SONGWRITING Part 1 of 2
AN INTERVIEW WITH ARIZONA SONGWRITERS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT - JON IGER
By huskybones
Hey there, ya bunch of wankers!!
I spoke recently with Arizona Songwriters Association president Jon Iger. He's been running ASA for 20 years and has done a lot to help songwriters in Arizona. Jon, along with co-writers, Scott Eversoll and Marty Jenson, recently placed their song "Angel on The Run," in the network TV series Touched By An Angel (CBS).
The ASA is an organization committed to helping aspiring songwriters learn, grow, meet each other, and make connections. They haven't raised the membership fee in 10 years because they want to keep it open to as many people as possible. I joined ASA about a year ago and have learned so much there. These meetings feature guest speakers who are pros in the industry. They usually lecture, answer questions, and critique songs. All are professionals in the business who know what they're talking about. If you were to go to LA or Nashville and try to get in to see them, it would be very difficult (if not impossible) and expensive. Other events include the 'Songs in Progress Workshop,' and the 2nd Annual Songwriter Gathering at Encanto Park. The membership fee is just $25 per year, and the monthly Saturday meetings range from $15 to $25. Also, you don't have to be a member to attend a meeting. Call (602) 973-1988 for details and tell 'em you saw it on the huskybones website.
Here are some highlights from the interview:
Give me some history on ASA.
We started in 1977. At the time, there was nothing like ASA here. I thought that there should be a way for writers to learn about the business and more about writing. A place to make connections with people in the industry on a national level. (These people in the business) could help writers here if they liked their stuff, or even if they didn't like it, they could help by passing on the knowledge of how to make the songs better. That was the beginning of it, and pretty much we've been doing a seminar every month since then for 20 years.
That's an amazing accomplishment given that you're basically a volunteer, with a regular job.
Oh yeah, I've always had a heavy-duty day gig. It's draining sometimes.
In a band when the issue of co-writng comes up, it's usually not until something's at stake. Then it can become an argument as to who did what.
When you're co-writing, you have to make sure that everyone gets proper credit. It's good business, and it makes for better working relationships. It's such a touchy thing. The easiest thing to do is just split the credit however many ways. Even though each person may not contribute the same amount, if you're going to write with them for a long time, an even split is easiest. It's good to talk about that stuff ahead of time.
Does it make a difference whether you're writing for your own band or for someone else?
Yes, the whole focus , attitude, and what you say is more flexible with your own stuff. When you're writing for others you're trying to put words in someone else's mouth, and if it's a hit then they'll have to sing it for many years. They really have to like it. That's part of what makes it difficult to be an outside writer. The other thing that makes it difficult is how closed the Rock and Pop area is. Almost everybody writes their own stuff, so they don't want anything from an outside writer. There are some opportunities in R&B and Country. So many deals are self-contained where songs are written or co-written by the artist or the producer or somebody in the band.
That's a good lesson for people in bands. Don't underestimate the importance of writing. There's going to be an expectation that your group will have tunes that will appeal to your target audience.
Most of the publishers and people who come in (to lecture at ASA meetings), listen for songs. They really want to be blown away.
For writer/artists trying to get a deal it's really the same standard isn't it?
Yeah, they want the songs to be there. That's one of the main things.
Most of the guest speakers at ASA meetings will listen to songs and critique. Sometimes they may like it enough to do something with it. I asked Jon about what happens next.
A lot of times they're not going to take the first thing that you play for them. If they like it, and can tell that there's some talent there, they may say, "send me some more stuff," or "come and see me when you're in town." Then the door is open, and if you keep in touch and behave in a businesslike manner, you can build a relationship. If they (guest speaker) pick up one of your songs at a meeting, they usually want to take it with them and listen to it again. They want to see if it's something that they feel strongly enough about to put their credibility on the line. They may think it needs some changes like a rewrite or they may just pass on it for whatever reason.
Jon Told me about getting a song cut with a country artist at MCA records. After he had co-written the song with the artist, she had a real interest in getting it on the album and that ended up happening. With that idea in mind, he makes a good suggestion for local songwriters and bands.
A good way to get your song cut is to write with the artist. I really recommend that people find a local band that they think has a shot, and write with them. It's a good way to get in on the ground floor, and it's more realistic than trying to write with Garth Brooks or Sting.
If you are a band or songwriter who would be interested in this collaboration, a classified ad in the Music Voice (free of course) and a membership with the Arizona Songwriters Association might help you make the connection. Jon also wanted to mention starting and keeping a mailing list as a great way of spreading the word and staying connected with those who are interested in what you're doing.
I want to thank Jon Iger again for his time and help (and the cup!). I also wanted to leave you with some food for thought. The Arizona Songwriters Association is an organization trying to benefit the music scene by providing access to information and resources within the music community. It has done that, consistently, for a total of almost 30 years, yet neither one of these organizations asks very much from it's members. Just be there with your support. So to close, I'm going to rephrase a quote from Gandhi. You must be the change you wish to see in our music scene.
