CONTENTS 3) Calendar of Events/Featured Event 4) Songsalive! Wiki 5) Forums & Community 6) Indie Bible Cover 7) Chapter News 8) Chapter News
9) Team Member Spotlight 10) Get Involved 11) Featured Partner 12) Sponsored Event 13) Sponsored Event 14) Back Page
Hi, everyone! Hope your summer is going great! I cannot believe we are already halfway through 2013. This year is just flying by! In this issue of Songnotes, we have an excerpt from an article on the last ASCAP Expo by our Los Angeles team member, Danielle Carter. You can read it on page 4. We have lots of opportunities for songwriters listed on our Songshop and Opportunities forums. Read more about them on page 5. Speaking of opportunities, be sure to check out page 8 for details on how you could be on the cover of the Indie Bible. We also have a couple Songsalive! Sponsored Events coming up: the Independent Music Conference (IMC) and the Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter Film & TV Music Conference, both in October. Find out more information about them on pages 12 & 13. Congratulations to Rod O’Riley for being chosen to be our Songsalive! Team Member Spotlight! You can read more about him on page 9. Our Partner of the Month is Just Get Out There, a book by Songsalive! President, Gilli Moon. Read more on page 11. Be sure to check out all of our chapter events on page 3, as well as news from our chapters on pages 7 & 8. On the cover this month is a photograph of the Chicago chapter’s workshop at the Beat Kitchen with guest speaker, composer Aaron McEvers.
Enjoy the Rest of Your Summer! Mary Lemanski Director of Operations
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CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Saturday, July 13 11:30am Chicago Songsalive! Songwriters Workshop
FEATURED UPCOMING SONGSALIVE! EVENT
Tuesday, July 16 8:30pm New York Songsalive! Showcase & Open Mic Thursday, July 18 7:00pm Grass Valley Songsalive! Showcase 7:30pm Orange County Songsalive! Showcase Sunday, July 21 12:00pm Los Angeles Songsalive! Songwriters Workshop Tuesday, July 23 8:30pm New York Songsalive! Showcase & Open Mic Saturday, July 27 6:00pm Springfield Songsalive! Songwriters Workshop
SONGSALIVE! LOS ANGELES SONGWRITERS WORKSHOP WHEN: SUNDAY, JULY 21, 2013 TIME: NOON WHERE: CAHUENGA GENERAL STORE 5510 Cahuenga Blvd, North Hollywood, CA (Just north of Magnolia and Chandler, on East side of street) Please order lunch to support the venue COST: Songsalive! Pro Members – Free; Non-members - $10. Join on our website.
Sunday, July 28 7:00pm Orange County Songsalive! Songwriters Workshop Tuesday, July 30 8:30pm New York Songsalive! Showcase & Open Mic
Tuesday, August 6 8:30pm New York Songsalive! Showcase & Open Mic
GUEST SPEAKER: ALAN ROY SCOTT TOPIC: Craft Still Matters
www.songsalive.org/events.htm for Calendar and Upcoming Events www.songsalive.org/chapters.htm for details on our Chapters.
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SONGSALIVE! WIKI ASCAP “I CREATE MUSIC” EXPO 2013: Behind the Curtains Written by Danielle W. Carter Were you at the ASCAP “I Create Music” Expo this year? One-on-one listening and feedback sessions with industry executives, peer-to-peer networking, awareness of imperative regulatory lobbying on Capitol Hill and a solid lineup of acclaimed panelists made for an informative and eventful conference. If you missed it, you can still purchase the online access to the recorded panels through the ASCAP website. During the Expo, we heard from accomplished A&R executives such as Tina Davis, who discovered Chris Brown, as well as from artists and producers like Stargate, Ne-yo, Katy Perry, Jill Scott and Big Sean. Some panelists who represented major international publishers even provided their contact information and were seeking song submissions. Award winning international songwriters graced the panels to recount golden nuggets from their respective career paths. An overarching theme of advice was to stay focused no matter what; keep developing your authenticity as a writer, artist, producer, or musician so that your songs stand alone and speak for themselves. As you do so, the dots will continue to connect and shape your career path as you remain open to opportunities and fine tune your instincts. Each milestone you reach prepares you for the next. Many attendees enjoyed the interactive co-writing session hosted by artist/songwriter Priscilla Renea, whom ASCAP reported: wowed last year’s EXPO by performing some of her biggest songs at the closing Writers Jam: “California King Bed” (Rihanna), “Who Says” (Selena Gomez) and “Love Spent” (Madonna).
