Networking in the Nashville songwriting business is crucial.
It can determine if you'll succeed or fail.
But what if as great as your songwriting is your people skils are equally bad? What then? Mmeeting new people for the express purpose of creating a relationship beneficial to your career or business- networking- can be a huge problem for some artistic types, many of whom tend to be shy and/or reclusive by nature.
If you're one of them, relax, you're about to see things in a different light.
In this article we'll look at how networking works in the Nashville songwriting community, how it can be accomplished painlessly, and how you can perform this necessary task even if you live far from Music City, U.
S.
A.
First, let's take the fear out of it for those of you who are not naturally gregarious: Attending parties to "see and be seen" is optional and running around Nashville trying to meet celebrities is downright silly.
In my opinion, equally as silly is some of the advice on the subject such as "try to go out every night and meet five new people" as one article I read recently admonished fledgling Nashville songwriters to do.
Will any of the 35 people you meet a certain week even remember your name? And if they do keep that business card you handed them, it will likely go in a pile of hundreds of others and be forgotten.
Quality, not quantity rules.
My advice, and what has worked for me, is to be cognizant of the networking factor as you go about your daily life, doing what comes naturally.
Be yourself.
Get to know people in general and treat them all with respect.
In Nashville it seems every fourth person is into music and that's probably an underestimate.
The pest control guy might play guitar, the waiter at the restaurant may own a Pro Tools recording setup and might be studying to become a recording engineer.
Instead of wasting time trying to meet "the big time" guys, get to know the seemingly average people first.
They will inevitably introduce you to their contacts and may possibly move up a few rungs on the music ladder in time, taking you along.
Many times I've met someone here who turned out to be a much bigger deal than I realized initially.
A lady working in her garden on the road I ride my bike on turned out to be Loretta Lynn's daughter.
A health care worker who offhandedly told me she "sings too" turned out to sing for one of the biggest house bands in Nashville, once had her own label deal and has been Vince Gill's primary backup singer for years.
I've met song publishers, most of the top session musicians in Nashville and other industry contacts just doing my natural thing, not by intentionally trying to meet people.
In time some of these contacts you make will become acquaintances and good friends.
If they like you they'll give you a shot at working with them.
Take every opportunity seriously and be prepared for a successful outcome in advance by honing you skills daily.
Definitely followup on such offers rather than waiting for a call back.
So what if you live in Iowa or Alaska and can't move? How can you work your way up the Nashville song biz ladder if you don't live here? I believe that once you get a few songs signed by publishers or even serious interest from one, it's time to make short trips of two or three days in length focusing on meeting with your publishing contacts, recording demos using pro session players (even if you're mot the producer, attend the recording sessions!) and doing co-writing, even if it's with songwriters lacking credits, that could change any day.
Continue to nurture those relationships long-distance.
The Internet will go a long way toward making that happen.
And that's pretty much how songs get cut here, people get hired for music-related jobs here, and the entire industry works here.
Step-by-step you worm your way in, proving yourself as you go (hopefully!).
Always be prepared and do your best but don't beat yourself up over the mistakes you're bound to make or any blown opportunities.
If you spend your time looking in the rear view mirror the only place you can go successfully is backwards.
Focus on where you're going, not where you've been.
I saw a posting on the Internet by a musician recently that said: "Nashville is the big leagues, everyone has their butt handed to them on a platter sooner or later.
" You will almost surely have a misstep or two, a time when you have been completely embarrassed by your (temporary!) incompetency.
Just keep working, improving and (painlessly!) networking.
In my experience if you keep your nose to the grindstone and your eye on the prize, any goal you set can and will be achieved.