Weird Al told an interviewer that during the practice game before the taping of this show, James Brown asked for an "A."
"Sorry, James," Pat Sajak said, "that's a vowel. We need a consonant."
The Godfather of Soul thought hard for a momemt. "Okay," he said, "...Europe!"
Pat Sajak asks at the end "What's wrong with this picture?". LOL!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
June 1967: Jimi Hendrix opens for the Monkees
Fresh from the Monterey Pop Festival in June of 1967, Hendrix paired up with the Monkees on their American tour. At the time, Hendrix was not widely known in the US, but had developed a strong following in England. After a couple of shows in the south, which weren’t that well received — given his psychedelic performance and the playing of his guitar with his teeth, the teeny-bopper fans of the Monkees, drowned out Henrdix’s riffs with screams of “We Want Davy (Jones)!”
What were they thinking? Answer: The Monkees wanted respect, and Hendrix wanted publicity. Despite the notoriety from his guitar-burning appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival the month before, Hendrix was better known in England than in the United States, and was far less popular than the Monkees, who had been created for a television sitcom and whose fans consisted mostly of prepubescent girls.
According to an account of the incident in "Oops," a new chronicle of modern fiascoes by Martin J. Smith and Patrick J. Kiger, Hendrix's temper boiled over at Forest Hills. The problem wasn't the performers, who got along pretty well. It was the Monkees' fans, who had little interest in the scary psychedelic dude who preceded their idols. Hendrix's riffs were drowned out by screams of "We want Davy!" (Davy Jones was a Monkee.) Finally, Hendrix gestured obscenely, with words to match, and stomped offstage, going down as one of the most bizarre pairings in pop music history.
Free Amazon MP3 downloads
Free Amazon MP3 downloads:
Free Exclusive Steve Martin Song
He's an excellent bluegrass banjo player. Download his song, "Daddy Played the Banjo," free at Amazon MP3.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PTKQKE
Free Exclusive Park the Van Sampler
Home to artists like Dr. Dog and the Spinto Band, Park the Van Records has made the indie-rock world a more awesome place. Sample their catalog with the 11-song album, Worn & Grazed," available free at Amazon MP3.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PZC4QW
More Free Songs:
"What I Do," Sepultura http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PJ7KCQ/
"Detroit," Black Gold http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PZC4OY/
"Going Down to the River," Saffire - the Uppity Blues Women http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PCIETQ/
"Midnight Man," Renee Olstead http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001OG5EQ4/
"Lay Your Body Down (Goodbye Philadelphia)," Peter Cincotti http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001ONZ1VA
Free Exclusive Steve Martin Song
He's an excellent bluegrass banjo player. Download his song, "Daddy Played the Banjo," free at Amazon MP3.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PTKQKE
Free Exclusive Park the Van Sampler
Home to artists like Dr. Dog and the Spinto Band, Park the Van Records has made the indie-rock world a more awesome place. Sample their catalog with the 11-song album, Worn & Grazed," available free at Amazon MP3.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PZC4QW
More Free Songs:
"What I Do," Sepultura http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PJ7KCQ/
"Detroit," Black Gold http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PZC4OY/
"Going Down to the River," Saffire - the Uppity Blues Women http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PCIETQ/
"Midnight Man," Renee Olstead http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001OG5EQ4/
"Lay Your Body Down (Goodbye Philadelphia)," Peter Cincotti http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001ONZ1VA
Monday, January 26, 2009
10 Ways to Improve Your Band’s Image
10 Ways to Improve Your Band’s Image
In theory a band should be judged entirely on their musical ability. The reality, though, is that musicians are often judged on their overall image. A young band is put in the unfortunate position of trying to perfect their sound, and at the same time, appeal to their community. Here are some ways that you can improve your image—both onstage and of—and increase your recognition.
1. Be a copycat…in your own unique way.
Go find local bands that have already become successful and watch what they are doing. Poke around on their website, see their show, and talk to people about them to find out what makes them so popular. Depending on how approachable they are, you may even want to contact them and build a mentoring relationship, or at the very least ask if you can take them out for a beer and pick their brains. You’re not looking to reproduce another band’s success step by step, but you are trying to come up with a plan for establishing yourself based on tried and true methods. Look at what has already worked and see if there are variations you can adopt in your own band.
2. Play
There are hundreds of local events every year that you can support by volunteering to play. Treat these like genuine gigs, even if you aren’t making any money off of them. This is an opportunity to reach an audience you might never see in the normal club scene, and it will gain you an enormous amount of recognition—especially if you play and support organizations or events that have some real meaning in the community. Is there an annual 10k race that raises money for your local shelter? What about an art auction that raises money for the local museum? Most of these events have social gatherings where people meet before and after for drinks and networking—and you can volunteer to perform for attendees. Your community will see you as a contributor and supporter, not just a rock band.