Want to read entire article? PRO MEMBERS ACCESS - GO TO: Log on to Songsalive.org and click on BACKSTAGE / then KNOWLEDGE WIKI (Articles, Touring Map) Direct link to KNOWLEDGE WIKI at: www.songsalive.org/wiki.htm
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Forums & Community SONGSALIVE! OPPORTUNITIES
Participate and find opportunities in our Forums as a Songsalive! Pro Opportunities Forum - Gigs, Jobs, and Music forum Member. SONGSHOP - Get song leads where music business professionals (record labels, publishers, film producers and music supervisors) hunt songs from the Songsalive! song pool. GIGS, JOBS & MUSIC OPPORTUNITIES - Listings of cool gigs, jobs and music opportunities posted by Songsalive! staff as well as members themselves.
LATEST POSTS: Songsalive! Songshop - get song leads and pitch your songs forum Online Sync Library Seeks Amazing Music from Labels and Catalogs Publishing Company Looking for Music in All Genres Radio & Distribution Opportunity For Artists Of All Genres Country Songs Needed For Film Placement Music Needed Immediately For CW Network TV Show - Deadline August 11th Music Library Seeks Contemporary Christmas Music For Placement Deadline August 9th
Community SONGCHAT - Members, have your say. Speak out, shout out. Tell it like it is! Find collaborators, other members, talk about songwriting, the biz, and speak your mind! Including: Songchat Songwriter Discussions Song Critique Discussion Lyrics-Only Critique Discussion
Be on the next Indie Bible cover - Deadine August 31, 2013 Songwriting Conferences & Events Upcoming Electronic Label Seeks Florida Interns Fender Seeks Consumer Relations Representative In Arizona And last week... Uplifting Instrumental Music Needed ASAP For PSA Ballad Needed for Female Vocalist Modern County Songs Needed for Record Label Pitching FreshLife Entertainment Seeks 3 Atlanta Interns Warner Music Seeks Director of Live Events in Nashville Music Connection Magazine Looking for DIY Stories Elbo Room (Chicago) Acoustic Lounge Open June to August Dates Singers Wanted For New Music Competition Show AND MANY MORE!!! PRO MEMBERS ACCESS - GO TO: Log on to Songsalive.org and click on BACKSTAGE / then FORUMS / then Songshop or Opportunities. Visit our Songsalive! Forums for more information on these opportunities: www.songsalive.org/forums/
SONG CRITIQUE - Critique other members songs and add yours for critique.
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INDIE BIBLE COVER Apply to be on the cover of the next Indie Bible: We need great LIVE shots for the next Indie Bible cover. The Indie Bible is distributed WORLDWIDE and it's GREAT exposure. An international music resource that helps independent artists with their music promotion, indie marketing campaigns, radio promotion, quest to get music reviews, radio airplay & interviews, the Indie Bible also helps indie artists to get featured and have their video and audio files posted in music blogs and online digital music websites. The Indie Bible helps you to gain international exposure for your music on a limited budget.
Once again Gilli Moon, president of Songsalive! and artist, is designing the next Indie Bible cover, and we want Songsalive! members to take advantage of being featured on the cover. For Songsalive! Pro members only. Songsalive! is the largest international non profit organization supporting, promoting and educating songwriters and composers worldwide. Be sure you join as a Pro Member at www.songsalive.org/join before considering to apply for this promotional opportunity. There is no pay for usage of your photo, however we include your name and website inside the front left cover, and it's great exposure and promotion. We are looking for all Looks, race and creed, and any style of musician or musical artist can apply.
