Muse, WordPlay

Wordplay Thursday #40

15 Comments

cropped-music_row_signs322.jpg

FREE GIFT

Hey, ya’ll! At the bottom of today’s post, I’m going to let you know about some free stuff I’m giving away to all of you great Man vs. Row subscribers. Now, on to today’s post…

Here’s a writing prompt for you. It’s a simple fill-in-the-blank. You can use one word or several. Feel free to get as crazy, genre-appropriate, or as imaginative as you want. The point is to get the creative juices flowing. And it’s a good thing to dig deeper, so don’t stop at the first idea that hits you. Try coming up with at least five things.

“My hometown’s smaller than __________.”

I’ll give you an example to get you started:

“My hometown’s smaller than a seed tick.”

I’d love to hear what you come up with, so please share in the comments. Oh, and please keep your posts below an R-rating. It’s a family show, after all!

SHOUT OUT!

Thanks to Steve, Jeff Green, Dionne Kumpe, Gary Snead, Barney Coulter, Janet Goodman, Mark Steven Brocke, Paul Alvin Harris, Pamela Talley Parker, Taylor Sappe, Tommy Kib, Rick Crook, Daren Neely, Linda Mckenzie, Jerry Childers, Vivian Hoskins and Matt Martoccio for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #39 (read it here)! Great job!

MAN VS. ROW… LIVE!

I’m excited to be speaking on song idea discovery and development at the 2014 Songwriting And Music Business Conference in Nashville, TN! Click the image below to find out more. I’d love to see you there!

2014 Conference Conference and Song School and City image Logo Image

FREE GIFT

As a way to say “thank you” to all of you who subscribe to Man vs. Row by email, I’m going to give away some cool stuff in July (2014). If you subscribe to MvR, I’ll send you a free report, “10 Things The Pro Knows.” I’ll also send you the guitar/vocal of “Crickets,” which is the title track of Joe Nichols’ current album. You’ll get to hear the song as Joe heard it when he decided to record it. You’ll also receive the lyric file of the song- and this lyric file includes “Baxter’s Boneyard” – all the lines that DIDN’T make it into the song (see if you agree with our choices). It’s something nobody else has seen, and I think it’s pretty cool. But, again, this gift is only for those who subscribe to Man vs. Row by E-MAIL. These gifts will be sent by email, so if I don’t have your email address, I can’t send it to you. God Bless!

FOLLOW AND SHARE THIS BLOG

Hey, ya’ll. If you like this blog, then make sure you don’t miss a single post. Subscribe by entering your email address in the “Follow Man vs. Row via E-mail” box either in the top righthand corner or down below. And I love it when you share this blog through facebook, Twitter, and wherever! Thanks!

Twitter: @Razorbaxter

Facebook: www.brentbaxtermusic.com

Instagram: Razorbaxter75

God Bless,

Brent

Biz

Songwriters, Plan Your Productivity

4 Comments

cropped-music_row_signs322.jpg

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

FREE GIFT

Hey, ya’ll! At the bottom of today’s post, I’m going to let you know about some free stuff I’m giving away to all of you great Man vs. Row subscribers. Now, on to today’s post…

Part of the fun of being a songwriter is that a lot of your time is a blank canvas waiting on you to decide which brushes you want to pick up.  It’s not like some jobs where you know, “I’m going to get to work at 8am and do this and that until 5pm every day until I quit, retire, get fired, or die of a heart attack.”

I definitely prefer the blank canvas.  But it comes with its own dangers.  The blank canvas doesn’t make you pick up any brushes.  It doesn’t tell you what you should be doing when you sit down to work.  You have to decide.

If you’re like me, you have limited time for your songwriting work.  Maybe you get up early, while the spouse and kids are still in bed, so you can do some dreamwork before you have to go to your jobwork.  Maybe it’s some free time on your lunch break.  Or maybe it’s after everyone else has gone to bed.

Unfortunately, it’s so easy to waste that precious little time with just deciding how to spend that time.  “Should I consolidate my hooks from the week into my hook book?  Should I find an idea to write?  Rewrite?  Do I set up publisher or pitch meetings?”

