Back from LA

I recently went to LA for the Taxi songwriter's rally. What an amazing event. The panels and guests were the "All Stars" of the biz..... from country to pop to R&B and more.... A&R presidents, publishers, song pluggers, and songwriters that have not one or two,  but literally dozens of #1 billboard chart hits in many genre's of music. 

There were panel discussions, seminars, break out classes on specific subjects, and of course.... the one to one mentoring where you choose the mentor, and have a few minutes to set with an industry pro and have them listen & critique your material, and ask any question you can imagine..... a chance to pick their brain and learn something.

The two biggest songwriters there were Jeff Steele (so many country hits ...it's unbelievable) and Jason Blume also a big country writer but also has pop & other genre hits as well. I had the opportunity to mentor with Jason..... Jeff was in for one panel and played a few of his hits on acoustic and was out the door since he and his family actually had something else planned for the weekend. At the end of his song set... he threw his pick... my eye caught something moving in the aisle...... his pick rolled right down the center aisle, and stopped 1 foot from my chair...... I reached down and picked it up....

The classes and networking were awesome. It will take me a week or more to go back through my notes, and organize them. There was so much information shared and gained at the rally. I met so many other song writers...at all stages of writing...from beginners to people who are making a living from their songs. I made lots of new friends and hopefully one or two good collaborators will be the result.  It was almost an information overload weekend.

So here's a few pics from the rally.


Me & Michael Laskow Taxi President in the hall registration line.



Me & Jason Blume at the one to one mentoring. The session went well, I got some good and useful advice to make my songwriting even better...... I also had the opportunity to be in several of Jason's songwriting classes. 



Just one of the many industry pro panels that were happening in the Grand Ballroom all through out the event.

I didn't really shoot more than a handful of pics the entire event...... and I won't waste space & time here with more...... however....

Let me say this.... I was a bit unsure if my membership in TAXI was a worthwhile investment....and additionally, if the trip to LA was going to be worth it as well.

After being there, and seeing what goes on, and meeting the screeners that actually listen to my (and your) submissions, I sat next to the past president of A&M records A&R division at lunch one day..... he was one screener..... these people do know the biz and music. Some of the panels dealt with "Broadcast Quality music" and played examples of what was and what was not BCQ. They dissected songs and showed us the mistakes 98% of songwriters make that kills their song in the first verse..... and most importantly, how to correct those issues in quality and writing.

Do you have to join TAXI to learn this...... NO! I think Taxi makes it easier to learn it though.

All in all, a fun and educational weekend in LA. And the networking in the lounge........!




OK.... I'll share the "secret"  that 2 songwriters gave.....and that's all...

Jeff Steele...... "It's all about the lyric..... the story is King"

Jason Blume........"It's all about the melody....melody is King"



I hope that helps to clear it up a bit!

Yep..... that 'bout sums it up.

Of course, there is a whole lot that goes into each of those observations by those 2 superstar songwriters. The question, and the subsequent answer, as to Why it's all about...... that's what makes the observation of the utmost importance.


BTW got your track..... need to load it up. I'm still recovering from left coast time.

Guitarhacker


I recently went to LA for the Taxi songwriter's rally. What an amazing event.

You mean...it's not a scam?...
Haven't made it yet, but I'd like to one year.

OK.... I'll share the "secret" that 2 songwriters gave.....and that's all... Jeff Steele...... "It's all about the lyric..... the story is King" Jason Blume........"It's all about the melody....melody is King"

 
In general, this is right ... these are the things that we remember the most in the history of music ... although the lyrics are a bit more ignored than the melody ... we can remember and hum as far back as Vivaldi ... but when it comes to lyrics, no one has it over Shakespeare as yet ... not even close.
 
In general, the "story" is important ... but too much commercial music is the same thing and a simple re-working of the same style and format ... almost all of it has a sonata like format ... and rarely does a lot of commercial music go any further -- or it's called progressive or some silly other word for it.
 
I'm not sure that the "melody" is enough ... the concept of melody has been important in the history of music, but is not the only one ... it's like saying that Beethoven is remembered because of the melody, or Mahler or Stravinsky ... or the Beatles ... it's simplistic to say the least.
 
As a writer, I can tell you that there is "no secret" ... the only trick, is when that movie appears in your head you have to learn to react to it ... and the better you do so and the "time between" the source and end in that moment, is the difference between you being able to learn to write something or not. The better you allow it to "happen", the easier it all becomes. Yeah ... for these guys repetitive, but it doesn't have to be.
 
Creativity is not about anything ... except your ability to want to do it ... and not be afraid to "try it".