JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Songwriter Message Forum New Poll for JPF Songwriters (I'm just curious!)

I'm a solid five. Prefer live performance over recording and I LOVE an audience.

4 and 5. I write and record my own stuff at home. But I like to perform (for the money).

Dave,

Don't worry! I am not as sad as I sound. Just feeling bloated and hormonal lol.

I was just telling hubby the other day (he is so sick of his job), lets get a band together and just go touring!!!

So, some days are better than others, confidence-wise!

LOL.

Hello again Everyone:

Lots of interesting posts. Some quite surprising. I still expected more "ones" and suspect that many are just too shy.

Because it's gonna take some time to compile the results... I'd like to make the following announcement:

FRIDAY, MAY 16th, 2008 at MIDNIGHT... this thread (as far as being able to tell us your number(s))... will officially close.

I'll begin final tabulation after the close. It may take a couple of days.

Thanks for your participation. Please ask anyone you may know that should post... to do so ASAP. Thanks again for letting us know where you perceive your place in the songwriting/performing world.

Dave

5+7 Hey I’m a 12!
7= published, movie, licensed and broke!

Five.

As a songwriter I'm mostly a 5 -- even on co-writes I tend to have a part in on both lyrics and music. But I do dabble in new agey instrumentals on the side (under a secret identity ) so I guess I'm a 2 as well.

4 Singer/songwriter/non performer

That is assuming a performer is someone who performs regularly in front of an audience.
I don't do that cause I am chicken, have low self esteem, and think people will laugh at me. Plus I can never remember my own lyrics and my guitar playing stinks. I am old and getting fat because I quit smoking and have retired and I am now quite innactive (that's a long word for lazy)

And why didn't you use a poll chart. It's at the bottom on New Post. You would not have to tabulate anything. Us innactive types know about that sort of thing

I'm a 1 with a little 3 thrown in, but wish I was a 10!!

I'm a '5' in my mind...but that has gotten some debate from time to time.

Well, Boys and Girls:

We're rapidly approaching the end of this poll. 48 participants so far... and of that number... 10 females. By the way, if any of you get a chance to listen... I'm impressed with niteshift's blues number... "Sad Song for Your Baby." I listened while I was crunching some of the numbers. Nice!

I'll also provide a breakdown according to participants by State or Country (other than USA) so you can better determine the makeup of the Songwriting Board here at JPF.

On the whole of it... we are a pretty impressive group. Thanks for your input. Those of you who do not show a location can really help by letting me know your state or country.

Regards,

Dave

my goodness alot of 5's out there....

I am a 1 with a speck of a 7 (indie cut) .....

Correct, Kathy:

There are many 5's participating in this poll. I was very surprised.

Regards,

Dave

Hi Dave..I'm a 4, currently, who's a 5, time-permittin'...and a 7, over the years. I co- with a lotta Musician/Performers who take me under their Musical Wings (I play No Instruments, but hear Melody as I write da Words down.) Nothin' Charted yet...but I've got cuts on 2 CDs coming out with Other Artists this year..& a CD of my own I've been too-busy to send off to CDBaby for over a year that I'll get Out There...soon..I hope. (6 others there already).

Best Wishes,
Stan
<www.CDBaby/TampaStan>

I guess you could call me OTHER.
I primarily write lyrics & perform, but I'm slowly trying my hand at composing.

charlann

Hello Stan, Charlann and fellow participants:

Good to get your entries before time ran out on this little poll.
Here are my tabulations of the categories:

1. Lyricists = 13
2. Composers = 7
3. Songwriters = 13
4. Non-performing singer/songwriters = 14
5. Performing songwriters = 28
6. Vocalists/singers = 5
7. Other types = 14
8. Those who listed more than one category = 24

Note: The numbers will not add up to the total participants due to those who listed more than one category.

Male Participants = 38
Female Participants = 14
Total Participants = 52

Countries represented:

USA = 47
Canada = 2
Australia = 2
Scotland = 1

States with most representatives:

Florida = 9
Pennsylvania = 4
Georgia = 4
Michigan = 3

U.S. Regions represented:

Northeast = 6
Midwest = 14
South = 17 (includes Florida)
Northwest = 2
Southwest = 4 (Texas, Arizona & California)
Unlisted = 2

The biggest surprise to me was how few reported as lyricists only. The second surprise was the significant listing of performing songwriters. Wow! The final surprise was how many listed more than one category.

Thanks, ever so much for your participation. I won't attempt to "spin" the results. Statistics have a way of being "bent" in the direction of the pollster and I had no agenda. Just curious!

Regards,

Dave

#3, but lyrics are pretty challenging for me, while melodies flow freely. I'd love to be a solid #3 one day - lots to learn though. But really #4 or #5 would be my ideal, but I'm a "dreadful" singer. lol

I am a 5 but my daughter thinks I am a 10!

Hi Tricia and Dave:

Sorry, the "poll" closed at midnight last Friday. See the results just a few clicks above your posts. Thanks for posting anyway.

Dave Rice

If you are really serious take lessons... we can all learn to sing ...

I am an I.O.U. 10.

