Overnight success takes how long?

There is a saying here in Music City (and probably other places too) that it takes 13 years to become an overnight success!

People come here from all over with the dream of making it big in country music.  Many of them are the best of the best from where they hail, but they get here and realize you need to be a different kind of good, a better kind of great. 

It's not just about "paying your dues" it's about building a network of contacts in a world of constant change.  The turn over is crazy and your constantly trying to create something that will sell 18 months from now and who knows whats going to be "in" then!  However there is a real chance that you might hit the jackpot AND if you do you'll see mail box money for the next few years...  sound familar!

As a songwriter... you write songs in world of illegal downloads that completely cut you out of the picture.  You probably write a couple hundred songs a year - demo less than 50 at (at least) $500 a song - pitch less than 10 to a gatekeeper (who may or may not pitch them to the artist) - have less than 5 put on hold (meaning an artist may or may not record it) - get 1 cut (meaning it may or may not make the record).  If it makes the record and it's not a radio single you'll make your portion (depends on the number of co-writers and who owns the copywrite) of $0.09 every time an album is sold.  IF it becomes a single that takes it's time moving up the charts hangs out a bit in the top 3 and then takes it's time moving down the charts you'll make a "little" royalty money.  This money will probably take 18 months to show up in your mailbox from the time the song hits radio.  In the meantime you'll work other jobs to make ends meat while you're living the dream!

The reason I mention any of this is because songwriters know about rejection, working for little or nothing and yet they do it anyway because it's their passion and they have hope that someday it will all pay off.  In the meantime they "practice" their craft, learn new skills to market their wares, network to find better co-writes and people who believe in their product, and mentor new writers...it reminds me a lot of the MLM model. 

Find one you can be passionate about, practice your craft, learn and master new skills, network, and mentor... duplicate!

Oh yeah!  And have fun!!!