Have you every heard somebody say, IF, and that's a big IF, I had a better voice, a better guitar, more money, more connections, I could make it big? Yeah, this list of things we need or think we have to have can go on and on. They are always looking at what they don't have. What they think they need instead of focusing on using what they have.
I am a member of NSAI (Nashville Songwriting Association Internatinal) It is a great organization that helps songwriters. They help songwriters get paid and songwriters to improve their craft. i have been a member for a long time.
They have many benefits that you can use. Some of them I use regularly and others not so much. The benefits I use the most are the song evaluations. You get twelve song evaluations with a yearly membership. If you only did this one feature and turned in twelve songs a year, it would dramatically improve your songwriting.
The other benefit I use is the local monthly chapter meetings. I used to be a chapter coordinator for the Manhattan, Ks chapter. I did this with my buddy David Thompson. We had a great time and met some great people. Currently, I am attending the Kansas City chapter. It is held on the second Saturday of the month. It is a great time to learn, meet other songwriters and share your new songs.
The benefit that I haven't been using is the mentoring sessions. I have used them in the past. They were great but I haven't been to Nashville since the Covid 19 epidemic. It has been changed and you can now do these on the phone or zoom. I chose to go with the Zoom meeting.
My mentor that I chose was Jim Reilley. Jim was a former member of the band The New Dylans. He was a signed songwriter with Curb for about ten years. He has had many cuts and is also a professional music producer. It was a great learning experience that I would recommed to everyone who wants to be a songwriter. Thanks Jim for sharing your wisdom and time.
I learned a lesson. I need to make sure I am using this benefit. If you got something in your tool belt and you don't use it then you are the problem. Lesson learned- Do the most with what you have.