years ago) returned as Host alongside the 5 Judges, Chris, Aled, Paul, Pandora and this year new addition, Pippa Taylor from Radio X.  The quality of Demos (that were chosen at random) was very strong, but only 3 got the GOLDEN BUZZER treatment. Want to hear them?!  

    • The Judges 20202

    First to Golden Buzz was Chris North, 9 seconds into Mollie Finn from Nerve Radio‘s Demo. 

    Goden Buzzed, Mollie Finn, Nerve Radio

    New Judge Pippa jumped in for the second, Golden Buzzing Jack Hellier from Spark.  

    Golden Buzzed, Jack Hellier, Spark

    Demo Factor traditionally loves a twist and often we don’t know how it’ll happen – and even though the third Demo that was played on the night wasn’t Golden Buzzed, and played for the full minute, at the end of the show Paul requested a ‘Retro-Buzz’, which happened.

    Good call as it really impressed the panel and the Judges agreed that the winner of Virtual Demo Factor 2020 was Alex West from URY. Congratulations Alex and he’ll get a show on Absolute Radio as a prize! Not bad for entering eh?

    • Alex West, URY gets Gold and becomes our 2020 Winner!
    Demo Factor 2020 Winner, Alex West, University Radio York

    You can see the Judges chatting to the Finalists on Demo Factor Xtra here!   

    After the main show 20 industry professionals Guest Judged another 10 demos chosen at random. The remaining Demos were then divvied up between the main judges for feedback to be sent by email.

    We hope you enjoyed the show as much as the team did, but we hope to be getting the BIG GOLD LETTERS out as we can be together at the live show in 2021, because it can change your life, forever…it really can! 

    CREDITS

    Host

    BEN BURRELL

    The Judges

    ALED HAYDN JONES

    CHRIS NORTH  

    PANDORA CHRISTIE

    PAUL SYLVESTER

    PIPPA TAYLOR

    Guest Judges

    • ADAM CATTERALL
    • AMY VOCE
    • DAVE CRIBB
    • DICK STONE
    • FIONA HANLON
    • GREG HUGHES
    • INDY SAHOTA
    • JOCELIN STAINER
    • JORDAN NORTH 
    • LUCY WINTER
    • MIKE CASS
    • NEIL SLOAN
    • ROB WATSON
    • SAMMY JAMES
    • SOPHIE K
    • STEPHANIE HIRST
    • STUART MORGAN
    • VICTORIA EASTON-RILEY

    Visuals & Graphics: TOBY D’OLIER & JONNY NORTON

    Theme Music: BEN ‘JINGLES’ TOWNSEND with thanks to NO SHEET MUSIC

    Voice Over: REDD PEPPER

    Additional Voice Over: KAM KELLY with thanks to JULIETTE NICHOLS, PINEAPPLE AUDIO PRODUCTIONS

    Social Media: SCOTT DUFFIELD & LEWIS ISRAEL

    Technical Production: DANIEL WILDMAN

    Additional Production: JAMES WALKER

    Editor: HANNAH-MAE GRAHAM

    Thanks to: NAOMI OIKU, THE STUDENT RADIO ASSOCIATION, AND ALL WHO ENTERED! THANK YOU!

    Producer: ROB WATSON

    Executive Producer: CHRIS NORTH 

    • DEMO FACTOR
  • You can’t keep a good thing down!

    You can’t keep a good thing down!

    As promised we’re bringing Demo Factor back for 2020, but this year, virtually! We may be socially distanced but we’re going to bring the show and our BIG GOLD LETTERS to you so you won’t have to walk very far to grab a drink! Sadly we can’t bring you a glitter cannon, smoke machine or an ice sculpture due to logistics.

    Our very own first time winner of Demo Factor, Ben Burrell from Absolute Radio returns as our Virtual Host and will try and keep the five judges in check. As is tradition, those entered, who will be picked out at random, will get the chance to join Ben and the judges virtually to hear their feedback.

    The show will be recorded ‘as live’ on the evening of Friday May 22nd, and will be broadcast on the evening of Monday 25th in all its glory! The team will be in touch with everyone who’s uploaded a demo. Oh, and there may also be a few surprises thrown into the show, as is our way! Remember, you have to be in it to win it, and it could change your life, forever. Seriously!

    Deadline to upload your demo is 2pm Monday May 4th 2020 at demofactor.com

  • You have to be in it to win it! 2019 Winner, Finlay Panting explains all.

    You have to be in it to win it! 2019 Winner, Finlay Panting explains all.

