SCHEDULE AND EVENTS
for the 2018 Hawai'i Songwriting Festival

Click here to view and download the daily schedule, and scroll down for detailed descriptions of each session

The schedule is subject to change. Attendees will receive a final schedule in their registration packets when they arrive at the conference. 


Wednesday, July 18
(before the conference officially begins)

All attendees are welcome to attend a pre-festival open mic night to kick off the conference festivities! 
8:00pm
Hale Hoaloha
located on the mauka side (mountain side) of the Mauna Lani parking lot

---

Every day at the conference

Songwriting Workshops
10:30AM - Noon on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
Staff members lead small group workshops of 10-15 people where each attendee can share a song and receive feedback.

Speed Mentoring
3-4PM on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
Each morning, attendees sign up on a first come, first served basis for 15 minute speed mentoring sessions that afternoon. Staff members are available to provide feedback, give industry/career advice, answer questions, and more.
**Please read staff bios ahead of time and know who you want to meet with before you sign up in the morning.** 
Be punctual and respect your designated 15 minute time slot so all attendees are able to take advantage of this opportunity to meet one-on-one with our staff members.


Informational Workshops and Panels
The following informational workshops and panels cover a variety of topics, including songwriting, music publishing and licensing, music in film and TV, recording techniques, slack key guitar, and more. 

*Workshop topics and presenters are subject to change.

​Thursday, July 19

The Producers: Making Songs Sound Like Hits
1-2pm
Main Ballroom
Producers Rob Kleiner and Joshua Bartholomew will each break down a song to show their production process. Starting with the seed of the idea for the track, they will demonstrate how individual tracks are created, which synths and plug-ins they use, and how they mixed the song.

Haku Mele Workshop
1-2pm
Puna Ballroom
Multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winning songwriter Kenneth Makuakāne will share his mana'o for attendees who write Hawaiian music of all kinds. 

Top 5 Lyric Techniques: A Hands On Workshop
2-3pm
Main Ballroom
Join Jason Blume as he teaches you to try on five tools that are consistently found in successful lyrics. Learn how to incorporate Action, Imagery, and Detail to craft lyrics that stand out from the pack—and evoke emotion in your listener. Additional topics include: finding new ways to say the same thing; finding fresh titles and concepts; metaphor, simile, and hyperbole; supporting your title; incorporating physical settings and time frames, and much more. 

How to Sell Out: Music in Branding
4-5:30pm
Main Ballroom
Ryan Wines (Marmoset Music) and Marmoset artists MUNNYCAT and Frankie Simone will discuss tips and techniques for indie songwriters to bring in money by writing music for branding and advertising. 

Friday, July 20

Collecting Royalties: Current and Changing Trends
9-10:30am - Main Ballroom
In this panel moderated by Michael Laskow, music business veterams Rich Goldman (RipTide Music), Michael Eames (Pen Music), Pam Sheyne, and Shelly Peiken will lead a discussion for our more advanced and experiened attendees about current trends in royalty collections. With new companies and distribution models emerging every day, there is always more for indie songwriters to learn. Pam and Shelly, both advocates with SONA (Songwriters of North America), will share an update on the pending MMA (Music Modernization Act) and how it will impact indie songwriters if it becomes law. 

Ask Julia Anything: Making the Most of Your HSF Experience, Copyright Overview, Music Business Basics, and More! 
9-10:30am - Puna Ballroom
Led by music attorney and HSF board member Julia Brotman, this seminar is for first-time HSF attendees and anyone who is relatively new to the business side of the music industry. We know there is a lot to take in at HSF - as one first-timer said, "it's like drinking from a fire hose!" Join us for an open discussion in which Julia will answer questions and share pointers and tips about how to capitalize on every opportunity that the festival offers. She will also provide an overview of copyright law in the music industry and explain music publishing and licensing basis. Take advantage of this time to ask questions in an open forum so you are in-the-know when you head into the rest of the weekend!  

Dos and Don'ts When Pitching to Music Supervisors
1-1:45pm - Main Ballroom
Frank Palazzolo (music supervisor for The Path, Hawaii 5-0, About A Boy, Sleepy Hollow, etc.) will share his process for selecting and placing songs. This seminar will give attendees a rare inside look into the mind of a music supervisor, helping attendees to be smarter and more successful when they pitch their music going forward. 

The 7 Laws of Songwriting
1-1:45pm - Puna Ballroom
Chris Oglesby, (VP, Creative at BMG) will share the seven "laws" that all songwriters should know. For both beginning and experienced writers, these laws are important principles that will guide any music creator to find more success and happiness in their career.  

Building a Career as a Singer-Songwriter
2-3pm - Main Ballroom
This panel of singer/songwriters and performing artists will share how they have developed their careers and found a balance between touring, growing as an artist, and bringing in revenue through licensing their music.  

Demo Derby
4-5:30pm - ​Main Ballroom
Attendees submit demo recordings that are randomly selected, played, and critiqued by a panel of staff members. **PLEASE NOTE: all attendees are expected to bring music on a device with auxillary plug-in capabilities. If you do not have such a device, please plan ahead and make friends with someone who has a laptop with a CD drive that you can borrow. 

Q&A With Special Guest
Kenny Loggins
7-8pm - ​Hale Hoaloha
Hawai'i Songwriting Festival special guest Kenny Loggins will join us for an intimate Q&A about his creative process, approach to songwriting, and other questions from attendees. 

​ Saturday, July 21

Warning: Your Melodies Will Never Be the Same
9-10:30am - Main Ballroom
There are reasons why some melodies stick in the brain--and others fail to do so. This workshop will teach how you can incorporate the common denominators consistently found in successful melodies into your songs, and how to push the envelope to make your work jump out from the pack.  In this class, Jason puts recent hits (in various genres) under the microscope to identify the tools and techniques the writers used to create melodies that are both memorable and unique. He explores the importance of rewriting melodies and shares concrete, easy-to-master tools that will take your melodies to the next level--even if you don’t play an instrument.  

Finding Your Place in the New Music Industry
1:30-3pm - Main Ballroom
Moderated by Michael Laskow, this panel features Lynn Grossman (Secret Road Music), Rich Goldman (RipTide Music), Ryan Wines (Marmoset Music), Shannon Quisenberry (Think Music), and Chris Oglesby (BMG Music Publishing). Come learn about each of these companies; what kind of music they are looking for, how they help songwriters make money, and most importantly, how you might be able to fit into their equation. 

The Music Supervisors: Panel and Pitch
4-5:30pm - Main Ballroom
Our closing panel is a two-part session with music supervisors Frank Palazzolo, John McHugh, Megan Barbour, Chris Mollere, and David Fisher. First, these supervisors will tell attendees what projects they are working on and what kind of music they will be looking for in the coming months. Then, attendees who submit their name at the beginning of the panel will be randomly selected to pitch a song to the panel for feedback in front of the group.  **PLEASE NOTE: attendees are expected to bring music on a device with auxillary plug-in capabilities.
 

---