Would Your Song Get the Job?

SVSA MUSIC NEWS AUGUST 2019 AUGUST FEATURE ArtICLE Would Your Song Get The Job? What We Can Learn From Headhunters by Greg Trafidlo our product,” which was ourselves, A year ago, I told one of our at one time or another. members that their song was ready We’ve all faced the anxiety to pitch to Nashville ... and I could of the job interview from Hell. tell they had no idea how or where But, as we learned more about to start this music business journey. our professions, gone through the While looking for something employment process, and grown to send to David per his request for as individuals, the business worlds’ a cover story, I found this article fangs became rubber teeth. I wrote in 2001. It still applies for Whether you are pitching your anyone who ever had a dream of songs to a publisher or looking for having their songs picked up by a employment, the etiquette, tactics, major artist. and tools are about the same. A songwriter compatriot once I recently came across an article said to me that pitching songs was about job hunting and realized that like being on a continual job hunt. the same basic tools apply to our We’ve all been in a position quest of the almighty publishing where we’ve had to shine our shoes, deal. GREG TRAFIDLO be on our best behavior, and “sell See Feature Article, page 2 DUES BE DUE BE The next meeting of 7:30 and will last until provide at least 25 DUE BE DUE the SVSA will be held the last song critique is copies of the lyrics. Pay at a meeting, pay WEDNESDAY AUG 28 finished, or 10:30 p.m., Critiques are limited on our website, or mail in the LL Rice Room at whichever comes first. to members only $35 to: the Jefferson Center Members may submit but non-members SVSA in Roanoke, Virginia. one song for critique (on and guests are Doors will open at cassette, CD, phone, encouraged to sit in on P.O. Box 698 7 p.m.; the meeting computer, or you can the discussions and Salem, VA 24153 begins promptly at perform it live) and should exercises. FEATURE ARTICLE Continued from page 1 Here are a few examples of or The Folk Alliance? If it’s true information to help you get a things we need to consider when that “Life Is A Contact Sport,” better handle on the business and approaching the people who craft of songwriting. can do our songs some good. How well organized are you? We can all benefit from making Are your demos cued up? Do the a few changes and adjustments. lyric sheets reflect word for Choose the areas that apply to word what is on the tape? you: Have you made a pitch sheet? Your song is your resumé Are the songs copyrighted? and your business card. If so, it shows the publishers Does it need updating? Re- that you are serious writing? A better demo? about your writing and have Do you want the job professional potential. It also (cut) bad enough to go that shows that you know extra mile to pitch your something about the business. tunes? Do you have enough Being a good writer is only faith in your work to spend half the battle. some of your vacation time to How is your telephone make a trip to a major music manner? Do you have a name at center to push your song? the label to talk to? Making cold Have you studied the trade calls is easy for some salespeople, publications like Billboard or impossible for others. The more Music City News, to know who’s you know about the label and who, who’s looking, or what’s are confident in your product current in the industry? Do you (songs), the better off you’ll be. try to learn what is happening Do you have a sense of at the labels? Who are their business etiquette? Would latest clients (artists), hirings, you think to send a hand- and firings? as Ken Kragen suggests, where written thank-you to the publisher Have you learned at least better to make contacts with other for their time? Would you think one new marketable skill that writers or publishers than these to call them back in six months would make you (your song) organizations? if they showed interest in your more hire-able? This is equivalent Are you co-writing? The songs? to learning a new instrument cumulative energy to two people Here are some tips borrowed or writing in a new groove. working on one song is a Gestalt from career counselors: How long has it been since process, greater than the sum What applies to potential you attended a songwriting of the parts. Plus, it means two employment can work for us as workshop, NSAI seminar, or people are excited about the song, songwriters. Career counselors writers’ night? not to mention more pitching and suggest that people get personal If it meant relocating to get performing opportunities. advisors, objective third parties to the job (a deal or a chance to Do you subscribe to trade review and evaluate themselves write for a label), would you do publications? How about in key areas, such as interviewing it? subscribing to one new one this skills, appearance, strategies, and What professional year. American Songwriter, Acoustic tactics. Why not apply these to associations do you belong to? Guitar, Sing Out! Dirty Linen, achieve your songwriting goals? Are you a member of NSAI, The Songwriter Monthly. There are Are you willing to subject Songwriters Guild, CMA, SVSA, many out there, each with current See Feature Article, page 3 2 | SVSA MUSIC NEWS | AUGUST 2019 FEATURE ARTICLE Continued from page 2 your songs to scrutiny? If there “Why are my friends getting explained to me that it takes are flaws that are addressed jobs?” translates into “Why are perseverance, talent, and luck to in critique sessions, make the my friends getting songs cut/ have a prosperous songwriting changes if enough people see published?” Study their talents, career. The first two elements problems or suggest ways to strategies, and techniques. What’s are in our power to control improve the song. It’s one different in their songs? What can and build upon. When the luck hundred per cent better to have you learn from their successes? comes, and it will, it’s best your songs dissected at the local And finally, as with job that we possess those first two level, amongst friends, than hunting, what are you doing to elements. to have a potential publisher stay positive? That’s the hardest As for perseverance, one find the flaws. You may not get thing to do after putting your heart of Steve Seskin’s early songs is another chance. and soul into your songs and the entitled One Song Away. That Are there patterns to the world just doesn’t understand how elusive cut, that one song you critiques you receive? “Your brilliant your songs are. might build a career on, may be verse melody sounds like There’s nothing wrong with the next one you write. What your chorus melody” or “Not motivational tapes, inspirational a shame it would be to give up enough contrast,” etc. If you books, or daily affirmations to keep when you just may be only one receive rejection notices from things in perspective. It may mean song away from your goal. In potential employers, you need taking some time away from your other words, “DON’T GIVE to ask yourself what you need writing to clear your head and see U P.” to change to get the gig. The the world anew. Isn’t that where And always remember that pursuit of songwriting success is our best ideas come from anyway? the bigger the dream, the bigger no different. Publisher Chris Keaton once the reward. David Simpkins was scheduled to appear at Blacksburg VA’s Steppin’ Out street festival for the 25th straight year on August 3, but an illness sidelined him. Into the breach stepped Greg Trafidlo (left), Kathy Acosta (2nd from left), and Britt Mistele (4th from left) – the KGB – who were already scheduled to appear with Simpkins. Joining them was Mike Pearrell (3rd from left) and Mike Franke (right) to make it an all-SVSA show. (Photo by Linda Giuliano Pearrell.) 3 | SVSA MUSIC NEWS | AUGUST 2019 3rd Street Pat Alger to hold songwriting workshop and Coffeehouse concert in Charlottesville on September 21 The Charlottesville concert “Here is a link to information tentatively plans series, Songmaker Series, will hold a regarding both events: https://the- musicians swap Pat Alger weekend this September. songmaker-series.ticketleap.com/ meet for Oct 26 Alger will lead a workshop on Saturday, September 21 as well Noted songwriter Pat Alger 3rd Street Coffeehouse in as hold a concert that evening at Roanoke VA tentatively plans to Cville Coffee. host a musicians swap meet on The workshop will be held Sat Oct 26 from 9 a.m.-noon at the in the community of Greenwood coffeehouse. Musicians are invited in the mountains close to to rent a table to sell or trade Charlottesville. equipment or music-related wares Long-time SVSA member Mary (including CDs and vinyl). Gordon Hall says, “Having Pat • 6 ft tables $15 in advance and Alger here is a once-in-a-lifetime $20 the day of the swap meet. event for the region. He rarely tours • 4 ft tables $10 in advance and anymore and is doing this show $15 the day of the swap meet.

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