Deciding among these options- heck, just figuring out what your options are- can seriously eat into your time.  Or maybe you never really decide- you just hop from one shiny object to another without any plan or direction.  (“How’d I end up reading this blog about the top ten running backs in Arkansas Razorback history?”)

My time is mostly in the morning while Em, Ozzy, and Ruby Jean are still in bed.  However, I’m not at my sharpest first thing in the morning.  So I’ve learned that, to be my most productive, I need to plan my productivity.  So that means I’ve started keeping a running task list.  As I’m driving around and working during the day, I think about what I need to do over the next few days.  That way, when I’m still a little foggy in the AM, I just reference my list, pick the highest priority and get to work.  This also works if Em and Ozzy take a nap or if Em goes to bed early- I can get my list and hopefully knock something out in that “bonus time.”

I HIGHLY recommend that you keep a task or “to do” list handy while you’re at your non-songwriting job.  ‘Cuz let’s face it- you’re probably thinking about it while you’re at work, anyway.  Don’t lose those moments where an idea hits you- whether a song idea or a to-do idea.

When you maximize your productive time, you maximize your chance of success.

God Bless,

Brent

MAN VS. ROW… LIVE!

I’m excited to be speaking on song idea discovery and development at the 2014 Songwriting And Music Business Conference in Nashville, TN! Click the image below to find out more. I’d love to see you there!

2014 Conference Conference and Song School and City image Logo Image

FREE GIFT

As a way to say “thank you” to all of you who subscribe to Man vs. Row by email, I’m going to give away some cool stuff in July (2014). If you subscribe to MvR, I’ll send you a free report, “10 Things The Pro Knows.” I’ll also send you the guitar/vocal of “Crickets,” which is the title track of Joe Nichols’ current album. You’ll get to hear the song as Joe heard it when he decided to record it. You’ll also receive the lyric file of the song- and this lyric file includes “Baxter’s Boneyard” – all the lines that DIDN’T make it into the song (see if you agree with our choices). It’s something nobody else has seen, and I think it’s pretty cool. But, again, this gift is only for those who subscribe to Man vs. Row by E-MAIL. These gifts will be sent by email, so if I don’t have your email address, I can’t send it to you. God Bless!

YOU VS…

Anything you’d like to add?  Leave a comment!

FOLLOW AND SHARE THIS BLOG

If you like this blog, don’t miss a single post!  Subscribe by putting your email in the “Follow Man vs. Row via E-mail” section on this page.  It’s either in the upper righthand corner or down below.   Also, please share this blog with anyone you think would benefit from it.  I appreciate it when you share it on Twitter, Facebook, and anywhere else.  Thanks!

Brent’s Twitter: @Razorbaxter

Brent Baxter Music:  http://www.brentbaxtermusic.com

Brent’s Instagram: Razorbaxter75

Craft

Rhyming The Line Before The Chorus

4 Comments

cropped-music_row_signs322.jpg

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

FREE GIFT

Hey, ya’ll! At the bottom of today’s post, I’m going to let you know about some free stuff I’m giving away to all of you great Man vs. Row subscribers.  Now, on to today’s post…

The line right before the chorus is one of the most important lines in your song- it sets up the chorus and helps determine the impact the top of the chorus has on the listener. (In basketball terms, you could say the last line of the verse or pre-chorus throws up the alley-oop so the chorus can dunk it.)

But sometimes that line, instead of serving the song or chorus, is trapped into serving the rhyme that comes before it. For example, a writer can get too focused on, “The line above ends in ‘blue’ so I have to write the next line so it ends with an ‘oo’ sound.” This can result in a line that’s weaker than it should be.

To avoid this trap, I’ll often figure out the IDEA of the set-up line, but intentionally leave it unrhymed before moving on to the last line of the chorus. I’d rather have the more important line dictate the rhyme of the less important line. This frees me up to focus on finding the strongest idea for the last line of the verse- on finding the best idea and figuring out the best way to say it. After I have that figured out, I can go back to the set-up line and figure that one out. Hope that helps!

