Benefits of WCS Membership
West Coast Songwriters (WCS) was founded in 1979 by a few talented songwriters who decided that by joining forces they would be able to write stronger songs, and create more opportunities to market them. Since that time, WCS —a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization— has grown into a regional force with a 1200+ membership and a full schedule of activities.
Songwriting ceases to be a solitary pursuit and becomes a shared endeavor through the focus, feedback, collaboration, contacts/networking, and support available. WCS provides many opportunities for songwriters to learn the craft and business of songwriting and for meeting and working with fellow songwriters and industry professionals. You don’t have to go it alone …
There are four levels of membership offering the same services to all. At WCS, members establish important relationships —both professional and personal— that enhance and accelerate professional development.
Monthly Activities include
Songwriting Classes
Conducted by accomplished writers and teachers. Topics covered include: Structure, lyrics, melody, harmony, collaboration, demo production, and marketing. Instructors include but are not limited to:
Screening Sessions
Members submit songs to be listened to by one of the many prominent publishers, producers and record company reps in search of outstanding material. In addition, members become better educated as to what the industry reps require in order for songs to be accepted commercially and how to fine tune their material and beginning some extremely important professional relationships in the process. Locations: Portland, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Carlos, Santa Cruz, Seattle, and Los Angeles
Songwriter Competitions
A chance to perform members’ original songs before a live audience. Each participant receives written evaluations from music industry professionals (except where peer judging is used). Winners each month receive a Noisy Planet Premium Artist Service Package. In August, we present the “Annual Grand Final Playoffs” for the best songs of the year. The winning three songwriters perform during the Sunset Concert at our Annual Conference for an audience of more than 60 music industry guests and 100+ attendees. Locations: Berkeley, Hollywood, Manteca, Sonoma, Portland, Sebastopol, Sacramento, San Francisco, Palo Alto, San Jose and Redwood City.
Works-in-Progress, Sessions
Hosted by experienced songwriters, Works-In-Progress sessions are opportunities to get together and share constructive feedback/critiques on songs, whether in a finished or unfinished form. Current Locations: Fairfax, Hollywood, Portland, Sacramento, San Carlos, and Sonoma.
Special Seminars
These usually feature either the industry’s leading songwriters and industry professionals conducting seminars covering the techniques they use to write their songs and market them or other seminars and workshops —such as Composing on the Guitar, songwriting methods, self-promotion, artist and song marketing, and updates on the industry and on legal topics.
Special Skype Screenings
WCS has begun to provide special Skype Screenings with some of the top music leaders in Nashville, Los Angeles and beyond. Don’t miss this new program that provides many more opportunities to be seen and heard by industry leaders.
Creation:Craft:Connection; Annual Music Conference
Held the second weekend of September, the conference includes:
- two full days of seminars
- song screenings
- lyric evaluations
- workshops
- panels featuring many of the music industry’s leading songwriters, producers, publishers, and business professionals
- Open to members and non-members alike.
- Held on a secluded but easily accessible college campus in Los Altos Hills (40 miles south of San Francisco), both days offer
- Ongoing OPEN MIC (OOM)
- Noontime Acoustic Concert
On Saturday evening guest songwriters and the WCS Song Competition Finalists perform at the exciting and immensely popular Sunset Concert.
The Conference has been hailed across the nation, by industry professionals and attendees alike, as one of the most comprehensive, best-organized, and most enjoyable events of its kind offered in the country.
WCS Website
Currently averaging over a million hits per year, WCS’s official website is maintained by staff/volunteers and is packed with information, including membership application, the current month’s calendar of events as well as our daily blog, information about and sign-up forms for upcoming special events and the Annual Conference, links to other music industry sites, t-shirt/Conference seminar tapes order forms, and more. We accept VISA® , MasterCard®, American Express®, and DiscoverCard® on the web.
Office Resources
Materials available for members’ on-site review include tip sheets, Performing Songwriter Magazine, American Songwriter Magazine, and music business reference books. Copyright forms are available upon request. WCS T-shirts as well as recordings of the CREATION:CRAFT:CONNECTION (Annual Music Conference) seminars are sold here and by mail order. All major credit cards, checks, money orders, and cash are accepted at the office or at any event for any purchase of $10 or more, including membership dues.
Operations/Administration
WCS is guided by the expertise of a nine-member Volunteer Board of Directors, plus an eleven-member Advisory Board comprised of business professionals recognized as leaders in their respective industries. The overall operation is managed by Executive Director, Ian Crombie since 1988.
The monthly events and CREATION:CRAFT:CONNECTION (Annual Songwriters Conference) are coordinated and run by dedicated WCS members who volunteer as Event Managers, Conference Producers, and on event teams/committees.
Volunteer Benefits
In exchange for participating as a Volunteer in the WCS office or at WCS events/activities, volunteer members may receive free or reduced admissions to selected activities. Substantially reduced fees and other valuable are available to members who volunteer on a committee for CREATION:CRAFT:CONNECTION, the Annual Music Conference.
