Performing or publishing gig?

[Robertt8]

I've been writing music since I was in Jr. High. I'm now 28 with literally 100's of songs. I finally decided to get my act together and see if I can make a few bucks off of some of these songs that no one but me and my friends hear. I've never really performed with a band besides screwing around in highschool, however I've been recording for almost as long as I've been writing.

as I said, I've been recently been putting together some songs to slap on a demo. The songs sound fairly decent...seeing as how I'm doing all this crap myself...vocals, guitar, bass, drums. I'm just not sure what I want to try and sell myself as...a writer or a writer/performer.

Any advice?

Is there a future in just writing the songs but not performing them?

What should I do?

[mikeh]

Is there a future in just writing songs? Like many people on this site, I've written songs for a whole lotta years. Been published a few times and have had songs placed on recordings and in films. Even made a few bucks - enough to buy some gear here and there - but certainly not enough to live on.

It is very difficult to get published, harder still to get placed and damn near impossible to actually make any money. But if you have the chops and some serious (real serious) determination, it may be possible to get published - and yeah maybe you could make some money. I wouldn't give up the day job though!!!

The best material to write - with an eye on getting published/placed (at least at this time) is probably vocal harmony stuff (re: "boy band" material), R&B, country and "Christian music". These are the markets that publishers are trying to fill (lots of singers that don't play or write).

Obviously, there is always strong argument that you need to write what you feel (vs. trying to write to a formula) and I tend to agree that if you don't write with your heart the song will not ring true. However, if you can relate to any of the referenced material, there is more of a market for outside writers.

Also keep in mind, if you are going after a songwriter deal, don't worry about showing off your playing skills, - but do worry about the vocal performance, cause that's what sells the demo. If you don't have great vocal chops, hire the best singers you can afford - and make sure that they have a vocal style which gels with the material.

What I mean is, if you're writing for Britney don't get a singer who sounds like Janus Joplin.

Good luck!!!

[Robertt8]

crap. sorry about the repeat posts. I thought my computer froze up, and I ended up hitting the post button...well 4 times I guess.

Thanks for the help! I'm not quiting my day job by the way.