Career Songwriter

A good friend of mine and I were carrying on the other day about the music industry, venting our frustrations, sharing our hopes, and talking nitty gritty about our goals. She’d go on about how difficult it’s been to write while touring, and how she hardly finds the energy to wash her hair much less brainstorm on song titles or plot ideas. That’s about the time when I chime in about how I always intend on actually practicing the piano, but find myself moments later writing something I’ve been tossing about in my head for a month or so.

I find it interesting that my friend can’t get enough of the stage, and I can’t get enough of pen and paper. Though we both write and we both perform, we each have identified the fuel that drives us. Sure, she looks over on my side of the fence and fantasizes about a publishing deal and staying in the same town for more than a few weeks at a time. I fantasize about crowded auditoriums clamoring with fans dying to hear me and my band as I tour the country and live the life of a rock star. But, we both know that at the end of the day, these fantasies carve out important distinctions that make us successful in the pursuits we follow every day.

Sometimes we approach our music careers with limited vision of what different careers can look like. The most obvious career for musicians is a player, or a singer or singer/songwriter. Outside of those very visible jobs are studio session players, staff songwriters, song pluggers and publishers, managers, producers, tracking engineers, mix engineers, mastering engineers, programmers, studio managers, A&R, song coaches, booking agents, music editors or music supervisors, arrangers, orchestrators and string composers, horn composers, music directors or band leaders, and the list goes on. Many times we are performing several of these duties all at the same time. As you can imagine, different jobs call for different skills, and so though we may be able to perform the tasks needed to get our jobs done, we may be wise to identify those folks who can help in the areas we are weak.

Being a staff songwriter, I spent many years writing for other people. Now and then a song would slip out that I knew would not be particularly marketable in the genre I was writing for. I had a feeling that later on I might record my own record, and that is exactly what I did. Now, though I consider myself an artist, the secret I know about myself is that if given the opportunity to write or to perform, I will almost always write. It seems to be an unconscious choice more than a conscious one. Writing just gives me energy rather than depletes it. For my good friend, she will almost always find herself on stage performing a favorite cover tune among her own tunes rather than off somewhere writing and honing her craft.

If you think about your natural tendency, what is it you find yourself doing when got a little free time? Are you busy booking gigs, going out to shows, networking with other musicians and friends, jamming with your buddies, or telling everyone you know about a great new song or artist you found while searching the depths of Myspace? What drives you, what gives you energy, what keeps you up late at night? The answer may help you to identify the strengths that make you good at what you do, and what you do fulfilling.

Just because I gain my energy from writing doesn’t mean that my influence is limited to just writing. I can perform and do all those things that feed into a successful and diverse career. The difference is that I can be realistic about my expectations, and kind to myself when setting goals.

We might be talented enough or good looking enough to become the next rock star, or have the chops to write the next big hit if we only spent the time honing our craft. But, is what we think we want doing more to limit us rather than expose and employ our true strengths? Unfortunately, this is one of those questions each of us has to answer for ourselves. The answer isn’t always as obvious and clear-cut as we’d like it to be. But, keep asking and I believe that door always opens in due time. Be prepared to let the answer grow and change too. As we experience more, we recognize more opportunities and how those opportunities call us to be the best of who we are.

Andrea

I often write about the significance of networking, merely because it is the lifeline of a songwriting career. Most of us will need to establish and expand our networks as the business grows and changes, and so this process continues throughout the life of our career.

We all know about Myspace for artists to showcase their music and attract fans, but what about the songwriter who doesn’t perform? What kinds of networking opportunities are available for those trying to reach a broader audience or who don’t play an instrument or have a specific ‘sound’ like a band or singer/songwriter might have?

I think the first step in answering this question is defining what we want to accomplish with our songs. There are so many opportunities to create and perform music, but not all are going to bring us the fulfillment we’re looking for. You might have the dream of writing a song that will stand the test of time, becoming a household tune. You might aspire to encourage others with your positive music, bridge cultural or social gaps, transform the way we see ourselves or our theologies, philosophies, etc. Or, you may simply want to entertain.

Perhaps a better question then is, ‘who’ do we want to benefit from this dream of ours? If we can clearly define the audience who will appreciate our music, we can more clearly define the road to reaching that audience. The short-term steps will be more effective, and the long-terms payoffs more satisfying.

Sometimes understanding ‘who’ we want to influence starts with our own introspection, but sometimes it starts with looking at the songs we’re already writing and the people they’re already affecting. Each of us has to consider that our unique voices can’t be everything to everybody. I have a unique sound that is a combination of my voice, my influences, my knowledge about the craft, my life experiences that direct my lyrics, etc. Though I may love all kinds of music, the music I create is not appealing to all kinds of people. It serves me well to understand the genre my music fits within. That understanding allows me to isolate the opportunities that are going to afford me the most success and satisfaction.

As a songwriter in the Nashville music market, I had to learn what characterizes the songs artists there are looking for. Then, I had to begin to understand what it is about my music that is unique, but also where my musical voice and that particular market intersect. The more I am able to offer something that no one else can offer while staying relevant, the more success I have.

As you’re thinking about your own musical style, you might think back to times where your songs have been played well or especially appreciated by audiences. Aside from your mom, who has been particularly inspired by your songs? What were the circumstances? If you haven’t yet had the chance to play your songs for many people, this would be a great time to start. It takes years to grow into our own skin as writers and artists, and lots of failed attempts too. If you’re just beginning to write regularly, start recording rough demos of your songs and gauging reactions from listeners. Your own reactions are telling too, as those areas we’re not confident in speak more loudly when there is someone else in the room.

There are a few activities every songwriter can do to generate interest in their writing and inspire forward movement along the path to writing more skillfully.
The first is getting involved with a songwriting community. It may not seem like much, but in my opinion it is one of the most powerful steps you can make. You can receive and give feedback, you can find co-writers, you can expand your knowledge of the industry from the experiences of others, and you can become more aware of opportunities in your own city for musicians and songwriters. You might find a guitar player or pianist who can help you record a good version of your song. You might meet a vocalist you like who can sing that song. You’ll learn about song camps in Nashville and other places, how you might expect to pitch your songs when the time is right, and advice about song competitions, TAXI, and other organizations like ASCAP and BMI. It’s the information and the relationships that are important here, and they are the doorway to the informed decisions you’ll be making later as a writer in the competitive market.

For ideas on how to find workshops or communities in your area, I recommend two websites. The first is the Nashville Songwriters Association, International.,
www.nashvillesongwriters.com. The second is Just Plain Folks, at www.jpfolks.com. Tour these sites and understand what they do. Whether or not you decide to become a member, it is the consistent participation in these groups that will gain you those first steps in moving your hobby or career forward. Another great site to check out is The Muse’s Muse at www.musesmuse.com. This site has some excellent resources for writers, from articles to co-writing opportunities.

As you get more familiar with the way the industry works and meet other writers, you’ll begin to understand new ways you can market your own talents and skills. Becoming immersed in the community is the first step to opening up doors to opportunities you didn’t even know existed. Each of us arrives at our destination by a different route, so your path will be like no one else’s. Just keep writing and gathering knowledge, always comparing your information with what you hear and see around you. Have fun along the way, and roll with the punches. There are some things we can control – like our craft and our relationships. Keep focusing on what gives you the energy to try again and again, and you’ll surely look back in amazement at how far you’ve come.