Orlando Calling!! What a Weekend!!

     This past weekend was incredible for me. I had the privilege of attending Orlando's very first music festival! Orlando Calling was not only Orlando's first festival, but also mine! I had a BLAST!! I truly felt as though I was a part of history in the making! It was an excellent concert with many acts thats that I was introduced to. The first day I attended, I was just a participant in the festivities. It was fantastic!!

The first act I saw was rapper Kid Cudi. He had an excellent show! I must admit, I didn't know all of his songs that he performed, but I was clapping and screaming like I did! The crowd wasn't as packed as I expected because it was so early,but he still pulled it off.

Kid Cudi was the first to perform on the main stage but there were several bands that were outside of the stadium on different stages. There were 5 stages in all. I would have to say, besides the main stage, some of the most incredible acts were on this small stage in the front area of the festival. There is were I was introduced to two great bands. LeBlorr was a suttle mix between Wolfmother and some other band that I cant put a name with. They were excellent and the great thing about that was that they all had albums that were available on iTunes! LeBlorr was good, but I was completely BLOWN AWAY at this chick named Kaleigh Baker!! I just so happened to be walking aimlessly around the festival, until I heard this shriek of a voice coming from the small stage. She was like a mix between Janis Joplin and Ann Wilson of Heart! Absolutely incredible!!!.

I then ventured off into the festival where I saw acts such as Gavin Degraw, The Roots, and many more. But it was time for the main show! The Killers were FANTASTIC!! They truly killed it in every sense of the word. I was a little disappointed that they haven't updated their set list, because the same set list they used for another festival, 'Hard Rock Calling'. They still blew me away though. Brandon Flowers is an excellent frontman and their live playing was top par. I was truly entertained by that show!!

The next day I attended the festival not as an audience member, but as a volunteer. I must say it was an incredible experience! I love networking and meeting new people and thats basically what my job was. I was a VIP attendant and my job was to make sure everyone was having a good time and to help them get assistance with anything that they needed. I enjoyed doing it. I met a lot of unique people that day and I would definitely do it again if the opportunity arises. It was truly an awesome experience!

Top Albums of 2011

The time has come when the yearly reviews start pouring in. Within the past two weeks, I have been in close proximity with someone who has a hand in voting in the nominees for the Grammys. The Grammys is like my Christmas. I've taped every ceremony since 2000 (They are on VHS, buy hey, sue me), so when I heard that nomination season is approaching, it inspired me to compile my own list of the best music of the year. I narrowed it down to the top 5. Hopefully, these albums will end up on the nominee ballad. Lets start.

The first album of the year that I purchased was the Kings of Leon. Come Around Sundown. I LOVE this album. I would say I was singing that album for a nice little while. I do feel, however that the feel and mood of the songs and the album as a whole has a nice summery vibe to it. I would have thought that it would have been released in May or June, but hey, not my call....Still an excellent album. Faves: "Pickup Truck", "Birthday", "Mary"

Next is the QUEEN of rock n roll: Stevie Nicks. One would think that a woman in her 60's who used to weave images of gold dust women and welch witches would be dried up by now. Not Ms. Nicks. Her album In Your Dreams was released in early May lead by the single "Secret Love", a song she wrote in 1975 and SHE IS STILL ROCKIN!! Still telling enticing and intriguing tales with her music, she goes from country to folk, to a little R&B, to Hard Rock. I truly feel this is her best work since Bella Donna. Faves: "For What Its Worth", "Ghosts Are Gone" "Twilight", "Annabel Lee" and MANY more

From one queen to another. This summer, the Queen of Pop, Beyonce releases her forth studio album entitled "4". Honestly, I thought that she didnt reach her full potential. I was expected Sasha Fierce to come back with a vengeance, but instead my ears were met with mediocre mid-tempos that didnt give me chills like the days of "B'Day" and "Dangerously in Love". If Beyonce is one of the top artists of today, then you would think she would hook up with the top producers and make a chart-topping album right? Wrong!! This album puts me to sleep. Now this is just my one lonely opinion, but I truly feel that Beyonce just threw something together without any effort and of course, her fans, like zombies, ate it up.  I, on the other hand, wasn't fooled so easily. There are a few goodies on here though: "I Care" "End of Time" "Miss You" and "Party"

Another slight disappointment of the year was the highly anticipated album by Rap icon Lil Wayne. His Carter IV was an album that I love now, but it took me a few listens to come to this conclusion. As I have stated before, I think the mistake he made was continuing the Carter series. I think 3 was enough. However, after a few listens, I can see it fitting comfortably in the series with the rest of them. Faves include: "Blunt Blowin""So Special""Its Good" and "Nightmares of the Bottom"

Finally, an album that completely blew me away! All of the previous albums that I mentioned were albums that I have had to listen to a few times to grasp the concept, but Young The Giant captured my attention and kept it for a lonnng while. I havent heard a debut album that good since Janelle Monae. They combine everything I love; soulful vocals, melodic rock, enticing lyrics and a nice groove all into one extraordinary debut album. After hearing their album, they quickly became my new favorite band. And their lead singer is incredible!! Faves: "Apartment" "Cough Syrup" "God Made Man""Your Side" "I Got" and a few more....undeniably the best debut album of the entire year.

