Hi folks. Originally when I started this blog, the intention was to update it once a week. You know what they say about the best laid plans...
Real life took a swipe at us this spring, and the blog had to take a backseat for a time. Between work commitments and musical projects, it's been a hectic time. I diverted much of my free time over the last few months to helping raise awareness about the flooding in Nashville. I know there is still a lot of work to be done in the cleanup down there, and I will continue to do what I can, but there are more immediate concerns to be dealt with at home.
I've never understood the idea of blogging weekly or daily when there is really nothing to say, and that is the biggest reason I have let this slide, I suppose. I was mentally blocked with all that was going on. That isn't ever going to change, I don't think, so I will soldier on, and try to come up with a topic to write about as often as I can.
This time around, it will just be an update of where things stand in my musical career. Since the last update, I have actually sold around two dozen of my home made cds. That may not sound like much, but keep in mind that it is being promoted only on my Facebook and MySpace pages, with no live performances to date, no radio airplay, and no single release to internet stations as of yet. I consider this to be a very successful start. In the fall, I am planning to release a single to internet stations, get the album onto I-Tunes and various other outlets, and start promoting myself a bit more heavily. I am in discussions with a few people about putting together a loose amalgamation of musicians to go out and play behind one another for showcases, occasional festival gigs, etc, so I can go out and get some live experience under my belt. This is all in the "wouldn't it be cool" phase at the moment, but something concrete will come of it when life returns to what I jokingly refer to as normal.
I've also placed 3 songs in a soon to be released feature film from Canadian director Brett Kelly. His movies are very entertaining, especially considering the miniscule budgets he usually works with, and aside from a few premiere and festival appearances, will be going straight to dvd. He's had some films shown on television, and there will likely be a lot of interest from tv for this one. It's a teen comedy called Rockland.
I am currently working on my next 5 year plan, and getting songs placed in tv and film was one of the goals I was planning on including there, so it looks like I am already ahead of schedule on one front anyway.
To avoid this turning into a blah blah blog, I'll stop for now, but please bear with me. I do intend to make some meaningful posts on a more frequent basis.
Thanks again for indulging me.
Terry
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Perseverance
I haven't updated in a few weeks, because I really couldn't figure out what to write about. I now have the feeling that waiting was the right thing to do. I want to take a few moments and talk about the role a positive attitude has in success. This applies to all aspects of one's life and career. There are many people I know in the music business who have become discouraged at different times, because the wheels weren't turning at all, and if they were, they were moving awfully slow. I try to encourage my friends to keep going if they really believe in what they are doing, and I am happy to tell you that most of them have done it.
Two of those people just posted updates to their Facebook status with big news. One of them has been slugging it out in Nashville for well over a decade. His most recent release is finally getting him some chart action, and onto the big stage at a major festival this summer. The other has also been invited to appear at this festival, after a major award nomination. Perseverance is every bit as important as talent, playing chops and business acumen are. These two artists are both examples of this. Their hard work and solid attitudes have gotten them onto a bill with Keith Urban and Taylor Swift!
I've tried to apply this attitude to my own career as well. Some people call it positive thinking. Some wrap it up in a package called the Law of Attraction, and some just call it being stubborn. The fact is that it works. Since I've gotten back to my old self on the musical front, I've had a couple major opportunities. I've been asked to contribute several songs to an indie film being shot in Ottawa later this spring. The director has already accepted two of my songs, and has asked me to write more. I've also gotten the opportunity to pitch my songs to several artists who are going into the studio this spring to work on new cds. None of these has resulted in a hold yet, but in some cases, it was them who contacted me. I think it's because I am actively promoting myself again. Simple as that. I'm showing up, I'm not afraid to make the approach confidently, and it's paying off.
When I made the decision to take control of my own career, and start promoting a cd of my demos, I thought I'd sell a few to family and friends, and that was about it. I've already sold a dozen, and I haven't even started actively pushing it yet. I've posted a few announcements, and that's it. Not enough to start shopping for a Mercedes, but very encouraging, since most were sold based on people hearing the songs I have posted on my Facebook page.
