HOW IT HAPPENS

In Kalamazoo, or here in Winnipeg, it usually starts with one person. That person usually needs to be someone that can supply the general group something they can't do themselves. It might be the drive to organize a social gathering and set some rules. It might be someone that marshalls a writers night.It might be someone who is very talented and everyone wants to emulate. But it is always one person that keeps things off.

In my social gatherings, I push them to do a few things:

#1. Co-write. At least 4 songs a month. If you can't write four songs a month, you are not a writer. Having goals and deadlines bring discipline. Have to write crap to get to the good ones. If you don't write a lot of songs you don't have anything to base it on. You don't know what the crap is.
Co-writing helps you get out of your way. Two heads are better than onit doubles your chances. If other people have a proprietary interst in that song they are more likely to contribute to their success.

#2. Have regular meetings,social gatherings open mics, and writers showcases. If you have a practical application for your songs, you are more than likely to want to write more. You want to get the best of the best.

#3. Make trips to a music center. Pairing up with other people push your own creativity and share expenses.

#4. Write songs for other artists. Even if you are an artist and ESPECIALLY if you are not, you have to get things to other people.

#5.Involve the community. Doing fundraisers, making money for the venues, involving the school system, the media, charities.

In every case, with the groups I have been involved in, there have been that one person and all of them have done reasonably well.

#1. Julie Moriva. School teacher, wife and mother. From NSAI coordinator to writing for Big Machine publishing. Best friends and main inspiration to Megan and Josh of Steel Magnolia. Befriended them early and now has her first major cut.

#2. Cliff and Bev Nelson. Orange County California. NSAI coordinators for 8 years. Forming an inside writers group, culminating in an 18 person Nationwide group represented by Sharp Objects, one of Nashville's best independent song pluggers.
Multiple artists in the group have gone on to success. Ciff, and two others have formed "THE LOSERS" musical comedy group, that performs all over the Southern California coast. Recently did a show with the Four Tops.

Have dozens of songs with artists in Nashville.

#3. Rene Mauve, Kalamazoo Michigan. Rene, is a hispanic guitarist and singer with a very well known local and regional Tejano band, Los Bandits. Has a dozen artists coming to him for material. runs the "Chili Peppers songwriting" group, who meet once a week to write and promote their music. One of the Chili Peppers, Shelagh Brown, has the new duet with Josh Gracin, recently opened for James Otto and others, and probably will have a deal within a year. Most of her songs are written by Rene and others.
Rene was the one who found Frankie Ballard. He has several songs with Frankie, who is on Warner Brothers records. Rene has an open door with Troy Tomlinson, president of Sony Music.

#4. Cincinatti Ohio NSAI group. Greg Althamer and multiple others opened publishing and recording contacts in Nashville.Several moved to Nashville and are pursuing publishing deals.Also represented by Sharp Objects and others. Open doors in several areas in town.

#5. Janice Staradob, Winnipeg Canada. One year ago, didn't know any artists existed around her. Working with one artist, she has grown that to 30 bands, artists, duos, solos, bands. All sharing material and resources. Access to a state of the art recording studio, showcase opportunities, television and media interests. Packed showcases have led to tons of more opportunities.

These are just a few of the people I have worked with but have taken the inititive on their own to push everything to the next level.

Activity-Proximaty-Opportunities.

That is the way it happens.

MAB