Like all SOCAN member, I regularly receive email newsletters, invitations to musical events of all kinds. A few days ago, one of these emails invited me to New songwriter's workshop , held in Montreal on September 26. Organized jointly with SOCAN and the Canadian Music Week, the seminar aims to provide songwriters with tips to strengthen job creation and promotion. I rarely read through these e-invitations that abound in my inbox, but this one tickled me from the first sentence, feeling he deserved special attention. So I went to my entry on the site, receiving a few hours later, all the event details. One detail to be mentioned at the bottom of this message was an invitation to songwriters and performers wishing to bring a CD of an original song to submit to "test bed" and receive feedback from professionals on site. Already, my heart was feverish. Everything started at noon. Leaving the station Vendôme, around 11 30 pm, I saw a man walking salt and pepper hair with a sure step. "Could you tell me where I can find this street? "I asked, pointing to the name of that street on the printed itinerary of my Google Map. The man replied: "Take the next right and then the left is the corner you will see a red brick building ... ... But do not hurry, one of the speakers was canceled at the last minute and we will be forced to begin the seminar at 13 am today. "Stunned, I asked him if we were talking about the same thing. He reassured me: "Yes, my name is Nxxx, I am the organizer of the event," he snapped, shaking my hand. Obviously, the man was a musician, his leather jacket with the image of the house of the Sabian percussion instruments confirmed. Dumbfounded, I walked up the nearest cafe to write some lines. There are those chances, sometimes! The seminar brought together
about a hundred (perhaps a bit less) singer-songwriters who, like me, had gone place to make the stuff and music recommendations for a more successful career. The first speaker, named Ralph Murphy, was nothing less than a veteran with a proven track record as a producer for the legendary Canadian band April Wine, but also as a songwriter for artists. This man I could not be more moved by his way of exposing sometimes crudely but with sensitivity, but the real issues necessary for the music industry. "It's not about the money, it's the money," he said, referring to the musical ideas that are ours. He then spoke of the emotional and psychological anguish the artist, the real. "We're all dysfunctional monumently" he snapped. The purpose seemed peremptory accents quasi-dramatic, but unanswerable. During the first hour, real chills through me, so I already regretted not having reported the incident to some friends songwriters.
later was thrown a DVD Janis Nixon, a marketing executive at Universal, who provided valuable advice (I weigh these words) on the marketing and promotion of musical works. I looked around the artists who listened, took notes and sometimes deposited their pencil, thoughtfully. It is true that many of the specialist about what had really thought.
The last part of the seminar was entirely devoted to hearing the demo of the artists. Because everything I had previously heard speakers was formulated in the language of Shakespeare, I had very little hope of hearing my song speaking, until I am informed it was a draw. In the last half hour of the seminar (which was a total of five hours), no French song had been selected - I thought, until some point, be the sole author of French language site. To my surprise, shortly before the end of the workshop, my name was finally got it. As for each of the selected candidates, we have heard a verse and a chorus of the song. Imagine the sensation of listening to resonate on its own composition of large loudspeakers in the presence of four professionals from the song and dozens of artists who aspire to the same thing as you: the sacred art appreciation! After hearing my song, people applauded warmly. An even stranger behind me tapped my shoulder and threw me in the middle of the chorus, a beautiful commentary on it. The first professional to comment on my piece was Gasoi Jennifer, a musician and writer acclaimed recordings for children, whose sensitivity and relevance of critics were impeccable. It was a question of details that I will not mention here because they go beyond the purpose of this post (do not worry, the comments were excellent!). Then Ralph Murphy spoke in turn. His words were more commercial potential of the song than anything else, which is not negligible. A few minutes later, ended this wonderful seminar.
While all were preparing to leave, I spoke with Jennifer Gasoi which reiterated his enthusiasm for my song. Strangely, I felt the feeling of knowing that person. I served him all my happiness to have been present, saying: "You've given lots of love today." Its transparency was striking because it does not hide his emotion when he heard what I said. It was the depth of a great soul. Then I greeted kindly Mr. Murphy covered it and thanks for all the thrills he has given me. "Oh Give me a hug!" he said with candor. This professional could not have been more placid and easy going . There are still people like that, simple but whose job is sure. They are people like him who multiplies my faith in the music industry. For, after all, this industry is us!
I am rarely out also cheered a music seminar. These specialists have the song talked about real things, not omitting to mention that a singer can encounter obstacles on the road. To help, the many tips on promotion via the Internet provided by Janis Nixon was one of the highlights of the meeting. Then, the charge on writing (there was talk of the importance of the arrangement of words, syllables, imagery, structures etc..) And, later, enumerating the limits of human hearing - the availability of the listener to listen a new song - formed, too, a compendium of invaluable.
We know that many people make music, and among these people are a lot of talent. While it is increasingly difficult for the best artists out of the lot of small artists. The hard work is the condition intrinsic to the success of a creator. That life keeps pounding in my head like a mantra, that last sentence is my faith so important!
My afternoon spent at New Songwriter's Workshop will long remain etched in my memory. The few good games that I've made have renewed my confidence in the profession and in this wonderful medium of song. I found only a shame we do not give more often this type of free workshop in Montreal.
To hear the song I submitted to Workshop, it is by here.
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