join us this saturday! 11a-1p. fo’ free. help us in our preparation:...

come hear from some talented and experienced local songwriters about their lyrical process: specific methods, tips, tricks, moods, care, etc. together, we’ll sift through how to better entertain, tell the truth and connect with our audiences.

but let’s not just talk about it.

bring an instrument of choice and a song you’ve written that you want to hash out. this is participatory, let’s experience what it’s like to collaborate with other writers and see how that can shape and challenge our writing. don’t have one? feel free to sit back, listen, hear how the flow of feedback goes, and you’re welcome to give suggestions when you feel comfortable.

if this sounds terrifying to you, know that you’re not alone. conduit deeply believes that we all have to fight the fear of falling on our faces. a city full of people but none of them sharing and teaching one another is a city that is starving itself - no matter how much it tries to convince the world that it’s building, growing, etc. ira glass says it best here: http://conduitorlando.tumblr.com/post/7067199552

we want to help you fight through it.

we’ll be giving and getting critique on from others: lyrics, melodies, structure, etc. with loose guidelines of:

1.  this is an environment for learning and growing as songwriters, not for proving how awesome we are (or think we are). everyone needs to come prepared with a healthy balance of humility and confidence. we need to be willing to let others speak truths about our songs, even hard truths that are tough to swallow sometimes, and be confident enough to not let those truths break us down, but rather stretch us and help us grow.

2.  when giving feedback and suggestions, tact and respect is important. if a song is completely awful, critiques like “your song sucks” are not helpful. try to avoid generic criticisms like “I don’t like that chorus” or “those lyrics suck.” make sure feedback is helpful and has a next step like “i think if the chorus was cut in half, it may be more compelling” or “your first verse and second verse contradicted themselves and i was confused on what you were trying to communicate.” those sorts of things.

3.  focus on songwriting philosophies, not song styles. just because you don’t particularly like a style of a song, does not mean it is a bad song.

4.  have fun learning and listening from fellow songwriters in the area. there is so much talent in this city and we should all be so proud of each other.

sign up at downtowncredo.com

Join Josh Owen this Saturday!

Have you ever wanted to learn how to tie a bow tie, or know the proper time to chill wine? Wondered what shoes to wear with a gray suit, or how much to tip your barber? A gentleman has so many questions, and if you are one of those gentlemen or have been curious about gentlemanly questions, join us! We’ll go through the essentials to a true gentleman’s wardrobe, some simple tips to improve etiquette, what items any gentleman needs to add to his arsenal, and answer some other quandaries one might have.

Josh Owen is a gentleman among gentlemen, you are sure to walk away having more confidence in your gentlemanly pursuits.

Growing up I was surrounded by amazing men who taught me what it is to look and act like a true gentleman. They gave me a passion for people, quality, and style. That passion turned into a want to help men and women find what make them look and feel their best. So I decided to start Willard Randall, a style consulting company about 4 years ago. Willard Randall was named after two of the greatest gentlemen I know, my grandfathers. Over those 4 years I’ve consulted with photographers, bands, retailers, and magazines. Recently I’ve turned my focus and energy towards opening a full-service men’s haberdashery.

Come join us this Saturday, and be sure to bring a bow tie or tie to practice with. Both men and women are welcome as we have some fun participating in something that Josh is so beautifully passionate about.

(Help us in our preparation, and click the picture above to sign up.)

JOIN BONNIE BARTON SATURDAY!

we will be using textiles to make a simple satchel and learn how to thread a sewing machine, bobbin, and sew straight and backwards as well as create a facing.

bonnie is so gracious to offer her skills and is excited to teach people with any range of experience. please feel welcome even if you’ve never touched a sewing machine!

it is a dying trade and i can’t ignore that i carry a skill that could pass away without my care. i am passionate about empowering people to execute their own visions. i also try to use and reuse objects that come into my belonging, and through sewing i can give my possessions many different lives.

bonnie started sewing when she was 9. her grandmother would take her to their family beach house and when it was too hot to play outside they would make cabbage patch dolls, jumpsuits … anything they could sew. she’s sewn every day of her life since then.

she opened her first shop in austin, texas. the shop was called Atelier, french for workshop. named after the silkweavers’ studio she lived in when she spent a year in lyon, france during college (where she spent more time sewing than studying her comparative literature.)

she moved to new york city in 2001 and opened a studio in union square in the old warhol factory building. she was written up in new york magazine and the new york times sunday styles section for her work making custom pants. she joined lars nord tailoring agency and began a career tailoring for fashion advertising and celebrity media.

she’s got so much experience, this is just too impressive not to list:

ADVERTISING
Armani, Banana Republic, Bergdorf Goodman, Nieman Marcus, Macy’s, Children’s Place, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Carolina Herrera, Ralph Lauren, Lilly Pulitzer, Talbot’s, Express, Bloomingdale’s, Tommy Hilfigger, Vera Wang, Lanvin, Mulberry, Victoria’s Secret, Oscar de la Renta, Kohl’s, Estee Lauder, Lacoste, Burberry, Dillard’s, Halston, Pamela Roland, Ann Taylor, Target, Jill Stuart, St. John’s, Nikkon, J Crew, Versace, Kenneth Cole, Bali, Osh Kosh, Movado, Cole Hahn, Karl Lagerfeld, Ungaro, Levi’s, Alberta Ferretti, Dolce and Gabbana, American Eagle, 9 West, Brooks Brothers, Perry Ellis, Balenciaga

CELEBRITY CLIENTS
Natalie Portman, Fergie, Jennifer Connely, Gwynneth Paltrow, Claire Danes, Beyonce, Bette Middler, The Seinfeld family, Tea Leoni, Ashley Judd, Mariah Carey, Naomi Watts, Richard Gere, Derek Jeter, Tom Brady, Heidi Klum, 50 Cent, Andi McDowell, Madonna, Janet Jackson

EDITORIAL
W, GQ, O Magazine, Allure, Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Harper’s Bazaar, French Vogue, Vogue, Italian Vogue, In Style

join us as we kick off our second series of workshops.

we hope you will come.

sign up.