Being your own publisher can sometimes be a double edged sword. A good share of musicians/songwriters just want to write songs and/or play music. They don't want to be "bothered" by all the "business" side of the music. Music is the fun part...the day to day business is not. Both are necessary! But, there are advantages to being your own publisher...but...you must be willing to take on the duties of a publisher.
So what are some of the pros and cons of being your own publisher? This is FAR from all inclusive but just a few thoughts for today's blog:
Pros:
1. As a songwriter you keep 100% of the money. You get all of the writer's share AND all of the publisher's share.
2. You own and keep control of the "copyright" of your song. It also means that you are the one to "pound the pavement" to get your song recorded. And, you are the one to collect the money.
3. You as the writer can control who records your song for the first time. The copyright owner/songwriter only has a "veto pen" on who records a song the FIRST TIME it is recorded. As the publisher/copyright owner you can deny someone from recording your song...the first time. Once a song has been recorded and released to the public, all bets are off and anyone can record the song on the condition they obtain a "compulsory mechanical license". Compulsory meaning you have to give them the license and of course the recording artist must pay execute the license and pay the mechanical license royalty.
4. You as the songwriter might continue to try and get the song recorded many times, pitching the song into different markets etc. Most labels can and will publish your song for you if you don't have a publisher. That will work for "that" recording...but...after the song is recorded for the label will they continue to "work" your song to get it recorded multiple times? Most times not!
5. You as the writer must "vet" your own material to determine if it is of the quality to actually get recorded. Sometimes as writer's we are too close to the song to be objective about the quality of our own songs :) This could be a pro or a con if you have a good handle of good songs vs. great songs (another topic) :).
Cons:
1. You have to split the money with the publisher. Usually the split is 50/50. You keep the writer's share and the publisher gets the publisher's share.
2. You give up control of your "copyright". The publisher becomes the "Copyright Owner" of your song. You no longer have control over the song. And unless you have a "reversionary clause" of sort in your publishing agreement...it is "for life" :)
3. A publisher may/should have access to many more artists, producers, labels etc to pitch songs. If, as a writer, you don't have access or opportunities to pitch song you are dead in the water. Many of the larger markets are a closed box and open only to a few publishers as well as many have gone to "staff writers" (another future topic). So, to get a song into the bigger markets most times a publisher becomes a necessity. Many times this is "genre specific" as some forms of music (i.e. bluegrass, folk, Americana, some gospel etc) the artists, labels, producers etc are willing to let you pitch songs to them. Other genres are like trying to break into Fort Knox!!!
4. Once a song is pitched and no recordings come, the publisher may just give up on your song and move on to other songs. There are many songs sitting in publisher's vaults pretty much dead to the world and there is not much you can do about it unless you have a "reversionary clause" in your publishing contract.
5. As a publisher you have to do all the administrative work such as "issuing licenses", "negotiating licenses", "pitching", "filing copyrights", "filing with PROS", "collecting the money", etc...all the business stuff!!
Of course there are many "PROS" of having a publisher as well and everyone needs to weigh the good and bad and decide which is the best for "you". A publisher many times has the resources and ability to pitch to bigger artists. They don't make any money unless the song gets recorded. The publisher should take care of all the business stuff that you as a writer/musician may not want to do.
So, should you publish your own material? Only you can answer that question. Of course there are all kinds of "in between" answers. Things like "co-publishing", "single song publishing agreements", etc but that goes well beyond a "blog" :) There are many business considerations when it is smart to give up publishing on one of your songs.
Of course this is just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak, but if you have interest in publishing your own songs, it can be done but be aware there are many pros and cons to consider. I really like the book by the late John Braheny..."The Craft & Business of Songwriting". It is one of my "go to" books for information and so sorry to hear of John's passing a while back. I would check it out as it is in soft cover and a very inexpensive resource for songwriters.
As usual...your mileage may vary and remember: Write more...whine less!!
Write on!!
Brink
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Saturday, April 25, 2015
"Finding" Time to Write
Some people ask me..."How do you find the time to write?" The answer is...you DON'T FIND THE TIME...YOU MAKE TIME!!!
I love the presenter who had a visual example of how to prioritize your life. Make sure you get to the "important things". He made the list:
1. Rocks
2. Pebbles
3. Sand
4. Water
This is how we should structure our priorities every day. He took a large glass jar that represented the time of one full day. He went on to start filling the jar. He explained that the "rocks" were the most important things in our lives. We all NEED to identify what are the MOST important things in our lives. If we fill up the jar (our lives) for example, with "sand" there will be absolutely NO ROOM for the "rocks" The same for "pebbles" or "water". So, we all need to "PUT THE ROCKS IN YOUR JAR FIRST!!!" For, if we put the rocks in first there is still room to put in small pebbles...and after the pebbles are in the jar you still have room for some "sand" and lastly after all these are in the jar you still have room for some "water". BUT...if you don't put the "rocks" in first...you will lose out in doing the things that mean the most to you in your life!!!
So it is with each of us. What are the important things (the rocks) in your life? Family? Friends? Writing songs? We all should identify the "rocks" in our lives and make them a PRIORITY EVERY DAY! Put your ROCKS in the jar first!!! :)
One thing I learned over the years about myself is:
"IF I DON'T PUT IT ON THE CALENDAR IT WON'T GET DONE!!!
I can be one of the biggest procrastinators around. My motto seemed to be: "Don't put off till tomorrow..what you can put off till the day after tomorrow!!!" :) But, if I put the important things in my jar first and schedule them, they tend to get done. One thing about songwriting is it easy to say "well I can't just sit down and "write on cue...I need to wait for inspiration to come". That is one way to think about it but for me that has been kind of way to "push" my songwriting down the road...turning the "rock" into a "pebble" on my priority list. I find that sitting down and putting myself in the "frame of mind to write" brings inspiration. My mind is ON SONGWRITING and that in and of itself leads to ideas and inspiration.