God Bless,

Brent

MAN VS. ROW… LIVE!

I’m excited to be speaking on song idea discovery and development at the 2014 Songwriting And Music Business Conference in Nashville, TN! Click the image below to find out more. I’d love to see you there!

2014 Conference Conference and Song School and City image Logo Image

FREE GIFT

As a way to say “thank you” to all of you who subscribe to Man vs. Row by email, I’m going to give away some cool stuff in July (2014).  If you subscribe to MvR, I’ll send you a free report, “10 Things The Pro Knows.”  I’ll also send you the guitar/vocal of “Crickets,” which is the title track of Joe Nichols’ current album.  You’ll get to hear the song as Joe heard it when he decided to record it.  You’ll also receive the lyric file of the song- and this lyric file includes “Baxter’s Boneyard” – all the lines that DIDN’T make it into the song (see if you agree with our choices).  It’s something nobody else has seen, and I think it’s pretty cool.  But, again, this gift is only for those who subscribe to Man vs. Row by E-MAIL.  These gifts will be sent by email, so if I don’t have your email address, I can’t send it to you.  God Bless!

YOU VS…

Anything you’d like to add or ask?  Leave a comment!  Are there any topics  you’d like to see addressed in a future MvR post?  Thanks!

FOLLOW AND SHARE THIS BLOG

If you like this blog, don’t miss a single post!  Subscribe by putting your email in the “Follow Man vs. Row via E-mail” section on this page.  It’s either in the upper righthand corner or down below.   Also, please share this blog with anyone you think would benefit from it.  I appreciate it when you share it on Twitter, Facebook, and anywhere else.  Thanks!

Brent’s Twitter: @Razorbaxter

Brent Baxter Music:  http://www.brentbaxtermusic.com

Brent’s Instagram: Razorbaxter75

Muse, WordPlay

Wordplay Thursday #39

23 Comments

cropped-music_row_signs322.jpg

FREE GIFT

Hey, ya’ll! At the bottom of today’s post, I’m going to let you know about some free stuff I’m giving away to all of you great Man vs. Row subscribers. Now, on to today’s post…

Here’s a writing prompt for you. It’s a simple fill-in-the-blank. You can use one word or several. Feel free to get as crazy, genre-appropriate, or as imaginative as you want. The point is to get the creative juices flowing. And it’s a good thing to dig deeper, so don’t stop at the first idea that hits you. Try coming up with at least five things.

“The dancefloor was hopping like __________.”

I’ll give you an example to get you started:

“The dancefloor was hopping like grease in a skillet.”

I’d love to hear what you come up with, so please share in the comments. Oh, and please keep your posts below an R-rating. It’s a family show, after all!

SHOUT OUT!

Thanks to Matt Martoccio, Janet Goodman, Barney Coulter, tri4balance, Willa Thompson, and Jerry Childers for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #38 (read it here)! Great job!

FREE GIFT

As a way to say “thank you” to all of you who subscribe to Man vs. Row by email, I’m going to give away some cool stuff in July (2014). If you subscribe to MvR, I’ll send you a free report, “10 Things The Pro Knows.” I’ll also send you the guitar/vocal of “Crickets,” which is the title track of Joe Nichols’ current album. You’ll get to hear the song as Joe heard it when he decided to record it. You’ll also receive the lyric file of the song- and this lyric file includes “Baxter’s Boneyard” – all the lines that DIDN’T make it into the song (see if you agree with our choices). It’s something nobody else has seen, and I think it’s pretty cool. But, again, this gift is only for those who subscribe to Man vs. Row by E-MAIL. These gifts will be sent by email, so if I don’t have your email address, I can’t send it to you. God Bless!

FOLLOW AND SHARE THIS BLOG

Hey, ya’ll. If you like this blog, then make sure you don’t miss a single post. Subscribe by entering your email address in the “Follow Man vs. Row via E-mail” box either in the top righthand corner or down below. And I love it when you share this blog through facebook, Twitter, and wherever! Thanks!

