Wednesday, February 28, 2018

SONGWRITERS NOTES E-NEWS #196 MARCH 2018

Hello Songwriter, 

Blues band,Holland K Smith, will entertain us at our Songwriters Hall of Fame. They are an incredible blues band. Check out videos on their facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/Holland-K-Smith-Band-185811518104353/  This will be a great event this year. We are honoring Delbert McClinton, Bruce Channel, Gary Nicholson, Jerry Lynn William, and the Nightcaps. Here is some more info on our inductees. https://dallassongwriters.org/coming-spring-dallas-songwriters-hall-fame/

We are planning a songwriting workshop at Booker T Washington Arts Magnet High School. We also still planning to bring music to some nursing homes whose do not normally have music do to facility budget restraints and to provide a song or two for bedridden patients who cannot attend the facility's normal activities.

We will have a stage again at the Wildflower Festival in May and we will be at the Dallas Guitar Show also that month. Contest entries close March 1.

Coming in June is the Madison Music Conference, In Between The Waves, in June produced by Broadjam CEO Roy Elkins. http://btwmadison.com/  There will be a group of us going there. Are you interested?

Our monthly meeting features guest speaker, Rickey Gene Wright, Thursday, March 1 at Half Price Books. See details below under Monthly Meeting.

 Other regular DSA monthly events are the open mics on the 2nd Wednesday, 3rd Thursdays and 1st Monday.


Phillips House Concert will feature Sally Barris  on Sunday, March 18 at 4pm. Contact Tim Phillips if your interested in attending. The following is a little bit about Sally!


Sally Barris is an A-list Nashville songwriter who has had songs covered by such top-level artists as Kathy Mattea, Martina McBride, and Lee Ann Womack. Her song “Let The Wind Chase You”, recorded by Trisha Yearwood and Keith Urban, received a Grammy nomination for vocal collaboration in 2009.

Thanks to Paul Zander, Jon Jaggers, Bobby Montgomery, Ginger Stanoia, Kenneth Shoemaker, and Kristi Myers for their recent contributions to our fall fundraiser. Other contributors include Ireland, Jon Jaggers, Bill Kapac, Rio King, Mimi Balkey, Suzi Morse, and Jared LoStrato. There is still time to donate. Go to this link: https://dallassongwriters.org/shop/donation/

 Did you know we are live streaming on Facebook? Thanks to Harry Hewlett you can view some of our open mics and guest speakers in a live stream on Facebook? See guest our guest speakers, and past Angela's showcases. Can't make it? Then tune into Facebook/dallassongwriters. Want to be on our facebook streams? Show up and perform.

Songcerely,
Barbe
Spring 2017 Songwriters Notes Get a pdf version here.
Spring 2016 Songwriters Notes Get a pdf version here.
Fall 2016 Songwriters Notes Hardcopy pdf version
https://dallassongwriters.org/dsa-news-songwriters-notes-fall-2016/

DSA SONG CONTEST - 2018 contest opens June 1

AWARDS DINNER
  Our Awards Banquet was held on Friday December 8, 2017 at the historic Sons of Hermann Hall celebrating with top songs of the year performed by first rate talent. Some of our DSA Song Contest Semi finalists and Best Songs of the Meeting Finalists performed, including local artists Loralai Milton, Ireland, Megan SullivanDon WallAl Lumbreras, Allen Larson and Virginia native, Mike Ryan. 
Here is a recap in pictures in case you were unable to  attend. Thanks to Gene Schillaci for taking these photos at the awards.   https://dallassongwriters.org/2017-awards-banquet-recap/

Here is a pdf of the program hard copy handed out at the event.  https://dallassongwriters.org/2017-awards-banquet-program-pdf/

See the 2017 song contest winners here:  https://dallassongwriters.org/2017-song-contes…inners-announced/


THANKS TO OUR SONG CONTEST SPONSORS


GRAND PRIZE  -   A Casio Privia Piano


1st Runner Up
 wins studio time at
River Sounds Recording Resort







2nd Runner up
wins recording time at 
Jo-Musik


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

Category winners get cash prizes
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DSA MEETINGS - https://dallassongwriters.org/dsa-meeting/

Monday, March 1: RICKEY GENE WRIGHT, Americana singer songwriter is guest speaker @ Half Price Books, 6:30

The regular 1st Thursday member meeting at Half Price Books in Dallas is next Thursday, March 1st.  Networking begins at 6:30 pm and the regular meeting starts at 7:00 pm.
As usual, for members only we will do song critiques with our industry experts, so bring a song on CD or email an mp3 to Harry Hewlett at hhhewlett@gmail.com.  The cost is $10 per song.  Also bring around 25 copies of lyrics so you can get feedback from members as well.  Each song is also entered in the year end Song of the Year and Songwriter of the Year contest.
Location: Half Price Books/Northwest Highway in Dallas
6:00 pm: Doors Open/Networking and visiting
7:00 pm: Program followed by song critiques

