BUILDING AN ARTIST, THE NEXT CHAPTER
Dani Jamerson has been here this week, performing and writing. The girl is extrodinary and is a prime example of how I work with artists, and how I approach the Industry. I have been working with her now for about three years and watched her develop from a better than average singer with some basic writing skills, to a VERY POLISHED PROFESSIONAL WHO IS BLOWING PEOPLE AWAY IN EVERY THING SHE DOES. Very proud of her. and of course, I take credit for ALL OF IT!!!LOL!
The first step has been over the past three years. Her coming to Nashville about four times a year. Working with me,writing dozens of songs, and coaching her through all the right moves. We produced her first CD at jay's, and then she has done JUST THE RIGHT THING, STAYED IN MICHIGAN!!!! She writes here, then goes back up there and PERFORMS THOSE SONGS OUT with her band and solo, she is on all the time. And it SHOWS in her performances. When she plays here in this jaded town,not only does she SHUT EVERYONE UP, but in all my years here, is THE ONLY ONE WHO ACTUALLY SELLS CDS!!!! That comes from HAVING AN INTERESTINGLY WRITTEN PRODUCT,DIFFERENT THAN EVERYTHING ELSE, AND PRESENTING IT IN AN OVERWHELMINGLY EXCITING WAY. She is doing everything right. And at least for now, is DOING EVERYTHING I TELL HER TO DO. We'll see how long that lasts, but for now, it is working great.
So she is getting a LOT of attention. And now that is getting to an even higher level. On Wed. she sat in for one song with me at a benefit for writer Stan Webb. Stan wrote "WE'RE FROM THE COUNTRY AND WE LIKE IT THAT WAY" and other hit songs.He has cancer so we did a benefit Wed at the Commodore. There were dozens of writers there but one most important, ANGELA KASSETT. Angela wrote "SOMETHING IN RED" for Lorrie Morgan, and has a couple of Garth Brooks hits. She is a great writer. She played in the round before mine, and was still sticking around afterword. That is different.
When Dani played,I watched Angela and she was fixated on her. So afterward, when she pulled me over to say hi, she immediately asked about Dani. She was blown away. I told her we needed to get her on the team and I think that will happen before long.
The second phase of an artist's career is BUILDING STREET CREDIBILTY. That is in WHO YOU ARE WRITING WITH.
You see in Nashville it is NOT WHO YOU KNOW, BUT WHO KNOWS YOU AND HOW THEY KNOW YOU!
If you are seen as someone who is a mover and shaker, who delivers in product, who is always where you say you are going to be, and do WHAT YOU SAY YOU ARE GOING TO DO you will GET AND KEEP ATTENTION.
Now this is something that plays to what Jarrod asked. "How do you find co-writers?"
In many cases, they have to find YOU.
Nashville is two things:
THE ART OF THE HANG.
THE ART OF THE REFERRALL.
When it comes to co-writing, building relationships and friendships, you have to be INVITED to those next steps like co-writing, performing,etc. They have to see you. And a lot of that comes through the writers nights. That is where you get to show your stuff. The earlier or the later you perform, the less likely you are going to be seen. So you are trying to get better slots with the hosts. That means you have to DELIVER on songs that are interesting.
Go in with a bunch of ballads, negative, angry, self absorbed songs, you are DEAD. No one is interested in that.
If you have just another bunch of trucks, tailgates, redneck out on the river party songs, you are DEAD.
Already got more than we need. Don't let the current radio fool you. Those songs and their artists are WALKING DEAD. They just don't know it yet.
So your existing catalogue that you are building now is going to serve you in the future. might not be getting cuts, might be the things that get you TO THE CUTS. But you need to be discovering a lot of new artists, you need to be writing with those artists and convincing them that YOU HAVE WHAT THEY NEED!
That is the key to the music industry.
The secret is: Manipulating them to do what YOU want them to do, BUT MAKE THEM THINK IT'S THEIR IDEA!!!
MAB