3. Web Presence
The internet is the single most important marketing tool in this day and age. That means you need to have a real web presence. There are about a million bands on MySpace Music—and yes, you should be on there, too. But don’t underestimate the need to have your own website with your own domain name. You also want to take advantage of Web 2.0—that is, social networking and building relationships on the internet between individuals and websites. If you know anyone with a website, ask them to link to your band’s page. Set up a message board, or join and participate in a message board for musicians. Get a blog and update it weekly at the bare minimum. Keep your website updated with band info, photos, show dates, and audio or video snippets. You may even offer free MP3 downloads of your tunes to generate web traffic.
4. Watch a video of yourself
It is next to impossible to get an objective view of yourself and your performance without watching a video of your own performance. Have a friend take a standard VHS recorder to your show and take footage of the band for you to view later. When you sit down to watch the video, make sure you have some non-band members there to give you a balanced perspective—and as you watch, resist the urge to make comments or discuss things until the whole show is finished. Take notes and plan to have a formal band meeting directly following the video to discuss what you’ve seen. Be as objective as possible, and if you’re commenting on other people make sure you are sensitive to their feelings. Discuss what you liked and what you think needs improvement, and when you are done schedule a second meeting with the band after about a week. During that time, ask everyone to come up with constructive ways to address the issues that need improvement. Try to do this on a semi-regular basis—a couple times a year at the least.
5. Invest
You’re not going to be rolling in the dough when you first start out. Money is going to be tight—and that’s just the way it is. But any money that you do earn as a band should be immediately reinvested back. There is no end to what you can spend your money on, so have a list of things to buy that everyone agrees on – equipment, website design, t-shirts, recording fees. You are probably going to have to invest your own money in to some of these things, too. You may feel like skimping on your band’s needs, especially when you’ve had macaroni and cheese for the third night in a row; but don’t let yourself be distracted from your ultimate goal.
6. Take care of what you already have
You may not have the world’s best equipment, or all the fancy bells and whistles that other bands have—but that’s no reason to trash what you do have. Take care of your stuff—make the most of what you have and show respect for your existing resources. People will recognize the care you give your whole image, even if it isn’t sparkly and new. No one expects you to have it all—but they will recognize if you don’t care enough about your stuff (and your career) enough to take care of it.
7. Talk to a stylist
You won’t have the budget for a full-time stylist, but it can’t hurt to talk to someone about your look. No, you don’t want a manufactured appearance, but again, it is hard to be objective about yourself. Simply asking someone to look at your overall style (or lack thereof) and offer suggestions will give you some feedback about how the average person views you. You can make your own style choices once you have a clear view of how you look to your audience.
8. Find a good photographer
You may not want a cheesy band poster (a la NKOTB), but you do need a couple shots that you can use for your publicity. Find a photographer who you can talk to about your band’s overall vision and ask them to be a creative collaborator with you on some pictures that capture who you really are. Brainstorm on some great locations or cool poses, and make your photo shoot fun. Encourage the band to let their personalities come out. Your photo may be someone’s very first impression of you—so try to capture the whole concept of your band in just one picture.
9. Design a bitchin’ t-shirt
T-shirts are walking billboards, advertising you to the world. Put some effort into creating a shirt that people will wear again and again, and that other people will instantly be drawn to. Then, even if you plan to sell them, set some aside to give out to friends and family and make them promise to wear them frequently. When you design your shirt, remember that your artwork is going to reflect your band’s music and vision.
10. Be nice.
This may seem self-evident, but don’t be fooled in to thinking you don’t need your fans. You aren’t some elite god of rock—you are a musician and an artist—and people want to feel a connection with you. Don’t finish your show and go sit in a corner with your beer or run out of the club. Spend some time schmoozing the people who have showed up to support you. Even if you’re not performing, keep your charm on when you’re out and about wearing your band t-shirt or promoting your upcoming show. Respond to fans when they email you, too. Even if it’s something simple like, “Thanks for your support!” or “See you at the next show!” You cannot underestimate how far a smile and a little appreciation for your fans will go in building an image that lasts.
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451720369e2010536aa025b970b
In theory a band should be judged entirely on their musical ability. The reality, though, is that musicians are often judged on their overall image. A young band is put in the unfortunate position of trying to perfect their sound, and at the same time, appeal to their community. Here are some ways that you can improve your image—both onstage and of—and increase your recognition.
