Expert: Terrance Copley - 4/2/2008

Question
Terrance:

You are just the person I need some advice from. You have alot of great experience and great ideas. My situation is a bit different and a bit complicated.   I will make a long story as clear and as short possible, and apologize that it is VERY long.

Here is a summary of my background:

Prior to 1999, I had been a musician for many years.  I had played guitar for 25 years, bass guitar for 16 years, keyboard and piano since I was a very young kid.  I had just started taking drum lessons and acting lessons.  I had studied music business, and music notation classes.  I had perfect pitch, and could write and arrange all of the parts on all of the instruments.  In high school jazz band I transposed and arranged for the brass section on an entire top/40 song, from tape.  I also danced, acted and modeled, although those professions were somewhat short lived, and mostly volunteer for experience.  But I played professionally in cover bands full-time for about 6 years real consistently.  We also played many ski town, parties, weddings, you know...the circuit.  In the 80's we were an A band here in Denver, and had somewhat of a following.  I also paid for and shot my own video, had a modeling portfolio; the whole bit.  After my club experience, I started to play for alot of worship bands, in many different churches.  This is when my songwriting career started.  After I became a born-again Christian, I wrote some odd 200+ songs. Half of my tunes are pop/top40, and half are the same musical style, but talk about the Lord. I don't say they are like the Christian music of "the day", but something like..."Jesus Is Just Alright With Me" - Doobie Brothers.  In 1999, just as I was getting sick, I wrote a song called "Colorado".  It was up for a nomination for a new state song, here in CO.  I received a hand written note from Mark Udall (then Colorado senator) regarding encouragement on continuing with the idea.  A short segment on it, was on the local news and in a local paper.  This is about as far as I got.

Here is my VERY complicated situation:  

At the end of 1999, I went in to the hospital for what was supposed to be a very minor surgery.  Well, I never came out of that minor surgery.  Some people had carried me home, and I have been disabled ever since.  I was sick from the day I came home.  Through the years I have been given the diagnosis of Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and MS symptoms.  I have not played my guitar for 8 years because I had lost alot of my body strength.  I am now on Social Security Disability. Poor. But more than that, in alot of pain and exhausted all of the time.  I have alot of limitations.  They call it sort of "the walking dead", I guess.  Quite a different life than the one I used to live!  So, I have had along time to consider if my career in music was over, as it was just beginning.  And basically trying to figure out what it was that I did wrong.  But I have not given up on my dream.

These are the questions I have:

1.) I need help with a plan!  To somehow work around this health issue, and still be able to pursue a career in music. Can you please help me sort this out? How can I still pursue music, even with these limitations?  Should I get someone else to do this for me?
I can not live financially like this the rest of my life, and I do not want to waist all of the hard work I have done on my music.  Although I know I am very limited right now, I believe that there are ways to work everything out.  If I was able to acquire some financial stability, my options for good health care would improve and I would improve quicker.  Then I would be able to perform again. I know most new groups usually go "on the road" to promote their new CD.  At this point, I would not be able to do that. But, here are the things I can still do:    

* Write songs
* Sing and play on the piano - two songs is all I can do, before I become exhausted
* I can arrange and write parts,  I still hear how the parts should be.  
* I can record with breaks and time in between.
* I still look fairly youthful, I am now 43.  But I paid my dues for years. I know how to perform, unlike so many don't know how to do, today, that want to be in the "business".  My music is quality and well written.

I read one of your previous answers regarding publishing.  I have thought about maybe selling my music, I wouldn't mind doing that, but there are only maybe about 5 songs I am willing to part with.  If I could find a company that would purchase on a song to song basis, that would be cool.   And I really like the idea of trying to sale to movies.  I saw one of the movie sites you had mentioned on a previous questions (www.isynx.com).  Do you know of any others, regarding purchase of movie songs?  To sale music to movie buyers, do the songs have to be real polished and produced on CD's, or do they just accept the vocal line with a piano?  Do you completely lose your ownership to the songs if you sale them this way?  I assume you receive money from the sales, but do not legally own the songs anymore?  Also, do you get to have a "say" on what your song would be used for?

2.)  Here is my second question

I am aware that the music market here in the US is very divided into musical categories. How can I sale on the top40/pop chart and sing Christian music too?  These are rigid lines I am having a hard time dealing with emotionally.  Religious people can be somewhat hard to handle,  just as those who are not interested in things of God at all.  I am not a religious person by any means, but I do love Jesus, as I am sure inside, many do.  I have been harshly judged by church people too, and as you know, in this culture we are dealing with it is a difficult thing when it comes to spiritual issues.   So it has caused me some confusion on dealing with this topic of "categories."  These songs I have written about the Lord, are as marketable as my pop music, and the sound is fairly similar.  How can I work these songs togethered?  How do I cross this rigid boundary?  Should I put all the pop ones togethered and all the Christian ones togethered, or mix them?  Should I do one categorie first and then the other?  Confusing.  I don't know if this same problem exists in other parts of the world as it does here in the US.  I heard possibly not.  I want to be wise about this problem, and with what is behind this.  It is unnecessary and harmful to me, as well as others.

Here is my last question:

3.) I have had thoughts of maybe moving to the UK or Canada for personal reasons.
It would be awhile before I would do that but I am trying to figure out, if I was to make that move should I try to get a manager and a band here, and then make everyone move with me? Or stay kindof independent promoting as much myself as I can, and find people out there? Are most labels here, also there too?  I would assume they are.
I have noticed lately how many of the big bands, that I grew up on were from the UK.
I am not sure if I would do this, but I want to plan ahead in case I decide on that.  I am currently in LA county.

I saw on your previous answer how you told that one guy to appeal through dance, excellent idea!  

Can you give me some direction on these three questions?  It would help so much.  Life has not been too fun, but I still believe there is something I can do. I am not giving up.

Thank you sincerely for any advice you can offer.

Blessings,
Leah

Answer
Hi Leah,

well all is not lost my friend as there are lots of ways to make $$ besides playing music. First, have you ever thought of band management. Someone with your experience can help a new band  and lead them away from all the sharks out there. There are many books on this on the web. Here are some websites you can look at :http://www.berkleepress.com/catalog/product?product_id=836293.
When i played bass for Jonny Rivers he told me that music publishing was the way to go for other ways to make $. He is right. The best bet is to solicit music publishers abroad like europe and japan. They are always looking for music for their artists to perform. If you go the management route, try the books by bob baker...THIS GUY IS A FRIEND OF MINE AND IS AWESOME!http://www.bob-baker.com/. I tell you, with your writing experience, publishing may be your bet and hey.... you can do both of these things. Ok so, your limited and can only play a few songs. if you have recorded music i suggest that you sell on www.cdbaby.com. If you have not recorded, i suggest you do and take your time. if you have the songs go to : www.musicsubmit.com to get airplay. ya wanna play live ? well, coffe houses are great places to network and find musicians, writers and you can perform at these at you leasure...even if its 2 songs. Th bottom line is, you career is way from over, you just need to try some other things like i stated above. No mater whre you move, try to gain as much knowlege about this business as you can like i had to and check bob's books. NEVER GIVE UP LEAH...the music BUSINESS need you...be a manager...be a publisher and solicit yourself for band manager on craigs list...YOU CAN DO THIS...I JUST KNOW IT.

I hope i helped!


Terry Copley