Friday, May 29, 2009

I keep seeing this posted on Twitter...


"Everything is dancing if you look close enough."

Just something light for the end of a long mixing week. Just sent most of Alex's (myspace.com/alexhighton) to Graemme for mastering. Have meeting about a possible new album project Sat., then vocals with Melissa Endean, sax sessions with Jerry Cook next week...and full speed on the Authentic album.

Bobby's is so close to finished I can taste it, and I am thinking of taking some time off, possibly in July. What that actually translates to is: I will most likely clean the basement and or yard and or garage etc etc etc in addition to recording something or other.

I-just-can't-stop-myself!

I love what I do, what can I say.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

My favorite banjo player~



Hurray! Steve charted with his new album "The Crow" in it's first week!

Saturday, May 23, 2009

So much information out there!


I came across this on Artists House. In case you missed it, you can get the free download of the book. I have yet to look at it, but I guarantee it will have some good stuff in it. I know, when to read!?

It seems even more difficult to find time to read things on line, and that's another issue - filtering information, but I'll save that for next time.

http://newrockstarphilosophy.com/2009/05/20/do-it-yourself-cause-nobody-else-will/

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

SInce I have been on the subject....




....here is a little more about 'Success'.

I am not sure if you want to watch the entire 25 minutes, but in case you do here it is:

(http://tr.youtube.com/watch?v=i5ZeIVPe5dg)

It is Gov. Schwarzenegger's Commencement address at USC a few weeks ago. He had some great things to say about his steps to success, and no matter your politics or preference for action movies, you cannot deny that he is the successful person he wanted to become.

I took notes for you. So here it is, Arnold's 6 steps to success:

1) Trust yourself, figure out what makes YOU happy.

2) Break the rules(not laws), think outside the box. (Says his wife has a T-Shirt that reads: 'well behaved women rarely make history').

3) Don't be afraid to fail

4) Don't listen to the naysayers, don't listen to anyone who says it can't be done. Instead use it.

5) Work your butt off, no pain no gain. He says, even if we sleep for 6 hours a night, look at all the rest of the time we have to work towards our goals!

(He interrupts himself here to quote Ted Turner: "Early to bed early to rise, work like hell and advertise!").

6) Whatever path you take in your life, you have to find the time to give back.

(He quotes Gen Schriver here, but I didn't get it word for word, something like: tear down your mirror that makes you look at yourself, look beyond yourself, only then can you help others).



So there you have it, some wise words. He also said 'I'll be back!", but you probably could have seen that coming.

First of all a big apology!


Sorry everyone for all the spam, I just read this article and went through Twitter and grabbed up all our names. I will hold off getting one for Busterdog, lest you all decide to tar and feather or worse yet, send me straight through to your junk filter!

Here is the article, I'll expect your Twitter spam shortly.

http://mashable.com/2009/05/20/twitter-personal-brand/

Monday, May 18, 2009

Simple pleasures



Most of you know we're mixing Alex Highton (myspace.com/alexhighton) right now, and for those of you who have not yet been over to check out his site, please take a look at the video he just made with his family.

His song 'You've Got the Trees' is playing over it.

So good....a reminder to keep it simple...this is how it's done.


Alex says simply "We went for a walk with the kids and made a video".

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Success




To follow up on an earlier blog, where I talked about 'doing it yourself' regarding marketing your music in today's industry, I also wanted to say that successful people whether they are successful artists or athletes, leaders or gardeners, probably did not come by their success easily.

Success is work, but the great thing about it is, you can love the work you do. That is your choice.

Here is a little Sunday quickie for you, to get you revved up for the week ahead.



http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/richard_st_john_s_8_secrets_of_success.html

Thank you James Kurtz III for the use of your graphic! http://www.jameskurtz.com/

Saturday, May 16, 2009

The Elevator Pitch




Everyone who has a Sonicbids account probably knows what this is, but if you do not know what an Elevator Pitch is, it is you describing your music to someone in one or two short sentences. Here is a great guide from Derek about this very topic. It is of the utmost importance in today's music industry and should be the starting point for your campaign.

Monday, May 11, 2009

Ignorantia legis neminem excusat


As part of my Criminology undergrad, I took a year of law. This is one of the first things we learned. Happily this is not the case in the world of music and I can easily and confidently admit that I know nothing and I'm glad of it.

I have no idea how things work, who I should know or the ins and outs. It's a good thing because if I did know all that I would be spending all my time breaking old habits rather than getting the job done.

The music industry of today is an entirely new animal, and though I have been a musician all my life, I have only been a producer and involved in the industry for less than 10 years. This is happy timing because I came into this arena right at the beginning of the changes and with no knowledge of how things worked, I just started doing what came naturally, what I thought best and what seemed logical.