1. Be a copycat…in your own unique way.
Go find local bands that have already become successful and watch what they are doing. Poke around on their website, see their show, and talk to people about them to find out what makes them so popular. Depending on how approachable they are, you may even want to contact them and build a mentoring relationship, or at the very least ask if you can take them out for a beer and pick their brains. You’re not looking to reproduce another band’s success step by step, but you are trying to come up with a plan for establishing yourself based on tried and true methods. Look at what has already worked and see if there are variations you can adopt in your own band.
2. Play
There are hundreds of local events every year that you can support by volunteering to play. Treat these like genuine gigs, even if you aren’t making any money off of them. This is an opportunity to reach an audience you might never see in the normal club scene, and it will gain you an enormous amount of recognition—especially if you play and support organizations or events that have some real meaning in the community. Is there an annual 10k race that raises money for your local shelter? What about an art auction that raises money for the local museum? Most of these events have social gatherings where people meet before and after for drinks and networking—and you can volunteer to perform for attendees. Your community will see you as a contributor and supporter, not just a rock band.
3. Web Presence
The internet is the single most important marketing tool in this day and age. That means you need to have a real web presence. There are about a million bands on MySpace Music—and yes, you should be on there, too. But don’t underestimate the need to have your own website with your own domain name. You also want to take advantage of Web 2.0—that is, social networking and building relationships on the internet between individuals and websites. If you know anyone with a website, ask them to link to your band’s page. Set up a message board, or join and participate in a message board for musicians. Get a blog and update it weekly at the bare minimum. Keep your website updated with band info, photos, show dates, and audio or video snippets. You may even offer free MP3 downloads of your tunes to generate web traffic.
4. Watch a video of yourself
It is next to impossible to get an objective view of yourself and your performance without watching a video of your own performance. Have a friend take a standard VHS recorder to your show and take footage of the band for you to view later. When you sit down to watch the video, make sure you have some non-band members there to give you a balanced perspective—and as you watch, resist the urge to make comments or discuss things until the whole show is finished. Take notes and plan to have a formal band meeting directly following the video to discuss what you’ve seen. Be as objective as possible, and if you’re commenting on other people make sure you are sensitive to their feelings. Discuss what you liked and what you think needs improvement, and when you are done schedule a second meeting with the band after about a week. During that time, ask everyone to come up with constructive ways to address the issues that need improvement. Try to do this on a semi-regular basis—a couple times a year at the least.
5. Invest
You’re not going to be rolling in the dough when you first start out. Money is going to be tight—and that’s just the way it is. But any money that you do earn as a band should be immediately reinvested back. There is no end to what you can spend your money on, so have a list of things to buy that everyone agrees on – equipment, website design, t-shirts, recording fees. You are probably going to have to invest your own money in to some of these things, too. You may feel like skimping on your band’s needs, especially when you’ve had macaroni and cheese for the third night in a row; but don’t let yourself be distracted from your ultimate goal.
6. Take care of what you already have
You may not have the world’s best equipment, or all the fancy bells and whistles that other bands have—but that’s no reason to trash what you do have. Take care of your stuff—make the most of what you have and show respect for your existing resources. People will recognize the care you give your whole image, even if it isn’t sparkly and new. No one expects you to have it all—but they will recognize if you don’t care enough about your stuff (and your career) enough to take care of it.
7. Talk to a stylist
You won’t have the budget for a full-time stylist, but it can’t hurt to talk to someone about your look. No, you don’t want a manufactured appearance, but again, it is hard to be objective about yourself. Simply asking someone to look at your overall style (or lack thereof) and offer suggestions will give you some feedback about how the average person views you. You can make your own style choices once you have a clear view of how you look to your audience.
8. Find a good photographer
You may not want a cheesy band poster (a la NKOTB), but you do need a couple shots that you can use for your publicity. Find a photographer who you can talk to about your band’s overall vision and ask them to be a creative collaborator with you on some pictures that capture who you really are. Brainstorm on some great locations or cool poses, and make your photo shoot fun. Encourage the band to let their personalities come out. Your photo may be someone’s very first impression of you—so try to capture the whole concept of your band in just one picture.
9. Design a bitchin’ t-shirt
T-shirts are walking billboards, advertising you to the world. Put some effort into creating a shirt that people will wear again and again, and that other people will instantly be drawn to. Then, even if you plan to sell them, set some aside to give out to friends and family and make them promise to wear them frequently. When you design your shirt, remember that your artwork is going to reflect your band’s music and vision.
