Musically, we look for songs that have memorable choruses; a melody that, once heard, keeps bouncing around your cranium. And I look for dynamic contrast between verse, chorus, and bridge. Lyrically, I want to hear something said in some new or unique way. All of the above make a song stand out.
What are the most common pitfalls songwriters fall into melodically? What could make them more effective?
The most common problem is that the different sections of the song sound too much alike. A chorus should not sound like an extension of the verse. It should lift off. A bridge should be different enough so that the listener feels "release," a term often used as a synonym for bridge. Try to avoid beginning these different sections with the same chord. If your verse begins on a C major chord, begin the chorus and verse with a different chord -- F, G, Em, or Am, for example.
What about lyrically?
Saying something that has been said a trillion times is boring. Instead of "Please don't go, I love you," you can say, "If you leave me, can I come, too?" Many songs are about love. Find an original, fresh way to express the feeling.
What could make demo production more effective?
Don't overproduce. Think of the song as a painting, the demo as the frame. Too much production distracts from the song. If you're truly interested in showcasing the song, your focus should be on song elements -- melody, lyric, harmonic changes -- not guitar solos or gimmicks. If it's a great song, it'll shine through with even the simplest of productions.
And then finally, what are the most common performance pitfalls, and what factors contribute to receiving an enthusiastic audience response?
I've noticed a lot of writers like to tell you what a song is about before they perform it. I think it's better if you allow your audience to discover that along the way. Most important, understand what it is you’re saying. Feel it; be that person; be real. Nothing grabs me more than when a performer is
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