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The San Diego Songwriter's Guild has helped hundreds of songwriters improve their ability to craft better songs. In addition it has assisted in creating networking opportunities with music industry professionals. Browse this site and learn how you can take your songwriting skills to the next level.

The Guild's mission is to assist its members and interested public in the advancement of songwriting skills through educational programs, and to expose original songs to the recording, television and motion picture industries via pitch sessions with entertainment professionals. It is the Guild's aim to stimulate both the craft and the business of songwriting by serving published and unpublished writers working in all popular musical styles. We sincerely appreciate your support for, and involvement in your premier industry resource, the San Diego Songwriters Guild. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ) 3/02

Summary of Questions

What is the San Diego Songwriter’s Guild (SDSG)?

How can I contact the guild?

How do I join?

What is the guild’s background?

Is the guild only for songwriters?

Who are these "Industry Speakers"?

Does the guild have any live events?

Why is networking such an important part of joining the guild?

What are the newsletters?

What are the rules for the song contest?

What is a song pitch?

Why does everyone critique each other’s songs so harshly?

What is a lyric sheet?

What does the guild have on their web-site?

How can I volunteer and who are the board members?

How do I meet people to collaborate with?

How much does it cost to join the guild and attend it’s events?

What does the guild do with my fees?

Can I read the By-Laws for the Guild?

One Final Note

What is the San Diego Songwriter’s Guild (SDSG)?

SDSG is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization that offers:

• Networking – meet publishers, guild members, and other people in the music industry. Share information on what works and what doesn’t. Trade skills with other musicians.

• Pitch sessions – publishers, artists, or Artists and Repertoire (A&R) reps listen to your songs for possible inclusion in their projects.

• Songwriting improvement – pitch and critique sessions provide invaluable feedback on improving your songwriting.

• Industry speakers – industry personnel provide information and answer questions.

• Live showcases – for those that perform, shows at coffeehouses and other events help hone your performing skills.

• Newsletters – available at our web-site or mailed to your house to keep you informed of guild events.

• Discounts -- TAXI membership discount if joining TAXI within 30 days of joining SDSG.

• Collaborators – free collaborator listings in our newsletter.

• Contest – yearly songwriting contest with thousands of dollars in prizes.

• Tax deduction -- we're non-profit, so you can deduct any fees paid to the guild at tax time. Save those receipts!

 How can I contact the guild?

If you have any questions or comments, please contact us at:

Please remember that we are all volunteers and we will try to get back to you as soon as possible.

 How do I join?

You can get applications forms (A) from our web-site and print it out, (B) contact us and we will mail you a form, or (C) attend any event and they should have forms at the door.  You can then mail in the form or turn it in at any guild event.

 What is the guild’s background?

The San Diego Songwriters Guild’s (SDSG) goal is to stimulate both the craft and business of writing songs. SDSG is a non-profit, volunteer-run organization. The guild was formed in 1982 by Palomar Community College songwriting instructor Dottie Beck and seventeen of her students. Dottie's goal was to provide education and support for those interested in pursuing the craft of songwriting.

The Guild has developed into an important asset for local writers and artists. It is the only organization in the World's Finest City to regularly schedule pitch sessions and educational seminars with industry professionals. SDSG serves our strong artist-writer community by sponsoring performances at local venues, seminars at professional recording studios, and our annual song contest. It is the number one resource for San Diegan's interested in achieving commercial success as songwriters. SDSG serves its community by sponsoring charity concerts and by offering services at reduced rates to interested students. The Guild offers members the opportunity to meet and share ideas with fellow writers and performers. Our membership includes over 200 men and women of all ages and backgrounds. Supported jointly by members and local business, the Guild is proud to list San Diego's leading music industry merchants and service providers as corporate sponsors.

The Guild's mission is to assist its members and interested public in the advancement of songwriting skills through educational programs, and to expose original songs to the recording, television and motion picture industries via pitch sessions with entertainment professionals. It is the Guild's aim to stimulate both the craft and the business of songwriting by serving published and unpublished writers working in all popular musical styles. We sincerely appreciate your support for, and involvement in your premier industry resource, the San Diego Songwriters Guild.

 Is the guild only for songwriters?

No.  Although the guild primarily benefits songwriters, our members include a wide variety of musicians, managers, music storeowners, lyricists, and studio owners to name a few.  The term “songwriting” in our name is a little misleading.  (Note that the “big daddy” of songwriting organizations, the National Academy of Songwriters (NAS), has a similar wide variety of members.)

 Who are these "Industry Speakers"?

People from the music industry occasionally come and provide insight into the music business. We also occasionally have "ask-an-expert" nights, covering such topics as recording techniques, music on the web, computer techniques, etc.