10. Be nice.
This may seem self-evident, but don’t be fooled in to thinking you don’t need your fans. You aren’t some elite god of rock—you are a musician and an artist—and people want to feel a connection with you. Don’t finish your show and go sit in a corner with your beer or run out of the club. Spend some time schmoozing the people who have showed up to support you. Even if you’re not performing, keep your charm on when you’re out and about wearing your band t-shirt or promoting your upcoming show. Respond to fans when they email you, too. Even if it’s something simple like, “Thanks for your support!” or “See you at the next show!” You cannot underestimate how far a smile and a little appreciation for your fans will go in building an image that lasts.
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://www.typepad.com/services/trackback/6a00d83451720369e2010536aa025b970b
Sunday, January 25, 2009
How To Make "Quality" Music (great read)
***Bob Ezrin On Quality***
Bob Ezrin is one of the most influential music and entertainment producers of all time with a successful career that spans 38 years, crosses all genres and media.
He has been called "the Producer's Producer," and the arc of his career reads like the progression of popular entertainment. He has worked on legendary recordings with some of the world's leading artists including: Alice Cooper, KISS, Pink Floyd, Lou Reed, Roberta Flack, Peter Gabriel, Dr. John, Nils Lofgren, Kansas, Rod Stewart, Berlin, Hanoi Rocks, Nine Inch Nails, The Jayhawks, 30 Seconds to Mars, The Darkness, Jane's Addiction and many others. One of his most noteworthy productions is Pink Floyd's "The Wall", a seminal masterpiece that is often credited as one of the greatest albums of all time.
----- Original Message -----
From: Bob Ezrin
To: Bob Leftsetz
Bob,
You start this with the word "Quality" and then you proceed to counsel struggling musicians to contort themselves and what they do to fit the market so that they can "make it in this business". But here's the true bottom line: This business of exploiting art and entertainment is built from it's very inception on creativity and quality, on special things made by special people that touch, inform, elevate, divert, soothe, numb, challenge or sometimes even drive other people enough so that they are drawn to it and want it to be a part of their lives - either for the moment or for a very long time. When they want it, they sometimes pay for it in one way or another and this special stuff sometimes accrues a value beyond the ephemeral and actual makes money for its creator and for the folks who help to support and market it. Sometimes it becomes more vaulable than gold and stars are born.
But unless it is especially touching in some way (even if it's in a juvenile or prurient way), nobody will care and it will end up having no value at all. Which then goes to your title "Quality". If a thing lacks quality of some sort, it will not touch anyone. It will simply be a not so special thing in a world of not so special things. It will blend in and disappear. But if a work or performance is of high quality and special, then it has at least a shot at becoming valuable to someone - and the person who creates it has a shot at being appreciated and rewarded for it. If I were talking to "struggling musicians" I would say:
First, be special. Make something of such high quality that anyone would care. And that's not as easy as it sounds. Just because you can use a sequencer and play an instrument doesn't make you an artist. You have to create something that is special - unique and capable of moving others in a meaningful way. Once you are truly special, truly great at what you do, you may have a chance at finding an audience willing to reward you for your specialness. More than likely you will not, because special - by definition - belongs to the very few. But if you do, then someone somewhere might recognize that and show up to help you to take your creativity out to a wider audience.
How do you get recognized in the first place? Play to people as much as you can. They will let you know if and when you are truly special because they will either begin to pay you to do this, to be able to be close to you - or they will ignore you. Play: in your town; at your school; in the next town over; on the web (but that's a whole other and longer discussion); at parties - anywhere you can. If you have created something truly special someone will recognize this and the ball will start rolling.
But whatever you do, DO NOT pick a market and try to create for it. You may decide to do that later in life when you become so good at your craft that you can aim your creativity wherever you wish, even when it doesn't please you. But you cannot start there. No one is born a hack. Hacks are failed or jaded artists, each and every one. First you must be able to create for yourself and find the way in which you may be special, and then you have to work on becoming really great at that. Create from your heart and from your will. Your will is what you use to keep you practicing and trying and trying to get better at what you do. Your heart is where the inspiration comes from to use that ability to make something really truly special. But above all DO NOT listen to critics, pundits or "experts" who try to bend you to what is happening now. By the time you get there, now will be long gone.
Dedicate yourself to quality, to being the very best at what you do and then use that quality to create or be something truly great. Then you may have a shot at "making it". But whether you become a star or not, you will have become and will forever be someone very special. And others will know you for that.
End of lecture.
Thanks
Bob
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1
Bob Ezrin is one of the most influential music and entertainment producers of all time with a successful career that spans 38 years, crosses all genres and media.
