Songwriter Showdown

What is a “Songwriter Showdown?”

Background: 

• I love the songwriter showcase series that John Garbo organizes at The Focal Point as well as the Songbird series

• John asked me for suggestions on format changes for the Songwriter Showcase and it got me thinking about things to try

• I love hearing the original songs but I often feel like the songs would sound better if there was a drummer or a base player accompanying

• And, I don’t like that three musicians that aren’t playing just sit and wait their turn

So, I decided to try to create a format where songwriters get to perform their original songs, but they are backed by a percussionist and interact with each other. The show will be a “contest” although this is intended to create energy and be theme NOT a serious competition.  The show does NOT seek to identify the “best” song or musician. Instead, musicians compete in 4 different rounds to have a song that best fits the given theme for that round. The overall winner is selected by audience vote of which musician was the best supporter of the evening – not the best song or best performer.

We will be trying this format for the first time on December 11, 2025 with these 3 contestants: Cara Ristau (West End Junction), Jorge Valcarcel (Boxcar), Tyler King (plays in several bands including the Luke Combs band)

• We’ll hopefully figure out some things in the first show so we can do it even better on the second attempt.

Objectives:

• Songwriters share their original work

• Songwriters interact with each other

• The audience experiences something special

• I get to organize something cool and interact positively with the musicians, my friends and associates and meet some new people

• Collect some $ for each participant in the show

Proposed format for the “Songwriter Showdown”:

Performers:

Drew Lance – MC, percussion, backup singer

(Possible backup keyboard and vocals – Brian Kasmarzik)

Contestant 1: TBD

Contestant 2: TBD

Contestant 3: TBD

Schedule:

The schedule is intended to fit within a 2-hour block.

• After seeing how long things take in our first show, we may add another round for the second show if it would fit.

Part I: 45 min

Opening song*

Round 1 (Theme 1, e.g., Protest)

Round 2 (Theme 2, e.g., Laugh so hard)

Closing song*

Intermission: 20 minutes

Part 2: 50 min

Opening song*

Round 3 (Well, that really makes you think!)

Round 4 (It’s time to celebrate!)

Select the winner of the most supportive musician

Closing song*

*Opening and closing songs: all musicians participate in the opening and closing songs

• Drew will choose a song and let the musicians know the song in advance.

  • The song should be well known to the musicians and have at least 3 versus (or a verse could be repeated)

• Musician 1 sings 1st  verse with musician 2 playing lead.

• Musician 2 sings 2nd  verse with musician 3 playing lead.

• Musician 3 sings 3rd verse with musician 1 playing lead.

Showdown rounds:

• Each round will have a theme.

  • Musicians will know the themes in advance.

• Musicians choose a song they’ve written or adapted for that theme and apply a style (see below).

  • The song should be provided to Drew Lance in advance so he is prepared to accompany

• They introduce and perform the song.   

• The order of musicians changes each round:

  • Round 1: 1, 2, 3

  • Round 2: 2, 3, 1

  • Round 3: 3, 1, 2

  • Round 4: 2, 1, 3

• The audience votes to determine which song wins each theme

  • Audience is instructed to award points for the song that feels most on point for that theme.

  • This might not be their favorite song of the round or what they consider the “best” song of that round

• Round 1 and 2 winners will be announced at intermission

• Round 3 and 4 winners will be announced at the end of the show (to great applause).

Accompaniment:

• For most songs, Drew will provide accompanying percussion. You can send Drew instructions or a recording of the song in advance – or just tell him what to do during the show.

• Drew is also available to harmonize as requested. And, Brian Kasmarzik might also be available to accompany on keyboard and vocals

Style cards:

• Each musician will be given 7 style cards (see below)

• For each song, the musician must choose one of their style cards

  • The style cards may only be used 1 time each

• There could also be a mandatory style card to give each show a distinctive feature. 

  • For example, I have friend that plays trombone very well. We could have a "Trombone" mandatory card that must be used at some point in the show and then my friend would join the song with his trombone. 

• Proposed Styles

  • All alone

    • Only the musician sings and plays.

    • No percussion or other accompaniment.

