Consultation & Critiques

By the hour     By the song     Six-month mentoring package

When I moved to town in 1983 you could still walk up and down Music Row with a guitar in your hand knocking on doors asking if anyone would listen to your songs, and publishers would often stop what they were doing to hear your music. If they liked it they might send you to their staff writers so they could teach you how to write a hit.

But  it's big business now. Publishers are too busy and there are too many songwriters, and too many songwriters who are ready to sue for plagiarism without real cause. So these days a newcomer is mostly likely to be met by a disinterested receptionist spouting the stock reply, "We don't accept unsolicited material."

That's why I started my consultation service, which I named "Ready for the Row." If your are a writer or an artist looking for advice I can

          * listen to your songs
          * give you feedback on their craft and commercial potential
          * answer questions about the music business
          * give specific suggestions for reaching your career goals

Consultation
Consultation can be done in person, by phone or through Skype. The time can be used just for song critiques, just for questions and advice, or a combination of the two. The fee is $90 per hour, half-hour minimum. I have no trouble critiquing a song as soon as I have heard it, but if you prefer that I listen to songs and make notes in advance of the consultation session, there is an additional charge of $10 per song.

Recorded Critiques 
If you want a song critique that you can refer back to, I can record my feedback and email it as an mp3 or send a CD through the mail. (Please let me know which you prefer.) The fee is $40 per song or $30 per song for three or more.

How to send songs
By mail - send a CD and lyric sheets to Barbara Cloyd, PO Box 121497, Nashville TN 37212. Be sure to include your phone number and email address. Make checks payable to Barbara Cloyd

On line - email songs as mp3 attachments to barbara@barbaracloyd.com. (If possible, please do not send wma, wav or m4a files.)  To ensure delivery, send only one song per message. To avoid problems with opening different file formats, please paste the lyrics into the body of the email rather than attaching them   Pay on line with Paypal

Six-month mentoring package
Success in any field requires organization, discipline and consistency. For right-brained, creative songwriters and artists, that can often be a challenge, especially if you have to do it all on your own. This program is designed to give you support and help you stay focused as you learn and grow.

Meetings can take place in person, over the phone or on line with Skype. You can start the mentoring process at any time.

There are four components to this program:

1. 2 hour initial consultation

We’ll begin the first session by discussing what your ultimate goals are for your music - in other words, what you would be doing if all your dreams came true? Then I'll listen to some songs and give you feedback on their craft and commercial potential. Based on your level of development and what you’d like to accomplish, we’ll establish an action plan with specific long-term and short-term goals designed to fit your life and the way you like to work.

2.  Monthly consultations

At 30 day intervals we will meet for about an hour. I’ll listen to songs you’ve worked on in the last month and give feedback. Then we’ll look at how you did meeting the goals in your action plan for the month. We’ll celebrate the successes, learn from whatever didn’t work and then make new goals for the following month.

3.  Weekly contact

If you’d like some input on a song you’re working on, have a question about the music business, or just need a pep talk you can call, Skype or email once or twice a week for a brief (ten minutes or less) conversation.

4. Play for Publishers Workshop

These workshops are help 3 times a year and they are a way to learn about the demands of the market from successful professionals who regularly pitch to the top artists, producers and labels. Writers are invited to apply and 16 are selected to present their songs. Writers who are not selected are welcome to audit the workshop and they participate in every way except presenting their songs to the publishers. Your mentoring package includes attendance as an auditor at one workshop of your choosing. (If you would like to be considered for a spot as a presenter you do not have to go through the application process, but you have to pay the workshop fee.)

Cost     $900

You can pay by sending a check to Barbara Cloyd at PO Box 121497, Nashville TN 37212 or pay with Paypal.

Six-month mentoring package $900  

There is a 4% service charge added to Paypal Payments.