Saturday, March 29, 2014

Songwriters Notes DSA E-News #153 April 2014

Hello Songwriter,

Spring blooms outdoor stages for DSA performing members. The first weekend of April is the Deep Ellum Fest. We're looking forward to a big three days of original songs on our stage, expecting over 100,000 attendees. lNext month is the Wildflower Festival.  You can fly your company's banner on our stage by talking to Steve about a space by email.  For details see this page http://dallassongwriters.blogspot.com/p/advertise.htm

Our Second Tuesday Workshop will present Extreme Co-Writes coordinated by DSA Prez Michael Brandenberger.  - see #2 below for details.

The SongSwap is coming up at Half Price Books on 1st Monday. Our regular DSA monthly events remain the same 1st and 3rd Monday SongSwaps and 1st and 3rd Thursday Open Mic. For details, see #2 and #4 below. Also we have a regular showcase at House of Blues every last Wednesday of the month and an open mic christian fellowship in a historic building in Waxahachie, see #4 below. Food is served at 6PM and it goes for a couple of hours.

Poor David's BW Stevenson Song Contest is underway. See Contests below.

Ralph Murphy from ASCAP has a number of online Master Songwriting Workshops, SoundEmerge Masters Series. For more info use this link  http://soundemerge.com/

Poor David is having it's BW Stevenson Somgwriting  Contest . Deadline approaching fast check here: http://www.poordavids.com
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Check out our pictures on the Dallas Songwriters Facebook. Go on Facebook and LIKE us. New, tell your firends about Dallas Songwriters on Meetup.

QUICK LOOK CALENDAR OF DSA MONTHLY EVENTS - put this in your bookmark.
DSA has enrolled in a new program at BBVA Compass Bank. You can help DSA earn money by opening a Compass account and give Dallas Songwriters as your reason or if you already have a Compass account, go to your bank and connect to our program and use your check card.

COMPASS FOR YOUR CAUSE
No checks to write. No direct mail. No telemarketing. In other words, no hassles. The Compass For Your Cause Program allows your members to support your organization, by doing something many of them do virtually every day—use their check card for everyday purchases. And it's easy for them to get started. They simply:
  • Open a BBVA Compass Checking Account*
  • Open a Compass Visa® Check Card*
  • Sign for purchases using the Check Card
That's all there is to it. When they open an account, you earn a royalty of $50. Every time they use their Check Card for qualifying purchases††, you earn additional royalties. So start earning money the easy way with the Compass For Your Cause program. Contact us today to get started.

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1. ANNUAL SONG CONTEST -   Winners Announced.


                 2013 Dallas Songwriters Song Contest
Now in its 23rd year, The DSA 2013 Song Contest is one of the longest running international song contests for amateur songwriters. Over $5,000 in cash and prizes.

GRAND PRIZE WINNER - Do You Believe by Jay Gallagher, Philadelphia, PA

JAY GALLAGHER - RECEIVES 
A Casio Privia Piano
and a Nashville recording session at Bieard Music Group. 
Beaird Music Group


1st Runner Up
 Looking Glass by Rick Webster, Perth, Australia
 wins studio time at
River Sounds Recording Resort







2nd Runner up
3, 2, 1 by Jay Gallagher, Philadelphia, PA
wins recording time at 
Jo-Musik


Grand Prize winners receive:
($199.95 Value) 
Includes Artist Website, 1 Yr. Hosting
1 Yr. Sonicbids Membership

HARDCOPY OF NEWSLETTER ANNOUNCEMENT HANDED OUT AT THE ARLINGTON GUITAR SHOW

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Click here for more info about this contest, and for more information about joining DSA (membership not required to enter contest). Click here to view a list of frequently asked questions. 
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2001 - 2007 Winners Compilation CDs available at the DSA store

All winning songs are on a CD Compilation that was given out at the Awards Ceremony. To get any 3 double CD's simply make a quarter note donation to DSA through our online store and send us an email to request which 3 years of Cd's you want us to mail you.

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2. DSA MEETINGS - http://dsameetings.blogspot.com/

2nd TUESDAY WORKSHOP - APRIL 8


Co-writes are back by demand. We will divide into small groups to complete a writing assignment. More details to come. This is our most fun meetings, so don't miss this one.

Free to members. $5 for visitors


Meeting Schedule:
6:30: Sign in and network
7:00: Association Announcements
7:15: Program
8:15: Song Critiques - Members only. $10


Future Programs:
May: Christian touring singer songwriters, Ted Pearce
June: Singer Songwriter, Jay Johnson
July: Dove nominated producer, Joe Milton

DSA T-SHIRTS 
NEW shirts: $15 at the meeting (you must ask me for the special) or online by mail $20
OLD shirts: $10 at the meeting (you must ask me for the special) or online by mail $15
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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 - Steve Sullivan, coordinator.
Tino's Too Mexican Restaurant 2205 Ave K, Plano, Tx  972 881-9226
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3. BEST SONGS of the 2nd Tuesday Meeting

MARCH 2014

Roadkill of Love by Harry Hewlett

Critique panel: Aaron Shook and Pete Miller (6 songs)

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?

