The founder of the Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival, which will celebrate its tenth such event in October. The festival is five days long and features close to 100 songwriters who over the years have come from places like Nashville, as far away as L.A., and even some from right there in Pensacola, Florida. Writers of songs that have become Number One hits have participated in the annual event, which also features community outreach aspects that are talked about in this interview. She also speaks to individuals who think they want to put on a songwriters festival, songwriters who wonder how to get to perform at such an event, and fans who think they know what a songwriters festival might be.
"People over there had no clue at all about what songwriters was, which is a sad, sad, sad thing because everybody needs to know who our songwriters are."
"These festivals are run, of course, on sponsorship, and in order to get sponsors you have to have something to offer them."
"Our main goal has always been the arts for the children because, of course, the arts is the first thing that's depleted out of your school program when there's cuts."
"Not every child is cut out for sports, and they need an outlet also. They need that support."
"I believe with all my heart in what I do. And, I believe that a world without music would be lost. I just feel like the music is the center of our universe and without it, it just would be a really sad place to live."
"I believe in the songwriters, of course, because they create this. Whether it's a melody, whether it's lyrics, they create what we hear, no matter where we hear it."
"The (song)writers are underpaid. There's no respect for the writers, because people don't think about them. I just feel like that people do not really think about who creates this music."
"If you don't have a good set of volunteers, you're in trouble."
"The best song I ever heard will never be on the radio."
"Believe in your song, believe in what you do, because if you don't come across as believing in what you do, the audience is not going to either."
"I am so excited when I see another songwriter festival pop up because it supports our guys and girls that are out there working so hard to make a living to try and offer something for all of us."