March 2003
Guild Tidings
The official Publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 8, No. 3
NEXT MEETING
5:00 PM
Sunday, March 2nd, 2003
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
Membership Coordinator
Susan Foster-Trewick (407) 679-4017
Web Consultant
Asli Walker (407) 359-0506
President's Letter
Dear Members,
As an idea, perhaps some Guild members might come up with lyrics about the current situation regarding our wartime status. It seems there are so many pros and cons I�m hearing; should we go to war or sit and wait and see if we have another 9/11/02 happening? Seriously, there�s always time for such a song.
Some of our young writers may already have been shipped over. I personally know of five from this area. Having served 3 � years in combat, I remember until this day the lyrics to wartime songs of that era. Back in those days we had what was called �The Hit Parade�, a weekly broadcast naming the number 1 song of the week. The choice was always a song about the war efforts.
Wouldn�t it be great if one of us came up with such a song! It could be your way of saying how you feel. Should we start up or not? At least we should have something in the works, our boys are over there right now waiting to be told what is to happen.
Among my friends, it�s about 50% either way to start or do nothing. Wow! Wouldn�t you hate to be in the President�s shoes? Who knows what tomorrow brings? We won�t get into all that politically. I�m sure most of us have our opinions, but we can keep that to ourselves. I�m only thinking about a song that one of us could become famous with. Think about it. Let�s leave out naming political parties. Example: write a love song to his girl or guy, or a �miss you� song to a soldier overseas.
Let�s all come Sunday. Hope to
see you there.
Best ever,
Russ Robinson
Why Write?
by Matt Griffin
It�s a fair question: why write? Why do we do it?
Certainly we don�t do it for the money! Most of our members who actually make money with music do it by performing. A few make small amounts from the songs themselves, but most of those writers actually spent more (on the demos and such) than they made. Truthfully, who among us can pretend he/she doesn�t want to �hit the big one�, top the charts, and rake in a small fortune? But the odds are long and so are the hours. It�s a nice dream, but probably not enough to keep even the most dedicated soul writing for very long.
Perhaps for attention? There may be something to that. Every writer seems to have a show-off inside of him or her, if not also on the outside. Admit it, don�t you love presenting a new song at an ISG meeting that you think will knock �em dead? I think writers certainly have a need to be heard.
The �right� answer, the answer each one of us wants to give, is that we write because we love it. And I suspect that�s true for many of us. There�s a thrill, almost a rush, in the act of creation that you can�t get anywhere else; artists of all kinds are familiar with it. When creating an original work is a labor of love, then the process justifies itself. Those who love to write don�t need any other reason; writing for writing�s sake is enough.
But there�s more. Not all writers profess to love or even enjoy it. I have read that no less a songwriter than Billy Joel actually hates writing (although he loves �having written�). He compares the process to giving birth, complete with birthing pains. So why does he write? I suspect he has to. He needs to.
Here the water gets a little muddier. Is it possible that we literally need to write? I believe that most of us do. People who are natural artists, writers, or creators of some variety truly need to let the creative juices flow. Stop them up, and somewhere the dam will spring a leak (not a good thing). Creative people must create. Why that is, I haven�t a clue. It�s easy to talk about creative outlets and the need for expression in broad terms, but I�m not sure anyone can really explain it in any but an abstract manner.
Why do you write? Go ahead, ponder the question a little today. Then stop worrying about it, and write.
Getting Copyright Forms
You can order registration forms from the Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20559, or call them at (202) 707-9100 and leave your name, address, and how many forms you want on the answering machine, and they will be mailed to you. You can also request an "original music complete information packet" KIT #105, which tells you about the Performing Arts (PA) form and includes a blank form for you to fill out. The forms are free for the asking; however, there is a copyright registration fee of $30.00.
You can also download the PA form from the Library of Congress web site on the internet. The site contains all instructions for downloading the form, as well as a source for free software that will allow you to view and print the form and instructions for filling it out and filing it. Remember, the form must be printed on both sides of a single piece of paper. They will not accept multiple pages.
The web address is: http://lcweb.loc.gov/copyright/forms
Reprinted with permission of AFM Local 47, Hollywood, CA.
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 (griffinmc@netzero.net).
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.
Custom CD Cover Art � Full color paintings, black & white illustrations to computer-edited photos with half-tone for photocopying. Prices start at $25. Call John Martello at (407) 293-1739 or email: omegaltd158@juno.com.
Omega Ltd. Productions
3415 Silverwood Drive
Pine Hills, FL 32808-2847
SusieCool will be hosting an open mic at Yalaha Bakery on Saturday March 15th, 1:30 to 4 PM. Food, drinks, beer, and coffee will be available. The event is free and outdoors. Yalaha Bakery, 8210 County Road 48, Yalaha, FL 34797, (352) 324-3366. See the website http://susiecoolsongs.com for details
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
We're always looking for new faces and new music. Come to a meeting and check us out!
New Member: Bill Vontobel
February TOP FIVE
Winners of last month�s evaluation session
(members only)
(1) Looking for God Bill Vontobel
(2) Jerusalem Barbara Ross
(3) My Next Door Neighbor Bob Barker
(4) Because of You Fred Mader and Bill Downs
(5) Babylon Kent Trewick and
Susan Foster-Trewick
� 2003 ISG