GigStop · The field guide
Get booked.
Get chosen.
On your terms.
DemoStop isn't a feed you chase. The right opportunities are posted out in the open, and you apply on your own terms. Here's what to expect, what to look for, and how artists actually get picked.
Take the welcome tourTwo sides of the same room
Where the calls come from.
Gigs
Posted by venues & organizers.
A booker needs talent for a night, a show, a series, or a competition. Gigs can pay, and you apply and get paid right through DemoStop. No cold DMs, no chasing.
Collabs
Posted by fellow artists.
An artist wants collaborators: a session player, an opener, a jam, a cypher, a creative partner. There's no pay here. It's about building something together.
Venue side · what to look for
The gig types.
The badge on each gig tells you how it works before you even open it.
Audition / CastingPrivate · one winner
Review submissions privately, optionally audition live, pick one.
GigPrivate · single winner
Pick one artist. Repost their submission to your feed.
ContestPublic · metric-based
Audience claps, shares, or views decide. Optional venue jury.
Open MicPublic · lineup-based
Build your lineup. Cap submissions, repost the highlights.
ResidencyPrivate · recurring
A recurring slot that links to an event series.
Artist side · what to look for
The collab types.
Same idea, artist to artist. The type reshapes what's asked of you.
CollabProject · submission limit
Peer-to-peer creative project. The poster picks a few submissions to DM directly, then you talk it out from there.
PickupSpots · demo required
An artist needs to fill a spot — a session player, a sub, a band member. Send a demo; they pick who fits.
OpenerSpots · event-tied
An artist needs an opener for a specific show. Send a demo, they pick one to lock in.
JamOpen lineup
A casual jam session. Not an audition — just say you're in. Build the lineup.
CypherOpen lineup
A rap cypher / freestyle session. Not an audition — claim your spot in the circle.
The move
How to apply.
- 1
Read the submission guidelines first
Every post spells out what it wants: whether a demo is required or optional, any quality gates (a minimum number of demos or claps), the deadline, and who it's open to. Match yourself to it honestly. A good fit beats a fast one.
- 2
Attach the right demo
When a demo is required, pick the one that actually shows what they're asking for, not just your newest upload. This is your one shot to be heard. Make it count.
- 3
Submit through the post
You apply from the gig or collab itself. No cold outreach. Your submission lands in the poster's review queue alongside everyone else's, judged on the work.
After you apply
Silence isn't a no.
Watch your messages and alerts for your status. You'll hear when you're shortlisted, booked, or when a call closes. But be patient. Posters review on their own time, and many calls stay open until a deadline before anyone is chosen. Keep making work, keep applying, and let the results come to your inbox.
No hidden ranking
How some are chosen.
Single winner
Gigs · Auditions · Residencies · OpenersThe poster reviews submissions privately and picks the one that fits. Some audition live first. One spot, chosen by the person doing the booking.
Metric-based
ContestsThe audience decides with claps, shares, or views, sometimes alongside a venue jury. Put your work where people can react to it.
Lineup-based
Open Mics · Jams · CyphersNot a competition. Spots fill up to a limit and you're in. Claim your place and show up.
Terms you'll see
- Sphere
- A sphere is your creative role — singer, dancer, producer, comedian, and so on; you can have more than one.
- Genre
- Genre is the musical style you work in, like Pop, Jazz, or Hip-Hop.
- Claps
- Claps are how you show love on Demos — our version of a like, but they never rank or bury content.
- Demo
- An On-Demos work lives natively here; an External one links out to a demo hosted elsewhere.