Twitter: @Razorbaxter

Facebook: www.brentbaxtermusic.com

Instagram: Razorbaxter75

God Bless,

Brent

Biz

Success, Drip By D.R.I.P.

Leave a comment

cropped-music_row_signs322.jpg

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

FREE GIFT

Hey, ya’ll! At the bottom of today’s post, I’m going to let you know about some free stuff I’m giving away to all of you great Man vs. Row subscribers. Now, on to today’s post…

Success is not an overnight explosion- regardless of how an “overnight success” might be viewed by others.  No, success is usually more like water wearing away a stone, drip by drip.  It’s little things making a big difference over time.

So let’s look at the DRIP method of success:

D – Discipline

It’s doing the difficult things, things which require discipline in the first place. It’s getting up early to write.  Or skipping your XBOX time to work on some new chord progressions.  It’s making that uncertain phonecall.

R – Repetition

It’s the repetition of doing the right things consistently- not just once or sporadically.  It’s doing the right things over and over again, day after day, month after month, and year after year.

I – Integrity

Being dishonest or dishonorable might win in the short term (sometimes).  But the music business is a relationship business, and word will get around.  If you don’t have integrity- if people don’t feel they can trust you, you will become isolated, and you won’t have those important strong relationships.

P – Purpose

Purpose is two-fold.  First, you need to know why you’re running this marathon.  If you don’t have a strong sense of purpose, it’s very easy to quit.  Secondly, you must act with purpose.  Keeping your purpose (goals, etc.) in mind helps you figure out what the important tasks are- the tasks which require disciple, repetition, and integrity.

God Bless,

Brent

MAN VS. ROW… LIVE!

I’m excited to be speaking on song idea discovery and development at the 2014 Songwriting And Music Business Conference in Nashville, TN! Click the image below to find out more. I’d love to see you there!

2014 Conference Conference and Song School and City image Logo Image

FREE GIFT

As a way to say “thank you” to all of you who subscribe to Man vs. Row by email, I’m going to give away some cool stuff in July (2014). If you subscribe to MvR, I’ll send you a free report, “10 Things The Pro Knows.” I’ll also send you the guitar/vocal of “Crickets,” which is the title track of Joe Nichols’ current album. You’ll get to hear the song as Joe heard it when he decided to record it. You’ll also receive the lyric file of the song- and this lyric file includes “Baxter’s Boneyard” – all the lines that DIDN’T make it into the song (see if you agree with our choices). It’s something nobody else has seen, and I think it’s pretty cool. But, again, this gift is only for those who subscribe to Man vs. Row by E-MAIL. These gifts will be sent by email, so if I don’t have your email address, I can’t send it to you. God Bless!

YOU VS…

Anything you’d like to add or ask?  Leave a comment!  Are there any topics  you’d like to see addressed in a future MvR post?  Thanks!

FOLLOW AND SHARE THIS BLOG

If you like this blog, don’t miss a single post!  Subscribe by putting your email in the “Follow Man vs. Row via E-mail” section on this page.  It’s either in the upper righthand corner or down below.   Also, please share this blog with anyone you think would benefit from it.  I appreciate it when you share it on Twitter, Facebook, and anywhere else.  Thanks!

Brent’s Twitter: @Razorbaxter

Brent Baxter Music:  http://www.brentbaxtermusic.com

Brent’s Instagram: Razorbaxter75

Cowriting

Writing With A Hit Songwriter Is NOT A Magic Bullet

17 Comments

cropped-music_row_signs322.jpg

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

FREE GIFT

Hey, ya’ll! At the bottom of today’s post, I’m going to let you know about some free stuff I’m giving away to all of you great Man vs. Row subscribers.  Now, on to today’s post…

I know as a (former) amateur songwriter hoping to go pro how easy it is to think that writing with a hit songwriter could solve everything. It’s tempting to think that just by getting in a room with a pro that it’ll change your world and you’ll be on your way to a hit. Well, let me tell ya something…

I ALWAYS have a hit songwriter in the room … ME … and most of my songs still don’t get cut.

