March 2002
Guild Tidings
The official Publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 7, No. 3
NEXT MEETING 5:00 PM Sunday, March 2nd, 2002
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
Susan Foster-Trewick (407) 679-4017
Web Consultant
Asli Walker (407) 359-0506
President's Letter
Dear Members,
Wow, sometimes it feels like our ISG is really the most active of any songwriter�s organization in the world. There�s so much to tell, I�d need 4 pages to tell it all.
I just got a card from Tokyo from member Jeff Mason (I wrote about him in our last issue). He is appearing in Disney�s �Cape Cod on the American Waterfront� and is in costume as a fisherman. He also says he has a great Tokyo Bay apartment. It all sounds great; congratulations, Jeff.
Rose Marston, after a 5-day drive (alone), writes she�s settled in North Hollywood and is resting up but soon will make the rounds regarding her career.
There�s lots of buzz regarding our Guild�s appearance at the Central Florida Fair. Our first show is March 3rd and the second is March 10th. One of our members, Bob Neace, is a professional emcee (as well as singer and songwriter) and is providing his services for the shows. Our own Susan Foster-Trewick (a.k.a. Susie Cool) is drafting performers, and all is going well. This is a great way for our writers to expose their original songs. We�ll learn more at the meeting Sunday. We do have some free fair tickets�first come first serve, see Susan at the meeting (editor�s note: see the sidebar on page 5 for details on coordination of our meeting and show on March 3rd).
I�m so proud of all of you. It does my heart good to see the great response to our efforts. Also it�s great having Art Cappuccio and Dan Jones back in the fold after long absences.
Best ever,
Russ Robinson
Sunday, March 3rd, we have both a 5:00 monthly meeting and a 7:00 showcase at the fairgrounds. What gives?
Here�s the plan: meet at the musician�s union building at 5 PM as usual. We�ll have a short meeting, probably with no song critiquing. We�ll talk about the show, and Susan will give out fair tickets (first come first serve, but she has a decent number of tickets; performers get first choice). We�ll break up the meeting at about 6 PM and head over to the fairgrounds.
The Central Florida Fairgrounds are on West Colonial Drive between Pine Hills Road and Mercy Drive.
The following article was submitted by Guild member Kim Morrissey. C.S.M. Music is not affiliated with the ISG, and the services mentioned in the article are provided by C.S.M. and not the Guild.
Dispelling the Myth of �The Record Deal�
By Kim Morrissey
OK, so you want to be a recording star. Your friends say you sing better than their favorite Pop Star, your band has played every bar and bar mitzvah from here to Timbuktu, or you are sure you just wrote the ultimate love song. Now for the almighty record deal�but how?
First, do not invest thousands of dollars into a full length C.D. I know to hold one, with you picture on the front and your dreams inside, sounds like the quintessential experience�fight the desire! It won�t work! You will end up with a batch of C.D.�s you give away at every holiday.
Neither will sending off a perfectly produced �anything� to the record companies� addresses. They won�t hear it! Every week, Major and Independent record companies get 5000 or more �promo packages� from around the world. So, how does someone get a �break� into the elusive record business?
First, only solicited material gets heard by the A&R (artist and repertoire) Department. Those are the heartless folks that can decide whether you sing or pack boxes for a living. You must be represented by a music attorney or management company with solid relationships with individuals in A&R positions. This done, no one else will ever attempt to listen to any more than 3 songs. The first 30 seconds must grab them, or they will pass on to the next song!
Secondly, the songs must be marketable in a current radio format. If it doesn�t have a place in today�s market, it won�t fly! The songs, along with stage presence and looks, are most important. A good image and great songs are what makes it in the world of hit records. Vocal and musical ability, even production, takes a back seat to those elements.
Third, all that�s needed is a quality performance of the song. More often than not, the label will assign you the producer of their choice, for your style of music. Just because a �producer� did have a hit 20 years ago, doesn�t mean he can make it all happen today. You�re only as good as your last record. Though it is true, the production must be your �best foot forward�. It is not necessary to indebt yourself by second mortgages and the loss of your first born!
Fourth, even if the powers that be like your demo, their first question is, how often is the act performing? Do they have an established fan base? Can they pack a club with devoted followers? If the answer is yes to these questions, then your legal representative can invite the good record folks to see, for themselves, how exciting you are! If the demo gets their interest, if you are what they are looking for that year, if your Rep has successful relations with them, and if they love your performance, then maybe, just maybe you will get your chance to battle it out with all the other newly signed acts to fight for position on the charts with endless touring and promotion. And if that C.D. doesn�t make a worthwhile profit, you�ll be looking for another record deal again.
Now, what was it that Uncle Sid said about being a Dentist? All said and done, if this business is in your bones, you are going to go for it anyway. Just take my 25 years of experience, for what it is worth, and have some idea what you are in for. At C.S.M. Music Inc., I work with music attorneys, producers, writers, and musicians that have great track records of success. And, even then, it is a lot of work and luck. If we can help, let us know! It is in our bones, too! Now, where is a good dentist when you need one?
Mr. Kim Morrissey � President
C.S.M. Music Inc.
The second half of Matt Griffin�s �Working With Titles� article will appear in next months Guild Tidings.
Web Chatter
cybertoad2000@yahoo.com
Here is a further update on the two shows for the ISG showcase on March 3rd and 10th at the Central Florida Fair, Both shows start at 7:00pm and go till 10:00pm. You have to be a fully paid up member to participate. Performing songwriters have been chosen for these events, and plans are underway.
The confirmed members for the 3rd are SusieCool (8:30pm), Lisa Firestone, Serina Jung, Asli Walker and Alfredo Pini (Slaves to the Groove). The confirmed members for the show on the 10th are Bob Neace, John Gallagher (9:00pm), Stephen Currence, Cyd Ward, Bill Downs, Jordan Michiels, and Sammy Brown. We plan on putting on a high quality performance, and we're hoping that this will offer some good publicity for the guild. Russ is hoping to line some press up for this.
Members who still need to contact me to pin down a date are: Julie Berger (Christill) and Art Cappuccio. (tentatively they will be performing on the 3rd)
Performers will have free admission to the fairgrounds (usually $7) and we will be given tickets for friends and family. Tickets will be given out on a first come first served basis, so please see me at the March 3rd meeting at 5:00pm.
ISG Bulletin Board
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.
Just wanted to let you know that the certificates are ready for distribution. Please see Russ at the next meeting to pick them up if you placed in any of the monthly evaluations. Also we would like to put the first place winners on another compilation album, so please see Susan if your song placed first in the year 2001.
Saturday February 23rd at 8:00 pm SusieCool hosts an
"Evening at Stardust Video" with friends Asli Walker, Serina Jung, Adrian Stoney (Mr. Mystic), Stephen Currence, Michael Barry, with Mike Dale (percussion), Vick DeGiorgio (bass) and Stuart Hall (jokes, guitar, and mandolin as required)
Why isn�t your gig announced here? Call us with your appearance schedule!
TEAC 3340S Professional tape recorder, �� reel to
reel, 4 tracks with simulsync, 7-1/2 inch and 15 inch
reels, $200. 321-452-2910 or email geosync@pan.com.
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
Welcome new members Robert Stewart and Alfredo Pini
January TOP FIVE
Winners of last month�s evaluation session
(members only)
(1) Lead Me On Bob Neace
(2) A Thread of Hope
(The Peace Cloth) Ron Rich
(3) America Will Stand Julie Berger
(4) You Love Me Too Bill Resimont
(5) My Medication Susan Foster-Trewick/Kent Trewick
� 2002 ISG