JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Mentor Questions Forum Whats the next step

My name is Paul Gaines, Im new to writing songs, and I have a tune that im thinking of making a demo of. Im not sure how to go about getting the tune heard other than submitting it in song contest in the short term, I understand about networking, thats why I joined this forum. What I'd really like to hear are some suggestions to point me toward other venues to get a tune heard.

I guess everyone thinks they have a hit on their hands every now and then. Hit or no, I just want to get in the storm so I have a change for lightening to hit me.

Here is a link to a very rough recording of the song Im going to demo, any advise would be appreciated, including do you think the song is worth making a demo or not. Im posting the lyrics the way they are now, the recording was right after I wrote the first draft of the song, just a cel phone recording and I have done a rewite since then.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=1016904&songID=8448290

Thanks

Paul Gaines

Paul, let me preface this by saying I haven't the faintest idea what constitutes a "hit," or what to do with one if I had one.

I default to audiences. Whatever I may think of a song (and I'll usually find plenty of fault with everything I write), whether something's "good" depends entirely on the audience. And that's why I play out--a lot. If people request something again, it's a "keeper." If they request it a lot, it's album material. (And if they don't request it, I may never play it again.)

If I get people asking (occasionally happens) whether such-and-such song is on a record anywhere, I'll tell them, "no, but it'll be on the next one," and hand them the Red Notebook so they can get added to the e-mail list and notified when the next album happens. About the best I can do.

So when I have stuff professionally recorded (which I haven't been able to afford in a long time), it's with the intent of it going on a CD that's going to be sold. So I don't do demos per se. When I participated in the Pineyfest Demo Derby back in 2007, four of the five songs I had Mike "the Foot" Dunbar & Co. do were co-writes, that I could turn over to the authors and let *them* run with them.

My idea of "success" as a writer is other people playing my songs. That happens--just nowheres near enough. And that's the other reason I play out a lot--it's the only way my stuff is going to get exposure. If I want to see who's promoting my material, I pretty much have to look in the mirror.

Lots of luck.

Joe

Paul,

The "Next Step" is the million dollar question everyone always wants to know. I would say, as Joe has mentioned, the first step is acertaining how good your song (or songs) are.

#1. Get outside and perform them Take survey's from your listening audiences. Listen to other people as much as you can.

#2 Get around other writers. Being here is a good step, attending writers workshops and open mics, writer's nights are all a part of it.

#3 Utilizing all the resources in your area. This could mean finding other singers, writers, to correspond with to get outside yourself.

#4. Create your own web sites, My Space, Facebook. etc. to get your music onto networking sites I would suggest you have well recorded demos first before you do this.

#5 Join NSAI. Nashville Songwriter's Association International, has 110 chapter workshosp nationwide and Canada. I have been to five or six in California. If I am not mistaken there is a JPF chapter out there as well.

#6. Consistantly write more songs and get around other songwriters all the time.

There is no one step. There are hundreds and each one will lead you to another, which leads you to another, and so forth and so on. There is always something else to be done.

Good luck,

MAB

Howdy Shooter, I just tried both links. The 1st didn't work & it was un-clear which of the songs on the soundclick page was the
one you want us to listen to. I figgered on Heal Billy, but I didnt see it on that page. Just thought I'd let you know & bump at the same time.................Gus

Thanks for your time Fellers. I play around town a bit, but i havent been lately because of health issues with my hands, about back to full go now.

Joe: I agree, if you cant please an audience with a tune,it aint marketable. I have had very good reactions with this tune live, the crowd dances and hoots a bit.

Marc: I Appreciate your input, guidance being your day job, your insight is a great value. your suggestions are spot on, some Im already doing others, after seeing them in print seem obvious, but as I said im new to this, have the insight of new to this... .

Gus: thanks for letting me know the link wasnt working appreciate it, and yes the song im going to demo is Heal Billy.

Thanks again
Paul Gaines AKA Shooter

As I said on the Mp3 worth demoing.....but make it a good un...you only get one chance to create a good first impression.

Or Bad first impression.

M

Shooter,

I like it better when you sing "She knew just how to ...." I'd be tempted to sing..."Tonight she's gonna..." the "you're gonna..." to me is unclear as to whether "you" is her or Billy.

Good stuff. Just needs the wire brush. I love the breaking the string ending. Got me thinking, I might do that on a song LOL. If I do, I'll give you cowritere on it .

Mike

Mike

My first write had "Tonight she's gonna.. and I like it that way also, but I got more than a couple suggestions to change it.

The last two lines of the chrous were
She knew just how to heal Billy
She really digs them hillbillies
I changed it because of suggestion from others, I didnt feel it took away from the song myself but, I try to keep an open mind and not get stuck with it has to be the way I wrote the first time.
Thanks for taking the time to nit the tune a bit I appreciate it

Paul Gaines AKA Shooter