Category Archives: Muse

These posts are meant to inspire.

Muse, WordPlay

Wordplay Thursday #66

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Wordplay Thursday

Welcome to Wordplay Thursday!

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.

“He’s about as considerate as _____.”

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

“He’s about as considerate as termites.”

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 Debie, Kelder54, Barney Coulter, Janet Goodman, Ken Matthiesen, Jeff Green, brianrobinson63, Bill Soprano, Amy Nichols, Roger Vines, LV Johnson and everyone else for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #65 (read it here)! Great job!

THE PRO KNOWS

To BE a pro, you need to THINK like a pro. In this complimentary report, learn the mindsets that help the pro songwriter get cuts, earn respect in the industry, and maintain long-term success in the music business. Just click on the picture below to download this complimentary report today!

The Pro Knows

BECOME AN MVR VIP!

If you like this blog and don’t want to miss a single post, or if you want special discounts on Man vs. Row products and services, become an MvR VIP! Simply enter your email in the “Become an MvR VIP” 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!

Twitter: @Razorbaxter

Facebook: www.brentbaxtermusic.com

Instagram: Man_vs_Row

God Bless,

Brent

Biz, Muse

Boo! Songwriting Vampires, Zombies & Werewolves

5 Comments

Man vs Row

Brent Baxter 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.

In the spirit of Halloween, I figure now is a good time to warn you about a few of the ghouls who prey upon unsuspecting songwriters.

Beware…

VAMPIRES

There are people out there who will suck the life out of your dreams. Dwelling in (and on) the darkness, these predators never see the bright side or the silver living. Little by little, their biting comments slowly bleed you of your hope and optimism (“What makes you so special?” “Oh, the music biz is rigged- you’ll never make it.”). They might look like your friends, but they are dead inside. Avoid these vampires- once their negative, pessimistic attitudes sinks its teeth into you, you start to become one of them.

ZOMBIES

They are among us, and their number is legion. They shuffle off to their soul-sucking day jobs like a mindless herd. They never dream. They just respond to whatever happens to be in front of them. They stagger back home and sit mindlessly in front of a TV or computer screen for hours feasting upon whatever catches their eye (“lights… sooo… preeetttyy…) It’s easy to turn into a zombie because being a zombie means doing the easy, numb, thoughtless thing. Spend too much of your time with the zombies and you’ll wake up one day to realize you’ve been sleepwalking through life.

WEREWOLVES

If you want songwriting success, you must avoid running with a pack of werewolves. These are folks who only “turn into” songwriters about once a month. The majority of the time, you’d never suspect they have that hidden side. They think they can just go about “normal life” for a few weeks, then suddenly unleash their inner songwriter for a night or two and somehow make a killing in the music business. No, the music biz is not so easily tamed. You can’t just go into beast mode on rare occasions and create a career. You need to run with a pack that is ALWAYS hungry and ALWAYS hunting. Don’t be a werewolf. Be a REAL wolf.

What about you?  What are some songwriting ghouls that you have encountered?  I’d love to hear from you!

Happy HOWLoween!

Brent

THE PRO KNOWS

To BE a pro, you need to THINK like a pro. In this complimentary report, learn the mindsets that help the pro songwriter get cuts, earn respect in the industry, and maintain long-term success in the music business. Just click on the picture below to download this complimentary report today!

The Pro Knows

Become an MvR VIP!

If you like this blog and don’t want to miss a single post, or if you want special discounts on Man vs. Row products and services, become an MvR VIP!  Simply enter your email in the “Become an MvR VIP” 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: Man_vs_Row

Muse, WordPlay

Wordplay Thursday #65

12 Comments

Wordplay Thursday

Welcome to Wordplay Thursday!

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.

“That river runs lazier than _____.”

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

“That river runs lazier than a Sunday afternoon nap.”

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, Ken Matthiesen, Dionne Kumpe, Debbie Convoy, Janet Goodman, Ross Hemsworth, Jeff Green, Amy Nichols, theresavesnesky, Willa Thompson, terrygene, Bruce Singer, David Ayers, Matt Martoccio & Zowie Clarke for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #64 (read it here)! Great job!

Tonight- Learn How To Make Your Songs More Cut-Worthy!

