May 2017
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 22, No. 5
Next Meeting Sunday May 7th 5:00pm.
We will be having a talk from Jerry Waller near the beginning of the meeting.
Jerry hosts Biscuits, Bacon and Blues on WPRK 91.5 FM in Winter Park. He is also involved
with the Blues Society, and is promoting Singer/Songwriter events at various venues. Come
along and give him a listen. Jerry is also a Sound Engineer, Instructor at Full Sail, a
Songwriter, and plays guitar. He describes his style as: “Southern Fried Outlaw Music;
it’s kinda like Keith Richards meets Kris Kristofferson in a Louisiana swamp.”
We'd like to welcome new member Joseph Leon, who joined in April.
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/
Right On Cue
By Jeff Mason
I have good news on my health issues. After enduring the claustrophobic cacophony of
an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) machine, the diagnosis was that I don’t have pinched
nerves on either side of my spine. I did have a headache. A resounding one that lasted an
evening. I do have arthritis in my lower back and I am now enduring a round of strenuous
physiotherapy designed to turn me into a human pretzel.
In this article, I am going to begin a discussion on musical cues that are used in
television and film. Taxi president, Michael Laskow has described them as a good way to
earn an income in the music business. They are usually instrumental tracks, consisting of
a few instruments, that can be 60 seconds, 90 seconds or 120seconds long. Saying that they
are easy to create may be an over simplification. Here is an analogy from Laskow,
“You can paint houses and masterpieces.” A house painter can be a skilled individual.
Writing cues can be a faster way to earn money. Another fact to consider is that the days
of the big orchestral track are on the wane. They may come back into vogue so we should,
as Laskow says,”stay on top of what’s going on in the world.”
In her book, “Shortcuts to Songwriting for Film and TV,” Robin Frederick says the
following,”Your song’s instrumental track, minus the vocal, is a stand-alone piece of
music that can be in scenes, commercials, promo spots and trailers.” “The track you
created to accompany your song can be edited, rearranged, stripped down and remixed to
fill the needs of this market.” These tracks are referred to as the “song bed.” She
suggests that you work further on the ending and “make certain your track has a clear,
well defined end point.” This is known as a “button ending.” “Avoid long instrumental
fade-outs.” Another tip from Ms Frederick is “No sound effects in your mix.” For example:
“If you include the sound of ocean waves in your track, you limit its uses. Put it in a
desert scene? No way.” “If you recorded and mixed your song in your own studio, run an
instrumental mix immediately after your final vocal mix.” “ If you’re working in a
commercial studio or using a demo production service, be sure to ask them for a track only
mix.” I have been preaching to you about Robin Frederick’s books for a long time. If you
haven’t checked her work out yet you are really doing yourselves a disservice as
songwriters. http://robinfrederick.com/
I met a musician in LA a couple of years ago who told me about a book. I remembered
the title but I got a word wrong. So for a while I couldn’t find the book on the internet.
I knew that this book would be good because I knew the musician who had recommended it was
very knowledgeable. I finally found the book which is titled “Demystifying The Cue” by
Dean Krippaehne. It and it’s companion book “Demystifying The Genre” are considered the
“Rosetta Stone of Cue Writing. I will leave you with this link to wet your appetite and I
shall pick up on this article next month. https://www.deankrippaehne.net/media
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
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 May 31st from 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 May 17th 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
SusieCool has become the organizer of a Meetup.com group called
"Orlando Creative Music Network". Please check out the webpage
for all sorts of upcoming events. It is free to join.
https://www.meetup.com/Orlando-Creative-Music-Network/
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
April Critique Results:
1. Crazy Again Kent Trewick, Susan Foster-Trewick 15.50
2. The Butler-Berlews - Song Lindsay Stroh, Susan Foster-Trewick 13.33
3. Space Machine Kent Trewick, Susan Foster-Trewick 12.80
New members always welcome!
© 2017 ISG
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International Songwriter's Guild
Website: www.tinyurl.com/isgsongs
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/831814850193553/