The Unvarnished Truth for Songwriters -

Nashville Style

By Jules Bloeth

 July/2007

                I have been a composer of songs, a lyricist and a vocalist for many years.  Lately, I had been feeling pretty good about my place in the Nashville food chain.  I worked hard to make contacts, record demos and get songs published.  I visited the town a couple times a year.  I was on my way up the ladder (albeit slowly) and felt a certain confidence in what I was doing, the steps I had taken and where I thought I was headed.  Sure, I wasn’t a pro, but I certainly wasn’t a beginner, either.

                Enter, Marc-Alan Barnette (“That’s Where It Hurts” by Shelby Lynne), a Nashville veteran of nearly 20 years, willing to give me a dose of reality.  I have gotten to know Marc during my visits to the city, through correspondence, the NSAI (Nashville Songwriters Association International) and SongRamp (an online community).  Marc suggested I join what he called a ‘Songwriters Tour.’  The three day event was to include song critiques and meetings with industry “insiders,” who would share information about their experiences and perspectives on the business, the opportunity to meet new co-writers, to learn about song plugging, publishing, recording of demos, the opportunity to perform (if desired) and a writing session that included writing ‘up’ with Nashville professionals, not to mention the networking opportunities I would have each day.  I was thinking, “Is that all?!” 

All of that sounded pretty good, so I agreed to attend a tour.  I figured I could always stand to ‘up my game’ and I was looking forward to sharing my experience with others, for better or worse.  By no means am I a cynical person, but I couldn’t help wondering what a songwriter’s tour like this would have to offer me.

                 I attended a tour in mid-July of this year and it became very clear to me, I had a lot to learn and a long way to go if I wanted to be competitive in the Nashville [songwriters] market.  No one was more surprised than me to discover that not all my songs (perhaps none!) could compete with the likes of Don Henry (“Where’ve You Been,” by Kathy Mattea), Randy Sharp (“Then What” by Clay Walker), Jason Sellers (“You Can’t Hide Beautiful” by Aaron Lines) and Craig Carothers (“Little Hercules” by Trisha Yearwood).  Additionally, songwriters like me, are competing with those writers/performers such as Marc-Alan himself who live in Nashville and have worked every day to get where they are.   How many songwriters can honestly say, they are writing at that level?  If you raised your hand, put it back down!  I mean it; I’m talking to you.

This tour is for serious songwriters who have a desire to learn more about the music business, who have an open mind and the willingness to work hard, the ability to listen and a genuine love for what they do.  Marc has something to offer the beginning, intermediate or advanced songwriter and he’s also willing to create a tour around the level of the songwriters who attend.  This is not a pat-you-on-the-back-and-tell-you-how-great-you-are tour.  You will hear the unvarnished truth about every aspect of the music industry and about how your songs stack up.

                 My three day tour began anywhere from 8:00 AM to 9:30 AM and ended around 6:30 - 7:30 PM except for the performance night, so we’re talking about full days of meetings and appointments during which I gathered enough information (on the first day alone) to make my head spin.  The first two days began with breakfast with a Nashville insider.  I met Debi White, a song plugger and publishing representative and Doak Turner, whom I now like to refer to as a networking ‘guru’ who has previously worked as an NSAI coordinator.   I also had the pleasure of meeting Phil Sweetland the first day, an independent journalist with the NY Times and a songwriter himself.  Phil also publishes the Country Insider e-newsletter, which I recently subscribed to (pianopks@aol.com - the cost is $30 for a one year subscription).

                 Debi White focused on the role publishers and song pluggers play and gave a unique perspective on what they are looking for when it comes to songs.  I learned that a demo has to be professional quality for most people to even give a song serious attention.  It’s hard enough to get someone to listen; having a quality demo certainly will increase our chances of getting heard.  As I mentioned previously, we are up against Nashville’s best hit songwriters every time we pitch one of our songs to a publisher, artist, producer or song plugger, meaning it had better be the best it can possibly be.

                 Phil Sweetland was not only good-hearted and entertaining, but he provided valuable insight into the state of the recording business, record labels, mergers, downsizing and the emerging role of smaller and independent labels, and how this all affects the artists, publishers and the writers themselves.  He addressed the affects of internet music sites and the resulting loss of profit when it comes to album sales.  He offered me great ideas as to which industry ‘pitch’ sheets would be best, depending upon where I want my music to go.  I was honored when he offered to listen to a song of mine comment on it.