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4. SHOWCASES AND OPEN MICS -


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

HALF PRICE BOOKS - NORTHWEST HIGHWAY - Rotating guest host featured artist
EVERY 1ST THURSDAY - 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Sign up begins at 6:30
Featured Artist at 8PM

SING or bring an instrument
MGB Ministeries Presents:
Supporting Artists in the Body of Christ
A cultural exchange fellowship @ Getzendaner Park, Chautauqua Building
the Last Thursday of every month
CREATING A PLATFORM FOR WORSHIP
It’s an informal gathering of artists to celebrate every tribe, tongue, and nation within
the Body of Christ through worship arts. We encourage ALL artists to participate in the worship including worship painters, worship dancing, banners, shofars, etc. Bring your gifts for the King! 
We especially want to support songwriters to come with their songs and musicians to come with chord charts ready to jam with others. Please call in advance so we can fit everybody in.
For more info contact: Michael Barton  972.935.2552

SHOWCASES

HOUSE OF BLUES
Every last Wednesday
You must be a member to showcase. 
Email Buck Morgan to get on the roster for this month.

DEEP ELLUM ARTS FESTIVAL Stage in April

WILDFLOWER FESTIVAL stage in May

SONGWRITERS CONNECTING TO SENIORS - on hold


SHOWCASE AND OPEN MIC - 

TEXAS SONGWRITERS IN THE ROUND at Sandstone Cellars Winery Showcase & Open Mic in Mason Texas.  
HOURS 6-9PM 211 San Antonio Street, Mason, TX 76856
Shows will be on the 3rd Thursday of each month .

Guidelines for our stars @ Texas Songwriters in the Round shows:
* All original set of 45 minutes
* A professional commercially released CD with some airplay and press.

We allow any songwriter to come be part of the TSR in the Round, with one star per month! If you'd like to come out and join in as a rounder I can make sure you have a place for the night! To Showcase contact: Jeri Alice
Other area open mics OPEN MICS
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5. DSA LYRIC CONTEST - Next deadline postmarked MARCH 31th - WINTER CONTEST

Enter onine

WINTER 2014 IS IN THE JUDGING PROCESS

2013 FALL WINNER - see winner on website

SEMIFINALISTS

He Didn't Need Much by Dana Young, Anthony, KS

Mr. James Brown and Me by John Thomas Lane, Monument, CO

Three Feet Tall by Bill Kapac, Williamstown, NJ

There's Still Some Cowboy Somewhere in Me by Bill Kapac, Williamstown, NJ
A Whole Lot More Than Strangers by Paul Bernstein, Ann Arbor, MI
The Real Thing by Paul Bernstein, Ann Arbor, MI
Too Late Now by Paul Kostal, Brisbane, Australia
Rambler From Tascosa by Paul Bernstein, Ann Arbor, MI

CURRENT WINNERS and PAST WINNERS and LYRICS POSTED ON THE WEBSITE

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

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6. MEMBER NEWS -

Wanna get involved? Become a committee member. It's fun! Be apart of the inner workings or the DSA. We have a board position open.

To view a list of the 2014 elected Directors go to this link:

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
* Film Licensing Co. seeking instrumental music
* 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.

THANK YOU PATRON L3: TREVOR DAHLEN
                   PATRON SAINTS: PAUL ZANDER, ROGER RUSSELL
Thanks to our past president, Roger Russell for providing the PA at the Wildflower Festival and donating the Wildflower check to DSA. Also, for several matching donations from Hewlett Packard and Network For Good.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS: Craig Langford, Jeff Rodgers, Julia Pauletti, Johnny Cromer, Kent Poyner

