Here are a few questions or two for you.
I was in a store the other day and saw a couple who were deaf. Weird that they were in a record shop but who am I to judge?
Anyway there they were chatting away in sign language when suddenly the lady started waving her arms about. The guy replied and suddenly it was like being under a line of propellors. They were arguing in sign language! WOW now that was a sight to see.
So the first question is this: Do you get deaf people with Terrets syndrome?
Next
We have had all sorts of problems working the states since the patriot act came in. Photo's and scans and all sorts of extra security but my question is this
Do Astronauts need to carry a passport and make a declaration to customs? If not why not? They used to make us answer stupid stuff like were you ever a nazi - like anyone would say yes!
Last
If you have only one arm and your belt snaps when you are out on the town how do you flag down a cab?
I will leave you with that.
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Movie stardom
Last week was a whirlwind.
We have been pressing up thousands of records in the states. Vinyl remixes on 12" and three differnt albums. Phone calls to pluggers, PR agents, retail managers, bookers, insiders and new people that we hope to do business with. All exciting stuff.
But the real thrill this week was shooting a video of superstar for Glovebox.
We got a gang of local film makers to go out on a limb for us to make the video and they started shooting on Australia day. Or at least we thought they would! In fact the whole day was spent in rehersals, which is really professional but really boring if you aren't doing any acting. Our A&R guy (famous Ian) was there from sparrow fart in the morning (THAT EARLY!) to late late late and did not much but make coffee and move props. Not a nice day for him really. It was certainly not all glamour.
So day 2 dawns and the band have flown up from Melbourne complete with new drummer Sarah and Morris sporting a new "tash. They arrived at 8pm on Thursday and shooting started at 5.30 am Friday! Holy Cow!!!! The day was then spent in a small apartment in Brisbane with a crew of hundreds and a cast of 5. Weird how that is always the case.
As for we label types - we went off to a location in the city to set up the gear for the "live" sections of the shoot. Amps, keys, drums, mikes etc all ready to go on time. We then sat in the blistering sun for another 4 hours before anyone else arrived.
I decided to go back to the office and got on with some work whilst they guys shot the last scenes so I never actually saw a single second of footage being recorded! Trust is all in these situations.
After a highly stressed few hours we all got back togther at a restaurant in town and the few of us who were not exhausted hit the town with a vengenance. Lets just say that the 4am cab ride home was a bit blurry.
The day after and all is well. Shoot was good. Rushes are done and so is my liver. Recovering now as we await the first cut.
I am very happy to recount the fact that although the shoot itself was about as exciting as constipation the end results are by all accounts fantastic. It is all glamourous eh?
God knows how Shaun Connery does it after 300 years as a movie star. I guess he gets to kiss the girls everytime. Thats how. As for us we just kissed the pavement when the beer beat us up. Rock n Roll baby.
We have been pressing up thousands of records in the states. Vinyl remixes on 12" and three differnt albums. Phone calls to pluggers, PR agents, retail managers, bookers, insiders and new people that we hope to do business with. All exciting stuff.
But the real thrill this week was shooting a video of superstar for Glovebox.
We got a gang of local film makers to go out on a limb for us to make the video and they started shooting on Australia day. Or at least we thought they would! In fact the whole day was spent in rehersals, which is really professional but really boring if you aren't doing any acting. Our A&R guy (famous Ian) was there from sparrow fart in the morning (THAT EARLY!) to late late late and did not much but make coffee and move props. Not a nice day for him really. It was certainly not all glamour.
So day 2 dawns and the band have flown up from Melbourne complete with new drummer Sarah and Morris sporting a new "tash. They arrived at 8pm on Thursday and shooting started at 5.30 am Friday! Holy Cow!!!! The day was then spent in a small apartment in Brisbane with a crew of hundreds and a cast of 5. Weird how that is always the case.
As for we label types - we went off to a location in the city to set up the gear for the "live" sections of the shoot. Amps, keys, drums, mikes etc all ready to go on time. We then sat in the blistering sun for another 4 hours before anyone else arrived.
I decided to go back to the office and got on with some work whilst they guys shot the last scenes so I never actually saw a single second of footage being recorded! Trust is all in these situations.
After a highly stressed few hours we all got back togther at a restaurant in town and the few of us who were not exhausted hit the town with a vengenance. Lets just say that the 4am cab ride home was a bit blurry.
The day after and all is well. Shoot was good. Rushes are done and so is my liver. Recovering now as we await the first cut.
I am very happy to recount the fact that although the shoot itself was about as exciting as constipation the end results are by all accounts fantastic. It is all glamourous eh?
God knows how Shaun Connery does it after 300 years as a movie star. I guess he gets to kiss the girls everytime. Thats how. As for us we just kissed the pavement when the beer beat us up. Rock n Roll baby.
Thursday, January 12, 2006
how not to get a record deal
Everyday we get emails and submission from acts around the world who want a deal.
Most of the time we try to reply with something positive but becasue of limited finances we can't sign anything like the number of acts we would like.
Every so often though someone shines out like a beacon of light.
I know it is cruel and not the best way to make friends but this email came in today and it really takes the cake.
I have posted it herer just to show you all how not to do it.
First up we have never had a TV show and then we have nothing to do with Germany at all. The rest I will leave to you. Pick the glaring mistakes.
Teachers report says - could do better!
Hi,
My name's are XXXXXXX a.k.a outshine from delta state in Nigeria but lived in Lagos right from birth. I am a large fan of your show which i see very often and i cant help myself stay glued to the screen when you're on. Aside from the quality of your pictures, interiguing events, captivating stories, well balanced scripting and brilliant editing what takes my breath away is how beauteful and peaceful Germany and its citizens are. As for me, life has not been because we got torture by the circumstances of life leaving 6 children to the the fate of an indigent single parent with no skill or job struggle extra had to cater for us all.
