The doors open and you walk onto the elevator. As you press the button for your floor, you notice the only other person you'll be riding with: a clean-cut, older gentleman wearing a designer suit. You introduce yourself as a budding entrepreneur, to which he responds, "What's your idea?" Realizing you've just stumbled into a potential investment opportunity, you jump right into the 60-second summary of your business plan. There's only one chance to make a great first impression.
So it is with a song and its listener. The song finds its way to the ears of a producer, publisher, record label executive, radio DJ, audience or potential buyer with the intention of convincing the listener that it is well worth their emotional investment. Often if the listener isn't sold in the first 30-60 seconds of a song, it's on to the next one.
The next time you write a song, put yourself in the shoes (or ears) of the listener. Ask yourself, "If I were hearing this song for the first time, would I believe enough in the music and message to invest my time and emotions?"
Keep writing,
Ben
