June 2013
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 18, No. 6
NEXT MEETING - 5:00pm Sunday, June 2nd, 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.
Another Tricky Day
By Jeff Mason
The title of this article is a reference to a song written by Pete Townshend of The Who. It was released in 1981 on their Face Dances album. The title seemed to reflect events in my life and there have been many tricky days for me to contend with. I am scheduled to have surgery later this month and life seems to have become a steady series of doctor visits.
The music still continues, however. At the same time, I have found myself locked in a struggle to write a particular song. It is a special kind of writer’s block and I’ve placed the song on the back burner. All the songwriter blogs suggest to start with a title and I had that. I’ve had the idea and the title for about twenty years. Some people suggest walking away from a project when you hit a creative wall. Go and do something else and let your subconscious work on it. I find that walking my dog helps and sometimes I can solve a creative problem.
Robin Frederick makes the following statement about writer’s block: Writer’s block is not about a lack of creativity; it’s about identifying and solving a problem so you can get on with things. In my song I’ve identified two problems. First I don’t have a well planned structure and secondly I’m not sure what my melody is. In her book Shortcuts To Hit Songwriting Ms Frederick likens creativity to walking a dog. You have your first idea and then another great line comes from out of nowhere and before you know it you’re writing two songs. It’s like taking a puppy for a walk. It runs all over the place sniffing this and that. You are trying to get to a destination so you have to put it on a leash and guide it. Ms Frederick states that there is no “Law of Creativity” that says you can only work on one song at a time. Another recommendation is to write two or three questions that are suggested by the title. Once you’ve answered those questions you have a much sharper focus on your song and your destination. Ms Frederick says you must give your song (and yourself) permission to be a work in progress.
In his 1998 book Tunesmith Jimmy Webb delves deeper into the problem of writer’s block. Even confessing that he was struggling with the same ailment himself and had not written a song in over a year. There are some people with the view that the more a writer is suffering the more likely he is to produce a great song. If angst and anguish are considered grist for the songwriter’s mill then I should be on a creative high. Sadly,I have come to a shuddering halt. I ask myself this question. What if I was hired to produce on a daily basis? In that light Ms Frederick’s insight into the problem takes on greater significance. Indeed she was in that kind of a situation having to write four songs a week for a television series. She couldn’t afford the malaise of writer’s block. I hope that I’ve learned something in this process.
I have given myself permission to move on to another project and it is true that writing this article has been somewhat cathartic for me.
See you in a couple of months.
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!
Jeff Mason playing at O'Keefe's Irish Pub,
Thursday May 23rd 6 pm to ??????
115 S. Rockingham Ave,
Tavares, Fl, 32778,
352 343 2157
Jeff Mason playing at Fiddler's Green
Sat May 25th 5 to 8 pm
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
May 2013 Critique results
1 I'd Like to Be the Man Will Campbell
2 Cry Your Heart Out Lonely Girl Will Campbell
3 Starting Fresh Matthew and Rebecca Campbell
4 Something New Melanie Fisher
5 The Cage That Holds Me Asli Goncer and Simba Wiltz
New members always welcome!
© 2013 ISG