October 2001
Guild Tidings
The official Publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 6, No. 10
NEXT MEETING: 5:00 P.M.Sunday October 7th 2001
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,
Like most of us, I?m concerned about what?s happened
to the World Trade Center in New York. Several weeks
ago I was in one of the towers to meet an old friend
for lunch. I?ve known several people over the years
that have worked there. It?s hard to believe the
towers are no longer standing. I?m sure everyone had
an entire week of sadness; we couldn?t escape with the
coverage it received. But?
You?ll be surprised to hear what was going on in my
mind!!! I was thinking all that week and wondering if
any of you were writing a song about this incident. I
heard one played on a talk show, not too bad but it
was a bit too pretty and romantic sounding. I hear a
lot of radio and TV, so I doubt if there?s anything
out there. Are you picking up on what I?m trying to
tell you?
Now how?s about it? Id love to have a few of you
arrive Sunday with a cassette in hand with a musical
story of New York?s tragedy, with an ending of hope,
condolences, and spirit of a new future. I want you
to hear a great song, written by Guild member Susan
Mathis, called ?Are You Ready For Me, New York City??
This song, with a few changes in the lyrics, could be
a perfect song offering hope and new drive for those
in mourning. We need to give something uplifting
rather than just offering condolences. Everyone is in
that stage right now, keeping sadness going.
I just bet if we came out with brightness rather than
darkness it would be a great thing to do. Such a song
is needed. Who knows, we might have several such
songs. Think about it, get busy, and hurry!
Last meeting I passed around two pages of a seminar
I?ve conducted around the country. Everyone seemed to
like it so I?ll continue this idea at our next
meeting. Perhaps you could keep these articles in
your file for reference.
I?ve had an exciting experience since our last
meeting. Some of our Guild members living on the East
Coast have been calling to say they read about my
experience August 16th at Cape Canaveral. My friend,
press agent Glen Moses, was instrumental in having me
appear as guest of honor at a reunion of 20,000
veterans of the Korean War. The 194 Combat Engineers
fighters honored me as World War II?s representative
(I spent four years in North Africa, Sicily, Italy,
France, and Germany; I was wounded twice and was a
prisoner of war).
I?ve played down my heroism status many years but it
was flattering and humbling to say the least to be
celebrated in this great fashion. The Florida Today
newspaper put my picture on the front page, and did a
great story on my war experiences, Sinatra, career,
etc. Sterling Cruise Lines invited me along with the
vets for a midnight cruise on a ship with 7 stories,
elevators, stage show, orchestra, and all the food we
could eat. Yow! Thanks to Glen Moses for arranging
all this. He and I did ?Armageddon? with Bruce Willis
and ?Instinct? with Cuba Gooding, Jr. Glen is a great
guy and friend.
See you Sunday.
Russ Robinson
Starting Out in Songwriting
by Matt Griffin
As Vice President of the ISG, I get letters (emails,
actually) occasionally from young writers wanting to
know how to get started. Often these letters are
overflowing with youthful confidence, asking where to
send their songs to get started on the road to
success. I think many of these songwriters expect me
to furnish ?the address? where they can send tapes to
get their songs on the radio. It?s hard to answer
these letters; I sure don?t want to dampen someone?s
enthusiasm or rain on their dreams, but a dose of
reality does seem in order. Keep in mind here that
I?ve personally charted, oh, zero songs, so take my
advice with a grain of salt.
There isn?t some secret address for songwriters like
us to write to, or not one that I know of anyway.
Unless you have some kind of ?in? (like, you?re
Garth Brooks? nephew), you?re going to have to do
things the hard way like the rest of us. It?s a long
and sometimes frustrating journey, and the road isn?t
very well marked.
Truth be known, the odds of achieving a hit song are
really poor. You?re competing against the many
thousands of wannabe writers out there producing
solid material. Worse, the music industry largely
ignores these writers.
Most songs on the radio (I?ve heard estimates of 90%)
were written by the artist or someone in the artist?s
production team. And most of the rest of the songs
come from the big songwriting houses and contract
writers. It?s extremely difficult for independent
writers (like all of us!) to even get an original song
heard by someone in a position to do something with
it.
Performing writers at least have a way to get people
to hear their songs; those of us who don?t perform
really have the deck stacked against us. So should we
just give up? A couple of years ago I attended a
songwriting seminar with professional writer Jason
Blume. Jason is the real deal; he?s charted a number
of songs, and co-wrote a song with one of the
Backstreet Boys on their recent Millenium album.
