New Sound’s… New Find’s!

In a world flooded with digital musical enhancements, I like to hear something raw and almost organic in comparison to the stagnant sound’s that surround us, I like to be caught and not bored, and that is what I hear in the upcoming duo ‘Dear Jealousy’. From the creator and former guitarist of the band ‘Chasing Thrill’, which I am already a big fan of myself, I’m interested to see where this new music venture takes Andy. The style is indie/acoustic with a quirky flair, his vocalist has similarities to Paramore’s Hayley and pop artist Cassadee Pope even a little Nora Jones. You can check out their cover of ‘Goyte’s’ Hit ‘Somebody I used to Know’ and a Drake and Rihana cover @ http://www.youtube.com/dearjealousy Keep an ear out for their new EP that will be out later this summer.

Anita Drink, just the name makes me want to know more! A rock trio that performs across Orlando bringing a weekend style to the stage as well as the legendary Jill Tower’s who if you didn’t already know has performed with so many great’s including Pat Benetar to Deep Purple just to name a few and is the lyricist behind ‘Save the Children’ for the North American Children’s Watch. Other band members include Jill’s daughter Kaleigh LeBeau on bass and Randy Coole on drums. They are a must see! Keep up to date on http://www.reverbnation.com/anitadrink

‘Tiger Eyes’ Interview

1.Now first I must ask what relation does Tiger Eyes have to the band Lilly and the Tigers?
“When we first started we went by that but we’ve been through so many changes we decided to update our name.”

2.Could all of you introduce yourselves?
We are:
Chrissy Chase- Vocals/ bombshell
Mead Hall – Drums/hair fever
Pi Phi – Guitar/math major
Diego – Bass/translator

3. Who are the artist you draw the most inspiration from?

“We’re a very diverse group and draw from many different groups. Some include: Madonna, Goldfrapp, No Doubt, Berlin, La Roux, Incubus, Depeche Mode, and even Katy Perry.”

4. Style Wise, how would you describe “Tiger Eyes”?
“Electro Pop Rock with dance influences.”

5.If you could chose one venue in Florida to perform in where would it be?
“The House of Blues with Britt Daley and Dollface which are two local bands we are friends with.”

6.If you could tour with any band past or present who would it be?
“La Roux or Little Dragon would be a dream.”

7.What is your overall goal for the band, what kind of impression would you like to leave?

“The over all goal is to be the biggest band in the world. We want to sell out Wembley and play the first show on the moon. We would like to motivate young and old to follow their dreams.”

8.Now, if we dared you to tell our audience something weird or unexpected about you in 10 seconds, What might you say ?
“We all love Lionel Richie “

Thanks for the Interview Tiger Eyes!
Stay updated to their upcoming show schedule and new music @

http://www.facebook.com/tigereyesband

Album Review: Resurrect by Eleven:11

Eleven:11

Resurrect

(self release)

 Eleven:11 is the brain child of the one and only Shyam Raj. Originally from Singapore, he’s traded working on jingles for writing epic anthem power ballads. Resurrect was recorded and mixed locally at the Music Lab by Phil Basile and Andrew Hautzenroeder. It hosts a whole slew of guest appearances on the album by central florida area musicians including John Valeri, Ricardo Rodriguez, Jacob Billups, and Bob Zacconi. Mastering on the album was done by Dave Donnaly, from DNA Mastering, who’s worked on films and albums from bands like Kiss and Journey. At times it shows some influence from bands like Creed or Soundgarden and other 90′s era rock bands. Drawing on Raj’s expansive musical knowledge the songs are punctuated by ambient noise and spontaneously composed interludes. The project itself represents something very deep to Shyam and he worked hard to keep it an entirely independently financed endeavor. The songs are inspired by everything from change to numerology to his personal experiences. Moving to Orange City and meeting drummer Fred Wendlend for example. Raj also set a rule for the production, all recordings were done straight through. No creative editing. No Triggers. No auto tune. All of the recordings are live performances. The tracks are pleasantly illuminated with a lush instrumentation consisting of cellos, oboes, saxophones, violins, and a full choir. Shyam says his ultimate goal with the project is to “reach out, to inspire and comfort people who feel that it is important to stay positive about life and that things can change for the better.” He says he didn’t make this for any kind of commercial success but purely as an independent artistic statement.

