This year's faculty is stacking up to be the most impressive line up we have had yet with first time instructors, including Jimmie LaFave, Chuck Cannon and Gurf Morlix, joining up with some of the returning faculty like Grammy-nominated songstress Kimmie Rhodes, former Austin Songwriter of the Year Will Sexton, Platinum songwriter Monte Warden, producers Stephen Doster and Marvin Dykhuis, publishing executive Brandi Warden, among many others. ASG executive Director, Lee Duffy, continues to work diligently to add to the faculty and hopes to pull in another star guest or two before the weekend.
 
Additionally, Lee has created an impressive roster of workshops led by the faculty that will get you geared up for everything from songwriting and co-writing, insights into the publishing business, everything you want to know about house concerts, live performance, studio production,touring Europe and much more. Every year the most well-attended workshops are the song pitch sessions where writers have the opportunity to "pitch" their songs directly to publishers and producers.
 

In the evenings, after the workshops have concluded, on Friday and Saturday nights the rooms will be set up for showcases. To participate in the showcases, you must be a registrant for the Symposium. The cost for each showcase slot is $35 and is an add-on price to the Symposium registration fees. You can add one (1) showcase from this page along with your online registration for the Symposium. If you wish to have more than one showcase,go to the showcase page and add the desired quantity to your cart before proceeding to checkout. If you are registering for more than one showcase, we will stagger the scheduling across both nights. ASG reserves the right to set all showcase times.

After the showcases are done, then the real fun begins as songwriters convene in every nook and cranny we can find for all-night pickin' sessions. You will be exhausted by the end of the weekend from all the activity, but you are guaranteed to be rejuvenated, invigorated, inspired and ready to take on 2009.
 

This year's event will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Austin. For those who wish to stay at the hotel for the weekend, the Hilton has set aside a block of rooms at a special rate for those attending the event. To reserve your sleeping accommodations, contact the Hilton directly, either online or by phone. The following information will be all you need to know to get you pointed in the right direction.
 
To book your room online:
1.     Access the Hilton website with the URL: www.hgiaustin.com
2.     Input the check in/check out date, then click on GO.
3.     Scroll down to Special Accounts, Input the Group/Convention Code in the designated Box.
4.     Your code is: ASG
5.     Click on continue.
6.     Choose room type and click continue.
7.     Finsh the booking and save the confirmation number for your reference.
 
To reserve your rooms by phone, call toll free 877.782.9444 and give them your code: ASG
 
To book a room on shoulder dates, or to extend your stay, call the hotel itself directly at 512.457.7943.
 
The Hilton Garden Inn is loacted in Downtown Austin at:

500 North I.H. 35
Austin, Texas 78701
 

As stated above, we are continuing to work on details for the event and there may be additional breaking news about the Syposium as we get closer to the date. So, be sure to check back with the website often to get as much information as you can before the event. But, do not delay on registering if you wish to save yourself some money. Either way, make your plans to be there and get your 2009 songwriting year started off on the right foot, so to speak. To register online, see the details below and we look forward to seeing you there.
 

There are two price lines, one for currently active members and one for non-members. The difference between the two prices is $50 additional for non-members; however, the additional $50 pays your dues for 2009 and guarantees that you will be able to renew your membership in perpetuity each year for the same rate, as long as you do not allow your membership to lapse. ASG membership fees are due to increase to $100 a year starting February 1, so it is in your best interest to become a member before then as you will only pay $50 a year to renew thereafter.
 

The baseline non-member price until midnight January 8, 2009 is $225. On January 9, the non-member walk up registration price increases to $275. and walk-up registration at the door for non-members is $295.