IT DOESN'T!!
I joined a great fun site that allows you to play games and win money!
There is absolutely NO money to spend, only win. All free, all fun!
Altho this site has been around a little while, and I joined 6 months or more ago,
it was not till this week I was actually able to play those games. My old pc just would not cut it, and was so bulky and so much was blocked out that I don't know how I even did anything on the internet.
All that has changed, and I am happy to say I recieved an awesome new XP loaded pc for Xmas, and I am thrilled. Not only has my work become easier, especially in the music field, but I can now see videos on YouTube, play games online and more.
Anyhow, you really should join the site, here is a link to get an invite, as it is by invite only.
Join and we can play a match or 2 together. Hope to see you there.
Join Moola with me Now!
Friday, December 28, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Gimmelink
Great new Advertising platform.
Its free to join and will earn you a tidy little passive income.
Check it out now, click around on the promotion card below to see how it works and then sign up for your free affiliate account.
Its free to join and will earn you a tidy little passive income.
Check it out now, click around on the promotion card below to see how it works and then sign up for your free affiliate account.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Shop Guitars at Shopping.com
If you want quality guitars for a great price, you have to check out
Shopping.com for some of the best deals!
They have an awesome collection of Gibson, Fender, Ibanez and more. Whether you are just starting out, or are a seasoned professional
Shopping.com has everything you could ever want or need.
With over 3000 guitars available you will most likely find exactly the instrument you are looking for here.
Prices range from below $190 up to $2000, and Shopping.com does everything
possible to make your shopping experience a great one. Instead of searching countless sites for the product you want, they have it all in one convenient location,
making it very easy to search and find the perfect guitar. They also make it easy to compare prices with dozens of other shops so you can rest easy you are finding the best price,
and in some cases you will even recieve free shipping, a tremendous savings right off the bat!
You can also read reviews from other purchasers, making your decisions even easier. So do yourself a favor before searching the net endlessly, try
Shopping.com and make your shopping experience better than ever.
Shopping.com for some of the best deals!
They have an awesome collection of Gibson, Fender, Ibanez and more. Whether you are just starting out, or are a seasoned professional
Shopping.com has everything you could ever want or need.
With over 3000 guitars available you will most likely find exactly the instrument you are looking for here.
Prices range from below $190 up to $2000, and Shopping.com does everything
possible to make your shopping experience a great one. Instead of searching countless sites for the product you want, they have it all in one convenient location,
making it very easy to search and find the perfect guitar. They also make it easy to compare prices with dozens of other shops so you can rest easy you are finding the best price,
and in some cases you will even recieve free shipping, a tremendous savings right off the bat!
You can also read reviews from other purchasers, making your decisions even easier. So do yourself a favor before searching the net endlessly, try
Shopping.com and make your shopping experience better than ever.
Friday, August 17, 2007
More Free Money Making Resources for Bands
If you love posting and responding to dicussions in forums, social networking, and other types of sites where you can share and find information, let me introduce you to 2 that have been paying me.
First, you may have heard of MyLot, and if not, you are missing out on a very good and fun site that pays you for being an active member. There are some great people there to socialize and exchange ideas with, and MyLot rewards its member well.
To sign up for MyLot, I would appreciate you signing up with me, using this link:
Join me at myLot
You can view my profile page here:
myLot User Profile
But please use the previous link to sign up.
Next is Squidoo. This is an awesome place where you can create artistic looking "lenses" and earn money thru them. You can create several lenses on many different subjects.
To sign up for Squidoo, please use this link:
Join me at Squidoo
You can view my profile page here:
Squidoo User Profile
but again, please use the previous link to sign up.
Both sites will also help your ranking in the search engines, and deliver hits to your linked sites. They are valuable resources, even without the added benefit of being paid.
I encourage everyone to check out and join these sites, as in todays world, it is not wise to let money get lost by the wayside, especially when it is free, and you would be doing this kind of posting in unpaid forums and social networks anyway.
Besides, Bands and Musicians need all the exposure they can muster up, and, It's Fun!!
First, you may have heard of MyLot, and if not, you are missing out on a very good and fun site that pays you for being an active member. There are some great people there to socialize and exchange ideas with, and MyLot rewards its member well.
To sign up for MyLot, I would appreciate you signing up with me, using this link:
Join me at myLot
You can view my profile page here:
myLot User Profile
But please use the previous link to sign up.
Next is Squidoo. This is an awesome place where you can create artistic looking "lenses" and earn money thru them. You can create several lenses on many different subjects.
To sign up for Squidoo, please use this link:
Join me at Squidoo
You can view my profile page here:
Squidoo User Profile
but again, please use the previous link to sign up.
Both sites will also help your ranking in the search engines, and deliver hits to your linked sites. They are valuable resources, even without the added benefit of being paid.
I encourage everyone to check out and join these sites, as in todays world, it is not wise to let money get lost by the wayside, especially when it is free, and you would be doing this kind of posting in unpaid forums and social networks anyway.
Besides, Bands and Musicians need all the exposure they can muster up, and, It's Fun!!
Monday, August 6, 2007
Carlos Cavazo, Tony Cavazo and Stephen Quadros Planning Reunion
After years of playing in other musical projects and groups, Carlos Cavazo, Tony Cavazo and Stephen Quadros are planning on taking up where they left off musically when they were last together in Snow over 20 years ago.
"We're not sure if we will go under the name Snow or use a new name, but we are all excited about playing together again. The magic has never left..." states Snow drummer Stephen Quadros.
A DVD release of a rare, high quality concert of the band (Snow) in it's heyday is planned along with at least one new CD with tons of new material.
Some Band History:
Based out of Arcadia, CA, "SNOW" was a heavy metal/hard rock foursome who stirred things up on the Los Angeles music scene from 1978-1981.
Comprised of Carlos Cavazo on guitar, Tony Cavazo on bass, Doug Ellison on lead vocals and Stephen Quadros on drums, Snow performed regularly at The Whiskey, The Starwood and The Troubadour, along with headline shows at The Santa Monica Civic and The Pasadena Civic.
The group released a self-titled 5-song EP in 1980 that included popular Snow songs "Crack The Whip" and "No Way To Treat A Lady". Snow's music received radio airplay on KROQ and KLOS. The original Snow EP has become somewhat of a collectors item.
-Carlos Cavazo enjoyed platinum record selling success with "Quiet Riot" in the mid 1980s and now performs with "The Hollywood All Stars" and "Three Legged Dog."
-Tony Cavazo co-wrote the top 10 single "Bang Your Head" ("Quiet Riot"), recorded and toured with "Hurricane" and currently plays in "The Sacred Cowboys" and "MLC."
-Stephen Quadros has become internationally known as a television commentator in the mixed martial arts world for his work with Pride Fighting Championships, Cage Rage and the International Fight League, among others. Quadros currently performs and records with "Whipped Cream" as well as being a band member, along with Tony Cavazo, in "The Sacred Cowboys" and" MLC."
Here are some links to check out!
