Technology today has made the world a smaller place.. in fact it's tiny. We can watch TV from signals beamed from satellites. We can record major projects in the back room of our house. We can shoot and edit video and turn out projects in hours with nothing but an iPhone or "Flip" video camera. What used to be a big deal, is kind of routine these days. The technology that has made all of this possible and somewhat easy has also made it more important to make what you do better than ever.
I can remember my first recording studio experience. It was in 1980 at Producer's Workshop in Oklahoma City. We thought this was a fairly big deal, and I guess it was. We weren't great players but we had some good songs. We fired up and played them with our eyes closed, with lots of country boy feeling and raw enthusiasm. What came out the other end was a 33 1/3
L. P. with lots of reverb and screamin' guitars. BUT we were the only band on our level that had one. So, that automatically kind of made "Jade" a big deal.
Now days everyone has a CD, everyone has songs on iTunes, everyone has a web site and some sort of video. So what you release to represent you and your music must not only be top notch in your home town, it must be top notch around the world.
Today our little record label "Way Out West Records" will release a Shawna Russell video of the new single "Get Right Or Get Left". It will premier on one of the top internet video sites in the world, www.yallwire.com .The song was recorded using the best musicians in Nashville, the best engineer, and the best equipment. The video was shot by an esteemed director using great gear for shooting and editing and is being promoted by one of the best in the business. In today's world this is what has to be done to filter through the "static" that is every other musician and artist in the world that has a Flip video or digital recorder in their bedroom.
The beauty of it all however is that it can be done from a spare bedroom on a dead end road in Okfuskee County. We have an office in Nashville and I can keep in touch with Clif (our partner in the record label and Shawna's co-manager) with a key stroke on a Blackberry. We can publicize to the entire world in seconds for free. We can listen to mixes sent from the studio in seconds and have feedback for the engineer. We can see different edits of the video in a bus moving at 70 mph down I-40!
15 years ago all of this was only a dream. If you wanted something done, you had to be there to do it. Internet was expensive and slow. Cell phones were sketchy and there was no facebook or youtube. But now it seems that the impossible has become possible. The "Big Deal" is the norm and sometimes real art hides in the shadows. As I sit here at my Macbook in my underwear getting ready to hit the "send button" that will launch this piece of writing out in to the world I'll leave you with a couple of thoughts.. In this world, in this time in history you have to be better than you ever thought you could be.. because... EVERYONE is watching.. and thank God I don't have the web cam turned on right now! :)
Watch the world premier of Shawna Russell's "Get Right Or Get Left" video at www.yallwire.com and remember.. it was made possible by the biggest record label in Okfuskee County Oklahoma..
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
"Running On Empty" ... Just a cool story..
As some of you may or may not know, my first instrument was drums. I got my first drum set at age 5 and that set the next 46 years of my life in motion. I had drum clothes, drum posters, drum birthday cakes.. you get it.. a drummer was what I "was". It was before the computer age so there was no Google, or Youtube or much of any way to research my passion except to peruse through my brothers collection of vinyl L. P.s and read who played what on who's record etc.
I can remember pulling the big paper sleeve out of the L. P. cover and hoping that it contained the names of the band members, who wrote the songs etc. I loved to match up musicians from one band that played for others. For instance.. Jimmy Messina would appear on his own records, those of "Poco" and the "Eagles". For some reason that was really cool to me.
Fast forward to the fall of 1977. I had just begun my career as a radio announcer or as they called it then a "D. J." and was just absolutely loving it. Listening to music all day, getting to talk and actually getting paid for it was pretty much heaven. At around 5:00 p. m. on a Friday in October my life was set on an odyssey that took 30 years to complete and come full circle.
On that Friday afternoon a 45 rpm single came in to the radio station from "Jackson Browne". I knew who J. B. was and was already fond of his music. I knew that he hung out with the likes of the "Eagles" and I figured I would more than likely dig the song. I threw it on the turntable without auditioning it just after the ABC News at 5:05. (What happens next and over 3 decades is a somewhat un-believable yet inspirational story.)
The first seconds of "Running On Empty" washed over me like a warm Pacific breeze. The pounding of the drums, the "road sound" created by the percussion section, the LIVE sound of the recording and the first vocal line "Lookin' out at the road rushing under my wheels" set it all in motion. I was hooked by the rhythm. That rudimentary, tribal beat made my heart jump, my foot tap and my mind wander. What it must have been like to be on that tour bus, play those venues, meet the people, write the songs. I could actually see my future.. but didn't know it at the time.
A week or so later, as it was done at that time, the radio station received the L. P. of "Running On Empty". I immediately opened it and WOW... a full TOUR BOOK came sliding out in to my grubby paw. Oh MY.. I hit the jackpot. Huge full color pictures, anecdotes, liner notes and in the band line up a familiar, yet as of then, un-explored name... "Russ Kunkel" on drums. Oh my, the rootsy, tribal pounding was coming from the guy that played for James Taylor? So I began to dig deeper. Wait, surely not.. that's him on my favorite "Crosby Stills and Nash" album, and "Linda Ronstadt" too?
As I researched the entire record collection at the station I found this man's name on nearly every pop/rock record of the time. I became a somewhat obsessed with his playing. As I played in our little band at the "Stardust" club and the "Empire Lounge" I would try and play like Russ. A few more toms, and build ups. Solid snare beats maybe a little behind the vocal. Straight forward kick drum that set up the framework. We even learned and played "Running On Empty"... Man just listening to this guy was making me a better drummer... yes.. Russ Kunkel had become my "DRUM HERO"!
