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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 7,044 Likes: 16
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That's the number of songs I've written since 2017 started, 118. Normally that would be a years production for me, but this year I seem to be writing more than ever, and I believe better than ever, but still not getting many cuts. I guess I'm a glutton for punishment. LOL
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Joined: May 2001
Posts: 7,412
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Well, The thing you have to be careful of is you may be writing the same thing over and over again. One day I started to write something and stopped. I had already written it. It's probably easier to get a flight to the moon than get a cut these days.
Ray E. Strode
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 10,190 Likes: 30
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Hey Everett! I have to remind myself from time to time, that it's not only about the business success, but it's about the music itself. Often I find myself lodged between business tracks and artistic tracks. When things start slowing up, it's time to expand opportunities (new publishers, audience, streaming delivery systems, etc). 18 songs is quite ambitious for 2017. My instrumental tracks usually take 1-2 days to create. Actually songs take me 1-2 weeks. Do you use film music libraries? Best, John
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,259
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Joined: Jun 2011
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It's not about the number but about writing a GREAT SONG that Many Can Relate to. A song that makes people laugh or cry of FEEL Emotions. A Great Song that can Change the World.....
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 4,126 Likes: 29
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Joined: Aug 2007
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One view...
Am a big believer that unless you have massive inexhaustible God-given songwriting talent and/or work for a publisher who demands that you write every day...it's a better strategy to go back into your best songs again and again (which you are probably actually re-writing over and over) and improve on their weaknesses and/or make a conscious effort to contemporize them and/or make better recordings of them for presentations.
People's situations are different. That works for mine.
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 10,190 Likes: 30
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Yes about the re-writing Martin! One can always improve on a song or mix. Often I'll go back after letting a song/ track rest for a week. Amazing how certain elements of the music/mix can be improved after re-listening with fresh ears. Best, John
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,831
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Hi Everett & Fellow Writers/Composers:
Interesting. My 2017 production has been dismal if one is keeping score. Years ago, I was averaging a song per day. Being new to songwriting and recording... I simply wrote down what popped into my head, worked on it, added a melody, reworked the darn thing and recorded it. Usually, I would record it again several times. As time passed and my understanding of the importance of melody over words (in most cases) my writing began to evolve and my melodies improved a bit.
I think I've become musically introverted over the years. Now I seem to spend more time filtering though my workbooks looking for unrecorded lyrics and doing what I can to salvage them. Most of you understand the importance of getting a song idea down on paper ASAP. I find that the idea will completely disappear if I don't at least get a title or first line or two on paper. (Same thing for a melody.)
Early on at JPF, Brian would often stress the importance of quality over quantity... and new writers seldom understand that. In that line of thought, as one learns what works and what does not, the time spent in the song-writing process takes much longer because of the absolute need for quality before a song gets "rolled out" for other ears to hear.
Everett, my friend, I hope you don't take my little treatise as a "rant" against your accomplishment. I'm very proud of you and I believe that, as we improve in each aspect of writing, recording, vocalizing, etc.... our songs improve. You are an experienced writer and I have no doubt you will succeed where most of us fail.
As I reach the end of my musical journey I realize that monetary success will never be achieved. I suppose that realization gnaws at me a bit more as I grow older and the thought of giving it all up for some other endeavor enters my mind frequently.
Unfortunately, song-writing is an addiction, I believe. I am thankful I didn't get addicted to drugs, liquor, smoking or other awful habits.
Sorry, didn't mean to write a novel but at least you have an inkling of what is on my feeble mind these days. Congratulations, Everett!
All the best, ----Dave
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Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 7,044 Likes: 16
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Yes 118 in less than six months is beyond what I usually write. I wonder if my life is running out and this is my dying gasp or something. LOL And yes I have written the same songs several times, the title that is, but when I check the content of the two songs, they are different enough to stand on their own. All I had to do then was come up with a different title, which is not always easy.
I don't suppose I'll ever write a song that changes the world, even if I did I doubt I could convince anyone to record it. Some great songs of the past had a struggle convincing publisher or artist to record them. When someone did record and make them famous, then everyone were kicking themselves for passing on it previously. Only people can make a song a hit. If it appeals to enough people, and people demand hearing it, then radio will play it so more people hear it and like it and maybe buy it. It creates its own momentum.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 886
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Hey, Everett! Whew, that's a lot of songs to write in a short period of time. Are you the Stephen King of songwriters? lol. Seriously though, to be able to write that amount of songs and have them be good enough to present to a producer or publisher says a lot about your abilities. Congrats on that. I don't write anywhere near that amount of songs and have never even tweaked the interest of a publisher or producer.
