Austin Songwriter Getaway
February 26 – March 1, 2020
Known as “The Live Music Capital of the World,” Austin, TX boasts over 250 live music venues featuring everything from rock and country to blues and jazz.
It’s home to the legendary South by Southwest Festival and Grammy Award Winners play in local bars. Music is a part of the fabric of life in Austin with up-and-coming musicians playing in the airport, the grocery store, taquerias, cafes, and city council meetings. It’s also regularly featured on television through Austin City Limits which began in 1976 and is still going strong. In fact, we’ll be touring Austin City Limits during our stay.
Each day of our Austin Songwriter Getaway will include opportunities to create your own songs during the day in workshops and recording studios while we experience music in a variety of Austin neighbourhoods each night from the jam-packed 6th Street bars to the bungalows and patios of Rainey Street. We’ll hit up Congress Street and South Lamar and a bit of East Austin finding out just what makes Austin so weird and wonderful along the way.
HIGHLIGHTS
- 5 days and 4 nights in Austin, TX
- Songwriting workshops and original song feedback
- One-on-one mentoring and feedback from Murray Foster
- A workshop led by a well-respected Austin songwriter
- Record a song in an Austin recording studio (see details below)
- All meals with the exception of one lunch on your own
- A tour of Austin City Limits
- Evening visits to some of Austin’s most popular live music venues
- OPTIONAL: Guests may choose to join one final meal in Austin at the storied Stubbs Gospel Brunch (CAD$40)
Registration does not include airfare, lodging, alcohol or personal expenses. A few beds are available to be reserved in our Getaway House. We have also set up a block of rooms at the nearby Wyndham Garden hotel. Transportation by shuttle van will be provided to and from the Wyndham Garden each day.
SONGWRITER GETAWAY REGISTRATION
Songwriter Registration – $950
Non-Songwriting Guests – $650
All prices are in Canadian Dollars.
Installment plan ended December 31, 2019.
Registration fee does not include airfare, lodging, travel insurance, alcohol or personal expenses. Rooms with us are sold out. See other lodging options below.
Songwriter Getaways are BYOB. Although we do not provide alcohol, you are welcome to consume it both at our workshop locations and at restaurants and bars nearby.
AUSTIN GETAWAY HOUSE LOCATION
Songwriter Getaway House
3000 South 5th Street
Austin, TX 78704
AUSTIN LODGING
There are two options for lodging. You can make your own arrangements at a nearby hotel or you can stay with us if space is available. We have limited rooms available at our Austin Songwriter Getaway House. We also have some shared rooms with twin beds. These rooms will be shared with a same-gender songwriter. We also have a couple solo rooms which are great for couples. Couples will share a king bed. Non-songwriting guests staying in the Getaway House must share a bed with their songwriter partner.
Solo Room – $720 Early Bird; $775 Regular – SOLD OUT!Shared Room – $675 – SOLD OUT!
Prices are in Canadian Dollars.
Lodging and Sunday Gospel Brunch are optional.
Rooms in the Getaway House have sold out. We have some additional options below for nearby lodging. If you have questions about lodging, please email us – we’re happy to help you figure things out!
If you are not staying with us, there are other lodging options in the nearby Austin-Bergstrom Airport area and downtown that you can book on your own including hotels and Airbnbs. See below for some options.
RECOMMENDED HOTEL
We have arranged for a small block of rooms at the nearby Wyndham Garden Austin. The hotel provides a complimentary airport shuttle to the Wyndham upon arrival in Austin. We will pick up and drop off guests to this location daily.
Wyndham Garden Austin ★★★
3401 S, I-35, Austin, TX 78741 (1.9 miles)
We have arranged for a discounted rate of US$89+tax for our guests. This rate is guaranteed until February 5, 2020.
Free hotel-provided airport shuttle available. Daily shuttle transportation to the getaway house available.
CLICK HERE TO RESERVE YOUR ROOM.
If the rate does not automatically appear, please enter 02246702TO in the Group Code field. If you experience technical difficulties or wish to make your rervation by phone, call 1- 800-996-3426. Give the associate your desired dates of stay and ask for the “Toronto Songwriting School” rate.
OTHER NEARBY HOTEL OPTIONS
Aiden by Best Western ★★★
2200 S IH 35 Frontage Rd, Austin, TX 78704 (2.5 miles)
Hampton Inn & Suites Austin-Airport Area South ★★★
4141 Governors Row, Austin, TX 78744 (2.6 miles)
Candlewood Suites Austin-South ★★
4320 S IH 35 Frontage Rd, Austin, TX 78745 (2.5 miles)
DOWNTOWN HOTEL OPTION
Hilton Garden Inn Austin Downtown/Convention Center ★★★
500 N Interstate Hwy 35, Austin, TX 78701
AIRBNB
Austin also has many options for Airbnb rentals. You can rent a room in someone’s home or apartment or rent a full apartment/house for yourself. Many of our guests have used this option for past getaways with positive results. We encourage you read the reviews and host policies if you select this option. If you are new to Airbnb, use our Referral Link to receive a credit toward your first reservation.
