I feel the need to begin this article by saying I’m not a huge fan of co-writing long distance. There are so many wonderful and subtle advantages to being in the same room with your collaborator; the sound of a guitar reverberating off of the walls of a shared space and the cues that body language and facial expressions provide have the power to guide a writing session.
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That being said, being in the same place at the same time with your collaborator isn’t a luxury many of us have, particularly if we don’t live in a music city like Los Angeles, Nashville or New York. In that case, online collaboration is definitely your best bet. If you have to collaborate long distance, I’d certainly recommend real-time collaboration using a video chat of some kind. Only as a very last resort would I suggest emailing lyrical and melodic ideas back and forth because you’re missing out on the real-time reactions and brainstorming that make for good collaboration. In that spirit, I’ve put together a list of things to keep in mind when it comes to collaborating long distance.
1. Show Up On Time
This might sound overly picky but an appointment is an appointment. Showing up for a long-distance collaboration on time and ready to write goes a long way towards setting the proper tone and making the best of an already compromised situation. If you can’t be in the same physical space at the same time, the very least you can do is to show up to the virtual space at the appointed time.
2. Take Advantage Of Technology
There are some wonderful software innovations out there that make a long-distance collaboration easier. First of all, a video chat certainly works better than a phone call and Skype is a great place to start. The audio quality isn’t going to win any GRAMMY engineering awards, but it is certainly passable. Next, when I’m co-writing, I really like to keep the lyric sheet visible to both me and my collaborator at all times so we can see where we are. Using Google Docs is a great way for you both to have a copy of the lyric visible on your computer screens. Finally, DropBox is a great service that allows you to share folders between collaborators so you both have a central place to keep items related to your song like rough recordings or even your eventual demo. And here’s the best part; all of the products I just mentioned are free.
3. Remember It's A Collaboration
When you’re apart from your co-writer, there’s a tendency to work on the song between online collaboration sessions. That’s fine, but it’s important to remember that this is a collaboration and your collaborator has to be on board with any changes you might have made “offline.” Try not to get too attached to any work you’ve done prior to getting your co-writer’s buy-in. For example, after your first online session, you might write a second verse or bridge on your own and fall in love with it only to find out at your second online session that your co-writer sees things differently. The only appropriate response if your co-writer doesn’t agree with your work is to let it go or modify it so that you’re both happy with where things are. This, of course, applies to any work your collaborator might have done between online sessions as well.
4. Your Work Isn't Over Until You've Written A Song
This particular observation applies to all co-writes (in person and long-distance) but is particularly necessary when you’re not in the same location. There’s a lot more to do with your song once it’s written. A few things that come to mind immediately are registering it with your respective performance rights organizations (like BMI, ASCAP or SESAC), considering whether it should be demoed and at what studio, etc., and then figuring out which artists or opportunities are good pitches for your song. In other words, remember that you’ve got not only a long-distance writing relationship but also a long-distance business relationship, too.
More and more, we’re becoming a world of virtual connections. This can be a drag or a total lifesaver depending on your situation. Either way, if a long-distance co-write is in your future, keep some of the above tips in mind and you’ll maximize your chances of not only writing a great song but also enjoying yourself in the process.
Good luck!
(Cliff Goldmacher is a songwriter, producer, session musician, engineer, author and owner of recording studios in Nashville, Tenn. and Sonoma, Calif. Goldmacher is the author of The Songwriter’s Guide To Recording Professional Demos and offers tips and techniques on songwriting and the music business through his blog, eBook, and online courses at www.Lynda.com/CliffGoldmacher.)
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