So What Did You Do Today, Little One? Part 1

When you were little, did you remember your mom asking you what you'd accomplished that day when you came home from school? If you are a serious songwriter, there should be an inner voice that asks this same question of you every day before you pull the covers over yourself to go to sleep. Here are a few items you should check off before you call it quits tonight.

DID YOU DO SOMETHING TO PROMOTE YOURSELF?

This should be an easy one. Each day, try to hand out one business card, one demo, send one email to someone to get them to listen to an online download of your music, sign up for a songwriter's newsletter or tip sheet (there are a few on my links section!), apply to attend a local songwriter's forum (or one far away if you can swing it), let someone know what you are up to songwriting-wise that might later translate into a later sale (at least let a relative know--they might buy an album!), play a gig at least at an open mic, or try out for a local band. If we all did just one of these, or some similar action each day, our names would be all over the map. Even posting at some Internet board with a link to one of your song sites can help. Get your name out there! No one became famous by hiding in a closet.

DID YOU PRACTICE TODAY?

Another walk in the park. Pick up that guitar and at least strum a chord or two so those callouses don't go away. Tinkle those ivories, even if it's just a scale or two. Sing along to something on the radio when no one is watching, or, better yet, full volume alone in your vehicle on the way to and/or from work. Find at least a napkin and outline the idea for a song, write at least the content of a line or two (you can make it rhyme later), a title or hook for a song, a rhythm line or riff or the basic idea for an intro, or even a note to check out a cool hook or riff you heard on a song on the radio to listen to later, and a few notes of how this could work (slightly changed, of course) for a piece you are working on. Do a crossword puzzle, a jumble or some other word game to keep your vocabulary fresh and help your word recognition--this is great exercise to help you know the right word to end or use in a line of lyrics. Even just listening--really listening--to the radio to find out what your competition sounds like can help, but you have to push those buttons and take the effort to do this every day. Go for a jog or work out if you can, too--it not only drives off the blues so many musicians suffer from, but it can get more oxygen into your brain to help you think better, help your singing and improve your stamina for those long studio sessions. All of these things are stuff every songwriter should do every day just to keep in shape--pick a few or have fun making up your own. One of the songs I'm working on for my new album is based on a ditty I made up that works on scales in the key of C because I was so bored with the ones in my piano book--sometimes just going through these motions can be the fodder for your next composition, too.

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