Carlos Cavazo
http://www.myspace.com/officialcarloscavazo
MySpace Profile - Carlos Cavazo, , California, US,
Stephen Quadros
http://www.myspace.com/stephenquadros
MySpace Profile - STEPHEN QUADROS - THE FIGHT PROFESSOR
Whipped Cream
http://www.myspace.com/whippedcreamband
MySpace Profile - Whipped Cream, Los Angeles, California, US, A Tribute to Cream
Hollywood Allstarz
http://www.myspace.com/hollywoodallstarz
MySpace Profile - Hollywood Allstarz, , , US, The Legendary Hollywood Allstarz
"We're not sure if we will go under the name Snow or use a new name, but we are all excited about playing together again. The magic has never left..." states Snow drummer Stephen Quadros.
A DVD release of a rare, high quality concert of the band (Snow) in it's heyday is planned along with at least one new CD with tons of new material.
Some Band History:
Based out of Arcadia, CA, "SNOW" was a heavy metal/hard rock foursome who stirred things up on the Los Angeles music scene from 1978-1981.
Comprised of Carlos Cavazo on guitar, Tony Cavazo on bass, Doug Ellison on lead vocals and Stephen Quadros on drums, Snow performed regularly at The Whiskey, The Starwood and The Troubadour, along with headline shows at The Santa Monica Civic and The Pasadena Civic.
The group released a self-titled 5-song EP in 1980 that included popular Snow songs "Crack The Whip" and "No Way To Treat A Lady". Snow's music received radio airplay on KROQ and KLOS. The original Snow EP has become somewhat of a collectors item.
-Carlos Cavazo enjoyed platinum record selling success with "Quiet Riot" in the mid 1980s and now performs with "The Hollywood All Stars" and "Three Legged Dog."
-Tony Cavazo co-wrote the top 10 single "Bang Your Head" ("Quiet Riot"), recorded and toured with "Hurricane" and currently plays in "The Sacred Cowboys" and "MLC."
-Stephen Quadros has become internationally known as a television commentator in the mixed martial arts world for his work with Pride Fighting Championships, Cage Rage and the International Fight League, among others. Quadros currently performs and records with "Whipped Cream" as well as being a band member, along with Tony Cavazo, in "The Sacred Cowboys" and" MLC."
Here are some links to check out!
Carlos Cavazo
http://www.myspace.com/officialcarloscavazo
MySpace Profile - Carlos Cavazo, , California, US,
Stephen Quadros
http://www.myspace.com/stephenquadros
MySpace Profile - STEPHEN QUADROS - THE FIGHT PROFESSOR
Whipped Cream
http://www.myspace.com/whippedcreamband
MySpace Profile - Whipped Cream, Los Angeles, California, US, A Tribute to Cream
Hollywood Allstarz
http://www.myspace.com/hollywoodallstarz
MySpace Profile - Hollywood Allstarz, , , US, The Legendary Hollywood Allstarz
Collaberation via the World Wide Web
I recently had a conversation with a songwriter/guitarist named Greg from Pittsburg Pa. who told me he was collaberating on a CD with a bass player and keyboardist from Cherry Hill, NJ.
Isn't that a rather long and time consuming commute for you guys, I asked. He laughed and said, isn't technology great, we are using video conferencing .
Altho I recently mention this type of modern tech in a previous post, I was amazed at how quickly it was becoming popular among all types of people. Musicians have already found video conferencing to be an extremely valuable tool for writing and connecting with other musicians.
I asked Greg how they had originally met and decided to do this over the internet, and he said that he had met these guys at a club in Philadelphia while helping some home town friends who were going there to do a gig, and that these 2 other fellows were out looking around the club scene that night, searching for a guitar player for a new project.
The three guys apparantly got to talking and found they had a ton of musical influences and skills in common, as well as the extra benefit of Greg being a songwriter also. The problem was that altho Greg said he would definately consider moving to Philly, that was not an option for quite a while. So the keyboardist said no problem, I already have the answer, video conferencing.
The keyboardist was also an IT tech major, and already had this great new gadgetry on his pc. So needless to say,Greg is now happily video conferencing away with the others, and says it is the wildest and best pc "toy" he has tried in years, and that he wished video conferencing had been around a long time ago.
Well Greg, we can't change the past, but we can sure embrace the future. I understand they will be recording thier first demo of all this new material in a Cherry Hill recording studio, so hopefully he will keep me posted on thier progress. Who knows, this might be the first album written while the players were miles away from one another. Good luck Guys!
Isn't that a rather long and time consuming commute for you guys, I asked. He laughed and said, isn't technology great, we are using video conferencing .
Altho I recently mention this type of modern tech in a previous post, I was amazed at how quickly it was becoming popular among all types of people. Musicians have already found video conferencing to be an extremely valuable tool for writing and connecting with other musicians.
I asked Greg how they had originally met and decided to do this over the internet, and he said that he had met these guys at a club in Philadelphia while helping some home town friends who were going there to do a gig, and that these 2 other fellows were out looking around the club scene that night, searching for a guitar player for a new project.
The three guys apparantly got to talking and found they had a ton of musical influences and skills in common, as well as the extra benefit of Greg being a songwriter also. The problem was that altho Greg said he would definately consider moving to Philly, that was not an option for quite a while. So the keyboardist said no problem, I already have the answer, video conferencing.
The keyboardist was also an IT tech major, and already had this great new gadgetry on his pc. So needless to say,Greg is now happily video conferencing away with the others, and says it is the wildest and best pc "toy" he has tried in years, and that he wished video conferencing had been around a long time ago.
Well Greg, we can't change the past, but we can sure embrace the future. I understand they will be recording thier first demo of all this new material in a Cherry Hill recording studio, so hopefully he will keep me posted on thier progress. Who knows, this might be the first album written while the players were miles away from one another. Good luck Guys!
Monday, July 30, 2007
Hosting Scams
Well, I have had an interesting and aggravating week, due to a site that is now on my scam list, as well as a weeks worth of thunder and lightning which forces me to stay offline. I was going to place this in Authors Ramblings, but I think this deserves a section all its own.
The owner of this site owns both http://www.boomspeed.com/ and http://www.picbuddy.com/ and is also an ebay seller. Boomspeed and PicBuddy are image hosting services for the most part.
I had been with Boomspeed for about 5 years, and the service was always free. Altho I had been planning to purchase server space on a real server, at the time I had a great number of webpages and splash pages hosted here. Without warning, I tried to log in in early January, only to find out that my account had been locked, and if I wanted to access my files I had to pay them $25 for the next 6 months use, and the TOS states that I will be billed every 3 months thereafter at $18 per 3 months.
Against my better judgement, I paid them the $25 from my debit card, even tho the hosting I actually sell myself was only $36 a year for unlimited service hosting of several websites. I also wrote them around April, informing them, according to thier TOS, that I no longer wished to continue the service and to cancel the account, but never recieved a response.
On June 4th, I found a charge from Boomspeed on my statement for the $18, and once again contacted them according to thier TOS, with no response. On June 29th, they charged my card again for another $18 which I did not notice till the next statement arrived on July 20th, I again emailed them with no response. On Monday, July 23rd, I went to the bank and cancelled my card.
Today, Monday July 30th, I recieved an insufficient funds charge of $35, for another $25 charge on the same card I just cancelled.I am told that they had apparantly already placed a hold on my account for that money when I cancelled it, unaware to me, and the very next day on the 24th, that $25 and another $35 because they sent my account to the negative, was raken from my account. I now owe the bank $45.