    I still look back at Demo Factor last year and have to pinch myself at what happened that night. I entered this having never played my demo to anyone in industry, simply looking for feedback on what I could do better yet there I was in a room with some of the best voices in student radio, with judges I’ve idolised growing up, having just won Demo Factor 2019!

    It’s embarrassing to admit, but at the point of entering I thought it was just about the buzzers, the judges and the tension of the night, I didn’t even realise there was an overall ‘winner’! Although that’s kind of the point, no matter whether you’re lucky enough to get a golden buzzer, or the dreaded 5 red buzzers on the night, you’ll gain that valuable feedback that you need to hear to push your presenting style forward, additionally you get the opportunity to be inspired by what other students are adding into their demos. From that night, I fortunately got to meet with some incredible people like Aled Haydn Jones (Head of Programmes for BBC Radio 1), Chris North (Agent & Founder of North Media Talent), Paul Sylvester (Content Director for Absolute Radio) and Ben Burrell (2008 Demo Factor winner, now Absolute Radio presenter), but importantly it also gave me so much more confidence and excitement to go back to my own student station and put everything into practice for a future in radio.

    This year there’s even less to lose from submitting your demo, as not only can you do it from the comfort of your home, you don’t have to live through that torturous experience of standing in a room of about 200 people as your demo is played out loud over the speakers! It’s even a chance to get creative – with lots of Unis unfortunately now closed, there’s a chance to set up a mini-studio in your own bedroom & take the opportunity to practice different styles.

    So if I could simply recommend one thing, find some clips that are authentically you and show off your best qualities on radio, do a bit of cut & paste into 2-3 minutes of audio and send it off to Demo Factor. The worst thing you’ll get back is constructive feedback that you need to hear & you truly never know, you might just win the thing!

    Have fun & best of luck!

    Finlay Panting
    DemoFactor Winner 2019

  • Never done a demo before?

    Never done a demo before?

    In the current circumstances DemoFactor will obviously be slightly different this time around. However it doesn’t mean that the feedback you get from a judge won’t be anything other than their honest opinion (maybe good or bad) and it will still be constructive and hopefully as helpful as usual! A demo should be up to 3 minutes long with your best bit at the start. Make the first minute impress us.


    With a lot of you not being at your station at the moment we thought we’d also let you know that we appreciate that editing your demo might be more complicated than usual. Please remember that it’s your content / best links that represent you as a presenter that we’re judging you on so a rough cut or edit won’t count against you – this year!

    You may know most of this but if you’re new to making a demo from home here’s some editing suggestions in case you need them.

    Audacity is the first audio editor you’ll probably stumble upon through Google, and it’s perfectly adequate, runs on Windows or MAC and supports a massive number of file types including MP3 or WAV. You can record straight into the App, or edit existing files. There’s an enormous number of effects you can use, and a multitrack editor for tweaking that running order and ensuring you’ve got the most impactful stuff in the right places (i.e the first 30 seconds to a minute!). 

    https://www.audacityteam.org

    Remember to save your sessions regularly, and put the best stuff at the start, and make sure you name the file too! Once you’re happy with your demo, upload it at demofactor.com. What could be simpler? 

    Good luck!

    Virtual DemoFactor 2020

  • The show must go on, right?

    The show must go on, right?

    With SRACon postponed until 2021, in these rather bonkers but difficult times we at DemoFactor have decided that our show will go on. Somehow!

    It might not be the live first night of conference we were hoping you’d be part of in Salford, but the whole team, along with the SRA Officers felt you should still get the chance to submit a demo, via demofactor.com as usual and get some feedback from at least one judge. (We’re just working out the finer details as the days go by.)

    What I would love you to do is get a demo made, around 3 mins long but don’t stress about that or how slick it is as there are other, more important things to worry about. Make the first minute count to grab the judges’ attention. Upload it to demofactor.com and await the feedback. Just do it. Don’t be worried about it. Celebrate all the great radio you’ve done and the great times you had doing it.

    Each judge, as is usual, will get one ‘Big Gold Buzzer’ for someone they’re impressed with – then all the judges will listen to them again to help chose a winner.  We will publish all those in the buzzer shortlist.

    You have until 2pm on Monday May 4th to upload the demo. You or your station should be a paid up member of the SRA to enter.

    We will announce when you’re to get the feedback in the next few weeks and the judges will be announced in the next few days! Things are changing fast so we will keep you updated on any additional information about this years’ virtual DemoFactor.

    Good luck, and get making that demo.

    Remember, again, you have that first minute to impress – a minute to win it. We look forward to hearing you. Any questions please message us.

    Now wash your hands again.

    Chris North

    Head Judge, Virtual DemoFactor 2020