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Tips & Resources, The CLIMB Show by Brent Baxter, Team SWPro on June 16, 2020
So, you’ve landed that publisher meeting! First of all… congratulations! Now, how should you prepare for that meeting? Can certain preparations help you leave a great first impression?
In this episode of the CLIMB, Brent shares some valuable insight into preparing for a meeting with a music publisher.
LISTEN NOW: https://the-c-l-i-m-b-with-johnny-dwinell-and-brent-baxter.simplecast.com/episodes/episode-227-how-to-prepare-for-a-publisher-meeting
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You can also listen right here:
Hey, would like some face-to-face time with two hit music publishers?
SHOW NOTES:
1. Define your goal(s) for the meeting and beyond.
Are you there for feedback so you can learn and get better? Are you there for relationship-building? Do you want to write hits for other artists or for yourself as an artist? Do you want a publishing deal or to get cowrites with the publisher’s writers? Or both? Are you writing for yourself or for the radio? How can a publisher help you get where you want to go if you don’t know where that is?
2. Write down a list of questions and/or topics you want to cover.
Don’t just make a mental note- write it down. By the way, write it down- and have it in front of you during the meeting. When you get into it, when you get nervous or happy or frustrated or whatever, you’re likely to forget something you wanted to talk about. Prioritize the list to make sure it’s as easy as possible to get to the important ones. Did I mention you should write it down? (If you put all your meeting notes in the same small notebook, it’s fun to look back on later and see your progress. And to cringe at the songs you actually played for professionals!)
3. Choose your songs.
Decide on your songs based on which are most relevant to your goals. If your goal is to be a hit country songwriter, but you bring in a novelty gospel song to show your range, it’s kind of a waste of time. Bring songs that are aiming in the direction of your goals. Order your songs in order of importance. You might not get to them all, so play your “must-play” song first.
Burn a CD, even if you plan on playing live. What if you break a string or a finger in the middle of your first song? What if the publisher wants to play the song for an artist later that day? Be prepared. Also, have the labeling on the CD clear and professional with all your contact info on it.
Also, prepare for the fact that the publisher may not have a CD player on their computer. (Sounds crazy, I know.) It may be wise to have your songs and lyrics in an email folder where you can send them over from your phone right in their office. Or to have them somewhere online where you can pull them up. I usually send over a SongSpace right beforehand if I can. Be prepared.
4. Type your lyrics.
Make two copies of your typed lyrics- one for you (in case you get nervous and forget them in the middle of your song) and one for the publisher. Some publishers don’t look at lyrics, but others do. Better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it.
And I don’t care how much you like your own handwriting- a typed lyric is more professional and makes a better impression. Also, put all your contact info on every page of every lyric. It doesn’t matter how awesome your song is if the publisher can’t find you later or remember who wrote it.
5. Research your publisher.
I’m not talking about hiding in the bushes outside their office. But who is going to be sitting across the desk from you? Have they published a hit? Who are their current staff songwriters?
Knowing some of their cuts and writers 1) makes you look more prepared and professional 2) can spur relevant, helpful conversation (“How did you get “Happy In Love” to George Urban?). Also, nothing is worse than badmouthing an artist, song or songwriter to your publisher and then seeing that artist’s album hanging on the publisher’s wall as you walk out. Oops.
Okay, those are 5 ways you can prepare for your publisher meeting. But I don’t want to just help you PREPARE for a meeting. I want to help you GET a meeting.
In July, Songwriting Pro is hosting another “Play For A Publisher” event, and this time we have TWO legit publishers. We have Butch Baker of Mojo Music & Media and Courtney Allen of BMG Music.
Basically, here’s how it works: You submit your song, I listen and pick the 10 I think have the best chance to catch our publisher’s ear. Then the “top 10” writers and I meet up with the publisher for an online Zoom videoconference, where each top 10 song will be played, and the publisher and writer can talk about it. And everyone who enters a song gets to watch the replay.
However, the deadline to submit your song is coming up soon, so don't miss out! CLICK HERE TO GET ALL THE DETAILS AND SUBMIT YOUR SONG TODAY!
God bless,
Brent
