Thanks to everyone who did me the simple favor of voting for Wake.

When we started Wake had 289 votes, he now has significantly more,
thanks for your help. Drop by and see where he stands. Today is the
last day.

PLEASE DROP BY:
http://www.countrylinemagazine.com/cd-vote.html
and VOTE FOR WAKE EASTMAN, he's an IFS Reader
It takes less than 2 seconds. If Wake receives the most votes he'll
get an interview in Country Line Magazine
Let me know if you do. and where wake stood when you checked.

Thank you, Ande

<> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <>
Inspirations For Songwriters (I F S)
IFS aims to INSPIRE YOU into ACTION
over 2,400 songwriters, music publishers, artists, and
music fans receive IFS
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DIFS/
<> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <> <>

Please FORWARD IFS to your SONGWRITING friends

If you want to RECEIVE IFS or
If you want to CHANGE your email address
SEND an EMPTY email to

difs-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Please Allow IFS slide past your SPAM FILTERS.

DID YOU KNOW THAT All IFS messages are archived on
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DIFS/messages

Once you're in the IFS archive, if you're looking for something in
Particular, you can do a key word search

Here's an easy way to find the IFS home page, type in:
www.SongwriterBlog.com or www.SongwritingBlog.com

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Dear IFS Readers,

Tomorrow Saturday 26, 2005 I plan to be at Cheatham Street in San
Marcos to watch john Arthur Martinez perform.

Speaking of john Arthur, mytexasmusic.com recently awarded him Record
of the Year for his song "Home Made of Stone" that he wrote with
Steve Seskin and me.
http://www.mytexasmusic.com/awards/2005winners.html

My friends at JPF pointed out a TRULY excellent article on Craig
Wiseman
http://tennessean.com/entertainment/music/grammys/archives/05/01/65535
881.shtml?Element_ID=65535881
READ IT and REAP

SongRamp.com recently made some improvements, they split country
into two categories. Contemporary country and traditional country
category
There are 1,731 contemporary country songs and
Only 29 traditional country songs. If you have a traditional country
song on songramp that's currently in the contemporary category you
might want to go into the manager, click edit and recategorize your
songs. You can also decide song order on songramp, by going in the
edit function. Songramp now shows the date when people write reviews.

When I do songramp reviews I tend to focus on the positive, since
everyone can read it and it is a permanent public paragraph.
Sometimes I'll send a private message if I have a critique or a
suggestion on a particular song.

In past IFS issues I've asked
"How BAD do you want to be good?"

The other day I was watching a news show and they featured 4 year old
abstract painter, Marla Olmstead. So far she's sold around $300,000
worth of paintings and she has a 200 person waiting list to buy her
future paintings for over $10,000 a piece.
http://www.marlaolmstead.com/news08042004.html

The show featured a child psychologist who talked about
characteristics of child prodigies and one of the things she looks
for is the "RAGE TO MASTER." Rage to Master is a person's intense
desire to master what they are passionate about. I saw this
characteristic when I swam. Some of the people I trained with,
seemed to want greatness more than I did, they trained harder, some
got better and a few went on to set national records, world records,
and represent the United States at the Olympics. Some of these
people, were incredibly talented with god given ability and others
were ordinary people with an incredible drive to become the best.
Tiger Woods had talent and the rage to master golf. Mozart had the
rage to master music and composing.

How intense is your RAGE TO MASTER songwriting?

If you want to become really great at songwriting,
your RAGE TO MASTER needs to burn strong and long.

How bad do you want to be great and
what are you doing about it?

Ande

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The IFS Featured Song is
"I Won't Think About You"
written by Donna Galbraith and Cindy Marotta
http://www.songramp.com/view.ez?sampleid=27134

is a very catchy well produced female country song. Great job ladies.

If you'd like one of your songs to be considered to be the
IFS Featured Song
send me
one email featuring
one song with
one link to the song.
If you like also include the songs STORY,
what inspired it,
why you wrote it,
who wrote it with you,
anything memorable happen while you were writing it as well as
a little info about you.

Please put everything in the email,
I won't download attachments.
I want hear and share great songs with IFS readers.

Send your email to:
AndeRasmussen@...
In the subject field write
IFS FEAT

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

IFS OPPORTUNITY / IFS OPP Cowrite Invite

I have a friend who is an outstanding Nashville Based
producer / songwriter / melody writer / composer
He's got many up coming indie artist recording projects and he's
looking for outstanding Christian Lyrics to cowrite and consider
placing on these projects.

he recently sent me the following email:

"Hey Ande,

Well, it's getting hot and heavy here in Nashville, and
I have no less than 6 new artists seeking songs for their CDs.

