Making Your Mark in Music City: A Guide to Writers’ Rounds and Live Gigs
Welcome to Nashville: The Heartbeat of Music City
Whether you’re new here or just visiting, it won’t take long to see why Nashville truly is Music City, USA. Live music fills the air almost every day, at nearly any given time, and the opportunities to perform are endless— in bars, restaurants, or at intimate writers' rounds and showcases.
Building Connections and Networking
Nashville’s music scene thrives on community, and being able to “hang” with others is a big part of it. For emerging artists, playing live events is one of the quickest ways to expand your network and immerse yourself in this creative environment.
Performing live not only helps you polish your craft but also teaches you the art of captivating an audience. These moments give you the chance to form genuine connections with listeners, express your personality, and show the world who you are as an artist.
What Is a Writers' Round?
Nashville is famous for its writers' rounds, where 3-4 songwriters take turns sharing their songs and the stories behind them. The setting is often cozy and low-key, letting the music and songwriting take center stage.
The great thing about these rounds is that the audience is there specifically to hear your music. Unlike typical bar performances where you might be background noise, you’re invited to engage with the crowd, share your stories, and connect on a deeper level. With multiple songwriters sharing the stage, each performer typically gets to play a handful of their best songs.
Are Writers' Rounds Paid?
Usually, writers' rounds aren’t paid gigs, but you can earn tips or make money through merchandise sales.
How Do You Get Booked for a Writers' Round?
There are several different approaches to booking a spot on a writers' round, depending on the venue or organizer. The best way to start is by reaching out to round organizers through their website or social media, and introducing yourself and your music. Many organizers have a submission process or application system. Once you connect with the organizers who book these live events you can create a relationship with them and continue to sing on future rounds.
Getting Started
Performing in a writers' round is a Nashville rite of passage and one of the best ways to meet fellow artists. Legendary venues like The Bluebird Cafe and The Listening Room host some of the top rounds, featuring songwriters who have penned chart-topping hits. While these venues are highly competitive, they’re definitely worth adding to your bucket list!
In the meantime, plenty of other rounds offer equally great opportunities that are more accessible. To help you get started, I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite writers' rounds below. Good luck!
ORGANIZATIONS THAT HOST WRITERS’ ROUNDS
The Bluebird Cafe – Famous for showcasing hit songwriters, this is a bucket-list venue for many artists.
The Listening Room Cafe – Another iconic spot offering a premium writers' round experience.
Nashville Tour Stop – Regular events at venues like the Moxy Hotel (Mondays), Cambria Hotel (Tuesdays), and Sonny’s (Wednesdays).
Bus Call at Tin Roof – A Wednesday night round at Tin Roof (Demonbreun St), known for full-band showcases.
Birds of a Feather Writers' Round – Held at Tennessee Brew Works every Thursday from 6-8 PM.
Pindrop Songwriter Series – Hosted at Sonny’s on Sundays, a supportive space for developing artists.
Pitch Meeting – A unique Tuesday night event across Nashville where songwriters teach their songs to a live band before performing.
Whiskey Jam – A high-energy songwriters' night at Dierks Bentley’s Bar on Broadway, on Mondays and Thursdays.
Thanks so much for taking the time to read this blog post! If you would like to keep in touch and continue to learn more about all things music related, please consider signing up for my newsletter and sharing your contact info below.
Cheers!
Warmly,
Mark