-See ya next time.
-hb
AN INTERVIEW WITH ARIZONA SONGWRITERS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT - JON IGER
By huskybones
Hey there, ya bunch of wankers!!
I spoke recently with Arizona Songwriters Association president Jon Iger. He's been running ASA for 20 years and has done a lot to help songwriters in Arizona. Jon, along with co-writers, Scott Eversoll and Marty Jenson, recently placed their song "Angel on The Run," in the network TV series Touched By An Angel (CBS).
The ASA is an organization committed to helping aspiring songwriters learn, grow, meet each other, and make connections. They haven't raised the membership fee in 10 years because they want to keep it open to as many people as possible. I joined ASA about a year ago and have learned so much there. These meetings feature guest speakers who are pros in the industry. They usually lecture, answer questions, and critique songs. All are professionals in the business who know what they're talking about. If you were to go to LA or Nashville and try to get in to see them, it would be very difficult (if not impossible) and expensive. Other events include the 'Songs in Progress Workshop,' and the 2nd Annual Songwriter Gathering at Encanto Park. The membership fee is just $25 per year, and the monthly Saturday meetings range from $15 to $25. Also, you don't have to be a member to attend a meeting. Call (602) 973-1988 for details and tell 'em you saw it on the huskybones website.
Here are some highlights from the interview:
Give me some history on ASA.
We started in 1977. At the time, there was nothing like ASA here. I thought that there should be a way for writers to learn about the business and more about writing. A place to make connections with people in the industry on a national level. (These people in the business) could help writers here if they liked their stuff, or even if they didn't like it, they could help by passing on the knowledge of how to make the songs better. That was the beginning of it, and pretty much we've been doing a seminar every month since then for 20 years.
That's an amazing accomplishment given that you're basically a volunteer, with a regular job.
Oh yeah, I've always had a heavy-duty day gig. It's draining sometimes.
In a band when the issue of co-writng comes up, it's usually not until something's at stake. Then it can become an argument as to who did what.
When you're co-writing, you have to make sure that everyone gets proper credit. It's good business, and it makes for better working relationships. It's such a touchy thing. The easiest thing to do is just split the credit however many ways. Even though each person may not contribute the same amount, if you're going to write with them for a long time, an even split is easiest. It's good to talk about that stuff ahead of time.
Does it make a difference whether you're writing for your own band or for someone else?
Yes, the whole focus , attitude, and what you say is more flexible with your own stuff. When you're writing for others you're trying to put words in someone else's mouth, and if it's a hit then they'll have to sing it for many years. They really have to like it. That's part of what makes it difficult to be an outside writer. The other thing that makes it difficult is how closed the Rock and Pop area is. Almost everybody writes their own stuff, so they don't want anything from an outside writer. There are some opportunities in R&B and Country. So many deals are self-contained where songs are written or co-written by the artist or the producer or somebody in the band.
That's a good lesson for people in bands. Don't underestimate the importance of writing. There's going to be an expectation that your group will have tunes that will appeal to your target audience.
Most of the publishers and people who come in (to lecture at ASA meetings), listen for songs. They really want to be blown away.
For writer/artists trying to get a deal it's really the same standard isn't it?
Yeah, they want the songs to be there. That's one of the main things.
Most of the guest speakers at ASA meetings will listen to songs and critique. Sometimes they may like it enough to do something with it. I asked Jon about what happens next.
A lot of times they're not going to take the first thing that you play for them. If they like it, and can tell that there's some talent there, they may say, "send me some more stuff," or "come and see me when you're in town." Then the door is open, and if you keep in touch and behave in a businesslike manner, you can build a relationship. If they (guest speaker) pick up one of your songs at a meeting, they usually want to take it with them and listen to it again. They want to see if it's something that they feel strongly enough about to put their credibility on the line. They may think it needs some changes like a rewrite or they may just pass on it for whatever reason.
Jon Told me about getting a song cut with a country artist at MCA records. After he had co-written the song with the artist, she had a real interest in getting it on the album and that ended up happening. With that idea in mind, he makes a good suggestion for local songwriters and bands.
A good way to get your song cut is to write with the artist. I really recommend that people find a local band that they think has a shot, and write with them. It's a good way to get in on the ground floor, and it's more realistic than trying to write with Garth Brooks or Sting.
If you are a band or songwriter who would be interested in this collaboration, a classified ad in the Music Voice (free of course) and a membership with the Arizona Songwriters Association might help you make the connection. Jon also wanted to mention starting and keeping a mailing list as a great way of spreading the word and staying connected with those who are interested in what you're doing.
I want to thank Jon Iger again for his time and help (and the cup!). I also wanted to leave you with some food for thought. The Arizona Songwriters Association is an organization trying to benefit the music scene by providing access to information and resources within the music community. It has done that, consistently, for a total of almost 30 years, yet neither one of these organizations asks very much from it's members. Just be there with your support. So to close, I'm going to rephrase a quote from Gandhi. You must be the change you wish to see in our music scene.
-See ya next time.
-hb
