San Diego Songwriter's Guild

Congratulations to everyone who participated in the 20th annual song contest. The song were amazing. A lot of talent amongst our group.

1. Lindsey White Ring Around the Roses
2. Sara Petite Ashes
3. Lindsey White & Veronica May Oh My
4. Miff Laracy The One the Road Leads To
5. Tim Mudd Trouble On The Vine
6. Rick Harchol I Believe in Love
7. Brian Darnell Gone
8. Brian Darnell Lookin Like Rain
9. Kendrick Dial Eryka Hill
10. Dennis J Whitener Leave A Memory
11. Jim Arnegard Empty Cup
12. Kathy Keogh Hurts Shake It Til it Hurts
13. David Cavanaugh Coins
14. Michele Shipp Beyond These Walls
15. Kathy Keogh Any Fool Could See It
16. Christine Williams Eyes Like Lightning
17. Kendrick Dial Wake Up
18. Dennis J Whiterner After All
19. Guy Greco Paradise Tonight
20. Dave Cavanaugh Lucifer’s Train
21. Marshall William Hattersley Ode to the Christmas Truce of 1914
22. Michele Shipp Revealed

SDSG’s 20th Annual Song Contest will be held Monday, November 7, 2011 at the Country Inn & Suites in Sorrento Valley. The contest is a popular tradition for San Diego writers, and offers a unique opportunity to hear a tremendous cross section of local work. Prize winners are to be selected by a panel of industry professionals in this exciting event on November 7, during which song entries recorded on CD are played for both judges and audience to hear. Songs will be heard, winners will be announced, and prizes awarded on this jam packed night, an exciting prospect indeed. If you are a songwriter, or a producer or artist looking for some new material, please join us at Country Inn & Suites, 5975 Lusk Boulevard, San Diego 92121 on November 7!

This year’s grand prize includes a $300 Cash Award from SDSG. We’ll be giving away many other great prizes as well, donated by SDSG’s sponsors, including a fantastic Studio Session package with lead sponsor Signature Sound. The contest is open to the public. You may join the Guild or renew your membership simultaneously with your entry and take advantage of member discounts. To create a membership go here.

Submit your entries in person on the night of the contest. Up to 70 recorded songs will be judged in the Finals. Get your Entry Form and Rules here.

Monday, November 7, 2011 Registration Opens at 6:00 PM

SDSG Memberships available  here or at the door.   No MP3’s. Audio CD’s Only!

Rules and Entry Form

We are having tryouts on April 16th  for the Performing Contest at Winston’s in Ocean Beach. Mark your calendar.

A new twist on this year’s contest has added flair to the Performing Songwriter’s Contest. Instead of listening to CD’s and MP3’s to qualify for the Live Performance Finals, members and supporters are invited to come to the live venue and perform their two songs live before a welcoming crowd and our panel of judges.

From each of the three live events, we will choose 3 Finalists who will perform at Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge, and compete for the winning prize.  We will also choose a Wild Card. The Top 3 from each live event are also automatically chosen to be included in the 2011 Best of SDSG Compilation CD. This CD will be given to every guest throughout the year who participates in pitch sessions, legal seminars, etc…

On Saturday March 26^th, at Davina’s Cabo Grill in Oceanside, we had our first live auditions. The Top three songwriter’s chosen that day were:

1.       Candace Graham

2.       Maynard Evans

3.       Miff Laracy

Our Wild Card was Newcomer, Morgan Kat Becker. Morgan will compete with two other wild card picks for a spot on the compilation CD and a chance to compete in the finals. Wild cards go to Humphrey’s the day of the finals and play one song for the judges. Then the Wild Card winner, will get to play again later that day! (Go Wild Cards, you can do it!)

Entry for this year’s contest is only $5 per song. The next date available is April 16^th at Winstons. There will be two segments that allow 12 people in each segment. So, only a total of 24 people can compete, hurry up and sign up: (email – Sanditarium@hotmail.com)

Or for questions, call 858-270-7169

2010 Song Contest Winners Announced

The 2010 SDSG Song Contest, our 19th annual such event, was a great success.  Thanks to our judges Dave Blackburn, Jeff McCullough, Sandi Shaner, and Diane Waters, as well as our sponsors, and, of course, the contestants whose submissions were of a uniformly high caliber.  Less than 10 points separated this year’s top song from the next 15 entries.  What an interesting, original, and well-written collection of music we heard!

Special Thanks go to our SDSG Support Team who pulled yeoman’s duty as our sign in and tabulation crew;  they kept things cool at what could have been major stress points.  John Pape, SDSG’s Webmaster, entered all the data generated by our panel of judges and prepared entrants’ CDs and lyric sheets for the judges and me; and Richard and Susan Widney rolled through the sign-in table storm in style, doing a wonderful job making sure every entry was accounted for.

