Sunday, October 3, 2010

DSA E-News #112, Oct. 2010






Hello Songwriter,

Wow!! September whizzed by! We had free ticket offers for three shows at the Winspear Opera House and I was fortunate to attend the Mariachi show and T Bone Burnett. It was fun to sit with a sold out audience listening to Texans with Mexican roots sing along to the familiar songs of the mariachi. Also, the Burnett forum had a large crowd. We were able to learn of the rise of a performing songwriter through the journey of producer, film music supervisor, to an Oscar winner. Great story.

Thanks to performers Mark Wayne Glasmire and Karyna Kruz for representing DSA on the East Court stage, and making us look really great. The live sound reinforcement  engineer  came by our booth and talked about the talent and professionalism of our performers, and how they bragged about us to the event organizers.

Also, thanks to our ambassadors, Brook Malouf, Paul Zander, Roger Russell and DSA Prez, Buck Morgan for presenting the happy face of DSA.  Paul garnered attention by playing guitar and singing at the booth. We networked with the other arts orgs and had some solid interest from our visitors in coming out to our meetings and becoming members.


Need a little inspiration? The featured article about new on the charts act Joey and Rory should do it. Former DSA member, Rory Lee Feek attended and showcased at one of our Dallas Songwriters Seminars (three day event) in the early 90's. He made contacts with the Nashville music industry pros flown in for the panel discussions, critiques and showcases. Moved to Nashville, and after having some success as a songwriter with Harlan Howard Music, he is now a touring and charting act. Networking does pay off eventually. Another DSA member at that time, David Banning, has cuts on Joey and Rory's new album. Way to go guys!! See the featured article below in item 8 about the new album release.

Besides our regularly scheduled 4 monthly events, there is the Music Buzz free Mondays at the Allen Public Library.  We will also be at the Arlington Guitar show. http://texasguitarshows.com Come visit our booth.

Coming up the first weekend in November is the Texas Independent Music Expo and the FREE Kim Copeland Recording Workshop on Sunday, Nov. 7th at the Frisco Public Library. See our events section below.

QUICK LOOK CALENDAR OF DSA MONTHLY EVENTS - put this in your bookmark.
1. ANNUAL SONG CONTEST - Fall kickoff planned. Stay tuned!
We'll set the deadline dates at the kickoff.

2009-10 SONG CONTEST - We've finally wrapped it up and delivered all prizes!
Winners were announced April 15 on the website and at the Dallas International guitar show.
See John Nitzinger and Tradition Guitars presenting the grand prize at the show.

See the press release on the song contest winners:

Get a hard copy of the April issue of Songwriters Notes with a list of winners and read about grand prize winner, Lanny Sherwin.

See the winners, be sure to scroll to the bottom for Roy Elkins comments on the cream of the crop.

Semifinalists were posted on the song contest website on March 15th.

Mimi Balkey won the drawing for the ipod.

THANKS TO TRADITION GUITARS FOR GENEROUSLY DONATING THE GUITAR TO OUR GRAND PRIZE WINNER.

2008 SONG CONTEST - WINNERS

See past 2008 winners.

Here 2008 winning songs in a series of three podcasts at:
2008 SEMIFINALISTS

*******************************
2. DSA MEETINGS - Oct. 12th, Nashville Hit Songwriter, Bill Kenner


Nashville songwriter and Houston native, Bill Kenner, has three #1 country songs: “Paradise Tonight,” “Your Love Is A Miracle,” and “Holdin’ Heaven.”  He has been a staff writer for Quincy Jones (for 3 years), MCA, Polygram, Tom Collins, Morgan Music and EMI Publishing and his songs have been recorded by Alan Jackson, LeeAnn Womack, Prince, Mark Chesnut, Tracey Byrd, Pat McGlaughlin, Billy Dean. A multi-talented instrumentalist Kenner plays guitar, electric & upright bass, mandolin, steel drums, keyboards, banjo, fiddle, and percussion whose mandolin students include Steve Cropper and Tommy Lee Jones. He has been a recording artist with MCA (pop) and Mercury (country). 

Most recently he has served as A&R consultant and talent scout for Sony Music in Nashville discovering Jonathan Singleton, who was signed at Universal South and wrote the #1 for Gary Allen, “Watching Airplanes.” His production company, Topp Shelf Music, is seeking superb acts for development towards a label deal. 