All are Christian. AND MUST BE CONTEMPORARY!
Absolutely no southern or gospel.

Right now, I am writing songs for an artist in his late 30's. He's a
dad of two children, a 5 and 1 year old. He's a long time Christian,
his songs need to be mature, but not gospel. Up-tempo preferred.

I have several different ladies I'm writing for.
3 are 30ish, and one is forty-ish.
They are looking for themes dealing with depression, and
basic good, hooky songs.

I only want to see lyrics at this point.
No demos or MP3s.

Thanks,

Ande's Nashville Christian Producer Friend

~ ~ ~

So IFS readers I'm going to open the door for you to cowrite some
Christian lyrics with me to forward to this exceptional producer /
writer for consideration.

So what I am looking for in this opportunity are
fresh original lyrical starts,
song scraps,
ideas,
lines,
choruses,
verses, and
song concept descriptions.
I'd rather not receive entire lyrics.
NO mp3 files.

send your email to me at
AndeRasmussen@...

in the subject field write
IFS OPP

in the body of the email
include
your idea,
name,
contact info and
website
NO ATTACHMENTS

only send one idea per email
you may send in 3 ideas in three separate emails
I'll respond to each eamil with
1) pass
or
2) consider these lines

If we develop a complete first draft lyric
I'll send it to the producer.
He'll look it over and let me know if he's interested or not.
As soon as I know anything I'll let you know.

the DEADLINE for this OPP is
Thursday March 10, 2005

If he chooses to work on a lyric
it is likely to become
a well written well produced song and
a cut on an independent artists project.

good luck, Ande

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Attention Song Writers and Artists!
Don Rollins is NSAI Houston's
Pro-Mentor and Guest Speaker for this meeting.

Date: This Sunday 2/27/05, 2:30 pm
Subject: NSAI Mtg Feb 27 Don Rollins
Where: The JP Hopps House
Cost is $15 for non-members,
Free for NSAI Members

**NSAI OPEN MIC TO FOLLOW-AT THE HOPS HOUSE AT 6PM**

Join NSAI at the Hopps House this
Sunday, Feb 27, 2005 with our
Pro-Mentor, Don Rollins
"Mirror, Mirror"-Diamond Rio,
"The Race Is On"-Sawyer Brown,
"It's 5 O'Clock Somewhere"-Alan Jackson,
among numerous others.

JPs Hopps House is located:
www.jphopshouse.com
JP Hopps House
2317 South Highway 6
Houston, Texas 77077
281-496-0623

Directions:

From the North side:
I-10 west to Hwy 6 South
Hwy 6 to just before Westheimer on the left side of the street.
The Hopps House is in a small strip center (next to Shipley Donuts)-
There is a McDonald's just North of the Hopps House.

From the South Side:
59 S to HWY 6 North in Sugarland
Hwy 6 North to just past Westheimer
The Hopps House will be on the Right in the Shipley Donuts strip
center There is a McDonald's just North of the Hopps House.

Leanne Timura
"It All Begins With A Song"
http://NSAI-Houston.com

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Austin Music Foundation's
Music Industry Boot Camp is on
Monday, Feb. 28th at
Tambaleo (302 Bowie Street) from
6:30pm - 9:00pm

The Austin Music Foundation is pleased to announce that we will be
moving to Tambaleo for our first Music Industry Boot Camp seminar of
2005 on Monday February 28th, at 6:30pm. The panel is entitled "CD
Release in Real Time: Plan it from start-to-finish in 2 hours." The
session will be an interactive strategy session where our
knowledgable panelists will take you step-by-step through the
planning process of a CD Release following the pattern of Incubator
Artist CD Releases. Before the session we will draw names and choose
one artist attendee who will join the panelists on stage to devise a
production, manufacturing, marketing, distribution, tour and launch
party plan for their CD! As always, Boot Camp is free to the public
and open to everyone. This amazing opportunity to interact with these
awesome panelists is not to be missed!
Panelists:

Ray Flowers Fifth Column Management

Vickie Lucero Propaganda Media Group

web: http://www.austinmusicfoundation.org

~ ~ ~ ~

IFS Reader John Condrone up for Dove Award

If you have any readers who are involved with the
GMA Dove Award voting -
please let them know that IFS member
John Condrone has been nominated for
Dove Awards for songwriter
"Country Song Of The Year" for his song
"But Then"
now in the final voting -
Southern Gospel Group Of the Year (Young Harmony Faith, Hope, Joy
album). I was a writer on this project! Any support would be greatly
appreciated!