Our specs for photos have changed. We can accept 2 types of shots: (see the past covers here: www.warriorgirlmusic.com/design.html) A) A really great LIVE shot. (singing or playing an instrument). Your We mostly need close ups on one person, but we are open to seeing a full band or part band shot if looks great. Preferably with stage background, rather than outdoors. B) We are now also open to a great studio promo shot, as long as you are holding or playing your musical instrument. That is, you can pose with your guitar (ukelele, saxaphone, whatever), in performing mode, or a really interesting pose with it (leaning, carrying, under the arms, over the head shouting, whatever). Make it unique and awesome. Indoor shots preferable with great lighting. If it has a color background that helps us with the tone we'll choose for the cover. Preferably black or white backgrounds though, no crazy backgrounds.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO: You must be a PRO member of Songsalive! (meaning financially current. If you are unsure, email membership@songsalive.org or log into your PayPal account and click on subscriptions under your Profile). Then go to the Songsalive! BACKSTAGE forums www.songsalive.org/forums/ (log in) and click on Opportunities Forum for the instructions on applying. Applications will not be taken by replying to this email, nor through the Indie Bible website (as the Cover design is by Gilli from Songsalive! and all artists are chosen from the Songsalive! Pro Member pool). You must log in above to get the instructions and follow them to submit your photo(s).
Deadline August 31, 2013. But, the early bird catches the worm. 6
CHAPTER NEWS REVIEWS OF RECENT EVENTS
OUR CHAPTER NEWS
Songsalive! Orange County May Showcase – Two skilled performers with really different styles took to the stage at Sam Ash in Westminster for our May Songsalive! Orange County Songwriter Showcase. First up was Michael Pliskin and his lovely 12-string guitar — ably assisted by Michael’s son Matt and his impressive stand-up bass. Their set just about defined the concept of “old time-y folk music", and the audience ate it up. Next was Liz Nash performing a solo set. Her bluesy songs and boisterous delivery featured a secret weapon: Her nudge-nudge-wink-wink sense of humor. Several of the audience had never attended a Songsalive! showcase before and they left very impressed — and set up with lots of Songsalive! literature and CD’s too! -Rodney O’Riley Songsalive! Los Angeles May Workshop – The May 19th Los Angeles Songsalive! Workshop series continued Sunday at The Cahuenga General Store. Our guest speaker was publisher Joanne Ledesma whose topic was “Thinking Outside the Box With Your Songs”. While there are many new opportunities to place songs in the musical arena, the competition has gotten tougher as well, and Ms. Ledesma outlined where to look and how to approach the presentation. She was so impressed with the level of songwriting at Songsalive!, she asked if she could attend 3 or 4 times a year! -Rik Lawrence
www.songsalive.org/chapters.htm
Songsalive! Grass Valley May Showcase – The May Songsalive! Grass Valley showcase at my studio, Alta Sierra Music Center was fun for all. 6 people attended. My guest performers, Ken Burnett, Joe Gums and your host Michael Gregory, performed and entertained the small, but enthusiastic, group of listeners. Joe’s songs were accented by his soulful voice and heart-felt love songs. Ken wowed the audience with his traveling folksy blues offerings. -Michael Gregory Songsalive! Orange County May Workshop – Our Guest Speaker for the May Orange County Songsalive! Workshop was an old hand at Songsalive! events, Jimi Yamagishi. Always engaging and encouraging, it’s always great when he finds time to come down our way and join us for an evening — to perform, or to educate.First up it was time for song critiques, with five songs presented this time around. Gil Mosard was first up with his song about The Band — specifically the film The Last Waltz. One of his most recent songs, it never fails to be touching. Craig Smetana came next with his version of a family reminiscence song that we’ve actually heard previously from another workshop attendee — nothing wrong with that! Next up was Kate Albright with a wonderfully arranged, uplifting song about celebrating each individual life. It sure made US feel like celebrating! That up mood was carried on by Sherif, who presented a spiritual song with a decidedly exotic, middle-eastern flavor — and a dance rhythm to boot. And things ended on a positive note as Lucius Austin presented a toe-tapping Christmas song. After a brief rest to finish up dinner (thanks again, Spires!), it was time to hand the floor over to Jimi Yamagishi. Jimi handed out a punch-list of ways to get your music out in front of people — and make money while doing so! Or, in the case of barter groups, get people willing to do important stuff for you in exchange for your music. After going over specifically opportunities at open mic’s and similar showcases, Jimi introduced a friend of his: Diana Green. Diana had written jazzy tunes back in the 1950’s, then dropped out of the music scene for decades. Recently, Jimi and other friends have encouraged her to return to both writing and performing — and she did the latter for us, singing and playing piano. Terrific! After having no experience with Facebook before this year, Diana now has over 200 friends — and after this night, she had a few more! -Rod O’Riley