Also, time permitted, Program Direstor, Bob Paterno will talk about making song demos.  He will focus on his experience with Nashville demo studios and cover common issues every songwriter confronts including: 
(1) when a song is worth a demo
(2) what kind of demo to do
(3) how much a demo should cost
(4) what the demo studios expect from the songwriter

Some studios are better suited for one-on-one, personalized attention than others.  Some studios can make any song sound like 'the real thing'.  Don't miss this meeting!"
Free to DSA members, $5 for visitors

Song Critiques will follow - Members Only - $5

Sign in and Networking begins at 6:30
Announcements at 7PM
Program about 7:15
Critiques will follow. Bring your songs

FUTURE PROGRAMS
Nov: Randy Brown, columnist for Piney Woods
Dec: Christmas Party
----------------------------
DSA T-SHIRTS $10 at the meeting (you must ask me for the special) or online by mail $15
----------------------------
MONDAY SONG SWAPS for peer critique
Song Swap Workshops
Monthly 7:30-10 PM
Free, Visitors Welcome
Where songwriters perform their songs for peer review. Bring your guitar and a few lyric sheets. This is like an old fashioned guitar pull with comments between songs.

FIRST MONDAY in East Dallas
Half Price Books, 5803 E Northwest Hwy Dallas, TX 75231-6519 (214) 379-8000
Roger Russell, Jame Pappas coordinating.
We'll be in the Community Room at the back left in the building.

THIRD MONDAY in PLANO -
Tino's at Collin Creek Mall- Steve Sullivan, coordinator.
Tinos Mexican Restaurant Collin Creek Mall, Plano, Tx 972 2572
-----------------------
3. SHOWCASES AND OPEN MICS -

OPEN MICS
DUNN BROTHERS COFFEE HOUSE -
EVERY 3RD THURSDAY - 7:00pm to 9:00pm

Texas Songwriters in the Round is beginning its 10th year of songwriters series.
We are currently meeting at the Hill Top Cafe on Hwy 87 9 miles north of Fredericksburg, Tx.
The Showcase is every 3rd Wednesday with our Star.
The group also meets every wednesday on the patio for songwriters support, performance and sharing.
512-217-4596
TSR will be in Brady "2nd Saturday" if anyone can join us please do.
Hard Eight Cafe 6-9PM All original All the Time.

Other opportunities to showcase:





Mark Long (214-684-4554), the proprietor at Thai Star Restaurant in Addison is looking for performers for his Songwriter Showcase on the following dates:
Next Saturday October 9th; Need one late performer, about 9:30pm
Saturday October 23rd, need two performers 815pm and 930pm
Saturday November 6th, need three performers @ 6:45pm, 8:00pm, and 9:15pm
Saturday November 20th , need three performers; same times
Saturday December 4th, need three performers; same times
Saturday December 18th, need three performers; same times 

Anyone interested in playing at Santa's Village in Richardson, Tx this December email me at info@dallassongwriters.org (if enough people are interested, it would be a songwriters round situation with original Christmas songs with a few covers to fill if needed)
-----------------------------------------------

4. LYRIC CONTEST - Next deadline postmarked December 31th or enter online.

WINTER/SPRING 2010 SEMIFINALISTS
I Threw It Away by Matt Abell, Stroudsburg, PA
Music Carry Me by Donna Lisa, Westfield, NJ
Katrina by Mark Crisp, Arroyo Grande, CA
Whiskey Wins by Donna Scoggins, Dallas, Tx


WINNERS POSTED ON THE WEBSITE. See the lyrics and who won 1st place.

LYRICISTS GAIN RECOGNITION THROUGH COMPETITION
Next Lyric Contest Deadline is March 30th, 2010 for Spring Lyric Contest
Entry fee is $10
Please see lyric contest webpage for details.

April 2010 Hardcopy issue of Songwriters Notes has Summer & Fall 2009 winners posted.

October 2009 Hardcopy issue of Songwriters Notes has Fall 2008 & winter/spring 2009 Lyric contest winning songs listed:
-------------------------------------------------------

5. MEMBER NEWS -
If you are not a DSA Member, you missed these tips sent out through our yahoo group:

* Publisher looking for Childrens songs
* Artists/Producers looking for original material for recording artists
* Major Brand X (To be disclosed at a later time) Seeks Independent artist for music campaign.
* Where to get your cd reviewed
* Music related job listing
* Cheap and free tickets - Free tickets to selected Winspear Opera House events.

Lyricists are invited to co-write with music writers by submitting your lyric through the member yahoo group.

