Brian,

Glad to hear from you my friend. Come see me some time. You have a place to stay at my house/wayward songwriter's hotel, (unless someone else is in the room already.)

I don't think there is as much "writing for specific artists" unless you are writing with that artist. (Which really is the goal after all) WE all just write songs. The "grocery store line" example is exactly right. Mine and Wood's song, "Too Much Blood in My Alcohol Level" was something a guy said the night before in a bar.

WE all compile ideas, phrases, melody grooves, etc. all the time. Then we write them. Usually the fresher the better. They don't stay in the file cabinet for lone.

But I think (at least with me) we have artist "TARGETS." That dictates somewhat the style and gives us a place to work from. since I am teaching most of the time, and taking what I have learned from the pros, it is usually "What TYPE or STYLE" of song do you want to write? What kind of song is NOT in your catalogue? If there were any artist living or dead, you could write a song for, who would it be?"

Yesterday, I had a girl from West Virginia doing one of my tours. When we got to the writing part she started talking. She is from West Virginia, got laid off and is here seeing if she ca get a job and move here since she has to be somewhere and West Virginia isn't the hottest job market right now. So she was wanting an analytical look at her chances. She has almost all ballads, so we needed mid or up tempo.

The artist she loves is Martina McBride. So that means a "motorboat" feel on the guitar groove. The story is about... a woman over 45,divorced, moving to a new life and getting on with her world. Woman empowerment. Wow, just like the client's life. But we wrote in third person so that a younger artist could sing it. This girl is a very good singer with a big range, so the melody can flirt with a few notes, a lot of singers wouldn't take on. Same aspect as your "Pat Pattison" example above.

Now, every single day in this town are hundreds of artists and writers coming in and out. A LOT of girl's are influenced by Martina McBride. So we will have that song in a "Martina style" demo and pitch. Pitch sheets are always filled with unknowns who want "Martina like songs." There will always be new ones and those are the people you are shooting for.

That is mostly what we do. We are trying to write with as many artists as we can and that gives a more established "writing with them" instead of "writing for them." Aspect. When their lives are in the songs, they are going to have more invested in it.

With Frankie Ballard, the artist I have worked with who is on the charts now, all the songs were around his love of Southern Rock music, like Skynyrd and Allman Brothers, but with a definate country language and subject matter. I don't know where they are in his CD right now, you never really know, but I have 15 songs written with him. they have to look at overall direction and he is being produced by Micheal Knox, who produces Jason Aldeen and Trace Atkins. So who knows where this ends up.

You are constantly playing psycology with these people too. What can I play for some artist or producer that they might have "never thought of?" A few years ago I was working with a guy in Montgomery Alabama. I asked him the question, Who would you like to write for living or dead?" "Elvis" was his answer.

So we wrote this really funny song called "Elvis is Alive in my Bathroom Mirror" which had that "That's Alright Mama" groove and I did the demo with an Elvis inflection voice. I get it to my song plugger with not much expectations of anything. Novelty songs are not much in demand.

Lo and behold the guy who LOVED it was Josh Turner. It has a low voice that he likes and he plays the song for his friends. But he is not at a stage in his career where he can step out with his more humorous side like Brad Paisley does. Maybe one day.

So that is what most of us do. We write songs, and hopefully have a LOT of options for any eventuality. What do you have for...? is always the question. At 1867 songs in 7 years, I am pretty well covered for anything.

Then you have to be careful of what happens. We didn;t trademark the phrase "I've Got Too Much Blood in My Alchol Level" and lately I have seen hundreds of "I've Got Too Much Blood in My Alchohol SYSTEM" t-shirts. Oh well. Live and learn.

At least Thom Shepard did register "Redneck Yacht" club, as a brand. Should've seen that one coming.

Later guys, gotta go teach a workshop today on performance. If any of you are around the Music Row area, drop by. I am teaching at 12:00-1:00 always like to meet you face to face.

MAB