What we’re about
Welcome Songwriters & Lyricists of Denver and the front range!
This is a fun and friendly group to get together to network, play each other original-only songs (audio mixes, lyrics/poetry, or play it live), get some free feedback on what we like, offer suggestions to improve songs, trade some lyrical ideas, and most importantly make some friends in the local songwriting community. You can record your own performance on your phone if you want to.
This is different from an open mic because it is more focused on hearing the song and then sharing our thoughts about what we heard either in person, on paper, or on an email chain.
Making art can get lonely without interested people to share and discuss our art with so Big Thanks again for helping this new community exist by showing up with an open mind, your song and opinions, and sending me direct feedback on ideas to improve the meetups.
The more we share our talents in front of our peers and the public:
- the more we improve
- the more confidence we get
- the more friends and even fans we make
- the more cowrites we can create
- the more songs we write
- the more chance for quality audio/video recordings to share
- the more we support each other
- the more fun we have!
Help Host: Ideas to make the group better/grow are always welcome as are responsible and friendly hosts to help us all have more events and reach more areas and more songwriters. You can borrow the mini PA in the Denver area and get our support so don't be shy. The types of Free events we could have this year include:
Song Circles for Peer Feedback/Critiques/Support
Open Mics
Songwriter Showcases
Workshops
Group Busking
Co-Writing and Writing Prompts Sessions
Recording sessions
Collaboration In General
NOTE: Remember Art is Subjective so one person's trash is another person's treasure. It’s important to have a thick skin if you want to hear honest opinions so we can all improve and not be fake about what we think. All opinions shared with humility and respect for the artist sharing should be welcome in my opinion. The format of Compliment then Criticism-Suggestion then Compliment usually works best when critiquing art to an artist's face, but I'm open to others' opinions on this.
IP Note: People who hear your song might be influenced by it, which is awesome and means you are sharing great songs, but outright copying or theft is unacceptable and so I would encourage you to only play songs you are fine with being in public. If you are actually trying to profit from a song, wait till after you have registered it with BMI, ASCAP, etc., or at the very least published it online for all to see which might help you if a dispute occurs. This is all very unlikely since we are all not in this for the money, right?
Personally, I gave up on making any money with my music a long time ago aside from maybe some gigs here and there so I just want to do it for the love of the process, the community, and if anything else comes from a song, that's just icing on the cake.
Recording: After a lot of consideration and discussion, I have decided to stop offering the free recording at our meetings and instead, you can just record yourself with your own phone during your own performance, video or audio. I ask that you only record your own performance and not any of the discussion or anyone else's "time"
When: As often as possible. RSVP for all our events asap on Meetup. First come first serve. Some will be smaller and some larger.
Location: We have to move these around and are always seeking help finding suitable Free and Quiet venues for 10-20 people. Please reach out if you know somewhere that is free or very low cost. Great acoustics like churches or other wooden rooms would be extra great.
Our Mission: One of the best parts of this songwriting community is gradually making friends and becoming fans of artists you meet at our events and then showing up to support them and enjoy their music even if you aren't playing.
I bet a lot of you are playing or working on booking gigs around town. I hope we all agree a strong local music scene is all about supporting each other, not just looking out for your own narrow goals. Since 95% of us want to be playing shows regularly, I hope we all can make the time and effort to go to a lot of local Denver shows this year so we all can enjoy supportive friends in the audience and deepen friendships and collaboration while of course enjoying the music and inspiration!
Agreement: Although this rarely comes up, I respectfully ask/insist that all of this group's members keep divisive politics and other "divisive" topics out of our meetings and the songs presented to the group. It seems the only way to avoid issues when strangers and friends meet up to make music and build friendships, but the discussion off-roads into topics that ignite quick judgment, passionate disagreement, and create an uncomfortable atmosphere for some people just there for the promised music and friendly community. There are other meetup groups and times to focus on politics, etc. We're here for the songs and the friendships! Thanks!
FB Group: www.facebook.com/groups/denversongwriters/
IG: www.instagram.com/Denver_Songwriters_Lyricists
Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6LohBdSSOxypGZeI4hIGqK?si=658972657c27485c
About me, the founding host: This group is not about me. It's about all of us and the people we can meet! And the love of the neverending search for the next original song and finishing the ones we already started with a little help from our new friends.
That said, I enjoy writing songs and working hard on them. I am sharing my songs as @Sami_Serrag_Music and here's my LinkTree with all my music accounts. I hope you enjoy my creations. I write in many genres leaning towards pop and folk with some blues/reggae/funk/symphonic thrown in.
Cheers and Happy Creating!
Sami Serrag (pronounced like "garage")
https://linktr.ee/sami_serrag_music