Over the next 20 some odd years, I kept track of Russ' career. His playing on tour with "Stevie Nicks" nearly sent me over the edge. His work with Jimmy Buffet (another one of my musical heroes) stretched the limits. I had often wondered what it would be like to meet the guy and what I would say if I ever got to talk to him although I never thought I would.
Fast forward again (can't you just hear the tape player going woomp, woomp woomp as we head for the new century?) to 2006. My brother, Keith, my niece, Shawna and I began to write songs for what we thought was going to be a demo project for Shawna. We had grown weary of getting song demos from Nashville that did not fit her voice or style, so we decided who better to write Shawna's songs than us? We had written 4 or 5 songs with no real plan on how to record them when one day I got a call on my cell phone. It was Mike Turner a keyboard player and studio engineer we had worked with in Ty England's band. Mike wanted to know where Shawna was and what she was doing at the moment? By chance, (or maybe fate) Shawna and I were in Oklahoma City at another studio working on a voical warm up project. Mike asked if we had a minute to come by "Upstairs" studio and have Shawna sing a few tunes on some new gear they were installing? Sure we said, we'll be right over.
Here's where it gets "spooky". After a couple of hours of singing in Upstairs studio, the owner, Ted Curtis, asked this question "Have you ever heard of Russ Kunkel"? WHAT? Russ Kunkel. Of COURSE (here's where I launch in to a diatribe about my drum hero). Well, Curtis adds, I've been looking for a way to bring him here to record and after hearing Shawna's voice, I think this is the perfect project to pitch to him. Are you interested? I nearly blacked out.
I began to sweat a little and didn't really know what to say.. except to fall back on the statement that has always gotten me in trouble before... "Sure, let's do it"!
Now keep in mind, we had NO funding or any idea how this would happen, but for the moment it sounded really good. Over the course of the next few weeks Ted and I were in touch regarding the "project" and lo and behold one afternoon in October he called and said these words... "Russ is booked for xx November... let's do it"....
I'll respectfully skip all of the side stories of how we funded it, what other great musicians came to OKC to record with Shawna and Russ and cut to the proverbial chase.
Russ Kunkel, bigger than life, famous drummer came to OKC and recorded Shawna's "Goddess" album. He is a great guy. Humble, quiet, an expert at what he does. A guy you respect so much that you want to call him "Mr. Kunkel" but so friendly that he's just "Russ".
He and I became instant friends. He was respectful of our writing and impressed by Shawna's abilities. He made great suggestions and kept everyone on their toes. He gladly told stories about J. T. and Linda and CSN and even though we were all "gurming" him a little, he obliged us smiling all of the way.
The moral of the story is.. Life is strange.. who would have thought a farm boy from Cromwell, OK would spend a few days of his life in a studio "producing" his life long hero? That I would become friends with the man that inspired my music and creativity. That I would visit him in L.A. and drink Margarita's while staring at the famous "Hollywood" sign? Or get passes to see him perform with Lyle Lovett, exchange holiday greetings and emails with someone so far removed from the farm in the "River Bend" where I lived when I first heard the pounding of "Runnin' On Empty"?.... Life truly is strange, "it's like a box of chocolates, you never know what you'll get", but most of all.. life is what you make it. It's preparedness meeting opportunity, it's never giving up, it's the journey... and all of the other sayings on posters at the mall.. but it REALLY is... and if you are living it with passion you too can experience it.. just as I did...
Cloudwatcher signing off... heading out in the Willie Bus... "Lookin' out at the road rushing under my wheels, looking back at the years gone by like so many summer fields".....
I can remember pulling the big paper sleeve out of the L. P. cover and hoping that it contained the names of the band members, who wrote the songs etc. I loved to match up musicians from one band that played for others. For instance.. Jimmy Messina would appear on his own records, those of "Poco" and the "Eagles". For some reason that was really cool to me.
Fast forward to the fall of 1977. I had just begun my career as a radio announcer or as they called it then a "D. J." and was just absolutely loving it. Listening to music all day, getting to talk and actually getting paid for it was pretty much heaven. At around 5:00 p. m. on a Friday in October my life was set on an odyssey that took 30 years to complete and come full circle.
On that Friday afternoon a 45 rpm single came in to the radio station from "Jackson Browne". I knew who J. B. was and was already fond of his music. I knew that he hung out with the likes of the "Eagles" and I figured I would more than likely dig the song. I threw it on the turntable without auditioning it just after the ABC News at 5:05. (What happens next and over 3 decades is a somewhat un-believable yet inspirational story.)
The first seconds of "Running On Empty" washed over me like a warm Pacific breeze. The pounding of the drums, the "road sound" created by the percussion section, the LIVE sound of the recording and the first vocal line "Lookin' out at the road rushing under my wheels" set it all in motion. I was hooked by the rhythm. That rudimentary, tribal beat made my heart jump, my foot tap and my mind wander. What it must have been like to be on that tour bus, play those venues, meet the people, write the songs. I could actually see my future.. but didn't know it at the time.
A week or so later, as it was done at that time, the radio station received the L. P. of "Running On Empty". I immediately opened it and WOW... a full TOUR BOOK came sliding out in to my grubby paw. Oh MY.. I hit the jackpot. Huge full color pictures, anecdotes, liner notes and in the band line up a familiar, yet as of then, un-explored name... "Russ Kunkel" on drums. Oh my, the rootsy, tribal pounding was coming from the guy that played for James Taylor? So I began to dig deeper. Wait, surely not.. that's him on my favorite "Crosby Stills and Nash" album, and "Linda Ronstadt" too?
As I researched the entire record collection at the station I found this man's name on nearly every pop/rock record of the time. I became a somewhat obsessed with his playing. As I played in our little band at the "Stardust" club and the "Empire Lounge" I would try and play like Russ. A few more toms, and build ups. Solid snare beats maybe a little behind the vocal. Straight forward kick drum that set up the framework. We even learned and played "Running On Empty"... Man just listening to this guy was making me a better drummer... yes.. Russ Kunkel had become my "DRUM HERO"!
