May 2019
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 24, No. 5
Next meeting Sunday May 5th 2019 at 5pm
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
The meetings will be structured as follows: 5:00 to 5:30, business, networking and
introductions. 5:30 to 6:00, presentation by a guest speaker (when scheduled),
or a short workshop/exercise. 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
Important!!! Time Sensitive!!!
There is a free online summit starting on April 22nd 2019, it was very informative last year.
Here is a quote from Bree Noble who put this together: "My goal with the Profitable Musician
Summit 2019 is to eradicate the starving artist paradigm for good. I realize this is not an easy
task. That’s why I not only brought in Music Industry Experts this year, but I also tapped some
creative-friendly experts in the financial space.
Our mantra for the 2019 Profitable Musician Summit is “Get smart, get profitable, get back to
making music.”
My partner in this summit venture, Steve Palfreyman of the Music Launch Co, and I want to
make this whole “money” thing less of an enigma and more intuitive and systematized so you
can get back to the best part of your career – making music.
To that end, we chose 33 phenomenal speakers. To join us for the summit, register for free at
the following link."
https://profitablemusiciansummit.com/home
Mistakes (Bonus)
By Jeff Mason
This article is a continuation of last month’s article “Mistakes Part 4).” I had reviewed a video
discussion between song coach Robin Frederick and TAXI president Michael Laskow. It took place
on December 10, 2018 and the topic was “10 Mistakes Songwriters Make.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7e40GkgzH8
There were ten minutes left in the video discussion. This allowed time for some questions from
the audience and an eleventh mistake to be discussed.
Mistake Number 11; Don’t Compete With The Slowest Car In The Race.
Robin explains that a common complaint she hears goes like this, ”I was listening to hit songs on
the radio and the lyrics are just awful.” While she agrees that there are a lot of songs with awful lyrics
there are a “handful with great lyrics.” “And those are the ones you have to compete with.” Here are
some recent hit songs that Robin thinks have great lyrics.
“Back to You” by Selena Gomez.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GNGbmg_pVlQ
Here is verse 2 which I liked.
“We never got it right
Playin’ and replayin' old conversations
Overthinkin' every word and I hate it
'Cause it’s not me ('cause it's not me, 'cause it's not me)
And what's the point in hidin'?
Everybody knows, we got unfinished business
And I'll regret it if I didn't say
This isn't what it could be (isn't what it could be)”
The next song is “New Rules” by Dua Lipa. We, previously, analyzed this song for it’s melodic patterns.
(See Part Two of this series of articles.”)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEyAEMA6ojY
I like these lyrics from the chorus.
“One: Don't pick up the phone
You know he's only callin' 'cause he's drunk and alone
Two: Don't let him in
You'll have to kick him out again
Three: Don't be his friend
You know you're gonna wake up in his bed in the morning
And if you're under him, you ain't gettin' over him”
Robin selected “The Heart Wants What It Wants” by Selena Gomez
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ru2Mk72_2HE
I liked the chorus on this one.
“The bed's getting cold and you're not here
The future that we hold is so unclear
But I'm not alive until you call
And I'll bet the odds against it all
Save your advice 'cause I won't hear
You might be right but I don't care
There's a million reasons why I should give you up
But the heart wants what it wants
The heart wants what it wants”
She says anything by Charlie Puth is good. Especially “We Don’t Talk Anymore.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0zJr5l9L9Q
I wasn’t impressed by this one. Having said that, I have to remind myself that he’s the one with the
hit songs! Here is the bridge. What do you think?
“Don't wanna know
What kind of dress you're wearing tonight
If he's holding onto you so tight
The way I did before
I overdosed
Should've known your love was a game
Now I can't get you out of my brain
Oh, it's such a shame”
Robin says that the ones with the great lyrics are your competition.The one’s with poor lyrics are
usually by established artists or have been co-written by an established artist. Either way they have
a big following and can get away with it. As an example she cites a song by the previously mentioned
artist Dua Lipa. She says Dua Lipa would not have broken through with the song “Electricity.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7E6BdMV5TQ
“She broke through with “New Rules” and that’s the lyric you want to look at.” If you are writing for
AC (Adult Contemporary) take a look at Adele’s lyrics. I can confirm this statement as I have listened
to Adele’s music. Robin says we are outside writers trying to break in and we need an extra push to
break in and overtake the fastest cars in the race.
The first question asked by an audience member is why does Robin think radio a bad place to listen
to songs. It’s a terrible place to listen because of the chatty DJs, the contests, the adverts and the constant
interruptions. “And you have to listen to a ton of songs you don’t like to get to one you do like.” She recommends
bds radio or billboard.com.
The next question is why she considers it bad to be a multi genre producer. She advises that you “want to be
known for one brand.” Branding is huge. If you say you are working in a number of genres she knows you are not
good. Genres are deep. Pick a genre and go deep into it.
I would like to advise you to take all the songs cited in these five articles and make a playlist out of them.
Immerse yourself in them. Dig deep. 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
If you are interested in open mics, playing circles and songwriter meet-ups in the Central Florida
area, SusieCool has compiled a list.
https://sites.google.com/site/susiecoolsongs/Home/open-mic-directory-central-florida
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 8:30/9pm. The BBB has many delicious items on their menu, and also some vegetarian stuff.
They also serve beer and wine. They have a Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Central-Florida-Folk-Song-Circle-139385302761066/
On Wednesday May 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. The event usually takes place on 3rd Wednesdays, but sometimes
2nd Wednesdays. 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
Florida Music Food Initiative will be having a Benefit concert at Fodor's Grove on Saturday May 11th,
starting with a pot luck at 5pm. SusieCool and Asli have been asked to perform, as they have songs
on the FMFI CD's. Please bring non perishable food items for donation to food banks.
See https://www.facebook.com/FodorsGrove/ for further details as they become available.
SusieCool is the admin for a Facebook group called "Orlando Creative Music Network"
where we give out info on songwriter meetings, playing circles, open mics, workshops and concerts.
We have a Facebook page for this group if you want to join.
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
No Critique competition for April
New members always welcome!
© 2019 ISG