John Condrone

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

DEAR SONGWRITER and MUSIC LOVER:

Isn't it time American Songwriter magazine, the world's leading
songwriting publication since 1984, becomes part of your essential
playlist? To make the decision even easier, we'd like to provide you
with an introductory 25% subscription discount! Subscribe to American
Songwriter TODAY to receive the March/April issue, featuring Beck,
Keith Urban, The Roots, Kings of Leon, Tony Joe White, Rachel
Yamagata and Josh Rouse. Also featuring, Kendal's Key to Demos,
Single-Song Contracts, the Universal Number System, A&R Zone with Yep
Roc Records' Glenn Dicker, and much more! Please follow the link
below or visit www.americansongwriter.com, and if you have any
problems, please call 615-321-6096 for assistance.
http://www.americansongwriter.com/discount/subscription

INTERESTED IN ENTERING THE AMERICAN SONGWRITER AMATEUR LYRIC CONTEST?

VISIT
WWW.AMERICANSONGWRITER.COM
FOR MORE INFORMATION!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

From: Barbara Cloyd
Sent: Friday, February 18, 2005 8:06 AM
Subject: Workshop with Nashville publishers in Austin, TX

Applications are now being accepted for the
SONGWRITER SEARCH in
Austin, Texas which is a
Barbara Cloyd Songwriting Workshop happening on

Fri. April 29 through Sun. May 1 With

Scott Gunter of Universal Publishing and
Chris Oglesby of Oglesby Writer Management

Applications are now being taken for this weekend workshop and
twenty-two applicants will be selected on the basis of their
originality, creativity, and craftsmanship. Any songwriters who have
a desire to get their songs recorded in the Nashville market, even
those who currently write in different styles such as pop, rock,
alternative or folk, are invited to apply. The emphasis is on finding
writers with potential and by the end of the weekend anyone who
attends will have a clear idea of the demands of the Nashville market
and will gain insight into how to adapt their individual style to
meet those demands.

Those who attend will:

Be heard by established publishers who can get songs cut and sign
staff writers

Get feedback from professionals who know the market

Find out what Nashville record labels, artists and producers are
looking for

Learn about the business from people who have succeeded in it

Meet other writers serious about their careers

Scott Gunter and Chris Oglesby have both spent years working with hit
songwriters and developing new writers. They pitch and regularly
place songs with major label artists. They know that their success
depends on their ability to continue finding and nurturing new
talent. They are not being paid for their time - they are attending
because they believe that traveling outside of Nashville can be a
good way to find writers with a fresh, individual approach.

This is the 10th workshop in this series, which is hosted by
Barbara Cloyd, writer of the Lorrie Morgan classic "I Guess You Had
To Be There." Barbara is a long-time host at The Bluebird Cafe,
Nashville's premier showcase club, Barbara has helped open doors for
many songwriters.

To apply:
Send 3 songs on CD or cassette with lyric sheets and a
$10 non-refundable application fee to
Barbara Cloyd's Songwriting Workshop,
PO Box 121497,
Nashville,TN 37212.
Include phone numbers and email address.

Co-written songs may be submitted.
Tapes and CD's will not be returned.

Writers who prefer can apply on line by emailing mp3s with lyrics and
paying the application fee through PayPal at
http://barbaracloyd.com/workshops.htm
Please send each mp3 in a separate email.

Applications must be received by Mon. March 28th.

Those who would like to get feedback on their writing rather than
just a yes or no may enclose an additional $15 for a total of $25.
All applicants will be sent a reply by email no later than 5 PM
Thursday March 31st.
Those who do not have an email address will be notified by regular
mail.

LOCATION:
Days Inn Austin North, I 35 at Hwy 183

COST: $140 (This goes to cover the cost of putting on the workshop.
The publishers are NOT paid for their time.
Financial aid is available.)

ROOMS: $59/night + tax, single or double.
Writers may secure their own lodging or request to be paired with a
room mate.

For more information call
Barbara Cloyd at
615-383-5616, or email
barbara@... or visit
www.barbaracloyd.com

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

IFS readers may your rage to master songwriting burn strong and long.

Write on!
Ande Rasmussen
Editor and Publisher of I F S, Inspirations For Songwriters

Contact info is:

Ande Rasmussen
835 Martindale Falls
Martindale, TX 78655
AndeRasmussen@...
You can read my Bio at:
http://www.AndeRasmussen.com/

You can hear a few of my tunes at:
http://songramp.com/ande

If you want receive IFS or change your email address with IFS
send an email to
difs-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

FORWARD IFS to your songwriting friends!

IFS home page is
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DIFS

I F S stands for Inspirations for Songwriters,
I F S is an ezine for songwriters filled with
inspirational and practical information about
the art, craft, and business of songwriting.
We want to help YOU become a more successful songwriter.

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION
The entire text of
"Inspirations for Songwriters"
(c) 2005 Anders Rasmussen