Business Plan Development: Part 2

     Time is steadily winding down for my business plan. As you all should know by now, I've been critiquing and editing my business plan for quite some time now. For the past 11 months, I have constantly learned skills and techniques that are required to composed a stellar business plan. I've learned everything from how to come up with logos, trademarks, copyrights, negotiations, mission statements and many other aspects that comprise a business plan. I am happy (extremely happy) that my business plan is just about complete. Now that that is out of the way, the objective now is to shop it to investors.
So what do investors look for? What is it about certain business plans that attracts investors? How do you spark their interest? How do you keep their interest after you've attained it?
     In my last post, I highlighted to investors that know a good business plan when they see one. The first person I selected to highlight was Mark Cuban, owner of Dallas Mavericks, Landmark Theatre and many other businesses. As a key investor in the entertainment business, he knows what to look for in a business plan. According to him, the key aspect of a business plan is the financials. He also looks at the person who is opening the business. This gives me incentive to be presentable, and well mannered when presenting a business plan to an investor.
     The second investor I highlighted was Chuck Blakeman, head of Crankset Group. According to him, time shouldn't be wasted on planning and planning, but rather execution is the key. He feels that when you have an idea, jump to it! Any mistakes or kinks will be worked out when they arise. I cant say I truly agree with this philosophy. I am one to plan first, then execute later.
     To me, the most important part of a business plan is the elevator pitch and the executive summary. I think this way because the executive summary tells all the aspects of your business all on one page. I think this is important because investors are usually short on time and can only read so much. Therefore, by giving them a nice, exciting elevator pitch, you grab their attention, and your executive summary (if you write it right) should offer insight into how your business operates and generates revenue, therefore keeping their attention. All of this however, is pointless if your business plan is poorly written. That being said, I have some proofreading to do!

Business Plan Experts

     I have been working on my business plan for about 9 months now. I have devised a plan that allows for me to open up a live music venue that caters to unsigned, local acts. The focus of this place is to not only serve as a platform for artists to present their music to their fans, but it also serves as a place where these artists can come and hone their skills by utilizing the venue as a rehearsal space. These past few months I have really been buckling down on the core values of my business. For this blog we were asked to research business plan experts and what were there views on the world of business.
     The first person I chose to highlight was Mark Cuban. He is from Pittsburg, PA, which is hometown to alot of my family. Mark Cuban is the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, Landmark Theatres, and handful of other businesses including the world of technology (IMDb.com). According to Mark, when it comes to reviewing business plans for potential investments there are a few things that he looks for. "The track record of the person opening the business will tell you alot, along with the financials of the business, if there are any". I agree with this statement because if the person is shady, then so will there business be. Also, if that business isnt making any money, then why would one invest in it? For more info on Mark Cuban click here.
     The second person I chose to highlight was Chuck Blakeman, head of Crankset Group. I chose to highlight him because of his unconventional style. He believes that one shouldnt waste time preparing and preparing for a business, but that they should tackle it head on, as soon as the idea is presented. He firmly believes that if there are any changes that need to be made, then tweak them on the way. According to him, "the key to success is the speed of execution" (Blakeman, 2011). I would have to agree with this, seeing as though so many businesses get buried in the process of planning. Sometimes you just have to go for it. For more info on Blakeman, click here

   

Fall Season: Whats Happening in Television

As the summer is slowly making its exit, fall is right around the corner. That means the trees and starting to fade and whittle. The air is getting a little cooler. Luckily for us, we live in Florida so fall doesn't necessarily mean cold weather, but one thing that I am personally looking forward to this upcoming fall season in the return of my favorite television shows. Anyone who knows me knows that my passion is any-and-everything music, but I am also an avid fan of television. So let's get to it! I'll categorize the fall shows by their network.

First is FX, the reason I am doing them first is because their best show, Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia, premieres TONIGHT! I am curious to see just what mishaps these idiots will get into this season. They've gone from extortion, to getting addicted to crack, to running for office, to stealing boats, to being hobos. I cant wait to see what these misdemeanors will get into tonight. Click here for more info.

