I walked into a Nashville bar & learned this…
I’m navigating Music City as a newcomer. Here are 5 lessons I've learned so far. Plus, tomorrow I'm sharing a demo with industry pros—wanna hear it first?
Well hello sweethearts,
I’m in Nashville, which means I suddenly sound like an old diner waitress, rollerblading over to you with a white-sugar ridden iced sweet tea.
Oh my darlin’s, I’ve been here 2 weeks. Here are my top 5 highlights and lessons learned so far.
1. Networking in Nashville: “Red Door Hang”
Turns out, people are punctual in this industry.
My spirit’s still living on ~island time~. And I thought being fashionably late would be a cool girl move. It used to be back in college, at least.
Last week, I headed to a networking event. I’d heard about it through my friend, American Kevin. I swear, American Kevins are the best. So reliable.
The traffic downtown was a headache, and finding parking was an expensive nightmare (can you believe I paid $20 for 2 hours?). I finally walked up to the Red Door Saloon an hour and a half late. The bulky, bearded bouncer said, “ID please.”
Oh right, that’s a thing in this country.
I fished my ID out of my purse, and smiled widely. God, it’s so easy to be in the South. Being a nice, smiley girl is social currency that goes a long way here.
His face lit up with a matching grin as he handed it back. “I like your sparkles,” he said. And he meant it. Vibe check, passed. We Southerners know how to play a game of flattery. And this was only my warm-up.
I held tight to that little compliment as I strutted inside. Around that corner, I knew no one.
I once read that a person’s confidence can be measured by the distance between their ears and shoulders. So I slammed my shoulders down and back, lifted my chin, and walked my sparkley ass into the bar.
One of my mentors advised me, "When you go to networking events, look stage-ready. That way, they will know from a single glance that you’re an artist with a brand.”
There I was, fully decked out in sparkle pants and high-heeled boots. I felt in character. Everyone else was… well, I forgot how casual Americans tend to dress.
I turned the corner and set my sights on 30 people, standing in cliques of 3 or 4.
Heads turned. I saw the quick up-down scans. A millisecond of assessment. You wouldn’t even catch it if you weren’t looking for it.
I quickly scanned the room and settled on a group that looked friendly enough. And as they took me in, fresh meat, I strolled over and said:
“Hi, I’m Sydney! I’m new here. May I join y’all?”
They nodded, slowly.
And that’s the power of posture and sparkle pants and being in one’s own culture where the nuances are everything.
I love getting to know people. And if you really want to know how to leave a lasting impression on someone, be curious about them. Ask them questions. Take interest in what they have to say.
I used to love schmoozing. I could charm a wall. I would be lying if I said I didn’t come to Nashville to schmooze just a little bit, and use my charisma. Not abuse it. But use it.
But charm is just the entry ticket. Mystery makes people lean in.
So what I’ve found to be most effective is to shut up about myself and zone in on the other person.
I had my elevator pitch ready, but I started it with:
“Have you ever felt like…? Yeah, me too. And I wanna write an album about that exact feeling. Tell me more about your experience, I wanna hear your story.”
But you have to make sure to balance warmth with competence. It’s important to know when to flip the switch and sound smart and put together when asked a key question like, “So, what kind of music do you make?”
The rest of the event went well. It was set to end an hour after I arrived, and who wudda thought, Nashville people are punctual exiters too. I still had 30 min left on my parking. Darn.
Hey, at least it was good practice. Plus, I got the full rundown on where to go each night of the week to see the best songwriter rounds and open mics. Got some tips on where the community hangs out in their spare time. Added about 10 new people on Instagram. And 2 people came up to me, saying something that made me feel really good, someething along the lines of, “When I saw you walk in, I just knew I had to come over and talk to you!”
🍒Top Takeaway
If you’re walking into a room knowing no one—own it. Confidence is a magnet. And if you don’t feel confident? Put on an outfit that makes you feel unstoppable. People pick up on the energy you bring. Ask questions, show curiosity for others. Also, being ‘fashionably late’ is for college frat parties. In business—even music business—show up on time.
2. Ya girl’s an official member of the ✨Nashville Songwriters Association✨ (NSAI)
I caught word that this membership is a huge bang for your buck. At $200/year, songwriters who join get a set amount of 1:1 mentorship sessions, online pitches, and song evaluations. Plus, weekly meetups, a huge library of online courses and resources, and free writer’s room bookings at their building on Music Row. And the best part? Instant access to a huge community of people that have the same passion as me.
🍒Top Takeaway
If you’re serious about your craft, find the organizations that exist to support people like you. A lot of folks waste energy trying to reinvent the wheel when they could be tapping into a community that already has the connections, resources, and opportunities they need. Do some digging—you might be surprised what’s out there.