What I have found so far is: not everything works, there are still some of the old ways left, (and they seem to be more of a hindrance really), and that anybody can do anything, sky is the limit, and most importantly, that this industry is now set in motion and is still evolving.

I also think that it will now expand exponentially, and will keep on with it's momentum even after social media has hit a wall.

It's a good time to be fluid, with things changing so quickly...so don't panic, breathe, and ride the wave.

Friday, May 8, 2009

A little night music for your soul - fill up your cup!


Playing For Change | Song Around The World "Stand By Me" from Concord Music Group on Vimeo.


Thanks Linds for sending this over...wow that has got to be the best job in the world...next to mine!

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Anything for a buck?


Sadly, I was not surprised to read this...I hope everyone will take note, and you luthiers will especially take care who and where you purchase your wood from...


May 1, 2009
RCMP investigates after tree poachers hit Burnaby Mountain


VANCOUVER – When an old-growth maple tree falls in the majestic woods of British Columbia's Burnaby Mountain, does it make a sound? Yes... but only once it's been transformed into a guitar.
Poachers have chopped down five trees and slashed at least 25 more within the mountain's conservation area in search of a specific grain used in high-end guitars.
"It just makes you sick," said Henry deJong, a design technician for Burnaby Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services. "It's frustrating to walk into a pristine area, and you expect to enjoy the flora and fauna, and you find these giants cut down. Some of them are not even reaching half their lifespan."
Const. Kevin Hamilton with the RCMP's three-man Forest Crime Investigation Unit says those taking the wood are looking for a grain commonly known as curly maple.
"They're looking for compression marks within the wood, commonly used for manufacturing musical instruments," he said. "These trees with these compression marks, once they're sanded and finished, they have a beautiful marble look that's very esthetically pleasing."
Hamilton said the wood is also renowned for its acoustic features.
Police and park staff believe those doing the tree poaching are entering the remote areas armed with chainsaws.
"It seems that these thieves have kind of zeroed in on these isolated areas where they know that they're not going to be seen. They'll go in secretly and start cutting the trees down once they find what they want," deJong said. But finding what they want isn't all that easy.
"They'll typically cut a chunk of bark off at the trunk of the tree," Hamilton said. "You can feel a rippling effect on the cambian layer. That's the wet, whitish layer just under the bark."
Only 10 per cent of the maple trees have this characteristic. And, of those that do, just five to 10 per cent of the tree gets used. But even trees that just get slashed and don't get chopped down aren't out of the woods.
"If they've poked the holes in it and haven't found what they're looking for, the tree will then be susceptible to infection, like fungus and insect infestation," Hamilton said.
The wood is typically chopped into pieces about 60 centimetres in length and 15 to 20 centimetres in width. Hamilton said a block can fetch between $20 and $200 at sawmills.
The tree poaching investigation is being led by Burnaby RCMP. The detachment's Cpl. Jane Baptista says those involved face potential jail terms of six months and a $2,000 fine.
"There is some danger. One of the trees that was cut down actually covered a fire rescue route," she said.
Baptista conceded that those doing the poaching won't be easy to catch. Hamilton said much the same, stressing the reliance on tips from not only the public, but also those running sawmills.
"A good analogy I use is it's very similar to the salvagers who take in the stolen metal. We try to enforce it in the same manner. We rely upon the integrity of the mills and the public," he said.
DeJong just wants to make sure the ancient trees are protected.
"It seems like the poachers are getting more brazen all the time."

Monday, May 4, 2009

Yes, perhaps I am a nerd...


But I am finding all of this so interesting...the marriage of marketing and social media.

http://mashable.com/2009/04/14/data-visualizations-social-media/

The sheer amount of marketing information I am learning, and have learned in the last month, is astounding.

Putting it to the test these days, today I wrote my first marketing plan and sent off an Executive Summary to an Angel Investor.

A huge thank you to Dave Brodsky the Producer of The Rhythms of New York TV show who pointed me in the right direction.

And a special big thank you to mother nature and fate for allowing me to fall and fracture my pelvis while trying to catch a falling guitar, in order to give me this most amazing amount of learning time..unheard of for people doing what I do.... (ah there you see I found some good in it after all!)...

And speaking of marriage>>>> a big congratulations to one of my best friends for finally doing it, in the exactly perfect right way.

http://www.thesundaybest.org/2009/05/a-day-i-will-never-forget.html

Sunday, May 3, 2009

I wish I had one of these some days



Really busy week ahead. I have booked Mastering at Zen with Graemme for both Melissa Endean and Alex Highton and we're just finishing up tracking for Bobby Richards...it's kind of like the perfect storm.

If only Buster had opposable thumbs, at least he could maybe do the washing up. Well, he is kind of small to reach the sink...

Oh side note: EarthRun(.org) was such a huge success, thanks to all of you who supported it and got out for a run and had a chance to hear some great music! You've all made David Suzuki a very happy man.