http://11eleven.bandcamp.com/

http://www.eleven11online.com/

https://www.facebook.com/eleven11music

THE BUSINESS ETIQUETTE OF THE ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS

There’s a time and a place to let that freak flag fly and if that place is not onstage or in front of a camera, it’s not the right place. All societies and groups have unwritten rules for properly interacting with each other and the entertainment business is no exception.  The environment may look different (less kakis and polos, more black t-shirts and tattoos) but there is still a business etiquette to follow. Business is about building relationships and there are guidelines to work within each relationship in order to make it successful.

I spoke with Thomas “T” Jenkins III, CEO of Conscious Mind Records to get his thoughts on the best way to handle your (entertainment) business.

SAYS WHO?!

The 1^st step in building relationships is to know who to talk to. If you don’t know then ask. Don’t spend all your energy sending press kits to a bar owner for a gig if they outsource to a booking agent. Otherwise you waste your time and theirs.  And make sure to tell them what you can do for them instead of just asking for something. T of Conscious Mind Records said, “I run a business…I have to have a product I can sell.

Make sure all band members know who is allowed to speak on the band’s behalf.  An Orlando band booked a rare acoustic gig but because the bassist didn’t have an acoustic, he couldn’t play. So he emailed and canceled the gig without the rest of the band knowing. The venue was getting a cancelation email and an email confirming details from different band members. No one will work with a group that brings that kind of confusion and drama.

When trying to make contacts, How you approach can be as important as Who you approach. T said, “I prefer people get at me through someone that personally knows me. If they can’t do that, then they need to have a package ready.  When they approach me cold, they need to have their music and themselves at the top of their game – READY.  If I ask you to sing right there, be ready. You only get one shot.”

FOLLOW UP

There is a fine line between following up and outright stalking. Have patience. “Wait 2 weeks before calling or sending another email. If nothing, then wait a week and send another.  If there’s no response after that – that’s your response. I may want to listen to the music but it can sit in the car for a while, so follow up is good.  Just space it out.”

To avoid confusion and set expectations, indicate in your conversation or email, how and when you will follow up. It’s always nice to ask if they have a communication preference. If you ask for or give a time line of communication there is less of a chance it will be seen as unwanted or annoying.

RSVP

Respond to all requests. Even if that response is, ‘I can’t address this right now. Please give me a few weeks.’ People feel slighted when they are not acknowledged. Even if your response denies what they ask for, that you responded at all can earn their respect.

WHO ARE YOU ANYWAY?

Even if you’re selling out hometown clubs and have 5 thousand LIKES on Facebook, no one knows who you are. It’s ok if someone doesn’t know your name. It’s not personal. In the beginning of conversations say a quick reminder of who you are and what you do. i.e. ‘Sue, booking manager for…’ If you are communicating thru emails, keep it semi formal. If you get to casual too quick and assume they know who ‘Sue’ is without any other indication, your email could end up in the trash bin. Don’t make them re read your previous emails.

When you tell them your function don’t assume they’ll know what you want from them. If you want something, ask for it specifically. Saying, ‘We should work together!’ is a good start but should not be the sum total of your pitch. Being specific increases the chances of getting what you want. “Offer to do something. Impress me. Don’t just ask for a hand out. I get a lot of people who just want record deals. They’re still in that mindset.”

KEEP YOUR COMMITMENTS

Shocker: Artistic folks sometimes run late. That doesn’t make it ok. Big stars can be on their own time but unless you’re that star, it’s not your time to waste. At risk of sounding school marmish, punctuality is a mark of professionalism in any business. It speaks directly to the issue of integrity to honor your commitments. Yes, it is possible to have integrity and swallow a roadside turtle on stage. (I wish I could unsee that…)

A No Show can kill a career faster than winning American Idol.  (See Ruben Studdard) A good excuse may make it excusable, but not acceptable. Find a way to do what you say.