Off to a good start, I think. So far, 2010 has been a very good year. Thanks for coming along for the ride.
Two of those people just posted updates to their Facebook status with big news. One of them has been slugging it out in Nashville for well over a decade. His most recent release is finally getting him some chart action, and onto the big stage at a major festival this summer. The other has also been invited to appear at this festival, after a major award nomination. Perseverance is every bit as important as talent, playing chops and business acumen are. These two artists are both examples of this. Their hard work and solid attitudes have gotten them onto a bill with Keith Urban and Taylor Swift!
I've tried to apply this attitude to my own career as well. Some people call it positive thinking. Some wrap it up in a package called the Law of Attraction, and some just call it being stubborn. The fact is that it works. Since I've gotten back to my old self on the musical front, I've had a couple major opportunities. I've been asked to contribute several songs to an indie film being shot in Ottawa later this spring. The director has already accepted two of my songs, and has asked me to write more. I've also gotten the opportunity to pitch my songs to several artists who are going into the studio this spring to work on new cds. None of these has resulted in a hold yet, but in some cases, it was them who contacted me. I think it's because I am actively promoting myself again. Simple as that. I'm showing up, I'm not afraid to make the approach confidently, and it's paying off.
When I made the decision to take control of my own career, and start promoting a cd of my demos, I thought I'd sell a few to family and friends, and that was about it. I've already sold a dozen, and I haven't even started actively pushing it yet. I've posted a few announcements, and that's it. Not enough to start shopping for a Mercedes, but very encouraging, since most were sold based on people hearing the songs I have posted on my Facebook page.
Off to a good start, I think. So far, 2010 has been a very good year. Thanks for coming along for the ride.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Week One
There are no absolutes in life. Or in the music business. Is there only one way to succeed? I guess the answer to that is in how you define success. If your goal is to have an office lined with gold records and a mantle full of awards, then there probably are only one or two ways to get there. But what if your goal, like mine, is to get your music heard, and money isn't the primary motivator?
I'd like to have the big hit records as much as the next writer, but realistically, it is not going to happen anytime soon. I know people in Nashville with publishing deals who have written hundreds of songs. GREAT songs. But they still don't have any cuts. There are 50,000 songwriters in Nashville, according to one article I recently read. There are very few of them making a living as full time writers.
In last week's introduction, I told you all why I am here, and this week, I am going to tell you a bit more about myself.Eventually, I'd like to make a living with my music. There. I said it. In that way, I'm not so different from every other songwriter out there. I think there is a way to reach that goal, and I'm going to start working towards that goal today.
There are tools on Reverb Nation, and other sites like that I can use to can sell downloads of my home made demos, a song at a time, or as a complete album. I certainly won''t be the first songwriter to release a collection of his demos as an album. The difference will be in the delivery system, and the methods of promotion. More on this in the next installment. But first there are a couple things you need to know.
I do my demos in my home studio, using computer software and sample loops to replace real instruments.These recordings are meant primarily as my work tapes, but I do use them to pitch my songs to indie artists and publishers who are willing to listen. They are not radio quality by any means, but they are decent representations of the songs. I am a competent vocalist, and I do all my own vocals on the recordings.
The songs are solid. They are good enough that some of them have been cut. Some of them have been received well enough in the rare live performances I have done to cause other writers to approach me about cowriting with them. Many have been put on hold over the last couple years as well, and I believe it's only a matter of time before I start to get regular cuts here in Canada.
I tell you this only so you'll know I'm not some hack, dreaming in technicolour. I invite you all to have a listen for yourself. Your comments and opinions are welcome. Here's the link to my Reverb Nation profile.
www.reverbnation.com/terryfernihough
I'd like to have the big hit records as much as the next writer, but realistically, it is not going to happen anytime soon. I know people in Nashville with publishing deals who have written hundreds of songs. GREAT songs. But they still don't have any cuts. There are 50,000 songwriters in Nashville, according to one article I recently read. There are very few of them making a living as full time writers.
