This is mostly for people trying to "find a way into" the music industry, to understand songwriting, to learn more about the craft, and all aspects of where we are in this era.
The Internet is FULL of writers and artists. Approximately ONE BILLION SONGS A MONTH go up on the Internet.
YOU TUBE uploads SEVENTY FIVE MILES OF VIDEO FOOTAGE AN HOUR.

There are approximately THIRTY to FIFTY MILLION artists, writers, poets, authors, creators on the Internet.
SO HOW DO YOU BREAK IN, MAKE A DIFFERENCE, FIND A FOOTHOLD?
GET OUT OF YOUR LIVING ROOM!!!!

Everyone is too quick to think that posting a video, doing a Facebook post, putting songs up for streaming are the direct route to fame and fortune.
"NOPE!!!
BUT THANKS FOR PLAYING, HERE'S A COPY OF OUR HOME GAME."
The key to everything?
THE "R" WORD.
"RELATIONSHIPS!!!"

You have to develop some sort of inside relationships, no matter what angle you are shooting for.
Want to perform in some club, bar, venue, concert, have someone HEAR what you do?
RELATIONSHIPS.

With the venue, AND THE PEOPLE who LISTEN!
Want to get some industry professional hear your songs, give you feedback, work up the ladder?
RELATIONSHIPS.

Publishers, producers, artists,
Want to have your music in FILM AND TELEVISION?
RELATIONSHIPS.

With music supervisors, directors, film placement agencies.
RELATIONSHIPS.

So how do you build those?
Go to local events, writers nights, open mics, places where songwriters and artists gather, and
START BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS!

Then, one of the MAJOR ways to start them and view how they work are SONGWRITER'S FESTIVALS.
Coming back from last weeks SMOKEY MOUNTAIN SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL I see it up close and personal every time. Aside from the shows, the great setting and being able to see the PROFESSIONALS do what they do, there are multiple opportunities for up and comers, wanna be's, parents with their excitable kids, open mics, seminars, workshops, and opportunities to SIT DOWN AND TALK TO SOME PROS.

How would you like to sit on the front porch of the GATLINBURG INN, in a rocking chair and talk to Will Nance, who wrote multiple number one songs?
Or writers of hit songs by Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Kelsi Ballerini, Carrie Underwood and more? THERE THEY ARE! And usually happy to spend a few minutes chatting about how things work for them and don't work.

There are festivals all over the country. The Mississippi Songwriter's Festival in Ocean Springs Ms.will be coming up Sept.14-16, I'll be at that one.
Then of course, my longest running involvement, THE FRANK BROWN INTERNATIONAL SONGWRITERS FESTIVAL, NOV.9-19th in Perdido Key, Pensacola Fla. Orange Beach and Gulf Shores Alabama.

There is the A-30 fest, Key West Festival, Durango, Colorado festival. They are out there. JUST GO!
And you are SUPPORTING SOMETHING LARGER THAN YOURSELF. So many people bemoan the state of songwriting and the lack of money in music now. HELP OUT!
If you are a fan of music and songwriting, GO!

Buy CD's. See your favorite songs done by the writers.
You don't have to be a writer/artist yourself. You can just be a FAN and interested person. YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

So my BIG APPRECIATION are to the organizers, sponsors, volunteers, hotels, venues, restaurants, cities and towns and all the artists, writers AND FANS that make them what they are. A completely unique opportunity to find out how all this works.
Come out and be a part.

YOU'LL BUILD YOUR RELATIONSHIPS!!
All you got to do is
GET OUT OF YOUR LIVING ROOMS!

Marc Alan Barnette
www.marcalanbarnette.com