If you've never ordered a JAM jingle package before, you may be wondering how to go about it. We'd like you to know how the process works.

Getting a jingle package produced is very different from ordering other types of promotional items a station needs. Bumper stickers, for example, are printed by a machine. You can order ten or ten thousand, and the only difference is how long the press needs to run to crank 'em out. But imagine what would happen if there were no printing press, and an artist had to draw each bumper sticker by hand. It would certainly take longer.

That's exactly the situation with your jingles. Each one is written by hand, sung individually, mixed and edited just for you. Unlike a simple voice-over session, jingles result from the creative effort of a large number of people. No one can walk over to a computer, push a button, and have your jingle package come out. Nor are jingles a stock item sitting on a shelf, just waiting to be shipped out. As the Latin plaque near our front door says, "It Takes Time to Make Things."

The process really begins when you contact your sales representative at JAM and request a demo CD of our latest packages. Jingles come in many different styles and lengths, so be sure to talk about your format, and the type of sound you want your jingles to have. Don't assume that what you want doesn't exist, or can't be done, just because you haven't heard it yet.

Although you might opt to do a custom package, let's assume you're looking for a syndicated (existing) package which sounds right for your station. Consider all the demos we send you, and find one which is close to the sound you want. Remember that you can change the lyrics to reflect your slogans and station personality.

After deciding which cuts you want, and finalizing contract and price details, writing the lyrics is the next step. You can write your own lyrics for the cuts you've selected, or we can suggest lyrics based on your input. Either way, don't treat this step casually. We will sing each cut exactly the way you tell us, so make sure that everything is precisely the way you want it. Your lyric doesn't necessarily have to match the original syllable for syllable; there are lots of ways to alter the vocal arrangements for a good fit. But be reasonable! If you try to replace "All Hits!" with something like "The Number One Hit Music Station in the Greater Tri-County Area!", you may be disappointed with the results. If we detect a problem making the lyrics fit musically, we'll let you know before the session.

You should also think about your logo; that is, the melody we will use every time the name of your station is sung. If you want it to be similar to the logo heard on the original demo, that's easy. But if you have another tune in mind, perhaps one which your station has used for many years, let us know what it is. We'll try our best to incorporate it into your package.

Clients are often surprised at the amount of work, and the number of people, involved in producing a jingle package. For example, every note of every jingle is written out in advance. (The singers don't just stand around the microphones and "make up something that sounds good!") The process of writing out new vocal arrangements that contain your words is called "adapting," and it can be quite time consuming. That's why it's so important for you to think about, and submit, your lyrics way in advance of the session. Also, we use many different combinations of singers to create the right sound for each package. JAM always tries to faithfully replicate the sound you hear on the demo, so the correct singers must be used for each project. That involves a lot of booking and scheduling. It takes hours of pre-production planning before we ever get in the studio.

You are certainly welcome to attend the recording session and watch the entire process unfold before your eyes and ears. However, if you can't make it, don't worry. The majority of our clients don't actually come to their sessions. If the lyrics and special instructions have been thoroughly discussed and documented prior to the session, everything will go smoothly. Clients equipped with ISDN lines can listen to their session without having to leave home.

After your jingles are sung, there is still much work to be done. Your jingles have been recorded in a multi-track digital format. They must now be "mixed." This is when the music track, singers, effects, and so on, are all balanced to form the final product, which will be provided to you on CD. We give a lot of attention to the mixing process because it really determines what your package will sound like. Mixing a syndicated package can take several hours; mixing a custom package takes several days.

When the mixdown is complete we create your final CD master. We also keep a safety copy of everything we do in case your master ever get lost or damaged. Finally, we provide you with a neat master log sheet which gives you the lyric and mix details about every track on the CD. Now your package is ready to hit the air!

The most important point is to plan ahead. Even a package of short jingles requires hours and hours of work. At certain times of the year our sessions are booked weeks in advance. So don't wait until the last minute. Give us both enough time to do the job right. You'll be rewarded with a superior JAM product which will make you sound great.