Finally, I’d like to personally thank Mr. Widney for his support for SDSG.  Over a span of many years, Richard has served the Guild as President and Treasurer, and has been among the most reliable, conscientious, and diligent partners with which I have ever had the pleasure of working.  With this Contest’s conclusion, Richard will be leaving the SDSG Board.  He will be most dearly missed.  Thank you Richard for your service and camaraderie, and best wishes to you, Susan, and your family for the years ahead!

Mark Charles Hattersley
SDSG Advisor

Grand Prize “Platinum” Winner
Anthony Plourd Lite It Up
$500 from SDSG
Full-Day Production Session with Jeff McCullough of Tree Hill Media

Second Prize “Gold” Winner
Jim Arnegard Same Old Tears
Six Hour Recording Session at Signature Sound
CD Cover/Logo from Beach City Graphics

Third Prize “Silver” Winner
Olivia Bonilla Not This Time
Three Hour Production Session with Mark Charles Hattersley of Club Bohemia Productions

The annual San Diego Songwriter’s Guild song contest is scheduled for November 9th, 2010.

SDSG’s 19th Annual Song Contest will be held Tuesday, November 9, 2010 at the Country Inn & Suites in Sorrento Valley. The contest is a popular tradition for San Diego writers, and offers a unique opportunity to hear a tremendous cross section of local work. Prize winners are selected by a panel of industry professionals in our fi nal event on November 9, during which song entries recorded on CD are played for both judges and audience to hear. Winners will be announced and prizes awarded on this jam-packed night, an exciting prospect indeed. If you are a songwriter, or a producer or artist looking for some new material, Country Inn & Suites, located at 5975 Lusk Boulevard , San Diego 92121 is the place to be on Tuesday, November 9.

For your convenience here is the entry form and rules for you to download and complete.

2010 San Diego Songwriter Contest Entry Form

For mail in please note that our address has changed the new address is:
3268 Governor Drive, #326,  San Diego, CA 92122

The Fourth Annual San Diego Songwriters Guild Performing Songwriters Showcase took place on two inspiring nights in San Diego. In a listening session at the Country Inns & Suites on March 9, an all-star panel of judges including  writer/performer Allegra Barley (last year’s Showcase winner),  Chris Adams from Clear Channel, Bart Mendoza and SDSG President Sandi Shaner auditioned entrants’ recorded work, picking the top six acts to perform in the finals at Humphrey’s Backstage on April 3.

Entrants were shooting to win a rich prize package including Six Hour Recording Session at Chuck Schiele’s StudiOB92107,  KPRI Homegrown Hour Radio Airplay sponsored by ListenLocalSD.com, a 30 Minute set at Humphrey’s Showcase or House of Blues from Black Cherry Group, a Bag of Schwag from Moze Guitars, plus a Guitar Set-Up, an acoustic guitar from local custom luthier Cervantes Guitars , and $250 in Cash from SDSG.

Performing in the LIVE Finals at Humphrey’s Backstage Shelter Island, on the evening of Saturday, April 3, 2010 were Baja Blues Boys, Charlie Recksieck, Diane Waters, Vanity Affair, Rob Mehl, and Bar Elements.

Our second panel of judges cast their votes in the finals. Producer Chuck Schiele, Guitarist/Vocalist James Steele, SDSG VP Eddie Jason Coven, and Bandleader Will Faeber dedicated their evening to grading the finalists, giving the nod to Diane Waters who took home the top prize with a powerful performance, accompanied by Erik Ferentinos on guitar.

Second place went to the Baja Blues Boys and Third Place was taken by Vanity Affair.  All of the performances were deserving of the spotlight, proof positive that SDSG members are among the best at their craft in San Diego.

Special thanks go to our hard-working panels of judges and to our SDSG volunteers in the trenches: Annie Rettic, Richard and Susan Widney, and our MC and DJ for the listening session, SDSG Advisor Mark Charles Hattersley.

Please remember our sponsors (contact info is on page 19) without whom the event would have been far less stimulating. Finally, let’s not forget Country Inns & Suites and Humphrey’s Backstage for allowing us to host the Showcase in their fine establishments.

SDSG is pleased to announce that Diane Waters is the winner of the 2010 San Diego Songwriters Performing Songwriters Contest held recently at the Humphrey’s Backstage Lounge in Point Loma.  Her winnings include  the opportunity to perform at the infamous HOUSE of BLUES in San Diego.

2nd place went to the Baja Blues Boys and 3rd Place went to 3rd-Vanity Affair.