 Does the guild have any live events?

Around once a month, the guild has a live showcase at a coffeehouse or other establishment. Most of these showcases are for skill building, but some higher profile events showcase the talent and variety of music the guild has to offer and may require auditions.

 Why is networking such an important part of joining the guild?

The music industry is built on networking and making contacts. The guild provides an excellent opportunity to meet others interested in music and to find out what works and what doesn’t. To make the most of your participation in guild activities, talk to guests and fellow members during breaks and after sessions. Learn what other members are doing and how they are doing it. Consider volunteering as a SDSG board member. The music industry is not meant for wallflowers, so "schmooze" as much as you can.

 What are the newsletters?

Newsletters contain information about upcoming events, musicians looking for collaborators, guild members experiences, and other information.

Newsletters come out around once every two months and are mailed to the members. They usually are mailed around the first week of the month, but may be delayed due to last-minute schedule changes by our guests. Non-members can request to be put on the mailing list and receive newsletters, but the duration is limited to around 6 months due to mailing costs. Ex-members are usually mailed newsletters for 6 months after their membership expires. Newsletters are downloadable free to members and non-members on the SDSG web site.

We are always looking for interesting information to put into the newsletter. Contact the guild if you:

• Feel you have had an experience others would find interesting or could learn from. You could possibly write an article.

• Won a contest, released a CD, or got airplay. We're always looking for success stories.

• Want to collaborate. Members get a free "looking for collaborator's" listing.

• Want to advertise an event. 

 What are the rules for the song contest?

The guild sponsors an annual songwriters contest every winter. See the "annual song contest" link on our web site for the most current information.

 What is a song pitch?

Pitch Sessions are events where music industry professionals listen to members' pre-recorded songs as guests of SDSG. Producers, publishers, A&R representatives, managers and artistsuse these events to identify songs or artists of interest.� Pitch sessions take place in front of an audience of San Diego songwriters.� Guests typically listen to a song's introduction, first verse, and chorus, but how long they listen is completely at their discretion. Guests will often provide a critique, again, at their sole discretion. Guests may elect to "pick up" a song, which means they take the song with them for further consideration. At a typical Pitch Session, only a few songs are picked up.

Pitch sessions provide a great chance to learn, not just through critiques of your own compositions, but also through comments offered about the songs of others. Even if you don't pitch a song yourself, you can gather a lot of valuable information at an SDSG pitch.

Our guests are professionals who are accustomed to hearing quality recordings of well-arranged songs. Out-of-tune instruments or vocalists, interminable introductions, or sub-par recording quality can cause guests to lose interest in your song prematurely. For members who have not pitched before, we strongly recommend first attending critique sessions (San Diego NSAI is a great resource) or having someone who has pitched before listen to your songs.

Pitch Session Rules

• Unless otherwise specified, Pitch Sessions are held at Studio West in Rancho Bernardo.
• Only SDSG members may pitch songs.
• Submission fees are $10 per song
• Writers may join The San Diego Songwriters Guild on the night of an event by paying the applicable membership fee.
• Non-members are charged a $20 door fee, which may be applied to SDSG Membership.
• CD's should be clearly marked as to which track to play. Cassette tapes should be cued to within 2 seconds of when the music starts. No live performances at Pitch Sessions.
• When you register your submission, sign in all the names of the writers, the song title, and your phone number.
• Songs will not be accepted without a lyric sheet, instrumentals excepted. Include contact info on all lyric sheets and CDs/Cassettes
• Submissions will not be accepted for the pitch session after the event starts.
• The submission limit is 1 to 2 songs per session per writer or team of writers, as announced for each event. If you submit more than one song, mark your first and second selections accordingly so that we may prioritize playback.
• The total number of submissions per Pitch Session is determined by SDSG. SDSG reserves its right to further limit submissions at any time.
• Due to time constraints, SDSG cannot guarantee that all submissions will be heard in a pitch session. If a submission isn't played during the pitch session and the guest doesn't agree to listen to it at a later time, the fee for that submission will be refunded at the request of the entrant.
• Submissions are played in the order they are received. All entrants' first submissions are played prior to second submissions. In-person submissions take precedence over mail-in submissions. Mail-in submissions may be accepted if they are received with appropriate entry fees 3 days before the scheduled event.
• Tapes/CD's will be referred to by song title.� Writers may or may not remain anonymous during the pitch session depending on the preference of SDSG's guest(s) for that event.
• Song pitches are a good chance to meet potential collaborators. If you hear a song you like, look up the song's name on the event's registration sheet, which should be available on a table outside the room. Feel free to contact the writer(s) regarding potential collaboration if they have marked the "yes" box in the "Interested in Collaborating?" section.
• Check the SDSG Website before each session to confirm the event has not been rescheduled or cancelled.

