Another thing that is happening. Radio is starting to make their own edits on songs. So they can cut down what you do and you really can't do anything about it. The best thing is to learn now.
And if you want the real challenge to be a good songwriter, it is being able to do more with less. Nobody wants to listen to these long butt songs, not even Texans. When someone comes in who does shorter songs, they are always more interested in that. Hard to get them to do it themselves (sound familiar?) but they always would rather have shorter songs.
If you can say a lot in two verses, get to the heart in two SHORT choruses, sum it all up with a bridge or a repeat chorus, that is the test of true songwriting. It doesn't really take any skill or talent to just roame on endlessly, being boring. And Melissa, if you think they are fidgety up there, IMAGINE WHAT AN ENTIRE AUDIENCE OF WRITERS AND ARTISTS WHO WANT YOU OFF THE STAGE SO THEY CAN PLAY IS LIKE.
And contrary to popular belief, most places here in Nashville are NOT quiet. Even Douglas can get very loud when people are bored. Most places have the same noises, the same people talking over everything, blenders going off in the background and people that care nothing about the music. The really ONLY place that is not true is the BLUEBIRD, which stresses that in everything they ever do. When you and Phil did the 360 Burger set, there was a LOT of noise going on. Because it was all going on around me. People were actually talking pretty loud. You didn't hear it because the speakers were right next to you, and the people in the front tables, were all our friends, who know to keep quiet.
So don't think it is just in Jersey. It is everywhere. That is why you have to always be on your game to do this. you are fighting people for their attention. Not an easy thing to do no matter where you are.
MAB