JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Songwriter Message Forum New to the business...

I am new here and have been working as a social worker for most of my life. I am trying to break into the songwriting business and am here for some guidance. I have been reading some topics in the forum and would like to thank everyone for providing so much helpful information... glad to be here in this great company!

welcome to songwriting and JPF

after 20 years working in the mental health field-you will feel right at home in this site and the music business............what kinda music are ya into writing?..........good luck up there in Pennsylvania......be careful when considering a trip to Nashville........this town will have ya running back to the safety of a locked unit.......

Tom

Thanks for the welcome Tom! I am interested in writing gospel. christian, pop, soft rock and country. I was actually in Nashville for a social work conference few years back. I didn't get to do anything related to music but we did hang out a bit. There is a lot to learn about this business of songwriting, ya know? That's what makes it hard for me. I write but will need to collaborate for the music. UGH! A lot of work but I have a burning desire that won't go away... I am here to stay!

Welcome! That's a nice blog you've got going.

With the wide experience in your field of work, you should have plenty of good writing material.

Take time to browse the different forums at leisure.
And if you have a question about anything, jump right in and ask it.

Donna

Donna Marilyn,

Thanks so much for your kind words. I love looking at the forums. The only problem is they are addictive! It is hard to move once I get started. I am so excited to be here and am looking forward to interacting with everyone... again, thanks!!

Welcome to JPF, Stacey. You've found a wonderful site. Looking forward to hearing your songs

Welcome, Stacey! I have been performing (singing wise) for a long time, but just started seriously writing about a year and a half ago. Hanging out here, you will absorb a lot! I suggest that you frequent the Lyric Feedback forums and the MP3 forum to see how others are approaching songwriting. A lot of it rubbed off on me. There are several Gospel writers here, so you're in good company.

You will see a guy named Marc Barnette pop in now and then with some good advice. Something he reitterates a lot is: "When coming up with a song idea...realize that it's probably been done before, and you'll need to come up with a really unique way to say the same thing differently."

My own style is to write from the heart and from personal experience. I don't make stuff up, although some folks do and that's fine. Someone I work with musically who made it big in Nashville told me, "Dig deep down, and grasp the rawest of emotions...pain, misery, happiness, elation...write from that." Sometimes it's hard to do that, especially the pain part because I'm literally writing through my tears, but it does pay off.

Every time my back is turned, some very hot woman is talking about me. I think they like my rear end because they always say something like Polly does, "What an ass!!!" LOL!

Hello Stacey, Marc Alan Barnette, or "MAB" here. Glad to see you around. You are in a very good place. A lot of different opinions and processes, and you should be able to learn a little bit from each of them. These pages have people from Europe, Australia, and all over the States. Very good people.

My expertise tends to lend itself more to the Country, and soulful blues type, as I live and work in Nashville, but I actually teach songwriting as well. So you will be able to find any style you might be interested in. In my opinion the most important thing is to make all of our music as repsonsive to what ever market we go to as we can, and be clear as we can. Any help or suggestions you need, feel free to ask.

It helps if you know what kind of songs you are writing and then to ask suggestions to people who are expereinced in that format.

Good luck to you, and yell out if you need us.

Hello cute Polly.

MAB

Hey Stacey,

Welcome to JPF.

You certainly have the background to put up with these nut cases, so please stick around and enjoy the ride.

It's bumpy , but a heck of a lot of fun also.

cheers, niteshift

Hi Stacey,

Welcome to JPF! We have all styles and genres of music and everything from entry level to Rock Hall of Fame members, so we're glad to add you to the community!

Brian

@Everyone... let me just say thank you so very much for the welcome!! I can't believe how nice you all have been. I will continue to lurk around the boards and chime in periodically. Again, thank you all. I love everyone's sense of humor. It just confirms that I will fit in!!

Hi Stacey,

Welcome! I'm fairly new at this too and pretty new to this forum,
but I'm always looking to do some songwriting collaborations.
I write lyrics (mostly Country and Contemporary Christian), and
I've already made a few friends here and we're starting to see
if we can create a few songs together. It's really turning out
to be a lot of fun.

Anyway, enjoy JPF... this is a really great place!

Sterling

Stacey,
welcome o JPF, we're glad you're here...hope you plug in and play...music is good for the soul...takes you places other things just can't...let me know if I can help you in any way...be well...Moker

@Moker... I am not really sure how to add my music. I sing and write but don't compose music. Some of my stuff is acapella and I wasn't sure if you all wanted to just hear that. I am trying to find a good studio in NJ or PA (Philly area) to do a demo. You guys are so beyond what I have done. I want to get to your level!

@Sterling... I look forward to working on some songs with you all. I write mostly gospel but do christian and pop as well. I will definitely collaborate...

@Brian... it didn't take me long before I knew I was keeping good company.