Songwriter Associations for California & Colorado

California

West Coast Songwriters (WCS). Formerly known as the Northern California Songwriters Association. Executive Director: Ian Crombie. 1724 Laurel Street, Suite #120, San Carlos, CA, 94070. 650-654-3966 or 800-FOR-SONG. e-mail: info@westcoastsongwriters.org. WCS is, perhaps, the largest regional songwriter organization in the country, with aproximately 1,200 members. WCS has members from many northern, central, and southern California cities, including San Francisco, Berkeley/Oakland, San Jose, Palo Alto, Santa Cruz, Carmel/Monterey, Los Angeles, and San Diego. They will also be launching new branch associations in several West Coast cities from southern California to the Pacific Northwest. The group hosts 15-20 events per month, including several Open Mics, Song Screenings, songwriting classes with Steve Seskin, Bonnie Hayes, André Pessis, and others, and Work-in-Progress sessions, where a peer group exchanges feedback and song evaluations. On the second weekend of September every year, WCS hosts "Creation:Craft:Connection", their two-day Annual Songwriters Conference, featuring seminars on current topics of interest, song screenings/song critiques by many prominent publishers/hit writers/label execs, live concerts/Ongoing Open Mic, and impromptu jams on the grass. They also present the WCS International Song Contest, open for entries between October 1st and January 31st each year. Website

Songwriters Guild Of America (SGA), Los Angeles office. B. Aaron Meza, Western Regional Director. The Songwriters Guild of America (SGA) founded in 1931, is a voluntary songwriter association run by and for songwriters. It is devoted exclusively to providing songwriters with the services and activities they need to succeed in the business of music. The preamble to the SGA constitution charges the board to take such lawful actions as will advance, promote and benefit the profession. Services of SGA cover every aspect of songwriting including the creative, administrative and financial. SGA's non-profit educational foundation was created to aid and educate writers through university scholarship grants and various Guild programs which are offered at the lowest possible cost. Songwriting workshops are taught by leading professional writers in New York, Nashville, and Los Angeles. Classes run for varying lengths and are offered on different levels for beginning or more advanced writers. Song Critique sessions are conducted regularly presenting members with the opportunity to play their songs and receive constructive criticism from peers and professionals. Guests include some of the industry's most prominent writers, artists, publishers, producers, managers, and attorneys. For more information go to their Website or contact the Hollywood office at 323-462-1108, or e-mail: LASGA@aol.com.

San Diego Songwriters Guild. 3368 Governor Drive, #F-326, San Diego, CA, 92122. e-mail: sdsongwriters@hotmail.com. This guild, which consists of about 300 members, is a non-profit organization dedicated to furthering the art, craft and business of songwriting. They provide the opportunity for members to pitch their songs to industry pros and to showcase at live events. The guild publishes a bi-monthly newsletter, hosts an annual song contest, and coordinates 8-10 pitch sessions (featuring guest publishers, producers and A&R execs) per year. Website

Southern California Songwriters Association (SCSA). Contact Rolla Queen at 909-697-1981. E-mail: queen_price@hotmail.com. 19746 Westerly Drive, Riverside, CA, 92508. Despite the large name, this is actually a smaller but dedicated group of songwriters based in the Riverside/Inland Empire area. SCSA hosts live showcases once per month, and hold group meetings every two months. Website

SongNet (The Songwriter's Network). Contact Director Jimi Yamagishi at 323-727-4766. E-mail: guitaryoda@hotmail.com. SongNet was founded in 1999 in Southern California, and currently has an active membership of over 200 songwriters and associates. A volunteer organization, it provides support to its members through seminars, critique sessions, open mic & showcase events. SongNet hosts meetings once per month, and hold showcases twice per month. Website

Songsalive!. Contact: 310-238-0359. E-mail: losangeles@songsalive.org. Songsalive! is a non-profit organization which is dedicated to the development, support and promotion of songwriters and composers. The organization hosts monthly showcases and workshops (in North Hollywood), and holds an annual Expo. Website

San Diego Regional NSAI Workshop. Coordinator: Liz Axford. 619-884-1401. E-mail: EAxford@aol.com. The San Diego NSAI Regional Workshop holds regular monthly meetings the fourth Monday of the month from 7:00-10:00pm at the home of workshop coordinator Liz Axford in Del Mar, CA. We do writing exercises supplied by the NSAI office in Nashville, as well as group song critiques. The second Thursday of every month we feature our "Night of Original Songs" Showcase at Claire de Lune from 7:30-10pm, hosted by Bill Farkas. We also host special event seminars with pro-songwriters, artists, authors, and other music industry guests at various venues, including producer John Lane's studio in Tierra Santa. Their website is: www.pianopress.com/nsai.htm

Los Angeles Regional NSAI Workshop. Coordinator: Seth Jackson. E-mail: hitmeister@mindspring.com. The newsletter for this workshop is available online at www.sethjackson.net under "Country Notes."

Central California Songwriters Association (CCSA). Coordinator: Victor Roches. E-mail: victordesroches@cs.com. This new songwriters group has formed in the Fresno/Clovis area.

North State Songwriters' Group. 2205 Hilltop Dr, Redding, CA, 96002. Email Erin Friedman at: erinf@c-zone.net. This organization hosts open mics, showcase opportunities and provides a songwriters email list. Membership is free. Website

Colorado Music Association (COMA). 303-733-2106. 200 Logan St., Denver, CO, 80203-4028. e-mail: info@coloradmusic.org. This is a large association, with about 700 members. The members include not just the songwriting community, but performers, recording studios, agents, managers, publicists, promoters, attorneys, bookers and others involved in the music industry.Website

Denver NSAI Chapter. Coordinator: Randi Perkins. 303-695-8628. 8727 E. Girard Ave., Denver, CO, 80231. E-mail: randiper@aol.com. This group has about 40 members, and they hold monthly meetings which feature music business discussions and song critiques. The meetings often include industry guest speakers. Randi Perkins is also the head of the Singer/Songwriter Committee for the Colorado Music Association.