The widest read, 'delivered to your Email box', weekly music Ezine on the Music Net.
The Archive
A service from 'The Serious Writers Guild' at MAKEHITS.COM Written by Dec Cluskey with a little bit opf help from his friends.
This Email first mailed to all Members of 'The Serious Writers Guild' and
subscribers to 'One Minute With Dec' on
03.02.03
By the way the course is great and I am now beggining to understand even at this early stage why I haven't made a fortune out of music. I look forward to polishing my Aston Martin in the not too distant future.
Thanks for your insight,
Peter Parker. [Serious Writers Guild Member]
"I've just signed a deal with StreetJam Management. Their singer, Charlotte, recorded a song of mine & has signed to BMG. They love the song & want more for her album! I also have a track on the new Bandit MIDEM sampler. And it's not just the music.....I was dancing with the lovely Alesha from Misteeq at the Jazz Cafe last night. Not bad for a 44 year old geezer!
Thanks a £million Dec.
Mick Lee. [Serious Writers Guild Member]
"I know you know you are good, but it doesn't hurt to say that this stuff has been amazing - Thank you" [Dan Hall - Serious Writers Guild Member]
This next thank-you is from our 29th New Country on board: URAGUAY.......Alvaro Fabian Rabaquino
"I actually haven't had a chance to thank you for all the improvments your
program is making in my music and most importantly in myself. Words are
just no enough. Thanks! "
"Thanks for setting up the demo package. Great idea, scary but great as now I feel that there is a complete team out there that can ensure strict quality control of our material". Kenny Azeez [Serious Writers Guild Member - Australia]
"My Emails are written in good humour, and should be read with a smile"
Late again....a major track to finish and then a vocal arrangement recording for a BMG project....I'm a tired boy!
Two new sections added to our Web Sites this week
1) How To Set Up Your Own Home Studio? Link is on the Archive at www.makehits.com/archive.htm. Scroll to the list of 'One Minute With Dec' archive Emails and you will find on the 24.02.02 I wrote an excellent piece on the cheapest way to set up a top quality home based studio. You should really consider using the info.
2) "The Best Way to Record Acoustic, Classical or Spanish Guitar?"..... is the latest in a very real string of articles...go to www.makehits.co.uk/artintro.htm
You will get some excellent ideas and knowledge from those new additions.
How much are you worth per hour?
Lots of reaction to my mention of how much I charge as a consultant. I really was trying to make guys out there consider what their time was worth. It got a lot of guys thinking and some got in touch with me. I had dinner with a solicitor last night...she charges £140-£180 per hour ...interesting! By the way, we were celebrating Chinese New Year [The Year of the Goat]...so to my Chinese friends..."Kung Ho Fachoi" [Happy New Year]
My good friend John Davies, a pretty high flyer, Emailed me a nice idea re. this 'per hour' deal:
Re your "cost per hour" article.
Here's an acid test of how a person rates their time:
Imagine you go to buy a television. Cost £400. In the store the assistant tells you that the same model is on sale at another of their branches at a discount price. It will take you one hour to make the return trip to the other store.
How much of a discount would you want to make that trip feel worthwhile ???
See you soon.
Regards John.
I love reading...you know that by now. And by reading I come across some interesting ideas. For instance an Internet marketer Emailed to ask why so many guys on the Internet are stuck in a rut. Let me explain:
You know, the music game is exactly and precisely the same?
How many guys do you know, maybe yourself, who just churn out the same songs, the same beat, the same type lyrics, the same type melody....practically all their music lives? Now - common sense would say that if they are not successful that should change...but do they? Naaaaah!
But no matter how much they promote, they can't seem to make a sale. Just like a monkey that sticks his hand in a jar to grab a nut....his hand is stuck because he won't drop the nut....he won't....these music guys just keep pouring good money after bad and refuse to let go.
The same thing happens with their marketing methods. They fall into the trap of using an advertising technique or marketing method that doesn't bring any results. Usually putting their music on the Net...and we all know that no-one in the Industry listens to music on the Net.
It doesn't matter how bad the results are they just keep throwing more money into the pot, hoping this time it will work.
Man alive, they've become just as trapped as that little monkey. They don't know when to let go. They've fallen in love and keep spending money like a drunken sailor on shore leave.
Do yourself a favour, don't be a dumb monkey.
If a marketing method for your music isn't working, let it go and find something that does. If your music doesn't sell, let it go and find the type of music that will.
Smart stock investors know that secret. Many times the only difference between a successful investor and a losing investor is, the successful investor knows when to cut his losses.
Your music can be the best investment you ever make, but like any investment, you have to know when to cut your losses.
Learn that lesson and you're on your way to success."
'Live' versus 'Mime'
Whenever I get into this discussion with music guys it is extremely easy to see why so many do not have success...what do I mean?
Just check out this email from a Member:
Thanks
Girish"
My reply?
I have written reams on this subject in the 'How To Make A $Million From your Music' releases. Check it out.
The public want to be 'entertained' - they want to feel 'joy', 'fun'.... they are NEVER impressed with musicianship. Musicianship only impresses other musicians.
However - the very best combination is the stunning looking [male or female] back up singer/musician who performs like a dream, the audience love them, want to get into their pants, and is a great musician as well, and LOVES miming.
They are extremely hard to find...but worth the search.
The reason they are so hard to find is that they are always on world tour and very highly paid.
The public [and 99% of guys in Showbiz] don't even know they exist. My daughter did a TV show last week with four of them....stunning!...two from 'Freak Power', one guy just finished the Robbie tour and David Eames...what a combination!
Regards Dec
What do you really, deep down, feel about that reply?
If you are upset with that reply, I would suggest that you have a good rethink about Showbusiness....even the word Show business gives the game away....you are in Showbusiness to put on a SHOW! Simple. As soon as you realise that, then your chances of real recording and performing success take a quantum leap forward....it's the 'show' that makes the record....not the music!
I shall now batten down the hatches as I shall expect some rather rude emails re those paragraphs above....but when you sit and think about them for a while you will realise how true they are!
And I finish with an astute observation re the 'apricot' conspiracy...by a very clever writing Member of my Serious Writers Guild:
2/ We want to be led... because we're sheep.
We NEED a lot more RAMS!!! (Like 'what' I am - says Ernie!)
I suppose that the long and short of it is this...
It behoves us ALL to excel for, to excel, is to LEAD and not be LED.
Then, we can eat as many Apricots as we want - WHEN *we* want - yes?
Bob Daulby
mary wollstonecraft
Regards
Dec
Some visitors will want to see what's so good that others are flocking to get there."
john colanzi
Gag of the Week [don't know where they get them but they keep rolling in!]:
Q: How many folk musicians does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Seven - one to change the bulb and six to complain that it's electric.
Heard enough, want to apply to join 'The Serious Writers Guild' and receive the award winning ten month program: "How To Make A $Million From Your Music" now?
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