As I sat in the dimly lit grand ballroom listening to Robin Frederick’s presentation at this year’s TAXI Road Rally, I noticed how nearly every person in the audience was leaning forward. Just a tad. Not quite bent over, but definitely leaning in the direction of the stage where a single spotlight illuminated the gravitas of what Robin was saying.

Why were 1,000 musicians leaning toward her?

Because Robin sucks people into what she’s saying. She was giving one of her famous brain dumps in which you can’t take notes quickly enough. Every word matters! And every concept she freely gives away could be that ONE thing that helps you take your songs from really good to really, REALLY good. So good that one person asks another, “Have you heard that song?”

There’s not a songwriter alive who doesn’t pray for that reaction. I’m right, huh? You know exactly what I’m talking about, don’t you?

Well, this past November, Robin covered a topic that she’s never covered before; How to Turn Your Authentic Story into Hit Songs. And you could hear a pin drop in that ballroom.