Next is Fox. I'll admit, I'm not a huge Fox fan, but they will be reeling me in every Tuesday because starting September 20, the third season of Glee premieres. I admit, I am curious to see how this season pans out with all the controversy surrounding some of its leading actors and the show's characters that will be graduating this year. So yeah, some of our favorites wont be returning for the 4th season. (But as long as Santana is still around, I'm happy). To find out more info about this show, click here


ABC has never really been a network that I strive to watch often, that is until they brought Modern Family and Cougar Town to their Wednesday line-up. It will be interesting to see the Dunphy's once, considering over the summer I became a HUGE Modern Family fan. Also, I am anxious to see Courtney Cox & Friends wisk up some hilarious drama once again. Both shows will be premiering their 3rd season this Tuesday, September 21. For more info on these and other ABC shows click here or here






 

And finally, the funniest night of all. THURSDAY!! Special Thanks to NBC for making Thursday night the staple of comedy ever since the hay day of Friends. They have followed this trend years later with what is called "Thursday Night Comedy Night, Done Right". With this, NBC airs ALL of its best shows on Thursday night. I will discuss them in the order that they air. First is Community, the little show that could. I admit, at first I was not a fan, but it has slowly become one of my favorite shows ever. Everyone's favorite study group will be diving into their third season this Thursday, September 22. After that, the next show that comes on is Parks & Recreation which I am super excited about. So many hilarious situations happened in its 3rd season finale, that I am super stoked to see what comically unfolds during the 4th season. And finally, the seasoned veteran of the night, and the most experienced show, The Office will be premiering its 8th season on September 22. Everyone is anxious to see what the show will hold considering the departure of Steve Carell's character, Michael Scott. There have been talks that Jim Carey will be filling in for him, and I've even heard Jay Leno. Who knows, but I will be tuning in Thursday night to see for myself. For more info on these shows or NBC, click here (Community), here (Parks & Rec), or here (The Office).

Long Live The Industry!!!!

A couple of weeks ago during class, I remember feeling as though I was an ancient dinosaur when I was the only one who actually admitted to buying physical albums, not digitally. The class tried to sway me to go digital and I still refuse. My personal thought is that by buying an album from iTunes is cool, but I'd much rather buy the physical album and upload it manually to my iTunes, than just paying $9.99 for basically, a file. Another reason is that I like to add to my MASSIVE collection. I have a huge briefcase that holds 264 albums, and I've just about filled it up, especially after yesterday.

So lets get to the Music!!

First of all, one album that I had been waiting for was the highly anticipated follow-up to Lil Wayne's 2008 masterpiece The Carter III. The album, The Carter IV is a nice album, but I think artists mess up when they try to continue something they've already perfected. This album lacks the passion, tenacity, and creativity of the now classic Carter III. I personally feel as though Wayne should have named this album something else other than another Carter. That trilogy was perfect, 4 is a crowd.

Another album that I was personally waiting for was the new album from The Red Hot Chilli Peppers. I'm With You is their first album in 6 years. Like Lil Wayne, this album is another follow-up to a classic. Stadium Arcadium is widely considered their greatest album ever. How do you top that? Alot of artist fall under the "follow-up spell" and usually make an album exactly like the last one or they go in a completely different direction, leaving their fans like, "Huh"? The result is usually bleak, like the one we see above, yet the Chilli Peppers have seem to overcome this stigma. With the release of I'm With You, the Peppers have returned to form, giving us their unique blend of punk-funk that we all have grown to know and love.

Lastly, one of my favorite artists Lenny Kravitz is BACK!! Lenny is one of my favorite rock artists, and he, like the Peppers have released an album that you can tell he put alot of heart and soul into. The album is Black And White America, and it is rockin! Lenny has been a rock icon and an inspiration to me and many other for years, and this album proves why. Rich with soulful groovy ballads, and riff-heavy rockers, this album is definitely gonna be in heavy rotation on my handy-dandy iPod!

As you can see above, I bought way more than three albums, but these three are all the most current. Actually, they were all releases this past Monday. By the way, when did release dates change from Tuesday to Monday? For more reviews or to purchase music for yourself, click here.

The Industry: The Tables are Turning

The entertainment industry use to seem like this whole nother world to me when I was a young boy. I thought that in order to be in the circle of Hollywood, you had to be discovered. I thought that record companies and movie studios sent people out to look for talent in these uncommon places. As I grew older, my perception of the industry changed. I thought that in order to breakthrough, it was all about who you knew. Connections, connections! That was my frame of mind. In recent months I have acquired information that has shown me that in order to break into the business, you have to do it yourself.