In last week's introduction, I told you all why I am here, and this week, I am going to tell you a bit more about myself.Eventually, I'd like to make a living with my music. There. I said it. In that way, I'm not so different from every other songwriter out there. I think there is a way to reach that goal, and I'm going to start working towards that goal today.
There are tools on Reverb Nation, and other sites like that I can use to can sell downloads of my home made demos, a song at a time, or as a complete album. I certainly won''t be the first songwriter to release a collection of his demos as an album. The difference will be in the delivery system, and the methods of promotion. More on this in the next installment. But first there are a couple things you need to know.
I do my demos in my home studio, using computer software and sample loops to replace real instruments.These recordings are meant primarily as my work tapes, but I do use them to pitch my songs to indie artists and publishers who are willing to listen. They are not radio quality by any means, but they are decent representations of the songs. I am a competent vocalist, and I do all my own vocals on the recordings.
The songs are solid. They are good enough that some of them have been cut. Some of them have been received well enough in the rare live performances I have done to cause other writers to approach me about cowriting with them. Many have been put on hold over the last couple years as well, and I believe it's only a matter of time before I start to get regular cuts here in Canada.
I tell you this only so you'll know I'm not some hack, dreaming in technicolour. I invite you all to have a listen for yourself. Your comments and opinions are welcome. Here's the link to my Reverb Nation profile.
www.reverbnation.com/terryfernihough
Monday, January 11, 2010
Hello
Hello out there. I'm Terry Fernihough, a songwriter from Ottawa, Ontario. That's in Canada. It's a long way from here to Nashville, Tennessee. This blog will keep you all up to date on the progress I am making in my songwriting career. It's a tough slog for a guy like me, with basically no money, and I am hoping that this blog will help bring my music to the attention of anyone who is more interested in content than big studio production. The traditional wisdom is that to make it, I need to move to Nashville, or at least visit frequently. I haven't been able to visit even once, due to very limited finances. I have two day jobs that keep me just barely above the poverty level, and I try to pitch my songs myself to the best of my ability. It has resulted in a half dozen cuts on an indie cd in the UK, and several holds here in Canada. I'm doing some cowriting as well, with artists here, and several wonderful songwriters who are in a similar situation as myself.
One of my cowriters and I did spring for a pro demo of one of our songs which had been well reviewed. We did it in Toronto with some of Canada's top session players. My cowriter took that demo down to Nashville, and was told that she would need to redo it because "it didn't sound like a Nashville demo". It appears to be a situation where you have to spend money you don't have in the hope that a publisher will like the songs well enough to sign. Once they sign it, of course, you will need to redo the demo AGAIN their way.
In this already difficult climate, it's become much harder to get a publishing deal, and if you don't live in Nashville, it's damn near impossible. This little tidbit came from someone very high up at my PRO. I believe his exact quote when I told him moving down there wasn't an option was "Well, I guess you're fucked then, aren't you?" Since I'm "fucked" if I play by the rules, I've decided to write my own rule book. The details of my success plan will be coming in my next posting.
Wish me luck, folks. I'm gonna need it.
One of my cowriters and I did spring for a pro demo of one of our songs which had been well reviewed. We did it in Toronto with some of Canada's top session players. My cowriter took that demo down to Nashville, and was told that she would need to redo it because "it didn't sound like a Nashville demo". It appears to be a situation where you have to spend money you don't have in the hope that a publisher will like the songs well enough to sign. Once they sign it, of course, you will need to redo the demo AGAIN their way.
In this already difficult climate, it's become much harder to get a publishing deal, and if you don't live in Nashville, it's damn near impossible. This little tidbit came from someone very high up at my PRO. I believe his exact quote when I told him moving down there wasn't an option was "Well, I guess you're fucked then, aren't you?" Since I'm "fucked" if I play by the rules, I've decided to write my own rule book. The details of my success plan will be coming in my next posting.
Wish me luck, folks. I'm gonna need it.
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