Here is what you will find in the February 2010 issue:

• Performing Showcase – 2010 Live Contest
• 2009 Contest Review – Winners & their Songs
• Garden of Song- Sven Eric-Seaholm
• Venue Revue – Lestat’s -Annie Rettic
• Holiday Party Review – December 8 Coolness
• Lindsay White – SDSG Member Interview
• 2010 Food Drive – Sandi Shaner
• Seven Lessons: Part 2 – Bridget Brigitte
• School of Rock Vista – San Reilly
• Bad Science Fiction – Eddie Jason Coven
• Legal Seminar – Entertainment Law
• Songwriters’ Community
• Reaching Out
• Meetup.com
• The Gig Page

Click here to Download this issue!

SDSG’s 18th Annual Song Contest showcased the work of some of San Diego’s finest writers. It was an amazing evening of incredibly consistently excellent music! Only a few points separated the top songs, affirming Guild writers’ overall high standards. Our Winners:

Platinum

Anthony Plourd and “JD Romance” with “Daylight“.

Prize:

• $500 cash from SDSG
• Opening Act Spot at House of Blues or 4th and B form Black Cherry Group

Gold

Lindsay White with “Fancy Shoes”

Prize:

• Baby Taylor Guitar from Taylor Guitars
• $100 cash from SDSG
• Opening Act Spot at U-31 Cocktail Lounge or other North Park Rocks venues for Black Cherry Group

Silver

Brian Darnell and Mark Charles Hattersley with “Chasing Trains”

Prize:

• 500 Retail-Ready CDs from CDRollout.com

Bronze

Sara Petite with “Little Souvenirs”

Prize:

• 3 Hours Studio Session at Rancho Bohemia

Honorable Mentions:

Aaron Echeverria and Amber Plaster with “Lily Among Thorns”

Sara Petite with “Shouldn’t Be Doing This” and “Fade Away”

Lindsay White with “Give Up, Give In”

Cindy Santini with “Making Sound”

Ed Williams and Christian Williams with “Dark Rain”

If you were there when “Daylight” was announced as the winner, you know what a perfect ending we shared at this year’s contest. Congrats to winner Anthony Plourd and all our entrants… we enjoyed your music so very much. Thank you for sharing it with us. Special thanks go to our hard-working panel of judges: Eddie Jason Coven, Gregory Page, Diane Waters, and Steven Ybarra, and to our SDSG volunteers in the trenches: Sandi Shaner, Bridget Brigitte, Ann Rettick, John Pape, Richard Widney, Barby Hattersley, and our MC and DJ Mark Charles Hattersley. We couldn’t have done it without you. Please don’t forget to remember our sponsors, without whom the event would have been far less stimulating: Taylor Guitars, CDRollout.com, RagingBohemian.com, and Black Cherry Group. Finally, let’s not forget Country Inns and Suites for allowing us to host the event in their fine hotel, and FruitFlowers.com for providing us with incredibly edible delights including some tasty chocolates which we raffled off on Contest breaks to appreciative SDSG members.

We’re all looking forward to our Holiday networking Party at Humphrey’s on December 8. Contest Judge Gregory Page will be headlining. See you there!

SDSG’s 18th Annual Song Contest will be held Tuesday, November 3, 2009 at the Country Inn & Suites in Sorrento Valley. The contest is a popular tradition for San Diego writers, and offers a unique opportunity to hear a tremendous cross section of local work. Prize winners are selected by a panel of industry professionals in our fi nal event on November 3, during which song entries recorded on CD are played for both judges and audience to hear. Winners will be announced and prizes awarded on this jam-packed night, an exciting prospect indeed. If you are a songwriter, or a producer or artist looking for some new material, Country Inn & Suites, located at 5975 Lusk Boulevard , San Diego 92121 is the place to be on Tuesday, November 3.

This year’s grand prize includes a $500 Cash Award from SDSG. We’ll also be giving away many
other great prizes as well, donated by local and national businesses. The maximum total number of entries is only 70 songs, so do the math and you’ll know your chances of taking home a prize are excellent!

The contest is open to the public. You may join the Guild or renew your membership simultaneously with your entry and take advantage of member discounts. Submit your entries by mail now or in-person on the night of the contest. To guarantee entry into the contest, and to qualify for the early entry discount, songs must be mailed to SDSG and received no later than
October 20, 2009. Mail-in entries are being accepted now. Up to 70 recorded songs will be judged in the Finals the night of Tuesday, November 3. If more than 70 entries are received by October 20, a panel of judges will pre-screen and select the 70 top songs for the Finals. If space permits, SDSG will accept additional entries before and on the night of the Final. However,
registration by mail is encouraged to guarantee your entries can be accepted. Please see the 2009 Contest Rules and Entry Form
Download 2009 Contest Flyer Now