It’s a Different World Now

We’re in the midst of an interesting time in music. Anything is possible; the rules are being rewritten, and you’ll need more and more tools to succeed. It’s not enough to write songs and hope to be discovered, or to be an aspiring artist and hope someone will mold you. Very few publishers, managers, or labels are willing to take the time to polish that ‘diamond in the rough.’ Terms like “360 deals” and “tweets” have replaced advances and fans. Avenues like American Idol and artists like Taylor Swift seem to have supplanted what Outliers author Malcolm Gladwell calls the “10,000 hours of practice necessary for success”. You probably feel like you need to be equal parts John Lennon and Steve Jobs; master songwriter/musician and genius marketer. Ok, I’ll stop–I’m scaring myself. Really, it IS a great time to be creative!

So..is there a substitute for hard work? A shortcut?  I wish…

But you can work smarter. I’ve been there and done that; you can read about it here.

Songwriters.

Most of the folks who contact me have been to camps, workshops, and critique sessions and read lots of available books on the art and the marketplace. All these resources are great, but at some point it can get overwhelming and hard to apply. This is where I come in. I coach writers from around the US and UK, helping them decide which areas they need to focus on to be the best writer possible.

What really goes on in a co-writing session? How do I know when my song is ready to pitch? How polished does my demo need to be? How do I write for movies or the pop/country/Christian/jazz markets? These are some of the most frequently asked questions, and I answer them as they apply to each individual client. One of the ones I hear lately is ” I’ve gotten my song critique and I know what’s wrong…but..how do I fix it?”

Artists.

During my sessions we touch on everything from defining ‘who you are’ (and why the world should care) to crafting a mission statement to keep you on course. We’ve also tapped into the latest social networking ideas to build a ‘tribe’ of individuals with similar interests. I really enjoy helping aspiring artists of all levels learn about publishing, management, development contracts…anything and everything that comes with this path.

Finally…

Check out the testimonial section of my site to see what clients have to say, as well as industry pros like 19 Entertainment and past Grammy and Golden Globe winners. You can also sign up to follow me on Facebook and Twitter to get a feel for the site. In the past I’ve conducted workshops and seminars for BMI, ASCAP, NSAI, The West Coast Songwriters Association, and Sweetwater Sound. I love doing these and will continue to offer them in the future–but honestly, my favorite thing is to work one on one with writers and artists like you. This is my goal with iDoCoach. Watch this video clip to see one of my clients, Savannah Ellis talk about her coaching experience. Savannah has seen 4 of her songs cut on the last few months in including the lead single from Leigh Nash’s new record.

I know this is an important decision; this is not sitting at the back of the room or sending your song into a service to be judged or critiqued. This is hands-on, digging deep, designed for you and only you. No curriculum, no set class hours, no promises to make you ‘the next big thing’. Just expertise at work for you, to make you the best you can possibly be at your craft.

Coaching is built on trust, so…let’s spend some time  getting to know each other. All sessions are conducted over Skype video, phone, or in person; designed completely around your schedule.

Email me at mark@idocoach.com to set up a free 10-minute phone or Skype video session.

Look forward to meeting you!

Nashville, Tennessee