RECORD AN ORIGINAL SONG
All songwriters who attend the Austin Songwriter Getaway will have the opportunity to refine and record a demo of an original song in a professional recording studio in Austin.
Songwriters should bring a song they’ve already written or are currently working on to the getaway. There, they can receive one-on-one feedback from Murray Foster to help finish the song. Then we’ll take it into the studio to record a demo.
This experience will give songwriters the chance to experience a professional studio recording session. If the song needs additional recording or mixing after the session, time can be arranged with Murray Foster at the Toronto Songwriting School studio in Toronto.
SUNDAY GOSPEL BRUNCH (optional)
Don’t want to say goodbye when the Getaway ends? Join us for Gospel Brunch at the legendary Stubb’s BBQ with live Gospel music and a world-renowned buffet, featuring such items as: pancakes, fresh-baked biscuits, southern-style grits, egg migas, fried catfish, and their famous BBQ brisket. There is an addition Cdn$40 cost at the time of registration to add on Sunday brunch.
ITINERARY
WEDNESDAY
Noon – Check-in
2pm – Shuttle Pickup from Hotel & Visitor Center
3pm – Orientation & 1st Workshop
6pm – Dinner follow by an evening on Rainey Street
THURSDAY
9am – Breakfast at Getaway House
10am – Songwriter Workshop
12pm – Lunch
2pm – Walking Tour
6pm – Dinner followed by a visit to 6th Street
FRIDAY
9am – Breakfast at Getaway House
11am – Austin City Limits Tour
12:30 pm – Food Truck Lunch on Your Own
Free Afternoon for Writing/Sightseeing
4pm – Guest Speaker
6pm – Concert
7:30pm – Franklin BBQ Dinner at Getaway House
Song Circle
SATURDAY
Morning – Free Time for Writing
11am – Getaway House Brunch
12:30pm – Song Share
2-5pm – Group Recording Session
6pm – Concert
7:30pm – Dinner
SUNDAY
9:30am – Check-out
10:30am – Gospel Brunch at Stubbs BBQ (optional)
Note: There may be slight alterations to the itinerary based on weather and group interests.
FAQs
What time does the getaway start and end?
Our first official Austin Songwriter Getaway activity will be a 3pm Orientation at the Getaway House. We’ll have dinner at 6pm on Rainey Street.
Check-out will be at 9:30am on Sunday. Guests will have the option of joining us for a gospel brunch for an additional fee of CAD$40.
Are instruments provided?
We do not provide instruments. You are encouraged to bring your own instrument. If traveling by air, please verify all the baggage requirements for instruments. We are also happy to help arrange instrument rentals. Guitars and keyboards rent for roughly $20-50. If you require an instrument rental in Austin, please email us in advance of the getaway.
I’m new to songwriting. Is the Austin Songwriter Getaway right for me?
Absolutely! We plan our songwriter getaway trips for all-levels from the first-time songwriter to seasoned pros looking for new inspiration. We’ve even had lyricists who don’t play an instrument. We’re a supportive and welcoming group. You’ll be writing songs in no time!
I have a dietary restriction. Can you accommodate me?
It would be our pleasure! We can arrange for meals that meet your needs. Just let us know when registering so we can plan accordingly.
What if my non-songwriting spouse/partner/BFF wants to join me?
Great! We’ve had many guests join our songwriters on our trips. There are a lot of activities for them to participate in and Austin has plenty for them to do while you’re busy songwriting. Just select to the option to bring a non-songwriter guest when registering.
What if I don’t want to go to one of the scheduled activities?
That’s absolutely fine! We’ll stay connected with you so you can rejoin at the next one.
Can I bring my pet?
Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate pets on our songwriter getaways.
How to I get from the airport to the Getaway House or my hotel?
You have a few options! Some hotels like the Wyndham Garden have their own airport shuttle. But if your lodging does not offer this, we have a few suggestions for you.
SuperShuttle
SuperShuttle will take you from the airport to any location you desire. Most trips are around US$20 and can be booked in advance.
Metro Bus
Capital Metro’s Route 20 Manor Road/Riverside bus runs to and from the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport every 15 minutes. It is $1.25 for a single ride. From the airport, the bus heads down to Riverside Drive before stopping in downtown around the University of Texas campus. It travels on Manor Road near the Mueller neighborhood before turning toward Northeast Austin, where it reaches its destination on Manor near U.S. 183.
Rideshare Apps
Rideshare apps are a popular option in Austin. Most will run you roughly US$25-30 from the airport to downtown.
Uber – First time using it? Try this discount code: maryk381
Lyft – First time using it? Try this discount code: KRAUSE49521
Ride Austin – Austin’s local rideshare company.
I’m not staying in the preferred hotel. How do I get to you each day?
We recommended using either Uber or Lyft to get to the Getaway House or to the pick up location at the Wyndham Garden hotel.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Participants who cancel one month before the getaway will receive a full refund minus a $100 cancellation fee.
If a participant cancels after January 26, 2020, the participant will receive a 50% refund.