Minutes, November 29, 2011

Don filled in as host of the recent Guelph Regional Writers Group Meeting.  He set up his amp in the green room and the festivities went from there!

"We used the Green Room because the stage was set up for the B-Bop event and the patrons weren't really going to dig the singer-songwriters. It made for a suitably intimate evening which is what I was going for."



The Man of Steel once again had not only postered, and promoted, but he collected email addresses on the sign up sheet and sent in some other notes for the minutes...

THANKS TO ALL.

1. Peter Boyer - New to guelph,former coordinator of the SAC group in Windsor

1st song-about the "war 1812" - country folk feel, 2nd-Chief Tuccumsi-Shinny Worrier, - great story teller.

Afterwards, Peter Boyer wrote "it was nice to finally attend a Guelph writer's group meeting and meet some of the great songwriters and musicians. It was an inspiring night of original music, thanks everyone, for making me feel so welcome!"

2. Peter Light - Dan Pharaoh joined him by playing a CAJON - floor box drum, excellent rhythm,feel and song writing

Peter Light reviewed the event "Good session at ebar last night. Nice to see some new faces out. Looks like we need more time to accommodate all the players. Mark next Tuesday on your "open mic" calendars!"

3. Gayle Ackroyd - teacher at L&M, 1st-"someone's daughter" pleasant storey teller,wrote in a bright key. 2nd,"your nearly prickly face" great written song,fun song about her daughter.

4. William Coon - CD called "Saturday afternoon Cowboys"
1st-"Widow walk" - quick tempo,clear lyrics,great story. soft voice.
2nd-"manitoulin" very Gordon Light-ish feel,good chord changes, excellent song, i loved it

5. Marty Collier - New to Guelph 3 mths,came via London/Toronto -
1st,great fingering, Dobbie brothers ref,played in same key. great left hand on the guitar
2nd "time is right"- song is 10yrs old,wrote while he was waiting for the furnace guy. nice key changes,great rhythm

6. Alex Frank - i invited him,Band called The Golden Retrievers.
1st"Antheim for the middle age" wrote 2 mths ago, slow tempo,this song was the 1st time played in front of a crowd, good melodic,great/funny lyrics
2nd,"farley moet" said he hasn't read any of his books,played in bright key,good tempo,fun story teller
Alex got the most response from the group with smiles,laughter applause. crowd pleaser. great left hand.

7. Dan Pharoah - works at molly blooms,
1st "good guys" slow tempo,bright sounding song,great story teller,
2nd "loosers" - dark song,rougher rhythms,quick strokes with right hand,

8. Jordin Fegin - left handed guitar player, great singer with soft voice.
1st,"your fool" soft sound with good key time changes,
2nd, wrote after being exhausted for 3 days,slow picking with nice tempo,high voice
singing,melody,minor chords.

9. Steve G
1st,"get on with your show" song about his daughter,single father,great story,great voice.
2nd,"about my love- i bring my love" i truly loved this song, IT WAS EXCELLENT!!
he has a Cat Stevens feel

10. Don Sawchuk, Don played 2 songs, then played a new/old christmas song,
he handed out the lyrics and asked for feed back on his song. a few joined in.

Peter hosted! And played the first couple songs!

Steve G and Mo

More Mo

What Ice Storm?

Teacher Teasing:

Guess which of my former music teachers wrote me a line recently?

"Kim, You need to have a picture done of you in that cowboy getup playing your ukulele while riding a horse. I'd buy a poster of that." -- ???

ha

Draft re: Revised FACTOR Demo Grant Application - Nov 30, 2011

3/4 Home Street, Demo
"Roots" music category
EP description: Lyrical indie folk pop, with some celtic twang from time to time.

http://www.myspace.com/LoguelikeVogue


Description (PROJECT GOALS AND EXPECTED RESULTS):

The funding is requested as support for the completion of recordings for a 3 song demo.   With the guidance, support and magic of a gifted producer to help oversee and coordinate enhanced musicality of 4 tunes penned by a lifetime poet and natural singer. Most of the budget would be directed to Bob Wiseman's time to mix and fix it all up, although payments for muscians is also important.

For sure I can demonstrate leadership, and decision-making skills, but I need help in the making of actual music.  In general, I hope to record the music as I perform it, perhaps adding my own supplementary vocals, and also adding many instrumental parts.  I like a deadline and a limited budget because it helps drive and shape my creativity, and I don't forsee any discomfort with constraints vs. aspirations or dreams.

My proposed producer, Bob Wiseman, will help  me make decisions to make a good sounding recording, efficiently and within budget, while taking responsibility for decisions regarding the final mix.  I also feel comforted to think he will do any arranging to compose any required music by other musicians while we get to hang out and have fun.

