April 2016
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 21, No. 4
Next Meeting Sunday April 3rd 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 https://myspace.com/21075001
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.
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/
March Madness
By Jeff Mason
I crawled over the FAWM (February Album Writing Month challenge) finish line
like an exhausted marathon runner. Recording and posting fourteen songs in one day. I
wrote my last song on February 27. Like last year’s challenge, my final inspiration
was drawn from a television character. I’ve found television a rich resource for
ideas. Books are another good idea generator. I’ve discovered that my personal
version of morning pages will unlock writer’s block. Write about any thing that
springs to mind. I am not concerned with the end product. Process is the most
important thing. This is a voyage of self discovery. I am learning about my writing
habits, both good and bad. What words do I habitually use? Which melody lines do I
unconsciously fall back on? I am learning about the limitations of the song form. I
have been frustrated by the constraints imposed by chord arrangements. I am learning
how to recognize when I’ve inadvertently trapped myself and how to escape from that
self imposed box.
There are limitations in our language.The rhyming process is a minefield which
can blow up a good song idea. Let me refer you to a 2013 article by Robin Frederick,
“To Rhyme or not to Rhyme.” Ms Frederick points out that she “often sees lyrics that
have sacrificed meaning or depth for rhyme.” Today’s popular songs use mostly “near
rhyme.” Perfect rhyme rules supremely in musical theatre and Disney songs. Ms
Frederick was criticized for suggesting that rhyme was unnecessary in a first draft
of a song. The critic thought she should look into “Stephen Sondheim’s philosophy of
rhyming.” This article is an interesting response to that criticism.
http://mysongcoach.com/rhyming-in-contemporary-songs/
After the intense experience of FAWM I rolled into an equally intense
preparation for St. Patrick’s Day. The music that I play is a combination of folk
songs and Tin Pan Alley material. Interestingly, the perfect rhyme rules in this
repertoire too. I have four sets of music which I only get to play once a year. It’s
become a bit like my Christmas repertoire. I have to memorize it again. There’s also
a certain feel to the music. There’s a feel to playing blues which is similar in a
peculiar way.
FAWM and St. Paddy’s are over and it’s time to write this article. It’s also
a moment to reflect and refocus. I am thinking about entering a song contest. It’s
been almost five years since I’ve reviewed song contests. You may find a
comprehensive list of song contests on the ASCAP web site.
http://www.ascap.com/music-career/resource-guide/resource-10.aspx
This from the ASCAP Resource page
“Songwriting competitions provide networking opportunities and inspiration for your work.”
They are similar to FAWM in that they can serve to motivate you.
Like FAWM, I’d advise concentrating on the process rather than the
advertised prizes. In addition, it can be a chance to get some professional criticism
of your song. I’m also reminded by my last articles on the subject that John
Braheny’s book “ The Craft and Business of Song Writing” gives great advice on the
pros and cons of song contests. The book is still available even though John passed
away three years ago.
Here are a few of the song contests which you may consider:
John Lennon Songwriting Contest. The contest is still open for the first session with
a deadline on June 16, 2016. The second session opens on the same date and deadlines
on December 15, 2016. The price starts at $30 per song www.jlsc.com It has a variety
of categories.
Mountain Stage Newsong Contest. It’s open for entries on September 8, 2016 with a
price beginning at $25 for the first song.
https://www.newsong-music.com/contest/
International Songwriting Competition 2016. This contest always has a highly
qualified panel of judges. The Early Bird deadline to enter is June 10, 2016. The
Regular deadline to enter is September 9, 2016. It’s $25 per song if you beat the
Early Bird deadline. Again there are multiple categories
http://www.songwritingcompetition.com/
American Songwriter Magazine’s Lyric Writing Contest appears to have a contest every
two months but I couldn’t find an entry date. Check the website out. $15 per entry.
Anyway have fun if you decide to try your luck and I’ll see you at the meeting in April.
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
Message from Asli Goncer: Performance at Tijuana Flats March 23rd
Hello Music Fans
It is fiesta time again! You know you love Tijuana Flats, so what could be better
than tasty Mexican food, good music, and raising money for charity at the same time?
Here is your chance to do all that on Wednesday, March 23 from 5PM to 8PM.
SusieCool and I will be performing at Tijuana Flats as part of a Dine and Donate
event benefiting the Greater Orlando Council of the Blind (GOCB). When you order
your food, please tell them you are there for the GOCB event and a percentage of your
bill will be donated to the organization. SusieCool and I will also be selling CDs at
the event and will donate 20% of sales to GOCB!
Date: Wednesday, March 23
Event: Greater Orlando Council of the Blind (GOCB) Dine and Donate
Time: 5PM to 8PM
Place: Tijuana Flats
(corner of University Blvd. and Goldenrod Road)
7608 University Blvd., Winter Park, FL 32792
407-673-2456
Don’t forget to tell them you are there for the GOCB Fund raising event when you
order your food. Bring your sombrero and come join the fiesta!
www.reverbnation.com/aslivision
www.youtube.com/aslivision (see new videos there)
Friday April 15th 7 to 10pm. TAX DAY!!!
The "Jane Gang" will be performing in the round at the Sleeping Moon Cafe.
AsliVision, SusieCool, Stevey Zee, Dell Smith and Sheryl Paige are the Jane Gang.
there will also be a round with James Butler Wayne, Logan Belle, and Matthew Cox,
and also a performance by Pam Shuler, who will be accompanied by Leon Olguin and
Sheryl.
Where: Sleeping Moon Cafe, 495 N. Semoran Blvd Suite 1. Winter Park FL 32792
They have great food and drinks!!!
Saturday April 23rd Barberville Spring Frolic
The "Jane Gang" with Dell Smith, Asli and SusieCool will have 2 sets on Saturday.
11:30am Church
04:30pm Bridgehouse
The sets are only 25 mins, so please don't be late!!
Where: 1776 Lightfoot Ln, Barberville FL 32105
The festival is on Saturday from 10:00am till 9:00pm,
and Sunday from 10:00am till 4:00pm
Sunday April 24th 10:00am to 2:00pm. Earth Day celebration at Lake Lotus park.
Jeff Mason will be performing, and Asli, Dell and SusieCool will also be performing.
(We may have an appearance by the "Jane Gang" too :-))
Where: 1153 Lake Lotus Park Rd. Altamonte Springs FL 32714
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.
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. https://myspace.com/21075001
March 2016 Critique results:
1. "You'll Never Find Another Like Me" by Will Campbell
2. "Happy Accident" by Asli Goncer
3. "Wild Winds" by Jeff Mason
New members always welcome!
© 2016 ISG