Sure, there are advantages to writing with a pro or a signed artist, but there is no magic bullet. Not if you want to build a songwriting career. Sure, you may get into a room to “write up” with a hit writer. And you might even write a really good song. But one really good song doesn’t mean much in the long run (read more about this in my post “The Song.”)

Sure, there are ways to be wise and efficient and give yourself a better chance of success, but there is no escape hatch that lets you avoid hard work- not if you want to be great over the long haul.  So pack a lunch and plan for this to take a while.  Work hard, work smart, and enjoy the journey.

God Bless,

Brent

MAN VS. ROW… LIVE!

I’m excited to be speaking on song idea discovery and development at the 2014 Songwriting And Music Business Conference in Nashville, TN!  Click the image below to find out more.  I’d love to see you there!

2014 Conference Conference and Song School and City image Logo Image

FREE GIFT

As a way to say “thank you” to all of you who subscribe to Man vs. Row by email, I’m going to give away some cool stuff in July (2014).  If you subscribe to MvR, I’ll send you a free report, “10 Things The Pro Knows.”  I’ll also send you the guitar/vocal of “Crickets,” which is the title track of Joe Nichols’ current album.  You’ll get to hear the song as Joe heard it when he decided to record it.  You’ll also receive the lyric file of the song- and this lyric file includes “Baxter’s Boneyard” – all the lines that DIDN’T make it into the song (see if you agree with our choices).  It’s something nobody else has seen, and I think it’s pretty cool.  But, again, this gift is only for those who subscribe to Man vs. Row by E-MAIL.  These gifts will be sent by email, so if I don’t have your email address, I can’t send it to you.  God Bless!

YOU VS…

Anything you’d like to add or ask?  Leave a comment!  Are there any topics  you’d like to see addressed in a future MvR post?  Thanks!

FOLLOW AND SHARE THIS BLOG

If you like this blog, don’t miss a single post!  Subscribe by putting your email in the “Follow Man vs. Row via E-mail” section on this page.  It’s either in the upper righthand corner or down below.   Also, please share this blog with anyone you think would benefit from it.  I appreciate it when you share it on Twitter, Facebook, and anywhere else.  Thanks!

Brent’s Twitter: @Razorbaxter

Brent Baxter Music:  http://www.brentbaxtermusic.com

Brent’s Instagram: Razorbaxter75

MvR Community

Today Is YOUR Day!

42 Comments

cropped-music_row_signs322.jpg

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

FREE GIFT

Hey, ya’ll! At the bottom of today’s post, I’m going to let you know about some free stuff I’m giving away to all of you great Man vs. Row subscribers.  Now, on to today’s post…

I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for being part of the MvR community and especially for joining the conversation by leaving a comment or question on a post or by putting your creativity on display with Wordplay Thursday.  It’s always such a good feeling to see that something I’ve written has prompted some sort of response, whether a “thank you,” a followup question, or even a disagreement.  So, again, thank you.

I want today to be all about you.

Though I know some of you from “the real world,” I’d love it if you’d take a moment to post a comment and introduce yourself.  Tell us anything you’d like us to know- if you’re a songwriter or singer/songwriter (or neither), how long you’ve been writing, day job vs. full-time creative, goals, genre, a bit about your musical journey, or family life.  Tell us whatever you want.  And feel free to leave a link to your website if you have one.

Today, let’s celebrate you.

God Bless,

Brent

FREE GIFT

As a way to say “thank you” to all of you who subscribe to Man vs. Row by email, I’m going to give away some cool stuff in July (2014).  If you subscribe to MvR, I’ll send you a free report, “10 Things The Pro Knows.”  I’ll also send you the guitar/vocal of “Crickets,” which is the title track of Joe Nichols’ current album.  You’ll get to hear the song as Joe heard it when he decided to record it.  You’ll also receive the lyric file of the song- and this lyric file includes “Baxter’s Boneyard” – all the lines that DIDN’T make it into the song (see if you agree with our choices).  It’s something nobody else has seen, and I think it’s pretty cool.  But, again, this gift is only for those who subscribe to Man vs. Row by E-MAIL.  These gifts will be sent by email, so if I don’t have your email address, I can’t send it to you.  God Bless!