With issues as these, i lost my childhood having no memorable account of my past. But as God would have it i discovered my immerce talent i have in music a couple of years back.
I did quite a lot in terms of recording and promoting my songs on urban radio, go for shows to secure record deals but to me avail because of the shenanigans and nepotism that paraded our local music industry which had many record executives say my music is too advance for what they can bargain for. All of these led me to write to you so you can connect me to people and record labels over there in germany with your influence, positivism and kind heartedness.
I have an article titled "outshine shining true" with 5 of my songs (full) on Africa hip hop.com. I will like you to go through the songs and refer people you know will be interested in my stuff. Germany has no doubt contributed in the world of music by producing people like
Max Herre and his wife Joy Dehalane,Rammstein, Lon Berger, sweet sexy Sarah connors among other talented superstars and i want to join in the train of success. I want to storm the world by taking Hip Hop from Germany to the next level.
Please help me in any way you can, I am sure some of you will like my stuff. I humbly await your reply.
Most of the time we try to reply with something positive but becasue of limited finances we can't sign anything like the number of acts we would like.
Every so often though someone shines out like a beacon of light.
I know it is cruel and not the best way to make friends but this email came in today and it really takes the cake.
I have posted it herer just to show you all how not to do it.
First up we have never had a TV show and then we have nothing to do with Germany at all. The rest I will leave to you. Pick the glaring mistakes.
Teachers report says - could do better!
Hi,
My name's are XXXXXXX a.k.a outshine from delta state in Nigeria but lived in Lagos right from birth. I am a large fan of your show which i see very often and i cant help myself stay glued to the screen when you're on. Aside from the quality of your pictures, interiguing events, captivating stories, well balanced scripting and brilliant editing what takes my breath away is how beauteful and peaceful Germany and its citizens are. As for me, life has not been because we got torture by the circumstances of life leaving 6 children to the the fate of an indigent single parent with no skill or job struggle extra had to cater for us all.
With issues as these, i lost my childhood having no memorable account of my past. But as God would have it i discovered my immerce talent i have in music a couple of years back.
I did quite a lot in terms of recording and promoting my songs on urban radio, go for shows to secure record deals but to me avail because of the shenanigans and nepotism that paraded our local music industry which had many record executives say my music is too advance for what they can bargain for. All of these led me to write to you so you can connect me to people and record labels over there in germany with your influence, positivism and kind heartedness.
I have an article titled "outshine shining true" with 5 of my songs (full) on Africa hip hop.com. I will like you to go through the songs and refer people you know will be interested in my stuff. Germany has no doubt contributed in the world of music by producing people like
Max Herre and his wife Joy Dehalane,Rammstein, Lon Berger, sweet sexy Sarah connors among other talented superstars and i want to join in the train of success. I want to storm the world by taking Hip Hop from Germany to the next level.
Please help me in any way you can, I am sure some of you will like my stuff. I humbly await your reply.
Monday, January 09, 2006
turning japanese
Welcome to the dawn of a new year.
In the wonderful worl do backroom entertainment we are busy again.
The next few months looks like a series of releases and tours and follow ups and god knows what.
It is interesting to see how things have changed for us though since we decided to go against the flow and expand the operations here.
We have hired in acouple of big consultancies and they are taking masses of pressure off us. It is great! Now we can see what we are doing without being buried under tons of paperwork and we are getting back to the music again.
I guess it is always like that - you go hell for leather until it all gets too much and then get someone in to do it better and start the whole thing all over again. I do believe it is more cost effective that way but by learning teh ropes you also burn up a lot of cash and candles. If anyone has any better ideas I want to hear them!
So now that we are working with retail and radio specialists from Spokane to Florida we are having a much better time of it. In fact the plans now are to expand our operations by licences with japanese contacts. If that comes off it willbe a huge boost and we will be truly global. Right now we work in the USA, UK and Australia so apart from the time differences it is really easy. We shall see how it is with our oriental aquaintances!
Incidentally here is a tip - if you can write a good song with japan - japanese in the lyric that TV can use you are going to make zillions - they still use department s songs from about 1979 for all those slots on japan. Time to move on!
So there you are - 2006 beckons and optimism brews. Hope it is the same for you.
In the wonderful worl do backroom entertainment we are busy again.
The next few months looks like a series of releases and tours and follow ups and god knows what.
It is interesting to see how things have changed for us though since we decided to go against the flow and expand the operations here.
We have hired in acouple of big consultancies and they are taking masses of pressure off us. It is great! Now we can see what we are doing without being buried under tons of paperwork and we are getting back to the music again.
I guess it is always like that - you go hell for leather until it all gets too much and then get someone in to do it better and start the whole thing all over again. I do believe it is more cost effective that way but by learning teh ropes you also burn up a lot of cash and candles. If anyone has any better ideas I want to hear them!
So now that we are working with retail and radio specialists from Spokane to Florida we are having a much better time of it. In fact the plans now are to expand our operations by licences with japanese contacts. If that comes off it willbe a huge boost and we will be truly global. Right now we work in the USA, UK and Australia so apart from the time differences it is really easy. We shall see how it is with our oriental aquaintances!
Incidentally here is a tip - if you can write a good song with japan - japanese in the lyric that TV can use you are going to make zillions - they still use department s songs from about 1979 for all those slots on japan. Time to move on!
So there you are - 2006 beckons and optimism brews. Hope it is the same for you.
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