August 2001
Guild Tidings
The official Publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 6, No. 8
NEXT MEETING: 5:00 P.M.Sunday August 5th 2001
Happy Birthday, Russ Robinson!
(on August 2nd, he’s 117 years young)
The International Songwriter's Guild meets the first Sunday of every
month at the Central Florida Musician's Union building at 3020 East
Robinson (at the extreme east end of Robinson less than a block from
Herndon 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.
Officers:
President/Treasurer
Russ Robinson (407) 851-5328
5108 Louvre Ave
Orlando, FL 32812
Co-Vice President/ Member Reception
Matthew Griffin (407) 903-1212
Secretary
Evelyn Nelson (863) 644-8699
Membership
Susan Foster-Trewick (407) 679-4017
Web Consultant
Asli Walker (407) 359-0506
President’s Letter
Dear Writers,
Well here we are, about to leave the summer season and begin the cool fall months. Maybe we’ll concentrate better if we get more comfortable. I still like Florida best even if we have “our kind” of summers!
I want to remind you that Xmas music writing and marketing should be in the works now. You don’t want to wait too late. Pull out some of your songs already finished and concentrate on what you didn’t get to do last year.
I’m getting close to closing the “Fifteen Little Words” issue. We’ll discuss this Sunday. I really have liked most of what I’ve seen and heard. Perhaps editing of several may be an issue. If you’re still working on your own, please try to finish and submit to me. Too, some of you have only lyrics and we need to have a melody so as to have a “song”. Perhaps two of you need to do this together. Think about it, we’ll see at the meeting what we can do.
We need to be thinking about a showcase idea. I haven’t been to check out the hotel ballroom in Daytona Beach as yet. They have called asking me to come over. Maybe I’ll do so before August 5th.
See you Sunday. Take care.
Russ Robinson
Web Chatter
by Susan Foster-Trewick
cybertoad2000@yahoo.com
The Leu Gardens Concert series had a special show on Sunday July 8th with 3 ISG members being a part of it. They were Serina Jung, Lisa Firestone, and Stephen Currence. Among others appearing were Jack Kapanka (producer of the "Tabu" series of concerts), Bob (Stormcrow) Sanders (a former member of ISG), Philip Weidner (President of the Songwriters Showcases of America), Mark Smith (Vice President of Central Florida Folk), Patty Crago, and Doug Halper on hammered Dulcimer who was the MC. Each act had a 12 minute performance slot. The show was billed as "Summer Sampler" and was free to the public. The 4 performers who had CDs experienced brisk sales. 180 people turned up, and were treated to a musical feast. To see info on future Leu Gardens concerts, you can check the website of Stuart Hall (Volunteer Booking Coordinator) at http://members.aol.com/OTownFOFF/LeuGardens.html or contact Susan Foster-Trewick (Volunteer Publicity Coordinator) at (407) 679-4017.
Special Guests to Appear at August Meeting
By Russ Robinson
At the August meeting, Jeff Caplan and Kevin Frasor will discuss and answer questions regarding your selling songs over the Internet.
The big question presently is what is happening with the pay-to-play idea services. Our guests will tell of the pros and cons. This is an important issue to those of us in the Guild so attend the meeting and learn.
Representatives of five major labels, Music Net, and Napster want to sell songs (your songs). This is a pay-to-play service. Napster is waiting to see the outcome regarding a possible appeal of a judge’s ruling on song swapping and/or a better way to download your songs without cost.
Music Net (with songs from BMG, Warner, and EMI) and Press Play (formerly called Duet, under development by Sony and Universal) are saying little about subscription fees. Music Net has said a user’s songs may play if a writer is a subscriber (for pay). However, if the subscription is canceled, the songs will not be played. Several of our members have been using such services, and this is an issue we all need to know more about.
Members Laura and Seven Richards (a writing and performing duo) have been using such a service for a while. Perhaps they can advise you; call (407) 322-1731.
Editor’s note: Part 2 of the article “Protecting Your Songs” will appear in next month’s Guild Tidings.
ISG Bulletin Board
Where's your next gig? Please let us know, so we can publish it here!
Paul Vernon appears Fridays and Saturdays on the patio at Jungle Jim’s in Lake Buena Vista (in the Cross Roads Shopping Center) from 6:30 to 10:30 PM.
The ISG is still looking for a new Member Receptionist. We need a member who is personable and attends most meetings. The Receptionist welcomes people to the meetings, passes out critique and lyric sheets, and makes sure everyone signs in. Duties outside of the meetings are light; mostly, the individual needs to reproduce forms (sign-in sheets, critique sheets). Interested ISG members should contact Russ or Matt.
The ISG is looking for a new Member Receptionist. We need a member who is personable and attends most meetings. The Receptionist welcomes people to the meetings, passes out critique and lyric sheets, and makes sure everyone signs in. Duties outside of the meetings are light;
mostly, the individual needs to reproduce forms (sign-in sheets, critique sheets). Interested ISG members should contact Russ or Matt.
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 you can E-mail him at griffinmc@netzero.net. Please keep your articles brief.
Classified advertising may be placed free of charge to members in good standing in the ISG. For more information on display advertising and/or classified advertising for non-members, please call Russ Robinson (407) 851-5328 or e-mail: griffinmc@netzero.net
“DUES CLUES”
We are trying to keep better track of dues payments. You will notice
that your mailing label has a date in the top right hand corner. This
represents the date that we have a record of your last payment. As Russ
has mentioned, this needs to be updated, so if you see ?? Or an
incorrect date on your label, please let us know so we can correct it,
and if the Date is more than a year old, then our “Dues Clues” will
tell you it’s time to send that check to Russ again!!! (If you see “Guest”
written there, it means that this is one of a few complimentary issues
we are sending you since your visit with us. This will give you an
opportunity to see what we are all about, and decide whether you want
to join our Guild.)
July TOP FIVE
Winners of last month’s evaluation session
(members only)
(1) Fifteen Little Words Matt Griffin
(2) Pepperhead Bussey, Rosier, Sudermann, and Nall
(3) Time Has Come Susan Foster-Trewick and Kent Trewick
(4) Why Hasn’t the World Fallen Apart? Serina Jung
(5) I’d Go Through It All Again Barbara Ross
© 2001 ISG