The Job of Songwriting
The Job of Songwriting
Most musicians hate to hear that they do have to “work” if they are to be a successful songwriter, but it is, unfortunately, an essential component if you are to go anywhere in the industry. As in any job, you should strive to put in at least a good 20-40 hour week, or it is really just a hobby for you. As in any job, though, if you can make yourself feel excited about it, and make it fun, the time you do spend will seem all too short, and you will look forward to the next day’s work.
A GREAT START TO EACH DAY
It’s said that little rituals really help one get started on even the worst of days, so inventing one of your own can probably help you get moving in the right direction. A favorite spot in the home, a favorite drinking cup with a favorite snack beverage (coffee, tea, fruit juice or water work well here), perhaps a bit of mood music and you are on your way. Make your work area comfortable with pictures, posters, plants, mirrors, a favorite item—anything that will make you feel relaxed and secure and confident in your abilities. Make sure you have plenty of recording materials like paper, pen/pencil, tapes, and adapter cords/batteries, as well as your favorite instrument at the ready (or your voice warmed up if you just want to speak or sing out your part. Do a few stretching exercises with your instrument or make sure you have your dictionary/thesaurus/computer at the ready if you are going to work on lyrics. You are now ready to start your day.
ALWAYS DO YOUR BEST
This may sound silly, but if you really want to excel at songwriting, you need to really try to make each piece a potential single, not just album filler. The fact is, there are lots of people out there who want to publish material as much as you do, and they are going to try to do their best, so you must always strive to put out the most excellent product you know how if you wish to ever sell any of your goods. True, you may be perfectly happy if one of your tunes ended up as someone else’s album filler, but that is their decision, not yours—and the more you work towards that goal, the better your music will become with time. Just like even distance jogging helps a sprinter get ready for races, making excellence a practice each day will only result in your overall performance improving.
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