Are you seizing songwriting opportunities or letting them slip through your fingers?
You tell yourself you want songwriting success, but if a musical opportunity landed in your lap would you grab it or waste it?
One difference between musicians and songwriters that “make it” and those that don’t is how they deal with opportunities.
Are you ready when an opportunity presents itself?
Do you actively look for opportunities or wait for them?
If you’re under sudden pressure to produce, do you deliver or choke?
Below the video lesson is a summary of the scenarios followed by action steps to help you prepare for songwriting opportunities so you don’t miss out!
Are You Ready For All Of These Songwriting Opportunities?
Which Song Do You Play?
Imagine you’re at a party and they’re passing an acoustic guitar around…
Which of your songs do you play?
Or do you suddenly need a fresh drink or a bathroom break when the guitar gets to you?
Want to Play a Couple Songs?
Let’s raise the stakes, you’re at a local restaurant or drinking establishment and a friend is performing.
While you’re chatting between sets, you’re invited on stage to play a few of your songs. Could you do it, or would you dance around with excuses?
Can You Make a Gig Tomorrow?
What if you got a text or call from a friend, they’ve got a gig tomorrow but the opening act cancelled…
Can you play a 30 minutes set tomorrow?
Just you and your guitar, all the gear will be set up for you and you’re getting paid.
Would you be early to the sound check or are you “busy” tomorrow?
Let Me Introduce You To…
What if you’re introduced to someone as a songwriter? Are you proud of it, or do you put yourself down as an amateur?
Can you explain your music to them in a way that they want to hear more?
Could you tell them how to find your songs online in a sentence or two so they could hear your music?
It may not seem like a big deal, but what if you were introduced to a music industry influencer?
Did you just blow your “big break”?
“Failing to plan is planning to fail”
There’s an expression “Failing to plan is planning to fail” so take a few minutes and think about what you need to do to prepare for some simple scenarios…
What’s your best song?
What if you could only play one song for somebody?
If you couldn’t play it live for them, how could they find it to hear your music? Could you explain it verbally? What’s a link you could text someone in 30 seconds or less?
Which of your songs can you perform without preparation or using a lyrics sheet?
For bonus points: think of different scenarios…
Do you have a song that would make them laugh?
Do you have a song with an easy chorus you could teach a willing audience so they could sing along with you?
What if you were in a noisy, distracting bar or restaurant, do you have a song that would stop conversations and have everyone listening to you?
What original songs could you sing to fill out a 30 minute set?
Could you do 2 sets?
What cover songs could you play without preparing in advance?
How many sets of original and cover songs can you put together?
What’s your elevator pitch?
How can you describe your sound and your songs in 30 seconds or less so someone you’ve just met would want to know more about you and want to hear your music?
Think about it honestly, are you ready for songwriting opportunities, or just pretending? Take some time and write down your answers, don’t just “think about it!”
Action Steps for Songwriting Opportunities…
I’m not judging… I’ve missed some opportunities but I took it as a learning experience instead of getting upset with myself. Mistakes are okay as long as you learn from them.
Write Down Your Answers… Don’t Just “Think About It”!
People…
(Include their name and a space for their contact information)
Who are 5 people that could help you create a songwriting opportunity?
Who could you co-write a song with?
Who could you play with, for fun or for profit$?
Places…
Where could you go to find songwriting / musical opportunities?
Where can you explore online to find songwriting / musical opportunities?
Yourself…
How do you introduce yourself as a songwriter / musician? Bonus: the first question is almost always… “Are you in a band?” they want to know if they can hear your music. What’s your answer?
What could you do differently to find more songwriting / musical opportunities?
Where do you usually look for songwriting opportunities? What could you do to find more of them?
Where could you look for more musical and songwriting opportunities? Bonus: the ideas that make you a little uncomfortable are often the best ones to start with, just saying…
Your Music…
What’s your best song… if you could only play one song for someone, which would you play?
Bonus: What’s your best song for each of these scenarios? What’s your best…
Happy / feel good song/
Sing along song?
Attention grabber, “stop every conversation and listen to me” song?
What would it take to put more of your music online… it doesn’t have to be a studio recording, what about posting on social media? What’s holding you back (besides “I need more time to do it”)?
Set List
What original songs could you play if someone handed you a tuned guitar (or you best instrument)?
What cover songs can you play without preparing in advance?
How many sets could you play (originals only, or sets of originals and covers)?
What would one (or more) setlists look like?
The Most Important Songwriting Opportunities!
Where can someone hear your music?
(Can you explain it in 30 second or less?)
What’s a link you could share in less than 30 seconds?
(pro tip… sign up for a free bit.ly account and create a link for “bit.ly/yourname” and connect it to your website, YouTube channel or Spotify artist page!
What’s your musical elevator pitch?
(pro tip, read this epicsongwriting article: Creating Your Musical Elevator Pitch)
some opportunities instead of waiting for them to find you!