Location: Half Price Books/Northwest Highway in Dallas
6:00 pm: Doors Open/Networking and visiting
7:00 pm: Program followed by song critiques


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BEST SONGS of the Meeting winners were announced at the Awards Dinner. Contest for 2018 starts in February.
2017 Song of the Year - Lucky Man by Craig Langford, Dallas, Tx
2017 Winner Songwriter of the Year - Craig Langford
See the Best Songs of the Meeting and Songwriter of the Year 


https://dallassongwriters.org/best-songs-songwriter-year-announced/

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WORKSHOPS

Coming in April
7th Annual Workshop AT MCL Grand, Lewisville, TX with Hilary and Stuart Adamson of the Flyin' A's. They'll be performing on the 8th in the Black Box

Coming in June
Between the Line Songwriting Conference, Madison, WI http://btwmadison.com/

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SHOWCASES AND OPEN MICS 

OPEN MICS

 HALF PRICE BOOKS OPEN MIC - NORTHWEST HIGHWAY - Rotating guest host featured artist
EVERY 1ST MONDAY - 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Sign up begins at 6:30
If you want peer feedback on a song bring a few lyric sheets

DUNN BROTHERS COFFEE HOUSE - Addison
EVERY 3RD THURSDAY - 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Hosted by  Harry Hewlett
In November 2017, DSA will celebrate 13 years at Dunn Brothers
see review of

BURGER EDGE - Richardson
EVERY 2ND WEDNESDAY - 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Hosted by Michael Brandenberger and rotating guest host.
7529 Campbell Rd. at Coit
Come out and play your best love songs and bring your best girl - it's Valentines Day

Renew your membership online.
You'll find the link to the store on the panel to the right
Or paste this link in your browser: https://dallassongwriters.org/shop/dsa-membership/

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EVENTS Featuring local and worldwide events of the songwriting community including, seminars, conferences, and showcases.

2018
MARCH
1 DSA Monthly Meeting at Half Price Books guest speaker Ricky Gene Wright
5 DSA Open Mic at Half Price Books
12 - 18 SXSW, Austin, TX
10  Josh Grider Band at the MCL Grand, Lewisville, TX
      Excellent writer and country voice. He's part of the Red River group that's been here with Walt, Susan G.,  
      Drew Kennedy et al.
11 Emily Scott Robinson at the MCL Grand, Lewisville, TX
       ... REALLY good Kerrville Finalist and Wildflower winner
14 DSA Open Mic at Burger Edge
15 DSA Open Mic at Dunn Brothers
18 Sally Barris, Phillips House Concert, Denton, TX

APRIL
7 Annual Workshop AT MCL Grand, Lewisville, TX with Hilary and Stuart Adamson of the Flyin' A's. They'll be performing on the 8th in the Black Box.
12 DSA HALL OF FAME  @ Love and War with Holland K Smith
21... JIMMY WEBB - Texas Tunes - Tickets selling fast already.

MAY
May Texas Tunes will have Jon Christopher Davis and Maylee Thomas
5-7   Dallas Guitar Show
18 - 21 Wildflower Festival, Richardson, TX

JUNE
June Texas Tunes is the Quebe Sisters
15 -16  Between the Waves, Madison, WI   http://btwmadison.com/

See Texas Music Office events calendar https://gov.texas.gov/music/events
Moses Avalon's List of Top Ranked Music Conferences.
See house concerts and coffee houses here: http://unclecalvins.org/

DSA LYRIC CONTEST - Next deadline postmarked March 31

or by mail   

Thanks to Lyric Contest Co- Director, Alexis Tapp

 FALL 2017 -WINNERS ANNOUNCED 

SEMIFINALIST
“Skin Diving” by Martin Robley, Ballajura, Australia
“All the Time” by Phil Casteel, Grapevine, TX
“Thinkin and Drivin” by Bill Kapac, Williamstown, Va
“Why Can’t I” by Ireland Casteel, Grapevine, TX

AND THE 2017 WINTER WINNERS ARE.........  https://dallassongwriters.org/winners-2017-fall-lyric-contest/ 

