Songwriting is art.\u00a0 Like all art, songs require a healthy dose of inspiration which is nearly impossible to predict or control.\u00a0 In that way, the spark that results in the creation of a song is a gift, but the rest of the process is nothing more (or less) than good, old-fashioned work.\u00a0 By following through in a variety of different ways, you stand a much better chance of achieving the goal of getting your songs out in the world and hopefully generating some income for you.<\/p>\n
1. The Song Gets Finished<\/p>\n
We all have them.\u00a0 Bits and pieces of what seemed like a good start to a song that have languished in notebooks or lost folders on our laptops.\u00a0 This is an unavoidable and necessary part of the creative process, but there comes a time when some of these ideas should be finished.\u00a0 Not all songs come easily, and on occasion, some of the best ones are ideas that just needed a little elbow grease to finish up.\u00a0 By reviewing some of these orphaned ideas from time to time, you\u2019ll often find that there\u2019s something well worth finishing.\u00a0 By following through in this way, you\u2019ll end up with songs that might not otherwise have happened.<\/p>\n
2. The Song Gets Demoed<\/p>\n
Having a finished song is a victory in and of itself.\u00a0 That being said, the reality of our business is that these finished songs need professional demos in order to give them (and you) a fighting chance of being acknowledged by the decision makers in the music industry. \u00a0 Having a bunch of great songs that aren\u2019t presentable isn\u2019t a viable way of pursuing a professional songwriting career.\u00a0 By the way, not every song you write will be demo worthy, but for those that are, following through with a plan on how and when to make high quality recordings of them is a big step towards having your songs generate income for you. Like any business, you need to invest money in order to eventually make it.<\/p>\n
3. The Song Gets Cut\/Placed<\/p>\n
OK, so now you\u2019ve got a great song and a beautiful sounding recording of it.\u00a0 Congratulations.\u00a0 However, if only a small group of family and friends ever hear it, then it might as well not exist in the eyes (and ears) of the industry.\u00a0 I\u2019ve talked about this in my articles before but there is nothing romantic about pitching your songs. It\u2019s work. Still, it is an absolute necessity if you\u2019re hoping to sell your music.\u00a0 Follow through can take a variety of forms here including reading industry pitch sheets to find artists looking for new material, seeing which music supervisors are looking for songs for a film or television show, and even making sure that an up and coming artist in your community (without a record deal) has a chance to put his or her vocal over the instrumental mix of your existing demo.\u00a0 In other words, get your songs out there.<\/p>\n
By the way, just in case you think sending your song to someone means your work is done here, it\u2019s the follow up (and follow up and follow up) that separates the pros from the novices.\u00a0 Never assume just because you\u2019ve sent in your song that you can sit back and wait for your phone to ring.\u00a0 I highly recommend placing a note on your calendar to follow up with an email or phone call two weeks later and two weeks after that if you still haven\u2019t heard anything.\u00a0 By following through on your pitches and following through on your follow through (getting my point?), you\u2019ll give yourself a fighting chance of getting your songs heard.\u00a0 And after that, the sky\u2019s the limit.<\/p>\n
Conclusion<\/p>\n
Talent is a wonderful thing. On some level we\u2019ve all got it.\u00a0 However, what separates the success stories from the tragically unrecognized geniuses is what you do after the inspiration is over.\u00a0 By digging in, doing the work, and following through, you\u2019ve got a much better shot at the kind of songwriting success we all dream about.<\/p>\n