February 2010
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 15, No. 2
NEXT MEETING: 5:00pm 3:00pm Sunday, February 7th, 2010
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 .
President's Letter
Dear Members,
Here we are, about to celebrate Valentine’s Day. I am in hopes that someone in the ISG will have a Valentine’s song for us to hear next meeting. I’ve been looking through old issues of the newsletter to see if anyone played such a song in the past. I haven’t found one yet, but perhaps one of you has one I haven’t heard about. Valentine’s is a great subject for songwriters. Hey, see if you can come up with something!
I came up with another thought that I’ll bring up at the meeting. I need to find someone that likes to talk, to call some of our old members and see if we can get some of them to come back. Maybe some of them have been writing in their absence, and haven’t brought their work in for us to hear. Hopefully they will!
I have an idea I’ll discuss regarding a possible radio show for local songwriters. If we could do such a show, perhaps a local TV station may like the idea too. We can discuss at the meeting; maybe some of you can come up with similar or related ideas.
Looking forward to seeing all of you Sunday; I really enjoy our meetings and hope you do too.
Russ
Creating Goals and Meeting Deadlines (part 2)
Excerpt from Chapter 16, Songwriting for Dummies
By Jim Peterik, Dave Austin, and Mary Ellen Bickford
Wiley Publising, Inc. © 2002
(Editor’s note: this is the second in a series, first one was in the October newsletter. Our own SusieCool will be giving a short presentation on these ideas at our February meeting. So read and get ready!)
Jennifer Songsmith’s Songwriting Goals: Middleweight level
Setting up a studio: I will get my home-demo studio up and running.
Compiling a CD demo: I will decide on the four best songs I've written and demoed and compile a CD for solicitation.
Learning about Copyrights: I will learn all I can about copyright laws and register these songs with the U.S. Bureau of Copyrights.
Listing Industry Contacts: I will compile a master list of publishers, producers, record companies, A&R people, artists, and entertainment attorneys based on my research of various industry source books and referrals from friends in the music industry.
Writing a contact letter: I will draft a professional cover letter that will go out with every CD telling a little about myself and the songs included in the package.
Creating a CD label: I will get a computer program and design a simple graphic for the CD.
Mailing out my demo: I will send out my four-song CD package complete with all contact and publishing information, cover letter, and a typewritten lyric sheet adhering to proper submission requirements.
Following up with contacts: I will follow up each mailing by using either phone, fax, or e-mail.
Planning for spending royalties: I will read up on Cancun and that whole swimming-with-dolphins vibe.
ISG Bulletin Board
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
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
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!
January’s Top Songs—Results of monthly critique session
(1) I’m a Volunteer by Matt Griffin
(2) Conscious Revolution by Matthew Campbell
(3) Picnic in my Cabana by Sheila Dixon and Susan Foster-Trewick
© 2010 ISG