I of course quickly transfered money from my main account to this one that I use only for the internet, and the bank manager gave me a phone number to call that was supposed to be Boomspeed customer service, but the only thing you get when you call that number is a message instructing you to contact the same non responding email support address I have been writing for almost 6 months now.
Anyhow, I did just a little searching and found out I am not the only one. I also read some comments that state this is a rather common problem with image hosting services. Below please find posts from the ebay forums and blogs that show others are having the exact same problem. Also take note that the very last post has also had the exact same experience as I have in the last 2 months also.
-----------------
boughtitxsoldit ( 1669) Visit Seller's Store11 commentsBOOMSPEED photo hosting don’t use them, thievesPosted Jan-19-07 22:29:44 PSTI tried there service and found I personally did not like there site setup so I wanted out before the free 30 day trial period was up and found out that there is no link or button to delete an account. I tried emailing with no response, I tried calling with only a recorded message to go online and email them with still no response. I ended up getting charged their fee when I had no photos on there website. Before I could get a dispute going on my credit card they charged me again. I received a refund on the 8th and then they charged me again on the 18th not once but twice. I ended up having to cancel my credit card so now I am stuck without a new card for one to two weeks. So the final result I want to let anybody know is if you want to use BOOMSPEED for photo hosting, don’t do it unless you want to be with them for life with no help or communication from them at all.
Comments
Back to topftwwarnerve ( 102) View seller's items View BlogI also have Boomspeed and have been paying for it for nearly two years- they DO NOT answer emails about cancelling your account- there is NOTHING on the boomspeed website saying how to (you have to dig to find it, and even then, nothing happens)... I'm at the point where I'm going to report them to my credit card company and demand they pay me back for the past 8 months that they have charged me for using their site. FYI- last time I logged on was 9 months ago and it was to delete the account.
If I cannot get a refund, and they continue to charge me, I will hunt them down and sue the pants off of them for credit card theft and anything else I can pin on them. This is RIDICULOUS.
DO NOT USE BOOMSPEED- EVER!!!
Mar-02-07 14:06:21 PST Report this comment
-----------------------
Boomspeed is ripping me off
rockiezz (1157 ) View Listings Report Jul-24-07 06:12 PDT Hello, Has anybody else noticed that Boomspeed is ripping them off? In the last two month Boomspeed has charged my account 3 times $18, $18, & $25 and I can not seam to get in touch with them. Has anyone else been able to get in touch with them if so please let me know how. Thanks in advance, John
vicsvues (833 ) View Listings Report Jul-27-07 15:07 PDT 3 of 4 Hi, I cancelled Boomspeed 4 years ago and see they are charging me again. How did you get in touch with greg?
letez (38 ) View Listings Report Jul-30-07 05:21 PDT 4 of 4 Yes, I was charged $18 on 6/28/07 and then $25 on 7/23/07. Please tell me how to contact Greg as well. I have sent 3 emails to their so called support and haven't received even an acknowledgement of my concern.
--------------
If any of you reading this has been ripped off by this service, or has any other comments, please leave your comments here. I encourage it. I will also be posting this alert on my other blogs, and websites.
Sincerely,Cat
The owner of this site owns both http://www.boomspeed.com/ and http://www.picbuddy.com/ and is also an ebay seller. Boomspeed and PicBuddy are image hosting services for the most part.
I had been with Boomspeed for about 5 years, and the service was always free. Altho I had been planning to purchase server space on a real server, at the time I had a great number of webpages and splash pages hosted here. Without warning, I tried to log in in early January, only to find out that my account had been locked, and if I wanted to access my files I had to pay them $25 for the next 6 months use, and the TOS states that I will be billed every 3 months thereafter at $18 per 3 months.
Against my better judgement, I paid them the $25 from my debit card, even tho the hosting I actually sell myself was only $36 a year for unlimited service hosting of several websites. I also wrote them around April, informing them, according to thier TOS, that I no longer wished to continue the service and to cancel the account, but never recieved a response.
On June 4th, I found a charge from Boomspeed on my statement for the $18, and once again contacted them according to thier TOS, with no response. On June 29th, they charged my card again for another $18 which I did not notice till the next statement arrived on July 20th, I again emailed them with no response. On Monday, July 23rd, I went to the bank and cancelled my card.
Today, Monday July 30th, I recieved an insufficient funds charge of $35, for another $25 charge on the same card I just cancelled.I am told that they had apparantly already placed a hold on my account for that money when I cancelled it, unaware to me, and the very next day on the 24th, that $25 and another $35 because they sent my account to the negative, was raken from my account. I now owe the bank $45.
I of course quickly transfered money from my main account to this one that I use only for the internet, and the bank manager gave me a phone number to call that was supposed to be Boomspeed customer service, but the only thing you get when you call that number is a message instructing you to contact the same non responding email support address I have been writing for almost 6 months now.
Anyhow, I did just a little searching and found out I am not the only one. I also read some comments that state this is a rather common problem with image hosting services. Below please find posts from the ebay forums and blogs that show others are having the exact same problem. Also take note that the very last post has also had the exact same experience as I have in the last 2 months also.
-----------------
boughtitxsoldit ( 1669) Visit Seller's Store11 commentsBOOMSPEED photo hosting don’t use them, thievesPosted Jan-19-07 22:29:44 PSTI tried there service and found I personally did not like there site setup so I wanted out before the free 30 day trial period was up and found out that there is no link or button to delete an account. I tried emailing with no response, I tried calling with only a recorded message to go online and email them with still no response. I ended up getting charged their fee when I had no photos on there website. Before I could get a dispute going on my credit card they charged me again. I received a refund on the 8th and then they charged me again on the 18th not once but twice. I ended up having to cancel my credit card so now I am stuck without a new card for one to two weeks. So the final result I want to let anybody know is if you want to use BOOMSPEED for photo hosting, don’t do it unless you want to be with them for life with no help or communication from them at all.
Comments
Back to topftwwarnerve ( 102) View seller's items View BlogI also have Boomspeed and have been paying for it for nearly two years- they DO NOT answer emails about cancelling your account- there is NOTHING on the boomspeed website saying how to (you have to dig to find it, and even then, nothing happens)... I'm at the point where I'm going to report them to my credit card company and demand they pay me back for the past 8 months that they have charged me for using their site. FYI- last time I logged on was 9 months ago and it was to delete the account.
If I cannot get a refund, and they continue to charge me, I will hunt them down and sue the pants off of them for credit card theft and anything else I can pin on them. This is RIDICULOUS.
DO NOT USE BOOMSPEED- EVER!!!
Mar-02-07 14:06:21 PST Report this comment
-----------------------
Boomspeed is ripping me off
rockiezz (1157 ) View Listings Report Jul-24-07 06:12 PDT Hello, Has anybody else noticed that Boomspeed is ripping them off? In the last two month Boomspeed has charged my account 3 times $18, $18, & $25 and I can not seam to get in touch with them. Has anyone else been able to get in touch with them if so please let me know how. Thanks in advance, John
vicsvues (833 ) View Listings Report Jul-27-07 15:07 PDT 3 of 4 Hi, I cancelled Boomspeed 4 years ago and see they are charging me again. How did you get in touch with greg?
letez (38 ) View Listings Report Jul-30-07 05:21 PDT 4 of 4 Yes, I was charged $18 on 6/28/07 and then $25 on 7/23/07. Please tell me how to contact Greg as well. I have sent 3 emails to their so called support and haven't received even an acknowledgement of my concern.
