When do you get to call yourself a songwriter?
It feels like you have to get permission from somewhere or somebody…
Is there a secret handshake?
What do you have to do to be allowed to call yourself a songwriter?
Do you introduce yourself as a songwriter?
Hi, I’m a songwriter!
I was uncomfortable calling myself a songwriter, almost embarrassed about it….
Is it how you make your $
What do you do most of the day, your job? So, can you call yourself a songwriter?
It takes several successful songs for a sustainable living… so that’s not always the best way to tell. And what’s the difference between a professional songwriter and an amateur songwriter?
When they hear your songs?
Are you automatically a songwriter when they hear you song?
Is it your story?
My story is…
I’m a musician, but I make my living as a music teacher.
Sing my music but I learned most of my music by playing on saxophone…
Wrote and played heavy jazz, loud fast blues jazz… awesome fun, but a hard act to book and make $
Had a singing teacher, but she fired me. Well, it was more of a “I’m not sure what to teach you” phone call….
Studied saxophone, now I usually play self taught guitar.
I have a Master’s Degree in music composition, but now I write popular songs!
Still, I wasn’t sure if I could call myself a songwriter…
Is it how you introduce yourself?
Mine is: Hi, I’m Trevor! I write songs like Chris Cornell and Dave Matthews if they were happy!
Read how to craft your songwriting introduction.
When did I become a songwriter?
About 10 years ago I made a decision to write pop songs with lyrics (I’d only written instrumentals before then) and learn how to sing them. I stopped thinking about the question and did something…
I wrote a song
Then I wrote another song….
Then I was a songwriter…
I had to get writing before I could believe in myself!
Are You a Songwriter: Summary
Being a songwriter means you write songs… whether it’s your main form of income or not, your professional status is about your attitude. You can act like a professional even if songwriting isn’t your main source of income.
If you:
- Show up and do the work
- Start and finish songs that touch people’s emotions
- Do what you say and say what you mean
- Act like you’re a professional
Then you’re a songwriter, regardless of where the money comes from!
