Where to Share
Yesterday, I posted a blog about the need to refrain from sharing every song we write on the Internet, and urging for an allowance of time, editing, and exclusion to let the best songs shine.
If sharing a new song immediately with friends, family and Facebook isn’t the best idea, where should we share these new compositions to test them out?
Here’s some thoughts on where to share.
1. Open mic night!
Isn’t this why open mics are here? A laid-back, public place, often full of other songwriters, with a slot to share music without worry of audience’s reaction. John Mayer does little surprise performances in NY, usually playing new songs. We should do this too!
Get to openmike.org and find circles with a healthy community of attendees! Not all open mics are successful, but there are gems in every city, like Jen Sygit’s at Dagwood’s in Lansing and Brian Pobocik’s long-standing Flint open-mic series.
2. Songwriting circles or workshop
This is similar to open-mic night, but with a heighten level of attentive ears, people who are more willing to listen to others and share thoughts than simply be waiting for their turn to play at the open mic night.
I’ve heard of many friends of mine attending John D Lamb’s songwriting retreats in Northern Michigan. Songwriter’s Anonymous often host monthly nights at the Trinity House in Livonia, MI. Find similar havens in your hometowns!
3. With a trusted small, songwriting community of local musicians
These need to be the right people, though. Ones who have attentive, educated ears, but also have a kind way of sharing criticism. I really only have two people I trust to share new music: My fiance Natalie and my old bandmate and good friend Alan Black. (For ten years, all I had was Alan!)
You need to find people who inspire and challenge, not bash and criticize. The best way to find this community is to first be one of those listeners yourself. One could have a private Soundcloud account to share with a small group of people.
4. Online Forums Focused on Songwriting and Sharing
This is an option I’ve yet to try: Forums with songwriters who are interested in listening to new music.
Don’t confuse this with forums focused on a famous artist, and spamming them with comments of trying to get others to listen to your music. You need to find communities that are specifically created by people interested in listening to new music, and I think the smaller these communities are, the better. 100 people or less. Ones that you might need to be welcomed to join, or start one yourself!
The Yellow Room Gang is a group from Michigan who started as a simple a circle of songwriters/friends getting together to just share new music. I think more of these organic circles are needed for musicians to stay inspired and get feedback.
