Tallahassee has an active songwriters workshop available to provide local songwriters with the opportunity to improve their skills, learn more about the music industry, evaluate songs, and network with one another on a regular basis.  The workshop supports and furthers NSAI  (Nashville Songwriters Association International) educational programs and services for songwriter members.

The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) is a not-for-profit trade association devoted to the service of songwriters.  Established in 1967 by professional songwriters in Nashville, NSAI now numbers more than 5,000 members worldwide.  NSAI exists to provide information and guidance on the songwriting process, to provide opportunities for aspiring songwriters to learn from music industry professionals, and to lobby for songwriter rights in Washington, DC.  NSAI sponsors over 100 local workshops worldwide.

The local Tallahassee NSAI workshop is in its 11th year of operation.  Workshop meetings are open to current active members, past members, and guests interested in joining NSAI.  Guests may attend two meetings free to see if they want to join and then are required by NSAI policy to either join NSAI or pay $15 per meeting to attend additional meetings.

WORKSHOP MEETINGS

The workshop is usually held the SECOND THURSDAY of each month at the 4th Qtr Grill on North Monroe Street across from Hooters.   

Meetings are from 6:30pm to 9:30-ish and usually consist of

• dinner menu and food service,
• networking opportunities,
• a songwriting or music-related lesson, and
• song evaluation. 

For song evaluation, participants should bring 10 lyric sheets, your song on cd/tape or perform live.  NSAI members and out-of-towners priority.

Download  directions to the 4th QTR Grill -  

MEETING EXCEPTIONS -- meeting dates, locations, and times may change to accomodate guest speakers or special meetings, such as dinner meetings, song circles, or for other reasons.  Notices will be sent out.

TALLAHASSEE NSAI PRO TEACHER WEB CAST WORKSHOPS
at a glance

The local workshop meetings are structured in conjunction with NSAI Pro Teacher web casts.  Each lesson is connected to an NSAI Pro Teaching Webcast already scheduled over the year.  Each web cast will be taught "virtually" by the teacher who wrote the lesson the month before it will be covered in a workshop meeting.

Members should log-on to www.nashvillesongwriters.com to view the web casts prior to the workshop meeting date as shown below.  Web cast dates are also shown below and on the downloadable lesson abstracts.

The web casts will be archived so NSAI members unable to watch live can access it prior to the workshop meeting.

The lessons and meetings are the SECOND Thursday and will be held at the 4th Qtr Grill on North Monroe St.

AUGUST 14 - NEW LOCATION!
NEW NIGHT!  Second Thursday
At the 4th Qtr Grill on North Monroe (across from Hooters)

Song Evaluation by Mail or Email.

NSAI MEMBERS MAY MAIL SONGS OR LYRICS FOR EVALUATION TO THE NSAI SONG EVALUATION SERVICE IN NASHVILLE AS A PART OF YOUR MEMBERSHIP.   ON-LINE SONG EVALUATION IS AVAILABLE FOR FASTER TURN AROUND.

LOG ON TO www.nashvillesongwriters.com for song evaluation submission instructions and information when sending to the Nashville NSAI office.

JOIN NSAI...AND ATTEND THE SONGWRITER EVENTS IN NASHVILLE...SYMPOSIUM, TINPAN SOUTH, SONG CAMP, AND MANY OTHER EVENTS AT DEEP DISCOUNTS TO NSAI MEMBERS!   YOU CAN LOOK AROUND, BUT YOU WON'T FIND THE VALUE FOR YOUR DOLLAR EQUAL TO THE SERVICES OFFERED BY NSAI.  YOU CAN JOIN ON-LINE AT WWW.NASHVILLESONGWRITERS.COM.

About the Tallahassee NSAI Chapter---

The Tallahassee NSAI workshop is one of 100 workshops located around the world sponsored by the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), based in Nashville, Tennessee. 

