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Songwriters
Challenge
At an open mic
night a fellow open mic junkie named Paul Raia and myself were sitting around
talking about songwriting and songwriting events. I told him a I thought a cool
event would be for a bunch of us songwriters to throw our names in a hat, draw a
name out and then a month or two later at a public venue perform a cover song of
one of our fellow songwriters. I still like that idea. But...Paul proceeded to
tell me about an event he heard of in San Diego where they gave songwriters a
title and then they wrote a song with that title. I thought...hey...cool. So I
ran with it. I am pretty sure Paul said they did it every month so that is where
the 30 day idea came from. So our version is this: One month before the event is
to take place we announce what the title will be and songwriters present their
song at a public venue. We are currently using Chino Bandidos in Chandler, AZ
because it has a huge room and order at the counter kind of service which works
really well with music events.
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These
events are great fun and we get a wide variety of ages participating, multiple
genres of music and a wide range of songwriting experience. We have found
sponsors who donate prizes for which we have drawings at the event. These prizes
are things that are of value to a songwriter ranging from studio time to
merchandise from music stores. Some thought was given to making it a contest but
it becomes really difficult to judge when you have a variety of genres and there
is a natural tendency to pick the best performance rather than the best song.
Therefore we have made it like David Letterman says before Stupid Pet Tricks
, "Remember folks, this is an exhibition and NOT a competition; please no
wagering."
These
events are very fun. If you are a songwriter take the challenge. It's a great
chance to network and get to know other songwriters in the area. If you would
like to get on the mailing list so you can hear about the next event, email me
at
chris@azopenmic.com and say hey...add me to your list for the
songwriters challenge.
I
have given the events their own special pages since they have different titles,
different participants, different sponsors and different levels of local press
coverage etc. They are listed below if you would like to check them out.
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Songwriters Challenge #15
"Two Whiskers", November 19th, 2011 This is the current challenge! Write a
song called "Two Whiskers"
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The title "Two Whiskers",
was submitted by Robert Zucker,
Station Manager of AMAZ Radio.
Robert is
a 40 year veteran of the concert business. He has mixed sound for shows all
around the world and has also been a tour manager, booking agent and artist
manager. He has served as President of the Southwest Acoustic Music
Association and currently is a member of its board. Robert, along with his
wife Deborah, founded AMAZ Radio playing music 24/7 that will not be found
on most commercial media outlets and are dedicated to promoting and
preserving Folk, Acoustic, Americana and Independent music. www.amazradio.org
For those of you who want instrumental
backup, there will be a rehearsal at SER Soundworks a week prior to the
event. Event will be at the SOZO Coffee
Shop. We will be able to provide you with guitar, bass, keyboard and/or
backing vocals for your song at the event. This service is FREE as well,
thanks to the guys at SER. To participate or to volunteer with various
tasks associated with this event, please contact Chris Frazer at Chris@azopenmic.com.
Please put "Songwriters Challenge" in the subject line. Thanks! |
Songwriters Challenge #14
"Something Like This", July 9th, 2011 This is the current challenge! Write a
song called "Something Like This"
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The title "Something
Like This", Title inspired by Paul Woodall,
For those of you who want instrumental
backup, there will be a rehearsal at SER Soundworks a week prior to the
event. New location this time around. Event will be at the SOZA Coffee
Shop. We will be able to provide you with guitar, bass, keyboard and/or
backing vocals for your song at the event. This service is FREE as well,
thanks to the guys at SER. To participate or to volunteer with various
tasks associated with this event, please contact Chris Frazer at Chris@azopenmic.com.
Please put "Songwriters Challenge" in the subject line. Thanks! |
Songwriters Challenge #13
"Don't Look Back", March 12th, 2011 This is the current challenge! Write a
song called "Don't Look Back"
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The title "Don't Look
Back" was
submitted by Mary Swistara".
For those of you who want instrumental
backup, there will be a rehearsal at SER Soundworks a week prior to the
event. We will be able to provide you with guitar, bass, keyboard and/or
backing vocals for your song at the event. This service is FREE as well,
thanks to the guys at SER. To participate or to volunteer with various
tasks associated with this event, please contact Chris Frazer at Chris@azopenmic.com.
Please put "Songwriters Challenge" in the subject line. Thanks! |
Songwriters Challenge #12
"All By Ourselves", November 6th, 2010 This is the current challenge! Write a
song called "All By Ourselves"
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The title "ALL BY
OURSELVES" was
submitted by Chava Cannon. Check out http://www.chavacannon.com
For those of you who want instrumental
backup, there will be a rehearsal at SER Soundworks a week prior to the
event. We will be able to provide you with guitar, bass, keyboard and/or
backing vocals for your song at the event. This service is FREE as well,
thanks to the guys at SER. To participate or to volunteer with various
tasks associated with this event, please contact Chris Frazer at Chris@azopenmic.com.