Rick, my friend:

I have it (on good authority) that you are, indeed, a ten!

Dave

No. 5 here - although I've haven't done much performing lately(I've taken a hiatus). I'm a published songwriter. The only charts I've been on are Internet Music site charts such as Broadjam and Mp3. I've had airplay on commercial and college radio - mostly morning shows for commercial radio as I'm a novelty artist. I self-publish for the "Summeoyo" songs. But I have had a few songs signed to other publishers in the hope that they could secure recordings with other artists.

Alas I'm a 1 also. Couldn't carry a tune in a bucket, I own a guitar but don't know what to do with it (it looks nice though).

Randy

I was a 5 for many years. = )

I'm 5'8" 1/2....oops that wasn't the question, let's see..... (sound of sleeves rolling up)

Always #1 (lyrically limber and loving it)

Sometimes #3 (making melodies but not as often as I'd like)

#4 singer if you count the shower walls, dog and close family members as my audience.

3, 5, 6. If I remembered the question.

www.waynelongtin.com

Hi Everybody:

Somehow, my message announcing the poll was closing on Friday at midnight (May 16, 2008) was not seen by many. My sincere apology to each of you. The compilation and calculations were completed on Saturday and posted a few "notches" above with a few comments from me about the surprising results.

Your efforts will not be wasted, I will continue to add your input into my "database" and will show the results in a week or two... or whenever this little thread begins to fade into the woodwork of obscurity.

Thanks for participating.

Dave

Well, in that case I'm a solid 5'er...

Just saw this, nice job Dave!

So here's how I would "rate" myself on a scale of 0 to 10, ten of course being the highest and best strength that I consider myself to have.

Violin performer (my own stuff or other material) = 10
Recording, arranging, mixing and production = 9
Composer only (no lyrics... just melody)= 8
Songwriter/singer but non-performer = 7
Songwriter (lyrics plus melody) = 6
Singer/Songwriter/Performer = 5
Singer/Vocalist = 4
Lyricist only = 3

By the way, that doesn't mean I write "bad" lyrics, just that I least often do "lyrics only" writing as I usually manage to squeek out a melody and arrangement, etc.

Also, 10 points on violin doesn't mean I'm the best player in the world, just that of all my music skills, that could be one of my best strengths for certain kinds/styles of music. The rest in between is just a relative rating, but when combined with my other strengths, can achieve greater results.

Thanks for posting and analyzing this survey!
Hope my weighted input doesn't "trip up" your database math!

Michael

Hi Michael:

Thanks for your input. Don't be concerned about the database math... I'll crunch the numbers and when I'm finished... everyone will be a ten... LOL!

Dave

By the way... I keep forgetting to mention to everyone... when you have time... visit Joanne Lurgio's links to some fantastic music. Her song, "Hard Workin' Woman" is ma-a-a-velous. What a voice! We are so fortunate to have so many talented people in our midsts. You go, girl!

Dave

Ok Dave, sounds like a plan!
Michael

# 1, but far from being a number 1 writer....its a hobby to me, that I get lots of enjoyment from...

Allen

Dave,

You are so right about Joanne. She has been one of my very favorite artists here at JPF for several years. My favorite by here is "Walking On Sacred Ground". Glad you mentioned her...she a great talent.

Alan

Welcome, Iceberg:

Your info has been duly noted. The final results will be posted around mid-June, assuming the entries begin to taper-off by then.
Welcome to JPF.

Hi Al:

That Lurgio woman is a talent and she makes it sound so easy. I could listen to her sing for hours. Thanks for helping me get the word out to our fellow JPFrs who may not be aware of the Diva in our midst.

Lynn Orloff:

It's about time you "weighed in" on this topic. I consider you our most prolific lyricist... and a truly humorous and gifted person. How's your co-writing calender/schedule these days?

Dave

Oh my Dave, flattery will get you everywhere. Gee I might have some homemade chocolate chip cookies around here somewhere, what's your address. Thank you Dave, that was sweet. My schedule these days is busy w/work and training a puppy along w/giving her my undivided attention. Much more than I anticipated in terms of commitment but she is a cutie. Have a couple co-writes in the works and still writing inbetween as it is a passion I can't quench. Hope you are well.

Hey Michael:

Welcome to JPF. Thanks for making your first post on my thread. I'm honored! It may take a few days, maybe a week or so before I re-tabulate the results of this little poll. The previous results are located about five "clicks" up... but I have agreed to wait a while longer to see if others want to be included.

Hope you'll join us often and give us your ideas, opinions and stories of success or anything else you may think others should know. As our founder, Brian Austin Whitney says, "We're all in this together."

Dave

Mostly numbah fo' - although I did place a couple tunes on jazz singer Gwen Howard's debut CD a few years back.

Pretty much inactive since then and been just fine with that.

Hi Charlie:

Where you been hidin'? I see your number of posts but we must hang out on different boards. Hope things are great on the "Big Island." This ol' haole sure has some great memories of the Islands. Thanks for your input. As I've previously stated, the results will show up here in a couple of weeks unless traffic on this thread really picks up. You can see preliminary results up above several notches in case you are curious.

Regards,

Dave