So...IF songwriting is one of your priorities (a rock)...don't "FIND" the time to write..."MAKE" the time to write. Put that ROCK in your daily jar FIRST along with the other rocks in your life. Don't spend all day on "sand" and at the end of the day have no room for those rocks!!!. I love the line from "The Shawshank Redemption" where Andy Dufrane says to Red, "Get busy livin'...or get busy dyin'!!!" Are you making time for the most important things in your life, and really "livin" or just going through the motions spending all your time on activities that just get you to the next day and then complain that you have no time for the things that mean the most?
Don't FIND time....MAKE time!!! :)
Your mileage may vary and remember: Write more...whine less!
Write on!!!
Brink
I love the presenter who had a visual example of how to prioritize your life. Make sure you get to the "important things". He made the list:
1. Rocks
2. Pebbles
3. Sand
4. Water
This is how we should structure our priorities every day. He took a large glass jar that represented the time of one full day. He went on to start filling the jar. He explained that the "rocks" were the most important things in our lives. We all NEED to identify what are the MOST important things in our lives. If we fill up the jar (our lives) for example, with "sand" there will be absolutely NO ROOM for the "rocks" The same for "pebbles" or "water". So, we all need to "PUT THE ROCKS IN YOUR JAR FIRST!!!" For, if we put the rocks in first there is still room to put in small pebbles...and after the pebbles are in the jar you still have room for some "sand" and lastly after all these are in the jar you still have room for some "water". BUT...if you don't put the "rocks" in first...you will lose out in doing the things that mean the most to you in your life!!!
So it is with each of us. What are the important things (the rocks) in your life? Family? Friends? Writing songs? We all should identify the "rocks" in our lives and make them a PRIORITY EVERY DAY! Put your ROCKS in the jar first!!! :)
One thing I learned over the years about myself is:
"IF I DON'T PUT IT ON THE CALENDAR IT WON'T GET DONE!!!
I can be one of the biggest procrastinators around. My motto seemed to be: "Don't put off till tomorrow..what you can put off till the day after tomorrow!!!" :) But, if I put the important things in my jar first and schedule them, they tend to get done. One thing about songwriting is it easy to say "well I can't just sit down and "write on cue...I need to wait for inspiration to come". That is one way to think about it but for me that has been kind of way to "push" my songwriting down the road...turning the "rock" into a "pebble" on my priority list. I find that sitting down and putting myself in the "frame of mind to write" brings inspiration. My mind is ON SONGWRITING and that in and of itself leads to ideas and inspiration.
So...IF songwriting is one of your priorities (a rock)...don't "FIND" the time to write..."MAKE" the time to write. Put that ROCK in your daily jar FIRST along with the other rocks in your life. Don't spend all day on "sand" and at the end of the day have no room for those rocks!!!. I love the line from "The Shawshank Redemption" where Andy Dufrane says to Red, "Get busy livin'...or get busy dyin'!!!" Are you making time for the most important things in your life, and really "livin" or just going through the motions spending all your time on activities that just get you to the next day and then complain that you have no time for the things that mean the most?
Don't FIND time....MAKE time!!! :)
Your mileage may vary and remember: Write more...whine less!
Write on!!!
Brink
Thursday, April 23, 2015
TAG YOU'RE "IT"...Writing songs over the internet!
With technology comes all kinds of possibilities for songwriters. Writing songs "long distance" is now much more of a reality than ever before and there are several ways to do that. Personally, nothing beats sitting in the same room and bouncing ideas off each other. Having the instruments there, the mojo, the coffee etc :) That is the best case scenario for me. But...that being said the internet has opened up a whole new world for songwriters. I have written several tunes over SKYPE with some extremely talented writers like Becky Buller, Tony Rackley, Dave Adkins, and more...and for all it's faults, works fairly well. It is the closest thing to being in the same room and writing. I'd like to share another experience
My friend, and wonderful songwriter, Gary Ferguson, and I had tried to "write" for years. We talked about it many times...well we have now finished two songs. Gary and I decided to do more of "tag your 'it'" method. Using a combination of email and iphones/iPad scratch recordings we batted things back and forth over time. I was thinking that the "analog" version of this was a situation years ago in the early 70's when I was in the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. My roommate was a guy named Gary Ellis. He was a "chess master". He played chess with players all over the world via post cards. He would have several games going at once. The post cards had a chess board on with the pics of the pieces. Each day several post cards of games would arrive and on each game one single "move" was made. Gary would study the "board", make his move and mail the post card back to the opponent on the next day. The game would continue this way until "checkmate"! This way he could play with 'great' players all over the world :)
Mail chess seems pretty archaic now but the idea can be translated to what Gary and I did with our songs. I started the first volley with an "idea" and a few possible lines of a verse or chorus and then emailed it to Gary....he in turn added/changed etc his ideas and emailed it back to me. In the same vein I then sang a tentative melody into my iPad app (iRecorder...a great musical scratchpad btw) and email the mp4 to Gary. He then would tweak the melody and add more ideas. Back and forth like a tennis match each of us adding ideas along the way. We did talk over the cell phone on a couple occasions to clarify but really over a period of time we were able to finish, IMHO, two pretty stout songs :)
Sometimes the emails would go back and forth several times in a couple hours and sometimes we'd chew on things for a day or so...but the song kept moving forward just like my buddy's chess games through the mail. Anyway...this is just another option for writers to foster long distance writing relationships :) I know many folks that just don't care to write with SKYPE. If you don't like video conferencing maybe this might be the option for you :)
My advice is to try various ways to write long distance...give it a shot!!! The benefits of writing with some great writers far outweighs the "quirks" in any of the systems that you might use. So get with a songwriter and say "let's write....tag your 'it'!!"
