fantasticsound Posted September 15, 2004 Share Posted September 15, 2004 Originally posted by Tedster: Heck, despite my own distaste for making a "contest" out of it...I guess I feel lucky. Tell ya what, I'd much rather blow 30 bucks, or even 60 (30 to each contest) on songwriting contests than lottery tickets. At least with the contests I have a small (very small) hand in the outcome, in trying to make a quality submission. With the lottery, I have no hand in the outcome whatsoever...Try picking your own numbers next time, Ted! A friend of mine won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest a few years ago. She is a very talented writer who learned a lesson early on that writing for the hit isn't the way to go if you're truly expressing what's inside your heart and head. Still, the song she contributed was more Pop, IMHO, than some of her excellent compositions she played at the female songwriter events I mixed. As good as she is at writing songs, I think luck was definitely a factor. There have to be hundreds of worthy songs that are submitted each year, but only one can win the grand prize. Who knows why a panel of judges choose one over another. We're not talking about excellence vs. mediocrity. Once the "cream rises to the top" you still have to choose one entry to rise to the top. It's easiest to find me on Facebook. Neil Bergman Soundclick fntstcsnd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted September 15, 2004 Share Posted September 15, 2004 "Where are we going, lads?" "To the toppermost of the poppermost!" - Some scruffy English kids circa 1960 "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontae Posted September 23, 2004 Share Posted September 23, 2004 HI Cats, I'm a forum member who is a grand prize winner 2002. I had entered 7 years in row before I won. I won honorable mention 5 years before grand. My songs were good songs. Many people have good songs. My songs are well produced ( at home but excellent quality). Many people send in good production, and I think it will always matter no matter what the fine print says. I knew that winning over 24,000 entries in my category alone, was a miracle. Judges also seem to go with songs you think are OK, but that they think are great and have a positive message to mankind. So think about the POWER of the song, mean what you say, be positive(lyrically), make sure it sounds clean, and you up your chances 50%. Good luck friends! They do make millions off of us, so believe you me when I become a millionaire I'll have the Dontae Winslow songwriting contest! www.dontaewinslow.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted September 23, 2004 Share Posted September 23, 2004 Checked out your website, Dontae...cool stuff. I was impressed that you won in the Childrens' category. So often a lot of us stodgy old adults forget that the kids need a positive message. "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted September 28, 2004 Share Posted September 28, 2004 Well, I gone and done it. I entered. There's no category for "pop - ballad" so I entered in the folk category. What the hey. I'da just blown the money on beer anyhoo. "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miroslav Posted September 29, 2004 Share Posted September 29, 2004 Yeah...I done it too... ...j-u-s-t got in under the wire...made it to the Post Office about 4:40pm yesterday!!! I had all these plans to have my submissions in by Labor Day...HA!...that plan sure went out the window in a hurry!!! And there I was Sunday all afternoon and evening...and again on Monday night 'til midnight...making the final adjustments to the mix... ...which is still a bit "rough" as far as I'm concerned...but more than good enough to showcase the tune properly. Yeah Tedster...my song is not a clear category choice either... It's pop...but not real modern... ...has a nice country-ish vibe...but not a typical country tune... ...and it's a medium beat (114BMP) ballad...typical "love song"... So...I dropped $60 and entered twice...Country and Pop categories. Hope I meet you at the podium, Tedster!!! miroslav - miroslavmusic.com "Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miroslav Posted September 29, 2004 Share Posted September 29, 2004 Originally posted by dontae: I'm a forum member who is a grand prize winner 2002.Hi Dontae... Nice website you have...very well done. OK...so since you were Grand Prize winner in 2002... ...would you mind telling us how now, two years later, your life/music/goals were influenced by winning. What were some of the positive results, and any negative results, of your win in 2002? How much did the 2002 win actually push you forward in you music career...and have there been any things that you would NOT have achieved, had you not won in 2002? miroslav - miroslavmusic.com "Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted September 29, 2004 Share Posted September 29, 2004 Miroslav... Yeah, we are both definitely winners. Whether or not the judges have the brains to recognize that is another matter... I entered my "pop" ballad in the "folk" category. Well, I played it on acoustic...so it's kinda folk...(shrug)... "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runningwater Posted October 28, 2004 Share Posted October 28, 2004 My other half entered the JLSC and UNISONG, (he's praying for that trip), and The Great American Song Contest.He did well last year. It doesn't look bad on your bio... Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted October 29, 2004 Share Posted October 29, 2004 Gotta check the deadline for Unisong. It's coming up soon... "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shniggens Posted October 29, 2004 Share Posted October 29, 2004 So . . . when should I be expecting my winnings? Amateur Hack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted October 30, 2004 Share Posted October 30, 2004 Probably right about when I get mine... "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnz Posted November 24, 2004 Share Posted November 24, 2004 i entered too, i actually had my album mastered at sterling sound on the 28th of september(deadline) and didn't get back from the studio in time to upload the pro master. so i'm really hoping that judges listen through the quality of the mix and focus on the songs. i entered "riddle" "control me" and "june" 90 bucks down the drain? check out http://www.johnzemanguitar.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runningwater Posted January 16, 2005 Share Posted January 16, 2005 10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,....???? 18th January...winners announced! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted January 16, 2005 Share Posted January 16, 2005 Yeah, I forgot about that. I entered. I figure if I'd won anything, they probably would have called and told me by now. I figure they probably let the winners know ahead of time. Ah well...next time I'll take the 30 bucks and buy lottery tickets. "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runningwater Posted January 16, 2005 Share Posted January 16, 2005 If you've won, they call you on that day...one year they called a few people early just to verify addresses. But last year they called the day the winners went up on the site. Keep the chin up! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted January 16, 2005 Share Posted January 16, 2005 Well, if I won, I'd lose, 'cuz I'd probably have a coronary. "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runningwater Posted January 17, 2005 Share Posted January 17, 2005 Ted Are you from CT? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted January 17, 2005 Share Posted January 17, 2005 Nope, originally from Virginia and Michigan...and right now living about 8 miles from where Jesse James grew up, northeast of Kansas City. "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
runningwater Posted January 17, 2005 Share Posted January 17, 2005 Sorry `bout that...Thought I read somewhere that you played in Westport...I listened to some of your tunes...lovely harmonies...fun songs... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted January 18, 2005 Share Posted January 18, 2005 Originally posted by runningwater: Sorry `bout that...Thought I read somewhere that you played in Westport...I listened to some of your tunes...lovely harmonies...fun songs... Oh, why thanks! Actually, Westport is an area of Kansas City...kind of the pub and nightlife district. "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shniggens Posted January 18, 2005 Share Posted January 18, 2005 So . . . what time should I be expecting a call?!?!? Amateur Hack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted January 18, 2005 Share Posted January 18, 2005 Sorry to disappoint you all, my phone rang an hour ago. It was the John Lennon Songwriting Contest!!! They ordered a large pepperoni with Canadian bacon and pineapple. "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miroslav Posted January 18, 2005 Share Posted January 18, 2005 Originally posted by Tedster: They ordered a large pepperoni with Canadian bacon and pineapple. :Ahhh...that was me Ted... ...and I'm still waitin' for the damn pizza!!! miroslav - miroslavmusic.com "Just because it happened to you, it doesn't mean it's important." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shniggens Posted January 18, 2005 Share Posted January 18, 2005 Originally posted by Tedster: Sorry to disappoint you all, my phone rang an hour ago. It was the John Lennon Songwriting Contest!!! They ordered a large pepperoni with Canadian bacon and pineapple. Well, at least they have taste!!! We may have a chance yet!! Amateur Hack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted January 18, 2005 Share Posted January 18, 2005 They have the winners posted. I wasn't one of 'em. Back to the drawing board... "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric VB Posted June 9, 2005 Share Posted June 9, 2005 Hey, I just saw a banner ad here for JLSC and did a search and came up with this thread. I checked out the site and noticed they have two sessions coming up, deadlines of 15-Aug-2005 and 15-Dec-2005. Anyone feel like sharing their experiences on the session discussed in this thread (28-Sep-2004 deadline)? Do you get any feedback at all from JLSC? Anyone here get any sort of recognition from the contest? How about the Unisong contest? Anyone try that one? How about songwriting contests in general? Miroslav had some great questions for Dontae, but there was never a response. (I guess I could try checking out his site.) For the JLSC coming up, I can't imagine any of my classic rock-sounding stuff getting very far with the judges they've got. I'll just have to rearrange everything for that modern rock sound, eh? [rant]Oh, just checked out the application form. I'm not a big fan of music contests that ask for my age. Why don't they just ask "18 or over?" and "21 or over?". Those are the only ages that really matter, unless you're a child protege under 18, then you get the shock value of "Wow! This kid is only 3 and he wrote this INCREDIBLE song!!!" I always feel that applications filled out with ages over 24 just get thrown out; too hard to market old fogeys in the MI. [/rant] Someone in this thread brought up a good point: With places like garageband, myspace, etc., is it still worthwhile to enter songwriting contests? Sure, it's only $30, and if it doesn't work out you still get to release your song yourself (don't you?). Would you include entering contests in your business plan? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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