No More Excuses...Please Help A Wannabe Songwriter

[wagtunes]

I obviously misunderstood Benedict's intentions. I PM'd him and apologized privately but I also want to apologize publicly. I was wrong.

In the future I will get everything in writing so I know exactly what I will and won't be getting in any relationship with anybody when it comes to the music business.

I'd like to now get this thread back to a peaceful place, though, quite honestly, I don't know what's left to talk about.

[Benedict]

Thanks Wags.

[Michael L]

KVR is like Seinfeld without jokes. The characters are all extremely different, so each episode is built around a different misunderstanding.

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

Look, I came here looking for a step by step process to get my songs in front of people.

You came here drawing a line in the sand - "No More Excuses". People were taking you at your word.

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

KVR is like Seinfeld without jokes. The characters are all extremely different, so each episode is built around a different misunderstanding.

KVR is like Seinfeld, but with better basslines

[Noumena]

good god.

[el-bo (formerly ebow)]

...

[wagtunes]

Look, I came here looking for a step by step process to get my songs in front of people.

You came here drawing a line in the sand - "No More Excuses". People were taking you at your word.

And I'm not making excuses. Tell me what to do to make it in this business and I'll do it. Answering a lot of questions like "Who am I?" is not going to help me make it in the music business. Even Vurt doesn't see the point of it.

The suggestions I've been given to get my music in front of people, as few as they have been, I'm going to take and do wht I can.

So no, there are excuses. But I will not do something that is not a productive use of my time.

[wagtunes]

Look, I came here looking for a step by step process to get my songs in front of people.

You came here drawing a line in the sand - "No More Excuses". People were taking you at your word.

Also, I think you better read the OP again. If you like, I can point out the relevant parts. Forget that very few people even followed my instructions, such as I only wanted to hear from people who have had success in the business and to post their success. Nobody bothered listening to that.

Of course shame on me for even giving the time of day to people who posted anything without listing their credentials. A lot of the drama here could have been avoided. But I let those without success themselves suck me into the black hole. So that's on me.

But I'm done. Honestly, unless you've had success in this business, I don't want to hear from you. Because it's just your uninformed opinion that does me absolutely no good.

In short, I need a pro to tell me what I have to do.

Anything else, I'm not listening.

I should have stuck to that firmly at the beginning.

[Unaspected]

Look, I came here looking for a step by step process to get my songs in front of people.

You came here drawing a line in the sand - "No More Excuses". People were taking you at your word.

And I'm not making excuses. Tell me what to do to make it in this business and I'll do it. Answering a lot of questions like "Who am I?" is not going to help me make it in the music business. Even Vurt doesn't see the point of it.

The suggestions I've been given to get my music in front of people, as few as they have been, I'm going to take and do wht I can.

So no, there are excuses. But I will not do something that is not a productive use of my time.

Simple.

Look at mgw38's post and your reply.

A quick interception re education in the creative disciplines because that is my area. You cannot become a songwriter by reading a book or taking an online course. That is about as ridiculous as the idea that you can become a chef by watching Jamie Oliver on TV or becoming a painter by watching Bob Ross (as entertaining as that is).

Education in the creative disciplines works in form of a rapid repetition of production, critique by experts and peers, and your personal reflection on that feedback, which you then take back to production. Repeat ad infinitum. It is an intensely communicative process that works best in face to face environments.

But the most interesting part of it is that you are never too old or too good to benefit from that. Even the very best constantly learn from other people telling them what they think about their work. The key to professional growth as a songwriter (or any creative for that matter) is primarily your ability to properly reflect on outside feedback and to adjust your thinking about your own work accordingly. Any good educational environment will focus on that.

And I would have no problem with that, except it requires 2 things.

1. Find somebody even WILLING to provide you with that kind of feedback.

2. Be willing to then got out there and network with these people.

As a total unknown, the chances of the former are slim to none and as somebody set in his life, the chances of the latter are almost as bad.

I needed to make it in the 70s or 80s when I first started. But I had ZERO talent back then so it wasn't going to happen. Now that I'm married and 3 years away from Medicare, with a business and responsibilities to my church, I just don't have the time.

If I could go back in time, with the level of talent I have now, and start all over again, I might have a snow ball's chance in hell.