FOLLOW AND SHARE THIS BLOG

If you like this blog, don’t miss a single post!  Subscribe by putting your email in the “Follow Man vs. Row via E-mail” section on this page.  It’s either in the upper righthand corner or down below.   Also, please share this blog with anyone you think would benefit from it.  I appreciate it when you share it on Twitter, Facebook, and anywhere else.  Thanks!

Brent’s Twitter: @Razorbaxter

Brent Baxter Music:  http://www.brentbaxtermusic.com

Instagram: Razorbaxter75

Muse, WordPlay

Wordplay Thursday #38

8 Comments

cropped-music_row_signs322.jpg

FREE GIFT

Hey, ya’ll! At the bottom of today’s post, I’m going to let you know about some free stuff I’m giving away to all of you great Man vs. Row subscribers. Now, on to today’s post…

Here’s a writing prompt for you. It’s a simple fill-in-the-blank. You can use one word or several. Feel free to get as crazy, genre-appropriate, or as imaginative as you want. The point is to get the creative juices flowing. And it’s a good thing to dig deeper, so don’t stop at the first idea that hits you. Try coming up with at least five things.

“She’s as generous as __________.”

I’ll give you an example to get you started:

“She’s as generous as a raincloud during hurricane season.”

I’d love to hear what you come up with, so please share in the comments. Oh, and please keep your posts below an R-rating. It’s a family show, after all!

SHOUT OUT!

Thanks to everyone for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #37 (read it here)! Great job!

FREE GIFT

As a way to say “thank you” to all of you who subscribe to Man vs. Row by email, I’m going to give away some cool stuff in July (2014). If you subscribe to MvR, I’ll send you a free report, “10 Things The Pro Knows.” I’ll also send you the guitar/vocal of “Crickets,” which is the title track of Joe Nichols’ current album. You’ll get to hear the song as Joe heard it when he decided to record it. You’ll also receive the lyric file of the song- and this lyric file includes “Baxter’s Boneyard” – all the lines that DIDN’T make it into the song (see if you agree with our choices). It’s something nobody else has seen, and I think it’s pretty cool. But, again, this gift is only for those who subscribe to Man vs. Row by E-MAIL. These gifts will be sent by email, so if I don’t have your email address, I can’t send it to you. God Bless!

FOLLOW AND SHARE THIS BLOG

Hey, ya’ll. If you like this blog, then make sure you don’t miss a single post. Subscribe by entering your email address in the “Follow Man vs. Row via E-mail” box either in the top righthand corner or down below. And I love it when you share this blog through facebook, Twitter, and wherever! Thanks!

Twitter: @Razorbaxter

Facebook: www.brentbaxtermusic.com

God Bless,

Brent

Biz, Cowriting

Win The Song, Lose The Cowriter

9 Comments

cropped-music_row_signs322.jpg

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

FREE GIFT

Hey, ya’ll! At the bottom of today’s post, I’m going to let you know about some free stuff I’m giving away to all of you great Man vs. Row subscribers.  Now, on to today’s post…

When you write with an artist, whether a local artist or a major-label artist, don’t be so focused on getting a great song that the artist has a terrible time.  Yes, you want to write the best song possible, but you don’t want to lose the cowriting relationship over it.  Think long-term.

Remember that not all artists are natural writers who are in it for the grind of the song.  However, some artists ARE writers and are willing to take as much time as they need for the song to get right.  It’s important to pay attention to which type of artist is in the writing room with you.

If the artist is really digging what you’re working on, be careful about grinding so hard for perfection that the artist hates your face by the end of the day.  This is especially true on your first cowrite.  Do your homework- bring in a strong idea or melody, but most of all… be likable!  I believe you’ll have a better chance of getting back on the books with the artist with a good song and a great time than with a great song and an awful time.  ‘Cuz even if you push to something great (but the artist thinks you’re a jerk), he is likely to avoid you in the future.  There are just other people the artist can work with that are both really good writers AND a really good hang.

