I'm probably preaching mostly to the choir (sorry, choir!)... I joined NSAI in August. In every interaction, I have found everyone involved - staff, guest faculty, pro writers that share themselves with NSAI members - to be nothing but open, positive, and supportive. Considering the number of rookie songwriters that come in the door all the time at NSAI that don't have the first clue (and I think I myself qualify in some respects), that's pretty amazing.

I've been to a songcamp and the Songposium, and in addition to all the craft and biz stuff I learned, I had a chance to meet other writers and network. That's what it's all about, as far as I can tell.

As far as I am concerned, anyone that has a gripe about NSAI must not be working very hard to do anything for themselves, and therefore must have a 'reason' they can use to justify complaining. The NSAI isn't there to "just give" you success or opportunities to pitch or connections, that's completely up to you, 100%.

The only reason why anyone "doesn't succeed" is themselves, period. Am I stopping them? no. Is Mike Dunbar stopping them? no. Is JPF or Brian stopping them? nope.

So, why would the NSAI stop them? I can't imagine NSAI benefiting in any way by stopping them from succeeding; can you?

After all, it's songwriters paying NSAI membership dues that help foot the bill. So why would the NSAI want to alienate their revenue source? (I don't expect anyone to kiss my behind because I paid dues, either. It costs money to keep the doors open, after all).

The "pro songwriters" are succeeding because they successfully network with other people, they wrote and continue to write good stuff, they work at it all the time, and they continue to do what is necessary to succeed.

As a good friend of mine says about people who complain, "consider the source".


I think it's fantastic that NSAI has the Bluebird; I can't think of a more positive way of ensuring the Bluebird stays a songwriter venue, than being owned by an organization of songwriters.

The bottom line on any venue is that someone has to make sure the rent and taxes get paid, etc, and that is probably why we lost Lyrix - not enough revenue to support the overhead.

John

"Mojo" is in the mind of the beholder.

A.K.A. "Steck"