Observing Nashville: A User’s Guide
A career in the music industry is risky. The random factor always plays a role. Choosing the right location, however, increases the hopes of breaking your act. And there is nothing like moving to a big music capital for exposure—and picking the brains of successful artists.
This writer went to Nashville to explore her own future. Words of wisdom were heard there, for instance, from songwriter, Beth Neilson Chapman, who conveyed well the feeling of establishing oneself in a new environment and tackling, in her case, the challenge of songwriting.
Hard work, of course, is key. Says Neilson Chapman: “Make a point to allot time everyday to write; writing and creating is like breathing. I don’t believe in writer’s block– I believe in breathing in and breathing out.” Neilson Chapman also suggests an antidote to fear. Ignore the question “Am I good enough, do I have what it takes?” Finally, know your self-worth and think long term: “Marathon runners don’t just go out and run marathons, they have to train.”
Beth Neilson Chapman embodies the spirit of Nashville. And Nashville’s music scene is much more diverse than the country music stereotype. It has become a hub for a variety of music styles including pop, rock, alternative, bluegrass, jazz, classical, contemporary Christian, gospel, blues and soul music. Nashville has sparked many an artist careers and become home, among others, to Steve Cropper, Michael McDonald, Sheryl Crow, Gillian Welch, Emmylou Harriss Charlie Daniels, and Donna Summer. Hits recorded in Nashville abound, and a partial list would include Elvis Presley’s “Heartbreak Hotel” in 1956; The Everly Brothers’ “Bye Bye Love” in 1957; Roy Orbison’s “Oh, Pretty Woman” in 1964; Bob Dylan’s Blonde on Blonde in 1966; Robert Knight’s “Everlasting Love” in 1967; Joan Baez’s “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” in 1971; Kansas’ “Dust in the Wind” in 1978; R.E.M.’s Document in 1987; Vanessa Williams’ “Save the Best for Last” in 1992; Matchbox Twenty’s Mad Season in 2000; India.Arie’s Acoustic Soul in 2001; Jimmy Buffett’s License to Chill in 2004; Neil Young’s Prairie Wind in 2005; alt rock band, Guster’s Ganging Up On the Sun in 2006. R&B superstars James Brown, Etta James, and Joe Tex have all been there too.
Nashville is known as Music City for good reason, and from a personal point of view I was surprised that most people I encountered were confident about their ability to find a niche if they were only “willing to show up” for the job. Certainly, the business of music is well represented, with numerous outlets including record labels, entertainment management companies, and the headquarters of all the national performance rights societies, i.e. BMI, ASCAP, SESAC—as well as The National Songwriters Association International (NSAI), The Americana Music Association, The Country Music Association, The Gospel Music Association, and The Nashville Artist Guild.
Every working musician living in Nashville will tell you that the first step to take after arriving is to seek exposure. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the locals, venues, open mics, dive bars, and begin networking immediately. Go early to the Bluebird Cafe and sign up for an open mic slot as often as possible. There are numerous outlets for different genres all over the city. Check out this link for further local venues. HYPERLINK “http://www.visitmusiccity.com/music/musicSub?content=musicvenues” http://www.visitmusiccity.com/music/musicSub?content=musicvenues
Also do not feel locked down to your initial job desire within the music industry. Explore and embrace your strengths and or hobbies on all levels. Berklee MB/M Alum James Harrington, for instance, recently relocated to Nashville and took whatever jobs came his way. He discovered he could make a profitable living transcribing music—which he had never once considered an option at Berklee.
Nashville’s cost of living is considered one of cheapest and in 2006 Music City placed number seven among metropolitan areas on Forbes.com’s “Best Places for Business and Careers”. Moreover, popular personalities live open lives and there are far fewer degrees of separation with ordinary people. Nashville is quite different to New York and Los Angeles in this regard. Again, Nashville has also become a “melting pot” of different cultures.
Naturally, if you are a songwriter, there is not a better place to be. Nashville remains a co-operative gathering place for writers, and success is predicated on association rather than individual competition. The sum of the parts in Nashville is usually greater than the whole.
By Meagan Hickman
HYPERLINK “http://www.visitmusiccity.com/music/musicSub?content=musicvenues” http://www.visitmusiccity.com/music/musicSub?content=musicvenues
HYPERLINK “http://www.nashvillemusiccity.com” www.nashvillemusiccity.com
HYPERLINK “http://www.visitmusiccity.com/music/” http://www.visitmusiccity.com/music/
HYPERLINK “http://www.nashvillescene.com” www.nashvillescene.com
HYPERLINK “http://www.nashville.com” www.nashville.com
HYPERLINK “http://www.nashville.net” www.nashville.net
