Cross-posting from the guitar thread, just in case there are interested people who have a different primary instrument, or who make electronic music completely in the box.
I am trying to move forward with the idea of organizing a songwriter group that will hold one another accountable for the rest of 2023.
Here's an abbreviated version of that post:
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Here's what I'm imagining:
1. Every month, you get a three or four prompts to pick from. A couple of them can be specific (tempo or key or style) and a couple can be broad (topics or a short lyrical phrase that you have to use). Everyone can throw one out or email me suggestions and I'll come up with them. There are a shit ton of "songwriting prompt" websites to steal from.
2. An iPhone recording is probably going to be the default format. If y'all want to do zoom or in-person, we could do that too. So don't feel like you'll need professionally polished versions of your songs. I imagine people (maybe including me) would be more comfortable sharing things on a zoom call or an email chain.
3. Something due on the first of the month from now through Jan 1. That's a fairly self-limited commitment, and seems both ambitious and achievable. I would LOVE to have five songs done or semi-formed by New Year's
By comparison, the Mraz/Schneider song game - which I was never part of - had a song due every Friday, and you were kicked out of the group if you didn't submit something.
https://www.npr.org/2013/11/24/246755925/for-a-few-musicians-beating-songwriters-block-is-all-in-the-game
One song a month is a WAY lower bar, though maybe we still have to use the threat of an Amish shunning in order to hold everyone accountable.
I'm open to suggestions for a format that is most inclusive and most helpful.
Tell you what, if you want "in," then "like" this post with the Gritty Fuck Around and Find Out icon (no need to Gritty again here if you already Grittied on the other thread). I don't know what's a reasonable quorum (maybe eight people minimum?). If we get a quorum after a few days, I'll PM everyone, and I imagine it will probably be easier to operate offline, like we'll start a new email chain for each month.
edit: We can make at least one of the prompts pertinent for people who write instrumentals (i.e. it won't just be a vocal phrase like other songwriting groups have used).
I have an idea for the first prompt, and I'll send that one (and others) on the 15th. Everyone will have 15 days to write the first one, 30+ days to write the others. And then it's over, just in time for your New Year's resolutions (which always work out perfectly).