Country returns

[jchitty]

I hate to rain on people's parades, but I've decided that pitching to Nashville is not for me. I've heard all the 'then you don't believe in yourself speeches and you must continue to work hard advice,' but at some point, a songwriter needs to throw in the towel and find another niche. Four years of constant discouragement has been enough for me.....I think it's easier to win a lottery than to get a song cut in Nashville.For one, you got to jump through tons of hoops to get something placed with a publisher. And then after you get a deal, you got to go through tons more hoops to interest a country artist with your songs. And then you have to play all the politics to make sure your song stands out from the competition....that being the pile of songs the artist is considering. And if you don't live in Nashville, it's extremely hard to do this from your computer. If lived in Nashville, maybe it might be a bit easier, but since I don't, I know it's an extremely daunting task.It's too much work and expense for too little reward.So I am not pitching to country listings any longer, although I'm still a TAXI member, and I'll still pitch to film and tv if I have something suitable.I know people have been doing this for years, and I admire that, but at my age, I don't have the luxury of time on my side....it could take 5 to 10 years to get somewhere. I wanna enjoy creating music now and have folks listen to it, so I've found other venues to present my tunes. Money has become less important to me now....getting heard has taken on greater significance.Here's one thing TAXI did for me....they helped me to become a better songwriter, and it's paid off for me. I'm now getting some notice in a few places. It's small notice in a small venue, but that's good enough for me. I've decided that I just love to create. Pitching all the time took the fun out of music for me. Another thing....going to the TAXI panel meeting on country music opened my eyes. Sure, there are times I get irritated with the TAXI screeners, but if you get down to it, it's not TAXI's fault. They are trying to give Nashville what it wants too....and that's really hard for anyone to do. TAXI has been a mixed bag for me, but as a whole, a good experience. I love those Nashville meetings Michael's had, (the film tv seminar and the panel meeting) and I'll most likely stay a member for the meetings (hopefully a Rally in the future) and continued advice on songwriting. I've come to expect different things of TAXI now....they don't necessarily have to be the vehicle to drive me 'where I must get that cut in Nashville.'To all those who continue to pitch to the Nashville listings, good luck. I hope you folks make it over the high bar....I would LOVE to see you guys do that. I would celebrate with you 'coz at least someone got through.

[claire]

I know people have been doing this for years, and I admire that, but at my age, I don't have the luxury of time on my side....it could take 5 to 10 years to get somewhere. I wanna enjoy creating music now and have folks listen to it, so I've found other venues to present my tunes. Money has become less important to me now....getting heard has taken on greater significance.----------------------I started doing this in my late 40s and I expect I'll be doing this until I can't remember which end of the pen goes on the paper There are days I wish I could give it up, there are days I actually do give it up, but I can't give it up for very long. I love the creative process and I love music and mostly I love the people I've collaborated with, and not getting the major cut is just one of the things I've learned to deal with. Not getting the major cut doesn't mean that I don't create wonderful music or that I don't get heard. I also don't strictly pitch to major artists in Nashville - I'm all for indie cuts too. I agree that Nashville pitching is not for everyone. I guess it is for me. Mostly I could give a rat's ass when my songs get passed on or when Taxi returns them, sometimes it hurts, almost always I know it's not personal. It helps to be a bit insane in this business so you can keep doing the same thing over and over and over and expect different results this time! But who knows, maybe one day I'll hear one of my songs on a CD or on the radio here. That would be fun.

[jchitty]

Oct 22, 2009, 6:55pm, claire wrote:I know people have been doing this for years, and I admire that, but at my age, I don't have the luxury of time on my side....it could take 5 to 10 years to get somewhere. I wanna enjoy creating music now and have folks listen to it, so I've found other venues to present my tunes. Money has become less important to me now....getting heard has taken on greater significance.----------------------I started doing this in my late 40s and I expect I'll be doing this until I can't remember which end of the pen goes on the paper There are days I wish I could give it up, there are days I actually do give it up, but I can't give it up for very long. I love the creative process and I love music and mostly I love the people I've collaborated with, and not getting the major cut is just one of the things I've learned to deal with. Not getting the major cut doesn't mean that I don't create wonderful music or that I don't get heard. I also don't strictly pitch to major artists in Nashville - I'm all for indie cuts too. I agree that Nashville pitching is not for everyone. I guess it is for me. Mostly I could give a rat's ass when my songs get passed on or when Taxi returns them, sometimes it hurts, almost always I know it's not personal. It helps to be a bit insane in this business so you can keep doing the same thing over and over and over and expect different results this time! But who knows, maybe one day I'll hear one of my songs on a CD or on the radio here. That would be fun.I think that's what it's all about, Claire....doing what you love, and if writing for Nashville still appeals to you, you're still getting something out of it....like writing with people you really like as you say or enjoying the creative process of it all. Ain't nothing wrong with that. I've found enjoyment in another direction, but we seem to be on the same journey, just down different roads.The best of luck to you....I know you've had some successes already, and you'll continue to have them.

