Marc-Alan Barnette

Hello everyone. Hope you are all safe at this time. The newest dimension that is now a fact of life for all of us in music are the LIVE PLATFORMS on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, and all other Internet platforms. At this point for the past few week and on into the future are millions of artists, writers, are live video concerts, single songs, messages on internet, via, camera phone, computer, or video camera. AS social distancing has become a life and death situation, live venues have closed down, concerts are on…

Nashville is two things:

THE ART OF THE HANG: Getting to know people, socially, guitar pulls, writer’s nights, educational opportunities.

ART OF THE REFERALL: Co-writers, publishers, song-pluggers, PRO’s, record companies.

FOUR ELEMENTS OF THE TOWN

1. CREATION OF THE SONG
2. PRESENTATION OF THE SONG (LIVE AND RECORDED)
3. NETWORKING
4. BUSINESS

Getting Attention
CREATION OF THE SONG

Being Unique and interesting

Say the same thing differently

Avoid overused thymes and titles, clichés, subject matter

Keeping Attention
…

Nashville is two things:

THE ART OF THE HANG: Getting to know people, socially, guitar pulls, writer’s nights, educational opportunities.

ART OF THE REFERALL: Co-writers, publishers, song-pluggers, PRO’s, record companies.

FOUR ELEMENTS OF THE TOWN

1. CREATION OF THE SONG
2. PRESENTATION OF THE SONG (LIVE AND RECORDED)
3. NETWORKING
4. BUSINESS

Getting Attention
CREATION OF THE SONG

Being Unique and interesting

Say the same thing differently

Avoid overused thymes and titles, clichés, subject matter

Keeping Attention
…

Duane Blackewell, A CAUTIONARY TALE

I have always been a VERY DYNAMIC PERFORMER. It has always attracted people, particularly hit writers, to me. I've always been the "BIG BANG" people would put on their shows, and I also had a few good cuts that even the hit writers were attracted to. I hold my own pretty well in all this. Just had a lot of things that didn't work out. 

In 2000, I was doing a bunch of shows, in town and out of town. I also was starting to do the NSAI groups and one of the ones I did was…

Hello. When I come to these or any other pages, I come to provide a little perspective and experience of my years in Nashville and aim it at a very distinct group of people. Those that are currently interested in making a trip, multiple trips or actually moving to Nashville, and things they will encounter on their musical journeys here. I’ve done some posts on OPEN MICS, WRITERS NIGHTS, NETWORKING and elements of the BUSINESS and I thought I do something that is essential for people to understand and a few…

This morning, as I sat outside in my usual “WHAT THE CRAP IS HAPPENING TO MUSIC?” Mood, I went through something that I see every one of my contemporaries, and anyone who has ever been involved with music, thought about being involved with music, or pretty much any form of artistic expression:
                                                                       “WHAT’S THE POINT-ISM”
 

“I’ve written all these songs, and many are really good, but no one will ever hear them at all…”
…

This is for people who are starting, attempting, PLAYING writers nights, open mics, talent nights, contests, Auditions, etc. 

BE AWARE OF YOUR TIME!!!!! 

It happens all the time. You have a particular time slot and tell all your friends, family, social media, etc. that this is when you are going to be on. Many show up even though they have WORK (that thing we used to do) in the MORNING. They all get a table (or tables) and are ready for your big shot. Then, the writers BEFORE you, start going on and on about…

ENTITLEMENT GENERATION.

I've noticed a new trend among a lot of people who seemingly find their way to this web site. The propensity of people who just show up, join my mailing list THEN ADVERTISE THEIR OWN BLOGS ,THEIR OWN WEBSITES ,THEIR OWN CONTENT!!!! What the HELL ARE YOU PEOPLE THINKING? 

What if I just tracked down your web site, social media, etc. and started putting my own content on there? What if your competitiors just started advertising (FOR FREE) on your web sites? HOW WOULD YOU LIKE THAT?

The…

               MAB’S MUSICAL STUFF: 

               SONGWRITERS FESTIVALS AND HOW TO PLAY EM’ 

I found out last Friday, that I was going to be included in the upcoming GATLINBURG SONGWRITER’S FESTIVAL, August 19-22 of this year. This was very nice because I had forgotten I SUBMITTED, for the Gatlinburg songwriter’s festival so it was very nice and an honor to be included. I had done the SMOKEY MOUNTAIN SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL for five years but when the founder, Cindy Montgomery died two years ago, I did not…

MAB'S MUSICAL STUFF 
"WHAT IS "COUNTRY"? 
Well, it must have recently been awards time, (haven't watched them in years), but the age old claims have popped up over and over again, "THAT AIN'T COUNTRY!!!" "All the acts, have changed,the music has changed, the looks have all changed, "it's just warmed over pop and it SUCKS!!!!" 
Well, yes, that is probably right from YOUR point of view. And in many cases, I might agree with you. I don't like much on radio, don't really pay attention to trends, or momentary blips…