March 2009
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 14, No. 3
NEXT MEETING: 5:00pm Sunday, March 1st, 2009
Officers:
President/Treasurer
Russ Robinson (407) 851-5328
Vice President/Member Reception/Newsletter
Matthew Griffin (407) 903-1212
Secretary
Jacquelyn Gould, crosstyes1@yahoo.com
Website
Carlos Colon (352) 326-4295
Membership
Gilda Corrales (407) 327-5494
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 .
President's Letter
Dear Members,
Hope all is well with each of you. Even if it’s supposed to be the middle of winter, it
feels more like summertime. I guess we’re having an early spring. I like being able to go
barefoot in my yard.
I like to write about the next season coming up. There’s a famous song already with the
title “Summertime”, but there’s always room for another. How about “Fun Time in
Summertime”? This could be dedicated to all of the American schoolkids. When I was in
grade school, summer vacation was always on my mind.
A nice surprise a few days ago was hearing from Leroy Van Dyke. He called to say he’s
sending me a copy of his latest composition before it’s published. Leroy has had several
hits over the years; you might remember one of his popular country songs was “Walk On By”.
During that time, he was here in Orlando and stayed at the Hyatt Hotel where I was
appearing. I remember he was sitting at a table next to the piano one evening when I
arrived. I’d never met him but knew of him. It’s nice to reminisce about the good old
days and remember folks like that.
We’d love to hear one of your original songs. If you don’t have musicians, just sing it so
we can hear the lyrics and melody. In the past, I’ve invited you to call on me and come
over, and I’ll work out an instrumental accompaniment to your song. Hope to see you and
hear your latest Sunday. As ever…
Russ
Ideas, Creating and Taking Control
by Susan Tucker, Songwriters Connection
As I sit here, contemplating the subject matter for my article this week, I find myself
having an extremely hard time staying focused. Why? The reason is exactly what I am going
to write about.
Times are - well, let's settle for "strange" right now. Everything we watch on TV sounds
down right awful. But everyone I talk with in the music business is extremely up, excited
and energized. I am one of those people too - right now I can hardly stay focused because
I am having so many ideas. I often tell people that one of my favorite pastimes is
brainstorming.
I think that what is happening is that there is no more "business as usual." All the
existing models for success in the music business have either morphed or gone completely
away. The days as an artist - struggling to find someone, somebody, anybody at a major
label to like their stuff, are gone. Today, right now, you can create your own career. You
don't NEED a major label. Oh, it still requires a great deal of work on your part, but the
saving grace is that now YOU HAVE CONTROL!
For songwriters, a very similar situation. You also are in control. There are more and
more options everyday for you to actually start making money, act as your own publisher and
move up the ladder without "waiting on someone to decide that you get to move up that
ladder of success."
As many of you know, my main focus is artist management. I work with an extremely talented
young lady named Rachel Williams. We have had talks with the major labels and frankly,
right now, the deals they are offering pretty well suck. Our choice has been to go do our
own thing, grow her career without them and wait until we can be in the driver’s seat at
the negotiating table.
Since we made that commitment, the ideas, possibilities and options have started pouring
in. SOON - things will look totally different for Rachel than they did a year ago, when we
were talking to the majors. Can you tell - we are excited about the future. We are in
control again!
So, I thought that with my article this week, I would brainstorm with you guys about some
of the possibilities that exist right now.
** Did you know that you can "sell" your songs as downloads? It requires that you record
at 'limited pressing" rate, sing your own demo or find a demo singer that will sing as a
"work for hire". The cool thing about that to me is that you get to give your song life!
And IF that song starts doing wonderful things out in the world - I suspect it would be
really easy to find a major publisher interested in signing that song, possibly giving you
a writing deal and pitching it to major acts for you.
** Did you know that you can record an album, one song at a time, then release it digitally
- never having to pay for pressing CD's? You too can be on I-Tunes! And now there are so
many options for selling downloads that if you aren't careful - you could spend all day
discovering new sites!
** Have you ever submitted songs to song contests? Winning and placing in major contests
is what I consider - resume building. In these days when you are trying to rise above all
the competition for attention - having something on your bio like - First place in the John
Lennon songwriting contest - will make people stop and listen.
** Do you have a MySpace, Facebook, Garageband, etc page? You don't have to be able to
afford a top notch web designer to have a presence in the world.
Okay - I'm running out of room, but not ideas. The point that I want to make this week is
- Take Control Of Your Career!!! Spend some time over this next month, checking out ideas.
See what other writers and artists are doing. If you are part of a songwriting group -
brainstorm as to what you can do as a group. Compilation discs are a mighty cool thing!
Don't limit yourself to the old conventional models anymore. And when you come up with
some really great ideas, we want to hear about them!
(Reprinted with permission of the Songwriters Connection, songwritersconnection.com)
ISG Bulletin Board
Central Florida Folk is looking for a new venue for their monthly Songwriters’ Round. Till
recently, it was held in the Plaza Theater lobby not far from the Union Hall; several ISG
members performed there. If anyone knows of a decent venue, preferably in the same general
area, please contact Susan Foster-Trewick at susiecool2001@yahoo.com.
Jeff Mason’s gig schedule:
Appearing At O'Keefe's Irish Pub, Fridays from 5pm, musicians welcome!
115 S. Rockingham Tavares, FL, 352-343-2157
Appearing at Tijuana Flats on the Patio (weather permitting), Thursdays and Saturdays at
6pm
444 S. Hunt Club Blvd, Apopka, FL 407 774 0402
Kitty Camp Pet Boarding—A loving, lakeside resort in Fruitland Park. Daily activities
include: playtime, bird-watching, brushing, petting, purring, sunbathing, catnapping, and
kitty’s favorite…mealtime! Daily/Weekly/Long Term, private rooms and suites available.
25% off weekly stay, FREE first night. Please call for details at 352-205-4284. Posted by
ISG member Jackie Gould.
Delivering high-quality FLASH streaming video! No matter what product or service you may
be offering, the power of video can be impressive! In fact, flash video is the most
effective way to deliver rich media on your website. Video grabs your visitor's interest
more so than simply text and images, or even audio. Video keeps visitors on your site
longer and often triggers a purchase! Video not only will enhance your marketing message,
but it's also entertaining. Video is useful for demonstrating your product or service, as
well as teaching, inspiring, and motivating your visitors to become a customer! So if
you're holding out with a website that may look outdated or obsolete, you may be losing
business. It's time to make a change. Visit my website at http://www.videosaysitall.com.
Thanks and call me anytime (352-326-4295)…Carlos Colon
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!
February’s Top Songs—Results of monthly critique session
No formal critique this month.
© 2009 ISG