October 2015
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 20, No. 10
Next Meeting Sunday October 4th 5:00pm
The International Songwriter’s Guild meets at 5 PM on the first Sunday of every month at the Central
Florida Musician’s Union building, 3020 East Robinson (at the extreme east end of Robinson, near
Orlando Executive Airport) in Orlando.
Songwriters, composers, performers, publishers, and the curious are encouraged to join us. Non-members
are invited to attend a meeting or two to get a feel for our group and what we do. For more
information, visit our website at www.tinyurl.com/isgsongs or myspace page at
The meetings will be structured as follows: 5:00 to 5:30, business and introductions. 5:30 to 6:00,
presentation by a guest speaker (when scheduled), 5:30 or 6:00 to 8:00, song critiques. Please bring a
CD or I-phone or mp3 player or perform your song live, and bring 10 or more lyric sheets. If we have at
least 5 songs by members who wish to be scored, and 6 members scoring, then we will have them entered
in the Monthly competition. Everyone is encouraged to write constructive comments on the lyric sheets.
We are hoping to have a visit/talk soon from a representative from Soundwire Records, a local record
label that SusieCool has recently met. More details when we get closer to the meeting.
Any Details not in this newsletter are at: www.tinyurl.com/isgsongs
If you wish to join our Facebook group, please check us out at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/831814850193553/
Shoemaker
by Jeff Mason
Another summer is almost over. It doesn’t seem like it here in Florida. It’s still hot and humid
outside. The air conditioner is cranking but Halloween is just around the corner.
I’ve spent my summer listening and playing Leonard Cohen songs. I’ve spent much of my time
listening to Bob Dylan. This was a purposeful activity. They are both good lyricists and I’d hoped that
their quality might rub off on me and inject itself into my own creative work. I’ve found killer lines
in each of their works. There was a character in the first True Detective series who said, “I thought I
was mainlining the secret truth of the universe.” That is how I feel about Cohen’s work. There is an
obscurity and mystery in his music. I don’t understand his songs but they touch me deeply. Pat Pattison
asserts that a song must move and develop incrementally as it progresses. That rule doesn’t always
apply to this music. I asked myself if it was all stream of consciousness but I’ve discovered that
Cohen slaves over every word. He rewrites and rewrites. Discarding whole verses if necessary. Here is a
quote from a 1992 interview with Paul Zollo, “Before I can discard a verse, I have to write it. I can’t
discard a verse before it is written because it is the writing of the verse that produces whatever
delights or interests or facets that are going to catch the light. The cutting of the gem has to be
finished before you can see whether it shines.”
http://www.brainpickings.org/2014/07/15/leonard-cohen-paul-zollo-creativity/
I am usually exhausted after writing the first draft of a song. I’ve crossed a line and I’m
congratulating myself for arriving at this stage. Now the polishing of the gem should begin. Here is a
quote from Jason Blume, “It’s been said that great songs are rarely written, they are rewritten.
Sometimes the magic happens and we get a “gift,” a first draft of a song that truly needs no polishing.
But more often, successful songwriters have to dig to find those gems.”
http://www.bmi.com/news/entry/the_art_of_rewriting_songs
Why do I struggle at this point of writing a song? I am resisting the truthful fact that the
real hard work must now begin. Cohen knows about the struggle and hard work of songwriting.”But why
shouldn’t my work be hard? Almost everybody’s work is hard. One is distracted by this notion that there
is such a thing as inspiration, that it comes fast and easy. And some people are graced by that style.
I’m not. So I have to work as hard as any stiff, to come up with my payload.”
Blume writes in his excellent article “The Art of Rewriting Songs.” A common pitfall for
developing songwriters is that there is often a discrepancy between what the writer intended to express
and what the audience receives.” I think that this statement validates some of Pat Pattison’s
assertions. Blume continues by saying, “Unless your goal is to write the kind of non-literal, abstract
lyrics that work so well for artists such as Coldplay, Beck and Roseanne Cash, who write their own
material, you want to be certain your listener understands your message.”
So both methods of songwriting are valid.Both require discipline and dedication. As Maria
Popova eloquently writes in her article about Cohen on the Brainpickings web page, “Cohen approaches
his work with extraordinary doggedness reflecting the notion that work ethic supersedes what we call
inspiration.”
http://www.brainpickings.org/2014/07/15/leonard-cohen-paul-zollo-creativity/
She continues with a series of inspiring quotes from other notable creators including
this from Victorian novelist Anthony Trollope, “My belief of book writing is much the same as my belief
as to shoemaking. The man who will work the hardest at it, and will work with the most honest purpose,
will work the best.”
Blume makes excellent suggestions on how to rewrite songs, including ways to improve a
melody. Let me leave you with this quote from Cohen, who at 80 years is still garnering critical and
commercial success, “If I knew where the good songs came from, I’d go there more often. It’s a
mysterious condition. It’s much like the life of a Catholic nun. You’re married to a mystery.”
See you next month.
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 announced here? Members in good standing
call SusieCool with your appearance schedule! 407-760-2153
Thursday October 1st 2015 8 to 11pm.
SusieCool will be playing at the Smiling Bison as part of a First Thursday Songwriters Series
hosted by Beth McKee. Other Featured guests for the October edition include Circa Antipop, Lauren
Galant, Kevin Maines and Justin Kangrga. The Smiling Bison is at 745 Bennett Rd, Orlando Fl 32803
(407) 898-8580 for dining reservations.
Also for anyone interested, Central Florida Folk hosts a song circle at the Sleeping Moon on the last
Wednesday of each month. 7 to 10pm. All are welcome. It is acoustic. Next one is next Wednesday
September 30th. They have a facebook page too.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Central-Florida-Folk-Song-Circle/139385302761066?fref=ts
On the third Wednesdays of each month we have a playing circle with the Fingerstyle Guitar Group in the
Community room of the winter Park Library. 460 E. New England Ave.-- Winter Park, FL 32789.
6 to 8:30pm. Songwriters are welcome, but we do try to play our fingerstyle songs and not use picks.
There is more info on the facebook group page.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/228147620559285/?fref=nf
Current members please send us your website info if you would like your site to be listed in the ISG
members page. https://sites.google.com/site/isgsusiecool/home/links-and-recommended-reading/member-websites
Also if you have any songs that have placed first in the monthly critiques, please send the
mp3's to isgorlando@gmail.com if you would like to have them featured in the ISG MySpace page.
September critique Results
1. "Your Sexy Eyes" by Melanie Fisher
2. "Hold On Tight" by Pamela Belitch
3. "I Don't See You Around Anymore" by Will Campbell
New members always welcome!
© 2015 ISG