Bentleyville Tour of Lights Song, Songwriting Contest Thoughts By Terry (Ter) Scott

Since this blog is about "making things" and then selling them (which has to do with one's creativity) and with songwriting and artwork being "intellectual property" requiring skill and talent, I wanted to address "contests" in this article. I won't go into as much detail here, but I invite you to read more at my other blog: http://terryscottsings.blogspot.com.



With songwriting as with any other creative product, my feeling is that one must not "give it away" free (unless one volunteers to do so, on their own, for personal and well thought out reasons). When one gives away their talents like this, they continue the cycle of the "poor artist" syndrome for everyone. When people do not pay for something, it then has little or no value.



For hundreds (maybe thousands) of years, artists, songwriters, crafters of any form, have been taken advantage of in the way of "contests" and similar things. Imagine a group of people in the the stone age gathered around after a hunt, just talking. One says, "Hey Gore, how about putting on a new stone door to my cave this week, let me know what you'll need for your time and materials". Then Uggie chimes in: "OK, Gore, do you have time to work on straightening my stone wheel? Let me know the cost". Then they turn to the artist in the group, the aspiring young member who has hopes that his work will be seen and appreciated through time: "Augie. Can you do some cave drawings for me this week; don't spend too much time on them". What does this tell people about your work? That art that brings people happiness and enjoyment (that seems easily produced by its originator) is less valued than other skills such as construction, mechanics and such!



In my online courses and live seminars and classes for crafters, artists, songwriters and other creative types, I encourage people not to participate in such contests because the only people who really "win" are those who now have full rights to use your artwork (or music) in any way they wish with you the artist, songwriter, etc. getting very little for your efforts.



After years of being in the art, music, and promotional business, these are my thoughts. I invite your comments and questions below.