Getting better at songwriting is the game, and you’re in it. So rather then spending all day searching the Internet trying to figure out how to get some kind of a record deal why not focus on something more constructive.
Someday You’ll Get There
It’s not to say you may not one day get that deal, it’s just that there are a lot of variables in doing that that are out of your power. Improving your songcraft on the other hand is something that you have direct control of. So lets spend a little time considering what you could be doing and how you could incentivize yourself.
Worth Entering
Songwriting contests are worth entering and especially so if you are participating in them regularly and pragmatically. The community and structure that you stand to gain from regular engagement in the activity will lend to maturation in a number of areas, this maturation should yield quantifiable results to your songwriting ability as well as increase your prowess and opportunity for networking and marketing.
So What’s It All About
Recently I’d been thinking about featuring some attempts at joining songwriting contests here on Songsmith Recording. I thought to myself, “Can songwriting contests really be useful for the songwriter?”.
I decided to do some investigation and I was surprised by where that took me. To be frank the search sent me on a deep dive into the ravings of a number of very opinionated people.
After delving in I realized that this post probably wasn’t going to be about whether joining was valuable or not, because it is, but rather what’s wrong with a person’s attitude if they upturn a nose at it.
So this became more about the value of having the best possible attitude and how that yields gains. I’ve been at this now for a very long time and I know that there are a few different types of people who are songwriters. So here is a small sampling.
Songwriter Sampling
- The well-seasoned established songwriters
- The daydreamers with their eyes to the stars and heads in the clouds
- The down to earth type that just can’t stop themself from grabbing a guitar
With all of the time I’ve spent involved in songwriting I have always been aware of the mega-contest scams, and so for myself I never really thought to try, but as I researched this my view started to widen and change by the end you may see why.
If you spend a lot of time reading the opinions of songwriting contests you’ll find that those who are complaining about them are those that participated in the kind of contests that you’d better off avoid.
In addition to that you will also see a lot of people that are disgruntled complaining about contests for another reason… Motivations and negative attitudes
So we’ll discuss a number of negative attitudes and strategies to reset toxic perspectives as well as songwriting contest tips and areas worth focusing.
A Songwriters Perspective
Everything is always about perspective and how you face what you are doing. With the right perspective Songwriting Competitions can yield opportunities and benefits for a writer both tangibly and intangibly.
Good Attitudes and Not So Good Attitudes
Sometimes writers or songwriters are living in a dream world.
Not every person does it but some do. They are dreaming of living in a state of existence where they are renowned.
Sometimes writers or songwriters act in an eccentric way. So much so that it becomes contrived. Not every person does this but some do. They are living in a manner to differentiate themselves.
Both of these types of people may be dismissive of participating in some kind of songwriting contest. I suppose in some ways a contest puts their dream into the hands of the judgment of others and maybe they are terrified of having their delusions shattered.
“Art is subjective and my work can’t be judged.” They say to themselves and their esoteric followers.
A BBQ metaphor?!?!
Juxtapose this with a local BBQ shop, brewing up some delicious BBQ sauce in the exact down to earth way that all people including songwriter-musician-artists should be approaching their respective crafts.
- If they join a BBQ contest they are not deluded by some self-prophecy of impending celebrity, they are driven by a pragmatic interest in success coupled with the thrill of competition.
- If they win then that is great.
- If they do not then they’ve just finished spending the day connecting with their competitors and making friends and fans of their BBQ sauce.
Either way, they go home to refine and improve their skill for the next opportunity.
That is the pragmatic simplicity that should be applied to joining a songwriting contest. It’s natural to be competitive and to want to win.
If there is art, then anything can be an expression of art, even business, even the collection of tasks you have to manage nowadays to be able to write music for a living.
The Good and Bad
In one of the forums about people’s views on participating in songwriting contests one person said how great of an opportunity it had been for them to take part. They spoke to how it had helped them networking and then they went on to say that it even gave them something to talk about there on that forum. After which they had linked to their song and said it even gave me the excuse to showcase my music to you reading this forum.
Another forum participant promptly lashed out on that songwriter saying something to the effect of who cares about your stupid ability to market on the Internet well because the ability to market on the Internet isn’t art.
Staple that word ART onto one activity and somehow the least capable is instantly rendered immune from critique… and reality.
Remove the word ART from another activity and suddenly the artistic maneuvers to navigate the business end, the marketing and the networking are minimalized and unimportant.
Enablers Enable
I read one opinion about how loosing a songwriting competition could lead to demoralization. The writer suggested how this could be considered a negative
In this situation if people are demoralized it’s because they’ve spent entirely too much time focusing on an outcome instead of living in the reality of doing.
Take pride in owning the results. If you loose the songwriting contest and it leads to a healthy brief disappointment that is perfectly OK.
Follow that by getting back up onto the horse and you’ve still seized your day.
Because as the saying goes, “nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
With a slight adjustment to perspectives and a little bit of a different approach and motivation it’s easier to indulge in and enjoy songwriting and songwriting competitions in a healthier way.
Slamming Songwriting Competitions
A different example of a bad attitude is found when a songwriter who writes something they purport to be pure and epic then loses the contest and proceeds to disparage what the songwriting contest winner submitted as nonsense.
I’ve read from a lot of people slamming songwriting competitions because they’ve lost to someone whom they viewed inferior to themselves.
- Go write because you like to do it.
- Go compete because you are confident.
- Go win or loose with grace.
But if you join the contest because you want us to perceive you and your music in the precise way you dictate sans judgment, then…
- Go away:)
Learning From Rejection
A little healthy competition never hurt anyone.
Humility and kindheartedness are the qualities that we’d like to rally behind. It’s these qualities a person could likely build upon by regularly participating in songwriting competitions.
