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"Ring the bell that
rings.
Forget your perfect offering.
There's a crack in everything.
That's how the
light gets in."
L. Cohen--from
the bathroom wall of a
Nashville
backalley
bar. |
Tallahassee has an
active songwriters workshop available to provide local
songwriters with the opportunity to improve their skills, learn more
about the music industry, evaluate songs, and network with one
another on a regular basis. The workshop supports
and furthers NSAI (Nashville Songwriters
Association International) educational programs and services for songwriter
members.
The Nashville Songwriters
Association International (NSAI) is a not-for-profit trade
association devoted to the service of songwriters. Established
in 1967 by professional songwriters in Nashville, NSAI now numbers
more than 5,000 members worldwide. NSAI exists to provide
information and guidance on the songwriting process, to provide
opportunities for aspiring songwriters to learn from music industry
professionals, and to lobby for songwriter rights in Washington,
DC. NSAI sponsors over 100 local workshops
worldwide.
The local
Tallahassee NSAI workshop is in its 11th year of
operation. Workshop meetings are open to current active
members, past members, and guests interested in joining NSAI.
Guests may attend two meetings free to see if they want to join and
then are required by NSAI policy to either join NSAI or pay $15 per
meeting to attend additional meetings.
WORKSHOP
MEETINGS
The workshop is usually
held the SECOND THURSDAY of each month at the 4th Qtr Grill on
North Monroe Street across from Hooters.
Meetings are from 6:30pm to 9:30-ish and
usually consist of
- dinner menu and food
service,
- networking opportunities,
- a songwriting or
music-related lesson, and
- song evaluation.
For song
evaluation, participants should bring 10 lyric sheets, your
song on cd/tape or perform live. NSAI members and
out-of-towners priority.
Download
directions to the 4th QTR
Grill - 
MEETING
EXCEPTIONS -- meeting dates, locations, and
times may change to accomodate guest
speakers or special meetings, such as dinner meetings, song circles,
or for other reasons. Notices will be sent out.
TALLAHASSEE NSAI PRO TEACHER WEB
CAST WORKSHOPS
at a glance
The local
workshop meetings are structured in conjunction with NSAI
Pro Teacher web casts. Each lesson is connected to an NSAI Pro
Teaching Webcast already scheduled over the year. Each
web cast will be taught "virtually" by the teacher who
wrote the lesson the month before it will be covered in a
workshop meeting.
Members should log-on to www.nashvillesongwriters.com
to view the web casts prior to the workshop meeting date as shown
below. Web cast dates are also shown below and on the
downloadable lesson
abstracts.
The web casts will be
archived so NSAI members unable to watch live can access it prior to
the workshop meeting.
The lessons and
meetings are the SECOND Thursday and will be held at the 4th
Qtr Grill on North Monroe St.
Download abstract of 2007-2008 lessons - 2007-2008
lessons
APRIL 11 - CANCELLED. Coordinator on Jury
Duty.
MAY 9
Lesson 1
“This Business
of Songwriting” – by Jason
Blume
Those who excel in the music “business” work hard at both
their craft AND the business aspects. The goal is to provide
an introduction to the business end of
songwriting, clear up some common misunderstandings, and address
some key points.
20-page lesson.
Web cast
April 12, 2007.
JUNE
13
Lesson 2
“How to
Meet With a Publisher” – by Woody
Bomar
Guidelines for Dummies of what say
and do in that initial publisher meeting, what to take with you,
some do’s and don’ts.
3-page lesson.
Web cast May
3, 2007.
JULY
11
Lesson
3
“Taking the Road Not
Taken” – by Phil
Goldberg
A walk-thru of various exercises to get out of “ruts”
in your writing style and try something different. 5-page lesson. Web cast June 14,
2007.
AUGUST 8
Lesson 4
“MySpace
for Songwriters and Artists” – by Nancy
Moran
The
basics of setting up and using a MySpace web page to promote you and
your songs. 4-page
lesson. Web cast July 12,
2007.
SEPTEMBER 4 - TUESDAY, 6:30 to 8:45 pm- one week earlier than
normal; location--Leon County Library on Park Avenue downtown;
Second floor conference room.
Lesson 5
“Lost in
Translation” – by Walt
Aldridge
How country music speaks a language all its own and
how you can learn that language to communicate effectively with a
country audience.