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CHAPTER NEWS REVIEWS OF RECENT EVENTS
OUR CHAPTER NEWS
Songsalive! Los Angeles June Workshop - The June 16th Los Angeles Songsalive! Workshop series continued Sunday at The Cahuenga General Store. Our guest speaker was artist, songwriter, producer Brad Parker whose topic was “Learning to efficiently create lyrics and how to strikingly break the rules.” While many people want the success of being a prolific songwriter, few want to put in the time necessary to get there. He suggested writing 1000 songs and to write every day. -Rik Lawrence Songsalive! Orange County June Showcase – Two talented ladies graced our stage at Sam Ash Music in Westminster this month — one veteran performer and one relative newcomer. First up was Diana Weynand, late of Austin, Texas — and dang proud OF it, as some of her songs showed! Talented on both guitar and keyboards, Diana and her fine voice were joined on stage by several talented members of the audience as well, giving the whole event the feeling of a jam party! Next up was Ashley Rezvani, another “import" to the Southland — this time from Missoula, Montana. Having just started college, she’s already at work on her first EP, showcasing her talents on keyboard and ukulele, as well as her soulful voice. All of which were in fine form at our June showcase! Rod O’Riley Songsalive! Orange County June Workshop – Joanne Ledesma returned to the Songsalive! Orange County June workshop as Guest Speaker — and was as happy to see us all as we were to have her again! She brought with her a wealth of knowledge from her years as a music placement agent, screener for A & R companies, reviewer, and music business instructor. Her subject this night was song pitching, which mostly involved placement and RE-placement in TV, movies, and other media, but also touched on selling songs to performing artists… or even writers and performers collaborating on songs. And she had plenty of good songs to use as examples for her talk this time around!
Songsalive! Orange County June Workshop (cont.) - We started off with Kip Corley’s poetic evocation of the tough life in Southern California — which Joanne used to pointedly suggest he pitch to a performer with a “grittier" voice, and keep something more suited to his own smooth-and-soulful tones for himself. She used that as an opportunity to point out how many very successful songwriters do not perform their own material — because writing stuff that isn’t fit for their own voices gives them more material to sell in more places! Next up was Steve Finch, with his always-heartfelt voice, giving us a song about friendship. Newcomer Dan Fowler present a class country-style song on CD. Joanne used that to present a point about the importance of arrangement — and finding a producer familiar with the genre you’re trying for, as she suggested that a rather plonking piano part be replaced by some jaunty acoustic guitar if the song is going to be plugged as country. Sherif Guirguis gave us another of his ballsy, bluesy love songs, always perfect for his growly voice and powerful guitar playing. Gil Mosard presented the latest version of one of his 1970’s compositions, which Joanne declared “very nearly complete" as is — and utterly perfect for his voice. Sean Blake presented a strong singer/songwriter style song with more than a little old-time-music feel — which is his forte’. Kate Albright admitted that she has been presenting rather “heavy" material lately, so for a change of pace she presented a jaunty little number on the piano with her lovely high voice — jaunty enough, in fact, that Joanne suggested she might want to try out writing children’s music, which is a large and often un-tapped market. Finally Rick Willingham presented a “stoner country" (his own words!) song about an unfettered life, which everyone said had wonderfully clever lyrics. Using all of these and more from her own experience (and that of her clients and friends), Joanne talked about a variety of music topics, including the fine art of getting your music in front of the right people who can actually use it — and how to make sure you get PAID for it when they do! She had so much to cover that she said she could have gone on for hours more — and that we therefore should invite her back again as soon as possible. I think everyone there agreed! -Rod O’Riley
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TEAM MEMBER SPOTLIGHT We are all excited about Rod O’Riley being chosen for the Songsalive! Team Member Spotlight!!!
