'Tunesmithing' to Celebrate Americana Music Festival on Sept. 16

     NASHVILLE -- The monthly "Tunesmithing" songwriters showcase will celebrate the Americana Music Festival by spotlighting five professional Americana performing songwriters from 7-9:30 p.m. Sept. 16 (Tuesday) at WXYZ Restaurant/Bar at the Aloft Nashville Hotel, 1719 West End Ave. (near Music Row).

Chris Beall

     Taking the stage for 25-minute performances will be Amy Allen (Top-15 singles “Someday Is Today” and “Josie Rae”), Chris Beall (the new album “The Gin Mill Hymns”), Mary Beth Cross (the new album “Beyond Good and Evil”), Suzahn Fiering (presented the “Honored Friend Award” by Paul McCartney), and Brian Ashley Jones (new CD “Out of the City”).

Amy Allen

     Admission is free. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Publicists Chuck Whiting and Scott Johnson will emcee the show. Songwriter/audio engineer AJ Bigler will handle sound.

     "It's going to be a terrific show featuring some of the nation's most accomplished Americana singer-songwriters," said Chuck Whiting, founder of 'Tunesmithing'. All of the performers have performed extensively, with substantial radio airplay. The show will be a great way to help kick off the Americana Music Festival."

     "Tunesmithing" is sponsored by Whiting Publicity & Promotions, Music City Arts Update, and Shine Time Records and Books. "Tunesmithing" was founded in 2003 to spotlight emerging, professional and hit songwriters. The event offers mentoring, career growth and networking opportunities for tunesmiths at all levels.

     For more information about "Tunesmithing", call (615) 423-9857, write Info@Tunesmithing.com, or visit http://www.Tunesmithing.com.

Mary Beth Cross

Suzahn Fiering

Brian Ashley Jones

Songwriters and Other Artists Can Learn Career/Publicity Ropes at 'Reaching Your Dream' Workshop

            NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 2014) -- Artists of all kinds can receive invaluable insights on the professional steps needed to achieve success by attending the "Reaching Your Dream" workshop from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. July 26 (Saturday) at the Center for Spiritual Living Nashville, 6705 Charlotte Pike in West Nashville.

            The career and publicity training workshop will be led by country/blues/pop artist Amy Allen and award-winning publicist/educator/composer/author Chuck Whiting. Attendees will learn how to write and distribute press releases; develop a one-of-a-kind hook; believe in their talents; plan creative events; develop stage presence; form a team of experts; develop, manufacture, market and sell original products; obtain copyrights; and build Internet exposure.

Amy Allen

            Allen and Whiting will lead artists through the career-building and publicity process step by step with hands-on instructions, examples and feedback. Artist Q&A spotlights (case studies) will feature insights from Nashville filmmaker/visual artist Robyn Morshead, singer/songwriter/musician Sean O'Shea, and author/speaker/edu-tainer/edu-preneur Debbie Watts.

            Attendees will participate in an artist vision-sharing event called "Arts on the Row" from 7-9 p.m. Saturday. The first 15 professionals to sign up for the workshop will enjoy a complimentary tour and demonstrations at a local media operation on July 25 (Friday). They also will have the opportunity to receive complimentary writing and editing critiques during a brainstorming lunch on July 27 (Sunday).

            Tuition for the "Reaching Your Dream" workshop is $95 (registration by July 20) and $120 (registration after July 20). Participation in the "Arts on the Row" artist vision-sharing event, media tour, and critiques/Q&A sessions are included with registration. Meals are not included. Discounts are available for couples, company-sponsored groups, and non-profit organizations. Artist scholarships are available.

            For more information or to register for the "Reaching Your Dream" workshop, call (615) 423-9857 or (888) 80-SHINE, send an email inquiry to Arts@WhitingPublicity.com, or visit www.ReachingYourDream.net.

            "I hear many fellow artists say how overwhelmed they are with the multi-tasking involved in the career-building process," said Allen, who has collaborated with Whiting on product development, performances and publicity for her "Someday Is Today" CD project. "Overcoming self-doubt to believe in yourself can be a huge struggle. And many artists don't realize how important it is to establish a professional self-image. It's very important to develop a one-of-a-kind persona, top-notch marketing tools, and a great team. We also need to protect our intellectual property rights in a fast-changing digital world. Achieving success is a combination of heart and business."

            Allen recently landed two Top-15 country hits from her latest album, “Someday Is Today”. Amy has performed at venues ranging from the White House to the Ryman Auditorium, opening for stars such as John Conlee, Patty Loveless, and Brooks & Dunn. She has overcome a major health-related challenge to become successful in the arts. Learn more about Amy Allen at www.TheAmyAllen.com.

