January 2022
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 27, No. 01
Live meetings are Canceled due to CoronaVirus.
However, we will be having on-line Zoom meetings.
We will send details under a separate e-mail,
and an announcement on the Facebook group page.
We expect it to be scheduled for
Sunday January 2nd 2022 at 5pm. If you want the
zoom meeting details, please e-mail us
at isgorlando@gmail.com
Hopefully we will soon be meeting in person again.
Please stay tuned for more info.
Any Details not in this newsletter are at:
If you wish to join our Facebook group, please check us out at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/831814850193553/
WebChatter
by CyberToad
We are asking members to renew their dues. It costs only $5 per year,
and it helps us to defray costs for the zoom meetings.
We have 2 methods of payment. Either paypal to our treasurer Asli Goncer's
paypal account. The paypal access is at aslivision@gmail.com
or you can mail a $5 check to
Asli Goncer
2849 Babylon Court
Oviedo, FL 32765
Either way, we appreciate your continued support.
What Am I?
By Jackie Mason
Musical instrument sales are booming! This is an unexpected benefit from the pandemic. As we approach the third year of Covid there seems to be no immediate end in sight. The lights are, again, going dark on Broadway but guitar sales are through the roof.
https://www.vulture.com/2021/12/rockettes-cancel-rest-of-2021-christmas-shows-due-to-covid.html
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/11/21/fender-sales-boom-as-guitar-playing-surges-during-the-pandemic.html
On Black Friday I succumbed to market trends and purchased an Electronic Drum Set! It has a pair of speakers which sound good. It rolls up and has pads that correspond to the snare drum, toms and cymbals. It even has pedals for the bass drum and ride cymbal. I think it will help in my songwriting. It’s a teaching tool.
As the year progressed and I thought about my career I came to the conclusion that my best musical genre is as a singer/songwriter. I have been influenced by the teachers that appear on taxi.com “Being able to identify your song’s genre is necessary when pitching to music supervisors and film/TV production music libraries. “TAXI gets requests from music supervisors all the time that try to describe what they need in terms of a genre,” Michael Laskow, founder of TAXI. This quote comes via a BMI article by Jason Blume.
https://www.bmi.com/news/entry/what-genre-are-you-really-writing
It’s difficult these days because so many genres seem to cross over. Another TAXI stalwart Robin Frederick tries to answer the question.
https://robinfrederick.com/what-is-the-singer-songwriter-genre/ Robin never fails to give good advice and insight and even has an inexpensive, self paced course available on her website. https://mysongcoach.teachable.com/p/music-genres
It was easier to define the singer/songwriter genre in the past. I have no doubt in my mind that Nick Drake or Townes van Zandt are singer/songwriters. You’ll be forgiven if you’ve not heard of either. They didn’t sell a lot of records when they were alive. This documentary presented by Isc on YouTube will suffice as an introduction to Nick’s tragic, short-lived life. “A Butterfly In The Cold.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YbnRS-O9tw&t=181s Preferring to work alone, he was a talented guitarist and songwriter. His guitar tunings were unusual and added to his ethereal sound. Listen to his most famous song “Pink Moon” and describe the genre for yourself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaTNFZ8g--M Nick passed at age 26, in 1974, due to an overdose of an antidepressant. In the years since his death he has become a cult-like figure with several musicians citing him as a major influence. Kate Bush, Paul Weller, Robert Smith of the Cure and actor Heath Ledger have all talked of Nick Drake’s influence. “I was obsessed with his story and his music and I pursued it for a while and still have hopes to kind of tell his story one day.” Heath Ledger in Rolling Stone
https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-news/heath-ledgers-nick-drake-obsession-100122/
Like another tragic artist Vincent van Gogh, Nick Drake is now a commercial success. Check out this 1999 Volkswagen ad featuring “Pink Moon.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-kqUkZnDcM
Townes Van Zandt, also, lived a tragic life. Here’s another introductory documentary from Isc “ The Greatest Songwriter You Never Heard: Townes Van Zandt Documentary.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmvWd01Crss&t=174s
Unlike Nick Drake he did develop a cult following during his life but it never gave him any commercial success. There are plenty of stories surrounding this almost mythical road warrior. His songs have been recorded by Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris and Steve Earle. He was a very good guitarist and songwriter. He passed at age 52 in 1997, a victim of the bottle, heroin and bi-polar depression. Check his song “Waitin’ Around To Die.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylfGJDVcJfE His songs are very appropriate for today’s television shows. Like this song “Lungs” used in “True Detective.” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=byZ7Sr2t1pQ
So like Nick Drake, his songs are commercial for today’s market. Next month I’ll take a close look at today’s singer/songwriters. From the Tower of Song, stay safe.
ISG Bulletin Board
Meeting space graciously provided by Central Florida Musicians Association,
Local 389. You are invited to join the largest union in the world, representing the
interests of the professional musician. Visit their website at afm389.org for more
information. You may reach them by phone at: 407-894-8666.
Why isn't your gig or live stream announced here? Members in good standing call SusieCool
with your appearance schedule! 407-760-2153 or e-mail her the details at isgorlando@gmail.com
If you are interested in open mics in the Central Florida area, SusieCool has compiled a list.
Steve Hodak hosts several newly listed open mics on the East coast.
https://sites.google.com/site/susiecoolsongs/Home/open-mic-directory-central-florida
SusieCool is the admin for a Facebook group called "Orlando Creative Music Network"
where we give out info on songwriter meetings, playing circles, open mics, workshops and concerts.
We have a Facebook page for this group if you want to join.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/274152179716552/
No Critique scores for December, since no live meeting.
New members and guests are always welcome!
© 2021 ISG