Please put "Songwriters Challenge" in the subject line. Thanks! |
Songwriters Challenge #11
"No More", August 7th, 2010
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The title "NO MORE" was
submitted at the AZopenMic.com website by given to us by Robert Tippen aka
Logan. Check our Logan at his myspace at: http://www.myspace.com/ponyboy933
For those of you who want instrumental
backup, there will be a rehearsal at SER Soundworks a week prior to the
event. We will be able to provide you with guitar, bass, keyboard and/or
backing vocals for your song at the event. This service is FREE as well,
thanks to the guys at SER. To participate or to volunteer with various
tasks associated with this event, please contact Chris Frazer at Chris@azopenmic.com.
Please put "Songwriters Challenge" in the subject line. Thanks! |
Songwriters Challenge #10
"It Was You", March 27th, 2010
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The title "IT WAS
YOU" was given to us by Jon Iger, President of the Arizona
Songwriters Association and Vice President of the Arizona Music and
Entertainment Hall of Fame. For anyone who would like to get help with,
feedback on, or to tune up their song with other songwriters prior to the
event, there will be a FREE "Songs In Progress" workshop at Cup
O'Karma, Friday March 12th, 7p-9p, located at 1710 W Southern, Mesa,
across from MCC, 480-890-0579. For those of you who want instrumental
backup, there will be a rehearsal at SER Soundworks a week prior to the
event. We will be able to provide you with guitar, bass, keyboard and/or
backing vocals for your song at the event. This service is FREE as well,
thanks to the guys at SER. To participate or to volunteer with various
tasks associated with this event, please contact Chris Frazer at Chris@azopenmic.com.
Please put "Songwriters Challenge" in the subject line. Thanks! |
Songwriters Challenge #9
"Tell Me Again", November 7, 2009
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Here we are again with a new
songwriters challenge. If you have not participated in any of these maybe
now is the time to do so. They are loads of fun, you meet and network with
other local songwriters and local music types and get to hear everyone's
take on the same song title. This rounds title was given us by
singer/songwriter James Cowden
who plays around the valley, does songwriter showcases and most recently
has started a social network for musicians at http://acousticmusicnetwork.ning.com.
The title for this round is "Tell Me Again". So, write a song
with the title "Tell Me Again". Be prepared to present your song
live at the event. We ask that the song be presented live as it makes the
event much more interesting to the audience. If you would like a critique
of your song, please bring a copy of your lyrics. If you are not a
performer and need help in finding a person to perform your song, email me
and I can offer assistance. One of our sponsors who has been involved in
every event, SER Soundworks lets us use their state of the art practice
facilities a week before the event for those of us who want additional
instruments for our presentation. It's free and a great opportunity for
you to either get accompaniment for your song or to get it beefed up with
bass, drums, keyboard, guitar or background vocals. A sound system will be
provided at the event. To participate, contact Chris Frazer at chris@azopenmic.com.
Put "songwriters challenge" in the subject header.
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Songwriters Challenge #8
"You Should Know", July 11, 2009
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The title for this Songwriter
Challenge was given to us by Erich Sielaff, songwriter and host of
the radio show, "AZ Music Cafe" a radio show that airs live on
KKNT 960AM every Sunday afternoon at 3pm. If you go to http://www.azmusiccafe.com,
you will see that in the past year there were 125 or so local musicians
who have been on the show to perform their music. Erich, as usual will be
at the event and this time will have a panel with him to select guests for
his show the next day who will perform their song live on the show for our
local as well as internet audience. What an opportunity!!! |
Songwriters Challenge #7
"A Bachio" or "A Kiss", April 4, 2009
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Ready for a new song? Here ya go. On
this one you may use one of 2 titles: “Un Bachio” (Italian) or “A Kiss”.
This title was given us by Shelly Yakus. Shelly is considered as one of
the best engineers and mixers in the music industry. Formerly Vice
President of A&M Records, Shelly has engineered some of the most
successful recordings from John Lennon's “Imagine” to U2’s “Rattle &
Hum". Shelly plans on attending the event to hear some of the songs as
well as give out gift cards for a new sponsor of ours, mystudio.net, a
business in which you can make very low cost but professional quality
music videos. |
Songwriters Challenge #6 "What Happens To Me", January 10, 2009
Songwriters
Challenge #5 Christmas With A Twist - Title of the song starts with the first
letter of writers first name. September 6, 2008
Songwriters Challenge #4 "Late Again", June
8, 2008
Songwriters Challenge #3 "The Hardest Thing I've Ever Done", March 1, 2008
Songwriters Challenge #2 "Still Waiting", December 1, 2007
Songwriters Challenge #1 "The First Time", August 25, 2007
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