Congratulations Rod O’Riley on being featured as our Songsalive! Team Member Spotlight!
Rod O’Riley runs the Songsalive! chapter in Orange County, CA, featuring a monthly songwriting workshop and performance showcase.
ROD O’RILEY BIO: Rod O'Riley is a guitar salesperson by day, songwriter by night, and many other things in the hours in between. A native of Los Angeles; he was raised in his parents' native Vancouver, BC, and schooled all over the West Coast. Currently he’s learning the fine art of bass playing, producing, and letting the computer take care of the hard parts. Active as an organizer in science fiction fandom, he also keeps himself busy as an activist for animal rights, gay/lesbian/bi rights, and anarchism. And, of course, for the continued viability of live music and the venues that support it. Rodney has been involved with Songsalive! since 2002. In 2007, he was honored to assist with the creation of the new Songsalive! chapter in Orange County, California.
Visit Rod’s Songsalive! page at www.songsalive.org/profile/Rod-ORiley/ Also featured on our HOME PAGE and Members Page: www.songsalive.org/members.htm
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Join The Songsalive! Team Volunteer Positions Open: 1. Los Angeles Chapter Coordinator 2. San Francisco Chapter Coordinator 3. College Interns
GET INVOLVED "Volunteering is an act of heroism on a grand scale. And it matters profoundly. It does more than help people beat the odds; it changes the odds." - President William Jefferson Clinton
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Los Angeles Chapter Coordinator As the Songsalive! Los Angeles Chapter Coordinator you will manage the monthly Workshop event (1) and showcase event (1) . You will be the visible ambassador for Songsalive! You will heighten our presence in the community and will be charged with maintaining and growing a vibrant membership. You will also manage a team of volunteers that carry out specific roles. San Francisco Chapter Coordinator As the Songsalive! San Francisco Chapter Coordinator you will manage the monthly Workshop event (1) and showcase event (1) . You will be the visible ambassador for Songsalive! You will heighten our presence in the community and will be charged with maintaining and growing a vibrant membership. You will also manage a team of volunteers that carry out specific roles.
College Interns As a non profit 501 c)3) charity organization, we are always open to College Interns and you can officially build credit. We are 10 years old community of songwriters and composers. This is the perfect opportunity for current students or recent graduate, looking to build his/her resume, or a musician who wants to give back to the community. As part of this team, as a member of this organization, you would be helping us with various Internet and street promotions, including our online communities, as well as interacting with the community at our events and doing street promotions. We want innovative, smart, and internet savvy people, who want to get involved in a fast growing community.