Over the next 20 some odd years, I kept track of Russ' career. His playing on tour with "Stevie Nicks" nearly sent me over the edge. His work with Jimmy Buffet (another one of my musical heroes) stretched the limits. I had often wondered what it would be like to meet the guy and what I would say if I ever got to talk to him although I never thought I would.
Fast forward again (can't you just hear the tape player going woomp, woomp woomp as we head for the new century?) to 2006. My brother, Keith, my niece, Shawna and I began to write songs for what we thought was going to be a demo project for Shawna. We had grown weary of getting song demos from Nashville that did not fit her voice or style, so we decided who better to write Shawna's songs than us? We had written 4 or 5 songs with no real plan on how to record them when one day I got a call on my cell phone. It was Mike Turner a keyboard player and studio engineer we had worked with in Ty England's band. Mike wanted to know where Shawna was and what she was doing at the moment? By chance, (or maybe fate) Shawna and I were in Oklahoma City at another studio working on a voical warm up project. Mike asked if we had a minute to come by "Upstairs" studio and have Shawna sing a few tunes on some new gear they were installing? Sure we said, we'll be right over.
Here's where it gets "spooky". After a couple of hours of singing in Upstairs studio, the owner, Ted Curtis, asked this question "Have you ever heard of Russ Kunkel"? WHAT? Russ Kunkel. Of COURSE (here's where I launch in to a diatribe about my drum hero). Well, Curtis adds, I've been looking for a way to bring him here to record and after hearing Shawna's voice, I think this is the perfect project to pitch to him. Are you interested? I nearly blacked out.
I began to sweat a little and didn't really know what to say.. except to fall back on the statement that has always gotten me in trouble before... "Sure, let's do it"!
Now keep in mind, we had NO funding or any idea how this would happen, but for the moment it sounded really good. Over the course of the next few weeks Ted and I were in touch regarding the "project" and lo and behold one afternoon in October he called and said these words... "Russ is booked for xx November... let's do it"....
I'll respectfully skip all of the side stories of how we funded it, what other great musicians came to OKC to record with Shawna and Russ and cut to the proverbial chase.
Russ Kunkel, bigger than life, famous drummer came to OKC and recorded Shawna's "Goddess" album. He is a great guy. Humble, quiet, an expert at what he does. A guy you respect so much that you want to call him "Mr. Kunkel" but so friendly that he's just "Russ".
He and I became instant friends. He was respectful of our writing and impressed by Shawna's abilities. He made great suggestions and kept everyone on their toes. He gladly told stories about J. T. and Linda and CSN and even though we were all "gurming" him a little, he obliged us smiling all of the way.
The moral of the story is.. Life is strange.. who would have thought a farm boy from Cromwell, OK would spend a few days of his life in a studio "producing" his life long hero? That I would become friends with the man that inspired my music and creativity. That I would visit him in L.A. and drink Margarita's while staring at the famous "Hollywood" sign? Or get passes to see him perform with Lyle Lovett, exchange holiday greetings and emails with someone so far removed from the farm in the "River Bend" where I lived when I first heard the pounding of "Runnin' On Empty"?.... Life truly is strange, "it's like a box of chocolates, you never know what you'll get", but most of all.. life is what you make it. It's preparedness meeting opportunity, it's never giving up, it's the journey... and all of the other sayings on posters at the mall.. but it REALLY is... and if you are living it with passion you too can experience it.. just as I did...
Cloudwatcher signing off... heading out in the Willie Bus... "Lookin' out at the road rushing under my wheels, looking back at the years gone by like so many summer fields".....
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
"Draggin' Main"... How Social Networks Kill Social Activities
Recently my brother and I were discussing the fact that kids don't "drag main" any more. If you go through a small town at 8:00 on a Saturday night, the streets will be deserted. No cars, no honking horns, no horseplay on the sidewalks. My how things have changed in the last 30 years.
For those of you out there that are too young to know what I'm talking about.. I'll explain...
Every Friday and Saturday night in our small community, teenagers would gather in town. We'd run our dad's car, our hot rods, and farm trucks up and down main street U. S. A. for hours at a time. We'd try to time our "drag" so that we could meet the pretty girls at a turn around spot.. and stalk.. I mean.. follow them to Sonic hoping they would stop and we could start a conversation. Each time a buddy drove by, they'd get a "beep" of the horn. Occasionally we'd park on the street and then several others would gather and we would discuss our evening, where we wanted to hang out, whose house was deserted and primed for a "get together" or tell stories about ball games, school and activities. It was "social networking" at it's finest.
In the computer age things are different. Kids don't need main street anymore. They have text messages and Facebook to fill their social "needs". Modern teens just tap some buttons to find out last night's score, where the "party" is or who is out on a date with whom. Although this is much "greener", not burning fuel up and down main street, it is a bit sad that the memories and nuances of main street are gone.
The new age of social networking has also hurt other forms of entertainment. People need people right?
In the days of yesteryear, folks would gather on porches and pick guitar have ice cream and swap stories. If you wanted a date, you'd go to a target rich environment like a dance or a church. Now society has become so lazy that all they do is "tweet" or "post" in order to get their social fix.
How does this affect the entertainment business you ask?
I'll tell you. The entertainment business has largely become a butts in the seat business. In the glory days artists would tour to bring attention to their record on the shelf and hopefully boost sales. Since there are no records on shelves any more, that marketing model has flipped. Now artists sell downloads in order to prop up their tour. Artists are even urged to GIVE their music away to try and create as many advertising "impressions" as possible and entice people to their shows. Record labels are now taking a piece of the touring $ pie because that is the only way any artist makes any money these days. ..... and there in lies the problem.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to get the population out from in front of their computer to go to a live venue.