Sure, there are a few magical instances where fate deals some unsuspecting Joe a winning hand, and before you know it, you have another Rebecca Black or Susan Boyle on your hands. However, with the entertainment industry changing drastically, in order to be taken seriously in this industry you have to be smart and cunning.

The key to this is self-publishing and self-distribution. Over the past month I have learned that you dont have to have a major studio to back your project. You don't have to have a major record label to be a music star, at least not initially. With the digital age, more and more information is becoming available. Now, that agent that you were waiting on to discover you, here's his info. Everything is up for grabs.

With the industry doing this massive overhaul, one must wonder. What is the future for these huge media  corporations. When your film is shot, produced, written, edited and distributed all by you, and it becomes widely successful, then who needs a studio. Who needs a record label when all you have is a Mac Book, ProTools, and a vivid imagination. Eventually, some of them will fall and make room for new companies. I seriously predict that in 20 years, big corporations like Warner Bros. Viacom, etc. will all be struggling to maintain, if they're even around at all.

Album Leaks: Good Or Bad??

     In today's digital age, more and more information is becoming readily available to good and bad consequences. In the age of today's music, that mass amount of available information can be a detriment, especially for album sales. If you look at the current trend of today, it is almost common for an artist to have an album or single that leaks. In the beginning, we as the public may have thought that this was by accident. I at least thought that there was some malicious evil person behind all of these leaks that wanted to destroy the music industry as a whole. I was shocked to find that in recent years, artists are INTENTIONALLY leaking their material.

The reason artists feel that they should do this is as a means of advertising for their material. An example of this would be if a certain artist was returning from hiatus and wanted to recapture the public's attention. However, this can almost certainly backfire on an artist, deeply affecting their album sales. A perfect example would be Beyonce. After her two year hiatus, Beyonce released the news earlier this year that her album will be released. Within weeks multiple tracks from her album had leaked to the public resulting in the worst sales of her career. Some may say this is due to impatient fans who anticipated an album while the release date was constantly pushed back. Whatever the cause, the album performed poorly, as opposed to Adele who has sold over 10 million copies worldwide.

Nowadays artists are becoming more and more aware of the detriment that a leak causes. This has recently been observed with the release of Jay-Z & Kanye West's new album. With the unique release of Watch the Throne, it was highly recognized for being one of the few albums of the digital age that didn't leak. This was due, in part, Kanye West's demands that none of the tracks that were recorded had a digital footprint, and also the fact that the album was guarded closely by its contributors. The result was a album that not only performed well digitally, but with physical copies as well.


So I feel that artists should wake up and realize that album leaks are not a good thing. The more it leaks, the less it sells!

Entertainment Law: Whats Goin On?

     I have been recently reviewing a few podcast revolving around the issue of Entertainment Law. The more I am learning about the business of entertainment, the more I realize just how lightly you have to tread  with the things that you do AND say. One thing that a person in the entertainment industry needs is a GOOD LAWYER, because as I have learned that people will file a lawsuit in a second. Whether it's a big company suing an average Joe or vice versa, nowadays everyone is trying to cover their heads. Its good to know your legal terminology in order to survive in this industry without someone taking you to court, and even then, they might getcha!
     The first podcast I heard was by Legal Talk Network called "Entertainment Law & The Challenges of Celebrity" in this podcast Gordan Firemark gives his legal advice on the use of intellectual property. I found it interesting when he began talking about his book on podcast law. I like the fact that he, as a lawyer is interested in people who blog, podcast, or post Youtube videos that have been running into legal problems. I like the fact that he realizes that these are regular people who aren't making any income from their posts, and how his book helps them to gain know on how to avoid these problems.
     The second podcast that I heard was by a panel for the University of Chicago. In this podcast, a panel of entertainment lawyers has a discussion with students from the University of Chicago. I will admit, a good bit of it is a bit pointless (I kinda hate when a presenter makes that entire presentation about them and what THEY have done) But one thing that caught my attention was a lady name Dahlia. (maybe it was Daria, the sound quality wasn't the best) She began talking about her past clients and the random phone calls she receives from her clients claiming people have slandered their name. It was actually funny when she said one of her clients claimed defamation when her co-worker posted a picture of her shoes on the internet.
     The third and final podcast that I found was by Female Musician Online, by Daniela Olivia. The podcast was concerning certain legal issues that surround the music industry and the women that try to break in it. No, I'm not a woman, but I am trying to get into the music industry. What I found interesting with this podcast was when she began talking about how you don't really need a lot of money to break into the industry, as far as demos and studio time. I also found it very interesting that she claims that you don't have to have a manager to get the attention on record companies. This is something that I will definitely take to heart while searching for a record deal. Basically as an artist, YOU are responsible for putting yourself out there.
     I was very pleased with the information that I acquired from thse podcast. I will defnitely use this information and apply it not only to my business, but myself as an entertainment entity. If you would like to listen to these podcast, you can either find them on iTunesU or click on these links below