3. Song Pitching at NSAI
Tomorrow, I’m driving down to this week’s NSAI meetup. It’s a feedback session where 30 songwriters (first come, first serve) can share 1 demo with a seasoned industry leader and receive their feedback.
They only listen to the 1st verse and chorus of the demo. I’m thinking I’ll share a song I co-wrote in Bali with my friend Jeremy, called “I’d Never Say.” It’s still in pre-production, at a point where feedback can still be incorporated. Check it out and let me know whatcha think!
I'd Never Say Lyrics Verse I’d like to write a song to tell you to go to hell But misery loves company so I’d stop myself God didn’t give me an angel’s voice to waste on a devil like you You won’t get one word, rest-assured, I’ve got better things to do So I would never say… Chorus You’re a control freak, two packs a day Yellin’ at me, when I go on stage Pretending, everything’s ok I’d never say You gotta mean streak, you’d always say Stop complaining, put me in my place Pretending everything’s ok I’d never say… Post-Chorus Why, why, why I’d never say…. Why, why, why Oh I’d never say….
HOLY SH*T I LOVE THIS SONG. It’s like… my feminine rage meets Olivia Rodrigo’s spunk meets Dolly Parton’s Southern subtleties.
The Dream Outcome
I play the demo and hordes of seasoned songwriters rush up to me, wide-eyed, amazed, hoping to co-write with me (visualization = manifestation people!!).
A famous artist catches word of the session and contacts me personally and says, “Everyone’s talking about the hit you wrote. Please, I beg of you, can I be the one to cut it?” My phone’s ringing off the hook. Eventually I’d agree to the highest bidder. Then the song gets released, makes it onto radio, and I get to retire from the passive income made on royalty checks.
The More Likely Scenario
The industry dude leading the session gives me a head nod, and shares his wisdom on how to improve my work. And I get to take it back into the writing room with Jeremy.
I get to hear the demos of other songwriters and connect with new people who seem flippin’ cool to write with, and I beg them to co-write with me.
I go home feeling proud of myself for taking another small step to put myself out there in Nashville.
Either way, fantasy or practice prediction, I think I’ll be alright.
🍒Top Takeaway
Put yourself in rooms where you can grow. Worst case? You learn something. Best case? Someone sees your talent and doors open. Either way, you’re leveling up. (Also, manifest that dream scenario—you never know who’s listening out there.)
4. My next single is making progress! A master of fiddle and lap steele guitar has been secured.
My new single is nearly ready for mixing & mastering, it just needs a sprinkle more emotion first. So why not throw in a fiddle and lap steele guitar? Meet Everett Wren, the legend who will be playing on the track. For now, that’s all I wanna say. More to come soon!
🍒Top Takeaway
Progress isn’t always flashy, but small steps stack up. Whether it’s booking a session musician, finalizing lyrics, or sending an email—momentum is momentum. Keep going. See your project through!
5. Library Finds: Saved by a Song by Mary Gauthier
Having access to a public library…ugh, what a luxury. I popped into my local one last week and picked up a few music books, including:
Never before have I emailed an author to personally thank them for their work, until now.
Gauthier’s book validated my entire experience as a songwriter. Songwriting is HARD. And not for the technical aspects, per say. More for the emotional cost, the courage needed to be vulnerable, to stare your deepest wounds in the eye, and lay them out on the table to reassemble into a song. Mary reminded me - despite all that - it's a worthy cause for healing, and for generating real social change in the world.
Gauthier weaves her wisdom through personal stories of hardship and tremendous growth that make it both an easy read and one that pulled on my heartstrings. I shed tears, for Gauthier, for myself, for every person that's ever been saved by a song.
"I try to point songwriting students down the road to their own voice, which is often the voice they are most terrified of. When they land on the sound of their own voice by revealing the deeper truth of their song, they often weep. The voice that makes them weep is theirs and theirs alone, but it is also bigger than the individual and connected to the universe, the whole. The voice is mighty. It is as important as any voice ever raised. Once a writer finds their own voice, they can't forget it exists." - Mary Gauthier, Saved by a Song
🍒Top Takeaway
If you have access to a library, go! Find books by people who have walked the path before you. Their words will remind you why you started and why it’s worth continuing.
Thanks for being here, y’all. Next week’s post, I have something really special to share. Until then, have the best week ahead chicos and chicklettes!
xoxo,
PS WHO CAUGHT THE ‘WICKED’ PERFORMANCE AT THE OSCARS?? I swear I’ll never recover.
Love that demo!! ♥️♥️♥️