Now if I may offer my personal story and my limited experience about attending seminar's by former hit songwriters in Nashville, and them offering their advise for any of us wanting to break into the music idustry and perhaps learn how to write to the level of songwriters being able to get a cut by a major artist.
They all mean well and they all share great advise. Most of them have hit songs to their credit and that gives them a great deal of clout. They mostly offer their advise with a large crowd that signs up for a seminar. They may give a one or two day seminar and give great insight and information; but after the siminar is over, you will never hear from them again.
That is what separates MAB from the rest of the hit songwriters giving seminar's and tutorial instructions around Nashville because he goes way beyond the seminar and the teaching sessions to include all of us into his circle of friends.
It's true MAB has no hit songs under his belt to give his teaching talents the credibiity some hit writers may advertise; but he has had some cuts by famous artists; and although his songs may not have become a hit; he has improved his skills as a mentor and teacher the other hit writers may never realize.
I am not going to suggest the hit writers are not worth the money they charge for a seminar, the certainly have a good amount of advise to share. But remember this, once their seminar has ended you will most likely never hear from them again.
They don't offer their personal cell phone numbers or offer the home mailing address, and many don't even offer their personal email address; only an email to their website.
I'm not trying to talk anyone into working with MAB; but I will say: anyone choosing to work with MAB will get their money's worth and learn how to become a better songwriter or artist. Not only that, he will invite you into his circle of friends and often into his home. How many of the other pro songwriters will do that for you.
My last trip to Nashville, only this past weekend, was special because I stayed with friends I met on MAB forums, went to shows he invited us to, and hung out with his cirlce of friends he intorduced all of us to.
To me, that personal touch is what separates MAB from the rest.
OD