November 2009
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 14, No. 11
NEXT MEETING: 5:00pm Sunday, November 1st, 2009
Officers:
President/Treasurer
Russ Robinson (407) 851-5328
Vice President/Member Reception/Newsletter
Matthew Griffin (407) 903-1212
Secretary
Jacquelyn Gould, campkittycat@gmail.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,
Since last meeting, I accepted an invitation to attend a BMI composers affair in New York
City. I met some interesting writers and was given a chance to talk about our Orlando
guild. I told them about our monthly meetings. I noticed most of them took notes, and I
expect other chapters will be doing something similar to what we do, if they weren’t
already. Anyhow, they know about us now!
My trip was a spur-of-the-moment affair. I still have my apartment in New York, and got to
see a couple of my old neighbors. I found my old piano there too, greatly out of tune.
But at the same time, I was thinking and comparing New York with Orlando. And I was
anxious to get on a plane and come back home to my friends here. Unless you experience
this, you have no idea just how great it is to be living in Orlando.
Guess what? The short time between naps on the plane, I was composing or recomposing my
song Orlando: “Everyone knows the four seasons, summer fall winter and spring; Orlando is
a lovely city, any time of year it seems”. Hey, I really mean it!
See you all Sunday. Bring your latest for all of us to hear.
Russ
Where Do Ideas Come From? One View
By Matt Griffin
I’ve written a lot about inspiration; it’s a favorite topic of mine. Writers and artists
and creative folk of all kinds are dependent on it, and many have learned tricks to prime
the inspiration pump. But really, where do the ideas come from?
Some of you might answer that it doesn’t matter, and I understand that way of thinking;
it’s how I would’ve answered maybe 10 years ago. I mean, the important thing is that the
ideas do come, right? I suspect that inspiration happens to everyone, but that creative
types have just learned how to listen for it. But…from where? The question seems more
important to me now than it used to.
I’m reading a fascinating book that has helped me in unexpected ways. I saw Wayne Dyer
giving a talk on TV a couple of months ago, and liked his relaxed and straightforward
manner. He was talking about his book “Excuses Begone!”, and listed common excuses we use
that prevent us from doing and being more; he skewered the excuses easily. So I checked
the book out of the library, and I’m halfway through it.
Turns out, “Excuses Begone!” is a whole lot more than your average self-help book. Dr.
Dyer has spent a large portion of his recent life steeping himself in Eastern philosophy,
and the book reads rather like a Zenmaster’s guide to existence. The basic idea is that
we’ve filled ourselves with ready-made excuses (“I’m too busy”, “That’s just how I am”, “I
don’t deserve it”) that just aren’t true. In Dyer’s universe, you are exactly what you
believe you are, and you can change what you believe if you’ll only dump the excuses.
Dyer’s book provides an interesting and unexpected answer to the question, “Where do ideas
come from?” In the Taoist view, our minds originally were one with (pick your favorite)
the Tao, God, the Source, the Creator. Our egos have separated us, and use all of these
clever excuses to maintain that separation. Our ideas are essentially thoughts shared with
the Creator, at the times we are able to set our egos aside.
It’s a heady idea, and some of you may be rolling your eyes; I understand. I really like
the notion, even if I’m not sure whether to believe it in the literal sense. But it gives
me a fresh way to think about inspiration and about God, too.
Next month, perhaps I’ll tackle “Where do babies come from?”
ISG Bulletin Board
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.
Jeff Mason’s gig schedule:
Appearing at Tijuana Flats on the Patio (weather permitting), Thursdays and Saturdays at
6pm
444 S. Hunt Club Blvd, Apopka, FL 407 774 0402
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 Matt or email: isgorl@cfl.rr.com .
Why isn't your gig announced here? Call us with your appearance schedule!
New members always welcome!
October’s Top Songs—Results of monthly critique session
(1) I Love Being Married part 1 by Matthew and Rebecca Campbell
(2) Renew Your Heart by Asli Goncer
(3) I’ll Get Mine by Bob Witmer
(4) Place on the Lake by Susan Foster-Trewick and Sheila Dixon
© 2009 ISG