HOW I WOULD APPROACH THE FRANK BROWN SONGWRITER'S FESTIVAL
I thought I would address the upcoming Frank Brown festival and talk about ways to approach it to get the most bang for the buck. The actual purpose for the festival is to put a 'human face" to the process and business of songwriting and feature the songwriter's themselves. The majority of the general public, never realize that there are people "behind the songs" and the artists are not always the only thing behind a song. It also allows writers to be featured in an educational way, in order to combat illegal downloading, peer to peer file sharing, copyright and other issues involved in the modern songwriting world.
The main features are the "hit writers" with previous or current hit songs on the charts, Hall of Fame members, new and upcoming writers and artists, "hot writers" (those without huge hits but are very well adjusted to songwriting) local and regional writers and artists. There are two shows a night in multiple venues. Many shows are free or with a "multi purpose badge."
There are opportunities to volunteer, or work shows, be involved with merchandising, seating, hospitality room, or runners for venues for the individual shows. If not volunteering, I would suggest:
Finding new co-writers and interested parties.
Most of the open mics and other activities, hospitality room, etc. centers around the FLORABAMA LOUNGE AND PACKAGE STORE, in the middle of the festival. While meals are served for the participants and the volunteers, there are opportunities to meet writers, interact and get information.
Dialogue with hit writers. If you attend shows, you can meet the artists. Most are very open to meetings, coffee, drinks, etc. during their 'downtimes" away from shows.
Co-writing. I would attempt to find local or regional writers to spend a couple of hours during the day doing co-writes. I would try to leave with at least one or two songs started or finished. Many of these can be found at the open mics.
DO NOT ASK HIT WRITERS TO WRITE OR GIVE OUT CD'S.
Aside from being etticate issues, there are legal issues as well. UNSOLICITED MATERIAL (unasked for CD's) can lead to lawsuits and legal ramifications with artists and writers. That priveledge has not been earned yet. Those relationships take years to develop, and your NEW RELATIONSHIPS start here and NOW.
Feel free to give or collect, business cards, CD's, from unsigned and newer artists and writers.
Attend shows. There are multiple shows of all types of music, all ages and styles of artists and writers. Hearing them in their purest environments, with just an instrument and the song, is the best way to find out how the rubber meets the road. And hearing hit writers show where the bar is set.
Hang outs. There are often late night guitar pulls, afternoon mixers. Keep your eyes and ears open. They are not always broadcast among the populace. But creating one good friend will lead to opportunities with many more.
Having a breakfast or lunch meeting, writing in the afternoon, attending an open mic and then shows at night can be done if paced carefully. But this is where you set up for your future. Collect business cards, be polite and support others. They will then support you.
MAB