Jason started the way most of us do:
attending writer?s meetings and seminars, just trying
to get better and get heard. For me, the most
encouraging thing he said was that he?d met at least 5
or 6 writers who had more talent than he did, but who
had given up. His ?secret? was simple persistence:
keep knocking at the door and eventually someone will
open it.
So I have no answer other than this: keep writing and
studying and improving, and attending ISG meetings.
Network, and take advantage of whatever opportunities
you hear about at our meetings and elsewhere. Many
songwriting seminars are extremely worthwhile, and
you?ll meet more people who may be able to help. You
might try submitting your original works to
songwriting contests; stick with the well-known ones
like the Billboard contest, and don?t give up the
rights to your songs (legit contests won?t ask
you to sign your rights away). It may also be worth
the effort to send tapes to publishers who are
accepting material; check out the most recent
Songwriter?s Market books for current lists. Unless
they advertise that they accept unsolicited materials,
write first and ask. Remember: persistence opens
doors, so keep knocking.
I think it?s important to start with
reasonably-achievable goals, like (choose one):
writing a song that finishes #1 in the monthly Guild
critique contest, having a song performed publicly, getting a
jingle played on a radio commercial, placing a song
with a publisher, and so on. Don?t forget the local
market; a couple of simple successes at the local
level can lead to a higher visibility playing of your
song, or at least can give you a track record you can
use to open more doors.
For me, the bottom line is pretty simple: if you
don?t love to write, probably you shouldn?t bother.
It?s too much work for too little chance of commercial
success. If you love it anyway then writing is its
own reward, and anything else is gravy.
ISG Bulletin Board
Paul Vernon appears Fridays and Saturdays on the patio
at Jungle Jim?s in Lake Buena Vista (in the Cross
Roads Shopping Center) from 6:30 to 10:30 PM.
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.
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
FOR SALE to a good home:
TEAC 3340S Professional tape recorder, 1/4? reel to
reel, 4 tracks with simulsync, 7-1/2 inch and 15 inch
reels,$200, 321 452 2910, or email
geosync@pan.com.
Steve Bussey
GeoSynchronous Records
321 452 2910
http://www.pan.com/geosync
October 19, 6-9 PM, A Magical Night in October - A
Celebration of Art & Music.
Center for Spiritual Living, 709 Edgewater Drive,
Orlando (Corner of Hwy 50 & Edgewater Drive)
Musicians include: Mike Dale, Paul Gerardi, Susan
Foster-Trewick, Vick DeGiorgio, Gary Groves, Lisa Firestone,
Jim Hackworth, Doug Halper, Jamie Sterrett.
Art includes works by David Berger, Heidi Kneisl, Jan
Richardson, Etta Jean Smith, Teara Jo Lea Staples,
Janine Wooten, and other local artists.
CDs and art will be on sale. This free event is
sponsored by the Center for Spiritual Living and
Bicoastal Talent Agency.
October 20th: Rusty Gordon will be doing 2 seminars.
($15 each or $25 for both), on the Music Business.
1:00 to 5:00pm at 3020 E. Robinson St. Afterwards
there will be a showcase of the seminar attendees at
Barneys on Sand Lake Rd ( in the publix
plaza off I-4). Show starts at 7:00 and goes till
10:00. Checks payable to Davilyn Whims, can be
forwarded to Susan Foster-Trewick to reserve your
seminar slots.
Web Chatter
cybertoad2000@yahoo.com
Check out http://www.starrsshowcase.com for an
upcoming showcase and workshop series October 4th to
7th at the Raddisson Resort Parkway. Russ was a judge
at a previous event. Observer passes are $50 for the
entire weekend, or $20 per day. (this lets you in to
the workshops, and to view the showcases.)
Editor?s note: we apologize for our problems with the
newsletter last month; it was never mailed. Vickie
Overton, who graciously prints Guild Tidings
each month, was unable to get it out due to several
personal problems including having a family member in
a serious auto accident. Thanks for your continued
assistance, Vickie!
Anyone still wishing a September newsletter should see
Matt at an ISG meeting.
September TOP FIVE
Winners of last month?s evaluation session
(members only)
(1) It?s L.O.V.E. Bill Frank
(2) Alone Together Kym Brunson and Daniel Niles
(3) Alien Boyfriend Steve Bussey
?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.)
(c) 2001 ISG