Memo
to Demo
3 Day Songwriting Bootcamp w/Fini Bearman
Monday 20th July- Wednesday 22nd July, 7:30-9pm
Online
You don’t need more tools, you just need to write more songs!
Memo to Demo is a 3 day online bootcamp covering the 3 building blocks of songwriting; words, melody and chords. We identify exactly what's been getting in your way and give you the tools and the space to write through it. You'll leave not just knowing more about songwriting, but actually doing the thing.
Deep down you know you have something to say, but it's not making it onto the page.
You have ideas everywhere- voice memos & notebooks bursting at the seams- but they never seem to turn into finished songs.
You keep telling yourself you'll start properly once you know more; chords, music theory, when you have more time, but this moment never seems to arrive.
You're waiting on other people - a collaborator or a producer - and they keep letting you down or not showing up.
Your guide
Fini Bearman
I've been a professional musician for 20+ years, but for a long time I was writing just a handful of songs a year and calling myself a songwriter. I was frustrated; always chasing the song, trying to find my voice, but lost with the lack of routine. When I started teaching songwriting I realised I had to walk the walk, so I committed to writing consistently... and what happened wasn't what I expected.
I didn't immediately start writing amazing songs, but what I discovered was that the practice itself was the transformation. Just showing up regularly opened up possibilities & the songwriting potential that I hadn't been able to access before.
Tools matter, 100%. Technique and approaches matter, too. But the only thing that's really going to shift the dial is writing more songs.What happens on the day?
Working With Your Song in the Room…
You will get dedicated 1:1 time with both me & Tom working through your song together, making arrangement decisions, capturing songwriting details, exploring performance choices, and hearing it transform from the version in your head into something real and alive, and in the room. Experiencing Other Songs in the Room…
Over the course of the day (when you're not working with your song!), you will experience the magic and transformation as other participants workshop their songs, hearing them coming to life. You will gain a unique and valuable insight into the development cycle of original songs.How To Prepare
All you need is the rough idea for a song & a chart or lead sheet. If the idea of writing your song out on paper feels daunting, don’t let that stop you. I offer each participant the option to have their song written out in advance so Tom has what he needs on the day. 
The Venue
The Vortex Jazz Club
There is a reason we're doing this here and not in a hotel conference room. The Vortex Jazz Club is one of London's most iconic & legendary music venues; a small, intimate & independently run jazz club that has been the beating heart of London's jazz, contemporary & alternative music scene music for almost 40 years.When you find yourself on a stage like this and you have the opportunity to perform your own song, there is a feeling of 360*, like, this is the whole point of the songwriting process - the end game - to bring your song to the room.
The experience will make you feel alive, and it will reignite the creative spark within you- this is why we write songs - to connect & convey emotion, to tell stories, to share something of ourselves with the audience. At the Vortex there is a sense of lineage and legacy, and this setting tells you that what you've written deserves to be taken seriously. And that's why you're here.This Workshop is for you if…
You're writing songs at home but you’ve never heard them played by a professional musician.
You know that your song is saying something meaningful but you don’t know if it’s coming across yet.
The idea of bringing your song to a professional feels audacious, but you’re ready to give it a try!
You’ve written songs for years but you’ve never had the confidence to share them.
You’ve never rehearsed your own songs and wouldn’t know where to start!
You want someone else to handle the logistics so you can focus on the song.
FAQs
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Not at all. Tom is one of those rare musicians who can step inside any song & find what it needs, whether it's jazz, folk, pop, soul, or something you can't quite categorise yet. Bring whatever you've written and we can figure it out - no song discrimination here! It all belongs in the room.
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This isn't a performance workshop so as long as you can deliver the song and you are happy to workshop arrangement suggestions, this is absolutely fine.
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No, they just need to be in a state that could be workshopped, for example a verse and chorus; words and harmony but no melody. The workshop is an opportunity for you to find the answers you are looking for.
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You can record / film the time your slot with have with Fini & Tom.
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If you are unable to make a chart then don't worry - I offer every participant the option to have their song written out in advance so Tom has what he needs on the day. We can sort this out together once you've signed up - don't let this be the thing that stops you!
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You will have half an hour in the room with me & Tom to workshop your song, which will include time to try out arrangement & performance suggestions, plus any compositional details that need figuring out. I will do my best to ensure no participant feels rushed during this valuable time.
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This is one of the hidden gifts of the day. You get to watch every other song go through the same process- the choices, the discoveries, the moments something suddenly falls into place.
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Your song (and lyrics if you need them!), plus any snacks or packed lunch.
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We will break for lunch from 1-2pm. Dalston is a vibrant area with a lot of cafes & eateries, including a great selection of Turkish and Middle Eastern restaurants.
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Your session will take place in front of the group, but as a ticketed event I will do everything I can to make the day feel safe & inclusive. I realise that for some people this might feel like a big ask, but don't forget that everyone is in the same boat- working with a brand new song -and actually this will create a really supportive and generous atmosphere, because we’re all in it together. I think you will also be surprised at how quickly the self-consciousness drops once we're workshopping & realising your musical vision - whatever the song in your head sounds like!
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Then we will be right there with you. This isn't a performance, it's a process of experimentation, and perhaps stepping out of your comfort zone. I've spent twenty years helping people through exactly this moment. There's no pressure to give the perfect performance, it's about the song, and we can do it together.
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If you have a song you believe in and you're ready to hear what it can do, you belong!
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Absolutely- that's exactly what the 'Be In The Room' ticket is for. You'll spend the full day inside the process- watching ten songs come to life, experiencing how arrangement and performance decisions get made in real time. A lot of people find attending a workshop like this as a non-participant, or audience member helps give them the confidence to bring their own song next time.
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You're welcome to, but you don't need to. Tom will be on piano, and the focus is on your song - the melody, the lyrics, the harmony and groove. If playing guitar or ukulele helps you feel grounded or adds to the song, then please do bring it along.
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The Vortex is fully accessible - there is a lift at the back of the downstairs club which which will take you upstairs (to where our workshop will be taking place). It's worth checking their website or speaking with them directly if you have any other specific needs, and I would be happy to help with this once you've signed up.
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With only 10 places, each one matters. Full refunds are available up to 14 days before the workshop. After that, your place may be transferred to someone else but isn't refundable. If you wish to do this please be aware they will need to fill out the same questionnaire to ensure they have something suitable & understand what’s involved. If something unexpected comes up, please do get in touch- I will want to help you out if I can!