May 2001
Guild Tidings
The official Publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 6, No. 5
NEXT MEETING: 5:00 P.M.Sunday May 6th 2001
Meetings are held the first Sunday of each month at 5:00 P.M. The location is 3020 E Robinson St., Orlando, Florida. (The American Federation of Musicians Union Building)
Officers:
President/Treasurer
Russ Robinson (407) 851-5328
Co-Vice President/ Member Reception
Matthew Griffin (407) 903-1212
Web Consultant
Asli Walker (407) 359-0506
President’s Letter
Dear Members,
Like springtime, with green bursting with joy, I'm in the same mood where all of you are concerned. It does my heart good when we've got something in the works. Several of you have called in regards to the "15 Little Words" song I assigned you to write.
I'd like a melody with the lyrics if possible but if you can't come up with that part, let's see what ideas you've used with those words you were given at last meeting.
Do not try to submit anything to anyone but me. There is a code you'd have to use to reach the Chicago contact to get through. Without that code your call is lost!
I have been given 2 VIP tickets to an interesting talent group called Ambassador Charlie Ray's Nashville Music Festival. It will start Saturday, May 26 through Memorial Day, May 28. Call (615) 252-8202 for info. The stage has drums, amps, and mikes, and if you prefer karaoke style, that's fine too.
I plan to have a drawing for those that would be interested in going and using the 2 tickets I'm donating. I'll read the letter telling the 5 goals they offer.
Long-time member Bill Einsiedel, our co-host over Beardall's booking when we do our Guild shows, is recovering from cancer surgery. We're happy to report he is doing well.
New member Pam Benton (and mother of our 13-year-old singer/writer Mary Ellen) has given me an outline in writing with some good ideas to follow as an outline for our meeting. We'll discuss this Sunday.
I have appointed Evelyn Nelson as a temporary secretary. She has been helping with some duties the past few weeks. I'd like to possibly vote her in if I hear a nomination.
Now, a very important issue I want to acknowledge, the great job our own V.P. Matt Griffin has done this month as editor of our Guild newsletter. Most of you have no doubt heard Susan Foster-Trewick has stepped from office as Vice President to front two other groups. We wish her the best and thank her for the help she gave us the past year.
Let's all come to the meeting Sunday. Bring your latest original songs. Good luck at critiques!
See you Sunday,
Russ Robinson
LAUNCH OF 2001 USA SONGWRITING COMPETITION
(excerpted from letter sent to Russ by the USA Songwriting Competition)
The USA Songwriting Competition has announced the launch of the year 2001. The event is sponsored by Mars Music Superstores, Mackie, Guild Guitars, D'Addario Strings, Emu Ensoniq, Mix Magazine, Onstage Magazine, Music Connection Magazine, Audio Technica, Superdups, ASN, Performing Songwriters Magazine, Sonic Foundry, Event Electronics, and Acoustic Café.
Entrants stand to win a grand prize of over $50,000 in cash and merchandise and exposure, making this the largest prize package in any annual songwriting competition. Also, winners' songs will be featured on a nationally syndicated radio program serving over 60 cities in the US and Canada, courtesy of a new sponsor, Acoustic Café (http://www.acafe.com).
Judges of the songwriting competition include representatives from record labels and music publishers such as Warner/Reprise Records, Sony Music, Epic Records, Mars Music Records, and Peer Music.
USA Songwriting competition has been known to get songwriters exposure. Many winners in the past have received recording and publishing contracts as well as having their songs placed on film and television.
Songs may be entered in 15 different categories including pop, rock, and country. It is aimed at promoting excellence in the art of songwriting among writers, composers, bands, singer/songwriters, and solo artists and an international forum. Entries are subject up through May 31, 2001. For more information visit http://www.songwriting.net or contact toll-free 1-877-USA-SONG. Outside the US call (954) 776-1577.
(The letter provided no details on entry fees or procedures. Russ also suggests that you call Eddie Phoon at (954) 776-0633 for more information.)
