August 2012
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 17, No. 8
NEXT MEETING - 5:00pm Sunday, August 5th, 2012
Officers:
Newsletter/Articles
Jeff Mason, jeffrey_mason@me.com
Meeting Coordinator/Critique scoring/CFMA Liason
Matthew Campbell, matthew_sax77@yahoo.com
Membership/Certificates/Contact
Susan Foster-Trewick, susiecool2001@yahoo.com
407-760-2153
E-mail Contact, isgorlando@gmail.com
Website
Carlos Colon, videosaysitall.fl@gmail.com
352-267-5911
Treasurer
Asli Goncer, asli@cfl.rr.com
Secretary
Jacquelyn Gould, songsuite@gmail.com
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 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 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.
Relationships
By Jeff Mason
Songs about relationships seem to be the ticket to songwriting success in the music business. Adele’s 21 album is based on the breakup of a relationship. The majority of The Beatle’s work was about the various stages of relationships. That applies to Motown and the Brill Building writers, too.
I watched a video featuring John Braheny and Michael Laskow recently. Braheny is the author of The Craft and Business of Music and Laskow is the founder of TAXI music. Braheny is also the co-founder of the Los Angeles Songwriters Showcase (LASS). Laskow asked Braheny about his first meeting with Diane Warren. Warren is one of the most successful songwriters of the last 30 years and was the first songwriter to have seven hits by different artists on the Billboard Top 20 list (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diane_Warren).
Warren was a shy 15-year-old when she came to the offices of LASS. She was accompanied by her father who was supportive of her songwriting. He wanted to know if there was anything there. Diane played her songs on a 12-string guitar. Braheny thought she had a talent worth pursuing, but the songs she played were not considered good enough for the showcase. Warren was back with 12 more songs for consideration within a couple of weeks. Those songs were turned down, but she came back repeatedly. Braheny was impressed by her single mindedness and that a 15-year-old was playing a 12-string guitar. After eight months, she finally had two songs selected for the showcase. It took about eight years to get her first song published and about ten years to get a hit. That song was Solitaire recorded by Laura Branigan. Warren has had seven Grammy nominations, six Academy Award nominations and five Golden Globe nominations. She has been called the most important songwriter in the world by Peter Reichardt, former chairman of EMI Music Publishing, UK.
Nearly all of her songs are relationship songs and they seem to have tremendous crossover appeal. Artists as diverse as Celine Dion and The Cult have covered her songs. I think this is because Warren has perfected her songwriting craft after an arduous, self-imposed apprenticeship. Her mother was not as supportive as her father. Warren cites this as a further spur to her success. There is nothing like trying to prove the doubters wrong in any endeavor.
I have to say that I don’t agree with the assertion that she is the most important songwriter in the world, but I do respect her tenacity and craftsmanship. She is a master at constructing the three minute pop ballad. The choruses in her best songs are powerful and strong. Her lyrics are concise and to the point. If you are looking for meatier subject matter then pull out your old Dylan albums or listen to Tom Morello. If you are hoping to make some money from your songwriting, however, Diane Warren sets a fine example.
I hope that some of you take the time to look at TAXI TV on U Stream. It has hours of video instruction on the craft of songwriting. Best of all it doesn’t cost a penny! See you next month.
ISG Bulletin Board
Videography and website management services at a price you CAN AFFORD. Capturing your wedding or event on video may not be in your budget but you’re hoping that you may have something left over to hire a videographer. I will fit your budget. My goal is to offer my services to those who otherwise would have to pass because of funds. This is your special day and you most definitely want to capture those moments. Visit my website at http://www.videosaysitall.com . Thanks and call me anytime (352-267-5911)…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 Jeff Mason at the meetings or email him at jeffrey_mason@me.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 contact Jeff by the print deadline (usually the Friday 16 days prior to the monthly meeting); email is best ( jeffrey_mason@me.com ).
Why isn't your gig announced here? Call us with your appearance schedule!
Open Mic Night hosted by Matthew "Sax" Campbell
Thursday, July 19th, 7-10pm, sign-up starts at 6:45
Quokka Coffee
131 Broadway Ave. (corner of Broadway & Monument)
Kissimmee, FL 34741
free music
Organic fair trade coffee, beer, wine, sandwiches, salads, and pastries with specials
Full P.A. and 6 string acoustic guitar provided
family-friendly atmosphere
Rain or shine
Matthew
http://slyproductions.net/
Jeff Mason Gig Schedule
The Farmer's Market,
Parking area in front of
Infusion Tea,
1600 Edgewater Dr,
Orlando, Fl, 32804,
407 999 5255
Thursday July 26
6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Special Kids Night
Tijuana Flats,
444 S. Hunt Club Blvd,
Apopka, Fl, 32703,
407 774 0402
Tuesdays from 6 p.m.
Weather Permitting
Fiddler's Green
Sat August 11 5 to 8pm
544 W. Fairbanks Ave,
Winter Park, Fl, 32789
407 645 2050
Current members please send us your website info if you would like your site to be listed in the ISG members page. Also if you have any songs that have placed first in the monthly critiques, please send the mp3's to isgorlando@gmail.com if you would like to have them featured in the ISG MySpace page. http://www.myspace.com/internationalsongwritersguildorlando
Past Certificate winners can be found at https://sites.google.com/site/isgsusiecool/home/resultslist-2
No July critiques
New members always welcome!
© 2012 ISG