THE SINGLE BIGGEST DISTINCTION BETWEEN PROFESSIONAL AND AMATEUR SONGWRITERS

​In my mind, the single biggest distinction between a professional and an amateur writer is their way of thinking. Here are some of the most significant differences I’ve observed over the years in my day to day life as a full-time songwriter.
 
Amateurs think “Somebody is going to steal my song.” 
Professionals think, “I’m going to write my idea better than anyone else. If they write it better than I did, more power to them.”
 
Amateurs write when inspiration hits and only when it happens, and they brag about it.
Professionals write anyway.

​​Amateurs think about what they want to write and what they personally feel close to and write about that whenever the inspiration hits them.
Professionals also think about what audiences want to hear.

Amateurs think about writing another song tomorrow.
Professionals think about writing a better song tomorrow.
 
Amateurs think about getting more pitch opportunities.
Professionals think about writing a better song, because they know when they write better songs, the pitch opportunities will come along.
 
Amateurs don’t pay attention to the market or the charts, because they write what they want and they don’t “sell their soul” to the industry.
Professionals literally study and analyse the market and the charts.
 
Amateurs “do what they do.” And it’s the world’s job to “feel them”.
Professionals change and adapt with the market.
 
Amateurs think about getting in the room with a “bigger writer.” To write with and that person’s success to help them to grow their name in the industry.
Professionals think about getting in the room with someone that helps them write better songs, regardless of their success or status.
 
Amateurs demo everything they write.
Professionals carefully and strategically choose what to demo.
 
Amateurs think everything they write is a “hit” and if it don’t become the top in the chart, they will try to put the blame on someone else.
Professionals know that most of what they write are not hits. They are realistic.
 
Amateurs compare themselves to other writers and complain about their music not getting enough attention as it deserves.
Professionals tend to not worry so much about everyone else and just concentrate on writing better songs than the ones they wrote last week.
 
Amateurs look at their best song as their one shot at success.
Professionals know that it takes lots of great songs to succeed, so they look at their best song as the song they have to beat the next time they write.

Author

Hangi Tavakoli is our in-house established and professional music producer with 20 years of experience in songwriting, music production, mix and mastering. He has written and produced more than 5,000 published songs to-date, including some major hits in international scale.