 What is the most important aspect of songwriting? What part of the whole process should you concentrate on to be successful? Is it the lyrics, the melody or the rhyming? Is it the phrasing, the demos, the pitching? No, No and No. It's none of the above.
The most important part of the songwriting process is the people you meet along the way, more specifically, the relationships you develop with them. Whether you desire to be a songwriter, a singer or a musician on a professional level, just like with any other business, in Nashville, it all boils down to who you know. Ask any successful professional songwriter the secret to their success, and if they are honest, they will likely tell you it was the relationships they built along the way that got them where they are.
 Someone once explained it to me like this. The music business is like a big private party. The only way you are able to attend is if someone already there invites you in. That's how it is with the music industry. Someone who has already made it needs to bring you in either by helping you get a song recorded, introducing you to important people, giving you a job on the inside or somehow getting you involved where it's happening.
And how do you meet these important people who are going to help you become successful?
You meet them wherever you go every day. You meet them at work, at a concert, at church, at the grocery store, at a restaurant, anywhere and everywhere. You meet them by becoming the type of person that others want to meet. You meet them by being friendly to everyone everywhere. Strike up a conversation with the person in front of you at McDonalds. Compliment the person passing you in the isle at the grocery store. Go for a walk and strike up a conversation with people you pass along the way. The bottom line is you need to make friends, lots of friends. If you are not a friendly person, now is the time to become one. If you are shy, you need to find ways of become more outgoing.
 In Nashville, almost everyone you meet is involved in the music industry in one way or another. The girl serving you at a restaurant is a singer, the parking lot attendant is a songwriter, the man at the table behind you is an A & R guy at Today's Records, The lady in front of you at the check out line at the grocery store sings backup for Martina McBride. They are everywhere. The next person you meet could be the one who invites you to that great private party that is the music business.
I remember when I first got to Nashville I met a girl at an open audition. A year later she had become the new lead singer for a major country act. So you never know who you will meet or what will happen. Start building relationships and developing contacts. Someone you meet today may open a door for you tomorrow.
The most important part of the songwriting process is the people you meet along the way, more specifically, the relationships you develop with them. Whether you desire to be a songwriter, a singer or a musician on a professional level, just like with any other business, in Nashville, it all boils down to who you know. Ask any successful professional songwriter the secret to their success, and if they are honest, they will likely tell you it was the relationships they built along the way that got them where they are.
 Someone once explained it to me like this. The music business is like a big private party. The only way you are able to attend is if someone already there invites you in. That's how it is with the music industry. Someone who has already made it needs to bring you in either by helping you get a song recorded, introducing you to important people, giving you a job on the inside or somehow getting you involved where it's happening.
And how do you meet these important people who are going to help you become successful?
You meet them wherever you go every day. You meet them at work, at a concert, at church, at the grocery store, at a restaurant, anywhere and everywhere. You meet them by becoming the type of person that others want to meet. You meet them by being friendly to everyone everywhere. Strike up a conversation with the person in front of you at McDonalds. Compliment the person passing you in the isle at the grocery store. Go for a walk and strike up a conversation with people you pass along the way. The bottom line is you need to make friends, lots of friends. If you are not a friendly person, now is the time to become one. If you are shy, you need to find ways of become more outgoing.
 In Nashville, almost everyone you meet is involved in the music industry in one way or another. The girl serving you at a restaurant is a singer, the parking lot attendant is a songwriter, the man at the table behind you is an A & R guy at Today's Records, The lady in front of you at the check out line at the grocery store sings backup for Martina McBride. They are everywhere. The next person you meet could be the one who invites you to that great private party that is the music business.
I remember when I first got to Nashville I met a girl at an open audition. A year later she had become the new lead singer for a major country act. So you never know who you will meet or what will happen. Start building relationships and developing contacts. Someone you meet today may open a door for you tomorrow.
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