I agree with your having said people make the difference in making a song a hit. The problem for me then is, how do I present a song to a fair amount of people at a cost friendly price. Any suggs on that?
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Joined: Aug 2002
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Thank you Drifter. The most I've ever written in one day was 5.5 , yes five and a half, haven't done that since.
Getting songs out to the public at a reasonable price is a dilemma. Radio would be the choice but the big labels have them in control. Not that the big labels are producing the best songs anymore, I think it has something to do with money. I don't have the answer, music is becoming a niche market, get a following that will appreciate what you are doing and will support what you are doing.
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 239 Likes: 3
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The business side can sometimes eclipse the creative side (what we love producing). My first experience was like running a gauntlet, exciting but left bruises. I write and perform poem parable stories for children and youth (preparing for the challenges of adulthood and independence). A toy company was given some of my writings by a friend of mine who used to work for them as a secretary (the who you know aspect of getting a foot in the door). They liked my stuff and flew me from California to Minnesota to meet they President and get started on a contract. Being a toy company, they wanted to make a toy of each of the animal characters in my stories and sell each separately with a small book in a nice package. When I arrived at the company the reception area was a museum of toy and book ideas that got started and fizzled. I have eight children and they would have loved to have any of these jewels of creativity. I bet my prototype we did together is on a shelf there now. Doing a book, especially with illustrations is an enormous up-front investment (the dollars and cents part of the business known as thorns and nettles). The toys were the cheapest part of the project. After struggling to get a prototype that anyone could afford, we had the idea of recording the stories and providing cassettes with the toys. I rewrote the stories as scripts to be performed like a radio show in the recording studio. We presented the prototypes at a toy buyers convention (not creative people and are between you and your audience. They want what they think will sell and reject all others). Everyone who heard the tape wanted it, but not the toys. The toy company then let me out of the contract (they are, after all, a toy company) and I was awarded the master of the recording to use as a demo to find another producer. That took years to finally come to pass, with money spent to travel to interviews and paying to have good copies of the cassettes produced to seed half of the US. The costs of production, marketing, distribution etc. turn the products of creativity into products on the market, with the wrong kinds of people making decisions the misdirect your jewels far from your intended audience and make money only for the producers and middlemen, not for the writer or performer. The internet has broken down the barriers between creator and audience and continues to evolve in our favor. The laws that ensure compensation royalties for the creators and performers are yet to be updated for this century, but we will get there. In order to maximize the amount of those returns require us all to become well educated on the business part in a way that enables our self reliance and independence, no longer eclipsing our creations, but fueling them to success.
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,831
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Hi Perry:
That is an inspiring story. Thanks for sharing it... and giving all of us a little taste of the sweetness that comes when hope is rewarded with success. It does not matter what degree... just the fact it can happen... even in today's strange new world. (...and yes, the internet has become an agent for change, success... or extreme darkness... and we have the power to make the right decisions.)
Best wishes for happiness and even more success.
----Dave
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Joined: Nov 2016
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Thank you. Lets keep JPF where the light is.
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Joined: Apr 2001
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Interesting story Perry. Nice that the toy company wasn't like the corrupt music companies and did the right thing by you in the end.
Brian Austin Whitney Founder Just Plain Folks jpfolkspro@gmail.com Skype: Brian Austin Whitney Facebook: www.facebook.com/justplainfolks"Don't sit around and wait for success to come to you... it doesn't know the way." -Brian Austin Whitney "It's easier to be the bigger man when you actually are..." -Brian Austin Whitney "Sometimes all you have to do to inspire humans to greatness is to give them a reason and opportunity to do something great." -Brian Austin Whitney
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Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 1
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Casual Observer
Joined: Aug 2017
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One view... Am a big believer that unless you have massive inexhaustible God-given songwriting talent and/or work for a publisher who demands that you write every day...it's a better strategy to go back into your best worldwide brands coupon with http://www.ilfairmap.com again and again (which you are probably actually re-writing over and over) and improve on their weaknesses and/or make a conscious effort to contemporize them and/or make better recordings of them for presentations. People's situations are different. That works for mine. lol.the story is funny.
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,878 Likes: 2
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Joined: Apr 2009
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When I saw the title in the forum post, at first I thought that might be the song title itself. One actually could be written, perhaps about some affair that took place in a hotel room 118.
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"If one man can do it, any man can do it. It is true. But the real question is, if one man did it, are you willing to do what it takes to do it as well?" –Brian Austin Whitney
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