Apply for these and other Songsalive! positions at www.songsalive.org/getinvolved.htm
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FEATURED PARTNER Songsalive! Featured Partner: Just Get Out There - Book by Gilli Moon JUST GET OUT THERE - Achieving Abundance, Self-Empowerment and Professional Success as an Artist Entrepreneur Gilli Moon, takes you on an enriching journey of artistic and professional discovery with her second book, JUST GET OUT THERE, (her first book is I AM A Professional Artist – the Key To Survival and Success In The World of the Arts). JUST GET OUT THERE is the Artist's bible to achieving abundance, self-empowerment and professional success as an Artist entrepreneur. 300+ pages filled with in-depth tips, tools, steps and resources on getting out there as an Artist, all the while achieving personal, financial and professional success and joy. For more information on Just Get Out There by Gilli Moon, visit www.justgetoutthere.com, as well as our store at www.songsalive.org/store.htm. About the Songsalive! Partner Directory: Discounts to our friends’ products, promotions, resources, services and events to help you with your songwriting career. Music resources, books and directories / Online websites and services for marketing, promotion and social networking / Artist development, production and training / Music Licensing (Film, TV, Ads, Games and A&R contacts / Music creation, sales and distribution / Songwriting learning and writing tools / Legal Services / Sponsored Events Behind the Songsalive! Backstage, you can access 100 exclusive discounts, only for our Songsalive! Pro members. www.songsalive.org/backstage.htm for all Pro Member exclusives, or access the Partner Directory here: www.songsalive.org/link-directory.htm
Go Pro today! Join Songsalive! on our website at www.songsalive.org/join.htm.
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SPONSORED EVENT Independent Music Conference (IMC) October 19 - 23, 2013 Los Angeles, CA Songsalive! members can save even more with a special discounted early-bird registration rate for the Independent Music Conference. Visit the link to take advantage of this great offer, and pay only $55 per person! The Independent Music Conference is a highly effective learning and networking environment which has been presented nationwide in Philly, Dallas, Charleston, Los Angeles and Northampton to date. Now in its eleventh year, and planning the 14th event, the IMC is still the only music conference in the nation specifically for independent musicians. The IMC focuses on empowering musicians to achieve indie success, helping them achieve their goals as entrepreneurial business owners through the presentation of educational seminars, workshops, panel discussions, mentor sessions networking opportunities, performance instruction, evaluation and critique, and live performances.
For more information on this conference and other Songsalive! Sponsored Events, visit www.songsalive.org/sponsoredevents.htm 12
SPONSORED EVENT Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter Film & TV Music Conference Los Angeles, CA October 29-30, 2013 The Hollywood Reporter and Billboard join forces to deliver a cutting-edge, two-day seminar on the role of music in film and television. Now in its 14th year, this Conference offers attendees the unique opportunity to learn from, network and expose their music directly to the best music supervisors, composers, directors, music editors, songwriters and producers in the business. The event also provides a dynamic forum for the exchange of ideas - featuring roundtable discussions, and other networking cocktail parties and sessions.
For more information on these and other Songsalive! Sponsored Events, visit www.songsalive.org/sponsoredevents.htm 13
BACK PAGE The Songsalive! Community
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eNotes - free weekly discussion list where the art and business of songwriting meet online. eNotes is all about opportunities: songwriting, songwriting & music business and all that pertains to the Update your profile song and the songwriter. We post relevant opportunities as well as There are hundreds and hundreds of other songwriters, artists and music business articles, resources and special events that will help our members professionals waiting to meet you! Update your profile on the website with some info about maximize their songwriting careers. Plus up to the minute posts from you, some pics, and even use our integrated music player, where you can show off up to 10 of your own songs! Pro members can also create their own blogs, groups and add videos. our program SONGSHOP (looking for songs). We also encourage Woo hoo! posts from our subscribers of the above, as well as tasteful selfSongsalive! exists because of the songwriters and composers community at large. We feed it, promotions including upcoming music and songwriting events, and and we feed off it. We are all about community. Get involved today! JOIN A CHAPTER songwriting discussions. GROUP - READ AND CREATE BLOGS - COMMENT ON BLOGS - ADD PHOTOS AND VIDEOS - FIND OTHER MEMBERS.... Have FUN!
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Contact us with questions www.songsalive.org/contact.htm info@songsalive.org – general inquiries membership@songsalive.org – for the obvious songsalivepr@gmail.com ONLY for Songnotes questions. Looking for Songsalive! Australia? Go to www.songsaliveaustralia.org.au
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