If you do get some face time, treat it like relationship building it is. If you ask, you pay. (hear that ladies?)  If it’s coffee don’t take up an hour of their time. In any case, the meeting should be focused on the conversation, not the location.  “The Trick is to not be so flashy,” said T.  “It has to be real.  When money comes into the equation it can separate the artists/product from the artist as a person.”

LOOSE LIPS ARE ONLY GOOD ON GROUPIES

In contrast to traditional business fields, in the entertainment business, there is an increased likelihood of openly seeing alcohol and drug abuse, and infidelity.  T thinks, “To each his own. If it’s hurting me or my business, so be it. We’re all adults and are accountable for our own actions.”  Got dirt? Heard a rumor? Keep it to yourself. No one will work for you if they think you’ll talk out of school. Even if its them that are engaging in poor/illegal behavior, it’s you who will be seen as untrustworthy. “That behavior is taking a chance. It can put their reputation and career in jeopardy. We try to keep Conscious Mind’s artists out of all that.”

HATERS GONNA HATE

Not everyone will like what you do and that’s ok. (Say it with me now!)  It’s not like your last romantic break up. You don’t have to bang your head and wonder why.  Like romantic relationships, focus your energy on those who like you. Don’t hate the haters. Just move on.

FREE COSTS MONEY

Someone pays for all that SWAG.  Ask sparingly and politely. I once overheard a radio DJ demand a free CD at a merch table cause he, ‘didn’t pay for music.’  He got one but the band called him a dick when they heard about it from their merch girl.  A better way would have been to ask and find out who the person who can authorize that is.

How you ask is important but so is location. “If we’re at place, displaying our stuff, go ‘head and ask. The worst you can hear is no. If you see me walking down the street, it’s probably not the best time.  Consumers always reach for something free. I do give-a-ways as advertising. There’s a value I get back.”

SAY THANK YOU

Thank You.

Joining the right team part 2: the sequel continues.

Casting Spell of Awesomeness!!!

Joining the right team Part 2

Last month I talked about all of the charities that come out during disasters and tragic events. If you goal is to work with an organization that is doing good works, you have to make sure they are legit. You don’t want to donate your valuable time and hard won treasure to someone’s secret off-shore bank account. And with a little research, you can make sure the organization you are planning on working with isn’t going to disappear in the night like the Colts did to Baltimore (I know it was a long time ago, but it still bugs me to this day. For those of you too young to remember this NFL travesty, look it up on Google).
Here are some tips on figuring out who to work with and who to avoid:

1. Big Broth…um, I mean the IRS: A good place to start is to check the organizations tax status. Click here to be re-directed to the IRS search site for charitable organizations. You can limit your search to those that have a tax exempt status or those that have had the status revoked. You can also find information on how to deduct you contributions on your taxes and download the all the necessary forms.
2. Show me the Form 990 tax return!: A phone call or visit to the organization isn’t out of order and may help you ferret out the good’uns from the bad’uns. Their name should be a clear indicator of what they do and who they are trying to help. Bob’s gerbil farm charity is probably not trying to raise money for victims of a tsunami in Micronesia. If they have a PO Box and no physical location, this should set off alarm bells in your head. Their brochure should tell you everything you need to know about administrative cost, the location of the recipients, the members of their board of directors and what percentage of the money they collect is used for their stated purpose. Ask to see a copy of their Form 990 tax return. This will give you a breakdown of how they spend their money. If they refuse to show you, take your giving elsewhere.
3. Let someone else do the research for you: Because of time restraints or general laziness, you can’t do all the leg work yourself. There are organizations that will do it for you. The National Charities Information Bureau is based in NYC and has a website lists the organizations that have met their “Standards in Philanthropy”. The American Institute of Philanthropy aka Charity Watch has a web site that lists hundreds of charities and rates them based on how they spend their money, their administrative procedures and their transparency. And not to be left out of the party, the Better Business Bureau has its Philanthropic Advisory Service to help you on your way to building those positive karma points. There are several other organizations that sift through all the info out there for you and make a recommendation as to who deserves your support. (authors note: I am in no way vouching for any of these organizations. They advertise that they can assist you in finding the right charities to give to, but having never used them, I cannot endorse them or their services)
4. Watch out for copycats: Some not so reputable organizations will hack a name from a well known organizations hoping you won’t be paying attention. You might not want to give your money to the Brats and Grills Clubs of America (although, it does sound like a tasty organization to be a part of) or Habitrails for Humanity. While despicable behavior, it’s not technically against the law. The original organization can take them to court, but your donation to them is still theirs and still doesn’t go to your intended group.
5. Under pressure: Any group that uses high pressure tactics to get you support should avoided. You’ll get that phone call from a group with a quick sales pitch and then “can I put you down for $XX.XX?”. It’s not really a question so much as a way to catch you off guard. They are hoping the fast talk and abruptness of the question, will get you to agree. If you feel like you are getting the stereotypical used car salesman hustle, then walk away.
6. I’ve got a bad feeling about this: Trust your gut. Follow your instincts. Channel your inner Hans Solo or use the force or whatever works best for you. Just remember, if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, smells like a duck….