You’re invited to be a part of an exclusive ONLINE Google Hangout I’ll be hosting on Thursday, October 23, from 8pm-9pm Central. That’s tonight! In this live event, I’ll teach from my new book, “Cut/able: Lessons In Market-Smart Songwriting.” Not only will you receive a FREE copy of “Cut/able” with your ticket, I’ll answer your questions face-to-face as we discus how you can make your songs more market-smart. Space is very limited, so click on the image below to find out more! (Or click here.)

MvR Top 10 2

BECOME AN MVR VIP!

If you like this blog and don’t want to miss a single post, or if you want special discounts on Man vs. Row products and services, become an MvR VIP! Simply enter your email in the “Become an MvR VIP” 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!

Twitter: @Razorbaxter

Facebook: www.brentbaxtermusic.com

Instagram: Man_vs_Row

God Bless,

Brent

Muse

How To Keep Your Head In The Songwriting Game

1 Comment

Man vs Row

If you’re a professional songwriter living in Nashville, it’s pretty easy to keep your head in the game. It’s really easy to keep your goals in mind because it’s in your face every day.
That’s very much NOT the case if you’re working a regular job in another town. Add to that any family obligations you may have, and it can be pretty easy to stop thinking like a songwriter. One day you might look up and realize it’s been two months or more since you’ve really even picked up the pen or guitar.
Yes, there are natural ebbs and flows to the creative life. And, yes, there are times when family needs will limit your writing time (I couldn’t do any co-writing for about 3 months right after Ruby Jean was born and Emily needed me at home every night). Hey, stuff happens.
I suggest keeping your head in the game by appointment and subscription.

APPOINTMENTS:

Cowriting:

I don’t just start thinking about my cowrite as I’m walking in the door of the writer’s room. I’m thinking about it ahead of time. The appointment forces me to spend time gathering ideas, prepping, etc.

Solo Writing:

It’s very easy to skip out on solo writing in the midst of daily life. Try to have a standing appointment with yourself, even if it’s just every other week. Hopefully, you’ll find some other times, too. But if nothing else, you (and your family) know that “every other Thursday night” is your writing time.

SUBSCRIPTIONS:

Blogs:

Get informed, educated, entertained and inspired- all from your inbox. I humbly suggest Man vs. Row, but there are several other good blogs, too.

Podcasts:

I haven’t found an abundance of songwriting podcasts, but I can recommend Daredevil Productions and Life In The Woods. Podcasts are great for your commute to and from work.

YouTube:

Try Rick Barker’s “25 Minutes From Nashville.” It’s good stuff from a guy who has had a hand in a lot of success.  There are other channels out there, too.  Just look around.

Magazines:

Check out American Songwriter and Music Row Magazine, among others. Turn the hall bathroom into your own personal “inspiration zone.”

What about you? How do you keep your head in the game?

God Bless,

Brent

This Thursday- Learn How To Make Your Songs More Cut-Worthy!

You’re invited to be a part of an exclusive ONLINE Google Hangout I’ll be hosting on Thursday, October 23, from 8pm-9pm Central. That’s this week! In this live event, I’ll teach from my new book, “Cut/able: Lessons In Market-Smart Songwriting.” Not only will you receive a FREE copy of “Cut/able” with your ticket, I’ll answer your questions face-to-face as we discus how you can make your songs more market-smart. Space is very limited, so click on the image below to find out more! (Or click here.)

MvR Top 10 2

Become an MvR VIP!

If you like this blog and don’t want to miss a single post, or if you want special discounts on Man vs. Row products and services, become an MvR VIP!  Simply enter your email in the “Become an MvR VIP” 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: Man_vs_Row

Muse, WordPlay

Wordplay Thursday #64

16 Comments

Wordplay Thursday

Welcome to Wordplay Thursday!

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 closet is messier than _____.”

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

“My closet is messier than a rockstar’s divorce.”

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 Jeff Green, Roger Vines, Janet Goodman, Jeff840, Dan Retz, theresavenesky Willa Thompson, Ken Matthiesen, and terrygene for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #63 (read it here)! Great job!

Oct. 23: JOIN MAN VS. ROW IN THE TOP 10!

You’re invited to be a part of an exclusive Google Hangout I’ll be hosting on Thursday, October 23, from 8pm-9pm Central. In this live event, I’ll teach from my new book, “Cut/able: Lessons In Market-Smart Songwriting.” Not only will you receive a FREE copy of “Cut/able” with your ticket, I’ll answer YOUR questions face-to-face as we discus how YOU can make your songs more market-smart. Space is very limited, so click on the image below to find out more! (Or click here.)

