MAB Q&A

GOOD LORD!

Maybe the key to all this is for ME to leave and everyone will come back over!!

HEY MEH AND HEATHER!!!! Or should we say "MEH and HEH!!!!"

It is really great to see you here. RiDawn has been trying to represent you all by herself but she can only do so much! She will be so glad to see you two posting.

Heather, I'll try to catch you up. Basically, we had to change over the forums from the old site due to Internet issues, and we have regrouped here. The conversation, like always changes every few days. The topics are mostly about music, writing, changes in the current popular trends, the business and how to present yourself with music. That is really all this has been about.

The "open mic" forums,like all places are where people post. But also on all sites there is an element of 'back patting"and too much friendly discussion, and not enough "critical analysis." My point here and on other sites is that is better done sometimes privately and I prefer if people get multiple INDEPENDENT viewpoints. That way if different people say the same thing, you can zero in on what might be needed in your songs. If people are all over the map, they tend to just be opinions.

And while all opinions are valid, sometimes people from different formats might not understand the one you are working in. We recently had this discussion between  you and I. You sent me a couple of songs that were about the Christian market. I am a little uneasy about critiquing that market because they are by definition SONGS of FAITH, and I am NO ONE TO COMMENT ON PEOPLE'S FAITH. But that is not the only reason. I Am NOT INVOLVED in that marketplace. I don't know the current trends, publishers, artists, sounds, etc. I don't know nor am really interested in current terms, focus. As I told you, I know a little from my daughter, who is BIG TIME into the contemporary Christian rock movement, and the music she likes, doesn't do a lot for me. So I really don't feel qualified to give much of an opinion on it. I can tell you where I think it makes sense and sounds good, but aside from that, I'm WAY out of my element.

Now you sent me another song that I felt had an older sentament in it that is not being used in contemporary country music now. That I am fairly familiar with because I work with younger people doing that in the marketplace today. So I feel more qualified for that than the Christian market.

I think that is what we are talking about here.  Some people are just not going to feel "qualified' to comment one way or another on songs. And many times they are not. As we have also seen in the song breakdowns we did last week. there are many things out there that we might not be well versed in and more reasons for the success/failure of a song that has to do with "beyond the song." 

When it comes to open mic songs, there is a lot of that. We get that whole "I submitted this to a critiquer and they told me it was dated or I couldn't do certain things, then THERE IS A SONG ONTHE RADIO THAT DOES THE SAME THING!!! 

So that can almost lead to some angry disscussions in open mics. But they are in important part of all songwriter sites. I believe that is what we are talking about.

Also, as Kevin noted, there are often A LOT of songs on open mics that are difficult to listen to. I don't visit that many but when I do, it is a large expense of time to get through the nine minute folk songs, the electronic media songs and quite frankly the ANGER, BITTERNESS, NEGATIVE ATTITUDES, of most songwriting, particularly those of newer or more amateur writers, like the solo ones. It is frankly wrist splitting, and I wouldn't know what to tell them to do. And they wouldn't listen if you told them.

Kevin, I have visited those sites here and others. I have brought a lot of people over here from those sites to try and give them a larger perspective. And for the most part, they come for a while, write the same songs and get more and more bitter when no one gives them the appreciation they think they deserve.

Most writers are just writing to vent. So they can do that on sites like this. But there is really no where to tell them to go with that. So I don't. The main question writers always want to know is "WHERE TO GO WITH MY SONGS?" WHAT'S NEXT?" 
And all too often THERE IS NO 'NEXT"! There is not a MOVIE OR TELEVISION COMPANY ALIVE THAT INVESTS MONEY THAT WOULD TOUCH THESE TESTIMENTS TO MENTAL INSTABLITIY. There is not a "pitch company" that would try to take them to an artist or a producer. (Execpt those that are classic ripoffs.) And if you tell them the truth, they are not going to accept it and in fact, get into some "YOU ARE AN IDIOT" Facebook type insult fest. 
I choose to stay out of that. I'm paid for my opinion, value it and am not inclined to listen to much of that. For Free. 

I think that is where it is. Let me know if I am on track. 

MAB