Internet marketers will tell you it's the wave of the future.. or present.. however concert ticket sales are down, music sales are down, and very few artists are able to find their way to make a living in today's market....
Case in point... A friend of mine recently promoted a benefit concert in a medium sized town. He had 3 very good indie artists with a moderate amount of name recognition. He bought ads on "Facebook" and ran the proper demographic formula to reach the target audience. In a few weeks the ad had garnered over 1 million impressions. However not one ticket was sold from the outlet that was taking on line orders. WHAT? A MILLION people saw the ad and NONE of them bought a ticket? That surprised everyone involved. The problem wasn't the artists, or the cause.. the problem is what society has turned to for social activities. Society by and large does not attend anything any more. They would rather watch a boot legged youtube video of a concert shot on an iPhone than sit in the seat and feel the kick drum rattle their pant leg. They'd rather get tweets from their friends that actually do things, about ball game scores rather than take the trouble to put on decent clothes and go to the ball game themselves.
I know.. I sound like an old fogie.. well maybe I am.. but I can't help but think that without actual human contact (by this I mean being in the same room with people) our society is becoming more fractured. We are afraid of those we perceive as different, because we have never actually met them. We can reach billions of people with a key stroke but can we really affect their lives and introduce them to art, music and social activities if they are only experiencing them in cyber-space? Can new artists bring audiences to their feet, make them laugh or cry on youtube? Is our society losing it's heart and soul because the rest of the world only exists inside a box?
I wish I had the answers. My career in the entertainment business depends on it.. but I don't feel alone. I hear from countless artists, managers and venue owners that are fighting the anti-social aspects of social networking. We'll find a way.. some how.. until then I'll run the movie in my mind of a hot summer night in my '67 Firebird, running up and down Okemah's main street. Honking at friends, chasing the girls, and listening to music. "Down On Main Street"...
Until next time... beep beep... Cloudwatcher signing off........
For those of you out there that are too young to know what I'm talking about.. I'll explain...
Every Friday and Saturday night in our small community, teenagers would gather in town. We'd run our dad's car, our hot rods, and farm trucks up and down main street U. S. A. for hours at a time. We'd try to time our "drag" so that we could meet the pretty girls at a turn around spot.. and stalk.. I mean.. follow them to Sonic hoping they would stop and we could start a conversation. Each time a buddy drove by, they'd get a "beep" of the horn. Occasionally we'd park on the street and then several others would gather and we would discuss our evening, where we wanted to hang out, whose house was deserted and primed for a "get together" or tell stories about ball games, school and activities. It was "social networking" at it's finest.
In the computer age things are different. Kids don't need main street anymore. They have text messages and Facebook to fill their social "needs". Modern teens just tap some buttons to find out last night's score, where the "party" is or who is out on a date with whom. Although this is much "greener", not burning fuel up and down main street, it is a bit sad that the memories and nuances of main street are gone.
The new age of social networking has also hurt other forms of entertainment. People need people right?
In the days of yesteryear, folks would gather on porches and pick guitar have ice cream and swap stories. If you wanted a date, you'd go to a target rich environment like a dance or a church. Now society has become so lazy that all they do is "tweet" or "post" in order to get their social fix.
How does this affect the entertainment business you ask?
I'll tell you. The entertainment business has largely become a butts in the seat business. In the glory days artists would tour to bring attention to their record on the shelf and hopefully boost sales. Since there are no records on shelves any more, that marketing model has flipped. Now artists sell downloads in order to prop up their tour. Artists are even urged to GIVE their music away to try and create as many advertising "impressions" as possible and entice people to their shows. Record labels are now taking a piece of the touring $ pie because that is the only way any artist makes any money these days. ..... and there in lies the problem.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to get the population out from in front of their computer to go to a live venue.
Internet marketers will tell you it's the wave of the future.. or present.. however concert ticket sales are down, music sales are down, and very few artists are able to find their way to make a living in today's market....
Case in point... A friend of mine recently promoted a benefit concert in a medium sized town. He had 3 very good indie artists with a moderate amount of name recognition. He bought ads on "Facebook" and ran the proper demographic formula to reach the target audience. In a few weeks the ad had garnered over 1 million impressions. However not one ticket was sold from the outlet that was taking on line orders. WHAT? A MILLION people saw the ad and NONE of them bought a ticket? That surprised everyone involved. The problem wasn't the artists, or the cause.. the problem is what society has turned to for social activities. Society by and large does not attend anything any more. They would rather watch a boot legged youtube video of a concert shot on an iPhone than sit in the seat and feel the kick drum rattle their pant leg. They'd rather get tweets from their friends that actually do things, about ball game scores rather than take the trouble to put on decent clothes and go to the ball game themselves.
I know.. I sound like an old fogie.. well maybe I am.. but I can't help but think that without actual human contact (by this I mean being in the same room with people) our society is becoming more fractured. We are afraid of those we perceive as different, because we have never actually met them. We can reach billions of people with a key stroke but can we really affect their lives and introduce them to art, music and social activities if they are only experiencing them in cyber-space? Can new artists bring audiences to their feet, make them laugh or cry on youtube? Is our society losing it's heart and soul because the rest of the world only exists inside a box?
I wish I had the answers. My career in the entertainment business depends on it.. but I don't feel alone. I hear from countless artists, managers and venue owners that are fighting the anti-social aspects of social networking. We'll find a way.. some how.. until then I'll run the movie in my mind of a hot summer night in my '67 Firebird, running up and down Okemah's main street. Honking at friends, chasing the girls, and listening to music. "Down On Main Street"...
