March 2017
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 22, No. 3
Next Meeting Sunday March 5th 5:00pm. We will be having an interesting talk from Ben
Gardner with Orlando Bands http://www.orlandobands.com/ so please be on time.
We'd like to welcome new members Mike Milano and BJ Orbase who joined in February.
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 St., Orlando, FL 32803
(at the extreme east end of Robinson, near Orlando Executive Airport)
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. If you wish to join, there is an annual fee of only $5. 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/
In The Middle
By Jeff Mason
It’s February 18th and I am at full stretch and writing songs. Eight songs into FAWM.
So one song off the pace. Consequently, this will be a shorter article than normal. I
started this month off with some health issues. In retrospect, I can see that I am doing
well considering the difficulties I have endured. Life is cruel and never spares the
artist. The art must go on. This reminds me of a documentary film about the friendship
between Pablo Picasso and the French artist Henri Matisse. Towards the end of this film a
bedridden Matisse is making collage art while battling health issues.The 2009 DVD is
available on Amazon and still inspires me. “Matisse/Picasso Twin Giants of Modern Art.”
https://www.amazon.com/Matisse-Picasso-Twin-Giants-Modern/dp/B001CK7OLU
Another inspiring documentary is Spike Lee’s “Michael Jackson’s Journey from Motown
to Off the Wall.” I have never been a huge fan but this film fanned my interest. The 1979
album “Off the Wall” was Jackson’s fifth album and is full of lush arrangements and well
crafted songs. Not surprising because it was produced by the legendary Quincy Jones. The
documentary examines Jackson’s move from the Jackson 5 to becoming a complete performer. A
well planned move as we can see from Jackson’s own notes, “I will do no interviews. I will
be magic. I will be a perfectionist, a researcher, a trainer, a masterer… I will study and
look back on the whole world of entertainment and perfect it. Take it steps further from
where the greats left off."
The documentary includes interviews with dancers Fred Astaire, Sammy Davis Jr. and
more contemporary artists like Weeknd’s Abel Tesfaye and Pharrell. Hot producer Mark Ronson
cites the album’s influence on him. I would advise listening to the album because there is
plenty to be learned from a songwriter’s perspective.
http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/21548-off-the-wall/ There isn’t a bad song on the album
For me the best song is “She’s Out Of My Life” written by Tom Bahler and I am fond of the
Paul McCartney composition “Girlfriend.”
Time for me to wrap this one up. Back to FAWM. See you next month.
Webchatter
By Cybertoad
5 Habits of Highly Effective Songwriters
(Please check the link below for details.)
https://songtown.com/habits-highly-effective-songwriters/
1. They are always on the lookout for great ideas.
2. They write regularly.
3. They show up.
4. They own the muse.
5. They WON’T give up.
Write on!
Marty Dodson
Co-Founder SongTown
Songwriter/Producer/Lipscomb Grad
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
The Jane Gang will be the featured guests at the Copper Rocket Pub's open mic on Tuesday
February 28th The Village Plaza, 106 Lake Ave, Maitland, FL. The open mic should start
around 7pm, and the Jane Gang (SusieCool, Asli Goncer and Dell Smith) should go on
somewhere between 8:30 and 10pm for a 20 to 30 minute set. The open mic is hosted by Ben
Gardner.
Songwriting Seminar: The Anatomy of a Song
Winter Park Public Library Saturday February 25th 2017 at 2 pm.
460 E. New England Ave.-- Winter Park, FL 32789
(407) 623-3300
This seminar will get down to the bones of a song and provide an understanding of the basic
structures or anatomy of a song.
There are many aspects to the craft of writing a song that communicates and connects with a
listener, but how do you begin to learn this process? We will discuss how to identify
different song sections and how these song structures can enhance the mass appeal of a
song. This seminar will include hands-on exercises to help solidify these concepts and
spark your own creativity! If you are new to songwriting, this is a great place to start.
If you are an experienced songwriter, this seminar will be a great review of these concepts
and may even help you understand why some of your own songs are better received by
audiences. Join us to learn more about the craft of songwriting and for the opportunity to
connect with fellow songwriters!
Hosted by Central Florida Folk, Taught by Asli Goncer.
If you want to join us at the Central Florida Folk song circle, please show up at Bikes,
Beans and Bordeaux at 3022 Corrine Drive on February 22nd at 6 to 8:30pm. The BBB has many
delicious items on their menu, and also have some vegetarian stuff. They also serve beer
and wine.
On March 15th 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
There will not be a playing circle in January.
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
No critique Results for February.
New members always welcome!
© 2017 ISG