9-page lesson.
Web cast
August 9, 2007.
OCTOBER 10
Lesson 6
“A Songwriters Reality
Check” – by Liz
Hengber
Exploring your music and your business personality, some
unwritten rules on co-writing, and some common mis-steps that make
you less professional. 5-page lesson. Web cast September 20,
2007.
NO WORKSHOP MEETING IN NOVEMBER OR DECEMBER
2007
JANUARY 9, 2008
Goals setting
meeting for 2008. 7 pm at the
Warehouse.
FEBRUARY 13,
2008
Lesson 7
“Chords,
Scales, and Other Dirty Words” – by Don
Rollins.
Theory
for the songwriter. 2-page lesson. Web cast October 11,
2007.
MARCH
12, 2008
"Marketing Ideas and Resources for Indie Artists
and Songwriters" with Astara Summers and Carmen Taylor--followed by
informal song circle. At the
Warehouse front room, 7pm. Bring your instrument for a fun
evening! Members, guests, and friends
welcome!
APRIL 9, 2008 -
Cancelled
MAY 14, 2008 - (Wednesday)
At the Warehouse, 7 pm, download directions near top
of page.
"SHARE NASHVILLE!" -
Did you spend some time in Nashville during Tin Pan South, Symposium
week, or anytime over the last year? Did you travel to or have
experiences in another music center (New York, California, South
Florida) folks can benefit from hearing about? Would you like
to share a fresh perspective or insight you gained on songwriting or
the music business? A couple of people are on tap to "share"
at the May workshop, so come on and share your own "Nashville story"
with folks. We all have something to learn and sharing is
fun!
An "open mic" follows the
meeting hosted by Doc Russell; originals only; sign-up at 9 pm;
starts at 9:30.
JUNE 11,
2008
Song
Evaluation Session (complete songs and
lyrics only)
Bring 10 lyric sheets, cd/tape,
or perform live.
NSAI members and out-of-towners
priority.
Open Mic sign-up starts at 9pm, hosted by Doc
Russell.
JULY 9,
2008
At the Warehouse, 7 pm, download directions near top of
page.
Lesson 8
“Tools for Successful Re-writing” – by Jon
Ims.
A
“song-sifting” guide in the form of questions. Professional songwriters
take re-writing for granted, with much sifting through “finished”
songs. 4-page
lesson. Web cast January 10,
2008.
This
lesson is in preparation for the "Write -A-Song" workshops beginning
August 13 through December. Come July 9 prepared
to group-think song ideas and pick a subject to write
on.
AUGUST 14 - NEW LOCATION!
NEW NIGHT! Second
Thursday
At
the 4th Qtr Grill on North Monroe (across from
Hooters)
Download directions at
link above.
6:30-7:15 menu
available
7:30-9:30 Workshop
PROGRAM: "Write-A-Song",
Phase 1, idea selection and story palette brainstorming and
clustering. Relavent hit song analysis. Song evaluation,
TIME PERMITTING! 10 lyric sheets, cd/tape/live, NSAI members
and out-of-towners priority TIME PERMITTING!
Lesson 9
“The Well
Executed, Well Received Demo” – by Tom
Manche
The
basic steps for a successful demo session covering pre-session
preparation, in the studio, and pitching. 3-page lesson. Web cast February 14,
2008.
Lesson
10
“The Art of Song
Casting” – by Pete and Pat Luboff.
How to stop
wasting time and get pitches where they need to go. 6-page lesson. Web cast March 13,
2008.
Song
Evaluation by Mail or
Email.
NSAI MEMBERS
MAY MAIL SONGS OR LYRICS FOR EVALUATION TO THE NSAI
SONG EVALUATION SERVICE IN NASHVILLE AS A PART OF YOUR
MEMBERSHIP. ON-LINE SONG EVALUATION IS AVAILABLE FOR
FASTER TURN AROUND.
LOG ON TO www.nashvillesongwriters.com for song
evaluation submission instructions and information when sending to
the Nashville NSAI office.
