TAKE a FREE songwriting course at
http://www.SongU.com/ifs
plus they do so much more it will truly blow you away as well as
take your songwriting to a whole new level.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Dear IFS Readers,

I hope this issue finds you well.

I've started working on a couple new projects

The first is called

What the Artist Actually Heard

~ ~ ~

Are you a Songwriter with Major Label Cuts?

"What the Artist Actually Heard" was created by Ande Rasmussen the
editor and publisher of "Inspirations for Songwriters" /
www.SongWriterBlog.com. Ande is collecting demo recordings of the
actual demos major label artists heard that made them decide to cut
particular songs.

At this point his plan is to:
Listen to them,
Study them,
Write about them in his ezine www.SongWriterBlog.com, and
Play them at songwriting events so beginning songwriters can hear
the same demos the artists heard,
Beginning songwriters need to know, how great their
songs and demos need to be

songwriters can email one mp3 at a time to
AndeRasmussen@...
IN THE SUBJECT FIELD WRITE
IFS WAAH
or
mail CD's and info to

Ande Rasmussen
835 martindale falls
martindale, tx 78655

Please include info about the Demo's

Song Title
cowriters
artist who cut it
Date written and date cut
CD it was on
how it the song did on the charts (if it was a single)
Publishers
songwriter contact info
Story behind the song
Story behind getting it cut
any other info you'd like to add

Thank you!

Ande Rasmussen
Please let other songwriters with cuts know

I've gotten a few so far and sincerely thank the writers who have
contributed.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~


The other project I'm working on is

The Central Texas IFS Music Business Network

We all love music but for most of us, the income we make from our
music isn't enough to make ends meet, so many of us have day jobs.
like the book says:

Should I Do What I love
or
Do What I What I do
So I Can Do What I Love on the Side?

One way each of us can help songwriters and artists is to do
business with them, do business with them in music related areas and
do business with them in their day jobs, many musicans are self
employed and you might be able to help musicians and songwriters by
choosing to do business with them.

so I'm going to build a directory / referral list of Austin /
Central Texas
songwriters,
musicians,
Music Industry Businesses,
businesses who are music friendly or
run by musicians
That are IFS Readers / members

Even if you are a waiter, I want your info and updates:
Let people know who you are and what you do
People can ask for you to serve them

If you are an IFS member
if you'd like to be included
Send me your info
(i'm going to verify you are an IFS reader)

your email should contain

your name
Music Category
your music offerings
Music contact info / how to engage you for your music services

Your day job / business
Location / Contact info
Elevator speech: (a very brief interesting compelling creative
statement of who you are and what you do)

like as an example yesterday at the Grammy Event I had a chance to
visit with Chelle Murray and I found out she has a book keeping
business. I NEVER KNEW THAT

So her Entry in this directory would be:


Chelle Murray
Music: Singer Songwriter
www.ChelleMurray.com
Day Job: Book Keeper, Organizer, Planner, Administrator
www.RockerGirlBookKeeping.com
chelle@...
512-422-1520


I found out that Sara Hickman has a design business

Sara Hickman
www.SaraHickman.com
443 2147
StingRay Design
Graphic Design for CD covers


It will list traditional music businesses Like

Gary Powell
Producer
www.GaryPowell.com

Layne Lauritzen
CPA
www.MusicCPA.com

So if you'd like to be included and
you are an IFS member

Send me your info

Email:
AndeRasmussen@...
in the subject field write
IFS Net

I'll build this and put the info somewhere on the web.
It's bound to lead to cool things for those who are on it.
People just need to know
Who you are and What you do
Then at some point when someone needs what you do or offer
you might get the business.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Yesterday I attend Grammy Career Day and facilitated on 2
SongWriting Workshops with Connie Mims, Sara Hickman, and Chelle
Murray.

Below is the press release the Grammy org sent out to Media
contacts.

Below that you'll find some of my notes and recollections.


