Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the cost to attend?
Chosen applicants pay $24.00 USD, to:
Venmo @JamesTristanRedding
Cash App $ JamesTristanRedding
Check / Money Order:
P. O. Box 68513
Nashville TN 37206
2. What is included in the admission price?
Overnight accommodations and retreat programming for this year's retreat.
The next one is Friday, October 24 - Sunday, October 26, 2025.
3. What is NOT included in the admission price?
Food or beverages. At the 2025 retreat, participants must either
bring food and drinks along or order for delivery during the retreat.
Transportation is not included, either, but no travel will be required
after each participant arrives on-site.
4. What is the schedule, when do I arrive / depart / etc.?
Our 2025 event will begin Friday, October 24, and conclude on Sunday, October 26.
Here's a rough timeline, subject to revision as the dates approach:
+ Fri. Oct. 24, 2024 -- 5pm doors open, songwriters begin arriving
+ Fri. Oct. 24, 2024 -- 6pm dinner time for all who have arrived
+ Fri. Oct. 24, 2024 -- 9pm bedtime; lights out and silence
+ Sat. Oct. 25, 2024 -- 2am wake up, get ready to write
+ Sat. Oct. 25, 2024 -- 3am begin writing!
+ Sun. Oct. 26, 2024 -- 3am stop writing! Loose bedtime
+ Sun. Oct. 26, 2024 -- 10am wake up and share breakfast
+ Sun. Oct. 26, 2024 -- 12pm noon departure
5. When is the deadline to apply?
October 1, 2025, at midnight central time.
6. Where is this event taking place?
We don’t publish the exact location, for purposes of safety and privacy.
But this year's retreat is taking place in East Nashville.
7. Who owns the rights to the songs created at the retreat?
Every writer retains 100% of his or her intellectual property.
8. Where will we sleep?
Accommodations will be a combination of beds, couches, and sleeping bags. We will coordinate in advance to ensure every participant is comfortable.
9. Will there be photography and videos captured?
All participants are welcome to record video and take still photos for content.
10. Got another question we haven’t answered here?
11. What should I bring to the retreat?
1. A tent and sleeping bag if you’ll be camping. To include 24 writers, every available inch of space is vital! The event organizing team is coordinating which writers are willing and able to camp vs. which need to share a room indoors.
2. A cell phone charger, including the regular wall plug, not just the USB port.
3. A power strip: the more we have, the more people can plug in computers and phones simultaneously. These are surprisingly affordable, only a few dollars.
4. A laptop computer or tablet, if you have either: helpful to put lyrics in a place they can be saved, organized, and shared. For those camping, if you prefer not to store electronics in the tent, you’re welcome to leave valuables indoors with the event management team for safe keeping.
5. A pair of earplugs and a pair of headphones: in close quarters, even a little sound carries and sleep is precious. And during the writing times, some private sound may be helpful.
6. A toothbrush and toothpaste: especially in between long days and short nights, brushing one’s teeth can help refresh the mind too.
7. A hand towel or full towel: a shower can also rejuvenate the body and mind, and even washing and drying a face can really renew and energize.
8. A reusable water bottle: staying hydrated is a building block of anything good in life, including writing good songs.
9. Snacks to share: we’ll set aside a surface at the venue for food that’s safe to share, so bring something along to help yourself and everyone else enjoy this overnight experience. Anything from muffins to tortilla chips, candy to fruit.
10. An instrument to write on: whether it’s a guitar, a small keyboard, a violin, etc. Anything with which you would usually write a song at home, bring the most compact and portable version of that.
11. A wide open mind!