Be a part of your songwriting community.� Join the San Diego Songwriters Guild.

Membership dues are $55.00 annually.� Timely renewals are $50.00 per year.

 Why does everyone critique each other’s songs so harshly?

If someone told you a sentence in your letter sounded funny, you’d probably be thankful for the comment and reevaluate the sentence.  But if someone told you a stanza in your song sounded funny, most people would feel defensive.  This is very understandable, because songs can be personal, but try to keep the defensiveness to a minimum.  Keep in mind that the vast majority of criticism offered by people is meant to be constructive.  Try to feel the same way if someone mentions your lyric is confusing as if they said your car needs waxing or your tree needs pruning.  Your song is an object—it’s not your baby or your spouse’s honor that needs to be defended.  Treat your song as if it were a piece of clay and as a work in progress.

 What is a lyric sheet?

When a music industry professional listens to a song, they typically like to look at a lyric sheet at the same time. Make sure the lyric sheet is neatly typed, because having a messy or untyped lyric sheet will set you off as an amateur in many industry people’s eyes. The following is an example of a lyric sheet (if you write lyrics like this, please go to an in-house critique session): 

BUBBA SHOT THE JUKEBOX
© 1999 By John Doe
Phone: (619) 555-1212

VERSE 1

Bubba drove his pickup to the diner.
After being at his trailer park.
We all know he ain’t no whiner.
He just gets mad after dark.

  CHORUS

Oh, Bubba got drunk and shot the jukebox.
Oh, Bubba got drunk and shot the jukebox.

  VERSE 2

… (More lyrics)…

 What does the guild have on their web-site?

The guild has a web site at "www.sdsongwriters.org". It has the following features:

• Newsletter – view the latest and previous issues of the newsletter. Sign up to have a notice e-mailed to you when the next newsletter comes out and when some major events happen (we promise not to Spam you).

• E-mail address [email protected] -- We have an e-mail address people can send questions or comments to. We prefer people asking questions using the e-mail address rather than the hot-line, because we can provide more timely responses and people sometimes leave unintelligible messages on the phone line.

• Message Board for networking online with other musicians, songwriters.

• Links and Resources to other music and songwriting sites.

 How can I volunteer and who are the board members?

All board members and personnel running the guild are non-paid volunteers. Board members typically serve one-year terms, but anyone can volunteer their time without being a board member.

Board members are not paid, but there are many benefits to donating your time: (1) you receive one free song submission at each pitch session and annual song contest, (2) because board members frequently have to perform duties before the event and may not be able to wait in line, they may enter their submissions before the event, (3) you get to meet all the other board members and talk with other people in the music industry, (4) you usually can meet the industry guests before the event, and (5) you gain satisfaction from helping others learn about music and the music industry.

We are always looking for enthusiastic people to volunteer or serve on the board. If you want to volunteer, please contact us (see contact information).

Board meetings are typically held each month at the Doubletree Hotel in Mission Valley (located at the intersection at Friars Road and I163). Please email if you are interested in attending. Board meetings are attended by most of the board members and are open to all members of the guild.

 How do I meet people to collaborate with?

Members of SDSG are entitled to free listings in the Collaborator’s Corner column of our newsletter, which features members looking for musical partnerships.  E-mail or mail us your “ad” in 40 words or less, describing your project, what you are looking for, and contact information (phone, email, or mail).  Example:  “Rock guitarist looking for rock drummer. Call xxx-xxx-xxxx.”  Resubmissions for subsequent issues need to be made by mail or email for each issue.

Another good way to meet collaborators is to attend a pitch session and listen for songs you like. Remember the song title and after the event, look outside the room for the sign-up sheets. Find the name of the person who entered the song, and if they marked YES on the "willing to collaborate" box, feel free to contact them for more information.

 How much does it cost to join the guild and attend its events?

 What does the guild do with my fees?

The San Diego Songwriters Guild is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit corporation with no paid employees. It is operated on a break-even budget by a volunteer board of directors. Revenues are used to conduct seminars, rent meeting facilities, cover travel expenses for industry guests, maintain the web-site, and publish and distribute the SDSG newsletter.

Can I Read or See a copy of the By Laws?

You can obtain a copy of the By Laws by going to http://www.sdsongwriters.org/bylaws.php

 One Final Note

The guild is only as good as the amount of effort you put into it. It is not a magic service that will whisk you away to record-contract-land. Attend events, talk to people, help others around you, and learn. If you do these things, your career can only improve.