Fresh
ears.

How to get the most from Demo Doctor

How it works

Every week we put you in a group of three local artists. You each listen to the other two songs and send honest, kind notes, so you get two sets of fresh ears on yours. Sign up any week, groups land on Monday, and notes stay open all week. Notes are only seen by the artist they're for, and our filter checks every word. You'll need a free profile and a private listen link, like SoundCloud, Drive or Dropbox.

No judgement here. Bedroom demo, voice memo, AI-assisted sketch, half-finished mix: all welcome.

How to give feedback that helps

The rule is simple: say what works first, then what you'd try. And be specific. "The chorus lands at 1:10 but the verse drags" beats "sick track" every time. Specific praise tells someone what to keep. Specific notes tell them where to look.

• Talk about the song, not the person.
• Notes on things they can change: arrangement, levels, length, lyrics, the intro.
• Skip gear snobbery. "Get better mics" isn't a note anyone can use this week.
• If you don't know the genre, say so. That's useful context too.

1. Listen once all the way through without stopping. Just feel it.
2. Listen again with a notepad. Write timestamps when something grabs you or loses you.
3. Try a second set of speakers if you can, like headphones then a phone speaker.
4. Start with two or three things that work, with timestamps.
5. Give one to three things you'd try. Use "I'd try" and "I wondered", not "you should".
6. Finish with what you'd tell a mate about the song.

How to take feedback

Getting notes on something you made can sting, even kind ones. That's normal. Read them, then close the tab and come back tomorrow.

You don't have to take every note. Look for patterns: if both listeners mention the long intro, it's probably long. If only one person hated the snare, that might be taste. Your song, your call.

1. Read both sets of notes once, no reply.
2. Sleep on it.
3. Highlight anything both people mentioned.
4. Try one change, bounce a new version, and listen side by side.
5. Say thanks. A short thank-you makes the next round better for everyone.

When a note becomes a co-write

Sometimes a note is so good it ends up in the song, like a new line or a melody. If someone's contribution becomes part of the words or music, that's a songwriting conversation. APRA AMCOS suggests talking splits as early as you can and keeping a written record, noting that "even an email chain is better than nothing" ^[1]. Our split sheet maker makes that easy.

Small production notes like "turn the vocal up" don't usually make someone a writer. A lyric or a hook might. If you're unsure, talk about it.

House rules

• Kind and clean. No put-downs, no swearing at people.
• Keep other people's songs private. Don't share their links.
• Don't use Demo Doctor to sell services. Notes only.
• If something gets nasty, report it and we'll deal with it.