I’m not talking about being an insincere suckup.  Just make sure both the song and the experience of writing the song are both as enjoyable as possible.

God Bless,

Brent

FREE GIFT

As a way to say “thank you” to all of you who subscribe to Man vs. Row by email, I’m going to give away some cool stuff in July (2014).  If you subscribe to MvR, I’ll send you a free report, “10 Things The Pro Knows.”  I’ll also send you the guitar/vocal of “Crickets,” which is the title track of Joe Nichols’ current album.  You’ll get to hear the song as Joe heard it when he decided to record it.  You’ll also receive the lyric file of the song- and this lyric file includes “Baxter’s Boneyard” – all the lines that DIDN’T make it into the song (see if you agree with our choices).  It’s something nobody else has seen, and I think it’s pretty cool.  But, again, this gift is only for those who subscribe to Man vs. Row by E-MAIL.  These gifts will be sent by email, so if I don’t have your email address, I can’t send it to you.  God Bless!

YOU VS…

Anything you’d like to add or ask?  Leave a comment!  Are there any topics  you’d like to see addressed in a future MvR post?  Thanks!

FOLLOW AND SHARE THIS BLOG

If you like this blog, don’t miss a single post!  Subscribe by putting your email in the “Follow Man vs. Row via E-mail” section on this page.  It’s either in the upper righthand corner or down below.   Also, please share this blog with anyone you think would benefit from it.  I appreciate it when you share it on Twitter, Facebook, and anywhere else.  Thanks!

Brent’s Twitter: @Razorbaxter

Brent Baxter Music:  http://www.brentbaxtermusic.com

Biz, Craft

Things I Say “No” To

13 Comments

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

Two weeks ago, I discussed where I say “yes” to putting my time.  You can read it by clicking <HERE.>  Here’s the flip side of that coin – the things that maybe I used to say yes to, but now I usually can’t.  And none of these things are bad in and of themselves.  I just can’t say “yes” to everything.  This list might be useful when you’re deciding where to spend YOUR time.

1. Unsigned artists.

So few artists ever get signed, and I have so little time, that I just can’t invest for a few years on something with so little chance of success – especially when it would mean taking up time I could be spending with a signed artist.  I wish I could write when more unsigned artists (I know some great ones), but I just can’t right now.  A few exceptions are a couple of close friends (who rock, work their backsides off and cut our songs).

2. Random cowrites.

I’ve had to put off writing with several of my regular cowriters because of time constraints- friends with whom I expect to get good results.  So it sure doesn’t make sense to sit down with a stranger- unless I have good reason to think they fit one of the things that make me say “yes.”

3. Non-commercial songwriting.

I’m trying to earn enough in royalties to “buy” my way back into full-time writing.  I have to focus on where I have the best chance to make the most money.

It’s not easy to say “no.”  There are times I feel like a jerk, and there are probably people who think I AM a jerk for saying “no.”  But I can’t let that determine my decisions.  I have to do what’s best for me and my family in the long-term.  And let me be clear- what you might want to say “no” to is not necessarily going to be the same things I say “no” to.  Each situation is different.   If you’re going to be successful (and as you become more successful), you’re going to have to say, “no,” too.  Just try and be honest and graceful when you have to turn down an opportunity.

God Bless,

Brent

YOU VS…

Anything you’d like to add or ask?  Leave a comment!  Are there any topics  you’d like to see addressed in a future MvR post?  Thanks!

FOLLOW AND SHARE THIS BLOG

If you like this blog, don’t miss a single post!  Subscribe by putting your email in the “Follow Man vs. Row via E-mail” section on this page.  It’s either in the upper righthand corner or down below.   Also, please share this blog with anyone you think would benefit from it.  I appreciate it when you share it on Twitter, Facebook, and anywhere else.  Thanks!

Brent’s Twitter: @Razorbaxter

Brent Baxter Music:  http://www.brentbaxtermusic.com

Helping songwriters turn pro.