Quick...I bet you can name fifteen songwriters you know who never do anything to promote their career in a meaningful way. They are always the first to complain and the last to do anything about moving forward. They may have wonderful songs, which could really impact peoples’ lives in a positive manner (and make lots of money for the writer) but they never take the step to pitch the songs (or have them pitched). To them it seems like a long way from the top drawer to the top. And it may well be, but you have to start somewhere.

I will admit there is safety in writing songs and keeping them to yourself, hidden away in the dresser or desk drawer. No worries about rejection...or criticism. You can bask in the glow of knowing in your heart that you are a hit songwriter, all the while enjoying the safety of never having anyone turn down your songs. Unfortunately, that “safety” also keeps those songs and the writer from ever tasting success, acceptance and maybe even money. Hear this, there is no other way to get songs cut except for pitching them.

Successful songwriters always find someone they can trust for feedback without fear. What I mean by that is simply constructive criticism. Every creative person needs someone with the unique ability to listen, gently critique and maybe even edit their work without the writer taking the criticism personally. You may even think of that person as a coach. But don’t rely on your friends and family because they have a tendency to lie to you and tell you the songs are great just to make you feel good. You need to hear the good and the bad...in the right way.

As a professional songplugger, I face rejection daily, but trust me, after a while it’s not so bad. Try to think of it this way...you are in a restaurant and you have finished eating. The server stops by and asks if you would like coffee. You decline. Should she walk away feeling bad about her service or herself or should she understand that at this particular moment you simply did not want a cup of coffee? Rejection when pitching songs is exactly the same. No only means no right now. The song may be great but it may not fit that particular artist’s need at that particular time. It does not mean anything else.

You owe it to yourself, your songs and the people whose lives could potentially be impacted by your songs to make these moves. Open that top drawer and take out the songs. Find someone who will listen objectively and respond. Keep an open mind to the critique and, if necessary, make changes; produce the best possible demo. Take the initiative to pitch the songs to artists, producers and record companies or find someone who can do it for you.

Here is your opportunity to be “one of those who do” as opposed to “one of those who talk.”

I am sure you have heard that every great journey begins with a single step. It is no different in this business. You must take that first step. Let me repeat. You MUST take that first step. It may be a leap of faith, but the alternative offers no chance of success. You can change things in a moment and that’s the Wow of doing something Now!!!(wait, that’s another article...).

Chris Keaton’s Bio:

Chris Keaton is the president of Keaton Music Ventures, a full service music publishing and song plugging company. He is also the co founder of the web based music site, Music Bovine.com. He has had cuts with George Strait (Stars on the Water), Trisha Yearwood (Seven Year Ache), Lonestar (Let’s Be Us Again) and Brooks and Dunn (Building Bridges) as well as over 50 independent cuts, movie placements (We Were Soldiers) and theatrical releases (The Ten Commandments) and more passes than can possibly be counted. Some of the catalogs he represents are Criterion Music, Roger Brown, Jim Reilley, Ronna Reeves and Mike Younger.