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Shopping/Pitching A Song: The Short And Sweet Of It
Up front, point blank it costs
*you* money to shop a song. So let's get real about it. Any A & R person worth their salt can tell if a song is good in the first 5 - 10 seconds of listening.
PREPARE FOR REJECTION. Deal with it. There's a blue million other artists, musicians and writers doing exactly what you are doing. And they get rejected too! Toughen up. Use criticism as a tool to better yourself, not as a tool to disparage yourself.
If you plan to be the artist, you had better have more than one song up your sleeve. You need to have a catalog and your list of songs had better be better than good. Your songs, both lyrically and melodically
*will* have to be unique and not the same old same old. You will need a distinct tone in both your vocals and music.
You
*will* need demo's made and they aren't cheap. Choose your best three songs and spend 300.00 - 800.00-US per song to get a high quality recording in a studio. Get them on CD and use your CD as part of your song pitching arsenal. You will also need a press pack with information about yourself and accomplishments. Basically, a musical resume.
If you are not planning to be the artist you will need to find a studio that has contacts for singers and studio musicians and
*you* will have to pay them. Moreover, they need to be on board with your style and what you want the song to sound like. Your producer, who also gets paid by you, will help you bring the best out in your song. Then they get to recording.
The hard work comes after your demo(s) are made. Finding someone to
*shop* your song. You have to remember; in this industry, it is not the fact that you have talent. It is the fact that you have talent someone recognizes
AND who knows how to get your song in front of the right people! And they get paid too. Payment can be in the form of a one time cash out to your shopper OR they may want a piece of the action and require a *
percentage* of your soon to be hit song.
BE WARY. Song pitchers and shoppers can promise you the world and deliver you a port-a-potty!
If you plan on shopping your song yourself, then you need all the help you can get. Join local and national music associations. Find out
*who* the movers and shakers are in your neck of the woods and then, with all the reserve and dignity you can muster, become acquaintances with them. Do not be blatant and throw yourself in their face. That's just rude and nothing will come of it. The only thing that will be remembered about you is, "oh yeah, that guy was rude". Learn the hierarchy of the business. Pitching a song is knowing
*who* to pitch too and knowing what they can do for you to get your song in front of the
*right* people.
Now, I don't mean to sound discouraging in the least. And I've never pitched a song. However, I will be doing so. I have read a lot about the business, the quirks and nuances, the good, bad, and best practices.
Nevertheless, you as a singer/songwriter absolutely must go into this business with eyes wide open, with a clear head and solid understanding of the business.
The Internet is rife with highly detailed information about the music business. Find it and
READ it. Google is your friend. As always,
BE CAUTIOUS! It is your responsibility to ferret out the good from the bad.
It is entirely up to you. No one else is going to do it for you. Ask questions, get answers!
In addition, do not forget. Not only can you shop/pitch your tunes to record labels, but TV shows, Movies, Commercial jingle houses; any media faction that uses music in any form or shape is looking for talent!
And that's what's known as a Kentucky quarters worth!
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