No More Excuses...Please Help A Wannabe Songwriter

[UncleAge]

I can't tell YOU how to become successful. I'm not sure anyone can because seldom is it a set formula. What I can do is relate how networking worked out for me.

A person I was in a relationship with told me a co-worker had another full-time gig making movies, indie stuff. She had seen me spend countless hours editing my own stuff (video) and recording my own music so she asked if I'd be interested in working with his group. I said sure, assuming the two of them had probably discussed it to some extent at the water cooler. She gave me his number and I found my way onto one of the sets they were filming.

It was a small group of filmmakers. They took turns wearing different hats to get the job done. Some of them had day jobs in other industries and did this only on the weekends. But there were a bunch of them that worked in the film industry in different roles and did it full-time. Long-story-short... I helped the audio guy most of the day. He even let me hold the boom for a few different shots and I went with them all day while they shot at three different sites. I liked working with them and they really didn't mind me hanging around since I was helpful, sort of. At the end of the day (very long day) they had one set of takes that the audio was not all that desirable. I told them that I could probably clean it up for them and remove the background noise while leaving the dialogue intact. And I did. Afterwards they asked me a bunch of questions and I shared a bunch what I thought I knew and what I had to offer, including that I was a musician. They're next ask was for a demo of my music. Not only for future stuff they might do as a group but also to pass along to folks that some of them work with full time in the biz.

Point is that I wasn't expecting to sell or showcase my work for anyone going into it. I wanted to work on a set and find out whatever that experience had to offer. And the post work I did for free because it was a simple fix as far as I was concerned. They sent me a copy of the movie once it was on DVD. That was was good enough for me. But that conversation never happens if I didn't help them get what they wanted. It was an opportunity and I made myself available.

I only share this because there are many ways to network. This was just one of my experiences. There are many more. I won't pretend to tell you what will work for you. But if you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got.

Maybe instead of trying to walk through the front door you can sneak in the back instead. Next thing you know maybe your tunes are found in children's TV or movies, documentaries, local shows, indie movies, podcasts, etc. This may not be everyone's definition of success, that's for you to decide.

And as a big hint... Vimeo is full of independent filmmakers.

Good luck to you.

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

Google's algo's have made it almost impossible for a new site in a congested niche to make it.

Not sure about that, my 16 year old daughter went from zero to over a million Youtube subscribers in a couple of months because she figured out how their algos work.

I put up the site because it was part of the assignment. No other reason. These are things I figure I have to do in order to get Benedict to assist me. And that's the only reason I'm going to be doing a cover of a song I have no desire to do.

I have mentored many people over the years in another life. Time for another bit of honesty...This shows a lack of real commitment to the process. A half arsed, token effort just to tick another box in the recipe is not what mentors look for. Do you feel a 1/2 hour (at best) thrown together website does justice to your talents, is it a fair representation of your 42 years of striving.

There was a song as part of a nationalistic push down under that said...

"In EVERYTHING you do,
let's do it to the letter
and even when you've done your best,
Let's do it even better"

I'm not a fan of recipes for success, but if you do embark on a process, then you need to go at it full throttle, otherwise, it is a bit like baking a cake and only slightly mixing the ingredients.

Whoah? That's really impressive (re: your daughter's YT gains).

As to the rest, I totally agree. There's a saying that goes something like "How you do one thing is how you do everything". Cutting corners and half-arsing should be anathema to anyone who wants to be seen to be trying their best, especially if they are seeking to encourage someone else to sink time an energy into mentoring them

[Karma_tba]

Then I'm going to have to hire a professional web designer and an SEO expert. I don't have the money to do that unless there's somebody out there willing to either give it to me or do the work for free. I am not a web site designer. I am a songwriter. Benedict in his own lessons says you don't have to do everything. If you write songs, write songs. Let others do the playing, recording, mixing, mastering and producing and all the other stuff.

I can show you exactly where on his site he says this if you want.

And this is the problem with recipes for success. You have a decision to make here based on YOUR circumstance...and here lies the problem...

1. You undoubtedly need a quality, professional looking website in this day and age.
2. You don't currently have the skills to build such a website.
3. You don't have the resources to pay for a professional to build it.
4. Your mentor is telling you, you don't have to do it all...

Well, maybe you don't have to do it all, but your circumstance dictates that you need to do MORE. You write songs...great! You want them to get noticed? In your position, sadly, you NEED to find a way to get that website doing its business...you actually have to get some skills in this area because it is a BIG ask to hope for someone to do it out of the goodness of their heart.

+1 what gives you the right to turn KVR into WAGS.com?
The Wagstune Corner? What's next Mr. Rogers Neighborhood? PUH...lease!

[jacqueslacouth]

I think it may be time for me to lock this thread. All these people on my ignore list who clearly know how much I despise them poking their nose in where it's not wanted just because they know it's going to piss me off has gotten to the point where I've had enough.

One more pointer...you literally need to grow the f#ck up and stop chucking tantrums like a petulant bloody child every time you hear something that doesn't sit well with your world view. People are trying to help you with your request and all you do is throw it back in their faces. Sometimes you need to shut up and listen. Stop telling everybody that you know this and you've done that and you don't give a crap what they say when it pisses you off...LISTEN! You might learn something, because obviously, what you know so far, and what you have done to date clearly hasn't worked.

