August 2009
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 14, No. 8
NEXT MEETING: 5:00pm Sunday, August 2nd, 2009 (Happy Birthday, Russ!!)
Officers:
President/Treasurer
Russ Robinson (407) 851-5328
Vice President/Member Reception/Newsletter
Matthew Griffin (407) 903-1212
Secretary
Jacquelyn Gould, campkittycat@gmail.com
Website
Carlos Colon (352) 326-4295
Membership
Gilda Corrales (407) 327-5494
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 (at the extreme east end of Robinson, near Orlando Executive Airport ) in Orlando .
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 or myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/internationalsongwritersguildorlando .
The International Songwriter’s Guild Summer Showcase
3 PM on Saturday, August 8th
Beardall Senior Center Ballroom, 800 S. Delaney St. , Orlando
Admission is free and complementary refreshments will be served, so invite your family and friends. Beardall is giving out flyers to its members, and we hope to have a line item in the Sentinel as well.
We have 10 performers tentatively set to perform; we’ll finalize the list of performers, song’s they’ll perform, and the order of appearance at our regular August 2nd meeting. Performers, plan on attending! We’re trying to keep the show at 2 hours, which gives 10 performers each about 10 minutes; so plan on probably performing two songs but come prepared to do three, in case one or more of us can’t make it.
BIG thanks to those who’ve volunteered their time and services:
Jeri Simpson – flyer design, refreshment table
Melanie Fisher – sound equipment, setup, and sound engineer
Bob Luft – publicity
AND Cheryl and the folks at Beardall
President's Letter
Dear Members,
Hey, everyone! I’ll bet you didn’t know that our August meeting falls on my birthday. It’s a fact that I was born August 2, 1916. At this time my alter ego, James Kilpatrick, is feeling sorry for himself. And if it weren’t for his very best friend Russ (also me), he would be all alone in this world, shut up all day and not answering the phone or door. I feel sorry for James. He loves to play the bass part of the everloving Happy Birthday piano duo song written so long ago. He does play it pretty well, and when I think of it, maybe he’d get even better with practice. J
I asked James if he’d play piano sometime at a guild meeting and he said, “no, no one there wants to hear him”. But he says that if, perhaps, the members would join him singing Happy Birthday, he might play. I bet he might know that song!
Seriously, I hope all of you will be at the Sunday meeting to help me celebrate my birthday. If there are other Leos at the meeting, we can celebrate their birthdays too. I’m looking forward it; I’m always interested in hearing your new song. Till August 2nd, then, think about your next composition and call me if I can help out.
We also have a show coming up soon, as you know. Let me know if I can be of any help, perhaps as an accompanist.
Russ
Think of the Listener
By Matt Griffin
Last month I wrote about keeping the performer in mind when you compose; it’s important to put the singer in a good light, and to give folks a song they’ll want to sing. But there’s another important party in this transaction: the listener. Think of your original song as your product. You certainly want to create an attractive product that salespeople (i.e. performers) will want to sell (sing). But it’s just as important to create a product that customers (i.e. listeners) will want to buy (hear)!
It’s not so easy to write with the listener in mind. People who listen to music seem to want something fresh but not completely foreign, something different but not weird. Most folks like songs that are musically interesting but not overly complex. Hitting the small spot in the middle takes both inspiration and perspiration, and maybe a bit of luck.
Fortunately, you are your own first listener. I think there’s something to be said for writing to please yourself. As we become more experienced as songwriters, our instincts (hopefully) improve. At the same time, we as writers can sometimes fall in love with our work and miss things. I use our guild as my “second listener”; other writers can see the omissions and weaknesses that aren’t obvious to the author or authors.
Here’s another point that may raise your hackles: listeners tend to prefer cheerful songs. Now I’m not suggesting you compose happy-go-lucky ditties all the time. But the fact is, upbeat is an easier sell. Yet perhaps two-thirds of the original songs we critique at our meetings convey a mostly negative emotion: sadness, anger, defiance, bitterness, loss, and so on. Try to pick up your attitude, if you can, at least for some of your songs.
Finally, I think it’s important to take pity on your listeners. Lyricists, make it clear what you’re saying! Ambiguity can be interesting and fun for certain types of songs, if done intentionally. But too often, I think we use “ambiguity” as an excuse for not going back and cleaning up. If your song is telling a story, don’t leave the listener confused as to what happened. It’s especially important not to contradict yourself and to stay on point.
If done well, your listeners will reward you in the ways that matter: with applause and, hopefully, song purchases. J
ISG Bulletin Board
Kitty Camp Pet Boarding—A loving, lakeside resort in Fruitland Park . Daily activities include: playtime, bird-watching, brushing, petting, purring, sunbathing, catnapping, and kitty’s favorite…mealtime! Daily/Weekly/Long Term, private rooms and suites available. 25% off weekly stay, FREE first night. Please call for details at 352-205-4284. Posted by ISG member Jackie Gould.
Jeff Mason’s gig schedule:
Appearing at Tijuana Flats on the Patio (weather permitting), Thursdays and Saturdays at 6pm
444 S. Hunt Club Blvd , Apopka , FL 407 774 0402
Delivering high-quality FLASH streaming video! No matter what product or service you may be offering, the power of video can be impressive! In fact, flash video is the most effective way to deliver rich media on your website. Video grabs your visitor's interest more so than simply text and images, or even audio. Video keeps visitors on your site longer and often triggers a purchase! Video not only will enhance your marketing message, but it's also entertaining. Video is useful for demonstrating your product or service, as well as teaching, inspiring, and motivating your visitors to become a customer! So if you're holding out with a website that may look outdated or obsolete, you may be losing business. It's time to make a change. Visit my website at http://www.videosaysitall.com.. Thanks and call me anytime (352-326-4295)…Carlos Colon
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 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!
July’s Top Songs—Results of monthly critique session
(1) Spirit Move Me by Melanie Fisher
(2) Killing Time by Bob Witmer
(3) Flea Shway by Susan Foster-Trewick and Jeff Mason
© 2009 ISG