General Music Chat

Hi all,

I am new to this community, and particularly joined to see if I could get good feedback and advice. I am a songwriter, and recently moved out to LA to get more connections. I am trying to sell my songs to different artists but have not had much luck getting connections. I was hoping to see if anyone has any advice. I write pop, hip-hop, and R&B songs.

Side note: I also DJ too, and produce house music.

Thank you in advance!

I hope you've got a good job/trade to fall back on. The resident community of songwriters in various locations (Nashville has the most) is very tight and only a miracle will get you into it.

Moved out of LA to make connections.

First time I ever heard that.

Good luck man.
Music is a tough business.
And for the most part as Mike indicated.
It's a closed shop.

Moved out of LA to make connections.

First time I ever heard that.

Good luck man.
Music is a tough business.
And for the most part as Mike indicated.
It's a closed shop.

Hmm, not sure why you consider it be a closed shop. I know plenty of people who have had placement. Are you referring to a specific genre of music, or just in general?

Oscar

I hit Hollywood in the seventies. I printed a leaflet and took everywhere that even looked musical. I called every agency in town and really ate of the phone books - that part will be easier now.

I hit all the music stores and networked with everyone I could. Got a job that was staffed almost entirely by musicians, actors and such. Wannabees.
But what great networking that was.

Frankly, I did ok. One of my pals wrote some of Barry White's stuff and did studio work on piano. Several others were doing similar. I wasn't trying to be songwriter to the stars but wanted to play my own music with people that rocked. I did that. Got some airplay, did this and that and wouldn't change that experience for the world.

It takes beaucoup energy - do it while you're young and remember the writer's motto: after you hear 'no' often enough it begins to sound like 'yes.'

The scene is probably different in a lot a ways but the fundamentals are pretty basic. Make sure you have lots of recorded material.

And don't listen to these boring pals of mine - you'll never knock the ball out of the park if you don't stand up to the plate!

Remember - absolute worst case: you fail. Since you haven't succeeded yet anyway - what the hell!

Good luck

Talbot