Until next time... beep beep... Cloudwatcher signing off........
Thursday, February 10, 2011
First Impressions.. You Only Get One Of Them
Being in the record label/publishing business and touring with Shawna Russell over 100 shows per year, puts me in contact with many young artists trying to find their way in the ever changing world of music. Most every place we play we seem to collect CD's and projects from folks wanting us to hear their music, record one of their tunes or to help them in some way. We eagerly accept these offerings. Usually with a warning that we can't "digest" their tunes since we don't want to accidentally re-write something they wrote a couple of years from now.. We do however listen to most projects at least once.
Sometimes we hear great talent, good songs and good production.. however the vast majority are poorly recorded and produced.. some to the point that we cannot bear to listen. Some folks hand us a CD with a litany of excuses as to why it sounds like crap. "We did this in our bathroom in a rain storm".. "I actually recorded this on a Karaoke machine with my little girl's "Dora" tape recorder".. you name it we've heard it. There's only one comment I can make about these situations... DON'T DO IT!
If you care enough about your songs or your band to do a recording.. please care enough to do a good one. I sometimes believe the convenience of the new technology that allows folks to record multi-track projects in their kitchen has actually been a set back for many aspiring artists. Just because you can buy a recorder from Musicians Friend for $99.00 does NOT mean it will make a quality product for you to pitch to labels and publishing companies. It WILL give you the means to record your music and listen to what you've created...It WILL give you the opportunity to make "work tapes" and share with your band.. but PLEASE stop using them to try and make a finished product. The same technology that has allowed you to make the recording has also allowed studios to make better and better recordings. No matter what level you are on.. you are still competing for the same entertainment dollar as established artists that spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on recording and mixing their projects.
So you ask.. "Do I have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars?".. the answer of course is no... You DO need to spend some money however to get the type of quality needed to get the attention of A&R departments or publishing companies. If you don't have a lot of money that's cool. Try and save some. Ask your band to kick in for some publishing rights, ask your grandma, cut back on smoking or drinking, something ANYTHING to get a little nest egg to get your music going. I know of studios, good studios that are charging $60 to $75 per hour. That's cheap. If you can't afford to record 10 songs.. then record 5 or 6 and release a GREAT quality EP. Sell it cheap and sell a LOT of them.. make some $ for your next EP.. Keep folks interested with GREAT quality recordings that make a GREAT first impression.
If you are doing an artist project. Get good photography. Put your picture on the front and the back and PLEASE put your contact information on the CD AND on the packaging. By contact information I mean your e mail address, web site address, your phone number or that of your manager (if you have one) and NOT your "Facebook" or "Myspace" address only. You have to make it very easy for folks to find you, or they won't bother. The moral of the story is....
Do it RIGHT the first time and you won't have to do it again.
Live from backstage at Billy Bob's Texas... Cloudwatcher... signing off....
Sometimes we hear great talent, good songs and good production.. however the vast majority are poorly recorded and produced.. some to the point that we cannot bear to listen. Some folks hand us a CD with a litany of excuses as to why it sounds like crap. "We did this in our bathroom in a rain storm".. "I actually recorded this on a Karaoke machine with my little girl's "Dora" tape recorder".. you name it we've heard it. There's only one comment I can make about these situations... DON'T DO IT!
If you care enough about your songs or your band to do a recording.. please care enough to do a good one. I sometimes believe the convenience of the new technology that allows folks to record multi-track projects in their kitchen has actually been a set back for many aspiring artists. Just because you can buy a recorder from Musicians Friend for $99.00 does NOT mean it will make a quality product for you to pitch to labels and publishing companies. It WILL give you the means to record your music and listen to what you've created...It WILL give you the opportunity to make "work tapes" and share with your band.. but PLEASE stop using them to try and make a finished product. The same technology that has allowed you to make the recording has also allowed studios to make better and better recordings. No matter what level you are on.. you are still competing for the same entertainment dollar as established artists that spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on recording and mixing their projects.
So you ask.. "Do I have to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars?".. the answer of course is no... You DO need to spend some money however to get the type of quality needed to get the attention of A&R departments or publishing companies. If you don't have a lot of money that's cool. Try and save some. Ask your band to kick in for some publishing rights, ask your grandma, cut back on smoking or drinking, something ANYTHING to get a little nest egg to get your music going. I know of studios, good studios that are charging $60 to $75 per hour. That's cheap. If you can't afford to record 10 songs.. then record 5 or 6 and release a GREAT quality EP. Sell it cheap and sell a LOT of them.. make some $ for your next EP.. Keep folks interested with GREAT quality recordings that make a GREAT first impression.
If you are doing an artist project. Get good photography. Put your picture on the front and the back and PLEASE put your contact information on the CD AND on the packaging. By contact information I mean your e mail address, web site address, your phone number or that of your manager (if you have one) and NOT your "Facebook" or "Myspace" address only. You have to make it very easy for folks to find you, or they won't bother. The moral of the story is....
Do it RIGHT the first time and you won't have to do it again.
Live from backstage at Billy Bob's Texas... Cloudwatcher... signing off....
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Memory Lane '75 and Songs That Make You Warm
Hanging out here at the ranch.. 8 inches of snow.. 8 degrees and thinking of summer.. Specifically the "Summer of '75"...
The Summer of '75 was a great year for music. It was a great year for me. My Junior year in high school.. I had a cool '66 El Camino, a farmer's tan, a job hauling hay making cash $ and my 8 track tape player. What an invention THAT was! Listening to your favorite song fade out... then the big KER PLUNK of the track change.. then your favorite song fading back in.. WOW.. what a great way to listen to art!