JOIN
NSAI...AND ATTEND THE SONGWRITER EVENTS IN
NASHVILLE...SYMPOSIUM, TINPAN SOUTH, SONG CAMP, AND MANY OTHER
EVENTS AT DEEP DISCOUNTS TO NSAI MEMBERS! YOU CAN LOOK
AROUND, BUT YOU WON'T FIND THE VALUE FOR YOUR DOLLAR EQUAL TO THE
SERVICES OFFERED BY NSAI. YOU CAN JOIN ON-LINE AT WWW.NASHVILLESONGWRITERS.COM.
About the Tallahassee NSAI
Chapter---
The Tallahassee NSAI workshop is
one of 100 workshops located around the world sponsored by the
Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), based in
Nashville, Tennessee.
Here is
some information about the Tallahassee Chapter of
NSAI:
- Meet the Local NSAI Regional Workshop
Coordinators
Ron is originally from Mobile,
Alabama and later Augusta, Georgia where he learned to
play guitar. He
was lead singer in a 7-piece rock and roll band, The Tempests,
in Augusta. Ron
lived for a few years in Nashville and began seriously
writing songs in the 1980's. Ron continues to
write, play guitar and perform at venues such as Eddie’s
Attic in Atlanta, as well as in and around Tallahassee and
North Florida, including the annual Sopchoppy "Worm Gruntin'
Festival" and the monthly White Springs "Cracker Cafe".
Ron recently
placed in the 2007 Will McLean New Florida Song Contest's Top
Ten with his composition, "The Mighty St. John's".
Ron also scored songwriting recognition with "I
Can't Write A Lovesong" which placed in the top 10% of the
1975-1977 American Song Festival, and he has had two
songs, "Pale Blue Cadillac" and "She Closed Her Eyes In
Memphis" regularly played on local country radio. Ron is co-founder of
Greater Big Bend Music, a digital music format providing
Florida songwriters the opportunity for worldwide exposure of
their original music.
Ron is a second-time member of NSAI and had
put writing and performing on the backburner for over a decade
before starting the Tallahassee NSAI Songwriters Workshop in
1997.
Dave retired
as workshop co-coordinator effective August 31, 2006.
Many thanks to Dave, a talented and published
songwriter, for his service as coordinator since
2003. We are appreciative of the knowledge and
support Dave has imparted to the local workshop over
these three years. Please join in wishing Dave all
the best in his future musical endeavors. Best wishes to
you, Dave, from the Tallahassee NSAI
Workshop!
- Tallahassee Workshop Established 1997
- Meetings every month
- Guest speakers have included
Carla Ulbrich (The Professional Smart
Aleck)
Linda Hargrove (Tennessee
Whisky)
Marc-Alan Barnette (Rescued
Me)
Paul Harbin (Hero at Home)
Robin Branda (Daddy Won't Sell the
Farm)
Sir Charles Atkins, Florida State
University
Tom Hutchison, Phd. Middle Tennessee
State University Recording Industry
Director
Performance
opportunities
-
Songwriters showcases
-
Festivals
-
Song circles
-
Living room concerts
-
Open mics
Monthly Meetings
National/Worldwide NSAI
Membership Benefits
Regional Workshops
One-on-one Phone Counseling
Mail-in Song Evaluation--professional songwriters
critique
"Lyrics Only" Evaluation
"Ready-to-Pitch" Service
"Best of NSAI" Compilation CD
Free Website Design
Online and Mail-order Bookstore
Online Chats with Pro Writers and Industry
Reps
Online Chat Room
NSAI Newswire
NSAI Guide
Bluebird Cafe Auditions
Performing Songwriter Magazine
Insurance Plans
Active Legislative Involvement
In-Nashville Membership
Benefits
Weekly Thursday Night Workshops-EVERY Thursday
One-on-One Counseling
NSAI Bookstore
NSAI Office Songwriter Business Resources, writing
rooms
Special Events and Symposiums/Tin Pan
South/more
Song Camps--will inspire and change your songwriting
forever
How SERIOUS are you? Interested in
joining?
Log onto the NSAI
website for membership information and more about NSAI
benefits and discounts. Check out the Regional Workshops
section for workshop locations worldwide. You can even
join on-line!
If you are an
aspiring songwriter wanting to further your craft, then NSAI is
tailor made for you. You are NSAI's mission.
Check out NSAI at www.nashvillesongwriters.com. Do
something for your songwriting! JOIN NSAI
TODAY! | 