And remember: write more....whine less!!!
Write on!
Brink
My friend, and wonderful songwriter, Gary Ferguson, and I had tried to "write" for years. We talked about it many times...well we have now finished two songs. Gary and I decided to do more of "tag your 'it'" method. Using a combination of email and iphones/iPad scratch recordings we batted things back and forth over time. I was thinking that the "analog" version of this was a situation years ago in the early 70's when I was in the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. My roommate was a guy named Gary Ellis. He was a "chess master". He played chess with players all over the world via post cards. He would have several games going at once. The post cards had a chess board on with the pics of the pieces. Each day several post cards of games would arrive and on each game one single "move" was made. Gary would study the "board", make his move and mail the post card back to the opponent on the next day. The game would continue this way until "checkmate"! This way he could play with 'great' players all over the world :)
Mail chess seems pretty archaic now but the idea can be translated to what Gary and I did with our songs. I started the first volley with an "idea" and a few possible lines of a verse or chorus and then emailed it to Gary....he in turn added/changed etc his ideas and emailed it back to me. In the same vein I then sang a tentative melody into my iPad app (iRecorder...a great musical scratchpad btw) and email the mp4 to Gary. He then would tweak the melody and add more ideas. Back and forth like a tennis match each of us adding ideas along the way. We did talk over the cell phone on a couple occasions to clarify but really over a period of time we were able to finish, IMHO, two pretty stout songs :)
Sometimes the emails would go back and forth several times in a couple hours and sometimes we'd chew on things for a day or so...but the song kept moving forward just like my buddy's chess games through the mail. Anyway...this is just another option for writers to foster long distance writing relationships :) I know many folks that just don't care to write with SKYPE. If you don't like video conferencing maybe this might be the option for you :)
My advice is to try various ways to write long distance...give it a shot!!! The benefits of writing with some great writers far outweighs the "quirks" in any of the systems that you might use. So get with a songwriter and say "let's write....tag your 'it'!!"
And remember: write more....whine less!!!
Write on!
Brink
Sunday, April 19, 2015
Why Songwriting??
Early Sunday morning watching the sun come up put me in a thoughtful mood. I starting thinking about some of the reasons that I love to write songs. Maybe it is a byproduct of getting older and a sense of urgency and the reality that I have a limited amount of time to create. Here is a list based on my morning thoughts:
1. I write songs because I have to! There are thoughts in my head that just need to come out and for me it is a little like breathing. The world just doesn't seem right if I don't have a guitar, pen and paper! I'm sure there was a time I didn't write songs but I don't remember it :)
2. It is fun! Writing music, lyrics...laying stories and emotions out on paper and melodies is both frustrating and great fun!! It is wasn't fun I'd have quit writing a long time ago :)
3. Friends!! From co-writers to becoming friends with so many creative people is such a blessing. Being a creative person is a "gift"! Not everyone has "it". So many folks come up to me and say "man, I wish I could write a song". I usually say...you can...just do it! But, I've come to learn that not everyone has the ability to create a song...so to have even a little bit of ability to create original music is a gift and never to be taken for granted! I can't count the number of friends that have come from music and songwriting!!
4. To leave some kind of legacy. I think we all want to leave something behind that might help people remember us when we are gone...that we once existed. Leaving a family behind, children to live on keeps our memory alive. Part of me hopes that people will not only remember me through my children, but through the music/songs left behind. The thought of people singing my songs long after I'm gone makes me feel pretty good. Someone told me that you should "Live, love, and leave a legacy". Not bad advice :)
5. To touch peoples lives!! Maybe I should have put this as the #1 reason. To write a song that can make people laugh, cry, think, reflect, dance...to touch people's hearts in a positive way! An example here: Sometimes you feel like the "messenger" and not the "writer" of some songs. One of those is the song "Beyond the Rain". I can't go most weeks without hearing from someone telling me how the song has touched them. I received an email from Arizona a few months ago from a gentlemen telling me that his father had passed away and that "Beyond the Rain" was his father's favorite song. He went on to tell me that they had the lyrics of the song put on a large posterboard and displayed on an easel next to the casket in the church. He continued to tell me that the lyric sheet was included in the program at the funeral and that the family placed that lyric sheet in the casket before it was closed. WOW!!!! I can tell you that by the time I got to the end of the email I was a mess! So...why songwriting???
I thank God for whatever small talent that I may have for putting music and lyrics together and I plan on sharing songs for as long as I can :) I still sometimes wonder why folks like the songs I put together...I love it that many do and appreciate EVERY single artist/band that likes a song enough to sing and even record!! Whether the artist is a major artist or a small local band...it really doesn't matter to me...both are rewarding and I appreciate them all!
I encourage anyone who has the urge to try and write a song...GO FOR IT! Whether you do it just for personal fun or want to become a professional songwriter you won't regret it!! Anyway...just some serious thoughts on this Sunday morning. Your mileage may vary.
Remember: Write more...whine less!
Write on!
