Here are some suggestions to help you prepare your song for entry into the typical competition:

DO…

• keep your intro short.
• submit your song on CD if at all possible. If you must use a cassette, be sure to cue the tape. Many competitions are no requiring CD’s for submission.
• label everything clearly with the title of the song and your name and contact information. Make sure cassettes are labeled on the correct side.
• buy a good quality CD or cassette. Double check to make sure everything plays.
• submit a clear, clean copy of the lyrics. Be sure the lyrics on your lead sheet match what is sung on the CD. Check for typos and spelling and grammatical errors.
• label parts of the lyric (verse, chorus, bridge, etc.) It isn’t necessary to reprint the chorus every time.
• make the lyric fit on one page of paper.
• get the best instrumentation you can. Many songs are fine with just a piano vocal or a guitar vocal.
• get the best vocal you can, one whose voice fits the style of the song.

DON’T…

• spend a lot of money on your demo. An expensive demo can’t sell a weak song.
• give a long explanation of when, how, and or why a song was written. Generally speaking, a song should stand on its own.
• use lengthy instrumental fills or interludes.
• submit a song that is longer than most songs you hear on the radio.
• submit a song that only you can sing because it is so personal. Evaluators usually look for songs that have broad commercial appeal.
• submit a song that has poor structure or no recognizable structure.
• submit a song whose meaning is unclear.
• go overboard using special paper, an unusual typeface, or fancy graphics for your lyric. Keep it simple.
• submit sheet music and/or chord symbols. It’s not necessary.