April 2008
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 13, No. 4
NEXT MEETING: 5:00pm Sunday, April 6th, 2008
Officers:
President/Treasurer
Russ Robinson (407) 851-5328
Vice President/Member Reception/Newsletter
Matthew Griffin (407) 903-1212
Secretary
Jacquelyn Fain, crosstyes1@yahoo.com
Website
Carlos Colon (352) 326-4295
Archives
Barbara Ross (407) 862-2795
Membership
Gilda Corrales (407) 327-5494
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.isgorlando.org .
President's Letter
Howdy, all of you talented and gifted songwriters,
What a blessing! I look forward to hearing your tapes and critiquing your endeavors. I wonder if you’re even aware just how special this group is. What we do is not all that easy. I think you’d be surprised at how many people out there admire our talents. It’s a matter of timing, I think, when it comes to expressing our thoughts in words and music.
I’ve had several advertisers call me for ideas; they want to sell their products, but don’t always have the talent to express what they want to say. We have the talents that folks like that need. I try to pay close attention to commercials, and think of ways I could have done them better.
Those of you living close enough to attend our monthly meetings can pick up so many ideas by hearing what other writers come up with. I think of it as educational. I believe that may be the thing we do best. It’s neat how often one of you comes up with an idea that maybe no one’s thought of before.
Looking forward to seeing all of you Sunday.
Russ
A Whole New World
By Matt Griffin
I’m sure most of you are familiar with the song “A Whole New World”, written by Alan Menken and Tim Rice for the Disney movie Aladdin. In the part of the movie featuring this song, Aladdin is wooing Princess Jasmine; he takes her on a magic carpet ride and shows her the world. And the song is perfectly suited to this scene. One of the reasons the song works, though, is that it applies to our world almost as well as it does Aladdin’s.
It really is a whole new world, and the internet has a lot to do with it. For songwriters, it means we have new opportunities to get our songs heard. I know many of you are already taking advantage of the internet. It’s pretty amazing, if you think about it: anyone with a decent internet connection can listen to your song, anywhere in the world.
I have a song out on the web now, for the first time. Our friend Susan Foster-Trewick set up an ISG account on myspace.com, and posted a song that she and I co-wrote (“ Florida in my Shoes”). You can listen to it at www.myspace.com/internationalsongwritersguildorlando if you have the appropriate connections and equipment. ISG members, if you have a solid song that you’d like me to post to this site, I’d be happy to do so (one per person). The account will support “4 to 6” songs, maybe depending on how large the files are. If I get more songs than the site can manage, I’ll cycle them around occasionally. Note: I will not let this become my new career. If it proves to be a pain in the neck, or if folks complain I’m not giving their song enough time, I will quickly shut it down.
Of course, you can avoid dealing with me altogether by creating your own account and posting “4 to 6” of your own songs out there. It’s really easy; just go to www.myspace.com and click on the Sign Up button. Susan tells me she likes two other sites as well: www.soundclick.com and www.garageband.com . I’m sure there are others too. The point is, you can post demos of your songs with just a little work, and at no cost. The songs can be set up so that folks can listen to them but not download them, if you wish. It’s a great idea for writers to get their material out there.
I should point out that the internet can help out songwriters in numerous other ways. There are lots of news and informational sites, for instance, where you can get fresh ideas. There are rhyming sites like www.rhymezone.com that can be terrific aids to lyricists. The internet presents lots of opportunities for purchase of various types of music-related software: sequencers, digital recorders and production tools, music notation programs, and more. And of course there’s lots and lots of music in all types and genres.
It’s a whole new world out there. Maybe it’s time to get moving for those of us who’ve been a little slow to jump in. Like me. J
ISG Bulletin Board
Jeff Mason’s gig schedule:
Appearing At O'Keefe's Irish Pub, Fridays & Saturdays from 5pm, musicians welcome!
115 S. Rockingham Tavares, FL, 352-343-2157
Appearing at Tijuana Flats on the Patio (weather permitting), Thursdays at 6pm
444 S. Hunt Club Blvd , Apopka , FL 407 774 0402
Lead Sheet preparation by Carlos Colon. A simple lead sheet contains the melody, lyrics and chord symbols. For more information, visit my website at www.cecoriginals.com and click on “Lead Sheets” at the top of the page. Website design also available. Use your website address in advertising. Newspapers, business cards, fliers, to name a few and let’s not forget the use of email. Send your link to potential clients. For more information, visit a few of my clients sites at http://www.ticopeach.net/clients.htm.
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.
We’re always looking for material for the newsletter. If you have any information that you would like to see added to the newsletter, please see Matt Griffin at the meetings or email him at isgorl@cfl.rr.com . Please keep your articles brief and to the point. Print deadline for the newsletter is approximately two weeks prior to the monthly meeting.
Classified advertising may be placed free of charge to members in good standing with the ISG . For more information on display advertising and/or classified advertising for non-members, please call Russ or Matt or email: isgorl@cfl.rr.com ..
Why isn't your gig announced here? Call us with your appearance schedule!
Place your classified ad or gig announcement here! Free to ISG members as always! Just get your text to Matt by the print deadline (usually the Friday 16 days prior to the monthly meeting); email is best ( isgorl@cfl.rr.com ).
New members always welcome!
March’s Top Songs—Results of monthly critique session
(1) Whatever Lila Wants by Jeff Mason
(2) Little Child by Susan Foster-Trewick and Mary Austin
(3) Hearts Remnant by Ester Starling and Mike Kondol
© 2008 ISG