Brink
1. I write songs because I have to! There are thoughts in my head that just need to come out and for me it is a little like breathing. The world just doesn't seem right if I don't have a guitar, pen and paper! I'm sure there was a time I didn't write songs but I don't remember it :)
2. It is fun! Writing music, lyrics...laying stories and emotions out on paper and melodies is both frustrating and great fun!! It is wasn't fun I'd have quit writing a long time ago :)
3. Friends!! From co-writers to becoming friends with so many creative people is such a blessing. Being a creative person is a "gift"! Not everyone has "it". So many folks come up to me and say "man, I wish I could write a song". I usually say...you can...just do it! But, I've come to learn that not everyone has the ability to create a song...so to have even a little bit of ability to create original music is a gift and never to be taken for granted! I can't count the number of friends that have come from music and songwriting!!
4. To leave some kind of legacy. I think we all want to leave something behind that might help people remember us when we are gone...that we once existed. Leaving a family behind, children to live on keeps our memory alive. Part of me hopes that people will not only remember me through my children, but through the music/songs left behind. The thought of people singing my songs long after I'm gone makes me feel pretty good. Someone told me that you should "Live, love, and leave a legacy". Not bad advice :)
5. To touch peoples lives!! Maybe I should have put this as the #1 reason. To write a song that can make people laugh, cry, think, reflect, dance...to touch people's hearts in a positive way! An example here: Sometimes you feel like the "messenger" and not the "writer" of some songs. One of those is the song "Beyond the Rain". I can't go most weeks without hearing from someone telling me how the song has touched them. I received an email from Arizona a few months ago from a gentlemen telling me that his father had passed away and that "Beyond the Rain" was his father's favorite song. He went on to tell me that they had the lyrics of the song put on a large posterboard and displayed on an easel next to the casket in the church. He continued to tell me that the lyric sheet was included in the program at the funeral and that the family placed that lyric sheet in the casket before it was closed. WOW!!!! I can tell you that by the time I got to the end of the email I was a mess! So...why songwriting???
I thank God for whatever small talent that I may have for putting music and lyrics together and I plan on sharing songs for as long as I can :) I still sometimes wonder why folks like the songs I put together...I love it that many do and appreciate EVERY single artist/band that likes a song enough to sing and even record!! Whether the artist is a major artist or a small local band...it really doesn't matter to me...both are rewarding and I appreciate them all!
I encourage anyone who has the urge to try and write a song...GO FOR IT! Whether you do it just for personal fun or want to become a professional songwriter you won't regret it!! Anyway...just some serious thoughts on this Sunday morning. Your mileage may vary.
Remember: Write more...whine less!
Write on!
Brink
Thursday, April 16, 2015
How Much is a Word Worth?
Is a word like "eloquence" worth the same as the word "the"? In the world of songwriting, how much is a word really worth? Maybe it is just me, but when I co-write with someone we are "all in" for equal shares of the song no matter what. What is "the best" way to split up the ownership of the songwriting share of a song? While I'm no expert at what might be "the best"...I know what works for me and over time just seems "fair". I know that there are songwriters out there that go so far as to "count words" and relate that to the percentage of ownership of the song. If the song is 100 words and I wrote 10 words...I get 10% of the "rights". But, what if my words are more "critical" or "important" words to the song? What if I just bring the "idea" for the song to the table w/ the "hook"? What then??
Sometimes "the idea" might be the most important part of the song for without the "idea", the song would have never been written! So...here is my deal: When I write with someone we all share equally in the percentage of the song. If I co-write with one other writer we are in 50/50. If there are three writers we are all in for 33 1/3. This has to be agreed going in or I just won't write with that songwriter. Here are my reasons why:
1. Over time it all comes out in the wash! This time maybe I'll have the idea and you write most of the song...but...next time it might be reversed. Each time we write a song, roles will change and over the long haul things will "even out". It is what is best for a healthy long term writing relationship. If I write with someone that I personally feel isn't pulling their "weight" with ideas, contribution, creativity, commitment...well...I just will choose not to write with them anymore. But, with quality songwriters I feel this all evens out over time.
2. It supports "the creative process". All of us are freely able to brainstorm and create, free from worrying about how much or little I'm contributing to the process. Sometimes one writer is the "idea" person and are great at "brainstorming" line ideas while the other is great at taking those "brainstorms" and crafting them into great lyrics!!! Both are important but the idea person didn't really craft the words...they fueled the great idea!! I refuse to value or devalue based on how many words a writer contributes.
3. It is just "simple". The plan is laid out ahead of time and it simplifies the process. There is no worry or arguing over who contributed the most on the song and who gets what share! Simple is good :) That being said...make sure everyone has this same understanding going in! It is not something to decide "after the fact" or it could lead to hard feelings.
To me, it is all about the "song"!!! When I agree to write a song with someone I just feel that everyone should be equal in the creative process. For me, counting words or negotiating who contributed the most, or who has the most "clout" is self destructive to a writing relationship and destructive to the creative process. Of course, that is just "me". Your mileage may vary.
Just a thought for today and remember: Write more...whine less!
Write on!!!
Brink
Sometimes "the idea" might be the most important part of the song for without the "idea", the song would have never been written! So...here is my deal: When I write with someone we all share equally in the percentage of the song. If I co-write with one other writer we are in 50/50. If there are three writers we are all in for 33 1/3. This has to be agreed going in or I just won't write with that songwriter. Here are my reasons why:
1. Over time it all comes out in the wash! This time maybe I'll have the idea and you write most of the song...but...next time it might be reversed. Each time we write a song, roles will change and over the long haul things will "even out". It is what is best for a healthy long term writing relationship. If I write with someone that I personally feel isn't pulling their "weight" with ideas, contribution, creativity, commitment...well...I just will choose not to write with them anymore. But, with quality songwriters I feel this all evens out over time.
