October 2017
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 22, No. 10
Next Meeting Sunday October 1st 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 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
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/
Webchatter
By Cybertoad
Here is an updated Blog/article from Ari Herstand.
CD Baby, Tunecore, DistroKid, AWAL, Ditto...Who is the Best Digital Distribution Company for Music
Here is an article sent to me by former VP of ISG, Dan Jones of a SONICBIDS Blog about whether
you are an Amateur or a Pro musician.
Just Carry On
by Jeff Mason
Hurricane Irma arrived on my birthday. Perhaps there’s a song idea in that fact. I’m not sure yet. I
do know she left me exhausted and uninspired. The stress of urgent preparation before the storm, the
intense and fearful stress during the storm and the aching, tired stress after she ripped through our
neighborhoods. So now I pick up the pieces and return gratefully to my work. I am grateful as I know
it could have been so much worse. I find myself seeking inspiration. I must write this new article. It’s
not writer’s block that ails me. What ails me is a feeling of being overwhelmed by all the jobs that lie
before me. It’s not writer’s block because I am a full paragraph into this article already. I could call it
post traumatic stress disorder. I see another song idea floating like a bubble into my consciousness.
The term PTSD seems like a good idea for a song title.
One tool I have discovered is Oblique Strategies. “It is a set of cards created by Brian Eno and
Peter Schmidt used to break deadlocks in creative situations. Each card contains a (sometimes cryptic)
remark that can help you resolve a creative dilemma.” http://www.oblicard.com
Indeed, the title of this article comes from one of the cards. I now have an oblique strategy app
on my phone which I consult, periodically. I have found this particular aphorism very useful. I shall just
carry on writing and see where it leads me.
Fearing the dreaded block I did a little research and came up with a useful blog on the subject,
“Top Ten Tips for Overcoming Writer’s Block” by Ginny Wiehardt.
https://www.thebalance.com/top-tips-for-overcoming-writer-s-block-1277776
Most of them are the usual tips that one finds but they are nevertheless valid. I liked the fourth tip
which suggested “idleness can be a key part of the creative process.” And “ideas need time to gestate.”
Another idea that I have stumbled upon was to speculate on how many songs have been written
about hurricanes. Quite a few so it turns out. I liked the New Orlean’s Music News from the 2015 Times Picayune,
“10 songs inspired by hurricanes and hurricane season.” I was delighted to find a song by a friend of mine
Alex McMurray. “Turn My Lights Back On,” which is about Hurricane Isaac. It left thousands of Louisiana residents
without power for days. I found this song immediately on YouTube. I know there will be some of you who will connect
to the sentiment of the song. Jimmy Buffet’s 1974 “Tryin to Reason With a Hurricane Season” is included. From my
own experience there is no reasoning to be made. “And now I must confess, I could use some rest, I can’t run at this
pace very long.” I can certainly relate to those lyrics. The 1965 “Hurricane Betsy” is remembered, not so fondly, by T
exas bluesman Lightnin’ Hopkins.
http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2015/06/on_the_first_day_of_the_2015_h_1.html
The dark and truthful “Long Black Line” by Spencer Bohren is my favorite. The black line being the high water mark
which was left when the 9th ward in New Orleans flooded after Katrina. Black because of the toxic, chemical sludge
in those flood waters. I am sure people in the Florida Keys will see similar black lines in their homes.
Irma will be a blues song when I write it. I am suitably inspired.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
On Saturday October 7th from 2 to 4pm, Central Florida Folk will be hosting a Songwriting Workshop
at the Winter Park Public Library, 460 E. New England Ave. Winter Park, FL 32789
Our topic will be “Let’s write a song”. This will be an audience interactive workshop hosted by
Al Scortino, an award-winning Florida singer songwriter. The audience will pick a topic, create a song
title and actually write lyrics that tie into the topic and song title. After it has been created then the
audience along with Al will suggest musical accompaniment and will end the session singing the song
that they just wrote. Al has been presenting this workshop at various Florida Folk Festivals to very
enthusiastic audiences. This is a presentation for all age groups. It is free and open to the public.
Here is the link to the Facebook event page
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 the last Wednesday of each month
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. They have a Facebook event page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/476931642670717/
On October 18th we have a playing circle with the Fingerstyle Guitar Group
in the Community room of the winter Park Library. This is usually on 3rd Wednesdays.
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/
We also have a Facebook page for this group if you are not in meetup, but want info.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/274152179716552/
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
September 2017 No Critique Results
New members always welcome!
© 2017 ISG