Meeting Highlights: February 2001

ü General FAB NEWS

- The meeting began with all attending members sharing their current projects and challenges. Then onto FAB news…

- Jill Dawson(FAB founder) moving to Australia for 14 months, requesting volunteers to continue with FAB meetings and goals. Refer to FAB Committee list for volunteer summary.

- FAB website is now up: http://www.fabchicago.com for FAB member listing and general FAB info

- FAB meeting schedule: agreed a monthly meeting schedule should be set and assign members meetings. Tentative schedule: 4^th Tuesday of every month. Sarah B agreed to organize initial meetings in Jill’s absence.

- Temple Schultz suggested a long term goal of FAB CD Project where everyone submits one song and CD launch support a charity. All agreed to idea, and set goal to investigate budget required to produce CD with tracks already recorded and scope out possible charities and sponsors.

- No news to share yet about possible relationship or project with Breathe, newly established non-profit supporting women in the arts. Temple Schultz and Deanna K assigned Breathe liason responsibility to attend 2001 Breathe discussions in Jill’s absence.

- Future Meeting Topic Suggestions: Recording 101 – Strategies & Lessons Learned, Running of a Band: Democratic or Dictatorship (ha, ha), Chicago Venues – The Good & The Bad, FAB CD/Benefit Project

ü FAB member opportunities

- Lady Fest (introduced by Summer Chance): founded out of Olympia, WA. Chicago area is holding a multidisciplinary Lady Fest the 3^rd weekend in August. Many ways to become involved: Volunteer, hold a benefit concert to raise funds to help promote the festival. For more on volunteering, contact Summer Chance and/or go to website: http://www.ladyfestmidwest.org

- Open Mike at Uncommon Ground: on Monday nights, there is an open mike co-hosted by fellow FAB member, Ripley Caine. Focus in on original material, and songwriters compete for best song of evening. Winners proceed to a songwriter contest to be held at Uncommon Ground.

- Temple Schultz offered up studio for recording demos at Vitel Music Productions(Temple & Vijays studio) to FAB members.

- The Chicago Singer Showcase Circuit, the Top 3 contacts are: Local Vocal Brew (Wendy Morgan @ http://www.planetwendy.net), Singer Spotlight (Becca Kaufman, Amy Mowery @http://www.singerspotlight.com), Chick Singer Night (Alyssa Crull @ http://www.chicksingernight.com)

- Sandy Andina mentioned several friendly acoustic venues in Chicagoland area for folk artists: Two Way Street Coffeehouse (contact: Dave Humpreys), Maple Street Chapel in Lombard (contact: George Brown)

- Acoustic acts welcome to contact Sarah B about performing at Burning Question Coffeehouse in Elgin. Performing artists are paid.

ü Topic: Making A Living Pursuing Your Dream (short summary)

- The first step is deciding which area of music is your focus. Do you see yourself as more of a singer or songwriter? Do you prefer performing original or covers?

- The next step is putting together a good package. Do you have a recording appropriate for your focus area? I.e. a CD of original songs may not be appropriate to send to studios seeking backup singers, or job leads looking for wedding singers.

- Network: Songwriters check out http://www.chicagosongwriters.com, get referrals from other artists who are focusing in similar areas i.e. aspiring singers get referrals on studios & job leads to send demos to.

- Beware: Songwriters maintain your publishing rights, and beware joining organizations charging high fees to “shop your material.” Try sending recorded material to local publishing houses, or independent film companies looking for music.

- Most importantly, keep at it. Be willing to grow as an artist, and don’t get discouraged by being turned down. Ask yourself, “what can I learn from this?”… carry that with you, and move on. Around the corner is the opportunity that has been waiting for you.