"Entertainment Law, and the Challenges of Celebrity" by Lawyer to Lawyer - Law News and Legal                  
         Topics. July 25, 2011. http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/entertainment-
         law-challenges/id80013534?i=88562024

"A Professional Panel on Careers in Entertainment Law"by The University of Chicago Law School -                
         Open Minds: Student Events at The University of Chicago Law School. July 25, 2011
         http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/a-professional-panel-on-careers/id275226809?i=50436769

"Getting The Attention of Record Companies, with Daniela Oliva" by Vivian Clement - Female     
        Musicians Online. July 25, 2011. http://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/getting-attention-record-
        companies/id371103379?i=91824351

Hollywood: Inside The Courtroom

     Court cases happen everyday. We all see frivolous cases being handed on television, usually involving regular people with regular problems. For example, someone suing their neighbor for the damage done to their yard by the neighbors dog. Basically silly things. What we know little about is the court cases being handled in Hollywood everyday. Things such as copyright laws and liabilities often keep our favorite movies and music from being made. Here are just a few court cases floating around in Tinseltown.

1. Louisiana Judge Allows 'Expendables' Lawsuit Over Jason Statham Injury to go to Trial
  
      According to this article, the production company behind the 2009 blockbuster 'The Expendables' has decided to pursue its lawsuit against its insurer. This all started at the beginning of production when doctors found a growth in actor Jason Statham's throat. They were faced with the decision to either halt production before it began or to wait and halt the movie midway, costing even more money. They decided to stop before and allow the actor to recoup, even though doctors said he could work. The insurance company stated that because the actor was still able to work, then the shut down of production was "voluntary" and therefore they would not cover it.  The production company pursued the case and a few weeks ago, it was allowed to go to trial. It will be interesting to see how this pans out. To see the full article or to get the full story click here

2. Paulie vs. Pauly

     Jersey Shore star DJ Pauly D is being sued by none other than, guess who, DJ Paulie. The original Paulie, who is a well-known Connecticut DJ claims that because of the show's popularity his website has seen little to no hits and his DJ career has pretty much been scrapped due to the fact that people book Pauly D from the show, and not him. Paulie, whose real name is Paul Lis apparently beat the Jersey Shore star to trademark the name, but to no avail because since the shows burst of popularity he has been as he says, "wiped off of the Google map". For more about this case, click here

3. Wayans Brothers Headed to Trial over Alleged Joke Theft

     The Wayans Brothers, famous for bringing us such classic comedies as 'White Girls' & 'Scary Movie' are under fire for allegedly stealing jokes from their former assistant. Apparently Jared Edwards worked for the brothers for 10 years, and while working for them would always pitch ideas and jokes. He states that he came up with many of the jokes contained in their book You Know You're a Golddigger When.. According to sources, he is suing for copyright infringement. This is a peculiar case because the two parties have actually worked together and not just a case where a random Joe claims a film studio stole his "concept", so this should be interesting. To read this article, click here

These are just a few of the many many trials and cases floating around in Hollywood. I'll be sure to keep you posted!

SUMMERTIME JAMS!!!!!

     I was sitting here thinking to myself how its been at least 3 years since I've been to a concert. It was in November 2008 and went and saw the great Tina Turner!! Wow, what a show!! That is one experience I will never forget, but as of lately, I've been craving some more action. I decided to look at whats coming to Orlando this summer and boy was I blown away!! Orlando will be booming this summer with all kind of acts from across different genres heading to rock Orlando! I'm sure you'll be able to find the show for you!!

     The most recent tour coming up is the one and only sultry Sade with special guest John Legend. This is a tour that I'm really excited about. A little too calm and toned down for my taste but if you're into the groovy melodies of Sade or the sophisticated soul of John Legend, this is a show for you! They will be rocking the house on July 17 at the Amway Center

     Another exciting show that may thrill you is pop icon Britney Spears! She will be joined on the stage by the #1 female rapper in country, Nicki Minaj on July 20. This show is sure to be a good one. Whether your coming to see Nicki Minaj's over-the-top antics, or to see the over-medicated Britney Spears try and get through another performance, then this one is definitely for you.

