Unlike “fantasy” rock camps, this is the “real deal” for singer-songwriters and poets who wish to explore and enhance their creative selves. Created and facilitated by Jim Messina, the week begins with the first few days focused primarily on lyrical content and composition. Jim helps each student bring out the best lyric by exploring the emotions behind word choice. By mid-week, participants begin working on performing their own songs in preparation for the workshop’s Saturday evening concert. Participants will learn best practices to prepare for a live performance in terms of song sequencing, equipment, comfort and material. On the eve of the sixth day, participants will perform their original songs and poems in front of a live concert audience at the Ranch & Reata Grillhouse in Santa Ynez, CA. No matter the level of musicianship, from poets to songwriters, Jim can draw out the best performance of each participant. Students will benefit from his decades of experience in the music business as a musician, songwriter, producer and recording engineer.
Dates: April 14-21, 2013
Location and Accommodations: Santa Ynez Inn, 3627 Sagunto Street, Santa Ynez, California
93460. Each room is $195 per night and includes breakfast. Call Reservations: 800.643.5774 or
email: info@santaynezinn.com.
Workshop Tuition: The Workshop tuition is a separate fee of $2,000 per participant. To enroll
in the Workshop call: 805.686.1862 or visit www.songwritersperformanceworkshop.com.
ABOUT JIM MESSINA
In 1966 Jim Messina began working with The Buffalo Springfield as a recording engineer on
their second album entitled, “Buffalo Springfield Again.” In 1967, Messina became the band’s
bass player. Within a number of months, Ahmet Ertegun president of Atlantic Records asked
Jim if he would take on the role as the band’s engineer and producer for their third and final
album, “Last Time Around.”After The Buffalo Springfield disbanded in 1968, Messina cofounded
the legendary country rock band POCO with Richie Furay. Messina switched from
being a bass player to playing lead guitar in POCO and wrote, sang and produced the group’s first
hit single “You Better Think Twice.” From June of 1968 until October of 1970, Messina toured,
performed and produced three albums on POCO, until his departure at the end of 1970 at which
time, he was signed as an independent record producer to Columbia Records. His first project as a
producer was for a singer-songwriter by the name of Kenny Loggins. Messina’s efforts to bring
Kenny Loggins to stardom can first be traced back to his performances on an album entitled.
“Kenny Loggins with Jim Messina Sittin’ in.” From that album on, Jim Messina sat alongside
Kenny Loggins for five more years to produce 8 Gold albums and 5 Platinum albums as a singersongwriter
and performer in a duo best known as, Loggins and Messina.
Today Messina continues to tour and make records as a solo artist. In addition, he dabbles in the
fine arts as a painter working both in watercolor and acrylics. Messina enjoys carpentry and
building "cowboy" furniture, as well as old distressed Scottish- and Irish-style pine furniture. He
enjoys the art of metal work and welding, especially making gates, tables, tools and fine metal
lighting fixtures. He continues to work in the field of electronics both as a studio owner and as a
recording and mixing engineer. He is the creator and owner of "The Songwriters' Performance
Workshop" and facilitates workshops for singer-songwriters and poets at locations throughout the
United States.
ABOUT THE SANTA YNEZ INN
The luxurious AAA-four diamond rated Santa Ynez Inn delivers a unique hotel experience with
Victorian grace and warm hospitality nestled in the heart of Santa Barbara Wine Country. The
historic village of Santa Ynez is a charming vacation destination with historic museums,
wonderful restaurants, art galleries, boutiques, antique shops, saloons, wineries, wine tasting
rooms and horse ranches.