February 2003
Guild Tidings
The official Publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 8, No. 2
NEXT MEETING
5:00 PM
Sunday, February 2nd, 2003
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
Vice President/Member Reception
Matthew Griffin (407) 903-1212
Secretary
Evelyn Nelson (863) 644-8699
Membership Coordinator
Susan Foster-Trewick (407) 679-4017
Web Consultant
Asli Walker (407) 359-0506
President's Letter
Dear Members,
It seems lots went wrong with last month's newsletter. I'm sorry about that, although it really wasn't my fault. I mailed the newsletters a couple of days before Christmas, and had a problem getting them in the mail slot at the post office due to the overflow of Christmas cards. Several I mailed came back damaged.
I've had many calls over the years regarding copyrights. Elsewhere in this edition you'll find an article on this topic. Keep it in your file. I have permission from my Hollywood CA union to republish it for your use.
Last month's meeting was interesting. We had several new songwriters and entertainers in attendance. It looks as if 2003 is bringing new members into the Guild. Let's all attend our next meeting; be sure to bring your new works on tape or CD along with printed lyric sheets, so your song can be critiqued. I have a good feeling about 2003. I think this is to be our best year ever!
I have a little surprise you might enjoy regarding how I take one of my songs and make it an all-year celebration by changing the words to fit the occasion. This way, you'll only need one copyright for several versions of the song.
Looking forward to Sunday! See you there.
Best ever,
Russ Robinson
How Will You Respond?
By Matt Griffin
Everyone knows Murphy's Law: everything that can go wrong will go wrong. To me, Murphy missed a more important issue: when things go wrong, how will you respond? Will you pout or cry, or get angry, or find someone to blame? Or will you learn and move on? Obviously the latter reaction is the preferable one, but it's not always so easy to do.
Each of us, no matter how talented, has gotten a poor review. Maybe a beloved song got a rather harsh critique one month or didn't make the top 5 when you felt it was the best song, or maybe you received some stinging criticism from a publisher or performer. How did you respond? I can recall a couple of occasions when my reaction to a negative critique was less noble than I'd like, where I got rather defensive and even angry. I'm sure many of you can relate. It's just not that easy to keep a smile on your face when someone points out flaws in a song you've worked hard on. It's only natural to take it a little personally.
Sometimes we all need to cool off a bit. Hopefully once you've cooled, you'll realize something: the critiquer may have a point. I think that our ISG critiques are right more often than they're wrong. At least consider each idea seriously. Looking back, I think the critiques that have taught me the most are the ones that stung the most (as odd as that sounds). If we can get past the anger or ego, there may well be something useful, some new idea we can take home with us.
Keep in mind that how well a song of yours fares also depends on the audience. Our monthly ISG meetings seem to have a significantly different crowd every month! One vocal person with a strong positive or negative view of your creation can make a real difference in the tone of the overall critique.
Having said all of that, you as the author still have the final say. If you flat disagree with a criticism someone has leveled against your song, thank them for their comment as you're mentally discarding it. It's your song and you are ultimately responsible for how it sounds. Just make sure it's creative preference and not ego at work. It's all too easy to disregard someone's helpful suggestion because it wasn't your idea in the first place.
Yes, things will go wrong. Good luck with your response.
Getting Copyright Forms
You can order registration forms from the Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20559, or call them at (202) 707-9100 and leave your name, address, and how many forms you want on the answering machine, and they will be mailed to you. You can also request an "original music complete information packet" KIT #105, which tells you about the Performing Arts (PA) form and includes a blank form for you to fill out. The forms are free for the asking; however, there is a copyright registration fee of $30.00.
You can also download the PA form from the Library of Congress web site on the internet. The site contains all instructions for downloading the form, as well as a source for free software that will allow you to view and print the form and instructions for filling it out and filing it. Remember, the form must be printed on both sides of a single piece of paper. They will not accept multiple pages.
The web address is: http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/forms.html
Reprinted with permission of AFM Local 47, Hollywood, CA.
December TOP FIVE
Winners of last month�s evaluation session
(members only)
(1) Snow Angel Michael Barryjn
(2) The Ticking Never Stops Paul Vernon
(3) I'll Just Stay Here and Cry
Susan Foster-Trewick and Kent Trewick
(4) Let It Be Me Gar Brandt
(5) Go Ahead Leave Bob Barker
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 (griffinmc@netzero.net).
ISG Bulletin Board
Place your classified ad or gig announcement here! Free to ISG members as always!
Printing services for Guild Tidings are graciously provided by
Printing USA, 4732 South Orange Blossom Trail (just south of
Holden), Orlando. Phone: (407) 857-7468.
SusieCool will be hosting an open mic at Yalaha Bakery on Sunday Feb 16th, 1 to 4 PM. Food, drinks, beer, and coffee will be available. The event is free and outdoors. Yalaha Bakery, 8210 County Road 48, Yalaha, FL 34797, (352) 324-3366. See the website susiecoolsongs.com for details
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 email him at
griffinmc@netzero.net.
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 in the ISG. For more
information on display advertising and/or
classified advertising for non-members, please call
Russ or Matt or email: griffinmc@netzero.net
We're always looking for new faces and new music. Come to a meeting and check us out!
� 2003 ISG