The P.N.S.A. Sucks!!!

[Aaron Cheney]

So...

I contacted the Pacific Northwest Songwriters Association and inquired about joining their group. I thought it would be great to mix with some other songwriters in the area. I sent them a letter (all I had was an address), and got a call back the next day.
It was one of those wierd conversations where you just never feel completely comfortable... lots of awkward pauses and stuff. One of the things he told me was that their membership was dwindling and they were down to about 12 members. I asked him why he thought that was and he didn't really give an answer. He just said they really needed "new blood". Whatever. Then he told me he'd send me some info and to please follow the instructions that were included. I got the packet a few days later. It asked for 3 songs or lyrics sheets and an SASE.
Well, I sent off 3 lryic sheets but forgot the SASE. About a week later I recieved a reply from him in the mail. Here are the contents of the package:

1)The instruction sheet he originally sent, with the words "Please send an SASE" double underlined, and the words "When all else fails, try following instructions" writtin in black sharpie in the margin.

2)The cover letter which I sent along w/ my lyrics, with this note on it (red sharpie): "Where's the SASE that was requested both on the phone and in the letter?"

3)He clipped out a portion of the envelope I sent my lyrcs sheets in, the part with his address on it. I had addressed it "Pacific Northwest Songwriters Ass.). Written next to it, this time in red Sharpie, were these words: "An ass is a donkey, or someone who acts like one. The abbreviation for association is assn."


Now that's what I call ironic.

Apparantly this person (his name is Brian T.) apparently is willing to spend $ .37 out of his pocket to ridcule and berate me, but not to return my lyrics or send me whatever info the SASE is supposedly for.

In one short phone call and a few short notes I've seen enough of Brian T's character to know that I want nothing to do with him or his dwindling orginization.

Just a word of warning to anyone here in the PNW. Don't be duped by this loser.


A
www.aaroncheney.com

 

[philboyd studge]

What can these turkeys possibly do for you? I've heard some of your stuff and all I can say is, why bother.

 

[stonepiano]

well, I spent the time to read your post aaron so, despite having nothing to do with this, I feel justified in adding that Brian was indeed acting like he needs a sock in the puss.


so, now for something totally different, how did you get involved in scoring video games?

I'm looking into fun ways to expand my writing/recording repetoire and thought that would be a rewarding project. Did you have programmer friends that asked you to submit your stuff? Were you paid for your first try or were you already a seasoned engineer who took on a new market?

just curious.

Miles

 

[Aaron Cheney]

Well, my only in-roads into video game scoring or sound effects have been through a guy who was my best freind growing up. Right now he works for Bungee, which is owned by Mircrosoft I think. Theyare the people who created Halo for X-Box. He worked on Halo, and now they're finishing up Halo 2. Any success I've had (which hasn't been much) have been on his coat tails. I scored the opeing theme to a children's storybook CD-ROM csome years ago. I also produced a bunch of songs for childrens' music library, you know...stuff like 3 Blind Mice or Camptown Races, for kids to use in multi-media projects. That's about it.
Unfortunately, once again it's all about who you know.

On an ever more sour note: after spending the weekend mulling over what I could say to Brian T, I ended up sending a one line letter that read simply : I have enclosed the SASE that you requested so that you can return my lyrics sheets.

I figured I would take the high road. No point in engaging an idiot.

Frankly, the fact that he returned everything I sent, even down to the envelope I sent them in, but not my lyric sheets has me wondering what his motivations might be. At this point I'd just like to get them back. I'm saving all our correspondence as well.


A
www.aaroncheney.com

 

[stonepiano]

Unfortunately, once again it's all about who you know.


My favorite way to do business.

So, aaron. Thanks for answering. I've been doing some thinking about diversifying the project studio into ventures that might actually make money and I must say I like your business model.

The website is great and the diversity of your capabilities is impressive. You definitely have the business AND the music end cooking from where I'm sitting....

so, all I need is the talent and I'll be set.

 

[Aaron Cheney]

Thanks for the props, stone.

Don't know if you've looked at the site lately, but I just changed the entire thing on Sunday. I dropped the graphics stuff becuase I want to focus completely on music.

Take alook and tell me what you think.


A
www.aaroncheney.com

 

[stonepiano]

Thanks for the props, stone.

Don't know if you've looked at the site lately, but I just changed the entire thing on Sunday. I dropped the graphics stuff becuase I want to focus completely on music.

Take alook and tell me what you think.

I just reviewed it again and I still like it.

What was the logic behind getting rid of your graphic capabilities?

Are you trying to make your body of work appear more focused?

If so, I can understand it. Branding yourself as a do-it-all/one-stop-shop/turnkey solution gets clients suspicious of how good you are at any one aspect. You know the old saying; the guy can do many things tolerably as opposed to the guy who does a few things but does them well. well, it's like that anyway...

So, I read your also teaching a songwriting class? That must be fun. I took a few songwriting classes in college myself and I always refer to it as one of the happiest times in my life creatively. My favorite was an intense 4 days a week for one month class. They called it "Advanced Singer/Songwriter" and you had to be fairly accomplished to get into it.

Anyway, make sure you're getting the most out of your students! I was pushed to write something new for every class and I still play most of them.

 

[Aaron Cheney]

What was the logic behind getting rid of your graphic capabilities?

Are you trying to make your body of work appear more focused?

Exactly. I'm skilled in other areas, but music is my dream and passion. I've decided to try not spreading myself too thin and focus on that one area.


and just so I'm never accused of hijacking my own thread:


THE PNSA really, really SUCKS!! I have kept all the correspondence from Brian T. and I'm going to use it in my class. I usually spend some time talking about the kinds of people you run into and dealing with various kinds of criticism, and I thought it would be a great object lesson, and a way to exact my revenge at the same time....

Bwa- haaa -haaaaa!


A
www.aaroncheney.com