Wanna get involved? Become a committee member. It's fun!
To view a list of the 2010 Officer and Directors and Committees go to this link:

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS: Mina Shamsa, Robert Montgomery, Tracy Merchant, Jan Osborne, Tim Schramm, Kevin Mountcastle, Brent Benton, Pru Gilmore, Timberly Padden won a fee membership in the guitar show drawing.. Tim Phillips, Pru Potter, Joanna Endley, Robert Tenorio, and song contest winners Ward Parker, Eric Christensen, Chris Trentham, Scott Tonkinson, Lisa Torres, Noel Cohen, David Spence, Edward Turton, Lauren Smith, Lanny Sherwin, John Watilo Louie Cate, Claire Ulanoff, Karyna Cruz, Peter Bacsalmasi, Bernadette Conant, Roger Kaye, Matt Dahan, Dom Stasi, Sinem Varoglu, John Visconti, Jaime Leopold,

THANK YOU FOR RENEWING YOUR MEMBERSHIP: Ken Golden, Brook Malouf, Bill Honker, Scott Fant, Ed Willians, Tom ThomasTrevor Dahen, Butch Schindel, Bob Paterno, Ian Dickson, Jackie Doss, Mary Guthrie, CB Luce

TIME TO RENEW: The following members owe dues:


YOU HAVE A TWO MONTH GRACE PERIOD TO RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP OR YOU WILL BE DROPPED FROM THE MEMBER GROUP

MARCH: Kathy Nichols, Bobby Jo Chandler, Lisa Warner, Matt Pitcher
APRIL: Janis McQuinton, Michelle Fosse, Gerald Patton
MAY:  Ron Grimes
JUNE: Kevin Sullivan, Josh Goldberg
JULY: Michael Fredde, Dave Dalton, Dave Sanchez
SEPT: Don Wall
PLEASE RENEW THIS MONTH: Reagan Redfern, Morri Hartgraves, Paul Penrod, Billy Roberson, Steve Sullivan, George Ross, Rod Ballou, Stephen Blackwell, Curtis Goho, Erick Bunch, Robert Charles

Renew your membership online,
You'll find the link to the store on the panel to the right
-------------------------------------------------------

6. WORKSHOPS - DSA WORKSHOPS ARE SPONSORED BY BMI
(Each month we have a workshop at our monthly meeting on the 1st Monday, 3rd Monday and 2nd Tuesday. see item 3 above.) http://www.meetingblog.dallassongwriters.org

Occasionally we bring in special instructors for songwriting, performance or music education workshops.

Sunday, Nov 7th in Frisco
KIM COPELAND RECORDING WORKSHOP presented by DSA and CCSA - FREE



DAVE ISSACS GUITAR WORKSHOP OCT. 26 presented by Forth Worth Songwriters Assocaition
www.fwsa.com/calendar.html

------------------

7. EVENTSFeaturing local and worldwide events of the songwriting community including, seminars, conferences, and showcases.

Every Monday this fall, Music Buzz will take place at Allen Public Library. FREE

OCT
1-3 NorthPark Celebrates the Arts
7-8 Durango Expo Expo Home 
11-16th Texas Songwriters Cruise http://www.txsongwriterscruise.com/
15 Gary Nicholson at Poor Davids Pub  http://www.poordavidspub.com
15-17th Llano Heritage Festival http://www.llanomainstreet.com
16-17 Arlington Guitar Show www.texasguitarshows.com

For more details visit the events page.

NOV
5 - 6 Texas Independent Music Expo
12-14 Miami Music Festival http://www.miamimusicfestival.org/
15 Deadline to showcase at ASG symposium www.austinsongwritersgroup.com

DEC

JAN 2011
13-16 ASG Symposium www.austinsongwritersgroup.com

TEXAS CONCERT LISTINGS

Comprehensive VENUE LIST - compliments of Uncle Calvins

DALLAS TEXAS CONCERT LISTINGS

Dallas Morning News Guide Live Music Listing ( hit search after opening the page)
---------------

8. Featured Articles:
PREZ SEZ: Tune in to DSA President, Buck Morgan's, musings and DSA goings on.















Joey+Rory Score Top 10 Country Album

There isn’t an artist out there who hasn’t worried their second album would not be as well received as their first. On “Album Number Two,” the title track of their new LP, Joey+Rory poke fun at the all-too-common tendency for artists and music industry executives to go to great lengths in an effort to avoid such predictions. With Album Number Two, the husband/wife duo didn’t hesitate to make a follow up album full of the great traditional country music that fans would expect from them. Judging from rave reviews and fan response, they knew exactly what they were doing.

“The duo tap into a heartfelt, heartland style that addresses family, faith and honest work with earnest flair.”
Michael McCall/Associated Press

“Joey+Rory are pure country heaven…”
Robbie Woliver/National Examiner

“They’re country music’s it-couple – a charming husband and wife team who are creating some of the freshest new music around.”
CBS Early Show

“The duo knows the power of sticking true to its musical roots...”
Jessica Phillips/Country Weekly

“Album Number Two is a 12-song manifesto of traditional country music.”
David Linquist/Indianapolis Star Tribune


