| | The
Right Pitch
In some of our previous articles we looked at the importance of well
produced demos. The better the demo, the better your chances, yet a great
production will not improve a bad song. It's worth a read. Now I'd like to take
it a bit further.
Recently, while screening on behalf of a particular lead
we had posted, I was reminded that I need to stress that it is equally important
to pitch only what the lead requests, and nothing more.
I know the seasoned
writers have no issue with this they pick and choose who and what to send. The
less than seasoned songwriters, not to say less talented, are so eager to be heard
that they send everything and anything. So I have to wonder, is it in the hope
that the ears on the other end, will hear their song and say "HOLY COW", or something
more colorful, "what a great song, it's not at all for this project, but I'm gonna
keep this song in the hopes that one day I find the perfect project for it!".
Well, the chances of that happening are less than winning a lottery in
my opinion. In fact, what does happen is this: Their ad stated they wanted songs
for a contemporary Christian artist, female, and they play your disk, they listen
to the first two bars of song number one, which is a piano vocal jazz cabaret
song. (Somewhere in the lyric is the word "Lord" so you thought it fit) NEXT!
They hit eject you're your other compositions # 2 and #3 were never even heard.
Don't waste your time and money or their time and money sending songs
that are not bang on the mark. Not only do you end up looking unprofessional,
we end up looking unprofessional, and then eventually people stop placing leads
with us and we all loose.
Take your time; pick the right song for the
right lead. Each listing is not the only brass ring to reach for. If an ad requests
songs of empowerment for a female artist, don't send those pining laments of lost
love. If they want a strong country ballad, don't send a guitar ripping rock anthem.
They describe what they want in the pitch sheet, and you have to give them exactly
what they want.
Happy Pitching! ~Jana
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