If you were a teeny-bopper in the 90's then this one is gonna blow you away. Not only are the 90's icons New Kids on the Block coming to Orlando on July 22, but they are joined by pop sensation The Backstreet Boys!! I personally wont be going to see this one (simply because I'm not a woman) but if you were into the pop craze of the 90's that brought us stars such as N*SYNC, Britney Spears, and Christina, then this is a double whammy for you!!

For all my Latin music fans out there, you wont be left out this summer because "Mr. J-Lo" himself will be in the house. Thats right, none other than Marc Anthony will be hitting the stage at the Amway Center on September 18. Sure to be a good one!

If none of these shows tickle your fancy and you just wanna hear some good down home country, then have no fear, Sugarland is here! (Well, they'll be here on October 20, but you get the point) For someone who is NOT a fan of Country music at all, I must say that I actually like Sugarland. I know they had more than one song that stuck in my head for a while, and the lead singer looks like she would be fun to watch live.

For all my party people who just wanna dance and "fist pump" the night away then get ready because The Euphoria Tour with Enrique Iglesias & Pitbull will be blazing Orlando on October 21. So grab your shades and glow sticks cause I got a feeling this one is gonna be crazy!!!

Country fans also have another option this fall because Josh Groban brings his show to Orlando on October 29. I know many women will be flocking to go see this one. He is sure to rock the house!


WOW, Orlando will most definitely be rocking out this summer!! I know I'll be going to at least one of these shows, but there are so many to choose from!!! This is gonna be a tough one!! If you are interested in knowing what else is coming to Orlando or to purchase tickets for one of these shows then head on over to Ticketmaster by clicking here.

See ya there!!

Full Sail ESPN College Gameday Shoot

Today at Full Sail University, ESPN held a College Gameday Shoot. It was a pretty nice event. Here are a few pics from today.

Apparently there were a few wacky events that conspired before my arrival....Heres one of them!!

The NEW Business Plan....

Que in the choir!!! The clouds have finally parted and the sun is shining bright once again with my future business plans! The past 3 months I have been extensively researching what I thought was an excellent idea. The original plan was to start up a cable company that has a somewhat "a la carte" system. With this system customers could choose which channel they wanted in their cable packages. If you only watch ten channels, the you should only have to pay for ten channels, right? The idea seemed unsurmountable, and I was completely sold on this idea....until I found out that it JUST WONT WORK!! According to all of my previous research, this idea is far from new. In fact, for the past 15 years, many have been trying to get this "idea" to work, only to get shut down time and time again by the FCC.

So, with that being said, in order for me to really get a grasp of this business plan, if I was gonna change it, I needed to do it now! So the wheels in my head slowly started to turn...and turn...and turn. And then it hit me!! As an aspiring artist, I thought to myself, "what if there was a place where up-and-coming artist could hone there skills and showcase their work?" The first thing that popped in my head was the now deceased historical club CBGB. So many artist were born there. Yes, of course this has been done before, but I think I have a bit of an edge. You know what that edge is? Location, Location, Location!!!

Here at Full Sail, there is a PLETHORA of unsurfaced talent. So many students have dreams and ideas that they may like to express outside of a classroom setting or a "classroom style" studio. This venue would serve as a launching pad for so many artist. Recording Arts students in particular, may want to showcase their new tracks to an audience. They could book a night at my club, and have somewhat of a listening party. Do you and your struggling band need a place to rehearse? Come on down to _______. Umm, okay so I haven't figured out a name yet. To be honest I really haven't fully figured out this plan. This idea though, is a starting point. The wheels in my head have begun to turn once again!! Hallelujah!!

You can tell the choir to sit down now.

The Entertainment Cut-back

     Have you ever noticed that your favorite television shows are airing seasons that are becoming shorter and shorter? For example, I usually expect to enjoy 22 episodes per season of The Office, whereas now, networks have slimmed that down to 15. If you're not really a tv kind of person then consider this; remember when albums were released that had at least 16+ songs on it, whereas now you'd be lucky to squeeze out even 12 songs from your favorite artist? This is a problem that I have noticed for a couple years now. Are these companies simply cutting out the crap, or can they not afford it?

     I find it almost sad that audiences have to wait almost a year for a season to air, only for the season to wrap up 2 months later. A perfect example of that would be The Game. This was a show that originally aired on the CW network. It was a mediocre show that was eventually cancelled. By the power of the viewers it was resurrected under BET network. From the month of September until its air date of January 11, BET advertised this show heavily. When it aired, it became BET's highest ranking show in history, only for the season finale to be over by March. A lot of people, including myself felt cheated that we had to wait that long only for a snippet of a season.

