John and JoAnn Braheny Songwriting Seminar Information
for songwriters’ Organizations, Colleges and Universities
JoAnn and I love to travel, meet new people and encourage songwriters. We’ve been doing it a long time and have it down. We’re probably not as expensive as you might expect and we want you to benefit financially from having us there. So let us know what you’re thinking about and we’ll do what we can to make it work for everybody. We’ll consult with you on the best way to promote us and about the pros and cons of various types of venues. We can provide you with customized press releases, radio spots and fliers. Give us a call: 818-528-5152 E-mail: john@johnbraheny.com
John Braheny
The Craft And Business of Songwriting (One-day Seminar)
Sample one-day Seminar Schedule
9-11: “Goosing Your Muse,” Stimulating and Nurturing Your Creative Process – JoAnn Braheny
11-1: Songcraft: Writing Songs That Communicate. Basic Principles, Song Form and Dynamics – John Braheny
1-2: Lunch
2-4: Marketing Your Music Directly To Fans, To other Artists and to Film/TV/Games- John Braheny
4-6: Q&A re: protecting your work – demos – contracts – collaboration – TAXI.com
CRITIQUES: CDs are preferred. Cassettes must be CUED to the song to be critiqued with a LYRIC SHEET included. Demos are selected at random and writers remain anonymous. – John Braheny
Note: John Braheny will be available the day after the seminar for scheduled consultations from 10 a.m. to 1p.m. and 2-5 p.m.. Consulting fee is $125 per hour. Schedule will be available at the seminar.
GOOSING YOUR MUSE: STIMULATING AND MAINTAINING YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS
Jo Ann Braheny explains how ideas are formed, practical methods for managing doubts and fears, how to improve your brainstorming skills and work better with collaborators. Gain a deeper understanding of your own individual work style and how to support a lifelong flow of productivity and creativity.
THE CRAFT AND BUSINESS OF SONGWRITING
What are the techniques the pros know that are underused by most amateur writers? John Braheny doesn’t believe in songwriting rules but there are basic principles for the way songs communicate. Once you know them and the techniques to support them, you’ll be able to go beyond self-expression to communicating with your audience. John will demonstrate those principles and techniques.
In the Business section you’ll learn career options and strategies for writers and writer/performers/bands, direct marketing techniques and the merits of various online services and social networks.
Bring a cassette or CD and lyric sheet as John will critique songs from the group. Demos will be selected at random and, while we will play as many as possible, we cannot guarantee that all will be heard.
Alternate topics:
Pitching to the Film/TV market. Instructor: John Braheny
There’s a growing market for both instrumental music and songs in the audio/visual market and you can access it in a variety of ways. I’ll explain differences between and relative merits of pitching to music libraries, song placement companies, music publishers or directly to music supervisors as routes to audio visual media. What’s the role of the music supervisor in the selection process? What kind of material works? How is music used? What constitutes broadcast quality? How do you research the users? What are the best tip sheets for Audio/visual projects worldwide? What are the legal issues (including work-for-hire agreements with musicians and singers)? What licenses are needed? How do you prepare and present your music? What can you earn and how do you get paid? This class will answer those questions.
WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT BRAHENY SEMINARS
John and JoAnn,
Thanks again for working Little Rock into your return itinerary on the way home from Nashville. We are very grateful for the time you spent with us. Your seminar was relevant, substantive and offered information at a depth that we rarely get from a workshop session like that. Every one of the participants I have spoken to have had nothing but praise for the entire day. The one criticism I heard was that we should have made it a two-day workshop, to allow more time to pursue topics you had to hit lightly. We were especially appreciative of the deft manner in which the song critiques were handled. Several of the writers whose songs you heard told me how much you had helped them. Your listening skills were so well attuned to assimilating a song’s strengths and weaknesses that your comments were both diplomatic and yet quite specific on those strong points and on the areas that needed improvement.
You are welcome back any time. I hope you can book a return engagement with us next time you are passing through. We enjoyed having you and wish you could have stayed longer.
Best wishes, safe travels, and thanks again!
Charlie Crow – NSAI Recional Workshop Co-ordinator
Little Rock, AR
John and JoAnn Braheny’s visit to Las Vegas was informative, insightful and a great delight. Their knowledge of the music business in general and songwriting in particular makes for a wonderful, and I feel, necessary experience for all writers.
Betty Miller – President/Las Vegas Songwriters Association
Great Seminar! I have seen many of these and this was the best. Lots of new information.
Carlos Garza, Springfield VA
A big thanks for your workshop in October. I Continued hearing great things from our membership about the lecture for weeks. People still refer to things you said, either at the workshop or in private consultation. As you saw, we had a fantastic record attendance that evening.
Elliott Jacobowitz, Exec. Director, the Boston Songwriters Workshop
I really appreciated your straight forward answers to our questions Š Hundreds of folks have offered me such vague platitudes as ‘You just have to keep on swinging.’ Very few have been able to articulate HOW to do said ‘swinging.’
Shele Blaisdell, Venice, CA
Thanks for a very inspired and an information packed week. Great workshop! You answered a lot of questions that could have otherwise taken years of research or at least a couple of bad mistakes to get answered.
Tobi Green, New York City, NY
Very warm, friendly seminar, good critiques.
Paul Reisler, Composer/Recording Artist, Washington, DC
Excellent presentation. Clearly delivered information (and a great deal of it).
Pamela Steinfeld, Alexandria VA