Now, I have no chance.

Now try seeing the positive message and great advice in what mgw38 has offered you and ... as per the thread title: Stop making excuses!

You keep repeating this pattern of behaviour in this thread and plenty of people have tried to point out what you are doing to yourself. But you are self-aware enough to have written what you need to do as part of the thread title. Either that or you really are trolling us - or yourself.

The thread contains so much irony - and that has probably blown quite a few minds.

I get that it's hard to change old ways and if you really are struggling to see what has been written for you (instead of replying to your own skewed interpretation of the information) then the task really will be much harder than for many others. It's difficult for outsiders to tell whether you are doing this deliberately or are genuinely unaware of your actions. But every bit of advice has so far been met with the strongest wall of opposition anyone could build.

People keep throwing you ropes to climb and you keep cutting them down.

In short, I need a pro to tell me what I have to do.

Anything else, I'm not listening.

That already happened but you weren't listening.

This thread is so ironic it's almost mythic.

[wagtunes]

Look, I came here looking for a step by step process to get my songs in front of people.

You came here drawing a line in the sand - "No More Excuses". People were taking you at your word.

And I'm not making excuses. Tell me what to do to make it in this business and I'll do it. Answering a lot of questions like "Who am I?" is not going to help me make it in the music business. Even Vurt doesn't see the point of it.

The suggestions I've been given to get my music in front of people, as few as they have been, I'm going to take and do wht I can.

So no, there are excuses. But I will not do something that is not a productive use of my time.

Simple.

Look at mgw38's post and your reply.

A quick interception re education in the creative disciplines because that is my area. You cannot become a songwriter by reading a book or taking an online course. That is about as ridiculous as the idea that you can become a chef by watching Jamie Oliver on TV or becoming a painter by watching Bob Ross (as entertaining as that is).

Education in the creative disciplines works in form of a rapid repetition of production, critique by experts and peers, and your personal reflection on that feedback, which you then take back to production. Repeat ad infinitum. It is an intensely communicative process that works best in face to face environments.

But the most interesting part of it is that you are never too old or too good to benefit from that. Even the very best constantly learn from other people telling them what they think about their work. The key to professional growth as a songwriter (or any creative for that matter) is primarily your ability to properly reflect on outside feedback and to adjust your thinking about your own work accordingly. Any good educational environment will focus on that.

And I would have no problem with that, except it requires 2 things.

1. Find somebody even WILLING to provide you with that kind of feedback.

2. Be willing to then got out there and network with these people.

As a total unknown, the chances of the former are slim to none and as somebody set in his life, the chances of the latter are almost as bad.

I needed to make it in the 70s or 80s when I first started. But I had ZERO talent back then so it wasn't going to happen. Now that I'm married and 3 years away from Medicare, with a business and responsibilities to my church, I just don't have the time.

If I could go back in time, with the level of talent I have now, and start all over again, I might have a snow ball's chance in hell.

Now, I have no chance.

Now try seeing the positive message and great advice in what mgw38 has offered you and ... as per the thread title: Stop making excuses!

You keep repeating this pattern of behaviour in this thread and plenty of people have tried to point out what you are doing to yourself. But you are self-aware enough to have written what you need to do as part of the thread title. Either that or you really are trolling us - or yourself.

The thread contains so much irony - and that has probably blown quite a few minds.

I get that it's hard to change old ways and if you really are struggling to see what has been written for you (instead of replying to your own skewed interpretation of the information) then the task really will be much harder than for many others. It's difficult for outsiders to tell whether you are doing this deliberately or are genuinely unaware of your actions. But every bit of advice has so far been met with the strongest wall of opposition anyone could build.

People keep throwing you ropes to climb and you keep cutting them down.

In short, I need a pro to tell me what I have to do.

Anything else, I'm not listening.

That already happened but you weren't listening.

This thread is so ironic it's almost mythic.

You're basically referring to the networking part. I live in the sticks. There is nothing here. I cannot uproot my family to move to New York. It's not fair to my wife.

So yeah, but I'm sorry. That is one excuse I have to make because I have other people to consider besides myself. if I was single, different story. I'm not and I have to think about others.

It's that simple.

[firepile]

[Unaspected]

Look, I came here looking for a step by step process to get my songs in front of people.