            A former newspaper reporter, Whiting founded Whiting Publicity and Promotions in Music City in 1993 to provide exposure for artists and the organizations that support them. He is the author/co-writer of the book/song “The Littlest Star”, editor of Music City Arts Update, and host of the songwriters show “Tunesmithing”. He teaches communication courses at Middle Tennessee State University and Motlow State Community College. Learn more about Chuck Whiting at www.WhitingPublicity.com.

Chuck Whiting

            "Our goal will be for each musician, author, actor or visual artist to have a career-changing hook, game plan, or press release in hand by the end of the weekend," said Whiting, who is completing a new CD of instrumentals and vocal tunes for release in 2014. "We will be available to provide feedback during a follow-up brainstorming lunch on Sunday."

            For more information about the "Reaching Your Dream" workshop, visit www.ReachingYourDream.net.

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'Tunesmithing' to Feature Amy Allen, Lisa Aschmann and M Callahan on Dec. 17

     NASHVILLE, Tenn. (December 2013) -- The monthly "Tunesmithing" songwriters showcase will spotlight seven professional and emerging songwriters from 8-10:30 p.m. Dec. 17 (Tuesday) at The Row Kitchen & Pub, 110 Lyle Ave. (near Music Row).

Amy Allen

     Taking the stage for the "Professional Songwriters Segment" at 8 p.m. will be country/pop/Americana artist Amy Allen (the Top 15 country hit "Someday Is Today"), songwriter/singer/author Lisa Aschmann (cuts by Art Garfunkel, Diamond Rio and many others), and the country-pop singer/songwriter/actor M Callahan (lead role in "One Kiss Cafe" at the Country Music Hall of Fame). 

     The "Emerging Songwriters Segment" at 9:30 p.m. will feature Mark Burke, Taylor Giese, Lexi Larsen, Erin McLendon and Jordyn Pepper.

M Callahan

     Admission is free. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. Publicists Chuck Whiting and Scott Johnson will emcee the show. Songwriter/audio engineer AJ Bigler will handle sound. "Tunesmithing" is sponsored by Whiting Publicity & Promotions, Music City Arts Update, and Shine Time Records and Books.

Lisa Aschmann

     "Tunesmithing" was founded in 2003 to spotlight emerging, professional and hit songwriters. The event offers mentoring, career growth and networking opportunities for tunesmiths at all levels. 

     For more information about "Tunesmithing", call (615) 423-9857, write Info@Tunesmithing.com, or visit http://www.Tunesmithing.com.

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'Tunesmithing' to Celebrate 10th Anniversary on May 30, 2013

            NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 2013) -- "Tunesmithing" will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a special show from 7-10 p.m. May 30 (Thursday) at the Best Western Music Row, 1407 Division St. in Nashville. 

           Performers will include singer-songwriters Amy Allen, Lisa Aschmann, Everette Brown, Wil Comstock, Bryan Cumming, Leslie Ellis, Dar Frantz, Casey Kelly, Diane King, Denny Martin, Crystal Miller, Mirka, Steve Morley, Laurie O'Shea, Sean O'Shea, Candy Paull, Rick Perry, Laura Powers, Betsy Warren, Brian Wright and Chuck Whiting. Poet Butterfly will read selections from her new book, "Grandma Butterfly's Dirty Dishes". Comedian Paulina Combow and publicist Chuck Whiting will emcee the show.

(Photo: Singer-songwriter Amy Allen)

          Admission is free. Snacks and beverages will be available for purchase. "Tunesmithing" is sponsored by Whiting Publicity & Promotions, Music City Arts Update, and Shine Time Records and Books.

           "Tunesmithing" was founded in 2003 to spotlight emerging, professional and hit songwriters. The monthly show features an "open mic" and 25-minute solo sets that enable songwriters to share more of their songs. An emphasis is placed on mentoring, career growth and networking. 

           "We have a wonderful lineup of songwriters for the anniversary show," said show founder Chuck Whiting. "Most of the performers have performed on various 'Tunesmithing' stages over the past 10 years. We plan to return to a regular monthly schedule at a new venue sometime this summer."

(Photo: Songwriters celebrate after the "Tunesmithing" anniversary show in 2012.)

           For more information about the event, call (615) 423-9857, write Info@Tunesmithing.com, or visit http://www.Tunesmithing.com .

          Learn about more career-changing opportunities at http://www.MusicCityArtsUpdate.com .

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