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Hello
to you all!
As summer winds down, I hope that you're
getting revved up for fall - what I think of
as a time of new beginnings. Many people use
the fall as a kick-off point to get back on
track. Why wait for a special time? Like
wanting to diet, the best time to begin is
NOW! I encourage you to begin the baby steps
needed to get you to the next level of your
music career TODAY.
Please forward this newsletter to your mailing
list or anyone you'd like. If this was
forwarded to you and you'd like to subscribe,
send me an email that says
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In this issue, I've got interviews with Amy
Kurland, founder of The Bluebird Cafe in
Nashville and singer/songwriter Mary Gauthier.
I met Mary in 1997 when she attended a seminar
I'd put together. She was just beginning to
get her career in gear. Now, she's a very
successful singer/songwriter. I also have some
warm and fuzzy pieces about the non-profit,
Songs of Love Foundation, that has songwriters
write personal songs for seriously ill kids
and an update on David Bailey, who was given 6
months to live 8 years ago and is still being
healed, and healing others, with his music.
Please feel free to write with suggestions and
questions I can answer in future issues.
Revenge Productions
http://www.daylle.com
1. Get Over Yourself!
2. The Bluebird Cafe - Interview with founder
Amy Kurland
3. My Music Seminar Updates
4. Songs of Love
5. Interview with Mary Gauthier
6. Taking Care of Your Music Biz: Record
Keeping
7. Ask Daylle
8. David M. Bailey Spreads Hope
9. Fantastic Songwriter Tool
1. Get Over Yourself!: I hear it
regularly - "Why would someone come to
see me if they don't know me? I'm
nobody." The way you treat yourself
reflects on how others see you. If you think
that you're a nobody, why should others take
you seriously? How you view you and your
career really does come across to others.
People who refer to themselves as nobodys seem
so insecure. They're the ones with low energy
and negative attitudes. They're also good at
making excuses for why they're not advancing
and why more folks don't come see them.
There's no excuse for playing the victim!
Plenty of people who aren't well-known are
making money from their music and attracting
large crowds to their gigs. They usually have
positive attitudes and a strong belief in
their ability to play and record great music.
You're a somebody whether your career is hot
or not, as long as YOU know it. Everyone is a
somebody. What distinguishes the ones who
think they're nobodys and those who own who
they are, even if no one else does, is
perception. When publishers turned down my
books, I continued having faith in my writing
abilities, and put that out. Eventually I got
taken seriously and got many book deals. My
first TV appearance was on a popular prime
time show. Had I questioned whether I was a
big enough somebody to do it, I might never
have gotten onto Oprah later on. But while I
was amazed that I was going on this show with
NO experience, I did it with confidence and no
one knew that it was my first time. Everyone
begins somewhere. And you're still a somebody,
unless you contradict that. Hello! Eliminate
the word nobody from your vocabulary and work
hard to grow into the somebody you already
are.
2. The Bluebird Cafe - Interview with
founder Amy Kurland: The Bluebird Café is
a legendary listening room. June marked it's
22 year anniversary. I attended an audition
when I was in Nashville. Four times a year,
singer/songwriters line up on a Sunday
morning, to perform for one minute. I talked
to several of them to find out what the allure
of the Bluebird is. Eva George said,
"It's important to be among other
songwriters and hear what level they're at.
The Bluebird is a Mecca for songwriters."
Serena Nelson said, "It's a huge honor to
play here." Jason Woods added,
"There's so much history with the
Bluebird. My idols have played here."
Some audition many times before getting
chosen. Most people I spoke to were in awe of
the club. Steven Clawsen is a student and
said, "It's the Bluebird - a great
opportunity for someone like me who's still in
school and trying to get into the music
business." And so they got up early on a
rainy Sunday morning for the chance to play
this legendary club. Here's what Amy Kurland
had to say:
Why is the Bluebird so legendary? "We
didn't want to be a nightclub or a singles
joint. We wanted to have real music. Because
of this we got good musicians to play here.
When we said no smoking, people cheered. We
keep a clean bathroom. We have safe parking.
The only hard part about getting to the
Bluebird is making a reservation. I've worked
really hard at it. Since the beginning we've
had a mailing list. We now have about 15,000
names which we mail to every month."