You came here drawing a line in the sand - "No More Excuses". People were taking you at your word.

And I'm not making excuses. Tell me what to do to make it in this business and I'll do it. Answering a lot of questions like "Who am I?" is not going to help me make it in the music business. Even Vurt doesn't see the point of it.

The suggestions I've been given to get my music in front of people, as few as they have been, I'm going to take and do wht I can.

So no, there are excuses. But I will not do something that is not a productive use of my time.

Simple.

Look at mgw38's post and your reply.

A quick interception re education in the creative disciplines because that is my area. You cannot become a songwriter by reading a book or taking an online course. That is about as ridiculous as the idea that you can become a chef by watching Jamie Oliver on TV or becoming a painter by watching Bob Ross (as entertaining as that is).

Education in the creative disciplines works in form of a rapid repetition of production, critique by experts and peers, and your personal reflection on that feedback, which you then take back to production. Repeat ad infinitum. It is an intensely communicative process that works best in face to face environments.

But the most interesting part of it is that you are never too old or too good to benefit from that. Even the very best constantly learn from other people telling them what they think about their work. The key to professional growth as a songwriter (or any creative for that matter) is primarily your ability to properly reflect on outside feedback and to adjust your thinking about your own work accordingly. Any good educational environment will focus on that.

And I would have no problem with that, except it requires 2 things.

1. Find somebody even WILLING to provide you with that kind of feedback.

2. Be willing to then got out there and network with these people.

As a total unknown, the chances of the former are slim to none and as somebody set in his life, the chances of the latter are almost as bad.

I needed to make it in the 70s or 80s when I first started. But I had ZERO talent back then so it wasn't going to happen. Now that I'm married and 3 years away from Medicare, with a business and responsibilities to my church, I just don't have the time.

If I could go back in time, with the level of talent I have now, and start all over again, I might have a snow ball's chance in hell.

Now, I have no chance.

Now try seeing the positive message and great advice in what mgw38 has offered you and ... as per the thread title: Stop making excuses!

You keep repeating this pattern of behaviour in this thread and plenty of people have tried to point out what you are doing to yourself. But you are self-aware enough to have written what you need to do as part of the thread title. Either that or you really are trolling us - or yourself.

The thread contains so much irony - and that has probably blown quite a few minds.

I get that it's hard to change old ways and if you really are struggling to see what has been written for you (instead of replying to your own skewed interpretation of the information) then the task really will be much harder than for many others. It's difficult for outsiders to tell whether you are doing this deliberately or are genuinely unaware of your actions. But every bit of advice has so far been met with the strongest wall of opposition anyone could build.

People keep throwing you ropes to climb and you keep cutting them down.

In short, I need a pro to tell me what I have to do.

Anything else, I'm not listening.

That already happened but you weren't listening.

This thread is so ironic it's almost mythic.

You're basically referring to the networking part. I live in the sticks. There is nothing here. I cannot uproot my family to move to New York. It's not fair to my wife.

So yeah, but I'm sorry. That is one excuse I have to make because I have other people to consider besides myself. if I was single, different story. I'm not and I have to think about others.

It's that simple.

Nope. You're seeing what you want to see and then making excuses for how you have incorrectly interpreted advice. And you do it for every single answer. Without fail. It's like some kind of knee-jerk reaction that only serves to push people away from you. Essentially, your excuses are for suggestions that were never made.

Maybe you don't have clarity and would rather go on the defensive in an attempt to hide this but it only serves to make it more apparent.

You're networking right now, by the way. Really badly, I must say - but you're giving it a stab. No need to move anywhere as you're connected online. You don't need to make any excuses.

Completely cutting out excuses and saying yes to everything would be a great start - they're the kind of people needed in the industry: Can-do people with a good, friendly attitude. It's been expressed several times in this thread by many more people than myself. Pretty much everyone has agreed on how essential that is - how conducive it is to getting a foot on the ladder and climbing.

I'll confess that your response to mgw38 got to me. He gave you some of the best advice in this thread and you threw it back in his face - at least twice.

You're hurting Jackie's brain. Look at that guy. He can't process it.

[wagtunes]

Well, then I really am an idiot and there's no hope for me.

[Michael L]

I really am an idiot and there's no hope for me.

+1