     Well the problem here is that these production companies simply cant afford to bring you the entertainment that they used to. With cuts being made left and right from every angle, it is more economical for a company to cut back on their expenses, even if it does bring them in revenue. With that being said, networks only purchase one season at a time with less episodes. One of my favorite shows Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia has been renewed for a 6th season, and FX only ordered 13 episodes. THIRTEEN?? Thats it?? If you look at it from a viewer stand point, its a rip-off. However, from the network's point of view, it is a more economical move.


From the music standpoint, I personally prefer ten great songs on an album versus eight "ok" songs and five "filler" songs that shouldnt even be on an album. With that being said, I personally agree with the record label cutbacks. As a person who still buys albums, (why do I feel like the stone age when I say that?) there is nothing I hate worse than buying an album, only to like about 3 out of 12 songs on it. With less people buying albums, record labels are starting to realize that you cant sell us crap and tell us its apple pie. Well, not me anyway.

The Recording Institute Association of America (The Who, What & When)

     We were asked in class to do our next blog on a specific professional association that is related to our field. Of course, by now you all should know (in case you haven't picked this fact up from my previous post) that music is my number one passion. So, naturally the industry that I chose to talk about is The Recording Institute Association of America, also known as the RIAA. The RIAA a trade organization that supports and promotes the creative and financial vitality of the major music companies. They are the reason you have a cd case or ipod or any other form of musicThe members of this association are record labels that make up the fabric of the America's music industry. Currently, the RIAA is responsible for 85% of all recorded music in the United States. When an artist releases an album and its goes gold or platinum etc., it is the Recording Institute Association of America that actually certifies a recording to that status.


     Currently, its CEO is Mitch Bainwol. The RIAA's members include such record labels as Virgin, Elektra, Columbia, Sony & Capitol Records. The Board of Directors of the RIAA currently consist of 20 members. This association has thrived on the hearts and wallets of American's. The Association is almost single handedly responsible for the favorite songs of all Americans for the past 60 years. It seems like it would be more than that, to be quite honest. 


Sounds pretty cool right? Well, not so fast my friend. Unfortunately, in order to become a member. You have to be a record label. This association does not offer membership on an associate or individual basis. That sucks right. I know pretty soon, I may not be able to become a member, but they will be certifying my records. Platinum, Platinum, and more multi-platinum.!!!

If you'd like to take a look for yourself, click here

David Byrne: TED Profile

I was recently inspired by this speech/demonstration done by David Byrne. He is a musician, author, filmmaker, curator, urban designer, and humanist. He was once the lead singer and musical leader of the Talking Heads, whom I love. This is also the reason I chose this person.

He leads off by discussing his days with the Talking Heads in CBGB. I was pleased to discover the sound dynamics of that room. I always wondered why punk music, particularly the punk acts from this era had that loud, grungy, lightly distorted sound. He made it clear why. I now know that the sound and sound structure of a room and can give a song or a sound a certain feeling and creates a certain atmosphere.

One thing that liked about his speech from the beginning was his use of humor and wit. He conveys all of the four major attributes a good speaker should have.

I found his speech very insightful. I must admit that I was expecting him to talk about the various stages of his very successful music career and how he has managed to explore various avenues of the arts, but I did enjoy this speech and now I fully understand that sound acoustics are extremely important. It was very interesting to discover how the evolution of sound quality is almost directly correlated to the evolution of music as whole. From the clear empty rooms that Bach and Mozart used compose to the hi-fi sound of the disco techs. I especially liked how he referred to the modern automobile as a venue in itself, and how hip-hop music of today with all the bass and 808's are perfectly tailored for you to "bump" in your car.

The speech was excellent for me. As an aspiring performer, I now know the importance of good sound dynamics and how it affects a song or sound. I now understand why artist fly all over the world to record in various studios. It is not just to get away, its for the quality of sound. Excellent storytelling!

Take a look for yourself Here

2011 GRAMMY AWARDS....WHAT A NIGHT!!

     This Sunday was the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards. In my previous post, I discussed who would be performing at what is coined "Music's Biggest Night". I must say I was well-pleased with the performances.....All of them. Okay, so lets get to it!

     Kicking off the night was a stirring tribute to the legendary Aretha Franklin. Partaking in this tribute was gospel-great Yolanda Adams, Jennifer Hudson, Christina Aguilera, Martina McBride, and Florence of Florence and The Machine. I'm not surprised by the first three, but Martina and Florence took me by surprise. Following her tragic Superbowl performance last week, Christina bounced back with this one, out-singing all of her peers. including Jennifer Hudson!! Not to be ingored however, was Florence. She really showed off her pipes in this performance!! It was an excellent way to open the show.