ART is what it was too.. Lot's of ARTISTS that were making music that had "feel" and "rhythm"
Folky bands like "America", Eagles and artists like "Sammy Johns" painted a vivid picture of the California coast, the desert sands, and highways stretching across the vast American plain. Enough so.. that a buddy of mine and I decided that we were going to drive to California.. turn around.. and come back.. just to say we did.. Now that never did happen because my El Camino only got about 8 miles per gallon and we couldn't afford the fuel...... but the planning and day dreaming was surely better than the trip would have been anyway.
The "Boss" jumped on to the scene with Born to Run. FM radio was just starting to "gel" and you could hear an hour of commercial free "un-commercial" rock and roll that the AM stations wouldn't dream of playing. B sides, album cuts and lost treasures filled the night sky on crystal clear FM.. WOW NO STATIC AT ALL... DJ's that talked slow and deep.. rattling the small speaker in my clock radio.. oh man.. what a gig I thought.. staying up all night.. playing music and talking to folks in far away places.. oh the romance...
Mix in some Willie and Waylon, Tompall and the Glaser Brothers, Jessi Colter and Conway Twitty from the Country Genre.. and you've got you a cool soup of rockin' relics that will shape your life forever.
So 35 1/2 years after the Summer of '75...as I sip on a Buttered Rum Yum Yum.. I'll just leave you with a list of songs to take you there..I know some of these were released before '75.. but I like "re-currents" too... I won't leave the links.. because I'm sure you know how to go to Youtube and look them up.. "Keep On Truckin'" Y'all..
Cloudwatcher... signing off...
Chevy Van-Sammy Johns
Ventura Highway- America
Sister Golden Hair- America
Desperado-Eagles
Peaceful Easy Feelin'-Eagles
Blue Eyes Cryin' In The Rain-Willie Nelson
I'm Not Lisa-Jessie Colter
Here Come Those Tears Again-Jackson Browne
Over My Head-Fleetwood Mac
Reelin' In The Years-Steely Dan
Black Water- Doobie Brothers
I'm feeling warmer already.. and I can hear you singing from here!
The Summer of '75 was a great year for music. It was a great year for me. My Junior year in high school.. I had a cool '66 El Camino, a farmer's tan, a job hauling hay making cash $ and my 8 track tape player. What an invention THAT was! Listening to your favorite song fade out... then the big KER PLUNK of the track change.. then your favorite song fading back in.. WOW.. what a great way to listen to art!
ART is what it was too.. Lot's of ARTISTS that were making music that had "feel" and "rhythm"
Folky bands like "America", Eagles and artists like "Sammy Johns" painted a vivid picture of the California coast, the desert sands, and highways stretching across the vast American plain. Enough so.. that a buddy of mine and I decided that we were going to drive to California.. turn around.. and come back.. just to say we did.. Now that never did happen because my El Camino only got about 8 miles per gallon and we couldn't afford the fuel...... but the planning and day dreaming was surely better than the trip would have been anyway.
The "Boss" jumped on to the scene with Born to Run. FM radio was just starting to "gel" and you could hear an hour of commercial free "un-commercial" rock and roll that the AM stations wouldn't dream of playing. B sides, album cuts and lost treasures filled the night sky on crystal clear FM.. WOW NO STATIC AT ALL... DJ's that talked slow and deep.. rattling the small speaker in my clock radio.. oh man.. what a gig I thought.. staying up all night.. playing music and talking to folks in far away places.. oh the romance...
Mix in some Willie and Waylon, Tompall and the Glaser Brothers, Jessi Colter and Conway Twitty from the Country Genre.. and you've got you a cool soup of rockin' relics that will shape your life forever.
So 35 1/2 years after the Summer of '75...as I sip on a Buttered Rum Yum Yum.. I'll just leave you with a list of songs to take you there..I know some of these were released before '75.. but I like "re-currents" too... I won't leave the links.. because I'm sure you know how to go to Youtube and look them up.. "Keep On Truckin'" Y'all..
Cloudwatcher... signing off...
Chevy Van-Sammy Johns
Ventura Highway- America
Sister Golden Hair- America
Desperado-Eagles
Peaceful Easy Feelin'-Eagles
Blue Eyes Cryin' In The Rain-Willie Nelson
I'm Not Lisa-Jessie Colter
Here Come Those Tears Again-Jackson Browne
Over My Head-Fleetwood Mac
Reelin' In The Years-Steely Dan
Black Water- Doobie Brothers
I'm feeling warmer already.. and I can hear you singing from here!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Success In The Music Business... What IS It?
SUCCESS….. think about what that means to you. Is it a ton of money? Fame? Peace of mind? One-ness with the Universe? All of the above?
We should assess what this means often in our life, because as our life goes on, success takes on different meanings. In my early 20’s success was trying to climb to the top of the radio industry. I remember interviewing for a radio job when I was 20 and the station manager asked me what my long- term goal was. I quickly answered, “to buy this radio station”. What the heck? Why did I say that? It just blurted out. I had NO intention of buying that radio station, but somewhere in my psyche, success meant “owning something”. It did get me the job. Probably because the manager thought I was upwardly mobile and a contentious young man that would do a good job. I was and I did. Alas, as with all jobs in radio, I was fired about 10 months later. So the “inner dream” of owning KHEN radio died a gory death as I sped out of the station driveway in my ’67 firebird, the only thing I actually owned at the time.
The music business is a bitter mistress. It will allure you with glitter and tour buses, videos on CMT and visions of starring in arena concerts. It will make you go in debt and spend money like a drunk politician, on music gear, head shots, recording projects and Chevy vans. Then, spit you out like a shot of cheap tequila. Then, after you’ve wiped your mouth and re-gained some self-respect. You’ll do it all over again. Chasing the elusive “success”.
