Wes,
Because they are most people's ONLY contact with someone besides themselves. If that is the only way you can get critiques, feedback, at least feel a part of something, that is the reason to do it. But the biggest problem with them is that people DON'T put much of their opinions out there, just really patting each other on the back. And there is NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT EITHER. There is something to be said for being in a community, feeling connected to other people and to find out what other people are doing, who they are. That is the reason to do it.
But that should only be a PART of what people do. They should be continuing these collaborations OFFSITE. I noticed you doing that with one of the guys on the other site. He has taken some of your lyrics and put music to them. That is as it should be. But you have to look at the other things on those type sites. Almost everyone ASKS for collaboration, but no one really WANTS collaboration, because they go no further than the forums.
You see, again, I've dealt with this a lot. The people that I find successful, like Matt Casey or Janet Starodub, who have both started on this site, have taken it to the REAL WORLD. They learned things here, then used it to get out into songwriting communities in their area. Matt, who is from Boston, put together a facebook group called NEW ENGLAND TO NASHVILLE. Once he had a few artists, he started doing concerts to raise money for charities around his area. It wasn't just in Boston. It was here. Many artists have moved to Nashville or make trips from the New England area. So he is doing concerts in both places and has hundreds of artists and writers he is working with. He has dozens of songs they are performing because he doesn't perform. WE just did one a week ago and he had several people including Lance Carpenter who had the first KELSEY BALLERINI, single. Matt now has his own publishing company, song plugger and is making regular trips interacting with the actual music industry.
Janet Starodub, started as a writer herself, but morphed into an artist manager. She recently had two of her artists, Jason and Tom Petrik, (both who belonged here for a while) hit the Canadian Charts at number 11, have a major deal and major Canadian tour. Another artist she works with currently is a new face on the Canadian market and five or six have gone on to major careers in the industry. She found her talent was not in writing but in guiding the careers of others.
That is what I am talking about by "getting out of the living room." Actually doing something by interacting with actual artists, and other established writers. That is what you DON'T get out of only being involved in a songwriters site of any kind.
It is a PART of a career, but not the entire career. Just like the people at the top of the charts who have significant Internet fan base. They ALSO have significant, if not more interaction with the real world, the real industry. There are people who use the net to propel them, but there is a certain amount of "physical interaction they have to have." That is what I am talking about.
So there is nothing wrong with putting lyrics up on a site. But you have to be aware that a lot of the replies you are going to get are not going to be much more than a pat on the back. Sometimes you will get a little more, but most of the time that is what it is. If you could develop enough relationships to where you could get INDEPENDENT FEEDBACK, you could achieve a lot.
Another problem with the "internet only" approach is that usually people that want to try and get some constructive critiscim, will often get attitudes as well. The well intentioned repartee often degenerates into acrimony. No professional is going to deal with that. So they don't go to those sites. I am one of many professional writers that have tried to help only to be dealt with like some sack of crap. We feel like. "why bother?"
It is all just one part of a larger struggle. Once you get that sense of writing, learn as much as you can, you tend to move on. This is just one step in many.
So don't take my words as saying "don't post any songs." I'm not saying that. I am saying that you have to consider the sources you are talking to. Many of them have limited experience. You have to keep that in mind. All opinions do matter, but the more educated you can get the better it is going to be for your overall approach. And when someone is limited in their personal interactions, they have to take what they can get.
You have to make the best of it and take it for what it is.
MAB
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