Critique Category Revisions?
by Matt Griffin
Guild members, we have an omission in the categories of our existing critique sheets. The problem was originally called to my attention by ISG member Jack Gayle. I don't know if anyone else has noticed this or even cares, but a very important part of every original song-the harmony, or chord progression-is not covered adequately by any of our existing categories (Melody, Lyrics, Hook, Potential). Most hooks are lyrical rather than musical, and Potential is an attribute of the song as a whole. I don't think anyone would argue the importance of harmony, so I think it's important we make some kind of change.
Jack's opinion, and I agree, is that we routinely overemphasize lyrics and underemphasize the music in our monthly critique sessions. It's no secret why: it's hard to talk about music without some training and experience. But anyone can offer an opinion about a song's words. By changing the categories, we can increase the emphasis on music in our scoring and hopefully even encourage more discussion on the musical aspect of every new song.
Here are a few suggestions for how we can re-categorize our critiques to include the chords. Maybe you can come up with others. This should make for an interesting discussion at our May Guild meeting.
(1) 5 categories: Melody, Lyrics, Music/Chords, Hook, Potential. This is my preference because it leaves us with equal representation of music and lyrics (Potential presumably applies to both). The downside is that we'd now have to provide scores in 5 categories rather than 4.
(2) 4 categories: Melody/Music, Lyrics, Hook, Potential. This is only a small change from our existing categories to include the harmony. The problem with this solution is that it still leaves the music under-represented in our critiques.
(3) 1 score for the entire song. This interesting idea is Jack's suggestion. It has the advantages of speed and simplicity; we'd just score a song based on an overall impression. But it provides no additional detail for the writer. Perhaps the oral critique is sufficient for that purpose.
I'd like to suggest that, if we decide to make a change, it should apply starting with our June meeting. That way, we can get new critique sheets made up and we can outline the revised scheme in the newsletter for everyone to look over. We've been using the current category division for several years, and one more meeting won't hurt.
So bring your fresh ideas and opinions to the upcoming meeting on May 6th. It should be an interesting evening!
ISG Bulletin Board
Paul Vernon appears Fridays and Saturdays at Jungle Jim's in Lake Buena Vista (in the Cross Roads Shopping Center) from 6:30 to 10:30
April 24th, Paul will perform at Hops (Altamonte Springs on 434) from 7 to 10
April 27th, Paul is performing at the Arts Café on Orange Avenue, 4:30 to 7:30
Where's your next gig? Please let us know, so we can publish it here!
At the Black Cat Café, Ernie introduced a new singer with the voice of a Caruso. His name, Roberto Caruso. Yes, Caruso. Any relationship, I wonder??
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 E-mail him at griffinmc@netzero.net. Please keep your articles brief.
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 Robinson (407) 851-5328
or e-mail: griffinmc@netzero.net
“DUES CLUES”
We are trying to keep better track of dues payments. You will notice that your mailing label has a date in the top right hand corner. This represents the date that we have a record of your last payment. As Russ has mentioned, this needs to be updated, so if you see ?? Or an incorrect date on your label, please let us know so we can correct it, and if the Date is more than a year old, then our “Dues Clues” will tell you it’s time to send that check to Russ again!!! (If you see “Guest” written there, it means that this is one of a few complimentary issues we are sending you since your visit with us. This will give you an opportunity to see what we are all about, and decide whether you want to join our Guild.)
Welcome New member: John Gallagher
March
TOP FIVE WINNERS
Of last month’s Evaluation Session
(Members only)
1st Place: Signs of Beauty Serina Jung
2nd Place: If I Gave My Love to You Paul Vernon
3rd Place: A Couple Thousand Tears Ago Bill Frank
4th Place: Can't Keep Up With Asset Group Matt Griffin
5th Place: Butterflies and Goosebumps Susan-Foster Trewick and Virginia Royal
© 2001 ISG