                 Aside from Marc himself, I learned a tremendous amount from Doak Turner.  Doak is a songwriter and a true professional when it comes to marketing.  He is also the editor and publisher of “The Nashville Muse,” a free weekly e-newsletter sent out to over 10,000 subscribers (www.nashvillemuse.com). 

Doak also hosted our tour group at his home for our writing day and proved to be extraordinarily gracious.  He shared (sometimes hilarious) tips on what not to do, when networking and meeting people in the business.  I also learned how to best leave a [lasting] good impression, which is difficult to do when you only have a few minutes in which to do it.

                 I ended up seeing quite a bit of Steven Sharp, with Sharp Objects on Music Row during my trip.  Steven is a song plugger who has promoted 60 or more number one singles and his clients have had hundreds of cuts.  Steven graciously opened his door, and was generous with not only his time, but his advice and songwriting tips.  It was a tremendous experience meeting him and the writers he represents, and I will forever treasure listening to Don Henry, Jason Sellers, Randy Sharp and Craig Carothers perform at Sharp Objects.*

                 The last day of the tour was a writing day, and I was to be paired with a Nashville inside writer. I really lucked out, because I was paired with a beautiful and talented lady by the name of Kat Speer and none other than Marc-Alan himself.  Let me just say in advance, this was the only day of the tour that I was truly nervous about.  In all my years of writing songs, I have never sat down in a face-to-face meeting and written a song with someone.  Kat and Marc made it look easy!  This was another valuable learning experience for me.  I’m accustomed to taking as long as I want to write a song.  We had to finish the song in a matter of hours.  This is what happens in Nashville every day, and it’s crucial to be writing at a high enough level to bring something to the table if someone wants to make a living as a songwriter.  For me, it was a learning experience and they went easy on me!  However, I now have an understanding of what will be expected of me when I make writing appointments in the future. 

                 These introductions and experiences were made possible by Marc-Alan Barnette and without attending his tour, it might have been possible, but highly unlikely I would have ever met some of these professionals who taught me so very much about the business  in only three days time.

                 I know there are people reading this article right now who are either contemplating a move, or are in the process of making a move to Nashville.  Certainly, people don’t make the move lightly, but I dare say nine out of ten people simply aren’t fully prepared for the realities of the business once they arrive.  It pays to do your homework and make numerous trips to the city.  The failure rate is extremely high.  Of the hundreds of people who move to Nashville each month, 90% will move back home within 6 months. ^† 

For anyone serious about the business of songwriting, contacting Marc would be a wise investment in pre-planning a future in Nashville.  Basic SongRamp members or above may ask for the “Jules Discount.” 

I have been writing music for a number of years.  I’ve met many people and I’ve been pretty lucky - sometimes.  The bottom line is this: no amount of luck or experience can replace the most important things when it comes to being successful in Nashville - loving what you do, having a great song, displaying professional conduct and having a friend on the “inside.”  I’m a published songwriter, and I’ve got some good songs (and if any of them get cut, I’ll claim they’re great!).  The reality for someone like me, who doesn’t live in Nashville, and is trying to break into the business, is that the deck is stacked against me simply because I can’t be present but a few times a year.  Marc has a great saying, “You must be present to win.” I’m entirely undeterred by percentages and odds.  I left Nashville after my July 2007 trip on Marc-Alan Barnette’s tour, not discouraged, but filled with determination and armed with the information I need to succeed in this business.  I’ve met new co-writers and made new friends, and I now have mentors in Nashville whom I look forward to seeing during future trips. 

                 In the recesses of my imagination, I would have been touted as the next up and coming songwriter to hit the Nashville scene, and Marc would have loved every song he heard of mine.  How would that have helped me? 

                It wouldn’t have.  

 Instead, I received the unvarnished truth about what it takes to make it in Nashville as a songwriter in this business from a true professional, and it was an invaluable experience.

© 2007 - Reprinted With Permission Only

To Contact Jules Bloeth: jules  @  julesbloeth.com

To Contact Marc-Alan Barnette: Mbarne4908  @  aol.com  615-417-7181

* Many thanks to Steven, Valerie, Julie and Robert (who never took a moment to relax) and to Gary Denis for the invitation and hospitality.

^†”Freshman Year in Nashville – A Guide to the First Year in the Nashville Music Community, by Marc-Alan Barnette”