Songwriting Residency Questions
January 3, 2006 9:32 AM Subscribe
New Year's resolution: Pursue a songwriting residency. Ever done one? How was it?
An artist friend of mine has been encouraging me for several years to do a songwriting residency. My understanding of what this means is that I would write a grant request which, if accepted, would enable me to get away to some remote location for a week or two where I could focus on nothing but songwriting. (Sounds exhausting.) Where to find them? Which ones to apply / not apply for? Other tips? Thanks.
An artist friend of mine has been encouraging me for several years to do a songwriting residency. My understanding of what this means is that I would write a grant request which, if accepted, would enable me to get away to some remote location for a week or two where I could focus on nothing but songwriting. (Sounds exhausting.) Where to find them? Which ones to apply / not apply for? Other tips? Thanks.
Response by poster: Hi Miko: my artist friend's experience with residencies is more like what I described, so maybe definitions are fuzzy in this area. I'm looking for an opportunity to just go and create with no distractions.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 10:27 AM on January 3, 2006
posted by ZenMasterThis at 10:27 AM on January 3, 2006
I think Yaddo offers that type of situation. It's in Saratoga Springs, NY. I walked their grounds once and it's lovely.
posted by eighth_excerpt at 12:28 PM on January 3, 2006
posted by eighth_excerpt at 12:28 PM on January 3, 2006
As the acquaintance of many professional songwriters, I have never heard of what you are proposing... Quite honestly, the only people who are paid to write before there is a finished song are writers who are under contract with specific labels or publishers - for instance a writer might be paid X dollars per year and is expected to create Y number of songs in that time. These contracts are only awarded to writers with a record of writing hit songs. Other than that, writers are only paid when they sell a song. I am speaking of the commercial music industry (rock, pop, country, folk, Christian, etc.) - if you are writing something like an opera, I suppose it may be possible to get a grant - but be prepared to come with great credentials.
If you are just looking for somewhere isolated to write... there are many residential writing centers throughout the US where you can go to be in isolation for a duration. Do a Google search for "writing retreat". Generally speaking, you will have to pay to attend (room, board, etc.) but some writer's retreats have funding and allow some artists to attend for free or a reduced rate. There is usually some sort of judged application for these, where you will need to submit a portfolio of your work.
Also check out the website of Nashville Songwriters Association International which has great resources for amateur songwriters.
posted by peppermint22 at 3:40 PM on January 3, 2006
If you are just looking for somewhere isolated to write... there are many residential writing centers throughout the US where you can go to be in isolation for a duration. Do a Google search for "writing retreat". Generally speaking, you will have to pay to attend (room, board, etc.) but some writer's retreats have funding and allow some artists to attend for free or a reduced rate. There is usually some sort of judged application for these, where you will need to submit a portfolio of your work.
Also check out the website of Nashville Songwriters Association International which has great resources for amateur songwriters.
posted by peppermint22 at 3:40 PM on January 3, 2006
Yes; what peppermint22 says. I'm also a musician, and know lots of musicians, and have never heard of a 'residency' in which you get paid for working on your own music. If you google ""Songwriting residency" you'll notice the hits mostly refer to the kind of arrangement I spoke of above: you recieve funds for teaching or otherwise sharing your talent by acting as artist-in-residence at a school or college. That's the standard meaning of 'residency' in the not-for-profit world. If there is some sort of residency which doesn't require you to do anything while being in residence, it must be pretty darn unique, and I'd be surprised never to have heard of it.
What they do at Yaddo and similar places is styled a 'retreat'. I just don't know of any paid ones that are specifically for songwriters as opposed to prose/poetry writers. Even Yaddo is a notable exception to the rule that most people pay for these opportunities; going to Yaddo is like getting a 'Genius' grant. It's rare.
I'm not trying to stomp on your New Year's resolution -- spending a week working on your music is a great idea -- but it's very likely you'll have to pay for it. Google up some "songwriters' retreat" or "songwriting retreat". Check the listings in the back of Performing Songwriter magazine. Maybe your friend who believes in your music will ante up.
posted by Miko at 7:40 PM on January 3, 2006
What they do at Yaddo and similar places is styled a 'retreat'. I just don't know of any paid ones that are specifically for songwriters as opposed to prose/poetry writers. Even Yaddo is a notable exception to the rule that most people pay for these opportunities; going to Yaddo is like getting a 'Genius' grant. It's rare.
I'm not trying to stomp on your New Year's resolution -- spending a week working on your music is a great idea -- but it's very likely you'll have to pay for it. Google up some "songwriters' retreat" or "songwriting retreat". Check the listings in the back of Performing Songwriter magazine. Maybe your friend who believes in your music will ante up.
posted by Miko at 7:40 PM on January 3, 2006
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What you have in mind sounds more like a 'retreat'. One of my acquaintances runs such a retreat, but you pay to go rather than getting paid.
posted by Miko at 10:15 AM on January 3, 2006