--------------
If any of you reading this has been ripped off by this service, or has any other comments, please leave your comments here. I encourage it. I will also be posting this alert on my other blogs, and websites.
Sincerely,Cat
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Web and Video Conferencing with MegaMeeting.com
I want to share a wonderful new resource with you today. It is called MegaMeeting.com and it can save you a ton of money. Altho this blog is targetted to the music industry, MegaMeeting can be a valuable tool for a variety of different people and industries.
Let us take the music industry example first. Very few people or establishments are not connected by way of the internet today. In fact, most of my contact with clients and clubs are currently done on the net, and if you are in this industry, then most likely you are utilizing this marvel also. I currently have a band that is from here in Richmond, living in Los Angeles and thier touring is based from there. Imagine how difficult and time consuming it is to build and maintain a bands website, keep track of changes in touring schedules, and have important meetings about the business of touring and monies at this distance, not to mention the cost and limitations of phone calls.
This is where MegaMeeting comes in handy. MegaMeeting.com is a quality and afforable way to cut cost, while expanding your reach to the entire industry thru the use of web and video conferencing. This is a highly expanding technology which I encourage any music manager or other music industry pro to consider when they have several bands and artists to keep in contact with.
What about the non music industry?
Glad you asked. Anyone can use the services at MegaMeeting.com if you have an internet connection and can log on, everyone from individual webmasters, small companies, organizations, and companies wanting a private branded version for thier business. Returning to music for a moment, even teachers can use this technology while away with students on Band and Sports events. Internet marketers, business people, distributors or reps for a region of people, all can benefit from this technology.
MegaMeeting.com works on any operating system, Mac, Windows or Linux. There are absolutely no complicated software downloads or installations, and it is easy to use. MegaMeeting works thru desktop/browser based web conferencing services and webinar doesn't require any special installation on your pc. There is also the ability to communicate by voice, instant messaging chat, and you can see up to 16 individuals on video/videoconference at the same time. Users can talk and hear eachother using standard microphones and headsets, or you can use free, integrated teleconferencing for hearing audio in your webinars.
More options include the ability to share applications, open and examine common documents while online, and conference hosts can even show PowerPoint presentations visible to all attendees. Additionally you can use Webinar and other services for social and religious organizations, students, education, etc... Many people use the webinar hosting features to conduct virtual, web based meetings and seminars.
I encourage you to check out this great tool now, and see what uses you can find on your own.MegaMeeting.com
Let us take the music industry example first. Very few people or establishments are not connected by way of the internet today. In fact, most of my contact with clients and clubs are currently done on the net, and if you are in this industry, then most likely you are utilizing this marvel also. I currently have a band that is from here in Richmond, living in Los Angeles and thier touring is based from there. Imagine how difficult and time consuming it is to build and maintain a bands website, keep track of changes in touring schedules, and have important meetings about the business of touring and monies at this distance, not to mention the cost and limitations of phone calls.
This is where MegaMeeting comes in handy. MegaMeeting.com is a quality and afforable way to cut cost, while expanding your reach to the entire industry thru the use of web and video conferencing. This is a highly expanding technology which I encourage any music manager or other music industry pro to consider when they have several bands and artists to keep in contact with.
What about the non music industry?
Glad you asked. Anyone can use the services at MegaMeeting.com if you have an internet connection and can log on, everyone from individual webmasters, small companies, organizations, and companies wanting a private branded version for thier business. Returning to music for a moment, even teachers can use this technology while away with students on Band and Sports events. Internet marketers, business people, distributors or reps for a region of people, all can benefit from this technology.
MegaMeeting.com works on any operating system, Mac, Windows or Linux. There are absolutely no complicated software downloads or installations, and it is easy to use. MegaMeeting works thru desktop/browser based web conferencing services and webinar doesn't require any special installation on your pc. There is also the ability to communicate by voice, instant messaging chat, and you can see up to 16 individuals on video/videoconference at the same time. Users can talk and hear eachother using standard microphones and headsets, or you can use free, integrated teleconferencing for hearing audio in your webinars.
More options include the ability to share applications, open and examine common documents while online, and conference hosts can even show PowerPoint presentations visible to all attendees. Additionally you can use Webinar and other services for social and religious organizations, students, education, etc... Many people use the webinar hosting features to conduct virtual, web based meetings and seminars.
I encourage you to check out this great tool now, and see what uses you can find on your own.MegaMeeting.com
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Selling More CD's
Be very proactive when it comes to selling. While many bands will setup a table and tell people to "go to our table and buy our CDs", you should take it a step further by sending some of your pretty girlfriends and lady friends to do the selling to your fans. Does that sound exploitive, well maybe so, but it works, and the name of the game is to do what it takes, as long as it is ethical and legal.
When you begin playing music, have your sales team start by dancing to the music. They should then pick up their baskets of CDs, grab a couple, hold them high, while your band invites the audience to, "Go buy our CDs." Then they should walk through the aisles for the rest of the your performance.
This technique varies in different parts of the country, for instance in places like Texas or California, this direct approach works magic. Then again, in Florida or Georgia, an audience might get angry if sales people disturb their show. The key here is to realize that your sales team is a PART of the show!
Don't just stand up there silently holding up CDs, integrate your sales people into your show. Get them to dance in the isles, clap their hands, sing-a-long. If they do, the audience will follow their lead. This will help them to attract attention to the CDs, and you will sell more. Don't wait for your fans to come to you, or they may never, be proactive. If you go to them, you'll sell more CDs, and make more fans in the process.
When bands and artists play their music, it definitely is the biggest factor in their sales. When the music is exciting, and everyone is having a good time, the sales are usually pretty good. If the band is doing their job (making great music), it makes selling a lot easier. Your sales team have to be available and approachable to people and look like they are part of the show for people to feel comfortable.
Start from the very beginning employing the use of a roaming basket. It is very effective and other groups have successfully copied this approach. Sellers should walk around holding up the product so people can see them, and try to blend in with the show and not be pushy, just visible.
I personally enjoy interacting with the crowd, adlibbing from what is being said on the stage and telling jokes to make the audience laugh. And I will talk and be nice to everyone, even if they don't buy a CD simply because I enjoy people and I am trying to be an ambassador for the band. They may not buy today, but chances are they will think about it and buy a CD at another time.
A great performance and an interactive sales crew is just the start to selling more CDs at gigs. Some sellers work off of a commission, with bonuses built in when an individual's sales total reaches a certain amount. Giving a salesperson a commission motivates them to sell more than just giving them a flat rate. Have a minimum pay for a nights work when the sales arenot good. In that case the band can pay as an example $40 show, or a 10% commission of the sales total,whichever is greater.
At some venues, such as festivals, I have found that having a sales table is an extremely successful way to increase sales, especially in combination with a roaming salesperson, when using both are appropriate. At pub or bar gigs, you should probably only have a sales table. Having someone roam in a tight space like a bar might be seen as aggressive or invasive, which I do not encourage. Friendly competition between two or more sellers is fine as long as there is a feeling of team spirit. Sellers should help each other out when one needs change or more stock.
