Oh the AGONY!!

My Endeavor to be a Published Songwriter has hit a huge snag... I returned from a business trip earlier this week and parked my car in my montly parking spot. I had my personal laptop in the trunk covered by my suit bag draped across it and my luggage...

Lo and behold, about 90 minutes later, I returned to the car and found my back driver's side window smashed and my laptop stolen! ARGHHH!

I've dealt with the insurance, police, property manager... I'm hoping my serial # pops up in a local pawn shop (police run them regularly), but I'm not holding my breath...

Until I'm up and running again with a new laptop, this will "suspend" my endeavour...

:(

Making It Big... NOT!

A while back, I sent in an application to be on a Life Network TV Show called Making It Big by Force Four Entertainment.

Hi,

Thank you very much for your application for the Singer/songwriter Episode of Making It Big. As you can imagine, we received many submissions for the show and unfortunately you were not one of the final three selected.

We wish you all the best as you continue your career, and we hope you'll keep an eye out for Making It Big when it returns for its second season in the fall.

Best regards,

The Making It Big Team

Who knows? Maybe next time... until then, I'll keep plugging away...

Move Your Music Forward

I attended an event put on by Roland Canada on the release of Cakewalk Sonar 6. There were about twenty of us at Moog Audio on Queen Street west of Spadina to hear Jeff from Roland go through all the new features in Sonar 6 (audiosnap is pretty cool). Here's what the event was advertised as:

• Experience an interactive look at Cakewalk's SONAR 6 Producer Edition audio production software. From inspiration to masterpiece faster than ever before, Sonar 6 Producer Edition is the new definitive choice for audio production. EDIROL / SONAR Specialist Jeffery Lyon will guide you through SONAR 6 Producer Edition’s incredible new features and find the right EDIROL interface for you. 'Factory Authorized' clinic specials on EDIROL products.

I'll definitely be taking a look at this product (well, maybe the Studio edition).

Jam Session #5

Well, Jeffie and I got together last night for a jam session. Jeff picked some very cool leads and alternating rhythm guitar parts to my simple layout for one song we worked on (She's My Favourite Place). I'll loop some of the leads and lay down some vocals and bass to complete it...

I also had worked on Jeff's song "Hanging On". I added a cello part that I think Jeff really liked. He said I should post it for some feedback, and I'll think I'll do just that on Mues Muse (with Jeff's permission, of course).

Home Made Hit Show #46

Well, I'm on an internet radio show and that's very cool (with some nice reviews). You may remember my entry of Lovers' Limbo in the Muses' Muse contest that didn't rank. But you should check out Episode 46 at Home Made Hit Show. Great concept for a podcast, and great songs!

I've also gotten some nice feedback from listeners on the show's forum site. Some of the comments include:

• I really like the sound of this, especially that acoustic guitar.
• Good concept for a song. Who doesn't love a good acoustic ditty involving a
  love triangle? Keep it up fellas!
• Nice vocal presentation. Well played guitars. Well written lyrics. Nothing
  shallow here. Good song. Well done.
• I like the conversational style to the lyrics, if that’s the right way to
  describe it. The whole song has a personal feel and I could see it working
  well live. Good work

So that's a nice way to start the week!

SAC Regional Songwriters Workgroup

So, I joined SAC yesterday and today was a Regional Songwriters group headed by a local singer/songwriter, Liana Di Marco. I think it'll be good for me to do some exercises and see the "craft" in my songs. It's going to be the first Saturday of every month.

There were about eight of us there this week with various backgrounds. We spent the first hour discussing songwriting in general, and the second hour performing our songs (if we wanted). I wasn't going to do it... but I couldn't help pick up the Liana's guitar and sing ...Like the Wind. I'm going to record that one soon. But, in one exercise I had written a story about Johnny B. Goode, which has a train image in it, which just reminded me of my song that had a train engine feel to it... people responded well and even said I can sing! I think they're just being polite.

TMX/SAC

Well, no jam this week (I was in Sudbury for work).

Jeffie and I attended the Toronto Music Expo. It was pretty good. The first class I took on digital audio wasn't that great, but I really enjoyed my second seminar on songwriting. The panel included Haydain Neale (of jacksoul), Rob Lopata, Adam Messinger and Adam Alexander.

I've joined up with the Songwriters Association of Canada (SAC). $100 for two years... may as well give it a shot and see if it leads to a published song or two...