MvR Top 10 2

BECOME AN MVR VIP!

If you like this blog and don’t want to miss a single post, or if you want special discounts on Man vs. Row products and services, become an MvR VIP! Simply enter your email in the “Become an MvR VIP” 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!

Twitter: @Razorbaxter

Facebook: www.brentbaxtermusic.com

Instagram: Man_vs_Row

God Bless,

Brent

Muse, WordPlay

Wordplay Thursday #63

11 Comments

Wordplay Thursday

Welcome to Wordplay Thursday!

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 margaritas had her buzzing like _____.”

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

“The margaritas had her buzzing like the blender she made ’em in.”

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, Dan Retz, Matt Martoccio, Roger Vines, Dana Russell, Todd Storinge, Mae Young, Barney Coulter, Janet Goodman, and Willa Thompson for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #62 (read it here)! Great job- you folks are funny!

LIVE WEB-WORKSHOP! ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR SONGS TO BE “CUT/ABLE?”

“Cut/Able: Lessons In Market-Smart Songwriting,” is four powerful lessons for songwriters who want cuts & hits, who want to learn how to write commercially marketable songs, & who want their songs to connect powerfully with both fans and Music Row pros. If you want those results, these lessons can help.

As part of the release of “Cut/able,” I’m hosting a live web-event where I’ll answer questions and provide extra content from “Cut/able.”  You’ll also receive a copy of “Cut/able” FREE with your ticket (a $20 value).  The web-shop is on Thursday, October 23, 2014 from 8pm-9pm Central.  Click on the image below to find out more!

MvR Top 10 2

BECOME AN MVR VIP!

If you like this blog and don’t want to miss a single post, or if you want special discounts on Man vs. Row products and services, become an MvR VIP! Simply enter your email in the “Become an MvR VIP” 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!

Twitter: @Razorbaxter

Facebook: www.brentbaxtermusic.com

Instagram: Man_vs_Row

God Bless,

Brent

Muse, WordPlay

Wordplay Thursday #62 “Skunk On A Plane”

12 Comments

Wordplay Thursday

Welcome to Wordplay Thursday!

Let’s mix things up a little this week.  Growing up, I was a fan of Weird Al Yankovic (heck, I guess I’m still a fan, really).  As a word guy, I loved writing parodies of songs.  It was great creative training, though I didn’t know that then.  It gave me practice writing words that fit a certain phrasing and melody, and I got to make up funny stories.  Good times.

So here’s today’s writing prompt.  Let’s write a parody.  Or at least a few lines.  Don’t feel like you have to do the whole song.  Just do whatever you have the time or inclination for.  It’s just a fun creative exercise.

Today, let’s write a parody of:

“Drunk On A Plane” by Dierks Bentley

You can write about anything, but here’s a suggestion:

“Skunk On A Plane”

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 tri4balance, Bill Soprano, Nila, Roger Vines, Jim King, Barney Coulter, Robert Sans, Matt Martoccio, Dana Russell, Todd Storinge, Janet Goodman, Michael Flanigan, James Mitchell, Debbie Convoy, Lance Sims, Julie, and theresavesnesky for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #61 (read it here)! Great job!

THE PRO KNOWS

To BE a pro, you need to THINK like a pro. In this complimentary report, learn the mindsets that help the pro songwriter get cuts, earn respect in the industry, and maintain long-term success in the music business. Just click on the picture below to download this complimentary report today!

The Pro Knows

 

BECOME AN MVR VIP!

If you like this blog and don’t want to miss a single post, or if you want special discounts on Man vs. Row products and services, become an MvR VIP! Simply enter your email in the “Become an MvR VIP” section at www.manvsrow.com. It’s either in the upper righthand corner of the site or at the bottom (mobile). 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!

Twitter: @Razorbaxter

Facebook: www.brentbaxtermusic.com

Instagram: Man_vs_Row

God Bless,

Brent

Muse, WordPlay

Wordplay Thursday #61

22 Comments

Wordplay Thursday

Welcome to Wordplay Thursday!

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 heart beat faster than _____.”

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

“My heart beat faster than hummingbird wings.”

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 Andrew Clayton, Matt Martoccio, John Shouse, Ken Matthiesen, Barney Coulter, David Micheal, James Mitchell, Debbie Convoy, Michael & Mikalyn Hay, Mae Young, Janet Goodman, Willa Thompson, and Dana Russell for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #60 (read it here)! Great job!

