Tina,

Writing is something we do because we are drawn to it. I have a line in a song called "Tables and Chairs" which states:

"You don't choose music, music chooses you."

That is the truth no matter how you slice it. So you should always write and be a part of expressing yourself. That is why you are given talents. Part of the reason we are here.

But when you want to start making that step "outside of yourself" and going toward a specific industry, it becomes a different animal. The demo is one of the biggest challenges writers face in their careers. And you have to look at a lot of sides at each thing you do. You are very unlikely to ever make a dime from them, so you have to look at what you spend as a statement of your craft and journey. Not always as an "investment" because unfortunately, very very few of those investments ever pay for themselves.

I look at demos in a much different way than many people do. Most writers get the demos for pitching purposes and that is fine, but far from the only one. I will tell you a story I have told in other places, but shows you how it can pay off.

About 6 years ago, I had a woman approach me on one of my songwriter "tours" of Nashville. She was over 50, a teacher from Green Bay Wisconsin, Mother and wife. She was the coordinator of the NSAI group in Green Bay and had a wonderful bubbly personality that was infectious to be around. As a writer she was pretty basic, saying the same things, kind of same songs everyone does. And she did not perform or sing. About everything that would hold a writer back. But she had that great personality.

My tours consist of spending a day or multi days working on existing material, going around the town, meeting people, and actually writing new material. It is showing the writer how things work and don't work.

The main thrust of this woman's journey was not to be a star. She wanted to make a statement. Her husband, who was pretty archaic in his views (the woman should be in the home, cooking, cleaning, raising kids),her friends and relatives were of the "oh, isn't that nice" point of view about her "little hobby."
She was on a quest to prove herself, most of all, to herself.

The first night led to her being included in an advanced writer's group at ASCAP. That caused her to need to be in town once a month for six months. During that time she booked me and worked continually. Over two years she made many trips and brought me to Green Bay, where I worked with her entire NSAI group.

After two years a little at a time we had done about 14 demos. Now part of this was to pitch. But part were several other reasons. She wanted her own CD, featuring her songs, done professionally, packged right, that she could say "This is what I have accomplished." She was also a part time school teacher, so her money was saved very carefully for the project. The idea was that if she never did anything else, this would be the statement she made for her journey. Not being an artist, there was never going to be much made in the way of sales, most would be for givaways. But it was her statement. And as important as anything else she could do.

Another aspect was to help others. Several of the songs were written by myself and a young 19 year old female singer from New Orleans. They became best of friends and in her many trips, they hung out and she provided work for the young girl.

After the two year mark we did a Nashville "showcase" based around her music, with me forming a band and having several artists sing her song. At that time, all the people she had been meeting over the years all came together. She was suddenly accepted on the Nashville level and the CD was exactly the same kind of project we all have to do. It was her statement.

Fast forward to now, six years later. Three months ago, that woman,Julie Moriva signed a full publishing deal with Big Machine, the publishing company owned by Taylor Swift. The singer, Megan Lindsey, is one half of Steel Magnolia, the fastest rising duo in country music history. They are in the top 10 this week with their current single and Julie has the next single. Big Machine now pays for all of Julie's demos, sets her up with the top writer's in town and basically she is in the best position anyone can hope for, a major company with all the drive and political muscle (and money) we would need.

Now she has to continue to deliver. And that is the real hard part.

The point is, that it started with well written songs, demoed in a way that attracted people in the industry to her, and put her on their playing field. The writing and networking led to better and better songs, and better and better contacts. The demos were a calling card, which represented her in a myriad of way aside from just the songs themselves. Her My Space site alone led to a half dozen cuts which paid her money as well.

So things can be done. You just have to plan what you are doing and be smart. You have an NSAI group in Little Rock and a few more around the state. Start there. Get around other writers. Co-write as much as you can. Helps to share the costs of demos, trips to music centers, whatever. It starts with the first step of getting outside yourself.


Good luck,

MAB