The larger the crowds, the more sales people are needed. The sheer size of the crowd has a tremendous impact on sales. When you get that many people standing or sitting that close together and they are all excited about the music, it is like a ripple effect--once the sales start flowing, everyone seems to jump on the buying wagon.
Where the crowd is huge, your sellers may not be able to maximize the full sales potential. A good indication of not being able to tap the sales potential is when you are standing in one spot and have not moved out of it the entire show, or can't move.
Try to find what is called a "sweet spot" when people come up to you already wanting to buy a CD. Just as soon as you finish one sale, another person comes up to buy a CD, that's Sweet! Always try to point out the fact that they can order more CDs through your website or mail order. You do have a website, Right????.
Your sales team should always be trying to promote the band, and ask them to take business cards from people who want to hire the band for potential gigs and direct them to the business manager.
So lets review what it takes to sell merchandise.
1. Great music
2. Great live performance
3. Roaming sales people with baskets of CDs
4. Sellers hold up product DURING the show
5. Sellers blend in an interact with the show
6. Reward sales people with commission
7. Set up sales table for venues
8. Encourage friendly sales competition
9. More people to sell for larger crowds, enjoy 'ripple effect'
10. Take business cards to gigs and hand out at every opportunity.
This is one approuch, later in this series I will talk about the use of schwag, you know that free stuff that is given away at shows. You will be surprised what free goodies can do to help your band become popular about town! Till then, Good Luck!
When you begin playing music, have your sales team start by dancing to the music. They should then pick up their baskets of CDs, grab a couple, hold them high, while your band invites the audience to, "Go buy our CDs." Then they should walk through the aisles for the rest of the your performance.
This technique varies in different parts of the country, for instance in places like Texas or California, this direct approach works magic. Then again, in Florida or Georgia, an audience might get angry if sales people disturb their show. The key here is to realize that your sales team is a PART of the show!
Don't just stand up there silently holding up CDs, integrate your sales people into your show. Get them to dance in the isles, clap their hands, sing-a-long. If they do, the audience will follow their lead. This will help them to attract attention to the CDs, and you will sell more. Don't wait for your fans to come to you, or they may never, be proactive. If you go to them, you'll sell more CDs, and make more fans in the process.
When bands and artists play their music, it definitely is the biggest factor in their sales. When the music is exciting, and everyone is having a good time, the sales are usually pretty good. If the band is doing their job (making great music), it makes selling a lot easier. Your sales team have to be available and approachable to people and look like they are part of the show for people to feel comfortable.
Start from the very beginning employing the use of a roaming basket. It is very effective and other groups have successfully copied this approach. Sellers should walk around holding up the product so people can see them, and try to blend in with the show and not be pushy, just visible.
I personally enjoy interacting with the crowd, adlibbing from what is being said on the stage and telling jokes to make the audience laugh. And I will talk and be nice to everyone, even if they don't buy a CD simply because I enjoy people and I am trying to be an ambassador for the band. They may not buy today, but chances are they will think about it and buy a CD at another time.
A great performance and an interactive sales crew is just the start to selling more CDs at gigs. Some sellers work off of a commission, with bonuses built in when an individual's sales total reaches a certain amount. Giving a salesperson a commission motivates them to sell more than just giving them a flat rate. Have a minimum pay for a nights work when the sales arenot good. In that case the band can pay as an example $40 show, or a 10% commission of the sales total,whichever is greater.
At some venues, such as festivals, I have found that having a sales table is an extremely successful way to increase sales, especially in combination with a roaming salesperson, when using both are appropriate. At pub or bar gigs, you should probably only have a sales table. Having someone roam in a tight space like a bar might be seen as aggressive or invasive, which I do not encourage. Friendly competition between two or more sellers is fine as long as there is a feeling of team spirit. Sellers should help each other out when one needs change or more stock.
The larger the crowds, the more sales people are needed. The sheer size of the crowd has a tremendous impact on sales. When you get that many people standing or sitting that close together and they are all excited about the music, it is like a ripple effect--once the sales start flowing, everyone seems to jump on the buying wagon.
Where the crowd is huge, your sellers may not be able to maximize the full sales potential. A good indication of not being able to tap the sales potential is when you are standing in one spot and have not moved out of it the entire show, or can't move.
Try to find what is called a "sweet spot" when people come up to you already wanting to buy a CD. Just as soon as you finish one sale, another person comes up to buy a CD, that's Sweet! Always try to point out the fact that they can order more CDs through your website or mail order. You do have a website, Right????.
Your sales team should always be trying to promote the band, and ask them to take business cards from people who want to hire the band for potential gigs and direct them to the business manager.
So lets review what it takes to sell merchandise.
1. Great music
2. Great live performance
3. Roaming sales people with baskets of CDs
4. Sellers hold up product DURING the show
5. Sellers blend in an interact with the show
6. Reward sales people with commission
7. Set up sales table for venues
8. Encourage friendly sales competition
9. More people to sell for larger crowds, enjoy 'ripple effect'
10. Take business cards to gigs and hand out at every opportunity.
This is one approuch, later in this series I will talk about the use of schwag, you know that free stuff that is given away at shows. You will be surprised what free goodies can do to help your band become popular about town! Till then, Good Luck!
Thursday, July 12, 2007
CHOOSING HOME STUDIO EQUIPTMENT
Personal studio equipment is not meant as a means to record your demo, but rather to be used more like a notepad. You should really tune your sound before going into a studio and paying by the hour to make your demo. A great way to do this is to record and re-record over and over again until you know exactly the way you want it. It will save you big bucks in the studio.
Personal studio equipment is sometimes even used to lay down a few tracks before you get into the studio. You will lose a generation, and the sound isn't going to be as great, but for things like drums and bass that are laid into the background, it's sufficient. You can also keep track of your changing sound, and let's face it, we all love to hear ourselves. In addition, it's great practice if you have ideas of owning your own studio someday. Every not-so- rich-and-famous music maker should have a personal studio.
Four-tracks are the most common piece of personal studio equipment on the market today. If you are not familiar with them, they are called four-tracks because they record on just that, four tracks. A regular cassette tape contains four tracks all together, two for each "side", a four-track recorder utilizes all four for recording songs. A four-track is like a cassette recorder than can play and record at the same time (multi-tracking). A recording studio usually has between 16 and 48 tracks, so you have less to play with, but if you utilize your space wisely, you can get a terrific sound.
There is a common practice called sub-mixing, also referred to as "bouncing," that can free up some space for extra instruments or vocals. For instance, you could record the drums on track one, bass on track two, and guitar on track three, then transfer all three to track four, leaving three empty tracks. Again, you get into the generation loss, but since this isn't your actual demo, you should be fine. Just make sure you have your drums, bass and guitar exactly the way you want them because they cannot be changed once they are mixed together.
The big five companies in four-tracks are Fostex, Tascam, Sony, Yamaha, and Akai, with Fostex and Tascam being the most common. In this article, we're trying to make you aware of the latest equipment out there, we are not necessarily making any recommendations. The top of the line for Tascam is the 644 MIDIstudio. The 644 has sixteen inputs to eight channels, with MIDI and remote control. It also has a DBX noise reduction system, three band EQ, switchable tape speed, and a multi-function dual mix system. The Tascam 644 MIDIstudio is a great choice for computer geeks that know what they're doing.