What do you look for in terms of a good
songwriter? "I want to hear good songs -
the best presentation that a songwriter can
give. It is important to me that they know the
lyrics and can play the guitar passively to do
it. I want to hear a universal idea. I don't
want to hear mush. I want something solid and
sensible. There are way too many people
singing about "I love you" and
"It hurts that you don't love me."
You need more than that. I want a song that
makes me want to cry, or want to laugh, or
that reminds me of my own life. That's a great
song."
What happens once they get chosen from the
audition process? "We send out a letter
that says "Congratulations, you've passed
the audition. We have scheduled you to perform
3 songs on Sunday____." The date is very
specific. We ask them to call right away if
they're not going to be able to be there.
After they play, we score them and then they
can call back and ask us if they can play
again based on their score. Then we book them
for a specific date again."
What about out of town musicians? "It's
at least 6 months off so they should be able
to plan around it and I think they should. If
they're serious about being a songwriter, you
should be able to play with 6 months
notice."
Who has performed here that has become big?
"Garth Brooks performed here. Faith Hill,
Trisha Yearwood, Alan Jackson, Kathy Mattea.
It's endless. More of the songwriters have
gotten their start here. Songs are heard here
and then it happens."
Why do you think it's important for people to
audition? "The Bluebird is an essential
element of the music business process in
Nashville. Publishers and record labels have
locked doors and guards with guns. The
Bluebird has an opened door and welcome you to
give it a shot. You have a chance to play for
people and meet people, some who have the keys
to those other locked doors. It's been called
the Ellis Island of the music business."
What do you think prevents people from
reaching the level they should be at?
"Closed mindedness. If you believe that
you've written the best songs ever and that
you shouldn't have to listen to anything else
anyone's written or has to say, you're not
going to learn anything. You have to learn
from all experiences."
The Bluebird has an open mic Monday night so
that can be a good place to start. If you want
to learn more about the Bluebird Cafe, Kurland
has a fantastic book like a scrapbook of
its history - about it, with photos and
anecdotes by many people who've been there.
Check out http://www.bluebirdcafe.com
for more info.
3. My Music Seminar Updates: I
announced last spring that I was stopping my
fall seminars. But for those of you who were
disappointed, I was just asked to do a joint
event with Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts here
in NY. It will be on Saturday, October 16th.
Instead of a full day seminar, I'll do 2
shorter ones in one day.
Seminar #1 11 A.M. 1:45 P.M. Start &
Run Your Own Record Label - This seminar will
cover all the basics of running a label
successfully.
Seminar #2 2:45 5:30 Making a Living from
Your Music - This seminar teaches how to
develop yourself as an artist to make a living
from your music. It covers all aspects of how
to build a career, whether you want a record
deal, or to earn a living independently. It
complements the Start & Run Your Own
Record label seminar.
Each seminar is $60. If you register for both
it's $100 - in advance. Or $75 each, both for
$125 at the door. More details on both and the
location will be posted on my website shortly.
My full day workshop - Start & Run Your
Own Record Label - will be on February 26,
2005.
4. Songs of Love: I recently discover
the Songs of Love Foundation and wanted to
make all you songwriters aware of the terrific
work they do. This is the only nonprofit
organization of its kind. Founded by
singer/songwriter John Beltzer, they
collaborate with over 300 hospitals, private
health-care institutions, and individual
families to produced intimate songs that are
written to provide sick children with a source
of inspiration, joy, and possibly healing.
Over 350 talented artists nationwide have
created these personalized, one-of-a-kind
songs for thousands of chronically and
terminally ill kids and teens.
When I heard about this organization, I had to
call John and find out more to pass on to you.
I was touched by his dedication to keep giving
encouragement and love to those who need it
most through what he calls the medicine of
music. THIS IS A VERY WORTHY ENDEAVOR!! I
talked to songwriters who've participated and
they say it is rewarding to bring joy into a
child's life through their songs, and writing
them regularly helped them improve their
songwriting craft. If you volunteer, you'll
get a list of details about the child and have
to get them all into your song. AND, once
you've done some songs and established
yourself, they pay $75 a song. It's not a lot
but it's something. I talked to someone who
has a home studio and does one or two a week.
