WEs,
Ain't called the LONE STAR STATE for nothing! I understand it. Texans have always HAD TO FEND FOR THEMSELVES. They weren't quiet America, Not quite Mexican? They were the first illegal immigrants! LOL! Except they were all trying to "invade Mexico!!!!LOL! Just kidding. I don't get political here but that is part of it. The independent spirit Texans have is admirable and I wish more people had it.
But what has always gotten me is when they come to Nashville musically and want US to adhere to what THEY want to do. And get mad when we don't. A lot has to do with LENGTH OF SONGS. If you notice on the other site, the BMI site, you are commenting on other people's songs. And you yourself have had several songs on there. Do you notice something about all of those?
THREE AND FOUR VERSES. THEN A BRIDGE, then often, a chorus that changes.
You see, in the rest of the listening world, especially in America, NOBODY HAS THAT KIND OF TIME TO LISTEN TO MUSIC. We are lucky to get them to listen to a verse and a chorus. Which is why the entire STREAMS phenomenon, is so misleading. Just because someone gets 30 million STREAMS doesn't mean they are listening to the whole song. In fact, over half of those are just listening to about 8 seconds of a song. The entire theory behind PANDORA (opening Pandora's box) is when you like one type of music, they serve up another fifty of the same type songs. That doesn;t mean that the people viewing it is actually LISTENING TO ANY OF IT. Same with "FACEBOOK "LIKES." Doesn't mean people actually "LIKE" you. Just means they clicked a button. Usually to get someone to "like" them back.
A Nashville writer works with a LOT of songs with a LOT of people. Only way to build skills, only way to get co-writers and artists, only way to extend a career. Buying lottery tickets. The more you do it, the better your chances.
There are a lot of people who believe in QUALITY OVER QUANTITY. And that is true. But till you get QUANTITY, you don't get QUALITY. It is a physical impossibility.
So some really great Nashville writers will get more information in a song, in two verses, usually than most people take in four verses. There will be more hooky songs, and more layered information. In Texas, with the long standing "around the campfire" songs, they will take a long time to tell their story. That works when you are the only one out there doing something. When you are in with thirty to fifty other writers, all waiting on their shot, it changes a lot. People tune out faster.
And that is our current mentality in the general public. We call it "Don't bore us, get to the chorus."
That is the main difference in Texas and Nashville. Some like it, some don't. But if people want to come here, they need to live it, learn it, love it. And it makes you be a better, more effective writer. I have never yet met anyone that enjoys being tuned out.
MAB
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