THE PRO KNOWS

To BE a pro, you need to THINK like a pro. In this complimentary report, learn the mindsets that help the pro songwriter get cuts, earn respect in the industry, and maintain long-term success in the music business. Just click on the picture below to download this complimentary report today!

The Pro Knows

 

BECOME AN MVR VIP!

If you like this blog and don’t want to miss a single post, or if you want special discounts on Man vs. Row products and services, become an MvR VIP! Simply enter your email in the “Become an MvR VIP” section at www.manvsrow.com. It’s either in the upper righthand corner of the site or at the bottom (mobile). 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!

Twitter: @Razorbaxter

Facebook: www.brentbaxtermusic.com

Instagram: Man_vs_Row

God Bless,

Brent

Muse

Don’t Fall For The Facebook Fantasy

6 Comments

Man vs Row

It’s easy to get frustrated by facebook.

You scroll through your feed, and it seems like everyone in Nashville is:

“Writing a hit with ___ today!”

“Listening to new mixes – they sound awesome!”

“Just booked a show in ___!”

“Just got a cut today- wish I could tell you who, but I will soon!”

And it may all be true. I try to listen to my better angels and be happy for the success of others, even when I’m not getting as many cuts as I want.

But just remember- you only see what other folks WANT you to see. Certain people are going to overhype everything in an attempt to fake it till they make it. Others are overconfident or excited and really think every song they write is a hit. Others are so insecure that they feel they have to make things sound better than they are so they don’t get outted as the frauds they fear they are. Others are completely honest, but they only post the positive things.

All this can lead to the false impression that everyone is on the fast lane of success while you can’t get out of the garage.

So, how do we avoid falling into the facebook fantasy? First of all, don’t spend too much time on it. There’s probably something better you can do with your time, anyway. (Yes, I’ll post this to my facebook page, and I’m well aware of the irony.) Secondly, realize that the truth behind most of those posts is probably:

“Writing a hit with ___ today… and my publisher probably won’t even like it so it’ll never even get demoed!”

“Listening to new mixes- they sound awesome… and every label will pass on the song at least twice!”

“Just booked a show in ___ … and after gas and paying the band, it’ll cost me $100!”

“Just got a cut today- wish I could tell you who, but I will soon… as I google them because it’s some no-name indie artist that probably won’t even pay mechanicals on the 1,000 units they’ll print, anyway!”

While that’s kind of a fun game, don’t be a hater. But just as importantly, don’t let facebook make you hate yourself.
Now, if you’ll excuse me… I need to go write a hit and listen to some sweet new mixes.

God Bless,

Brent

THE PRO KNOWS

To BE a pro, you need to THINK like a pro. In this complimentary report, learn the mindsets that help the pro songwriter get cuts, earn respect in the industry, and maintain long-term success in the music business. Just click on the picture below to download this complimentary report today!

The Pro Knows

Become an MvR VIP!

If you like this blog and don’t want to miss a single post, or if you want special discounts on Man vs. Row products and services, become an MvR VIP!  Simply enter your email in the “Become an MvR VIP” 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: Man_vs_Row

Muse, WordPlay

Wordplay Thursday #60

15 Comments

Wordplay Thursday

Welcome to Wordplay Thursday!

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.

“I felt more out of place than _____.”

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

“I felt more out of place than a number in the alphabet.”

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 Andrew Clayton, Ken Matthiesen, Michael Flanigan, Roger Vines, Barney Coulter, Roger Russell, Debbie Convoy, Bill Soprano, Janet Goodman, Jeff Miller, David Michael, Samary, Ross Hemsworth and Matt Martoccio for your great additions to Wordplay Thursday #59 (read it here)! Great job!

THE PRO KNOWS

To BE a pro, you need to THINK like a pro.  In this complimentary report, learn the mindsets that help the pro songwriter get cuts, earn respect in the industry, and maintain long-term success in the music business.  Just click on the picture below to download this complimentary report today!

The Pro Knows

BECOME AN MVR VIP!

If you like this blog and don’t want to miss a single post, or if you want special discounts on Man vs. Row products and services, become an MvR VIP! Simply enter your email in the “Become an MvR VIP” 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!

Twitter: @Razorbaxter

Facebook: www.brentbaxtermusic.com

Instagram: Man_vs_Row

God Bless,

Brent