She says it's been great for getting her chops
tighter. Besides the money, It's priceless to
know that your words and music will brighten a
child's life. So go to the site TODAY and get
involved! You'll be rewarded in many more ways
than just money. : ) Remember what I keep
telling you - what goes around really does
come back to you! I'm going to do some songs
too! http://www.songsoflove.org
5. Taking Care of Your Music Biz: Many
musicians throw all receipts into a big pile.
I used to do this too. If you want to make
money from your music, find ways to organize
from the get-go so they don't pile up. Enlist
the help of a friend or fan if you can. Take
an accounting class or hire an accountant to
teach you the basics so your biz runs
smoother. Accurately keep track of all sales,
fees paid to you for performing and licensing,
and ALL expenses. Also keep records of how
many people each venue draws and where you
sell merch. Record keeping keeps you aware of
and on top of your biz. Every year when my
accountant asks, "Do you want to come in
now," I say "no." But, I do
what's necessary. Paperwork is distasteful to
me. I just want to write and speak. But I
enter my accountant's office and take care of
biz, since this is my livelihood. Keep good
records for your tax and to stay on top of
your how your expenses compare to what you
earn. It will help you earn more!
6. Interview with Mary Gauthier: Since
I met Mary in 1997, she developed a very
successful independent career. She didn't need
a record deal and I believe that's why she got
an offer that she felt was worth taking. I was
happy to spend some time with her when I was
in Nashville. Here are some of her inspiring
words from the interview for my next book.
What kind of skills help to succeed
independently? "You have be willing to
put yourself out there and not take no for an
answer. When a door shuts you have to find a
window. You have to be able to repackage
yourself in ways that work for the marketplace
and to be flexible. All these years I've been
on my own, I've played just about anywhere
that will take me. The main thing is to keep
going no matter what. I'm really proud of what
I've put together in the last 5 years. Nobody
handed me nothing. I went out and got
it."
Why should you develop your own career first?
"I think that musicians got told this
great lie that someone's going to discover you
and make it happen for you. It puts people in
a position of being powerlessness, where if
that doesn't happen, they just get burnt out
and feel defeated. I look at it the complete
opposite way. You have to make it happen for
yourself. The only way to do that is to pick
up the phone, start booking yourself, play
shows, make CDs, and go around the country.
I've been going around the world and selling
them to whoever would buy them. You have to
just do it. The answer for me has been to
work. I treat it like a job and find ways to
make it work. When it doesn't work in a city
for awhile, I'll leave that city and find one
where it does."
How do you handle rejection? "If we took
rejection personally in the music business
we'd all just be in the fetal position. Even
if it is personal, you have to move on.
Emotionally it's hard to not feel it but you
have to let it make you stronger and keep
moving."
What do you think transformed you to someone
getting paid? "Everyone starts out pretty
much the same - nervous, self-conscious, no
stage skills and the songs aren't quite there
yet. I had to get good at it before I could
get paid for it. It took a lot of getting beat
up out there for it - being ignored, playing
for empty rooms, opening for people and not
having the crowd really respond. You have to
fall flat for quite some time before you get
good at it. You have to get tough up there.
The only way to get tough is to work. You work
those emotional muscles that you need on
stage. They don't get strong just because you
want them to. It's like going to the gym. You
need to work them out there on stage."
How do you connect with fans? "My big
strength is that after the show, I go to the
table and sign CDs for people. I'll sit there
if I have to all night. I'll shake hands and
introduce myself and let people have access to
me. That really works if you want to sell CDs
and build a fanbase. The star routine is nice
but it's not the way of being an independent
artist. People have to have access to you.
It's part of the building process. That's
really hard because I am honestly quite shy.
I've learned to let them do the talking, sell
them CDs, get to know their names and when I
come back to town, remember their names. It
allows me the opportunity to do this for a
living."
What is a key to success? "You have to
have the songs that people want to hear. A big
part of the work is honing the craft of
songwriting to the point that you have
something to say that will shut people up in a
bar. If the songs are powerful, they can do
that. You don't have to shout or turn it up
loud. If you write songs good enough, then
it's more interesting than what they're
talking to each other about. It may be hard to
tell if you can make a living at this. If you
can write a song good enough to shut a bar up,
then you're on your way."
