Brent Baxter is a hit songwriter with cuts by Alan Jackson, Randy Travis, Lady Antebellum, Joe Nichols, Gord Bamford, Ruthie Collins, Ray Stevens, and more. He’s written a top 5 hit in the US and a #1 in Canada… so far.

Okay, let’s say you finally scored that cowrite with a pro writer. Congrats! Now don’t blow it. However, if you insist on messing up this opportunity to begin a cowriting relationship with a pro, here are 7 ways you can do it.

1. Be late.

Nothing says, “I’m not thankful for this opportunity” quite like being late or getting the time or date wrong. The pro is already NOT writing with one of his regular, trusted cowriters because he or his publisher scheduled you instead. Now the pro is not writing at all because he’s waiting on you to show up. Not a good start.

2. Be unprepared.

When you finally show up, make sure you have to borrow a pick. And a pen. And paper. Oh, and whatever you do, make sure you don’t have any ideas or melodies or grooves ready when the pro says, “got any ideas?” Of course you don’t have any ideas! You like to…

3. Take without giving.

Be sure and expect the pro to carry you. Don’t put yourself out there and really try to write something great. Basically try to sit quietly in the room while the pro writes the song and gives you half. And be sure and try to get the pro to hook you up with his contacts without offering any of yours.

4. Be arrogant.

You can also blow it by going to the other extreme. Try to impress the pro by always being right and making sure you write your idea and use all your lines. Run the show. After all, the pro has only had more success than you- what could he possibly add to your hit-in-progress? Let him just sit back and watch you work.

5. Talk trash.

This is especially awesome of you haven’t had any cuts yet. Bad mouth what’s on the radio and the writers who wrote those songs. If you’re lucky, they might be the pro’s friends, cowriters, or people he respects. Or artists who have recorded his songs, too. But you wouldn’t know that because you…

6. Don’t know who you’re writing with.

If you’re lucky, you can insult one of the pro’s songs without knowing it. Or maybe you can ask the pro, “hey, what have you written?” with is WAY more professional than a 2 minute Google search and being able to say something like, “congrats on that cut” or “man, I really love your song…” Remember, if you want to blow a pro cowrite, better to bruise an ego than stroke it.

7. Complain about the business.

Because you’re the only one who’s had disappointments. And because complaining is super productive. And because a negative attitude is SO attractive that the pro can’t wait to spend more time with you.

So there you go. 7 ways to blow a pro cowrite. Now, I can’t guarantee that pulling out just one or two of these tricks will doom your potential cowriting relationship. But I’d say the odds are pretty good of you being “one & done” if you hit ‘em with the right combo.

Good luck!

God Bless,

Brent