THANK YOU FOR RENEWING YOUR MEMBERSHIP:  Brook Malouf

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

EXPIRED IN AUG: Wendy Jill Cohen Tobias, Becky Wright, Robert Graham, Daniel Sumber, Chris Alvarado, Philip Creamer, Steve Chizmadia, Gordon Lustig, Kevin Reardon, Susie McLean, Eric Colville, Diane Lekven, Nestor Cora, Chris O'Neill, Gavin Potter, Vanessa Padla, Andy Taylor, Keeton Coffman, Chase Thompson, Belle Schneiderman, Spencer Clark
EXPIRED IN SEPT: Devin Hill
EXPIRED IN NOV: Liz Miller
EXPIRED IN DEC: Scott White
EXPIRED IN JAN: Grady Yates, Steve Erickson, Ray Phillips, Terry Bloss, Kelly Aldous,Tim Malloly, Mikah Young, Carlos Savetman
EXPIRED IN FEB: Trevor Dahlen, Emmitt Fennessey
EXPIRED IN MARCH: Jana Zettl, Kayla Elloit, Kimberly Elliot, Kelsey Grogan, Robin Willis, Ken Duren, Cary Cooper, David Byboth
TIME TO RENEW THIS MONTH: Keith Thompson, Claire Ulanoff, Steve Johnson, Michael Andrews, Kerry McCall, Phillip Wildmon, Andy Schrumpf, Tom Jorden, Loretta Dunnaway, Suzi Moore, Tom Thomas

A Members Page off the Dallas Songwriters homepage has a list of members and a url link. Please check the page and email me your link if it is not included.

Member News : 

Read performance reviews here: http://dsareviews.blogspot.com/

SEE OUR NEW MEMBER NEWS PAGE HERE.

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

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7. WORKSHOPS - DSA WORKSHOPS 

(Each month DSA hosts 3 workshops at our monthly meetings on the 1st Monday, 3rd Monday and 2nd Tuesday these are ongoing. see item 2 above.)


• Kerrville Songwriters School.  May 26th - 29th 
Faculty includes: Steve Seskin, Allen ShamblinMary GauthierLloyd MainesTerri HendrixRay ChesnaVance Gilbert and several others. It's a great school and the festival before and after it is a lot of fun as well.  For details go to kerrville-music.com/songwritersschool.htm.

• SoundEmerge Master Series - Ralph Murphy hosts award winning songwriters.
Register and view online. http://soundemerge.com/


Want to study songwriting but don't want to get out of your PJ's? Take a class online through a songwriting workshop yahoo group.
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8. EVENTS - Featuring local and worldwide events of the songwriting community including, seminars, conferences, and showcases.

APRIL
4 - 6  Deep Ellum Art Fest, Dallas, Tx
24 & 30 BW Stevenson Contest Finals at Poor Davids Pub

MAY
2-4 Dallas Guitar Festival, Fair Park, Dallas, Tx
14-18 SERFA Folk Alliance Regional Conference, Montreat Conference Center, Montreat, NC
16-18 Wildflower Festival, Richardson, Tx
22 Kerrville Folk Festival, Kerrville, Tx http://www.kerrville-music.com/

JUNE
 - 8 Kerrville Folk Festival, Kerrville, Tx http://www.kerrville-music.com/

SEPT
25-28  SWRFA Folk Alliance Regional Conference, Austin, Tx

OCT
Far-West Folk Alliance Regional ConferenceHyatt Regency IrvineIrvineCA,
FARMFolk Alliance Regional Conference, Sheraton Westport TowerStLouisMO
Arlington Guitar Show, Arlington, Tx

NOV
NERFA Folk Alliance Regional Conference, Hudson Valley ResortKerhonksonNY,

Go to the events page to view links to local and Texas venues. There's a list of holiday music for this month.  http://songwriterevents.blogspot.com/

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9. Featured Articles:

PREZ SEZ: Tune in to DSA President's musings and DSA goings on.

SXSW Has Lost Its Balance
By Jim Fusilli -- The unavoidable conclusion is that most musicians might have invested their time more fruitfully in a place where music was the primary focus of attention.

How the Bluebird Cafe Is Dealing With Its 'Nashville' Star Turn
By Tom Roland -- The Bluebird, which seats no more than 100 people, has long been a difficult place to get a table. Now, thanks to its central role in the ABC drama Nashville, it's close to impossible.


2014's Highest-Paid Musicians
By Rebecca Macatee

Earliest Known Fender Stratocaster on Sale in Nashville
By Nate Rau -- It wasn't played by a rock 'n' roll hero like Bob Dylan or Elvis Presley, but a historic guitar is on sale for $250,000 at a Nashville instrument shop. The guitar is the earliest known Fender Stratocaster, the electric guitar that has built a cult following all its own.
25 Greatest Original Song Nominees That Lost at the Oscars
By Katie Hasty, Melinda Newman, Liane Bonin Starr, Daniel Fienberg, Gregory Ellwood, Alan Sepinwall, Dave Lewis and Chris Eggertsen
VIDEO

VIDEO: Rhapsody in Blue Harmonica
This wonderful performance of the George Gershwin classic is from 2009 when the performer, Leung Pak-yue, was 13 years old. [Thanks to Hank Jones for the link.]