Mary Gauthier's had great success in the US
and has toured and had licensing deals in many
countries around the world. She recently
signed a record deal with Lost Highways
Records (Universal), in the great company of
Willie Nelson, Lyle Lovett, Lucinda Williams,
and Elvis Costello. I'm so proud of Mary and
what she's accomplished! http://www.marygauthier.com
7. Ask Daylle: What do I need to do to
start a record label? This question referred
to whether or not you'd have to register a
label and/or list it somewhere in the music
industry. The answer is simple. Starting a
label can be no more than creating a name and
pressing product to sell. As a business, you
should either file a DBA with your county
clerk's office or form a corporation or LLC.
But no matter which direction you choose,
you're a record label if you open a biz and
have product for sale. The hard part is
running it successfully.
8. David M. Bailey Spreads Hope: I
don't normally do promos for the CDs of
artists. But since this issue discusses
healing with music, I had to include David. I
featured him in my newsletter last year for
the successful career he's developed. When
David was diagnosed with a malignant brain
tumor on July 4, 1996, his docs said he would
be dead by Christmas. David left his corporate
career and returned to his first love -
songwriting and performing. He wanted to share
the hope that kept him alive. Since then he's
released 9 albums, won many songwriting
contests, and toured 39 states. I was thrilled
to get the announcement in July of his 8 years
of life since the fatal diagnosis. David just
released a compilation CD with all his best
songs of HOPE. If you know anyone who can use
a does of it, I'd recommend getting a copy. I
have one and LOVE it. David spreads hope to
thousands of people as he performs his message
across the country. http://www.davidmbailey.com
9. Fantastic Songwriter Tool: Speaking
of songwriting, : ) I want to introduce you to
a new tool for songwriters. MasterWriter is a
collection of tools for songwriters. It hasn't
been out for long but all the songwriting orgs
are recommending it because of the fantastic
support it gives with writing songs. Kenny
Loggins said, "MasterWriter is like
having a co-writer with a photographic
memory." It has a huge Rhyming
Dictionary, a Dictionary with over 35,000
Phrases, Idioms, Clichés, Sayings and Word
Combinations, a Rhymed-Phrases Dictionary with
over 36,000 entries, the only Alliterations
Dictionary in existence, The American Heritage
Dictionary and Roget's II Thesaurus. So if
you're fumbling for words or phrases as you
write a song, help is right in your computer.
Its State-of-the-art database allows you to
keep track of all the Lyrics, Melodies and
Information related to the songs you've
written or are writing. If you get a song in
your head and are in a hurry, you can sing the
melody right into your computer for
safekeeping. A stereo Hard Disk Recorder
records your melodic ideas. It also has a
library of over 250 tempo adjustable MIDI Drum
Loops and full-function Word Processing.
This fantastic resource for songwriter is
compatible with both Mac OS and Windows. And
for all you low-techies like me, it's easy to
use. Yes, even I CAN use it! I'll be taking
advantage of it for my writing too! It's
normally a very reasonable $289 BUT - they
have a Summer Sale Price of $229. I highly
advise that you take advantage NOW! I'm so
excited about MasterWriter and am happy to be
able to recommend it to you. For those of you
in other countries, you can get it through the
internet. BONUS: You can get a FREE 30 day
trial. So you can't lose! Check it out at http://www.masterwriter.com
I've focused a lot on songwriting in this
issue to encourage you to use your music to
help others as you help yourself. Music really
can heal - writing songs is a form of therapy
to get your feelings out and others can feel
good from them. That's why I recommended
getting involved with Songs of Love. When you
have the gift for creating music, it can be so
much more than just a song. It can be life.
Please join me in spreading the healing
medicine that music can bring. Volunteer to
play at a hospital or a senior citizen center.
Share your music with kids. Write a song for
Songs of Love. Spread the joy that your music
can create. You will reap the rewards! Until
the next issue.....
Keep your passion strong,
Daylle
© 2004 Revenge Productions
http://www.daylle.com
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