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Stick Handling Through The Music Business
Written by Beau Davis

Songwriters Articles 4 and 5 combined –
“What About Writers Nights?”
“Can Someone Steal My Song?”

Part 1 of 5
Part 2 of 5
Part 3 of 5
Parts 4 & 5
COMBINED

It seems every month here in Calgary, Canada or the USA, there’s a different club adding a writer’s night to their weekly schedule. Newcomers should check out a few of these evenings before attempting to “make it” in Nashville, LA or New York. I highly recommend writer’s nights, except for one caution, which I will talk about at the end of this article.

When you go to a Nashville, LA or any so called big entertainment cities writer’s night or for that matter, a local writer’s night, you will see people who could be on a label within a year and hear songs that could be hits within the same period. This is the easiest way to find out how your songs or your voice stack up to other people, who just like yourself, had someone say you are great and wonderful.

By going to writer’s nights, you may find that your song or your talent doesn’t measure up to the competition. Go home – do not pass go and do not pay $200.00. Start writing better songs, or take those singing lessons. Keep practicing and praise the Lord you didn’t give up your day job or sell the farm like so many others have done.

Garth Brooks was/is one of the brightest stars in Nashville over the years, but something similar happened to him. As the story goes, he came to Nashville and after a brief stint and no success, went back home to re-group. Then, with a new game plan and a tune called “If Tomorrow Never Comes”, he came back to Nashville. The rest is history.

Now, on the other hand, (sounds like Randy Travis) if you feel you have what it takes and your songs or your music are better than anything else you’ve heard, then go for it.

Now a caution about the downside of singing at writer’s nights, and a segue into the next question which is ……………….. ”Can Someone Steal My Song?”

NO, if you have it copyrighted – YES, if you don’t. What gets stolen are ideas, not songs. A professional songwriter, contrary to popular belief, goes to work every day like anyone else. The big publishers have writer’s rooms where their staff writers turn out new songs from nine to five.

But Beau, what about inspiration? Well, after writing hundreds of songs, you run out of inspiration, but you keep your ears open for new ideas. So who goes to writer’s nights? Other writers! Another writer won’t steal your song, but if it has a real clever line or an original thought that’s never been written, don’t be surprised if you hear it on the radio some day. This guy or girl isn’t a thief or bad person – they just have a very “creative memory”. So………. Should you perform at writer’s nights?

YES, but do generic material, love songs or songs similar to what other people are doing. Save the really original tunes for private appointments with producers or publishers whom you feel you can trust. (Some of them are more notorious than some writers about stealing your ideas).

My intention is not to “disillusion” or scare you but to make you aware of things that go on in a business where so much money is at stake. Another writer “borrowing” your idea is not much different than you seeing something on TV or hearing something your little brother said and then writing a song about it.

The best insurance that your song won’t be stolen is to file a copyright. If you have to sue someone to prove a song belongs to you, you can tell a judge, “I think I wrote it 1988 – or was it 1989?” or you can show him your copyright.

****Any readers, whom would like other parts of the industry written about, please email me and I will take everything into consideration and put something together.

Beau Davis has had 40 plus years in the music business, entertaining, recording, playing and producing concerts, special events and much more. Beau has been associated with some of the top people in the industry from both sides of the border and has learned from his associates over many years. All aspects of the music industry will be discussed over future articles.

Email: info@calgarysongwriter.com

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