Some
people don't know a good song if it bit them in the face!
That's what
someone wrote me the other day when I told them that their material was not suitable
for our pitch sheet.
So of course I had to write back... "Yes some people
don't know a good song, but we're not looking for good songs, we're looking for
GREAT songs". |
We
see it all the time, writers send in their material to our screening department
and we either accept or reject them. Occasionally we will get a writer requesting
a reason WHY their material was turned down, and I will tell them, I might even
reference weaknesses in melody or inconsistency in lyrical metaphors or what other
issues we had with the song. Yes, I can be wrong, my instincts can be off, and
none of us are perfect. | 
|
Yet
what I want to address is writers looking at their material subjectively. They
play their songs to their friends and family who tell them it's great! Of COURSE
they'd tell you that.... people don't want to give you negative feedback.
Ever
noticed when someone tells you that you look GREAT today or asks if you've lost
weight? ... Why don't folks say...hey - you look measurably plain today or you're
pants are too tight, I believe you are getting fat.
As Brian Allen says
"When people tell you your song is good, question the source. Is this person someone
who has actually made decisions within the music industry? Someone with proven
instincts? I'm not talking about the musicians you hired to play on your demo
or the engineer who recorded it, or someone else whose pay hinges on being nice
to you. I'm talking about people who have made major musical decisions higher
up the ladder. A&R people, label heads, publishers, managers and even successful
songwriters, who actually say... let's get together and try some writing, and
then make a date to do it!"
Years ago, I tried my hand at stand up
comedy, and I enjoyed it, but that's a different story and I had a friend who
was the worst (or best) heckler. One night we were out checking out other comedians
on amateur night, and this poor guy was dismally failing and my friend shouted
out..." I guess that was real funny down at the factory". And it stuck with me.
This guys friends probably did say... "Hey Joe you're too funny you should do
comedy!" and he believed them.
Yes your friends and family will tell you
your material is good, but their opinion doesn't count. They wouldn't know a good
song if it bit them in the face and their opinion does little to improve your
craft. You need to get constructive criticism from people at a higher career level,
in order to grow.
Good is not good enough, you need to aim for great!
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