For those not-so-in-the-know, there is the Yamaha MT120. The MT120 is great for first-time four-track owners. It contains a five-band Stereo Graphics Equalizer, dual speed controls, and DBX noise reduction system. It has the added bonus of being able to record on all four tracks at the same time. Not a lot of units have that feature. The EQ output also includes Aux send and return.
If you're looking for something more compact that you can take on the road with you, Tascam's Porta 05 or Porta 02 ministudios, or the Fostex X-14 Multitracker will be your best bets. The Tascam Porta 05 features a two-channel, two-band equalizer, four inputs, and built-in DBX system noise reduction. The Porta 05HS is also available, it contains high speed recording. The Porta 02 and X-14 have slightly less features. The Porta 02 has two inputs with adjustable Trim and operates at standard speed. The Fostex X-14 Multitracker has an internal omni-directional condenser microphone and LED meters, however, it has only one input and it also runs at normal speed.
The next size up in compact, portable four-tracks are the Fostex XR-3 Multitrack, and the Tascam 414 Portastudio. Though slightly larger than the compacts, they make up for their bulk in features. The XR-3 is easy to operate with two inputs, dual speeds, Dolby B noise reduction, auto bounce circuit, and tape out terminals. It also has the internal omni-directional condenser microphone like the X-14. The 414 has that terrific feature of being able to record on all four tracks at once, mic or line. It also has a sync out, linear faders, high and low EQ, and two stereo effects returns.
If you're looking for middle-of-the-road stuff that is still portable, but a bit larger than the others, there are a lot of options out there. Some of the best are the X-77, XR-5, and XR-7 from Fostex, and the Tascam 424. With a six channel mixer, two switchable aux sends per channel, and a bi-alternate mix mode, the X-77 is noted for it's diversity and quality. It also has an assignable parametric equalizer, alternative aux send, and a MIDI/tape multi-mix mode. Fostex's XR-5 and XR-7 both have two aux sends, and two stereo aux returns, plus their own unique features.
The XR-5, which I own and am very happy with, has a four channel input mixer, EQ on every channel, four direct tape outputs, and it records at high speed. The XR-7 is step up with six channel input mixer, rehearsal mode, logic control transport, and 2 and 3 band sweep EQ. The XR-5 has Dolby B® NR, while the XR-7 has Dolby C® NR. Both are great machines, as is the Tascam 424 with it's three-band EQ, auto punch in/out, and the return-to-zero feature that makes recording so much easier. This four input machine also has two additional stereo ins. All four of these machines are reasonably priced and will get the job done more than efficiently.
Finally, there are the big boys, as I mentioned before, the Tascam 644 MIDIstudio is top of the line in four tracks, however, in this age of technological advances, there are more options out there. The future of four-track technology is turning toward MiniDiscs®, or MDs. A mini-disc is a magneto-optical format that is rewritable. MiniDiscs® have many advantages over cassette four-tracks, in much the same way that CDs are superior to cassette tapes. Bouncing is a lot clearer with minidiscs, the editing process is a big step up, and the signal is much cleaner. MiniDiscs® are more expensive than most four-tracks, but new technology is always more expensive and will eventually lower in price.
Tascam's 564 Digital Portastudio, Sony's MDM-X4 Mark II, and Yamaha's MD4 are three good examples of this new technology. The 564 features an S/PDIF output, auto-punch overdubbing with rehearse, two stereo aux returns, and a top-of-the-line "bounce forward" feature. The bounce forward feature is used to cut, move, copy, and assemble your songs. The MDM-X4 has four mono mic/line ins, two aux sends, two stereo returns, and some great editing features including track and song based editing, allowing you to erase, copy, move, and exchange. Other editing features are Undo/Redo, Virtual Mix, and Mix Write. The Virtual Mix feature allows you to record up to 16 virtual tracks, which can be combined down to two or four tracks, and the Mix Write feature allows you to add a track to an already-recorded track. Yamaha's MD4 uses Sony's MiniDisc Data discs, it features an integrated four-channel analog mixer, 3-band EQ, search and locate functions, song and track editing and MIDI output. The MD4 also boasts "Lossless digital bouncing". This process allows you to bounce all four tracks down to one or two tracks as many times as is needed without losing fidelity.
The features I've highlighted here are not the only features on these machines, please contact Lentine's Music Inc., or another musical equipment vendor for more details on these products. Work with your vendor, take their suggestions to heart, but do your own research, and talk to people who own a four-track, get their opinion.
To a lot of us, the dollar amount involved is considerable and our decision on what to purchase should be made with care and consideration. Also keep in mind that we couldn't possibly cover every four-track on the market, there are a lot of machines to choose from. We would have liked to have included the Akai DR4d, and the Fostex X-55 and XR3, among others. Also keep in mind that a four-track needs a lot of accessories to complete your personal studio.
Most personal studios consist of a reverb unit, drum machine, microphone, headphones, and your various instruments, along with the four-track. A lot of people also prefer to purchase a DAT (Digital Audio Tape) recorder or CD recorder to record on rather than a cassette, and that adds to the bill considerably. It's no small change, but it also doesn't have to cost a small fortune. Make sure you really shop and compare, especially on the internet. With musical items, there can be a huge price difference from one vendor to another.
Two other tips: ALWAYS clean your heads before starting a new session, and NEVER use metal cassette tapes. Good luck, and happy hunting!
Technorati Profile
Personal studio equipment is sometimes even used to lay down a few tracks before you get into the studio. You will lose a generation, and the sound isn't going to be as great, but for things like drums and bass that are laid into the background, it's sufficient. You can also keep track of your changing sound, and let's face it, we all love to hear ourselves. In addition, it's great practice if you have ideas of owning your own studio someday. Every not-so- rich-and-famous music maker should have a personal studio.
Four-tracks are the most common piece of personal studio equipment on the market today. If you are not familiar with them, they are called four-tracks because they record on just that, four tracks. A regular cassette tape contains four tracks all together, two for each "side", a four-track recorder utilizes all four for recording songs. A four-track is like a cassette recorder than can play and record at the same time (multi-tracking). A recording studio usually has between 16 and 48 tracks, so you have less to play with, but if you utilize your space wisely, you can get a terrific sound.
There is a common practice called sub-mixing, also referred to as "bouncing," that can free up some space for extra instruments or vocals. For instance, you could record the drums on track one, bass on track two, and guitar on track three, then transfer all three to track four, leaving three empty tracks. Again, you get into the generation loss, but since this isn't your actual demo, you should be fine. Just make sure you have your drums, bass and guitar exactly the way you want them because they cannot be changed once they are mixed together.
The big five companies in four-tracks are Fostex, Tascam, Sony, Yamaha, and Akai, with Fostex and Tascam being the most common. In this article, we're trying to make you aware of the latest equipment out there, we are not necessarily making any recommendations. The top of the line for Tascam is the 644 MIDIstudio. The 644 has sixteen inputs to eight channels, with MIDI and remote control. It also has a DBX noise reduction system, three band EQ, switchable tape speed, and a multi-function dual mix system. The Tascam 644 MIDIstudio is a great choice for computer geeks that know what they're doing.
