Shout it Out: My Experience

So, 10 days ago, I asked ya'll to help out my band by voting for us in the Shout it Out with Hanson contest. The final results:

#27 out of 140

So here's the full story...

About 6 weeks ago, I first became aware of this contest. My friend, Kevin, and I had been joking around for a while about starting a band and playing 80s cover songs at coffee shops and stuff. I figured that this contest was perfect motivation for getting started. But we didn't really have an original song to submit.

About 4 weeks ago, my friend Wes says to me, "Hey, can you help out with this project for school where I have to fully record and produce an original song." I said, "sure" and faked my way through a rough chord progression that became our song "Caroline." I didn't really realize how big it was going to get until Wes told me that he needed me to finish writing it because he already had the drummer and bass player booked for the recording studio. I went on vacation - the tracked drums, bass, guitar, and piano while I was in KS. When I got back, I finished the lyrics and tracked vocals and guitar just in time for Wes to turn it in and get 100% on his project.

So, for a band and song that didn't exist before a month ago, finishing the contest at #27 out of 140 is not something to be upset about.

Hear the song here.

The Contest...

I really wanted to win and I don't want to play the pity card, but there was really no way for us to win. I think that the voting method was as fair as it could be - and a bit laborious. But, at the end of the day, popularity did matter and there's no way that a non-existent band could challenge the number of voters that an established band could provide - even with my 3 computers lined up next to each other for voting.

I can say that with some certainty because the shifts that happened in the Top 20 over the last 30 minutes of the contest can be explained by nothing other than a bunch of fans and perhaps some rigging of the voting by those more technically minded than I. That is, the #1 dropped to #12. #18 jumped to #2. We moved up one space then fell down three.

Still, we beat people who make their living (or at least try to) by making music. That's fairly impressive.

The Outcome...

1) I'm glad for the contest because it broke a 2 year songwriting dry spell.

2) It made me more confident in my own abilities.

3) I'm always grateful and surprised by the commitment of my friends to help out when I ask.

4) If anyone from Hanson reads this and wants us to come to the show anyway, all you have to do is ask.

5) I'm hoping to go ahead and play some shows sometime in the near future. Hopefully Kevin will be on board.