Now, I will clarify this, I am not a successful musician/songwriter or anything close. It is and always has been a hobby for me. But I have had a successful career that allowed me to retire at 48 because throughout my working life I sought out mentors, I worked my arse off in EVERY aspect of my career, I took risks BUT most of all, I treated everyone I dealt with, with respect and humility and valued their contributions to my knowledge. I have always sad that you never learn more than when you teach another. I have yet to mentor someone who I have not learned something of value from because I LISTEN!

[Karma_tba]

I think it may be time for me to lock this thread. All these people on my ignore list who clearly know how much I despise them poking their nose in where it's not wanted just because they know it's going to piss me off has gotten to the point where I've had enough.

One more pointer...you literally need to grow the f#ck up and stop chucking tantrums like a petulant bloody child every time you hear something that doesn't sit well with your world view. People are trying to help you with your request and all you do is throw it back in their faces. Sometimes you need to shut up and listen. Stop telling everybody that you know this and you've done that and you don't give a crap what they say when it pisses you off...LISTEN! You might learn something, because obviously, what you know so far, and what you have done to date clearly hasn't worked.

Now, I will clarify this, I am not a successful musician/songwriter or anything close. It is and always has been a hobby for me. But I have had a successful career that allowed me to retire at 48 because throughout my working life I sought out mentors, I worked my arse off in EVERY aspect of my career, I took risks BUT most of all, I treated everyone I dealt with, with respect and humility and valued their contributions to my knowledge. I have always sad that you never learn more than when you teach another. I have yet to mentor someone who I have not learned something of value from because I LISTEN!

Preach my brotha!!! Each one teach one!

[thecontrolcentre]

Great post Jacques

[jacqueslacouth]

Whoah? That's really impressive (re: your daughter's YT gains).

And 12 months later after she had proved her point (because he fossilised father said there was no such a thing as a career as a youtuber) she shut her channel down and went off to find something else to do...she is currently wandering around Japan eating and discovering J Pop.

[martinjuenke]

I don't have the money to do that unless there's somebody out there willing to either give it to me .

Look for someone who‘s doing sound preset banks on a big scale.
These guys earning money like no others.

[wagtunes]

I think it may be time for me to lock this thread. All these people on my ignore list who clearly know how much I despise them poking their nose in where it's not wanted just because they know it's going to piss me off has gotten to the point where I've had enough.

One more pointer...you literally need to grow the f#ck up and stop chucking tantrums like a petulant bloody child every time you hear something that doesn't sit well with your world view. People are trying to help you with your request and all you do is throw it back in their faces. Sometimes you need to shut up and listen. Stop telling everybody that you know this and you've done that and you don't give a crap what they say when it pisses you off...LISTEN! You might learn something, because obviously, what you know so far, and what you have done to date clearly hasn't worked.

Now, I will clarify this, I am not a successful musician/songwriter or anything close. It is and always has been a hobby for me. But I have had a successful career that allowed me to retire at 48 because throughout my working life I sought out mentors, I worked my arse off in EVERY aspect of my career, I took risks BUT most of all, I treated everyone I dealt with, with respect and humility and valued their contributions to my knowledge. I have always sad that you never learn more than when you teach another. I have yet to mentor someone who I have not learned something of value from because I LISTEN!

First of all, I wasn't talking to you. I was talking to the people I have on ignore who have had nothing useful to add to this thread but their insults.

Back door. I had an idea to try to get an intern position (unpaid) at a recording studio as a mix engineer. Hopefully, through that, get into the back door as a songwriter.

Problem is, there are no studios in NJ. At least not in my area. This isn't exactly New York. I'd gladly work at a place like this for no pay if it can get me in.

And no, moving to New York at this stage of my life is not an option.

Growing up I made mistakes. I can't go back and undo them. What's done is done. Yes, I'd do things differently starting with living right where everything is happening. But there are no rewind buttons.

Look, I've got one iron in the fire. It looks like sometime next year I'll have a song recorded. After that, I can die in peace. That's all I really want. Anything else is gravy.

[thecontrolcentre]

Whoah? That's really impressive (re: your daughter's YT gains).

And 12 months later after she had proved her point (because he fossilised father said there was no such a thing as a career as a youtuber) she shut her channel down and went off to find something else to do...she is currently wandering around Japan eating and discovering J Pop.

Isn't it great when your kids show you how wrong you are? Happens to me all the time ... my son keeps me in the loop with what's cool in music these days.

[vurt]

are there any small theatres? if no studios?

[vurt]

Whoah? That's really impressive (re: your daughter's YT gains).

And 12 months later after she had proved her point (because he fossilised father said there was no such a thing as a career as a youtuber) she shut her channel down and went off to find something else to do...she is currently wandering around Japan eating and discovering J Pop.

cool.
japan is nice

[wagtunes]

are there any small theatres? if no studios?

Do you mean movie theaters or do you mean theaters like on Broadway?

[thecontrolcentre]

are there any small theatres? if no studios?

Yeah but no but ...






the irony in this threads title.

[vurt]

are there any small theatres? if no studios?

Do you mean movie theaters or do you mean theaters like on Broadway?

broadway style but more "local"
amateur dramatics type thing.

work the sound or lights or as a stage hand at something, even do a bit part.
often they look for songs to add to a play, its a way to get something done, ok not a recording, but its then "published" live