Musical Genius

11 years ago

I would think there's something to it. I think copywriters who are musicians have an intuitive feel for "rhythm," the rhythm of the words and how they flow together. Super important for writing copy for VSL's where someone is going to be narrating. Plus, like music, copywriting is a fairly right brained activity.

I play bass. Also made electronic music for many years. A lot of copywriters are just failed musicians, haha.

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ECTally 11 years ago

Originally Posted by KingOfContentMarketing

How about it? Is music linked to copywriting greatness, or is it just a koinky dink?

Coincidence, I Think NOT! - YouTube

Originally Posted by Sean Fry

Plus, like music, copywriting is a fairly right brained activity.

Indeed. In a recent study covered by Time, one of the researchers noted the following:

"Music also activates the amygdala," says Salimpoor, "which is involved with the processing of emotion, as well as areas of the prefrontal cortex involved in abstract decisionmaking. When we're listening to music, the most advanced areas of the brain tie in to the most ancient."

Originally Posted by Sean Fry

A lot of copywriters are just failed musicians, haha.

Speak for yourself, brother.
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anthonyfrye

11 years ago

Haha Sean saying "A lot of copywriters are just failed musicians," is hilarious. I am a drummer myself and writing words is a lot like music. As a musician, you learn to paint pictures with the sounds you have available.

Just like music, in copywriting, you paint pictures of the present and the future in your readers minds. Get descriptive so they can relate in their mind to all their senses when reading your copy.

~Anthony

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Loren Woirhaye

11 years ago

I think playing an instrument and working at it just
teaches you that high level skills are attainable
if you put in the time to practice a lot. Some
skills are finite I suppose, operating a forklift for
example, but music and writing are not - one
can always improve until advancing age and
infirmity erodes the skill, as sometimes happens.

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Alex Cohen

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Loren Woirhaye

I think playing an instrument and working at it just
teaches you that high level skills are attainable
if you put in the time to practice a lot. Some
skills are finite I suppose, operating a forklift for
example, but music and writing are not - one
can always improve until advancing age and
infirmity erodes the skill, as sometimes happens.

To play an instrument at a high level, a person must be able to hear with his "inner ear". He has an innate ability that goes beyond reading notes and creating sounds.

For most, all the practice in the world won't change their ability to "hear".

Too woo-woo?

Here's another one.

Two photographers with similar equipment take shots at the same event. One set of pictures turns out beautiful; the other is average at best.

Why?

Because each photographer "saw" differently as they took their pictures.

I don't know how it happens, but somehow what a high-level photographer sees transfers onto his pictures.

Alex

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James Clouser

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Alex Cohen

To play an instrument at a high level, a person must be able to hear with his "inner ear". He has an innate ability that goes beyond reading notes and creating sounds.

For most, all the practice in the world won't change their ability to "hear".

I agree that natural talent helps.

AND... I know many top performers who don't have an ounce of natural talent in their bones. They don't deny the fact, either.

It's more often THOSE people who succeed at the highest levels of the industry, because they have to (and are willing to) work harder than the naturally talented players. Those who don't have to work as hard take it for granted.

The natural talents end up working STEM jobs and doing $50 gigs on nights and weekends. You can go to any bar on the west side of Cleveland get world class music any night of the week. It's amazing.

Jean Sibelius said it this way when he was asked why he invited businessmen, rather than musicians, to his parties: "The only thing musicians care about is business. The only thing businessmen care about is music."

Who you train with is often times the main determining factor in whether or not you'll make a career out of music. If you want to win competitions, tour the world, and have record deals... you have to coach with those who have already done it.

Not unlike becoming a top copywriter, I suppose...

Scott Haines talked about this in his webinar with Brian McLeod and David Garfinkel last week. It resonated with me, because I lived that in the music world.

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James Clouser

11 years ago

I'm totally convinced that conservatory training is the last vestige of real "education" in this country. (By the way, no disrespect to the guitarists in the group. They have to go it on their own, which is harder.)

The skills you hone as a musician are universal: error detection, problem solving, interpretation, dedication to mastering your craft, etc. Musicians can do anything.

Personally, I left the music world by choice (as a keyboardist). I didn't "fail" in any way. My live recordings have been played on NPR, I've been featured several times in national music journals, went to a top international music school, and had a run as an award-winning concert musician during my 20s. I started there and eventually settled down to have a family and cozy into a full-time directorship position at a large non-profit organization.

I became a copywriter when I got sick of working for someone else, and didn't want to go back out on the performance circuit.

Playing professionally wasn't a bad existence, but let's be honest: copywriting is way more lucrative, plus it allows a creative person to use his artistic faculty.

I used to get a lot of "Oh, it's a shame that you left the music world." Most people don't realize those skills are transferable. Plus, I still do gigs to keep my chops honed.

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Benjamin Farthing

11 years ago

Everything worth achieving requires lots of practice.

You don't see results after 30 minutes...

But after enough 30 minute sessions, you'll become a master.

Studying music teaches people that. And once you get it in your head, you can apply it to every aspect of life.

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RonGold

11 years ago

Ironically, I write/compose music myself and writing is my second favourite hobby.

I ain't got no worries.

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BrianMcLeod

11 years ago

Now... NOW?

Now, you have to bring this up?

Don't you know this week sucks for me, Joe? Of course you don't.

Man, I have lots to say about this, think about it a lot and talk about it frequently with just about every amazing muso/marketer I meet (and they are legion).

I think it has to do with the fact that being a rockstar really is the coolest of the coolest jobs on earth. Even movie stars want to be rockstars.

Music is a remarkable vessel or conduit on so many levels, most particularly in terms of transference of emotion.

Tapping into that invisible, omniscient current of creativity that all musicians live for is particularly visceral while playing an instrument (like guitar). When you're lost in the jam, you're there.

The notes and the ideas and the words flow freely, often surprising and delighting you as you play them. You learn to trust that they'll always be there when you need them.

Sound like good copy yet?

HEY JEREMY! Get in here, dude...