Keep in mind that there is a lot to be learned from rejection, avoiding rejection is an exercise designed to avoid having ones “bubble burst”.
If you’re living in a sustained existence of avoiding having your bubble burst you are only hurting yourself.
Be Advisable
Suggestions and tips on how to better phrase this or that both melodically or lyrically can only be valuable considerations. It’s effectively a second set of ears.
Of course you should consider the source and take it all in with the grain of salt. But keeping your eyes opened for a catalyst you can leverage your skill upwards against is always in your interest.
Don’t be afraid of people advising you, and don’t be unadvisable. Again, you should certainly take everything with a grain of salt, but you don’t need to behave in a way that makes others perceive you as self-important.
To be self-important is to be a pariah. People do not love to be around that, help that or support that. So how can being that be useful?
You should be confident, but instead of being confident of where you are currently and what you’ve currently proposed, perhaps focus on being confident on your capacity to improve and your capacity to take advice.
I suppose the underlying point is to try and keep things in check while walking a balance.
Legitimate Contests
Join legitimate contests with legitimate contest judges. Allow yourself to wrap your mind around their critiques. Take it all in with a grain of salt, and make adjustments and modifications where you can.
Show people that you’re willing to work with others and they’ll be happier to talk to you again later. Don’t lead with an expectation that this contact is going to get me placement.
Lead with the expectation that this contact will help me to be more honest with myself. It is that honesty that will allow you to improve.
Getting realistic is not a bad thing, nor is getting practical that’s because both of which are sustainable.
That being said, this may be the perfect time to get yourself entrenched into a community with other songwriters who build on their craft in an everyday ordinary down to earth way.
Look for contests that are regionally based in your particular genre. Join and become a part of the community.
Try your best not to mind too much the loosing, and don’t make too much of the winning either for that matter. Just continue to build on your craft and expand your network.
Slow and steady.
Be Diligent Not To Fall Prey To Scams
While songwriting contests are constructive, there are certainly contests to avoid.
We do have to be wary of who and what we participate with.
There are a lot of scams out there and it is important to scrutinize the small print.
You don’t want to will away the rights to your hard written effort simply by sending a stranger your submission… Right?
Don’t Bother With Contests Too Big
Contests that are too big and open to too many may not be as constructive as ones confined to a region or to members of an association.
Bigger contests open to anyone far and wide will likely boil down to them doing a wide harvest for submissions and entry fees. You are likely just sending in material never to be heard from again.
Some of these contests may be based exclusively on greed intended only to skim off the hopes and dreams of aspirational artists.
Keep in mind that the ones that are actual scams are only feasible because the organizers are knowingly preying on desire.
So, check desire at the door and protect your interest.
If it all seems too good to be true it means that it is. Yes someone will win but there is certainly some catch twenty-two.
Regional Contests and Local Chapters
Focus on the contests that are more confined and regular. Contests where you can come to identify staff and their regular contributors. You’ll take the most benefit from opportunities like those.
In addition I recommend that you participate with a songwriting organization that is reputable. Join a local chapter and when at all possible, participate in any annual contests they have or recommend.
A songwriters association and a community of songwriters and music professionals, accompanied with regular participation in regional activities including festivals, songwriting workshops and songwriting contests are all wonderful ways to help pass you’re your time doing what you want.
I’m betting you’ll find a certain sense of satisfaction in finding a regional showcase somewhere near the place you live. Depending on the kind of music you write, You may find that there is an entire network of people already tied in and organized together whether it be in relation to some annual music festival or some other seasonal activity.
The Takeaways
- Exposure
- Competition and Comparison
- Honing your craft
Exposure
Exposure is just a fancy word for networking, but none-the-less it is a takeaway. These local or regional contests are the perfect way to introduce what you are doing to those whom you may not have otherwise met. These people are probably the people you need to meet they are likely like minded and it is highly probable that they share common goals. It is healthy to engage other songwriters and beneficial to connect with other Industry professionals for networking.
That’s not to mention its great to promote your participation in these contests to your fans. Maybe the contest has a live performance activity that you can perform introducing your music to the attendees that may have otherwise never heard of you. That said make sure you have a your website and social media in line in advance so that any one who likes what you are doing can easily find you. We recently posted a guide to why having a website for your music is so important. It should be a big help. You can read it here!
After you have read that we have a another great guide that dives into making money on your website with your music. If that is as important to you as it is to me, I’m sure you might want to have a look. Good Luck!
Competition and Comparison
As was mentioned before competition and comparison are wonderful tools for improvement. Once you stop allowing your need for validation, to cause you from shying away from feedback. In the event that you could eventually win a contest from that moment on you could forever introduce yourself as an “Award winning songwriter”.
Hone Your Craft
If the contest focuses on a particular theme it will force the songwriter to practice towards a particular topic or feeling, and in effect it would become something of an exercise. Having an excuse to stretch is always a good thing. Each time we move outside of our regular routine and work outside of our comfort we have the opportunity to gain new perspectives and acquire new skills. Not to mention that it can be inspirational to have a goal to work toward
Step One, Get Going
We have focused on the idea that participating in activities such as this should NOT be to gratify some internal hope of international recognition.
If in doing so however you subsequently happen to gain international recognition then good on you.J
Back to BBQ Analogy
Some people appreciate the social activity of the contest and may benefit from the structure of participating in it. All contestants participating pay a fee for entry. And the winner is just getting a plaque.
My argument is if you do it, do it for the fun of trying to get a plaque then do it over and over again.
In Conclusion
I hope we hit on one or two valuable points. I have certainly taken something from considering all of this for myself. Even now, I do my best to be level headed and focus on the long road. That in and of itself is an exercise.
I hope you find the best way that works for you and I appreciate the time that you spent reading through these thoughts.
I’m rooting for you.
Now go and get to it!
Goodluck