Eva Cassidy - Autumn Leaves

[Tenacity, veracity and a strong mother who redefined the meaning of the blind leading the blind. If you didn't see this on 60 Minutes – it's worth the time to watch.]
VIDEO: The Virtuoso: Marcus Roberts
By 60 Minutes -- Marcus Roberts lost his sight as a child, but gained incredible insight into American music -- inspiring a generation of jazz musicians. CBS News cultural correspondent Wynton Marsalis reports.

MUSIC BUSINESS - more articles posted on  DSA Music Biz News

By Budi Voogt -- It's essential to manage and exploit your musical repertoire, and look at alternative means to generate revenue streams in this realm. To make this happen you need to understand music copyright and publishing...

How, Why and When to Advertise Your Music
By Aaron Ford -- Deciding to spend money to increase awareness of your project is a big decision...I've found that a step-by-step thought-process prevents one from completely blowing it.
["If this kind of thing isn't good for real people let's see if we can sucker punch creators. Why not? Everybody else does."]
Songcoin: A Digital Currency for the Music Industry...
By Nina Ulloa
Want To Enhance Your YouTube Videos With Clickable Links? Here's How!
By Christian Cawley -- Have you ever tried to add a clickable link to your YouTube videos, only to find that you can't? There are in fact three ways to do this, methods that have remained hidden – until now!
Lessons from Macklemore
By Dave Kusek -- It's the success every musician dreams about – making it big on your own. But you know what? It's no fairy tale. The career of Macklemore and Ryan Lewis has been a long, hard road – one that a lot of people would have turned away from a long time ago...Here are some key lessons to learn that helped Macklemore and Ryan Lewis find their success.
IN MEMORANDUM
André Lavagne, 100, French composer.[
PERFORMANCE

How Live Music Is Evolving with the Digital Age
By Stuart Dredge -- Digital music isn't just a recorded thing: there are a growing number of ways that digital technology – from apps and social media to big data – is having an impact on the live music market.


How to Use House Concerts to Create Career-Sustaining Superfans
By Shannon Curtis -- As someone who has made a career as an independent artist, I have found no better way to build a collection of superfans than partnering with existing fans to put on deeply connective concerts in their homes. The remarkable success I've experienced with this model has led me to abandon traditional club touring, instead performing almost 150 house concerts in the last 2 years.
LISTEN 
DSA BEST SONGS OF 2014 ON SOUNDCLOUD
https://soundcloud.com/dsa-best-songs

RECORDING
“I also think there’s been an aesthetic trend towards people recording realistically again, trying to get performances out of bands instead of one person at a time. In the last year or two, we’ve seen more medium to large, 1,000-square-foot tracking rooms.” —Wes Lachot of Wes Lachot Design Group.
From the latest issue of Pro Sound News; want to read more? Click here to subscribe to our free online edition!
CRAFT OF SONGWRITING

Justin Bieber and the Beatles: They both liked to rhyme the same words
By Ben Blatt -- What is the most common rhyme in the history of pop music?


Barbe McMillen's blog, The Craft of Songwriting

Online Thesaurus and Rhyming Dictionary



Great web tool for lyric writing
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10. Song and Talent Contests

DSA Quarterly Lyric Contest http://dsalyriccontest.blogspot.com/

DSA Annual Song Contest will kick off soon.
Song, Lyric and Fiddle Contests

• BW Stevenson Song Contest deadline
    http://www.poordavids.com

• Americana Music Festival Showcase submission open.

• Expo Management looking for anthem song.

* Texas Music Project and Earth Day Rising Star Contest

A comprehensive list of Song Contests compliments of MusesMuse.com
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11. Songwriting Resources -  Now accepting book reviews

Links to websites about songwriting, performance, music industry.

DSA Book Store - reviews, links, lists of recommended reading, and what's in the DSA Library.
12. Archives of Past Programs and Activities

SONGS FROM THE SOUL OF SERVICE

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

CROSSROADS SHOWCASES

View past showcase performances and workshops on Crossroads Youtube.
                       
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DSA depends on your support.

Giving Rocks! While it never hurts to remind you that DSA is a non-profit organization (and so your contributions are tax-deductible) -  this year it means so much more. We're proud to be celebrating our 21th Anniversary as a non-profit. DSA has been an organized songwriter group since 1985 and became a non-profit in 1990.

Your gift
 enables us to meet our mission.

Our programs created to meet our mission goals are: a monthly newsletter, workshops, critique sessions, showcases, contests, networking opportunities and community service.
If you like what we do, and want to help us keep doing it, please make a contribution today. Gifts of all sizes are meaningful and appreciated.
Donations are welcome year round. 
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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,
  Barbara McMillen, Editor
  Songwriter Notes
  Founding President Emeritus, DSADSA Online Store
  Online Songwriting Workshops and Classeshttp://www.songwritingcompetition.com.

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