     There werent many awards given out that evening. Instead they decided to give us a full blown concert...And what a concert it was!
     The next performance (and the one we were all waiting for) was GAGA!!! Judging from her previous performances which included breaking glass and blood and goth, I must admit I was a little disappointed with Lady G's performance. She seemed off with the choreography and the singing was only OK. To put it in so many words, I've seen better!

     Following this debacle was yet another. Miranda Lambert took the stage to perform some song. Now, dont get me wrong, I dont hate country music, but that performance was just B-O-R-I-N-G!! I really dont even remember it. They could have swapped her out for Adele who's currently #1 in 17 COUNTRIES!!! Now thats a performance I would have liked to see!!

     Lenny Kravitz took the stage to introduce Muse who really livened things up with with their hard-rocking song "Uprising". They are starting to become one of my favorites, along with a few other names

     Up next was one of the highlights of the night. Nominees Bruno Mars, Janelle Monae, and B.O.B. all took the stage for a collaborative performance. This was most definitely one of the most entertaining performances of the night. Bruno and B.O.B. kicked off the set with an acoustic version of "Nothing on You" with Janelle singing beautiful background vocals. After that Bruno took the stage and gave a bluesy rendition of "Grenade" which was a crowd pleaser. And the came Janelle. Singing her hit song "Cold War" she took the crowd by storm dancing and sliding across the stage. She even did a stage dive. (Now when's the last time you've seen that at the Grammy's). Definitely one of the best performances of the night!

     Up next was everyones favorite haircut...Thats right, the Bieb!!! Justin Bieber took the stage, much to the delight of all teenage girls across America. He started off with a tribute to Usher (weird) Then proceeded to perform "Baby" and "Never Say Never". He was soon joined onstage by Jaden Smith as they both "fought off ninjas" in a tribute to Smiths latest movie "Karate Kid". And just when you thought it was over "Daddy's Home". Usher took the stage to perform his massive hit "OMG" before being joined onstage by his son Beiber. That outfit he had on reminded me of Bobby Brown circa 1990 (He is practically wearing the same thing in his "Every Little Step I Take" video) Also, another great performance!

     The next performance was that of newcomers Mumford & Sons, who performed their hit "The Cave" before being joined onstage by the Avett Brothers (not familiar) and also the legendary Bob Dylan. Mumfords performance was GREAT, the other two, not so much. But it was entertaining, considering this being my first time witnessing Bob Dylan on stage.

What I didnt understand was that completely lackluster "tribute" to Teddy Pendergrass  done by Lady Antebellum. They sung exactly ONE LINE of his song before going into "Need You Now", which they won an award for afterward. The performance was good. I love the song, but it was kind of low-energy...but then again, what can you expect from Country music (I'm just saying, not stepping on any toes)

Up next was yet another highlight of the night. The eccentric Cee-Lo Green took the stage by storm performing his smash hit "F*** You". Not only was the song good, but he performed it in a space-age-George-Clinton-meets-Big-Bird outfit that was a feast (or a sore) to the eyes. He was joined on stage by muppet like puppets that looked like throwback Fraggle Rock characters. It was incredible!! Somehow, the theme of that song and the theme of that performance seemed to fit just right. And if that wasnt enough for you, joining him on stage was the lovely Gwenyth Paltrow. Now THAT was something I didnt expect at all....excellent performance

Cee-Lo was followed by Katy Perry who performed "Teenage Dream" and "Firework". Great performance...nothing really spectacular. She arrived on stage from a swing and her extra long dress served as a screen for the projector. Thats about it.

     Perry was followed by Rihanna and Eminem...and then Rihanna and Drake. Its not often that an artist gets to perform twice on the Grammys. Rihanna is definitely hot stuff right now.....but those performances....Umm. Now dont get me wrong, she had Drake to help her out for a minute but when its just her....its a sight to see, not a sound to hear.

I was a bit disappointed with The Rolling Stones frontman's performance. This is supposedly Mick Jagger's first ever Grammy performance (That is a hard fact to swallow, I still find it hard to believe) I was expecting to get some "satisfaction" out of this performance, yet somehow I found myself yawning! I dont think its Mick getting older, I think it was the material he was singing. Solomon Burke is a soul singer, so if you're gonna do a tribute, the performer should be a soul singer, right? Not the case here. I love the Stones and I love Mick Jagger....but I did not like this performance....at all.

This just about sums up the highlights of "music's biggest night". I can honestly see why Sunday had the highest ratings in 11 years. All in all, it was an amazing show! To see full performances click here