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Comments from the
participants in the workshop in Austin in April 2005
5/2/05
Thanks Barbara, I really enjoyed the workshop. I learned some things
and had some things both about writing and about the business.
I also had a lot that I already knew reinforced. I am not as
interested in writing for Nashville as I am finding out if my songs
might fit the market. I think that the right artist would love my
songs but I don't see myself moving to Nashville or spending a lot
of time contemplating what it is that Nashville wants. I felt that
you and Chris and Scott were very articulate and gave serious
feedback to every person. There were a couple of times when I would
have been tempted to say "Are you nuts? This is crap". I
was also happy to meet some serious songwriters from my area who I
would have otherwise never known. I was especially impressed with
Matt from Greenville, I think he listens to a lot of Guy Clark,
which can't be bad.
Thanks again,
Bill Passalacqua
5/2/05
Barbara,
I really enjoyed the workshop in
Austin this weekend. It was very informative and fun.
You, Scott and Chris make a good team because the three of you
together are very entertaining and make the dose of criticism go
down a little easier. You in particular have a knack for
communicating in an effective and expressive way.
There's my critique of the
weekend. We will be sending you more songs down the road.
Thanks again.
Mimi Balkey
5/2/05
Hi Barbara,
I just wanted to touch base and say thank you for such an
excellent workshop. I now have a good impression of where my
writing stands within the current market, it gave me a lot to
think about, and I also feel encouraged. I'm writing a new
song today with a better sense of myself as a writer, feeling a
little more reckless, and aiming for totally fearless. I can
tell this is going to make writing even more fun!
By the way, I really like your song "Daddy's Home", that
sounds like a hit to me. Is that the one that Ralph Murphy loves
and plays for people as an example of a great song? If not,
it should be!
Thanks again and all the best,
Kent
5/4/04
Barbara,
Thanks for a great learning
experience. Especially for your honesty when critiquing songs.
If the song was great then you said so, if it sucked then you
said so( in a sort of nice way). You guys were not just
providing pleasant lip service but were honest (and funny) in
your praise or critcism of the songs. Probably the biggest thing
I learned was to rewrite, rewrite, and rewrite. To search for a
better or more clever way to get one's point across. Connie
Mims and I experienced this first hand as we tried to rewrite
one of her songs after the first day. We basically trashed it
all together then left it in pieces before going to dinner. I
found out the next morning she had stayed up untill 3 am
rewriting our rewrite so she could present it to you guys on
Sunday and it turned out pretty good. Tell Chris and Scott how
much I enjoyed their wit and humor and it was a great
pleasure to be in the same room with three of Nashville's movers
and shakers. You guys are true pro's and I hope to see you again
in Nashville soon. Just remember....The road's not long enough.
5/27/05
Hi Barbara,
I can't believe how long it's taken me to send this e-mail.
I'm not going to bother writing out my excuses. I don't
have time to type them and you don't have time to read them.
Anyway, I wanted to sincerely thank you for Austin (well, not
the city itself of course but the time spent with you and the
other folks at the workshop). I found it a wholly valuable
experience!! My motivation for attending was truly to
rekindle the songwriting fire that is within me. It was
time to re-fuel and turn it back into a blaze. Since I've
been home (after nursing for two full weeks the worst cold I've
ever experienced) I've been hard at work writing. I've
been doing some long distance co-writing with Suzette Weakly as
well as writing on my own. I've just finished a new tune
called "Easy On Me" that I'm rather fond of, and I've
got lots of bits and pieces of inspiration floating in my head
and raring to ignite.
Barbara, you've got a great thing going. You and Scott and
Chris make a solid team...sometimes hearing the same thing,
sometimes hearing things from different angles, but your
comments, both individually and collectively, were presented
with integrity and a commitment to helping us all become better
writers. I'm sure everyone came away learning something
new. I caught the songwriting bug from Nashville and while
I know my style isn't exactly classic or radio-friendly country,
I consider the level of writing coming from your town as
something to always aim for. From that perspective, I
found your comments that most on point and useful. But
that makes sense, being that you're such a fine songwriter
yourself. You'll have more hits before you now it.
And I certainly have a feeling I'll be seeing you again.
I'm very interested in your "Play for Publishers"
workshop. I'll have to wait until its next turn around but
I shall keep my eyes on your website for those dates. I
would also be interested in hiring you for more of your feedback
on some new tunes down the line. I think you do that,
don't you? And of course, I'll be sure to be in touch
before my next trip to Nashville....and if you see Steve Fox
before I do, you must mention that we met.
Long winded, I know, but those were just some of my thoughts.
I'm so glad I chanced upon your site and made the trip to
Austin. I'll be seeing you again, guaranteed.
Best wishes,
Kim Cole
Mark Beets
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