It's not good enough just to craft a good song. Our showcases are about helping musicians learn to perform in a very intimidating environment. The more pressure filled evenings they get under their belt, the better off they are. Not to mention the fact that I bring in professionals from Nashville, New York, and Los Angeles to judge. Having people become aware of your work, being able to begin building relationships with those professionals who can impact a career, is vital to success in this business.
Unbiased critiques are another benefit of entering work in awards shows.
Those judges are encouraged to provide constructive comments, offering specifics about the strengths or weaknesses of a production, rather than just ripping it apart. I believe that getting feedback from people in other parts of the country can be invaluable. Songwriter and showcase winner Andrew Firstman appreciates the critiques. The critiques I've gotten at GMIA showcases made me realize I'm not as sucky as I think. I think what awards and awards competitions do is to help you realize you've got a lot of good competition out there and to keep the fire under your butt so that next time you're working, you're reaching for that better line, that better hook.