For those not-so-in-the-know, there is the Yamaha MT120. The MT120 is great for first-time four-track owners. It contains a five-band Stereo Graphics Equalizer, dual speed controls, and DBX noise reduction system. It has the added bonus of being able to record on all four tracks at the same time. Not a lot of units have that feature. The EQ output also includes Aux send and return.
If you're looking for something more compact that you can take on the road with you, Tascam's Porta 05 or Porta 02 ministudios, or the Fostex X-14 Multitracker will be your best bets. The Tascam Porta 05 features a two-channel, two-band equalizer, four inputs, and built-in DBX system noise reduction. The Porta 05HS is also available, it contains high speed recording. The Porta 02 and X-14 have slightly less features. The Porta 02 has two inputs with adjustable Trim and operates at standard speed. The Fostex X-14 Multitracker has an internal omni-directional condenser microphone and LED meters, however, it has only one input and it also runs at normal speed.
The next size up in compact, portable four-tracks are the Fostex XR-3 Multitrack, and the Tascam 414 Portastudio. Though slightly larger than the compacts, they make up for their bulk in features. The XR-3 is easy to operate with two inputs, dual speeds, Dolby B noise reduction, auto bounce circuit, and tape out terminals. It also has the internal omni-directional condenser microphone like the X-14. The 414 has that terrific feature of being able to record on all four tracks at once, mic or line. It also has a sync out, linear faders, high and low EQ, and two stereo effects returns.
If you're looking for middle-of-the-road stuff that is still portable, but a bit larger than the others, there are a lot of options out there. Some of the best are the X-77, XR-5, and XR-7 from Fostex, and the Tascam 424. With a six channel mixer, two switchable aux sends per channel, and a bi-alternate mix mode, the X-77 is noted for it's diversity and quality. It also has an assignable parametric equalizer, alternative aux send, and a MIDI/tape multi-mix mode. Fostex's XR-5 and XR-7 both have two aux sends, and two stereo aux returns, plus their own unique features.
The XR-5, which I own and am very happy with, has a four channel input mixer, EQ on every channel, four direct tape outputs, and it records at high speed. The XR-7 is step up with six channel input mixer, rehearsal mode, logic control transport, and 2 and 3 band sweep EQ. The XR-5 has Dolby B® NR, while the XR-7 has Dolby C® NR. Both are great machines, as is the Tascam 424 with it's three-band EQ, auto punch in/out, and the return-to-zero feature that makes recording so much easier. This four input machine also has two additional stereo ins. All four of these machines are reasonably priced and will get the job done more than efficiently.
Finally, there are the big boys, as I mentioned before, the Tascam 644 MIDIstudio is top of the line in four tracks, however, in this age of technological advances, there are more options out there. The future of four-track technology is turning toward MiniDiscs®, or MDs. A mini-disc is a magneto-optical format that is rewritable. MiniDiscs® have many advantages over cassette four-tracks, in much the same way that CDs are superior to cassette tapes. Bouncing is a lot clearer with minidiscs, the editing process is a big step up, and the signal is much cleaner. MiniDiscs® are more expensive than most four-tracks, but new technology is always more expensive and will eventually lower in price.
Tascam's 564 Digital Portastudio, Sony's MDM-X4 Mark II, and Yamaha's MD4 are three good examples of this new technology. The 564 features an S/PDIF output, auto-punch overdubbing with rehearse, two stereo aux returns, and a top-of-the-line "bounce forward" feature. The bounce forward feature is used to cut, move, copy, and assemble your songs. The MDM-X4 has four mono mic/line ins, two aux sends, two stereo returns, and some great editing features including track and song based editing, allowing you to erase, copy, move, and exchange. Other editing features are Undo/Redo, Virtual Mix, and Mix Write. The Virtual Mix feature allows you to record up to 16 virtual tracks, which can be combined down to two or four tracks, and the Mix Write feature allows you to add a track to an already-recorded track. Yamaha's MD4 uses Sony's MiniDisc Data discs, it features an integrated four-channel analog mixer, 3-band EQ, search and locate functions, song and track editing and MIDI output. The MD4 also boasts "Lossless digital bouncing". This process allows you to bounce all four tracks down to one or two tracks as many times as is needed without losing fidelity.
The features I've highlighted here are not the only features on these machines, please contact Lentine's Music Inc., or another musical equipment vendor for more details on these products. Work with your vendor, take their suggestions to heart, but do your own research, and talk to people who own a four-track, get their opinion.
To a lot of us, the dollar amount involved is considerable and our decision on what to purchase should be made with care and consideration. Also keep in mind that we couldn't possibly cover every four-track on the market, there are a lot of machines to choose from. We would have liked to have included the Akai DR4d, and the Fostex X-55 and XR3, among others. Also keep in mind that a four-track needs a lot of accessories to complete your personal studio.
Most personal studios consist of a reverb unit, drum machine, microphone, headphones, and your various instruments, along with the four-track. A lot of people also prefer to purchase a DAT (Digital Audio Tape) recorder or CD recorder to record on rather than a cassette, and that adds to the bill considerably. It's no small change, but it also doesn't have to cost a small fortune. Make sure you really shop and compare, especially on the internet. With musical items, there can be a huge price difference from one vendor to another.
Two other tips: ALWAYS clean your heads before starting a new session, and NEVER use metal cassette tapes. Good luck, and happy hunting!
Technorati Profile
RECORDING TIPS FOR THE STUDIO EXPERIENCE
THESE TIPS ARE DESIGNED TO HELP MUSICIANS SAVE TIME, MONEY AND FRUSTRATION IN THE STUDIO BEFORE BOOKING STUDIO TIME
1. Record your songs during live gigs and pre-production rehearsals. Even a simple cassette recording on a boom box may reveal weak parts of songs that you would waste time finding out in the studio.
2. Have all musical and vocal parts worked out ahead of time. Know what guitar solos you want to use before experimenting at XX dollars an hour.
3. If you are using a computer or a sequencer, prepare all the material before the session.
4. If you need to use a click track at the session, be sure your drummer has gotten comfortable with it before hand if possible. He can get some light rehearsal by practicing with one at a very slow tempo.
5. Rehearse more songs than you plan to record. If you plan to make a 3 song demo at your session, prepare 5 songs just in case. You may decide midstream that one of the 3 that you originally chose does not as sound as strong on the final tape as one of your alternatives.
6. Take care of yourself before and during your session times. Be sure to eat well, get enough sleep (no partying till dawn) and keep your ears as rested and clear as possible.
NOW THAT YOU HAVE PREPARED YOURSELF IN ADVANCE, AND YOU HAVE BOOKED THE SESSION TIME, THESE TIPS WILL HELP YOU IN SETTING UP IN THE STUDIO
1. Be on time or early. You may be charged for the time booked whether you have gotten there or not.
2. Make your studio experience as relaxed and comfortable as possible. Bring snacks to keep your energy up, and beverages to keep you hydrated. If your not comfortable, this will show in the work that you do.
3. Go over your songs with the engineer before recording, be sure you both see the same goal.
4. Depending on the tracking capability of the studio you are using, plan out how you will leave room for the essential parts. This preparation will simplify the mix and eliminate the need for bouncing tracks later.