Over the years my idea of success in the music industry has certainly changed. It is evolving at this moment and will continue. I chased a “record deal” for quite some time, thinking THAT was the “be all end all” of music success. Then I realized that nothing could be further from the truth. I became acquainted with many folks that had “record deals” and for the vast majority of them it did more harm than good. In the words of the late great drummer “Buddy Harman”: “There’s one thing worse than not having a record deal, it’s having a BAD one”. So true.
As the years passed, and my idea of success has evolved even more, I have come to realize that for me, just being able to stay in the business I love, live my passion, write songs, play shows and occasionally produce a project IS my success. Over the past couple of years, our record label, a small outfit with one artist was able to record 2 great records using the finest studio musicians in the world. Find some success on radio, and video. Shawna Russell (my niece) and business partner played 115 shows all over the
U. S. last year. We are able to travel in a tour bus and take our music to people on a level that’s personal and intimate. Although we are still chasing that CMT video, arena shows and the like (and who wouldn’t?) we are content with the fact that most artists that have big record label deals weren’t able to accomplish what we have over the past few years.
My point in all of this “blog ramble” is: Success is different for every one. Success is how you view yourself not how others view you. Many artists young and old make the mistake of believing that if they aren’t a “star” then they aren’t anything. When the reality is, very few people ever make it to “star” status and even when they do they sometimes don’t see themselves as “successful”.
My advice to young artists would be.. don’t get in to the music business to be a “star”. Be in the business because you love it. Be in the business because writing, or performing or producing music is all that’s in your heart and all that’s in your head.
Be in the music business with spirit and passion and not with ego. Do these things and you won’t have to chase “success”, you will have already achieved it!
Cloudwatcher… signing off…..
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Music Biz 101 and American Idol
Since my name showed up on the web a few years ago as "President" of Way Out West Records.. I have been inundated with calls and inquiries about "what it takes" to make it in the music business. I have spent countless hours on the phone and talking in bars and casinos with folks that are at the very least intrigued and at the very most HUNGRY to know more about the "biz".
They all want to know the secret.. the secret is there is no secret. Everyone finds their success in this or any other business in their own way. Some have to work harder than others. Some make it big. Some make it small and some bail out at various junctures along the way.
What most fail to realize is it's called the music BUSINESS for a reason. I once had a guy come up to me and say.. "man I'd love to be you.. playing music.. laying out drunk all night.. sleeping all day.. must be the life".. Life of who? Otis Campbell!!! (For those under 40.. that's the town drunk on Andy Griffith).. It's called the business because it is a business. It is a tough, competitive, cut throat business dominated by huge egos, ruthless predators, and crooks.... and that just takes care of who rides on OUR bus!.. no seriously folks.. it ain't easy.. if it were everyone would do it.. because as you read earlier.. "play music, lay out drunk and sleep" is all it takes!
Nothing could be further from the truth. You can take that angle, but you'll probably end up in pretty bad shape and not enjoy much success.
Over the next few "blogs" I'll be discussing some of the things that you'll need to know if you are interested in this crazy life. I'll weave some funny stories in with some horrific details and advice.
Let's go ahead and get started with something today. A subject that is ALWAYS on everyone's lips and an idea that EVERYONE seems to think is the secret: AMERICAN IDOL
I should just close this out now because my momma always told me not to say anything.. if I couldn't say anything good. I'll go on because that's not entirely true. There are some redeeming qualities of the show at least for those that have "won" or garnered the exposure to BILLIONS of people.
First of all the "Show" is not about creating good music, creating great artists, or developing anyone's skills or craft. The show is about selling advertising. They sell millions and millions of dollars of advertising during the season. The producers have a target demographic that they are going after and during the "auditions" they skew the people picked to satisfy that demographic. So, what this means is.. if the producers decide that in 2011 they need to satisfy advertisers of American made pickup trucks, then the "contestants" will be picked with that advertiser in mind. (Probably heavy in the white male category)
Now that's good if you are a "country" singer but if you're a hip hopper or Susan Boyle odds are already against you. If you are a REALLY GOOD singer, a real pro, you probably won't be picked either. Because part of the drama of the show is watching these young songsters grow and flourish. That's how they get folks to tune back in every week. I feel you're "smelling what I'm standing in" so I'll now skip to the next part.
Having one of these "Idol-ers" be successful in the music business is just icing on the cake. Carrie Underwood and a couple of others were very talented, got hooked up with the right songs and have made the show and producers and managers EXTRA millions, and that's great but the business model is still not sound. My reasoning is.. if you took most anyone and exposed them to MILLIONS AND MILLIONS of television viewers WEEK AFTER WEEK and had publicists publicizing and managers managing, televisions televising, and radios radioing you SHOULD be able to be successful. If you're not.. then something went seriously afoul.
How has this hurt the music business you ask? I'll give you something you probably haven't thought about. It has created what I like to call "Idol-itis". Young folks that might have talent, might have desire, might have support, yet they don't want to develop their skills and create their dream because they see instant success from these talent shows on steroids.
This is a typical conversation with someone inquiring about the music biz: THEM: "How long do you think it will take for me to be a star?" ME: probably a long time, maybe never but if this is your passion then roll up your sleeves and get to work THEM: I might be able to give it 6 months or maybe a year. ME: Then you just need to go do something else. THEM: Oh no this is my calling. ME: OK. Where have you played or performed in the last year? THEM: No where. It's really hard to get a band together. ME: Do you write your own music. THEM: No I don't really know anything about music. I'm a singer, besides Carrie Underwood didn't write her own music. You get the idea. No one wants to hear that you need to know something about music or that you need to get a band together and learn some skills. Ply your craft. Get GOOD at it. Have some FUN. Be creative and write some songs. Play EVERYWHERE you can... and THERE is the secret. Do it like the Beatles did it. Do it like Trace Adkins and Toby Keith did it. Do it like "The Jackson Five" did it and the Doobie Brothers. They played till their fingers were sore. They learned the business from the inside out. When the time came they were smart, they were good and they were ready, and most of all they are STILL around.
