Rare Footage Found! Me playing guitar? With a Band? On a Stage?

I write a lot about everyone else's music, other music companies, trends, marketing, and everything in between.  Not this time...this time, it's all about me, baby!

So I found an old DVD from my very first guitar performance on stage.  I haven't watched it in a while...but I finally converted the format and uploaded it. 

All I can say is...Oh my.

I started playing guitar several years ago - admittedly, the first few years I only went because I thought my guitar teacher was cute.  Just kidding (kind of) - I did take it seriously, but it did take me a while to get on any sort of stage.  Once I started working more on the behind-the-scenes business-y stuff, the focus became on everyone else's music but my own.

I'm all for making fun of myself - so what better way to do it than to unleash this beast to the world.  I think this is circa 2004ish (you can tell by my hair!).  Make Note: I was about 20 pounds heavier, had zero rythym, looked way to serious, and clearly wanted another swig of my beer.  That, along with my bad hair day, and it's definitely something for me to chuckle at, as well as be proud of. 

This is me performing Nazareth's "Hair of the Dog" with local favorites - cover band Men Without Shame (Shameless plug: These guys have been one of Canada's top party bands for as long as I remember...there's no cover band that has a tickle truck full of crazy attire quite like these guys and I have never seen them play to anything less than a packed house).

I've got plenty of pictures, but this is the only video (at least that I know of!).  So, without further ado...I present the ONLY footage of me playing guitar. 

That's right, you better feel special.

Questions? Comments?  Requests? Is it better or worse than I thought?  Let me know!

Cheers!

Beer, Sweat, Social Code, and One Heck of a Solo in my Living Room

Every so often I like to suck it up and take in a dirty, sweaty, rock concert with amps cranked all the way to 11 (I know, sounds painful, right?!).  So this past weekend, I did just that. 

On the bill:

Roadrunner's Bleeker Ridge, Canadian chart climbers Social Code, and the loudest band from Down Under, Airbourne. 

I'm not going to talk about every performance, because I would be here for a long time and, well, so would you.  Minus the overwhelming stench of beer and sweat (basically essential to a rock show) I really have nothing to say, it was just as you could imagine: rock at it's finest. And well, let's be honest, I probably contributed to the stench of beer (in other words, the night is a tad fuzzy). 

Although Airbourne headlined the gig...it was one of those shows where you couldn't quite distinguish who the opener was - each of them put on an equally loud and entertaining performance as the next.  If you have the chance to catch this line up - I highly recommend it...but don't plan on wearing that new outfit (I say this from having a chuckle at a couple of girls in tiny dresses and 4 inch heels struggling to survive in the shoulder-to-shoulder mass of sweaty rockers). 

However, I did have the chance to catch up with one of my favorite bands at the moment, Social Code.  Upon spending some quality time with my good friend Steve Faulkner (Social Code's guitar virtuoso), I learned that these guys are one of the few bands that actually live up to their name.  Not only are they some pretty quality dudes - they spend about just as much time communicating with their fans as they do playing music...or as they put it - the "code of being social".  This was fascinating to me, because this is what I've been talking about in several of my previous posts - being social, connecting with fans, and marketing yourself.

Let me tell you, they're doing a pretty kick ass job.  Not only is the new single, Satisfied, sitting favorably on the music charts - but as an Independant band they are doing it on their own...being social and connecting with one fan at a time - building a fan base everywhere they go.

Having a day off between shows, I spent a couple days visiting and there wasn't a time when they weren't Tweeting, catching up with Facebook fans, or texting.  It's refreshing to see a band that isn't above some of their own communication.  Since I have to give kudos where they are due - nice work!

What's even cooler...check out this candid little clip...Steve's guitar solo straight from my living room.  That's my guitar, and well I have neighbors...so we couldn't quite turn it up to 11.  It's just an iPhone video...but just when you think rock bands today are driven by power chords and simple riffs - you certainly can't argue with this talent...or a free concert in your living room.

Want to see a slightly more professional video? Check out Social Code's radio hit, Satisfied, right here.

Cheers!

When Shady Promoters Piss in My Cornflakes...

I'm not a moody girl, really.  But, if there is one thing that puts me in a cranky mood - it's shady promoters. 

They come with the territory, though.  Really what fun would the industry be without the classic money-grubbing, slime-ball promoter?  Don't get all worked up now just yet - I have been a promoter, and they are not all bad.  The slimy ones though...those are the ones that can crush a live music scene.  It's kind of sad sometimes.  Think about it - if you are in a smaller city, you've likely got one or two guys that bring in all the shows.  If they're the shady type, and have found a way to swindle every band they work with - who is going to want to come gig in your stopping grounds?

In several of my posts I talk about what performers need to do to better their career.  But there is more to the industry than just performers.  Promoters are essential at times, though with the technology now available, artist are able to do the bulk of the work on their own.  However, a good promoter will be of great benefit.  With that being said though, some need to be just as cautious with the actions they take.  Really, there are only so many bridges you can burn before no one wants to be a part of your "successful" events again.  As I mentioned in one of my recent posts, word travels fast - with the push of a button, actually.

I know you are all wondering..."who pissed in your cornflakes?!"... right? No one in particular actually...but if they did...I am certainly not going to do them the justice of saying their name and giving them any kind of free promotion.  Besides, I am sure my words can relate with several.

I will be the first to say that I am not a full-time promoter, nor is it the bulk of what I do.  I would never even say that I have a promotional business.  But at least, I know what I am doing when I do it and execute it with success. 

Don't expect a sell out event if you are only going to give yourself three days of radio advertising and toss up a couple of posters.  A well executed event needs a 5 week marketing plan - at minimum!!  Ticket prices should not be double what they are worth just so you can make an extra buck.  Prepare to lose money.  And just because a few hundred people "confirmed" on your Facebook invite page - don't think that they are actually going to come until you have the money and the tickets are gone.

One of the worst business moves when you are trying to establish yourself as a legitimate promoter - not paying your bands!  A budget should always include payment to be allocated to your performers, staff, security, etc.  You can't bank on ticket sales at the end of the night to pay off your staff and entertainment.  And if you don't have it in the budget, you are in the wrong business.

Bands...always, always, ALWAYS sign a contract!  Of course there are certain instances when it can be avoided - if you really trust the person you are working with.  But, in almost every case...if you don't have a contract, you are not under any legal binding to get paid.  And just because you think Mr. Promoter is a good dude...doesn't mean he will pay you.  If by chance, he/she doesn't know what they are doing and loses a shit load of money, and then can't afford to pay you...guess what, they won't.  Trying to get your money from some idiot that doesn't know how to properly organize a show can be more money than it's worth in the end.  However, if you haven't inked your signature...they can easily say that you never ever performed.  In that case, you just gigged for nothing.

I've seen this happen to so many artists, and it irritates me.  Artists are usually the last ones to make money off of anything these days, and need to be paid for their time and effort just like anyone else.   Not all promoters are dangerous, I know plenty of great ones.  It's the shifty ones with the wandering eyes that give the good folks that have a  true passion for the industry a bad name.  And that makes me cranky.

Okay, rant is over!  I'm sure you get what I am saying! :)