JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Songwriter Message Forum Song Requirements

Hello,

Don't know if I am posting this question in the right place, but I was wondering if you take rough drafts as MP3's for suggestions or do you want the finished product for review. Been down this route before with another forum, and seems folks can get pretty critical.

Thank you
JaneK

If the rough draft melodically and lyrically are presented simple and well played, it is probably the best way to go. There are a lot of "finished products" presented that would have been better presented in a simple form before going for the full production. Start with a lyric critique, then rough demo, then go full production. One's are less likely to heed valid criticism because they believe they had the song ready for the full production - but didn't really have a commercially sound offering. If they need to make changes, they are hesitant because of the cost.

Thanks so much for the information Summeoyo. That's what I will do.

JaneK

Humm,
As far as I know there are no requirements to post a song or lyric. So feel to post away on one of the boards.

Jane,

I suggest just telling it like it is. Example:

Hi, I am Joe, I am working on some songs but have no budget for professional demos. My goals are (X) and I'd appreciate feedback about my song to help me improve it or get it ready to demo or to decide whether to pitch it etc. etc. etc.

Or it could just be "this is currently the best I can do, am I on the right track" Or it could be "I have finished this song so I don't want critiques to improve it, just a "I like it" or "I don't like it" is what I am looking for. No attacks please and thank you for checking it out!

You get the idea. Tell people where you are, where you want to get and what it is you want from them upfront. You may not even WANT feedback, that is okay too. Just explain that and people will be fine. Don't oversell your talent (it will be instantly apparent on it's own) and don't waste people's time/effort if you are not going to change anything in the first place. Also, if you ask for feedback, unless someone is personally attacking you (which you should immediately tell me about as we don't allow that against someone just posting a song), then accept what people have to say and don't argue with them. Ask questions to clarify what they said, but don't bother trying to prove them wrong if they don't like something. It was you who asked for THEIR time to help, so if you disagree with something they say, no big deal, say thanks for their time and choose not to make the changes they suggest. That is how it works.

Also, as a rule of thumb, I find simply understanding mistakes/weaknesses and using that knowledge to write a NEW song can be more useful than just slaving endlessly on the same song. Sure, do a rewrite, but we have people with the same 10 songs they started with 20 years ago. Don't do that. Keep writing anew, that will make you better.

Good luck and good writing!

Thank for the information Brian. I am a newbie to forums so am learning as I go along.

Jane K

Hi Jane K,
all good advise, just jump in and have fun, thats a must. Lane

Hi again, Jane:

Brian stated things pretty well. Very few of us here at JPF are cut from the cloth that was used to make Frank Sinatra, Barbara Streisand, Don Henley and so many other greats. We just hope to be able to eventually make it to that level. Never be afraid to re-write a song from stem to stern... or only in the parts you believe need work... but, as Brian implies... don't let re-writes rule your song-writing life. Keep several "song-cakes" in the oven and work on new material as it germinates in your musical mind.

From my perspective, you can present MP3's of your creation in rough demo form... but in my opinion, it is better to not constantly re-write it and share it.. ad infinitum. Remember that others are trying to be heard as well... and it won't hurt your results (in the way of comments or suggestions) if you also listen and comment on the songs of others on a ratio of about five to one. No magic formula here... just common courtesy.

Best of luck with your music. ----Dave

Hi again everyone,

Thank you for taking the time to answer my questions. I am very excited to start participating in your song forum.

Jane K