Over the last two months we have looked at song writing and how you might get started as a writer. If you are reading this column you might have even written a few songs, and could be at the stage of wondering why it is that more people aren’t aware of your song writing talents.
The most likely reason is the lack of promotion.
Before that begins, however, you need to have your product in a marketable form.
In the case of a song it is a demo recording, but simply putting a microphone up and singing into it, is unlikely to produce a marketable item.
For a start, you will need a reasonable singer and a good backing. Most small studios can provide these things for you at a very reasonable cost.
Or you can possibly build the skills and do it yourself. This adds a time component and a bigger cost as you will need to purchase the studio equipment as well.
The other advantage of working with a professional, is that they can often assist you in making the songs sound better, by working on the arrangement and playing or adding parts as needed.
They will also tend to be objective about your work and encourage you to listen more critically, so you will develop a better ear.
Once the work is recorded and sounds reasonably professional, you can sit back and compare it more favourably to recordings you respect and, of course, you can share your songs with your friends.
Hopefully you will be encouraged and want to continue with your creative endeavours, and 6 months or a year later you might go back into the studio to put down a couple more songs, looking back how you have developed as a musician and song writer over that period.
Don’t be in a rush with this part of the process. It might take a year or two to find your style and the sound you want for your songs.
If you are keen for your work to be heard, it needs to have something special that will attract a listener. Ultimately, it is about having a product for which there is a market and then targeting that market in your promotion.
Have a stimulating musical month!
Michael has a recording studio in Peachester. If you would like to find out more contact him on 0419 026 895 or E: mwhitick@bigpond.net.au
Glasshouse Musos at Beerwah Hotel: second Tuesday of the month, 6 – 9pm http://www.facebook.com/groups/musosclub/
Muzika, Maleny at Maleny RSL: first Thursday of the month 6.30 – 9pm https://www.facebook.com/MuzikaMaleny/
