BMI Songwriter Workshop Review

Recently BMI posted a series of videos onto their newsfeed, of a songwriter workshop held in Atlanta, GA, moderated by BMI executive Byron Wright. Hit making songwriters India Shawn of Full Circle, Shama “Sak Pase” Joseph of the Jugganauts, Reo of the Sound Killers and Kief Brown of The Building, were the panelist educating their listeners on various topics of songwriting. Some of the topics discussed were:

·      Working With Limited Means

·      Taking Less Credit Than You Deserve

·      Pitching A Song

The workshop was great for not only the beginning songwriter, but for any songwriters in the industry to serve as a reminder of the mental and psychological state you need to be in as we take our crafts to the next level.

The following is a brief review of a few topics that I believe are crucial to songwriters of any genre.

In the video titled “Know Them Now – Songwriting Techniques & Tips, the panelists talk more about wisdom than analytical technique here. The theme should have been, "Follow Passion, Which Is What You Do.” Shama Joseph goes into detail about the most foundational requirement of any songwriter, which is to write songs. We have to remember, that there is no excuse for not doing what we call our selves. We have to make time to do the craft. If we are not making time to write songs, we should question whether or not we are actually songwriters.  Reo mentioned the need to be careful of being what he calls “The Trifecta”, which would in other words is a “jack-of-all-trades.” I agree that we need to do what we do best, and perfect that. Perfecting what we do the best makes us more valuable.

Another video that’s really good for the songwriters out there, is the video titled “Know Them Now – Choosing a Direction & Working With Limited Means.” One of the biggest hindrances of the artist unknown is the lack of resources to make the song presentable. Here the panelists eliminate the excuse of not having enough money, and give tips and techniques on how to move forward with limited means. Reo goes in depth on how we can use the Internet to help market and get songs played on iTunes. This could be a lifesaver for many who have been struggling with trying to find resources for studio time and a finding a market for songs. India Shawn really describes the strength of networking and collaboration. She claims from the age of 15 up until now, that she has not paid any money for studio time. We know if she didn’t, someone else did, but how do you make that happen? The answer is network. Find out who does what you need well. You may find that they need you just as much. Shama Josephs says, “Barter your gifts.” Making your talents available can open the door for needs to be met down the line.

These panelists have had some significant success in their short careers. It’s encouraging to know that their stories are similar to so many of ours as artist and songwriters. Listening to them lets us know that the success we seek may not be as far as we think.

Other topics for the workshop included the following:

Introductions

Stories Behind The Hit Songs

Challenges Faced After “Making It”

Dealing With “No”

Knowing What To Say “No” To