Songwriter Showdown

What is a “Songwriter Showdown?”

The Songwriter Showdown is a musical event with a contest style format. I invite three local songwriters to perform original songs for each of 4 themes. The musicians are accompanied by Drew Lance, a local full-time professional drummer and vocalist. Other invited musical guests may also join in on the songs and the songwriters may call on each other to help out. An MC keeps the show moving and an invited commentator points out interesting aspects of the songs and may make comments about how the song fits the theme. After each round, the audience selects the winning song and the Songwriter gets a prize.

In addition to preparing original songs for the assigned themes, each songwriter is given a small deck of "style cards" that have other instructions. They must choose a new card for each round and adapt their performance to meet the instructions on the cards. I also try to have one final twist to the show - for example, requiring all songwriters to select one of their 4 songs that an invited musician will play a trombine solo.

At the beginning of the show, and at other times depending on time, all the musicians perform a cover or other fun song together. And, at the end of the show, there is a "showdown vote" that involves all the songwriters that were part of the show (possibly including the MC, commentator or guests) stand in a circle with their guns (hands) in the air. On the count of 3, they all point at the person that they want to hear the final song from. That person wraps up the show with a final performance.

Schedule:

6-7: audience arrives, eats potluck snacks, mingles

Show starts at 7: (The schedule is intended to fit within a 2-hour block.)

Part I: 50 min

Opening song

Introductions

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

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

First Showdown Vote*

Intermission: 20 minutes

Part 2: 50 min

Opening song*

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

Round 4 (It’s time to celebrate!)

2nd Showdown Vote

* if time permits

Style Cards

Each musician will be given 8 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

The songwriter sings without instruments accompanying them. They may still have Drew Lance play percussion instruments.

The songwriter comes off the stage and performs in the middle of the room without their instruments being plugged into the PA system.

The song must begin simple and gradually become more complex. For example, the songwriter may use a looper or have other musicians increasingly join in.

The songwriter must involve the audience in their performance. For example, by having the audience sing the chorus, or have member of the audience play simple instruments.

The songwriter performs without any accompaniment, or accompanied only by Drew Lance.

The songwriter must trade roles with another musician during their song. For example, they may have another musician sing lead and they sing backup.

The songwriter invites a friend to join them onstage to help in their performance.

The songwriter may sing, but they don't play their main instrument. They may use other instruments, like shakers or a tamborine.

Example 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
It is 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.
It is 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:

Musicians are paid by audience donations. Drew Lance will collect the money and distribute it to the musicans after the show.

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