Joey+Rory’s current single, “This Song’s For You” is gaining ground at country radio. The video is in rotation at CMT and peaked at the #3 most viewed video at CMT.com.
They are currently featured in this week’s Country Weekly (issue Sept. 27) in an article entitled “Our Love Story” and online with US Magazine for exclusive look at their album release party: http://www.usmagazine.com/moviestvmusic/news/inside-joey--rorys-album-release-party-2010209
Recently wrapping up a national arena tour with Zac Brown Band, undeniably one of the hottest new acts in country music, Joey+Rory have the privilege of touring with one of country music’s legends – Don Williams. Joey+Rory will join Williams for a month of theatre shows beginning September 30th.
Joey+Rory will perform at the Opry on Oct. 15 for the 2nd Annual “Opry Goes Pink,” event along with Country Music's legendary duo, The Judds, among others. "Opry Goes Pink" benefits Women Rock For The CureÃ’ and the Greater Nashville affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

For more, visit www.joeyandrory.com.



Helene Cronin won ASG Song Contest SS Category


You can here the winning song for the singer/songwriter category of the 2010 Song Contest!!      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4t0mJAUGESQ 


MUSIC BUSINESS

Music Apps Put Tunes in Your Hand on the Spot
By Jefferson Graham -- New apps from online music subscription services turn smartphones and other mobile devices into "celestial jukeboxes." They can play millions of songs, on demand, anywhere, for a monthly fee of $10. You don't own the music, but because everything is available to you anywhere, "The days of the need to own music are rapidly coming to an end," says Ted Cohen, a former record company executive who runs the Los Angeles-based Tag Strategic consulting firm.



'So You're A Musician? Sweet Gig!'
By Sarah Scanlon -- "So, what do you do for a living?" While this has to be one of the world's most awkward and unimaginative icebreakers, it poses a particularly daunting task for professional musicians. You can see the wheels in our heads spinning as we summon the energy and diplomatic skill needed to explain our complex and unorthodox career to someone who is most likely unfamiliar with this tiny niche of the workforce. ... I think it's one of the most important issues professional musicians face today: educating the general public to the services musicians provide and overcoming misconceptions about the nature of who we are; what we do; and exactly how much effort goes into our craft/art.



Jay Frank Makes A Checklist For What To Have Ready When Your Song Drops
By Jesse Cannon

Bob Paterno's blog Making Music Making Money

Glossary of Terms Used in the Music Industry
Compiled by Mario F. Gonzalez, Esq.

CRAFT OF SONGWRITING
Barbe McMillen's blog, The Craft of Songwriting

LITERARY DEVICES - Part 2 Similes
Let's look at some tools and formulas help you build similes.

Online Thesaurus and Rhyming Dictionary



********************************************
9. Song and Talent Contests
See contest details at:
A comprehensive list of Song Contests compliments of MusesMuse.com
----------------

10. Songwriting Resources
Links to websites about songwriting, performance, music industry.

DSA Book Store - reviews, links, lists of recommended reading, and what's in the DSA Library.
-------

11. BEST SONGS of the 2nd Tuesday Meeting

JAN 2010
Man Card by Brooke Malouf
By Myself by Nancy Rynders

FEB
This Love by Bob Paterno

MARCH MADNESS - no critiques this month

APRIL Co-writes - no critiques this month

MAY
I Tell My Heart by Vern Dailey and Amber Dotson

JUNE
Loves Gonna Change Your Mind by Vern Dailey and Clay Potter
Will You Save A Drowning Man by Nancy Rynders

JULY
Worth Every Penny by Michael Brandenberger

SEPT
Blue Side of the Red River by Vern Dailey
Hero Where It Counts by Brooke Malouf

Read about 2009 Songwriter of the Year, Vern Dailey:  http://dsapress.blogspot.com/2010/08/legend-in-his-own-time.html

Download a pdf hard copy of the Oct 2009 Songwriters Notes with 2008 best songs of the meeting winners announced.http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/view.php?id=1520070&da=y

To view past winners go to the Best Songs blog. http://bestsongsofthemeeting.blogspot.com/
To hear the winners go to our myspace page.
Did you know that A and R reps from labels and music publishers are listening to our Myspace page each month?

***********
12. SONGS FROM THE SOUL OF SERVICE
http://www.songssoulservice.org

Did you know???  DSA held two song contests for active military and the Cds of the winning songs, Songs From the Soul of Service Vols. 1 and 2 are available online at:http://store.kagi.com/cgi-bin/store.cgi?storeID=7TE_LIVE&page=SSS4

Tribute to our fallen soldiers from DFW at our Podomatic site:
You Know Me Tribute to Fallen
Read the latest story about this years winners
-----
Thanks for reading this far. If you have any suggestions for the newsletter, please let me know. Follow me on Twitter @barbemcmillen. Give me a tweet.
Songcerely,
Songwriter Notes
Founding President Emeritus, DSA