> The Way The World Turns
I want to re-record this with a stronger, more even timing, longer instrumental breaks and other improvements.  Does it have enough words? Does it sound done? I will welcome refinements suggested by music teachers, musicians supporting the project as well as the producer's thoughts!

> Awkward Silences
This tune, posted on myspace, also needs to be re-recoded because verse lyrics have been reworked so the story is more clearly told.  I also play it on uke now, why not record it that way? It should be re-done with Aimee/2Trishes on harmonies on the chorus and an instrumental bridge before the 2nd chorus.  Awkward silences in the song are to be poetically awkward and NOT musically correct.

> Lovecall
The kooky singalong chorus should have a variety of surprising sounds, rhythms and melodies like the bird calls that day.  (Think vocal jam. kids & tuesday crowd. Think Evenine choir? could i bring in a field recording?) I think this is a good tune to package up for kids!

*
This digital demo project will allow a new focus on the artist/songwriter on ukulele, and hopefully much improved acoustic rhythm guitar.

Budget:
producer $900 (donated $300 net $600)
recording studio & engineeer $600
 $300 to pay other musicians + $300 in donated service requests

Production Plan:
day 1 = kim to record 4 songs
rehearsal with the other musicians?
what to do about the love call voices?

next booking = bob/kim
overdubs/other musicians

Interim Goals:
metronome SETTINGS
PRACTICE!
breathing/exercise/fitness
[ ] perform biweekly at Regional Writers Group Meetings/Open Stage e-bar until Dec 6
[ ]  take at least one lesson with each of 8 or 9 L&M teachers, Dec/Jan
[ ] perform monthly at Guelph Regional Writers Group Meetings, monthly 2012
[ ] perform at least once at Waterloo Regional Writers Group Meeting at Maxwell's
[ ] pursue January 2012 practices/appearances in Florida, including
> Sat Jan 14, Ocala Farmer's Market, Downtown Square
> at Roxy's (the only open mic in downtown West Palm Beach)
> investigate uke workshop option at the The Music Centre WPB, 2550 Okeechobee Blvd
> Sat Jan 21, Green Market at Wellington Amplitheatre 519-753-2482
[ ] pursue November 2012 appearances in Arizona, including
> screening at Liberty Theatre
*
Artist Bio & Statement of Intent

"Someday I would like to make a full length album that comprises a variety of settings, from whispers to full arrangements replete with kid laughter, cat meow and canter stride snort.  I love to use my voice as an instrument, and to snap, stomp, clap, play shaker, dollar store tambourine, cowbell, washboard and other odd objects, by ear."

*

[ ] promise to deliver one completed song afterwards to FACTOR as condition of funding!

Minutes, November 15, 2011, part 1

Gayle Ackroyd was our feature.  Great set!!

Some Green Drinks folk came back and plan to be back!  Great Double Booking!!

Do we need a merch volunteer for next week?

Jude Vadala got up to sing some too!

Peter Light

Doug, with 2 new originals

Mike Butler from Mississauga.  Please return!

Jerry's timely accapella number during a tuning episode ha

William Coon had cd's for sale!

Guy, I forget what you played

Yvonne got the last minute message on her blackberry and made it out!

Andrew played 2 awesome covers

Don Sawchuck closed out the evening!

feedback forms in invisible ink!

Jerry Daminato, sound hero

Wyndham Arts/ Guelph School of Arts student collection, btw

Minutes part 2

Minutes, November 15, 2011, part 2

Overall I think the turn out was pretty good for an event that had only 6 posters put up, day of.   The email was sent to the distribution list day of.  And, someone made the point that I didn't get it in all my ususal event listings.  Is it really time already to talk about booking in January? If so, then let us please take the songwriters club to a monthly meeting, ha.

Next times/Thoughts for Nov 22:
[ ] follow up sponsorship
[ ] use of sign in sheet (permissions, SAC membership etc.)
[ ] placement of merch table
[ ] invite better photographs, video etc.
[ ] continue postering
[ ] invite music teachers from around town to come and provide feedback or tips?
[ ] more postering
[ ] outreach folkway music teachers
[ ] outreach l&m teachers
[ ] outreach other celbritity critics/performers
p.s. dec 6 can green drinks be at the back? are we really okay to take the stage at 8?
send press release re: Dec 6 fundraiser for the hoofbeats radio+ club "Combined Driving" project
[ ] other?
[ ] event listings duh.
[ ] gary,instrument appraisal speil???
[ ] jerry, open stage 101 words?
[ ] martyn as volunteer recording for cfru?
[ ] could martyn make us a PSA???

open stage advance sign ups
via email = 1, toronto
lea in person prior week
peter light/don sawchuck
kim, dec recording feedback/free music lesson request ha
peter boyer
(same night as waterloo writers group meeting)