5. Equip yourself with new strings, drum sticks and heads, cords etc. Be sure to bring extras. Find out hours if operation for local music stores just in case.
6. Stick to using gear you are familiar with, and refrain from equipment you have not used before even if it is better than what you have. These kinds of surprises can cause problems for you in the session.
NOW LETS TALK A BIT ABOUT THE RECORDING PROCESS ITSELF.
1. Remember that it's emotion and feeling that make up a song, not necessarily the best technical rendition.
2. If you mess up a part during recording, don't stop and start over. That can cause burnout and frustration, not to mention wasting time. Have the enginerr punch in the corrections.
3. You don't have to fill up all the tracks on the tape. Don't try to force something that doesn't fit.
4. Keep the focus of your music in mind. If it's the vocals, plan to spend the most tome on them. Don't waste time on things that don't highlight the focal point.
5. Get the sound you want while recording. Never assume that you can fix it in the mix.
6. Record individual tracks clean, and add effects later.
7. Try to avoid double tracking everything. Doubling a lead vocal can hide subtleties that make a song personable and likable (although this can work well for a chorus).
8. Know when to quit for the day. If you are really tired, it will show in your work.
9. Keep guests to a limit or out altogether. Guests can distract you and may sway your opinion of how the music should sound.
10. Make back up copies after every recording session.
11. Tune your instruments often.
12. Singers should always bring water but stay away from ice. Ice constricts your vocal chords. Hot tea with lemon and honey works great.
13. Always get a track listing and accurate time log from the studio.
WHEN YOU ARE MONITORING THE MIX, LISTEN TO YOUR MUSIC AT MODERATE LEVELS IN YOUR CAR OR ON A BOOM BOX. THIS IS HOW MOST OF YOUR FANS WILL LISTEN TO IT, AND MIXING AT LOAD LEVELS WILL FATIGUE YOUR EARS AND DISTORT THE TRUE SOUND. SOMETIMES IT'S GOOD TO TAKE A DAY OFF AND COME BACK TO LISTEN. EARS DON'T LAST VERY LONG IN THE STUDIO. AS YOU REVIEW EACH MIX, MAKE SURE YOU CAN COMFORTABLY HEAR ALL THE INSTRUMENTS. TWEAK THE MIX ON A SMALL PAIR OF SPEAKERS AT AN EXTREMELY LOW VOLUME. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO PICK UP EACH INSTRUMENT EVEN AT THIS LEVEL. WHEN YOU GET TOO TIRED, THEN QUIT. YOUR ARE BETTER OFF QUITTING A SESSION EARLY THAN WASTING TIME MAKING A BAD MIX THAT WILL HAVE TO BE REDONE ANYWAY. NEXT TIME WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE ACTUAL MIXING PROCESS, BUT IN THE MEANTIME......GOOD LUCK!!!!!
1. Record your songs during live gigs and pre-production rehearsals. Even a simple cassette recording on a boom box may reveal weak parts of songs that you would waste time finding out in the studio.
2. Have all musical and vocal parts worked out ahead of time. Know what guitar solos you want to use before experimenting at XX dollars an hour.
3. If you are using a computer or a sequencer, prepare all the material before the session.
4. If you need to use a click track at the session, be sure your drummer has gotten comfortable with it before hand if possible. He can get some light rehearsal by practicing with one at a very slow tempo.
5. Rehearse more songs than you plan to record. If you plan to make a 3 song demo at your session, prepare 5 songs just in case. You may decide midstream that one of the 3 that you originally chose does not as sound as strong on the final tape as one of your alternatives.
6. Take care of yourself before and during your session times. Be sure to eat well, get enough sleep (no partying till dawn) and keep your ears as rested and clear as possible.
NOW THAT YOU HAVE PREPARED YOURSELF IN ADVANCE, AND YOU HAVE BOOKED THE SESSION TIME, THESE TIPS WILL HELP YOU IN SETTING UP IN THE STUDIO
1. Be on time or early. You may be charged for the time booked whether you have gotten there or not.
2. Make your studio experience as relaxed and comfortable as possible. Bring snacks to keep your energy up, and beverages to keep you hydrated. If your not comfortable, this will show in the work that you do.
3. Go over your songs with the engineer before recording, be sure you both see the same goal.
4. Depending on the tracking capability of the studio you are using, plan out how you will leave room for the essential parts. This preparation will simplify the mix and eliminate the need for bouncing tracks later.
5. Equip yourself with new strings, drum sticks and heads, cords etc. Be sure to bring extras. Find out hours if operation for local music stores just in case.
6. Stick to using gear you are familiar with, and refrain from equipment you have not used before even if it is better than what you have. These kinds of surprises can cause problems for you in the session.
NOW LETS TALK A BIT ABOUT THE RECORDING PROCESS ITSELF.
1. Remember that it's emotion and feeling that make up a song, not necessarily the best technical rendition.
2. If you mess up a part during recording, don't stop and start over. That can cause burnout and frustration, not to mention wasting time. Have the enginerr punch in the corrections.
3. You don't have to fill up all the tracks on the tape. Don't try to force something that doesn't fit.
4. Keep the focus of your music in mind. If it's the vocals, plan to spend the most tome on them. Don't waste time on things that don't highlight the focal point.
5. Get the sound you want while recording. Never assume that you can fix it in the mix.
6. Record individual tracks clean, and add effects later.
7. Try to avoid double tracking everything. Doubling a lead vocal can hide subtleties that make a song personable and likable (although this can work well for a chorus).
8. Know when to quit for the day. If you are really tired, it will show in your work.
9. Keep guests to a limit or out altogether. Guests can distract you and may sway your opinion of how the music should sound.
10. Make back up copies after every recording session.
11. Tune your instruments often.
12. Singers should always bring water but stay away from ice. Ice constricts your vocal chords. Hot tea with lemon and honey works great.
13. Always get a track listing and accurate time log from the studio.
WHEN YOU ARE MONITORING THE MIX, LISTEN TO YOUR MUSIC AT MODERATE LEVELS IN YOUR CAR OR ON A BOOM BOX. THIS IS HOW MOST OF YOUR FANS WILL LISTEN TO IT, AND MIXING AT LOAD LEVELS WILL FATIGUE YOUR EARS AND DISTORT THE TRUE SOUND. SOMETIMES IT'S GOOD TO TAKE A DAY OFF AND COME BACK TO LISTEN. EARS DON'T LAST VERY LONG IN THE STUDIO. AS YOU REVIEW EACH MIX, MAKE SURE YOU CAN COMFORTABLY HEAR ALL THE INSTRUMENTS. TWEAK THE MIX ON A SMALL PAIR OF SPEAKERS AT AN EXTREMELY LOW VOLUME. YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO PICK UP EACH INSTRUMENT EVEN AT THIS LEVEL. WHEN YOU GET TOO TIRED, THEN QUIT. YOUR ARE BETTER OFF QUITTING A SESSION EARLY THAN WASTING TIME MAKING A BAD MIX THAT WILL HAVE TO BE REDONE ANYWAY. NEXT TIME WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE ACTUAL MIXING PROCESS, BUT IN THE MEANTIME......GOOD LUCK!!!!!
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