  • Audience involvement

    • The musician involves the audience in performing the song. For example, by singing along, playing simple instruments, suggesting something for a verse/chorus, etc.

    • A song with a simple repetitive chorus may be a good choice for this style.

    • Or, have a song where you can change a verse/chorus based on audience input.

    • Bring tambourines and have a few audience members join on stage

    • Be creative in other ways to involve the audience

  • Hands-free

    • The musician does not play their main instrument while they are signing - the other musicians must play for them.

    • The musician may play their instrument for parts of the song where they do not sing

    • The musician will provide key, chord progression, time signature, strum/rhythm pattern, etc.

    • The musician may demonstrate how the chorus/verse is played.

    • Clearly, it would not be a good idea to use this style on a song that is musically complex.

    • The musician may use a harmonica, shaker, etc.

  • More Cowbell

    • The musician must include at least one instrument type that is different than the main one they play for the other songs

      • This could be a kazoo, harmonica, cowbell, xylophone, recorder, violin, keyboard, base, etc.

    • The musician may bring up audience members to play these instruments (e.g., hand out kazoos or triangles)

    • The musician may ask other contestants to play instruments

  • Unplugged

    • No microphones, no plugged-in instruments

    • A space will be ready on the floor so you can perform in the middle of the audience (or you can stay on stage)

    • Drew has hand-drums that will be gentle enough to accompany you unplugged

  • Phone-a-friend

    • Bring a friend with you to the show and have them join you for your song.

      • The friend may sing with you, play an instrument, or both.  

      • Or, take your chances that someone in the audience can play an instrument or sing well enough to help you

  • Sing this for me, please

    • Instead of you singing your song, Drew and/or the other contestants will sing it.

    • You can still sing accompaniment

    • You should have the words written out for this style

Potential themes for Songwriter Showdown:

Round 1: Protest

• This round should feature songs about things that you don’t like, don’t want, don’t need, want to see stopped, get angry about, that make you  frustrated or that you want to file a formal musical complaint about

• Irony is welcome

• Extra awesome if the audience starts chanting your slogans

Round 2: Laugh so hard, you cry (or pee?)

• This round should feature songs that will make the audience laugh.

• Extra awesome if it also get’s people into their feelings or laugh so hard they can’t contain their. . . emotions.

Round 3: Well, that really makes you think!

• Songs where listening carefully to the lyrics makes the song more meaningful

• Songs about ambiguity and complexity

• Songs about how to think (like, metacognition, logical fallacies, philosophy, etc)

Round 4: It’s time to celebrate!

• Songs of joy, or about joy.

• Songs that make people feel good.

• Songs about people doing good things

• Extra awesome if people get up and dance or sing along

 Money:

All audience donations will be collected by Drew.

• The pot will be split into 5 parts

  • 2 parts for Drew

  • 1 part for each of the three participants

• I will guarantee that each musician receives at least $130

• Musicians may sell merch. Merch money will be collected by individual musicians and not pooled. 

Promotion:

• Nothing should be done for promoting the show that indicates the event is anything other than a private party because I do not carry commercial insurance

• Musicians are welcome to list this event on their social media and let people know that they can attend this private event.

• I’ll have an RSVP form and musicians may provide a link to that form to their friends and fans

  • I’ll send out address information and parking instructions to people that RSVP

• IF the # of RSVPs exceeds 80, I’ll let the musicians know so they can update their social media. And, I’ll modify the form so that it lets people know the event is full and allows them to request to be added to the standby list.

  • I’m choosing 80 as the # because I have a few friends that don’t usually RSVP (lazy jerks) but I want to hold a spot for them.

 ccompanying percussion. You can send Drew instructions or a recording of the song in advance – or just tell him what to do during the show.

• Drew is also available to harmonize as requested

• Brian Kasmarzik may also be available to accompany on keyboard and vocals

Style cards:

• Each musician will be given 7 style cards (see below)

• For each song, the musician must choose one of their style cards

  • The style cards may only be used 1 time each

• There could also be a mandatory style card to give each show a distinctive feature. 

  • For example, I have friend that plays trombone very well. We could have a "Trombone" mandatory card that must be used at some point in the show and then my friend would join the song with his trombone.