DSA Meetings

Friday, January 1, 2021

DSA MEETING GUEST SPEAKERS 2019

DEC

DSA Christmas Party Sunday, December 8, 4 - 8 at The Neathery in McKinney

- No Meeting at Half Price Books

In December we are changing up our schedule a bit. Instead of having the Christmas party and Awards Banquet combined, we are having our Christmas Party on Sunday, Dec 8, 4 - 8 at The Neathery in McKinney. Bring your instruments, we'll do some acoustic picking and grinning . This is a Bed and Breakfast and a great event venue. You may want to book an overnight stay. https://www.neatheryestate.com No meeting at Half Price Books on Thursday Dec 5.

NOV

Annual Membership Meeting and Elections of the Board of Directors, plus Last Chance critique submissions for Song and Songwriters of the Year Awards.

Due to a venue conflict, the meeting has been moved up a day to Wednesday, Nov 6th

There will be a deli tray and a chance to socialize.

Critiques will follow:
As usual, for members we will also have song critiques by industry pros Barbe McMillen and Joe Milton. Bring your song on a CD or email an MP3 to Harry Hewlett at hhhewlett@gmail.com, and also bring plenty of copies of the lyrics so the members can give comments as well. You will also be entered in the DSA Song of the Year and Songwriter of the Year contest. The cost is $10 per song.

https://dallassongwriters.org/shop/dsa-meeting-song-critique-entry/
Each song is entered into the Song of The Year and Songwriter of the Year Competition which is awarded at our December Awards Banquet.

OCT

BEN HALIM, DSA Director and Music Tech and Software Tools, is Guest Speaker for THURSDAY, Oct 3, at Half Price Books.

SOCIAL MEDIA AND SONGWRITERS
How the wrong use of social media is hurting songwriters/artists.

Ben is an accomplished producer and ghost writer, but he also has a background in marketing and information technology. Read about Ben here: https://dallassongwriters.org/team-bio/ben-halim/

SEPT

BARBE MCMILLEN is Guest Speaker for THURSDAY, SEPT 5, at Half Price Books.

ANALYZING RECENT NUMBER 1 SONG ON BILLBOARD CHART

What makes a song popular? We'll evaluate the song and find out.

NO MEETING IN AUG - POOL PARTY

JULY

CRAIG LANGFORD is Guest Speaker for Monday, July 1, at Half Brice Books.

SHOW AND TELL: THE CARING AND FEEDING OF STRINGED INSTRUMENTS

BB King loved his Lucille. Keith Richards is so attached to his guitar that he sleeps with it at night. You probably feel the same about your trusted side kick. Learn how to treat her right!

JUNE

JANA STANFIELD is Guest Speaker for Thursday, June 6 , at Half Brice Books.

You’ve heard her music on 20/20, Entertainment Tonight, Oprah, the movie 8 Seconds, and radio stations nationwide. Her compositions are sung by Reba McEntire, Andy Williams and others, and Jana has shared stages with fellow performers ranging from Kenny Loggins to The Dixie Chicks.

For the past 15 years, Jana has made her living as a Keynote speaker at conferences and corporate events. Join us for a fun evening. Learn more about Jana: https://www.janastanfield.com/about-jana/.

MAY

MUSIC LEGEND ED BERNET is Guest Speaker for Thursday, May 2nd , at Half Brice Books.

A former American football wide receiver, Ed Bernet has been a legend in the Dallas, Tx music industry for many years. In 1961, Bernet founded Ed Bernet Art and Entertainment specializing in booking entertainment for "one-nighters"...wedding receptions, conventions, corporate functions, school dances, class reunions, society galas and other special events of all kinds. Around the same time Burnet started The Levee Singers who marked our 50th Anniversary in 2011. In addition, Ed owned the area's most popular recording studio, Sumet-Bernet Sound Studios, so he became friends with all the area's best musicians who came to the studio to record. Read more here ---- http://www.edbernet.com/id2.html

He is still active in artist booking and will share stories about the history of music and popular entertainers in Dallas and throughout the music world.

APRIL

Songwriter Graham Bramblett is Guest Speaker for Thursday, April 4th , at Half Brice Books.

Bramblett is Nashville songwriter who is currently touring to support his latest album release, Standard Harmony. Bramblet says, "I really enjoy recording and playing live shows, but at the end of the day, it all goes back to the song. That's what really drives me- the process that begins with nothing and turns into something."

Bramblett was raised in Dallas, spent some time in Nashville after college, then moved to St Paul and now is back in Nashville.

Saturday, March 2, 2019

DSA 1ST THURSDAY MEETING MARCH 7TH @ HALF PIRCE BOOKS

Bill Craig, VP of Business Development/ Label Relations at Peer Tracks is Guest Speaker for Thursday, March 7th , at Half Brice Books.

Bill Craig is a veteran of the music business. He has worked with film, interactive, and music companies and is an avid music fan. He was VP of US sales for MIDEM for over 12 years. He has also worked for a number of mobile companies and a start up HD film company capturing compelling performances at festivals. Bill started his music career at Chico College in Northern California as a radio DJ, Maxx Volume. He also promoted concerts in the college town. Bill will explain the new business model for the streaming company, Peer Tracks and his colleague with give a demonstration of how to upload your tracks.