So here's what I ask of you. Watch American Idol. Root for your person. Vote for your person. Have fun doing it. BUT ALSO.. find a good young hungry artist in your area that has put a band together, gone in debt, bought a van and a PA rig, works all day, sings all night, writes songs and is doing it the "old fashioned" way. Through hard work, guts and determination. Then.. talk about that artist on face book, encourage others to go to their performances, buy their merchandise, buy them a beer, get on their street team and help create a "buzz" about them. If EVERYONE that watched Idol would adopt an artist that is truly committed to music and is busting his or her hump to be successful then the future of the music business would certainly be brighter.
Cloudwatcher.. signing off...
They all want to know the secret.. the secret is there is no secret. Everyone finds their success in this or any other business in their own way. Some have to work harder than others. Some make it big. Some make it small and some bail out at various junctures along the way.
What most fail to realize is it's called the music BUSINESS for a reason. I once had a guy come up to me and say.. "man I'd love to be you.. playing music.. laying out drunk all night.. sleeping all day.. must be the life".. Life of who? Otis Campbell!!! (For those under 40.. that's the town drunk on Andy Griffith).. It's called the business because it is a business. It is a tough, competitive, cut throat business dominated by huge egos, ruthless predators, and crooks.... and that just takes care of who rides on OUR bus!.. no seriously folks.. it ain't easy.. if it were everyone would do it.. because as you read earlier.. "play music, lay out drunk and sleep" is all it takes!
Nothing could be further from the truth. You can take that angle, but you'll probably end up in pretty bad shape and not enjoy much success.
Over the next few "blogs" I'll be discussing some of the things that you'll need to know if you are interested in this crazy life. I'll weave some funny stories in with some horrific details and advice.
Let's go ahead and get started with something today. A subject that is ALWAYS on everyone's lips and an idea that EVERYONE seems to think is the secret: AMERICAN IDOL
I should just close this out now because my momma always told me not to say anything.. if I couldn't say anything good. I'll go on because that's not entirely true. There are some redeeming qualities of the show at least for those that have "won" or garnered the exposure to BILLIONS of people.
First of all the "Show" is not about creating good music, creating great artists, or developing anyone's skills or craft. The show is about selling advertising. They sell millions and millions of dollars of advertising during the season. The producers have a target demographic that they are going after and during the "auditions" they skew the people picked to satisfy that demographic. So, what this means is.. if the producers decide that in 2011 they need to satisfy advertisers of American made pickup trucks, then the "contestants" will be picked with that advertiser in mind. (Probably heavy in the white male category)
Now that's good if you are a "country" singer but if you're a hip hopper or Susan Boyle odds are already against you. If you are a REALLY GOOD singer, a real pro, you probably won't be picked either. Because part of the drama of the show is watching these young songsters grow and flourish. That's how they get folks to tune back in every week. I feel you're "smelling what I'm standing in" so I'll now skip to the next part.
Having one of these "Idol-ers" be successful in the music business is just icing on the cake. Carrie Underwood and a couple of others were very talented, got hooked up with the right songs and have made the show and producers and managers EXTRA millions, and that's great but the business model is still not sound. My reasoning is.. if you took most anyone and exposed them to MILLIONS AND MILLIONS of television viewers WEEK AFTER WEEK and had publicists publicizing and managers managing, televisions televising, and radios radioing you SHOULD be able to be successful. If you're not.. then something went seriously afoul.
How has this hurt the music business you ask? I'll give you something you probably haven't thought about. It has created what I like to call "Idol-itis". Young folks that might have talent, might have desire, might have support, yet they don't want to develop their skills and create their dream because they see instant success from these talent shows on steroids.
This is a typical conversation with someone inquiring about the music biz: THEM: "How long do you think it will take for me to be a star?" ME: probably a long time, maybe never but if this is your passion then roll up your sleeves and get to work THEM: I might be able to give it 6 months or maybe a year. ME: Then you just need to go do something else. THEM: Oh no this is my calling. ME: OK. Where have you played or performed in the last year? THEM: No where. It's really hard to get a band together. ME: Do you write your own music. THEM: No I don't really know anything about music. I'm a singer, besides Carrie Underwood didn't write her own music. You get the idea. No one wants to hear that you need to know something about music or that you need to get a band together and learn some skills. Ply your craft. Get GOOD at it. Have some FUN. Be creative and write some songs. Play EVERYWHERE you can... and THERE is the secret. Do it like the Beatles did it. Do it like Trace Adkins and Toby Keith did it. Do it like "The Jackson Five" did it and the Doobie Brothers. They played till their fingers were sore. They learned the business from the inside out. When the time came they were smart, they were good and they were ready, and most of all they are STILL around.
So here's what I ask of you. Watch American Idol. Root for your person. Vote for your person. Have fun doing it. BUT ALSO.. find a good young hungry artist in your area that has put a band together, gone in debt, bought a van and a PA rig, works all day, sings all night, writes songs and is doing it the "old fashioned" way. Through hard work, guts and determination. Then.. talk about that artist on face book, encourage others to go to their performances, buy their merchandise, buy them a beer, get on their street team and help create a "buzz" about them. If EVERYONE that watched Idol would adopt an artist that is truly committed to music and is busting his or her hump to be successful then the future of the music business would certainly be brighter.
Cloudwatcher.. signing off...
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