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I'd been living in Los Angeles for several months when my father came to visit. Since I was living in a cockroach and mouse-infested room, and sharing a communal bathroom with the hookers and junkies who lived in the other rooms, my father wisely decided to stay at a nearby motel on Sunset Blvd. He was amazed at how friendly all of the attractive young men and women were. Several of them would say "hello" and strike up conversations each time he went out for his walk. It didn't occur to him that they were prostitutes! But that's another story . . .
I was anxious to show my father all that I was doing to pursue my dream of becoming a professional songwriter. I hoped he'd emotionally support my decision to leave my job and family in Philadelphia to follow my heart and seek success in Los Angeles, in the music business. So, I took my father to a workshop sponsored the Songwriters' Guild of America (SGA).
Each month the workshop featured a different guest who shared his or her experience with the aspiring songwriters who soaked up every word. This particular month the speakers were Jay Livingston and Ray Evans. These two old-timers had written classics including "Que Sera, Sera," "Mona Lisa," the theme song to the TV show Mr. Ed, and many more hits.
Livingston and Evans sat at the piano and shared wonderful stories about how some of their biggest hits had come to be written and recorded. I especially enjoyed the story of how they rewrote their Christmas standard, "Silver Bells" from its original title, "Tinkle Bells." They played snippets of their songs to illustrate their points as I sat in the audience, imagining that someday I'd have written hit songs, too. As my father and I left the workshop, he casually said, "You can't be a successful songwriter because you don't play piano."
Well, I was furious. My anger was partly because he was punching a hole in my fragile dream, partly because I interpreted his statement to mean that he didn't believe in my talent, and partly because it probably hit much too close to my own fears, which I didn't want to acknowledge.
We argued and I tried to convince him that there was a world of difference between the ability to play a musical instrument and being able to write hit melodies and lyrics. I had moved 3,000 miles from my family and friends, ended a relationship, and traded a secure job and a comfy middle class existence for poverty. I guess I was also trying hard to convince myself.
Time has proven my father wrong. I've written the lyrics and melodies for hit songs without ever learning to play the piano--and my guitar playing skills still lie somewhere between pitiful and mediocre. Perhaps you're a terrific pianist or guitarist and perhaps you've been extensively trained in musical theory. If so, don't despair. If you look hard enough you'll be sure to find at least a thousand more reasons why you can't possibly be successful.
Take your pick and feel free to add your own excuses to this list: "I can't carry a tune in a bucket." "I'm too old." "I have no musical training." "I'm too young." "I have too much classical musical training." "I have to work a 'day job'." "No one in my family has ever been musical." "I have three kids demanding my attention." "I have no money to produce demos." "I wouldn't know where to start." "I'm too shy to sing." "But I live in the middle of Iowa." And my personal favorite--"The odds are a million to one. Why should I think I'm so special?"
You can choose to believe any or all of the excuses listed above. Or you can find solutions to each obstacle. You don't have time? How about waking up 30 minutes earlier three days a week? You have to work a day job? So did almost every person who's currently a successful songwriter. You've got kids? Even God took a day off. I bet you can find someone to watch the little rugrats once or twice a week.
But what about: "The odds are a million to one. Why should I think I'm so special?" Yes, the odds are tough, but you are special. No one else in the world can imagine and write the way you can.
Instead of investing your energy into reasons why you can't possibly be successful make a decision to live your dream. There's no guarantee of success--but you deserve the chance to try.
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Try this exercise:
Make a list of all the reasons why you feel you can't be successful. Allow those voices in your head to be as negative as they want to be. This is their chance to express themselves.
You're a creative person, so begin looking for creative ways around each and every obstacle that appears to be in your way. You'll find solutions--if you want them badly enough.
Jason Blume's songs are on albums that have sold more than 50,000,000 copies and have been recorded by artists including Britney Spears, the Gipsy Kings, the Backstreet Boys, Jesse McCartney, and country stars Collin Raye, John Berry, and the Oak Ridge Boys. One of the only writers to ever have songs on Billboard's pop, country, and R&B charts—all at the same time—Blume is a best selling author and songwriting teacher.
For information about workshops, books, CDs, and more, visit: www.jasonblume.com.
To hear Jason's music visit: www.myspace.com/jasonblumesongwriter.
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