July 2007
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 12, No. 7
NEXT MEETING: 5:00pm Sunday, July 1st, 2007
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 .
Officers:
President/Treasurer
Russ Robinson (407) 851-5328
Vice President/Member Reception/Newsletter
Matthew Griffin (407) 903-1212
Secretary
Jacquelyn Fain, crosstyes1@yahoo.com
Website
Carlos Colon (352) 326-4295
Archives
Barbara Ross (407) 862-2795
Membership
Gilda Corrales (407) 327-5494
President's Letter
Dear Members,
Hey, it’s hot, hot, hot here! That’s expected, we’re in Florida . A song about our balmy weather would be appropriate right now. How about one with lyrics saying, why can’t we trade a week in December for a week in July? Maybe if we think “icicles”, it might bring the temperature down. At least most of us have air conditioning. Which makes me recall summertime in New York City ! Many apartments there don’t have air conditioning.
I try to keep up with fellow writers, and was surprised to hear one of Orlando members died. Emil Ernyey (“Ernie” to his friends) was 86 years old. Former ISG member Connie Taylor was a neighbor of his, and called to give me the news. Emil was a good writer, and we’ll miss him a lot.
Another of our local members, pianist Bob Luft, is transferring to Disney in California . His daughter Beverly moved there last year, and has made several musical films. Bob and his wife went to visit her recently, and he apparently made contact with Disney while there. Bob tells me he’s planning to join a songwriter’s guild in the Los Angeles area. We wish Bob and the Luft family the best of luck.
ISG member Debbie Ison has an original song called “Fourth of July”. I’m asking her to the July meeting and bring the song for all of us to hear.
Matt and I went out a few nights ago on the Sterling Casino cruise ship that sails out of Port Canaveral, and were delighted to find a former ISG member fronting a band in the ship’s lounge. Bob Neace spotted us in the audience, and came over after the show to talk to us. Bob is a very talented performer and writer, and promised to drop in on an ISG meeting soon.
Looking forward to see all of you Sunday.
Russ
Writing to a Prompt
By Matt Griffin
Remember those writing assignments in high school, the ones where you were given a “prompt” and asked to write to it? The idea was, the teacher provided the basic topic and you had to write something about it. A lot of people find this idea intimidating, but I always thought it was kind of helpful. Look at it this way: there are millions of things you could write about, but someone has narrowed it down for you.
I was thinking about this the other day when I was working on a state song for the Florida contest. Many songwriters want to write what they feel or think, and don’t especially enjoy trying to focus on someone else’s subject. But I actually find it sort of fun, so maybe I can give you a few ideas on how to approach the task. I’ll use the Florida state song project as an example.
It makes sense to start by constructing a strong title or titles. I often start writing from a title anyway, but it seems almost essential when working from a prompt. A Florida state song almost certainly has to have “ Florida ” in the name, so come up with something catchy or provocative using that word. I came up with about a dozen titles. Here are a few I didn’t use, feel free if you like one:
Florida Right of Way
Big Florida Fun
Florida ’s Fine
Rites of Florida Passage
Florida Feel
Florida Friendly (or Friendly Florida )
Florida Fun and Sun
Next, you want to let the title drive the basic mood of your song. Something fun or silly probably would work best in an upbeat song. A more formal title might lead to a serious-sounding ballad or even an anthem. Let the title lead you not only to a lyric but also to the music. Pick a genre (country, rock, etc.) appropriate to the desired mood and pace.
Remember to build your lyric around the title, placing the title in a strong location and repeating it if possible. If you write a verse-chorus song, you’ll of course want your title in the same place in each chorus (first and/or last line usually works best). Think back to your high school English class again, and build your words around your topic. If your title is “Big Florida Fun”, your verses should tell why Florida is fun, perhaps giving specific examples. Stay on topic and, well, have fun.
And remember to thank your high school English teacher. It always amazes me how applicable those skills are to writing a song. J
ISG Bulletin Board
Jeff Mason’s gig schedule:
Appearing At O'Keefe's Irish Pub, Fridays & Saturdays from 5pm, musicians welcome!
115 S. Rockingham Tavares, FL, 352-343-2157
Appearing at Tijuana Flats on the Patio (weather permitting), Thursdays at 6pm
444 S. Hunt Club Blvd , Apopka , FL 407 774 0402
Lead Sheet preparation by Carlos Colon. A simple lead sheet contains the melody, lyrics and chord symbols. For more information, visit my website at www.cecoriginals.com and click on “Lead Sheets” at the top of the page. Website design also available. Use your website address in advertising. Newspapers, business cards, fliers, to name a few and let’s not forget the use of email. Send your link to potential clients. For more information, visit a few of my clients sites at http://www.ticopeach.net/clients.htm.
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 Russ or 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!
June Top Songs—Results of monthly critique session
(1) Scarecrow Heart by Ester Starling and Mike Kondol
© 2007 ISG