2. It supports "the creative process". All of us are freely able to brainstorm and create, free from worrying about how much or little I'm contributing to the process. Sometimes one writer is the "idea" person and are great at "brainstorming" line ideas while the other is great at taking those "brainstorms" and crafting them into great lyrics!!! Both are important but the idea person didn't really craft the words...they fueled the great idea!! I refuse to value or devalue based on how many words a writer contributes.
3. It is just "simple". The plan is laid out ahead of time and it simplifies the process. There is no worry or arguing over who contributed the most on the song and who gets what share! Simple is good :) That being said...make sure everyone has this same understanding going in! It is not something to decide "after the fact" or it could lead to hard feelings.
To me, it is all about the "song"!!! When I agree to write a song with someone I just feel that everyone should be equal in the creative process. For me, counting words or negotiating who contributed the most, or who has the most "clout" is self destructive to a writing relationship and destructive to the creative process. Of course, that is just "me". Your mileage may vary.
Just a thought for today and remember: Write more...whine less!
Write on!!!
Brink
Sunday, April 12, 2015
MAN....I Didn't See That Comin'!!!!
The element of surprise is a great way to keep the listener engaged in a song. There are a few ways to keep that surprise element coming to keep the listener wondering what is coming next. There is nothing more boring (in my opinion) than a song that is totally predictable. Now, I'm not talking about just the storyline of the song and that the song has a "twist" at the end that will "turn heads". There are other ways to keep the song fresh. A great way to keep the listener on his/her toes is to have unpredictable rhymes. Using lyrics that the person hearing the song would never see coming. Let me use a couple examples here. What if we were to write a song like this:
We both fell in love
Just like two turtle doves
We fit like a glove
A gift from above.
OK....now who couldn't predict the rhyme after hearing the first part of each line. To use a phrase my kids use to say "gag me" LOLOL! It is pretty nauseating! A person hearing this would check out after the first few words and never be back!!
Now, let me use an example of a song that I wrote a while back that was recorded beautifully by the band "Jett's Creek". The song is called "The Arms of Tennessee". Jett's Creek have recorded several of my songs and they are a fine band. Check them out at all the usual places like iTunes, Amazon etc! Have a listen to their recording of "The Arms of Tennessee":
https://soundcloud.com/brinksongs/arms-of-tenessee
We both fell in love
Just like two turtle doves
We fit like a glove
A gift from above.
OK....now who couldn't predict the rhyme after hearing the first part of each line. To use a phrase my kids use to say "gag me" LOLOL! It is pretty nauseating! A person hearing this would check out after the first few words and never be back!!
Now, let me use an example of a song that I wrote a while back that was recorded beautifully by the band "Jett's Creek". The song is called "The Arms of Tennessee". Jett's Creek have recorded several of my songs and they are a fine band. Check them out at all the usual places like iTunes, Amazon etc! Have a listen to their recording of "The Arms of Tennessee":
https://soundcloud.com/brinksongs/arms-of-tenessee
“The Arms
of Tennessee”
© 2008 Mark “Brink” Brinkman – BMI
Verse 1: I was young and so naïve
Life grabbed me by the sleeve
And led me so far from my home
Daddy said “Boy, what’s the rush?
You know just enough to be dangerous”
He was right, but I would learn that on my own.
Verse 2: The California sun was hot
I moved up the coast, worked the lobster pots
My pockets seemed to have more holes than dimes
So I pawned my watch in Coeur d’Alene
Bought a ticket on an eastbound train
I cried, “Just get me out of Mountain
Time”.
CHORUS: Back to Tennessee…………………….
In
my mind I see her reaching out
And
she’s forgiven me
I
long to feel her warm embrace
Dry
the tears I put upon her face
Safe,
in the arms of Tennessee.
Verse 3: North Dakota, ten below
I swear, Highway 2 ain’t got no soul
Thank God, for that shelter in Des Moines
Chicago, night time fell too fast
Had to sleep under an overpass
Where dreams took me out of Illinois.
CHORUS: Back to Tennessee…………………….
In
my mind I see her reaching out
And
she’s forgiven me
I
long to feel her warm embrace
Dry
the tears I put upon her face
Safe,
in the arms of Tennessee.
Verse 4: Her memory keeps me alive
I’m thumbin’ here on ‘65’
A trucker dropped me south of Bowling Green
If I have to crawl this final stretch
I’ll gladly use up my last breath
To get back in the arms of Tennessee.
CHORUS: Back to Tennessee…………………….
In
my mind I see her reaching out
And
she’s forgiven me
I
long to feel her warm embrace
Dry
the tears I put upon her face
Safe,
in the arms of Tennessee.
Tag: Safe,
in the arms of Tennessee
Ok...take a look at some of the rhymes in this song. Naive..sleeve. Rush...dangerous. Coeur d'Alene...train. Des Moines...Illinois. Stretch...breath. While the story is "boss"...I tried to tell this story with lyrics that would be almost impossible to predict while listening to the song. Keep each verse "fresh" for the listener :) Hopefully, this song makes the point that as a songwriter you want to keep the lyric fresh and unpredictable. Of course there are always exceptions to the rule in songs where you want folks to "sing along" etc....and as always...your mileage may vary :)
Have a great day and remember: Write more...whine less!!!
Write on!
Brink
Saturday, April 11, 2015
The Shoebox & the Garbage Bag
On many band buses etc there lives a "shoebox" (or other box to put CD's that they are pitched on the road). There is also a garbage bag where many of the pitched CD's end up in without a listen. The shoebox contains CD's that may get listened to when the band/artist is getting ready to head into the studio. The best result that you can hope for from a "pitch" is that the band/artist gives your song a "serious listen". At that point the song has to stand on it's own.
So...how can you increase the odds that your CD will get into the Shoebox and not into the Garbage bag??