Once again, I encourage you to give back to you community in time and /or treasure. Just make sure you give generously and give wisely. One day you or someone you love may need the services of one of one of these organizations. Their ability to remain a resource for the community is reliant on the members of that community giving what they can and taking only what they need. So pick up your axe or your wallet and show the love.

Joining the right team.

Recently, there have been a lot of tragic incidents in the area and around the world. From disastrous weather to violent uprisings and the accompanying government suppression. We’ve had people disappear without a trace or discovered to be dead, transportation accidents, natural disasters and recently, tragic deaths that may or may not have been intentional. Recently, the case of Trayvon Martin has stirred the emotions of people around the world. The comments have been coming fast and furious from all sides. We don’t have all the facts, but what we do know is this; On Feb. 29th George Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon Martin in Sanford. Emotions have been running high. The city of Sanford and the State of Florida has had a very harsh spotlight shined in its direction. There’s been a lot of media attention from around the world. People have written letters, blogs, recorded Youtube posts and created all manner of tributes and songs. Since this event, there have been protests, marches and fundraisers. I want to focus on the latter.

In previous posts, I’ve extolled the virtues of using you time and talents for worthy causes. The benefits are numerous. It can be a great way to gain exposure to a new audience. In some cases, there is media coverage, which can work in your favor as free advertising. There are several bands that have made their entire career by involving themselves with particular issues. Many organizations would love the help in exposing their message to new audiences. And since music is a truly universal language, it seems like an obvious fit.

One word of caution. Make sure you do your research. Check into any organization that claims to be raising money for a cause. Find out if it’s legit. You don’t want to be associated with any group that’s being dishonest in their actions. Your fans may choose to support the charity because of your involvement and if things turn out poorly, your good name is attached to a bad situation. If you are the one raising the money, make sure you are giving the money to the cause you claim to be raising money for. Whether it’s a special song, a video or a show, make sure you check the appropriate laws that govern these kind of things and be upfront and honest. Regardless of which side of the issues you fall on, your name is going to be attached to it. Once you put it out there, it’s always there. And you want to keep you name relatively clean.

The Florida Music Festival: What to Know Before You Go. (Part II)

 

Networking is Not an N Word

It’s not a bad thing. Nothing to be afraid of. It sounds stuffy but really means “saying hello with beer.”  Understand that you will learn far more at a music conference than you will promote. The information is priceless. Carry a pen and paper. Every festival I’ve ever been to, from CMJ on down, there’s always someone looking for a pen and paper. Use them to take notes after interactions to help when you follow up.

Networking is not about you. It is the art of being interested in the people you talk to.  Try to know something about those you plan to meet. Ask them questions about themselves. No matter how much you want to rave about how you melt off faces, make the conversations about them and they will walk away remembering you. Talk about them enough and at a certain point they will ask what you do and then ask for your music. When someone asks for your music they will more likely listen to it as compared to having a CD shoved in their hands.

