Participants in the inaugural Songwriter's Boot Camp. - Contributed IN THE highly competitive music industry, budding artistes need all the help they can get. This year, those who attend the annual Songwriters' Boot Camp, put on by Scott-Anderson and Associates Limited, may find themselves receiving one.
Scott-Anderson has announced that they had concluded an agreement with Cam Records of the University of Denver, Colorado. Six participants from the Boot Camp will be sent to Colorado, USA, for six days. However, only two of the participants for this venture will be selected from this year's Boot Camp, set for October 4 - 6. Marjorie Scott-Anderson of Scott-Anderson and Associates pointed out that two participants will be taken from each of the three years the camp has been in existence.
The aim of the trip to Colorado is to engage in recording at the university's studio, as proposed by Richard Wiessman, assistant professor of Music Management there. There, they will engage in a six-day recording venture, which will be a part of Weissmann's class, Scott-Anderson explained. The professor's students will conduct recording sessions and do lectures.
According to Scott-Anderson, the resulting CD will be a useful addition to the participant's portfolio. She noted that it is especially valuable, since it will not cost the artiste anything.
Weissman has been in the music industry for nearly three decades and was once a member of the Journeymen, who later became (without him) the Mamas and Papas. Since then Weissman has recorded his own work and written two film scores, as well as six books on music and the music business.
Weissman will also be one of the guest presenters at this year's Boot Camp. CEO of the Grafton Music Complex, Mikey Bennet, will be the other guest presenter. The Boot Camp is set to take place at the University of the West Indies' Bellevue Facilities in St. Andrew.
Scott-Anderson also announced that Diane Dailey will also be a guest speaker on intellectual property.
The 2002 Songwriters' Boot Camp will focus on 'Songwriting for Commercial and Other Uses', 'Writing for the Jamaican Market', 'Writing Lyrics that Communicate What's On Your Heart' and the 'Business of Music Publishing, Deals and Royalties'.
At the end of the camp, the participants will make a presentation to producers, the Jamaica Federation of Musicians, JAMPRO, and the media. There will also be a competition for producing a song for World AIDS Day.