Rule #1 for me is ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS BE PROFESSIONAL!! Sometimes I feel sorry for artists that are open to a "pitch" out on the road as they are bombarded by all kinds of songwriters trying to ram a song down their throat. What are some of the things a songwriter can do to be professional. A few thoughts:
1. Always RESPECT the artist's time!!! The timing of the "pitch" is critical!! This means things like DON'T GET IN THE WAY OF PEOPLE WANTING TO BUY THE ARTIST'S PRODUCTS TO DO A PITCH!!! You can all but guarantee your demo CD will hit the garbage bag!
2. Don't ask to use the artist's guitar to play your latest great song if you don't know the artist WELL!!! And even then you should wait until the artist might offer the instrument for you to play the song. Steve Gulley was telling me of a time that a guy asked to use his guitar at the record table to play him a song. First, Steve didn't know the guy from Adam and he, like most artists, had a very valuable guitar. Was the guy even a decent guitar player or maybe he would put scratches on the front from a pick etc. Just a no-no!!!
3. INTEGRITY AND CREDIBILITY!!!! Just as in everyday life...as a songwriter you only have two things that you should guard with your life!!! I heard the analogy years ago that everyone has a bucket full of water where the water in the bucket represents your credibility and integrity. Every time you tell a lie, do someone wrong,break a promise or other you put a hole in that bucket and the water (credibility) starts draining out. The more holes you put in your bucket the faster it drains out until you may have zero credibility and integrity. Once you lose all your water it takes A LONG LONG TIME to repair the holes and fill the bucket back up. When you promise a song to someone...KEEP IT....If you promise to do something...DO IT!! If you lose your integrity and/or credibility you are sunk...and the songwriting/music community is a small circle and word will travel FAST!!! KEEP YOUR BUCKET FULL!!!!
4. BE A GOOD PERSON!! This may seem like a stupid thing to list but it is so many times forgotten. I would rather have artists say that I'm a good person or a "great guy" than ever get a "cut" (of course I LOVE cuts!!!) but it is more important to be a good person in my opinion. Be kind, be fun and upbeat, be positive, be someone that when an artist sees you coming they welcome you with open arms and not feel like running the other way..."oh let's get out of here...I see Brink heading our way!!! LOLOL.
Bottom line is I don't care HOW GOOD your song is...HOW GOOD the demo is...if you can't get the artist to listen you might as well have stayed home. I love the fact that many times I can talk to an artist in Bluegrass, Americana, Gospel and Folk and feel a great PRIVILEGE that an artist would allow me to pitch them a song. I try NOT to abuse the privilege!!! Now "country music"...well...we WON'T go there this morning!!! :)
So, these are a few thoughts this morning on getting songs into the "Shoebox" and avoiding the "Garbage Bag" :) Your mileage may vary.
Remember: Write more...whine less!
Write on!!!
Brink
So...how can you increase the odds that your CD will get into the Shoebox and not into the Garbage bag??
Rule #1 for me is ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS BE PROFESSIONAL!! Sometimes I feel sorry for artists that are open to a "pitch" out on the road as they are bombarded by all kinds of songwriters trying to ram a song down their throat. What are some of the things a songwriter can do to be professional. A few thoughts:
1. Always RESPECT the artist's time!!! The timing of the "pitch" is critical!! This means things like DON'T GET IN THE WAY OF PEOPLE WANTING TO BUY THE ARTIST'S PRODUCTS TO DO A PITCH!!! You can all but guarantee your demo CD will hit the garbage bag!
2. Don't ask to use the artist's guitar to play your latest great song if you don't know the artist WELL!!! And even then you should wait until the artist might offer the instrument for you to play the song. Steve Gulley was telling me of a time that a guy asked to use his guitar at the record table to play him a song. First, Steve didn't know the guy from Adam and he, like most artists, had a very valuable guitar. Was the guy even a decent guitar player or maybe he would put scratches on the front from a pick etc. Just a no-no!!!
3. INTEGRITY AND CREDIBILITY!!!! Just as in everyday life...as a songwriter you only have two things that you should guard with your life!!! I heard the analogy years ago that everyone has a bucket full of water where the water in the bucket represents your credibility and integrity. Every time you tell a lie, do someone wrong,break a promise or other you put a hole in that bucket and the water (credibility) starts draining out. The more holes you put in your bucket the faster it drains out until you may have zero credibility and integrity. Once you lose all your water it takes A LONG LONG TIME to repair the holes and fill the bucket back up. When you promise a song to someone...KEEP IT....If you promise to do something...DO IT!! If you lose your integrity and/or credibility you are sunk...and the songwriting/music community is a small circle and word will travel FAST!!! KEEP YOUR BUCKET FULL!!!!
4. BE A GOOD PERSON!! This may seem like a stupid thing to list but it is so many times forgotten. I would rather have artists say that I'm a good person or a "great guy" than ever get a "cut" (of course I LOVE cuts!!!) but it is more important to be a good person in my opinion. Be kind, be fun and upbeat, be positive, be someone that when an artist sees you coming they welcome you with open arms and not feel like running the other way..."oh let's get out of here...I see Brink heading our way!!! LOLOL.
Bottom line is I don't care HOW GOOD your song is...HOW GOOD the demo is...if you can't get the artist to listen you might as well have stayed home. I love the fact that many times I can talk to an artist in Bluegrass, Americana, Gospel and Folk and feel a great PRIVILEGE that an artist would allow me to pitch them a song. I try NOT to abuse the privilege!!! Now "country music"...well...we WON'T go there this morning!!! :)
So, these are a few thoughts this morning on getting songs into the "Shoebox" and avoiding the "Garbage Bag" :) Your mileage may vary.