Bill Craig - VP Business Development / Label Relations - PeerTracks ...

PEER TRACKS is the first streaming application utilizing the SOUNDAC Blockchain for automated royalty payments direct to the songwriter. Yes, no need for a distributor. https://peertracks.com

Streaming Platform PeerTracks Uses The SounDAC Blockchain To ...
https://www.superbcrew.com › Startups › Interviews
Sep 26, 2018 - Bill Craig, Jamie Roberts and even our NYC based attorney are all deeply rooted in the music and entertainment industry. PeerTracks ...

Wednesday, January 2, 2019

DSA Director Harry Hewlett is Guest Speaker for Thursday, Jan 3rd, at Half Brice Books.

“INTRO TO CD BABY & FACEBOOK / YOUTUBE MONETIZATION (or, Don’t Quit Your Day Job, Just Because You’re A Published Songwriter”)!

Harry has been very involved in getting his music out to the world, and getting paid, via online music distribution. Harry has a BS in Ag. Eco. from Texas Tech & an MBA from Avila College in KC, MO. He spent 10 years with Pfizer Ag. Div. at their corporate HQ’s in NYC as Product Mgr. & Manager, Sales Systems. While there he took up songwriting as a hobby & joined the Songwriters Guild and NSAI. Now on the DSA board where is serving as A&R Director. Harry has utilized his savvy in the business world to figure out how business works in the music world so you won't want to miss it!

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VIDEO OF PAST MEETINGS

BRUCE CHANNEL : https://www.facebook.com/dallassongwriters/videos/1820749174645104/

Thanks to Harry Hewlett we have a video of the Sept 6th 2018 meeting with Bruce Channel. Bruce received an award from BMI for two million radio performances of Hey! Baby. His original record of Hey! Baby is featured in the hit movie, Dirty Dancing, and on the international sound track album, listed in BILLBOARD’s Pop Album for over three months with sales of over twelve + million units.

Sunday, September 2, 2018

Guest Speaker is Bruce Channel on Thursday Sept 6, Song Critiques follow

The Dallas Songwriters Association will hold it's next monthly meeting on Sept 6th at Half Price Books on Northwest Hwy, Dallas, Tx from 6:30 - 9:30.

Bruce Channel recorded the song, HEY! BABY. In 1961. Six months later he watched in awe as this recording soared to number one in the pop charts and stayed there for three weeks.

Thus began a long and fascinating touring and recording career in the U.S. and England. Later, hits on Goin’ Back To Louisiana, Mr. Bus Driver, and Keep On, kept Bruce at the forefront of the pop scene for many years. At the height of his popularity in England, he headlined a show featuring a relatively unknown recording group, THE BEATLES! After more than a decade of touring and recording, Bruce grew tired of the road and the music business. He returned to Ft. Worth to settle down with his wife Christine, whom he had met in England, and left the music scene for a while.

In 1978, Bruce moved to Nashville and began writing songs for Nashville recording artists. Since then his successes as a writer include number one records for T.G. Shepherd on Party Time, Janie Fricke on Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me Baby, John Conlee As Long As I’m Rockin’ With You, Anne Murray’s re-make of Hey! Baby, and Mel McDaniel’s smash, Stand Up. Bruce has also had cuts by Alabama, The Oak Ridge Boys, Jerry Lee Lewis and Tom Jones. He co-wrote the country hit You‘re The Best, with Kieran Kane who recorded it, and Gonna Have A Party, recorded by Alabama.

Bruce received an award from BMI for two million radio performances of Hey! Baby. His original record of Hey! Baby is featured in the hit movie, Dirty Dancing, and on the international sound track album, listed in BILLBOARD’s Pop Album for over three months with sales of over twelve + million units.

Thanks to Harry Hewlett we will be Skyping Bruce in from Nashville.

CRITIQUES FOLLOW

Location: Half Price Books/Northwest Highway in Dallas
6:00 pm: Doors Open/Networking and visiting
7:00 pm: Program followed by song critiques for members only
Pay online for critique. https://squareup.com/store/dallas-songwriters-association
Each song is enter into the Song of The Year and Songwriter of the Year Competition which is awarded at our December Awards Banquet.

Down the Line:
Oct 4 - Issac Jamal - Creating a music video
Nov 1 - Annual Membership Meeting and Elections/ Barbara McMillen on performance contracts
Dec 8 - DSA Christmas Party and Awards Banquet.

Back on blogspot

New website is down so we are back on blogspot.

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

NO MEETING IN AUGUST - MEETINGS RESUME IN SEPT.

JUST A REMINDER THAT WE ARE MOVING OUR WEBSITE. YOU CAN FIND UPDATED INFO AT: https://dallassongwriters.org/dsa-meeting-and-song-critique/

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

BILL NASH WILL SPEAK AT JULY 14TH MEETING ON ALTERNATIVE TUNINGS FOR GUITAR

Long time member of the local folk community and friend of Uncle Calvins, Bill Nash will speak at the July 14th DSA meeting on alternative tunings for the guitar using multiple capos. Because of health issues and his unwillingness to give up what he loves doing, Bill has developed ways of playing guitar that require less finger mobility. Come see how you can adapt Bill's discoveries to your songwriting.

DSA Monthly Meetings

Education • Networking • Encouragement • Advocacy