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| 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.) © 2001 ISG http://www.oocities.org/i_s_g_2000 |