Remember: Write more...whine less!
Write on!!!
Brink
Thursday, April 9, 2015
A Cover For Every Pot
I was talking on the phone with my songwriting friend, Chuck Williams, and he was voicing his frustration about pitching songs and never hearing anything and how all of this can "get you down". It brought back memories of a phrase my Grandma use to say all the time. My wonderful Grandma Rislow use to tell all of us kids, when we were wondering if we'd every meet someone we could marry, "Don't worry...there's a cover for every pot!". I can't help but think of Grandma and this phrase when I get frustrated that a song I have written and pitched for sometimes years still has not been picked up and recorded.
Many times I have gone through my "vetting process" with a song. That is, play it for friends, played it at shows and jams, bounced it of other trusted musicians and songwriters and in my heart I know I have a "record worthy" song. I listen to the demo and see if it does the song justice and to see if another demo might help. Still, there are songs that I have finished that seem to be great songs and in my mind I say to myself "this song will go fast!!!", so I start pitching and maybe 2-3 years later no one has given the song much of a "sniff". I've scratched my head so much on this stuff that I've lost all my hair :) LOLOL.
Here is where I have to hear and listen to my Grandma's voice..."Don't worry...there's a cover for every pot!". I am convinced there is an artist for every great song and whether I like it or not it will happen "in its own time"!! As Hall of Fame songwriter Paul Craft once told me "A great song will find its way out"! I talked about "patience" as a songwriter in a previous blog and the fact that I don't have it in spades so I struggle with all of this.
An article I read one time said that a song takes on average 8 years to go from writing to recording. WOW...8 years!! That seems like an eternity...especially when you know in you own head that your song might make someone a "charted song"!!! :) It is easy to get frustrated, get caught in the waiting and just give up! But...every song in its own time...a great song will find its way out...the planets will align...the round peg will find the round hole...the pot will find it's cover!!!
So, the thought for today is a message to myself. Stay the course. Keep pitching that great song and it may take 10 years but songs will find their way out. Don't get discouraged. Believe in the song. Patience!!!!
I know my Grandma was right...she was a very wise lady and I miss her every day. There is a cover for every pot...you just have to be patient and persistent enough to find it :) Have a great day and remember: Write more...whine less!
Write on!
Brink
Many times I have gone through my "vetting process" with a song. That is, play it for friends, played it at shows and jams, bounced it of other trusted musicians and songwriters and in my heart I know I have a "record worthy" song. I listen to the demo and see if it does the song justice and to see if another demo might help. Still, there are songs that I have finished that seem to be great songs and in my mind I say to myself "this song will go fast!!!", so I start pitching and maybe 2-3 years later no one has given the song much of a "sniff". I've scratched my head so much on this stuff that I've lost all my hair :) LOLOL.
Here is where I have to hear and listen to my Grandma's voice..."Don't worry...there's a cover for every pot!". I am convinced there is an artist for every great song and whether I like it or not it will happen "in its own time"!! As Hall of Fame songwriter Paul Craft once told me "A great song will find its way out"! I talked about "patience" as a songwriter in a previous blog and the fact that I don't have it in spades so I struggle with all of this.
An article I read one time said that a song takes on average 8 years to go from writing to recording. WOW...8 years!! That seems like an eternity...especially when you know in you own head that your song might make someone a "charted song"!!! :) It is easy to get frustrated, get caught in the waiting and just give up! But...every song in its own time...a great song will find its way out...the planets will align...the round peg will find the round hole...the pot will find it's cover!!!
So, the thought for today is a message to myself. Stay the course. Keep pitching that great song and it may take 10 years but songs will find their way out. Don't get discouraged. Believe in the song. Patience!!!!
I know my Grandma was right...she was a very wise lady and I miss her every day. There is a cover for every pot...you just have to be patient and persistent enough to find it :) Have a great day and remember: Write more...whine less!
Write on!
Brink
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Accent the Positive: Key words in every line!
I have talked about prosody before in a blog, that is the perfect marriage between lyrics and melody. Wanted to talk that a little further and talk about locating key words in every line of the song and make sure that the melody and sound of that word helps the singer accent those important words. Let's look at a song that I've written to illustrate this point:
Several years ago my song "The Old Coal Mine" I was honored to have this song recorded by Larry Sparks on his "Last Suit You Wear" album as a duet with Del McCoury. Let me lay out the first verse and chorus and make tear it down.
"The Old Coal Mine"
Copyright Mark Brinkman Songs - BMI
I make my living...digging coal
I got black dust...down in my soul
The way they treat us...is a crime
Down in the old coal mine.
I'm down...in the old coal mine
Hammers ringin'...beatin' time
Long for the sun...just to see it shine
Down in the old coal mine.
I have co-written with the incredible songwriter Louisa Branscomb and she uses the underlining technique to show the singer where she puts the accent with the melody. Here is my recording of "The Old Coal Mine" from my CD "On the Brink of a Dream" so you can listen to the accents:
https://soundcloud.com/brinksongs/03-on-the-brink-of-a-dream-the-old-coal-mine
Once you highlight where the musical accent should be it can really help with your melody so it allows the singer to accent the correct words in the line. Another thing you want to be conscious of is to make sure you give the singer a word with a "long vowel" sound if you expect them to "hold" the note out for any length of time. This verse and chorus lets the singer use the "o" vowel with "coal" and "soul" and the "i" vowel with "mine" and "time". These are easy words to "hold the note". Ending a line with a hard consonant with a short vowel sound will force the singer to cut off the vocal.