Since the FMF is more for the fans, there will be way more music lovers than industry folks. Talk to everyone anyways. There isn’t a single person that isn’t worthy of a few minutes of your time. You can never judge a book by its cover so don’t blow off talking to someone because you think they are just an attendee. They could easily be your next booking agent, manager, lawyer, or offer to film your next video.

If talking to strangers “isn’t your thing” then you’re screwed. Or you can nut up and just say hello. Then ask them about themselves. What is their favorite artist? Who did they come to see?  Seen any good showcases? What made you get into playing music? How did you start out in the music industry? As long as you get them talking about their experiences and opinions the conversation will get around to you.

The FMF is great because it can be a giant yearly reunion for artists and industry types. But avoid spending too much time with those you already know. Those relationships are there and can be built outside the conference and maintained with a quick conversation. You’re there to meet new people. If this is not your 1^st time at the FMF, go back and look at the contacts you’ve made previously. Write them and arrange a time to meet. Catch up, then ask them who they think you should meet and an introduction if possible.

The FMF Conference

The conference is just one day (6 hours) and consists of a keynote speaker and a few industry panels.  It’s worth going to with some caveats.

First, stay sober. While the FMF can be one big party, it should be work for your band. Have a god time but no one wants to work with drunks. Don’t be hung over from the night before. If your band is a party band, designate a few members or just one who will attend the conference and appear alert and attentive. Bryan Malpass said, “Bad Impressions last longer so be professional.”

Next, be sure to get involved. Ask questions but please don’t be that douche who asks a question by first announcing his band, website, showcase time, and then tries to hand his press kit to the panel.  Simply state your name, that you’re an artist and ask your question. Then approach the panelists you researched afterwards and continue the conversation. “Everyone is trying to get their music out there. There’s a fine line between hustling and being completely rude.” suggests Malpass. Be genuine rather than aggressive.

There will always be some at the conference who are bitter and complaining. Avoid them at all costs. Your goal is to be positive.  You can’t afford to be seen with those who’s rather bitch than make an effort to learn and improve.

Take notes to share and discuss what you’ve learned with the rest of the band. Everyone might have a different perspective and it’s good to get them all.

No Showcase, No Problem

Even if you’re not playing, there is so much to be gained from going to the FMF. In addition to networking with industry members, take time to watch other bands.  Further local camaraderie and see those local acts performing. Meet new bands you’d like to work with. You can improve your promo efforts and stage show just by watching what works as well as the epic fails from other artists.

A band’s brand can be showcased just by walking down the street. The brand is made up of your wardrobe, the entourage that follows you, and your attitude.  The music comes second.  It’s not fun to say that but the former are what can draw new fans in so they can eventually experience the music.

Social Media Matters

Making the most of social media means more than posting on your timeline and tweeting 10x a day to ‘come check you out.’  There is an ongoing social media conversation happening at every big event. Don’t miss out on the chance to join in. The FMF will have a specific hashtag#. Find it and add it to your tweets. Others search this hashtag# and will then see your tweets. Don’t just use hashtags# to reach beyond your own twitter followers for shameless self promotion (although it’s great for that).  Tweet good quotes from the conference. Mention those you’ve met with their @name. The follow up is immediate and public and a great way to build relationships.

Even before the conference, a few well placed comments to posts on the FMF facebook can’t hurt.

The Aftermath

Many will go. Few will follow up. When you wake up and shower the funk off, start sorting the flyers and business cards you’ve collected. Enter the contact information you have and write those you spoke to. Keep it simple. Mention something you specifically discussed, that it was nice to meet them, and maybe ask to have a further conversation by phone in the future. Asking how they want to be contacted can go a long way into getting a favorable response. It shows you respect their time and process.

Take advantage that Orlando has a thriving music scene that puts on this kind of event.  Take what you’ll learn and improve. The FMF is a great little conference to practice for the bigger ones.

• The Florida Music Festival will be downtown Orlando April 19^th through the 21^st.