GRAMMY PRESS RELEASE:

AUSTIN AND BUDA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GAIN PERSPECTIVE ON THE MUSIC
INDUSTRY AT GRAMMY® CAREER DAY ON APRIL 27th

Industry Professionals to Offer Candid Career Close-Ups at GRAMMY
Foundation Program Presented by the Texas Chapter of the Recording
Academy®

WHO: The GRAMMY Foundation, the Texas Chapter of the Recording
Academy and fine arts students from Jack C. Hays High School, the
Academy at Hays, Albert S. Johnston High School, and James Bowie
High School.

WHAT: Music industry professionals based in Texas will share
potential career paths with high school students who are interested
in the entertainment business.

Panelists include

Casey Monahan
director of the Texas Music Office;

George Sanger
video game music composer;

Troupe Gammage
film and video game music composer and current high school student;

Danny Levin
founding member of Tequila Mockingbird;

Chris Bell
GRAMMY- nominated engineer;

Christine Albert
self-managed vocalist and musician,

Craig Calvert
co-founder of the Austin Songwriters Group,

Maureen Doherty
entertainment attorney/industry veteran,

Sara Hickman
artist and producer,

Connie Mims
performer and songwriter,

Monte Warden
singer/songwriter,

Fred Remmert
engineer,

George Oldziey
orchestrator and score composer/producer, and

Carlos Sosa
arranger/composer/producer/artist.

Students will be given a once in a lifetime chance to learn about
the day-to-day business of music from these industry professionals.
After being given an overview of all aspects of the music industry
in a super panel, students will split up into interactive workshops
depending on their specific interests. The workshops will be:
Recording In The Studio (Engineering and Sound);
Songcrafters & Tunesmiths;
The Business of Music: Management & Music Law; and
Music in Film, Games, and Advertising.

Students will be treated to a closing performance by Boombox, a
prominent Texas hip-hop band.

WHERE: Hays CISD Performing Arts Center
979 Kohler's Krossing
Kyle, Texas 78640

WHEN: Thursday, April 27, 2006
9:15 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Orientation/Super Panels
10:35 a.m. - 11:35 a.m. Workshop Session I
11:40 a.m. - 12:10 p.m. Lunch
12:15 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. Workshop Session II
1:20 p.m. - 2:00p.m. Closing Performance

ADD'L INFO: The GRAMMY Foundation was founded in 1989 to cultivate
the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution
recorded music has made to American culture --- from the artistic
and technical legends of the past to the still unimagined musical
breakthroughs of the future generations of music professionals. The
Foundation accomplishes this mission through programs and activities
designed to engage the music industry and cultural community as well
as the general public. The Foundation works in partnership year-
round with the Recording Academy and its regional offices to bring
national attention to important issues such as the value and impact
of music and arts education and the urgency of preserving our rich
cultural legacy. For more information about the Foundation and its
programs, please visit www.grammy.com/foundation.

The Texas Chapter of the Recording Academy serves as a direct
connection between the national organization and its regional
members. The Chapter reaches out to the regional music community of
Texas through professional development and networking events, health
and human services, advocacy initiatives, and music education
programs for students including GRAMMY In The Schools.

Contact:

Theresa Jenkins
The Recording Academy, Texas Chapter
512.328.7997
theresaj@...

~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~

Here's a few of my notes from the Grammy event
written by Ande Rasmussen

before the event started I spoke with Monte Warden, I sure admire
how he's always willing to help with these kind of events.

I asked Monte what he's been up to.
He first told me
"I'm trying to find something new that rhymes with love."

Then he let me know that BMI recently awarded him and his publisher
wife Brandi, with Millionaire awards because their song Desperately
received over 1,000,000 radio plays. Monte told me he has a few
holds with various artists in Nashville. He's making trips there
about one week out of each month. He's been cowriting with Jon
Randall, Phillip White, Odie Blackmon, and Wake Eastman to mention a
few.