So when you are fitting your lyric to the melody it is a good idea to highlight the important words in every line. The point is this: if the listener ONLY hears those highlighted words they will get the meaning of the line and their mind with almost fill in the other words naturally. So, make this step part of your "tweaking" process when you are working with your songs. Of course your mileage may vary as usual :)
Remember: Write more...whine less!
Write on!!!
Brink
Several years ago my song "The Old Coal Mine" I was honored to have this song recorded by Larry Sparks on his "Last Suit You Wear" album as a duet with Del McCoury. Let me lay out the first verse and chorus and make tear it down.
"The Old Coal Mine"
Copyright Mark Brinkman Songs - BMI
I make my living...digging coal
I got black dust...down in my soul
The way they treat us...is a crime
Down in the old coal mine.
I'm down...in the old coal mine
Hammers ringin'...beatin' time
Long for the sun...just to see it shine
Down in the old coal mine.
I have co-written with the incredible songwriter Louisa Branscomb and she uses the underlining technique to show the singer where she puts the accent with the melody. Here is my recording of "The Old Coal Mine" from my CD "On the Brink of a Dream" so you can listen to the accents:
https://soundcloud.com/brinksongs/03-on-the-brink-of-a-dream-the-old-coal-mine
Once you highlight where the musical accent should be it can really help with your melody so it allows the singer to accent the correct words in the line. Another thing you want to be conscious of is to make sure you give the singer a word with a "long vowel" sound if you expect them to "hold" the note out for any length of time. This verse and chorus lets the singer use the "o" vowel with "coal" and "soul" and the "i" vowel with "mine" and "time". These are easy words to "hold the note". Ending a line with a hard consonant with a short vowel sound will force the singer to cut off the vocal.
So when you are fitting your lyric to the melody it is a good idea to highlight the important words in every line. The point is this: if the listener ONLY hears those highlighted words they will get the meaning of the line and their mind with almost fill in the other words naturally. So, make this step part of your "tweaking" process when you are working with your songs. Of course your mileage may vary as usual :)
Remember: Write more...whine less!
Write on!!!
Brink
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
I'll Remember You Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow!
Last blog I put down some of my thoughts on "parties" or "point of view" and making sure that "point of view" is consistent throughout the song. The tweaking process includes reviewing many things and a couple important things to review are "point of view" and also "tense". It works in the movie "Back to the Future" but most times not so much in songs. However, some songs mix tenses but it can be both tricky and effective if done correctly. I wrote a song called "A Letter to Myself" which drove me crazy to write as it is a song about "If I could write a letter at my current old self and send it back to myself at 16 years old, what advice would give myself in the past. I love the song but it was a "struggle" to keep it making sense when talking about the my present, my past, and the 16 year old "me's" future. I think it turned out pretty good and love singing the song but it was a "pulling out my hair" tweak session. (Those who know me, know that I've pulled out way too much hair over the years LOLOL)!!
So, today let's talk a little about "tense". It is amazing how easy it is to mix "tenses" in a song and not catch it. Of course we are talking about "past", "present" and "future". Just as "point of view" when you start to write a new song you want to make a conscious decision in which tense the song will be written, or be aware of the combination of tenses during the song. It is then important to be consistent throughout the lyric. Let's talk about each:
1. Past: This is common to talk about things that happened in the past. Nostalgia, things that happened in the past within a relationship, memories, etc. Sometimes songs do talk about the present and then jump back to memories in the past BUT the song should still be focused at "present" even though the singer is "thinking back". Words like "did", "was" verses "will" are keys to the tense of the song.
2. Present: Today, right now, in the moment. This is songwriting in "real time" so to speak. In some ways this is the hardest as it is easy to jump back or jump ahead in tense when talking about today. Remember, you can talk about the past and future...but...still be in the present tense.
3. Future: Talking about what will happen in the future will be writing a song about something that will happen in the minutes, days, years to come. Again, you can write a song in the present tense and talk about the future but the song should still remain in the present tense.
Jumping tenses, just as jumping "point of views" can confuse a listener and you want to try and avoid either in your songs. So, you'll want to add "looking at the tense(s) throughout your song" to your "tweaking list". What is the tweaking list? Maybe I'll share my "tweaking list" in a future blog :) Your mileage may vary!
Remember: Write more...whine less!
Write on!!!
Brink
So, today let's talk a little about "tense". It is amazing how easy it is to mix "tenses" in a song and not catch it. Of course we are talking about "past", "present" and "future". Just as "point of view" when you start to write a new song you want to make a conscious decision in which tense the song will be written, or be aware of the combination of tenses during the song. It is then important to be consistent throughout the lyric. Let's talk about each:
1. Past: This is common to talk about things that happened in the past. Nostalgia, things that happened in the past within a relationship, memories, etc. Sometimes songs do talk about the present and then jump back to memories in the past BUT the song should still be focused at "present" even though the singer is "thinking back". Words like "did", "was" verses "will" are keys to the tense of the song.
2. Present: Today, right now, in the moment. This is songwriting in "real time" so to speak. In some ways this is the hardest as it is easy to jump back or jump ahead in tense when talking about today. Remember, you can talk about the past and future...but...still be in the present tense.
3. Future: Talking about what will happen in the future will be writing a song about something that will happen in the minutes, days, years to come. Again, you can write a song in the present tense and talk about the future but the song should still remain in the present tense.
Jumping tenses, just as jumping "point of views" can confuse a listener and you want to try and avoid either in your songs. So, you'll want to add "looking at the tense(s) throughout your song" to your "tweaking list". What is the tweaking list? Maybe I'll share my "tweaking list" in a future blog :) Your mileage may vary!
Remember: Write more...whine less!
Write on!!!
Brink
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