Has anyone ever made any real career progress based on a songwriting contest? Winning one means you aren't bad - but not winning one doesn't mean you're bad either.
I'm not being snide here - I honestly would like to know if anyone out there who has actually taken home a ribbon from one of these things has seen any benefit from it. I know of at least one incredible songwriter who currently tends the counter at a convenience store, despite rave reviews and awards.
So, which is of more benefit - contests or legwork?
Jim--That's a great question! I always figure that what contests are really good for is getting good work in front of industry folks that might be in a position to further a career. I enter lots of contests every year on behalf of the radio station's news staff and I don't think any of the wins has made a serious change in anyone's life. But, the awards have allowed the station and the reporters to build reputations for quality - locally and nationally.
I suppose it really comes down to: how much is the entry fee and who's on the panel? I looked at the list of judges for the ISC and decided that there were enough names or organizations that I recognized that I thought the contest was worth mentioning (I'm not endorsing it, because I agree with you, I can't be positive of any contest's inherent value).
What does everybody else think?
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Deadline for International Songwriting Competition discount