 2017 SUMMER WINNERS
 https://dallassongwriters.org/2017-summer-lyri…inners-announced/

2017 SPRING WINNERS
https://dallassongwriters.org/winners-2017-spring-lyric-contest/

2017 WINTER WINNERS
https://dallassongwriters.org/2017-winter-lyric-contest-winners/

2016 FALL WINNERS
https://dallassongwriters.org/2016-fall-lyric-contest-winners/

See Summer winners on the website: https://dallassongwriters.org/2016-summer-lyric-contest-winners-announced/

2016 Spring Winners on the website: : https://dallassongwriters.org/2016-spring-lyric-contest-winners/

See winners from 2016 and 2015 listed in the DSA 2016 Fall Hardcopy of Songwriters Notes featuring winner, Bill Kapac on front page. This issue was handed out at the Arlington Guitar Show in October.
https://dallassongwriters.org/dsa-news-songwriters-notes-fall-2016/

See Winter 2016 on website: https://dallassongwriters.org/dsa-lyric-contest-winners-winter-2016/

 SUMMER and FALL 2015 RESULTS

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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 MEMBER NEWS -

Wanna get involved? Become a committee member. It's fun! Be apart of the inner workings of the DSA. We have committee positions open. Let us know if you'd like to be on the board. Just show up a our membership meeting.

Directors elected at our Nov 6th 2017 Annual Membership Meeting were:
Michael BrandenbergerBobby Montgomery, Phillip CasteelBarbe McMillenJoe Milton, Marcus Belmore, Steve Sullivan, Ken Duren, James Pappas, Jessica Ewy, Rod Phelps,Gene Schillaci and Harry Hewlett. New officers were elected at the planning meeting on Jan 6th. 

 Officers 2018
Michael Brandenberger -  Prez
Bobby Montgomery - VP Programs
Phil Casteel - Treasurer
Secretary - Jessica Ewy
Alexis Tapp - VP Membership, Lyric Contest Director
Barbe McMillen - Administration, Newsletter
Harry Hewlett - A/
Gene Schillaci - Lyric Contest Director, Webmaster
Steve Sullivan, James Pappas, Joe Milton, Ken Duren - At Large
Marcus Belmore - Executive VP,  Technology

If you are not a DSA Member, you missed these tips sent out through our yahoo group:

* Publisher looking for 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.
NEW MEMBERS: Have you joined our member only yahoo group where you can talk with the group and get special offers and last minute updates on events? subscribe: dallassongwriters-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

                   PATRON SAINTS: PAUL ZANDER, BOBBY MONTGOMERY, JOHN JAGGERS
Patron Sponsor L3: Michael Brandenberger, Bill Honker, John Stone
Patron Sponsor L1: Cliff MonroeSuzi Morse Rio KingGinger Stanoio
Patron Sponsor: Mimi BalkeyKristi Myers

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS: Douglas Lloyd, Mitch Horner, Kerry Maddox, Brandon Elliott, 

THANK YOU FOR RENEWING YOUR MEMBERSHIP: Phillip Wildman, Greg Waits, Randy Wallace, Ryan Galloway, Phillip Casteel, Joseph Lopez, Don Wall, David Claerr, Stephen Valenzuela, Gene Schillachi, Ricky Gene Wright, Aaron Shook, Jacquelyn Schwartz

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 APRIL: Helene Cronin, Kathy Adams, Jim Collins
EXPIRED IN MAY: Daniel LaToof
EXPIRED IN JUNE: Robin Dossey, Joe Austin, Wayne Talley, Loralee Pearman, Lynn McCracken
EXPIRED IN JULY: Bill Nash, Bill Cox
EXPIRED IN AUGUST: Yanna Zovich, Warren Hanson
EXPIRED IN SEPT: Adrianna Braddon Patrick Deasey
EXPIRED IN OCT: Charles Carter, Raquel Linderman, Roger Kaye
EXPIRED IN NOV: All renewed -Thanks
EXPIRED IN DEC: All renewed -Thanks
EXPIRED IN JAN: Conrad Shwartz, Chris Sjostrom, Lauren Paley, Pam Oliver, Ritchie Smith, Yulia Petrova, Bonnie Warren, Don Coyne
EXPIRED IN FEB: Bianca Rodrequez, Trevor Dahlen
TIME TO RENEW: Al Lumbreras, Jessica Ewy, Charles Barrale, Jeff Stachowesky, Victoria Bouton, Julia Pauletti, Ken Duren, David Byboth

Renew your membership online.
You'll find the link to the store on the panel to the right
Or paste this link in your browser: https://dallassongwriters.org/shop/dsa-membership/

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Featured Articles:

By Jem Aswad

Rocker John Mellencamp, country legends Alan Jackson and Bill Anderson, R&B hitmaker Jermaine Dupri, film/TV songwriter Steve Dorff, Earth Wind & Fire collaborator Allee Willis and Kool & the Gang members Robert "Kool" Bell, Ronald Bell, George Brown & James "JT" Taylor will become the latest inductees of the Songwriters Hall of Fame at the organization's 49th Annual Induction and Awards Dinner. The induction event is slated for June 14 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. Additional special award honorees will be announced in the coming weeksContinue Reading f5ec743b4e5e4c2c9587db8c6ec80b4d.gif

By Bill Leigh

MUSIC BUSINESS
Before we jump in, a few notes. Weve weighted every PRO on a number of different criteria, though not all of them will matter to you. For example, the size of a PRO is less important than the ability to properly collect and pay royalties; however, bigger size can increase the influence that a PRO has in getting venues to comply, influence legislation, or spread costs.
by Paul Resnikoff for Digital Music News

By Liam Duncan
Music managers tend to be a bit of a mystery to artists. How do you get one? What do they do? How do you know if they're a good manager? This contract is scaryhow do I know I'm getting a good deal?  Continue Reading f5ec743b4e5e4c2c9587db8c6ec80b4d.gif

Re: Giant Music Festivals
By Jeff Oppresses
With so much money potentially at stake for giant music festivals, promoters are looking for ways to insure their investment with the artists that they are booking. Bain notes that a common component of major festival contracts is radius clauses. The radius clause puts restrictions on how long the artist must wait before returning to the same market and how many miles outside of that marketing they must go in order to play another show within that time frame.  Continue Reading f5ec743b4e5e4c2c9587db8c6ec80b4d.gif

By Simon Tam

While many emerging artists have chosen to eschew labels, there are still a number of advantages to having the backing of a traditional label. Here we delve into how artists can refine their approach when it comes to trying to land a record deal.  Continue Reading f5ec743b4e5e4c2c9587db8c6ec80b4d.gif

By Angela Mastrogiacomo

By Suzanne Paulinski
If you plan on making a living from your music, then you plan on being an entrepreneur. While many DIY musicians envision themselves more like a freelancer, focused on bringing in income from one main skill set, an entrepreneur creates multiple streams of income in order to ensure that there's always money coming in, even when one stream goes through a dry spellContinue Reading f5ec743b4e5e4c2c9587db8c6ec80b4d.gif

LISTEN
VIDEO
By Sarang Sheth

You know how they say if you play Beethoven to plants, they grow better? Well, turns out your plants are pretty good musicians themselvesContinue Reading f5ec743b4e5e4c2c9587db8c6ec80b4d.gif
IN MEMORIAM
 We lost a few this month.
https://www.ranker.com/list/musicians-who-died-in-2018/celebrity-lists

RECORDING
Vox

Warning: This is an unapologetic ode to gated reverb drums Continue Reading f5ec743b4e5e4c2c9587db8c6ec80b4d.gif

PERFORMANCE
By Jordan Henrie

Will Smith released a motivational video on Jan. 8 where he said, "Fail early, fail often, fail forward." And he's absolutely right.  Continue Reading f5ec743b4e5e4c2c9587db8c6ec80b4d.gif 

By Soundfly Partners
As a musician, you are blessed with a great talent: the ability to create different moods through the sounds and music that you create. …The only thing you may be missing are some well-written lyrics to really bring your songs to lifeContinue Reading f5ec743b4e5e4c2c9587db8c6ec80b4d.gif

By Tom Roland
Just when you thought it was dying, the pun is doing its best to have the last word in country music.  Continue Reading f5ec743b4e5e4c2c9587db8c6ec80b4d.gif

Barbe McMillen's blog, The Craft of Songwriting

Online Thesaurus and Rhyming Dictionary

Great web tool for lyric writing
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 Song and Talent Contests

 DSA Quarterly Lyric Contest http://dsalyriccontest.blogspot.com/
Next deadline - March 31

Best Songs of the Meeting - for DSA Members only - submit at the monthly meeting.
 

DSA Song Contest OPENS JUNE 1

https://dallassongwriters.org/dsa-annual-song-contest/  

Important FOLK ALLIANCE Regional Deadlines | July - Sept 2018

SWRFA | Southeast Regional Folk Alliance
Official Showcase Deadline July 15 | Apply Here
September 27 - October 1
Austin, TX | Register Here

NERFA | Northeast Regional Folk Alliance
Semi-Formal Showcase Deadline July 16 | Apply Here
November 9 - 12
Stamford, CT | Register Here

FAR-WEST | Folk Alliance Region - West
Summer Special ends August 31
October 5 - 8
Bellevue, WA | Register Here

A comprehensive list of Song Contests compliments of MusesMuse.com
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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 25th 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,
  Online Songwriting Workshop