He has been called "the Producer's Producer," and the arc of his career reads like the progression of popular entertainment. He has worked on legendary recordings with some of the world's leading artists including: Alice Cooper, KISS, Pink Floyd, Lou Reed, Roberta Flack, Peter Gabriel, Dr. John, Nils Lofgren, Kansas, Rod Stewart, Berlin, Hanoi Rocks, Nine Inch Nails, The Jayhawks, 30 Seconds to Mars, The Darkness, Jane's Addiction and many others. One of his most noteworthy productions is Pink Floyd's "The Wall", a seminal masterpiece that is often credited as one of the greatest albums of all time.
----- Original Message -----
From: Bob Ezrin
To: Bob Leftsetz
Bob,
You start this with the word "Quality" and then you proceed to counsel struggling musicians to contort themselves and what they do to fit the market so that they can "make it in this business". But here's the true bottom line: This business of exploiting art and entertainment is built from it's very inception on creativity and quality, on special things made by special people that touch, inform, elevate, divert, soothe, numb, challenge or sometimes even drive other people enough so that they are drawn to it and want it to be a part of their lives - either for the moment or for a very long time. When they want it, they sometimes pay for it in one way or another and this special stuff sometimes accrues a value beyond the ephemeral and actual makes money for its creator and for the folks who help to support and market it. Sometimes it becomes more vaulable than gold and stars are born.
But unless it is especially touching in some way (even if it's in a juvenile or prurient way), nobody will care and it will end up having no value at all. Which then goes to your title "Quality". If a thing lacks quality of some sort, it will not touch anyone. It will simply be a not so special thing in a world of not so special things. It will blend in and disappear. But if a work or performance is of high quality and special, then it has at least a shot at becoming valuable to someone - and the person who creates it has a shot at being appreciated and rewarded for it. If I were talking to "struggling musicians" I would say:
First, be special. Make something of such high quality that anyone would care. And that's not as easy as it sounds. Just because you can use a sequencer and play an instrument doesn't make you an artist. You have to create something that is special - unique and capable of moving others in a meaningful way. Once you are truly special, truly great at what you do, you may have a chance at finding an audience willing to reward you for your specialness. More than likely you will not, because special - by definition - belongs to the very few. But if you do, then someone somewhere might recognize that and show up to help you to take your creativity out to a wider audience.
How do you get recognized in the first place? Play to people as much as you can. They will let you know if and when you are truly special because they will either begin to pay you to do this, to be able to be close to you - or they will ignore you. Play: in your town; at your school; in the next town over; on the web (but that's a whole other and longer discussion); at parties - anywhere you can. If you have created something truly special someone will recognize this and the ball will start rolling.
But whatever you do, DO NOT pick a market and try to create for it. You may decide to do that later in life when you become so good at your craft that you can aim your creativity wherever you wish, even when it doesn't please you. But you cannot start there. No one is born a hack. Hacks are failed or jaded artists, each and every one. First you must be able to create for yourself and find the way in which you may be special, and then you have to work on becoming really great at that. Create from your heart and from your will. Your will is what you use to keep you practicing and trying and trying to get better at what you do. Your heart is where the inspiration comes from to use that ability to make something really truly special. But above all DO NOT listen to critics, pundits or "experts" who try to bend you to what is happening now. By the time you get there, now will be long gone.
Dedicate yourself to quality, to being the very best at what you do and then use that quality to create or be something truly great. Then you may have a shot at "making it". But whether you become a star or not, you will have become and will forever be someone very special. And others will know you for that.
End of lecture.
Thanks
Bob
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
--
If you would like to subscribe to the LefsetzLetter,
http://www.lefsetz.com/lists/?p=subscribe&id=1
Friday, January 23, 2009
My Dream Is Dead but My Book Is Published
For anyone who's EVER had their creative project rejected by a publisher, record label, studio, : WATCH THIS FUNERAL FOR A BOOK! when it gets boring at 2:26, fast forward to 8:28 for a wonderful list of self-published authors. KEEP YOUR DREAMS ALIVE!!!!! -- Kristin
Mary Patrick Kavanaugh's novel "Family Plots: Love, Death & Tax Evasion" has been rejected by a list of top NYC publishers. After her agent suggested self publishing,the author held a funeral to bury her dream of landing a lucrative book contract. VISIT HER AT www.MyDreamIsDeadButImNot.com
Mary Patrick Kavanaugh's novel "Family Plots: Love, Death & Tax Evasion" has been rejected by a list of top NYC publishers. After her agent suggested self publishing,the author held a funeral to bury her dream of landing a lucrative book contract. VISIT HER AT www.MyDreamIsDeadButImNot.com
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
