Bill:

Songwriting in today's ever-evolving market is truly frustrating for many reasons... as you already know. It is nearly as important to have a network of people who can "open doors" for you and your work... as it is to have songwriting talent.

Finding those contacts is time consuming and nearly requires the skills of a good detective.

A songwriter who does not perform in public is also at a tremendous disadvantage today. Only a few years ago, very few "artists" wrote their own songs... and now, almost every singer or band prefers to "cut out the middleman" by doing their own writing.

While submitting songs to Taxi or other similar organizations may sound like a really good path... I prefer to save my time and money because I have heard so many horror stories about the "interns" who work the boards at these places. Few have real "ears" and most are afraid to take a song to the "pit boss" for fear he/she won't like it and their boring little listening job will be in jeopardy... so they find excuses to have the submitting songwriter do a rewrite or another version, etc.

My answer is to keep on writing and recording while learning as much as I can to improve in about a dozen directions and to try to make contacts who really count. I don't worry too much about the lack of monetary success... although that is my overall objective. Instead, I keep writing with the idea that "all it takes is one."

Bill, after having heard you sing your own work, I don't believe you need to take a back seat to anyone. You are a talent and a genuine individual. Eventually, if your health allows it, you will succeed.

Finally, there are so many talented performers here at the "Zone" I am constantly in awe at how many "lurk" among us here. Mason comes to mind... but it does not end there... LOL!

Regards, Dave
http://www.ShowCaseYourMusic.com/DaveRice