July 2013
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 18, No. 7
NEXT MEETING - 5:00pm Sunday, July 7th, 2013
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/NSAI Liason
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.
True Friends
By Jeff Mason
I am astounded by the amount of information available to the aspiring songwriter. There are hundreds of books and websites devoted to the subject. Before the internet it would take months to find a certain song. I’d spend hours in the library or music shops researching. Now if I want to study a song I’m a few clicks away from finding the lyrics and the chords and being able to hear it.
Most of the best songwriting books stress the importance of studying today’s hits if you wish to make a living as a songwriter. This is the place where the real hard work is. The songwriters who write everyday and have a hundred duds for each gem they write. I’ve previously written about a few books that I consider vital in the budding songwriter’s development. Robin Frederick’s timely Shortcuts To Hit Songwriting is full of helpful, fun exercises to get the creative juices flowing. Sheila Davis’s The Craft of Lyric Writing and Jim Webb’s Tunesmith sit on my bookshelf only part of the time. The rest of the time they are leafed through like the trustiest of old encyclopedias—dog-eared reference books that I’ve grown to love.
Another treasure is John Braheny’s The Craft and Business of Songwriting. Braheny died this year on January 19 after a long struggle with cancer. This man was known as the “Songwriter’s Best Friend.” He founded, along with his partner Len Chandler, The Los Angeles Songwriters Showcase (LASS), a national non-profit organization. Between 1971 and 1996 it provided encouragement and exposure to songwriters. Here is a list of some of the songwriters who benefited from that exposure; Janis Ian, Warren Zevon, Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, Stephen Bishop, and the prolific Diane Warren. A live, online tribute concert was broadcasted from Kulak’s Woodshed on May 5. It was a celebration of John’s life and featured performances from some of the songwriters whose careers were positively influenced by LASS. http://kulakswoodshed.com/webcast-high. Taxi president Michael Laskow wrote a fine tribute article in which he revealed that John was screener #7 at Taxi. Further proof towards my assertion that Taxi is not a scam.
Producer and songwriter Ralph Murphy has a unique view on writing songs. He only studies number one songs. He asserts that you must know your audience, and that to be a success you must aim your songs at women. It is women who buy most of the music. He believes for a song to succeed it has to be able to get to listeners on the 6 a.m. commute. A song may be viewed favorably at 10 p.m. because that is kick back time, but it won’t necessarily make it in the early morning. The money music is on the radio in the morning, he says. Murphy has written a book titled Murphy’s Laws of Songwriting and there is an interesting video on his webpage http://murphyslawsofsongwriting.com/index.php/about-ralph Here he is interviewed by Michael Laskow and it is full of interesting anecdotes. My favorite story that he tells is about the late Harlan Howard who would rise at 4 a.m. and read newspapers in search of titles. At 11 a.m. he would begin writing and finish the day at a bar. Even at the bar he would be listening to other people’s conversations in search of a memorable line or title. Howard was a prolific songwriter who penned such hits as Busted for Ray Charles and I Fall To Pieces for Patsy Cline. Another quote from Murphy is about the work ethic needed to succeed in this business. He calls it “writing through the ordinary” because most of what you write won’t make the grade.
To finish this article on a more personal note I am now recovering from the surgery I had at the end of May and I’m looking forward to seeing 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
Central Florida Folk http://cffolk.org/song_circle/song_circle.htm
is having an acoustic song circle at the Sleeping Moon on the last Wednesday of each month.
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/26/1556023/restaurant/Orlando/Sleeping-Moon-Cafe-Winter-Park
Their food is great and the song circle is from 7 till 10pm.
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!
Matthew and Rebecca Campbell
Friday June 28th @ 7-9:30p
EXPERIENCE KIRTAN,,,
New World Kirtan Concert
BOLO
What is Kirtan?
Bolo means ..to sing, Kirtan is a vibrational/musical experience that will leave you feeling inspired, uplifted, and completely "blissed-out"!
New World Wellness is excited and blessed to be able to welcome musical performers and Reiki Masters
Matthew and Rebecca Campbell who will lead this experience along with New World Wellness Owner and Yoga/Meditation Instructor, Craig Costello!
A participation mystique is encouraged as Matthew, Rebecca, and Craig lead the audience through optional singing, dancing and meditations during this amazing experience...participate as much or as little as you wish and just enjoy the amazing vibrations and incredible energy! 20 DAKIN AVENUE, KISSIMMEE, FLORIDA 34741.
The Low Cost is $15 to RSVP call 407.847.8792
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 critique contest in June
New members always welcome!
© 2013 ISG