When I was a teenager and learning the guitar, I admired a lot of musicians for their technical prowess. Of course, at that time, I was filled with dreams of rock stardom. But, those were different times.

These days, it seems, the real musicianship is actually marketing. Which is great, if you want to spend all day working websites like Sellaband. It's not so awesome if you want to, you know, create music.

-Shawno

 

 

Shawno - I do agree that there is an artistry about good marketing.  And I greatly admire those who have that skill. It's needed to help good musicians put their stuff out there.  But not all of us are great multitaskers, and I look forward to a time when small independent musicians can hook up with small independent marketers and do each other some good. I really hope that happens soon.



 

What a fantastic way to spend your time!  I envy you the opportunity.
 

Sly - thanks for the vote of confidence!  I'm pretty amazed that song is still in the contest considering I have done (and intend to do) zero promotion beyond one facebook announcement.  As to any threat to your wedded bliss, I have it on the best authority that the lovely Mr Leitch is properly married, so you would have been in no serious danger of desertion.
 

Very interesting blog, Taylor. I just went on a songwriting festival at Bath Spa University and my experience was similar to yours. We had Boo Hewerdine, Iain Archer (Snow Patrol) and Andy White among the tutors, while the students were all abilities. We had lectures and tutorials and wrote a song every day. For me the experience was nothing short of revelatory. I learnt so much about songwriting and made some fantastic friends. The experience made me realise a lot of things that simply hadn't occurred to me before. To go on a workshop with Ray Davies, though, that must have been mindblowing! He is maybe my No.1 songwriting influence. As for marketing yourself. It has to be done at some level, I guess, but I don't know how (some) people find the time let alone the enthusiasm that they obviously do for self-promotion. I agree with my friend Matthew Ryan who said that every new song is another chance to achieve something great. The trick is to keep writing the songs, and not get too distracted by all the other stuff.

David

 

I think you are absolutely right, David. 

Ultimately it's all about the content. The other stuff can sap one's will to live if it's allowed to.  People end up marketing about marketing. Content rules.

Very glad to hear such a glowing report of the Bath songwriting festival. Hard to imagine it could be otherwise with such a congenial bunch of chaps leading the way (I've supported two of them and had the other bunking at my flat in years gone by, so I know this to be true), but reassuring nonetheless and something I may look into myself for next year or the year after.  You should go on a Ray Davies workshop.  He does them most years through the Arvon Foundation.  All booked up this time round, I'm told, but there's always next year. I'm sure you'd enjoy it. One song a day will look extremely laidback by comparison.


 

Sorry. That should've been Ms Taylor. DS

 

No problem, Sinclair. 

As you were.

 

Sounds totally fantastic Woody..Im def interested in going on one of those specially with Ray Davies!
Wondering about the price..But they really sound like memorable amazing things you remember for the rest of your life...Youve really inspired me to look into this kind of thing as an educational magical holiday
Really love you as a songwriter anyway..Youve made so many songs that have inspired me..

Sad that these days the real musicianship is marketing tho..:(


 

It's a mutual admiration society, Steve.  You are one of the finest songwriters I know.  And I firmly believe that talent will out in the end - till then we can just do the best we can to practise our craft and enjoy the process.

 

Just been looking at the site Woody....Sounds absoloutly fantastic-I..How did you send off your songs to get on the Ray Davies retreat-an incredible opportunity considering he or the Donovan one?...Just acoustic versions or your full productions? What kind of songs you reckon should i send to have the best chance of being selected for next years course? Considering Rays in my top 3 songwriters of all time (prob yours too) it just sounds an unbelievable opportunity

 

Steve - you absolutely should do this!!  I think you would have the time of your life.  It's pretty straightforward - the workshops are run by the Arvon Foundation. There are partial grants available from the Foundation for people on low incomes, and there is often government funding for local authorities and Arts Councils to pick up the slack. For the selected entry retreats like Ray's and Donovan's you just send however many songs they ask for - just whatever you consider to be your best/most representative/most suitable stuff - don't think production values are too important here, it's more about content - and wait to hear.  You're so right - the opportunity to be away from distractions like mobile phones and the Internet, to be surrounded by a supportive group of people all engaged exclusively in the songwriting process is just phenomenal.  I can't recommend it highly enough.
xx
 

Thanks so much for the info Woody...Rays course in Nov is (naturally) full unfortunately...I'd've been quite happy to beg,borrow or steal the money to get on it..I'm determined to go on one next year tho..Gotta do more of these type of things-Its just a dream holiday for me..I'm delighted you had such a fantastic time at the Donovan one and i'm incredibly jealous you've been on one with Ray Davies!
Would love to hear more detail about what you did on the course-Has anyone made a diary type of blog about their experience on one of these courses?
Its funny,i saw that pic and presumed you were living on a commune and Ray came to visit a friend or something lol
Cheers :)