Doing Everything And Getting No Place in the Music Industry
Since my youth, I dreamed of having a music career, performing on stage for thousands. People told me I was a better than average musician and singer-songwriter. But, I still had my doubts.
After many years of putting my songs on the shelf, I decided to take a risk and pitch them to some music execs. Living in Southern California provided the opportunity to personally go to Pitch Sessions in Los Angeles.
Every week for months, I’d spend an hour or two on the busy freeway to get to the weekly pitch. Every week it went the same.
The Pitch
We handed a lyric sheet and cassette recording (before CDs) of the song to the music industry exec. As the track played, the expert critiqued the song, writing notes on the lyric sheet. If the exec did not choose the song for further review the cassette and lyric sheet were handed back.
Occasionally, a song would be chosen.
This happened week after week, month after month. The drive home seemed to get longer and longer with each passing week.
Sometimes, I’d get a few encouraging comments, but I never had a song chosen for further review.
Mail-in Demos
For that reason, I stopped going to Pitch Sessions. Instead, I began sending tapes to different music publishers and entering music industry contests. The Songwriter’s Market stated that the musician would receive feedback in a few weeks. But weeks passed without a word.
I had almost forgotten about the contest when a return package came in the mail.
I hurriedly ripped open the package and unfolded the letter that revealed their analysis with a list of changes that needed to be made. I immediately headed for my little studio, convinced they would pick up my song, and give me a recording contract.
The wait began again.
Finally, the long-awaited package arrived. I knew I had made the exact requested changes. With shaky hands, I opened the package and grabbed the letter that would reveal my next step to stardom. I knew there was a contract waiting for me.
My music career was about to launch.
I slowly slumped to the sofa flipping the letter over to see the back. I looked up at my wife standing in the doorway wiping her hands on a dishtowel.
She took a step closer, “Well?”
I sat stunned, then held the letter up for her to see.
“Thank you for submitting your song for evaluation. We regret it’s not what we’re looking for at this time.”
That’s it?
Still Accepting Demos
Some music publishers are still accepting demos. The Songwriter’s Market tells you how to submit a demo. They give you lists of publishers with the contact person, phone number, address, and specifically how to submit demos or if they accept demos. All the details are there.
OR
Today’s musicians have more options than any other time in history. We can go the DIY (Do It Yourself) Way. We can take charge of our own music career, becoming your own recording exec.
The drama continues tomorrow. Check on song clips on my website or Larry S Warfield Music on Facebook.
