I continually talk about KEEPING IT REAL when it comes to approaching the music industry. Most people who come into this really have very little idea of what is achievable and what is improbable. And it is difficult to be encouraging, while at the same time warning people about jumping off cliffs due to overreaching expectations. But there are ways to be productive and move forward while being aware and cautious. Like everything, music has to be approached carefully and methodically, because it is going to TAKE A LONG TIME no matter what you do. It is designed that way.
Hit and established writers and artists (not always the same thing but more often these days are intersecting) have been around for a long time.

Even to be an “overnight success.”) Those amazingly successful 16 or 16 year olds, have probably been writing since age 12, performing in front of every audience imaginable, going to the worst side shows at state fairs, performed at shopping malls and grocery store openings for NOBODY, played every church and community center, took classes, workshops, did multiple auditions (mostly failing and having to pick themselves up and do it again) and have had HUGE social networking and fans long before they got a shot at the brass ring. They have also probably spent a small fortune on advertising , lessons, travel, time away from family, friends, normal life, than many people three times their age.

People who are primarily writers, have treated writing like a second business, written hundreds of songs with hundreds of people, made trips to music centers, spent tons of money on demos, joined contests, and did I mention, SPENT TONS OF MONEY?

I always see these people coming to Nashville on open mics or writers nights, or hear from them online, Facebook, see videos on YOU TUBE, songs on REVERB NATION, web sites, Twitter, Facebook, etc. all the sites, and they are ALWAYS JUST ABOUT TO (Fill in the blank), )SIGN DEALS, GET DEALS, RELEASE SINGLES TO RADIO, TAKE OFF, ETC. ) You name it, they are ABOUT TO DO IT!!!! Big dreams. But here’s the secret.

“THOSE THAT ARE ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING BIG, DON’T TALK ABOUT IT.
THOSE THAT TALK INSECSTANTLY ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE ABOUT TO DO, NEVER DO IT.”

So the key is to LET YOUR WORK DO YOUR TALKING. You might not be about to sign a deal, but you MIGHT be writing with someone who HAS a deal, or performing with someone who has had some hits.

You might not be headlining a show of your own, but you might be playing on the same night as one of your favorite writers.
You might not have written THE GREATEST SONG IN THE WORLD, about to go PLATINUM, but you might have JUST written and recorded a great song for you and are going to perform it out, play it for everyone you can. And make people Love you and it!

You might not be at the top of the charts, but you are supporting other people who are headed that way. You are getting to know their friends. You are helping them get somewhere.
It takes a long time and no one explodes instantly. Takes a while. So enjoy the ride. Do the little things every day. Stay at it. Don’t quit. But KEEP IT REAL!!!!

by Marc-Alan Barnette
www.marcalanbarnette.com