| JACKIE DiPILLO |
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Jackie DiPillo
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Zero To Sixty:
What My NSAI Membership Does For Me
By Jackie DiPillo
When I first came to town, having written ZERO songs, I learned about NSAI through attending the Adult Songwriting class at Vanderbilt. The teacher, Deanna Walker (still teaching it, but now it's called Blair Hit Songwriter Seminar), along with many of the pro songwriters/lecturers had highly recommended NSAI to all of us "newbies" in the class. I immediately joined NSAI, and even started volunteering.
I met so many dedicated and talented songwriters, on all levels, who were involved with NSAI because of their love of songs and songwriters, and I found out that NSAI is like the "Great Connector." From volunteering during Tin Pan week and at Symposium for a few years, I got to know the people who work at NSAI, as well as the publishers who would come representing the pro songwriting community. I started making contacts, which led to developing relationships, which led to making new contacts, etc. It has a snowball effect. It's true what I've heard said, that Music Row "is a small campus." Everyone pretty much knows everyone.
I also utilize the online evaluation service NSAI offers. Of course my goal is to have my songs "pass" the panel, so it can be played for the Pitch to Publisher luncheons. This has happened a few times, and is always a great feeling of validation. Even so, if my songs didn't pass, I learned something from each and every critique. It's up to me to either apply the critique for a rewrite, or not. It's a good tool for all members.
Over the years I've had three songs as Honorable Mentions in the annual NSAI/CMT Song Contest, and one song I co-wrote landed in the Top 5 this year! So exciting! This has led to more doors being opened, which is all I can ask for. It's up to me from here. Again, NSAI: the Great Connector.
Most recently, after a meeting with National Membership Director, Sheree Spoltore, two of my songs were played for a room full of Music Row publishers, and I was so pleased when Sheree called to inform me that, as a result of NSAI playing my two songs, I now have more than a handful of new leads to follow up on, and start developing these relationships.
Songwriting is so fulfilling on so many levels. It's a community of caring people, no matter if they're a volunteer or a publisher, an NSAI employee or a budding artist, a teacher or a student; whether they've lived in Nashville their whole life, or are fresh off the bus with a guitar strapped across their back. We all care about each other, and the Nashville Songwriters Association International is like the seed...or the glue...or the cheerleader...or the mentor...or whatever each of us out here needs. NSAI is there for us, and I'm so thankful. THANKS, NSAI!
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