He also told me about the importance of REPITCHING
Pitching the same song (that you really believe in) to the same
producer or artist. Sometimes a particular song won't work on one
project, but will fit on another. He also mentioned you need to
show up if you want to win.

Then the Event started with the super panel moderated by Casey
Monahan who works in the Governors Texas Music office
www.EnjoyTexasMusic.com, Casey asked people to talk about mistakes
they've made

Monte: Said that he used to not listen to commercial music.
But now he does, because that is what people are buying
a hit song can put your grandkids through college
perpetuity

Sonny Sauceda: have a good manager to run your business

George Sanger: Taste limits your world

Fred Remmert: I bought equipment too quickly, I paid off the things
I bought then years later got the things I needed to improve sonic
quality. It's not OK to get wasted in the studio. Stay away from all
that crap. It slows you down.

MC Overlord: My biggest mistake was thinking it was going to be
easy.
be extremely dedicated
put everything you have into it
Athletes practice
Keep working
Keep getting better

Sara Hickman rattled off a list:
find opportunities to expand
find like minded go getters who share your vision
get a business manager, lawyer, assistants
network all the time
accept constructive criticism
Right to say NO: a director of my music video asked me to be naked
and painted blue in a video scene
be unique
be prepared to spend your own money for a long time
don't be afraid to cross market
don't be afraid to ask
learn about and understand all aspects of the music business

Troupe Gammage:
I have a tendancy to say yes too often and accept projects I don't
really have time for
he first started out trying to collaborate with his heros, they
turned him down so he worked for 4 years with his friend, he
improved and now he's working with some impressive folks

Maureen Doherty:
Because she's a lawyer she didn't get into her mistakes but talked
about how to help clients avoid making mistakes.
Go where the business is
Help people protect themselves from themselves
If someone wants you to sign something have and attorney look it
over before you sign.
NETWORK
the people you know open doors and help you get to your next level

Monte Warden chimed in:
You must be present to win.
Go where they are

Casey Monahan: Said you can start in Austin but you probably won't
end in Austin

Ed Baily from ACL
learn to make a bigger space for the artist
help art flourish
become an enabler
appreciate the power of ART
take yourself out of the spotlight and help those who are

then they asked if anyone had questions
Hannah from San Antonio said, I went to Nashville, wrote a few
songs, recorded 3 demos, my parents spent $5,000 but I'm just not
feeling it.

MC Overlord said
If you're not feeling it
Nobody else is either.

Monte: suggested she explore the great album cuts that were never
singles.

Another student asked:
Should I go to college.

Every panelist said YES

Monte added Belmont and MSU offer strong music programs

Maureen Doherty told the students they need to leanr how to manage
their money and function in the business aspects of music.

the superpanel ended and folks Dave told the students to check out
www.grammyIntheSchools.com

I very much enjoyed the events, had a blast in the songwriting
workshops and I encourage you to get involved with helping out your
local grammyintheschools events.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Yesterday at the Grammy event, I spoke with Christine Albert and she
told me about her latest project.

http://swansongs.org

Swan Songs is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit community based project
designed to organize private concerts for individuals and families
struggling with life threatening illness. Patients have the
opportunity to request a favorite style of music or specific Austin,
Texas area musician. By bringing live music directly to the home,
hospital or hospice facility, Swan Songs helps to create a healing
and comforting environment in the face of catastrophic illness.

Christine Albert - Executive Director
P.O. Box 41021
Austin, TX 78704
512-416-SWAN
fax: 512-707-1763
email: info@...

Christine told me, that in the past a few dying patients requested
that she play for them and their friends. She found the work very
rewarding. She told me she wanted the musicians to get paid. She
created the organization and built a strong board.

Soon SwanSongs is doing a few fund raising events in the near
future. I'll let you know about them.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tuesday May 4th is the
Nashville Star Final show
They will announce the Winner


Write On,

Ande Rasmussen

Does anyone ever read IFS to the VERY END?