Kevin Welch

A few years back, I sat in the office of an influential music agent. I was early, and he had business to wrap before an evening of overpriced drinks, appetizers, and dinner. It was my first trip to New York.  Given the agent’s status in the industry, I did not want to be late. He invited me to sit with him while he finished his day instead of having me spend over an hour in the front lobby.

My job at the time involved making music decisions for a major market radio station. He, on the other hand, was a multi-millionaire with unlimited influence in music culture and an impressive list of clients, bands, and artists you probably have in your iTunes library. Most with his resume and client list had a blinding arrogance; he, on the other hand, was the kindest gentleman I’d ever met in the industry. During the next 90 minutes, I learned a lifetime of lessons that I could apply seamlessly to writing.

#1

The agent said, “You have your whole life to write your first album. You have eight months to write your second. This is why so many bands fail – the Sophomore Jinx. Bands take those eight months and give only a passing thought about writing their follow-up. Second albums are horrible.”

The writing lesson. As a writer, you have a lifetime of ideas for your first novel. If you’re fortunate and your book gets published, make sure to keep writing. It’s easy to get caught up in the glitz of success and forget what it took to get you there. By now, you should have a system of writing in place. Stick to that system.

#2

He said, “Signing a record deal doesn’t mean you’ve made it. Tons of albums have been shelved even after they were paid for. It’s nothing until it’s out, and then it’s only one.”

Getting a book deal means the work has just begun. I’ve talked to a number of writers who have told me writing their novel was the easy part. All the readings, signings, travel, panels, hotels, and meetings take it out of a person. Signing a deal is just the beginning. After all the promotion and touring, writing, editing, and revising, you have another book to write.

#3

“Obsessive bands get signed. Whether it’s in the writing, the practicing, or paying attention to bursts of inspiration no matter the time of day. Some of the best songs were written on a Casio piano at 2 am.”

Story ideas come at us all the time. You won’t remember them if you don’t take a minute to write them down. I have musician and writer friends who tell me if a dream or an idea occurs, they wake, get their guitar or computer keyboard to work the idea out then and there. Simply letting the ideas slip away with a thought that you’ll remember it and write it down later is a disservice to your craft.

#4

“The bands I work with often know more about new artists than I do. They’re students of music. Getting a deal didn’t stop that. In fact, most often my new clients come from recommendations from my current clients.”

Have a touch of writer’s block? Read. What’s new, who’s hot, and how are they writing? You can’t expect the way you’re doing something today to be relevant in a year. You won’t know what’s relevant if you don’t know what’s out there. Besides, you’ll sound incredibly knowledgeable at the next function.

The agent made one more phone call, arranged a driver, and grabbed his jacket. I stood, gathering my thoughts and feeling quite inspired.

“You’re going to love this new band of mine tonight,” he said. “You ready to eat?”

I don’t remember the band we went to see after dinner but will never forget the 90 minutes I spent in his office prior.

Kevin Welch has an MFA from Converse. He teaches part time at Mt. Hood Community College in Portland, Oregon.