Ask yourself critical questions: how is your music's flow? What quality are your recordings? What could you do to strengthen your music collection? Your music is your first impression, so wait until you're ready to share with publishers.  Play local concerts in your area before pitching to gain a small following. This will make your music look more reputable to publishers. Purchase home recording instruments or visit a professional recording studio. High-quality recordings are key to getting your foot in the door. Look for musicians who play similar music to you and write down their publisher's information. Check official databases for publishing information. Broadcast Music Incorporated (BMI); the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP); and the Society of European Stage Actors and Composers (SESAC) are all trusted resources. Before you pitch, check what deals a publisher offers. Administration agreements grant full ownership to the songwriter and primarily focus on registering your songs. Administration agreements are usually short-term, though they can be renewed by the record label. Co-publishing agreements require musicians to sacrifice 50% of their ownership in exchange for higher advances and royalties.  Co-publishing deals are most popular within the music industry. Some publishers also offer work-for-hire agreements. You give up all ownership and administration rights in exchange for promotion. These are most common with film and advertising labels. within the music industry. Even if you live far from music hubs like Nashville or Los Angeles, you can build relationships in the publishing industry. Apply for an internship at a record label, staff the info booth at music festivals, or volunteer with local music organizations. Interact with music publishers on social media sites, and communicate with other hopeful musicians on message boards.  Stay humble when connecting with others. Remember: nobody owes you anything.  Follow up after you've met a music publisher with an email. Tell them it was nice to meet them and that you hope to collaborate with them later on.
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One-sentence summary -- Build a repertoire of music before you pitch. Research publishers specializing in your genre. Research administration agreements if you want to retain song rights. Look for co-publishing deals if you want an up-front advance. Network


Not all breeders are reputable, so you will want to know which ones to consider and which ones to avoid if you want to buy a puppy through a breeder. One type of breeder is a hobby show breeder. Hobby show breeders are highly knowledgeable about a dog breed and invest considerable time and energy into selecting an optimal pedigree and raising show quality puppies. These breeders will typically raise only one or two litters per year.  Backyard breeders typically have very little knowledge about dog breeds and are probably just trying to make a little money on the side. Avoid buying a puppy from a backyard breeder. Commercial breeders typically house several different dog breeds and produce numerous litters in a year. The physical environment of a commercial breeder may or may not be of good quality. In addition, not all commercial breeders produce AKC registration papers. Puppies that you see in pet stores may come from commercial breeders. Check with local veterinarians and dog breed organizations to find a breeder with a reputation for taking good care of his or her dogs. He or she should breed just a few types of dogs and have a strong relationship with local veterinarians and other animal organizations. The ASPCA has a helpful list of responsible breeders. A responsible breeder will ask you questions about why you want a dog, who will be taking care of it and where it will live. He or she will not simply take your cash and hand over a puppy. You should never purchase a puppy through a breeder without having visited the breeder’s location. It is very important that you see where your puppy, his littermates, and his parents were housed and raised. A responsible breeder will actually encourage you to visit multiple times so that you completely comfortable with his or her physical location and business practices. Buying a puppy through a breeder can be very expensive, so you want to be sure that the breeder is honest, knowledgeable, and ethical. There are many questions that you can ask the breeder: How are the puppies raised and socialized? How do you screen potential puppy buyers? What is your procedure during whelping (birthing process)? Have the parents been tested for breed-specific diseases?  You can ask other questions regarding how many puppies were in the litter and what medical care they have received (vaccinating, deworming, etc.).  Ask for documentation regarding medical care, microchipping, and screening for breed-specific behavioral or medical issues.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions. If the breeder is reputable, he or she will have no problem answering any and all questions that you have about them and the dogs he or she breeds and raises. Be ready to answer questions as to why you want a puppy and how you plan to take care of it. A good breeder will be very concerned about the welfare of the puppies he or she has bred. Forming a good relationship with a breeder can be very helpful if you have questions later in the puppy's life, or if you are interested in showing the puppy later. You will also need to obtain a contract of sale. If you are interested in showing or breeding the puppy you buy, you will need proof that he is registered with the AKC and that you are the legal owner. Be aware, though, that AKC papers tell you who your puppy’s parents are and are not proof that your puppy was raised properly by the breeder. Be wary of a breeder who tries to sell you a puppy since simply because he or she has papers showing the puppy’s lineage. Puppy mills are notorious for mass breeding of puppies in deplorable conditions. Breeders who run puppy mills are typically more concerned with making a profit than practicing responsible breeding practices. Puppies bred in this type of environment may have genetic abnormalities that could lead to physical and emotional disorders that, unfortunately, you won’t discover right away.  When you visit a breeder, take a close look at the conditions. If the dogs there look dirty, skinny or unhealthy, do not purchase a puppy there. If a breeder is reluctant to show you his or her entire premises, it is probable that he or she is running a puppy mill and does not want you to see the poor conditions in which the dogs are being bred and raised.  If a breeder does not ask you a lot of questions and takes a hands-off approach to the puppy's care after he or she has sold it, you should suspect that he or she is running a puppy mill.  Breeders who claim to breed a large number of purebreds or "designer" breeds are likely not telling you the truth and are probably running a puppy mill. The dogs are most likely  not  purebred or a designer breed. You might want to report a puppy mill to the authorities. You can fill out a report at http://www.humanesociety.org/forms/report_a_puppy_mill.html or call 1-877-MILL-TIP if you suspect a breeder you visit is harming dogs and puppies. Puppies in pet stores can come from puppy mills. Do your due diligence—ask the staff at the pet store where they obtain their puppies and research the breeders that they mention. If you are going to buy a puppy from a pet store, you should be confident the puppies come from reputable animal shelters and/or breeders.
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One-sentence summary --
Learn about the different types of breeders. Identify a responsible breeder. Visit the breeder’s location. Ask the breeder plenty of questions. Obtain American Kennel Club (AKC) paperwork. Stay away from puppy mills! Think twice before buying your puppy from a pet store.