[claire]

The best of luck to you....I know you've had some successes already, and you'll continue to have them.And the same to you, Chits - you got the goods!Claire

[eddietaxi]

Hi everyone. Since I've been living and pitching in Nashville for over 20 years, I wanted to weigh in on this thread...and please, take it for what it's worth..one writer's opinion.Some things I've learned. There is definitely a network in Nash that is hard to become part of. Everyone is a writer or publisher, and wants a piece of the pie. Everytime an artist says he's 'looking' for songs, keep in mind that out of, say, 10 songs on a CD, he has written or cowritten at least 5 himself. That leaves 5. 2, his producer wrote. That leaves 3 spots. 2 more were written and 'on hold' for months since the the last CD by the current 'hot' writers in town. That leaves 1 spot for about, and if I can paraphrase John Sebastian, "1352 guitar pickers in Nashville"..in reality, multiply that by 10. So basically, 13, 520 writers are vying for that one open spot on a country CD.I know Nashville label A & R people by name, have had countless personal meetings with every label in town, and have had countless songs kept by A & R... (sorta like a Taxi forward). They must then go through their 'kept' songs and make their pitches count. It literally is a crapshoot to get your song heard through label A & R. Most of my cuts have come through management teams, fan club presidents, bus drivers, gardeners, carpenters...etc..you get the idea...Get your songs to the artists through other avenues. Playing live in town is also a great way to get your song heard by artists. I had 2 songs put on hold by Faith Hill herself when she and Tim were out for the evening and happened into a club my band was playing. Needless to say, I freaked out and began putting down payments on houses and pools..lol. No, the songs never got cut, but it was probably the best shot I ever had at hitting the 'lottery', and very rewarding to know at least I was 'in the game'. We did get to play Tim's b-day party at his farm though, so that was pretty cool.Guess what I'm saying is, ignore the staggering odds. Taxi is one avenue..not the only one. I've learned that pitching creatively is equal to writing creatively. Best of luck, and most of all, love the process and don't define yourself by success. You are awesome. Maybe just nobody knows it yet. Done rambling

[bucyboy]

touche

[cameron]

I have to agree with Eddie. The cuts I've seen writers getting lately are either co-written with the artist or by someone who has an "in" with the artist.

[mfowler]

Oct 25, 2009, 5:21am, cameron wrote:I have to agree with Eddie. The cuts I've seen writers getting lately are either co-written with the artist or by someone who has an "in" with the artist. After spending some time listening to songs written by taxi members and listening to the country top 40 for the last few weeks I would agree as IMO, many of those top 40 country songs would not get forwarded by Taxi and there are quite a few Taxi member songs that are on par and even better. I guess it is like American Idol or America's Got Talent... you must have talent and even more important, a way to get found. Marlin

[eddietaxi]

also, keep in mind that many a & r folks are recent 'music biz major graduates', very young and very inexperienced at picking hits...they are sometimes summer interns that got jobs, and taught to discard anything that doesn't sound like 'what's on the radio', and very few will stick their necks out believing in something off the wall in the name of job security. i can't say i really blame them, but that is why the genre is one of the slowest forms of music to grow..stuff today sounds much like stuff 5-10 years ago...there is an old music row joke that you may or may not have heard:AN A & R PERSON IS LISTENING TO A SONG WHEN HIS COLLEAGUE TAPS HIM ON THE SHOULDER AND ASKS IF THE SONG IS ANY GOOD. HE REPLIES.."I DON'T KNOW, I'M THE FIRST ONE WHO'S HEARD IT"thanks again to TAXI for being knowledgeable, professional and discriminating

[cameron]

I love that joke Eddie. I played a song for a publisher just this last week that was purposely a little outside the box, and he said "good song, but nobody's doing anything like that right now." Sounds just like your joke.Cam