Here is some information about the Tallahassee Chapter of NSAI:

• Meet the Local NSAI Regional Workshop Coordinators
  
  
  • Ron Patrick--1997;  e-mail ron@greaterbigbendmusic.com

Ron is originally from Mobile, Alabama and later Augusta, Georgia where he learned to play guitar.  He was lead singer in a 7-piece rock and roll band, The Tempests, in Augusta.  Ron lived for a few years in Nashville and began seriously writing songs in the 1980's.  Ron continues to write, play guitar and perform at venues such as Eddie’s Attic in Atlanta, as well as in and around Tallahassee and North Florida, including the annual Sopchoppy "Worm Gruntin' Festival" and the monthly White Springs "Cracker Cafe". 

Ron recently placed in the 2007 Will McLean New Florida Song Contest's Top Ten with his composition, "The Mighty St. John's".  Ron also scored songwriting recognition with "I Can't Write A Lovesong" which placed in the top 10% of the 1975-1977 American Song Festival, and he has had two songs, "Pale Blue Cadillac" and "She Closed Her Eyes In Memphis" regularly played on local country radio.  Ron is co-founder of Greater Big Bend Music, a digital music format providing Florida songwriters the opportunity for worldwide exposure of their original music.

Ron is a second-time member of NSAI and had put writing and performing on the backburner for over a decade before starting the Tallahassee NSAI Songwriters Workshop in 1997.

• Dave Williamson--2003-2006;  e-mail dave-williamson@hotmail.com

Dave retired as workshop co-coordinator effective August 31, 2006.  Many thanks to Dave, a talented and published songwriter, for his service as coordinator since 2003.  We are appreciative of the knowledge and support Dave has imparted to the local workshop over these three years.  Please join in wishing Dave all the best in his future musical endeavors.  Best wishes to you, Dave, from the Tallahassee NSAI Workshop!

• Tallahassee Workshop Established 1997
• Meetings every month
• Guest speakers have included

Carla Ulbrich (The Professional Smart Aleck)

Linda Hargrove (Tennessee Whisky)

Marc-Alan Barnette (Rescued Me)

Paul Harbin (Hero at Home)

Robin Branda (Daddy Won't Sell the Farm)

Sir Charles Atkins, Florida State University

Tom Hutchison, Phd.  Middle Tennessee State University Recording Industry Director

Performance opportunities

• Songwriters showcases
• Festivals
• Song circles
• Living room concerts
• Open mics

Monthly Meetings

• Songwriting lessons
• Song evaluations by peer group-- priority NSAI members
• Music industry developments
• Networking opportunities
• Co-writing opportunities

National/Worldwide  NSAI Membership Benefits

Regional Workshops

One-on-one Phone Counseling

Mail-in Song Evaluation--professional songwriters critique

"Lyrics Only" Evaluation

"Ready-to-Pitch" Service

"Best of NSAI" Compilation CD

Free Website Design

Online and Mail-order Bookstore

Online Chats with Pro Writers and Industry Reps

Online Chat Room

NSAI Newswire

NSAI Guide

Bluebird Cafe Auditions

Performing Songwriter Magazine

Insurance Plans

Active Legislative Involvement

In-Nashville Membership Benefits

Weekly Thursday Night Workshops-EVERY Thursday

• Guest Speaker Night
• Critique Night
• Pitch-to-Publisher Night
• Pro Teaching Series
• Christian/Gospel Crituque Night

One-on-One Counseling

NSAI Bookstore

NSAI Office Songwriter Business Resources, writing rooms

Special Events and Symposiums/Tin Pan South/more

Song Camps--will inspire and change your songwriting forever

How SERIOUS are you?  Interested in joining?

Log onto the NSAI website for membership information and more about NSAI benefits and discounts.  Check out the Regional Workshops section for workshop locations worldwide.  You can even join on-line! 

If you are an aspiring songwriter wanting to further your craft, then NSAI is tailor made for you.  You are NSAI's mission.  Check out NSAI at  www.nashvillesongwriters.com.  Do something for your songwriting!  JOIN NSAI TODAY!