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The Archive
A service from 'The Serious Writers Guild' at MAKEHITS.COM Written by Dec Cluskey with a little bit of help from his friends.
This Email first mailed to all Members of 'The Serious Writers Guild' and
subscribers to 'One Minute With Dec' on
or just prove we are real? +44 (0)1323.728005
[UK office hours]
"Hi
Dec! I have read part one several times and find the information
frustrating, anoying but find I am unable to put it down.
BRILLIANT!!!!!! [Paul Pilkington]
Dear
Dec C, this week brought some fairly good press coverage and its
a songwriter based interview goes out to fifty thousand dutch
readers.(Rotterdam Dagblad,) [Michael Marks]
Hi Dec, Great to speak to you on the phone the other
day. Very helpful, thanks. [Keith Thompson]
=================================
'One Minute With Dec'
"My Emails Are Written With Good Humour And Should Be Read With A Smile"
[-The views of any contributor to 'One Minute with Dec' are not necessarily the views of Dec Cluskey-]
"Truth
- Accuracy - with no Flannel....that is our promise here at 'The
Serious Writers Guild'.
But we cannot vouch for the contributions of others...
Please alert us to inaccuracies and help us maintain our high
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Clive
Sanderson [legal dept. Serious Writers Guild] clivesanderson@makehits.com
Hi Gang....it was definitely Robbie's week.
For those overseas who don't know of Robie Williams in the UK, he certainly showed the world what a remarkable talent he is this past week.
He played 4 sell out shows at Knebworth House, a stately home in the UK with probably 300,000 at each. My son and his fiance went on Friday and Vissi Esselle went on Sunday...there were flabbergasted. I feel the whole of the UK watched it live on Telly on Friday night. I was glued to the box -with the sound on my system way up high...what a mix....what sound...what a show! I cried at the end...I noticed everyone in the audience was crying....and I found later that anyone who watched it cried...why?
The show was rehearsed to death...every ad-lib was rehearsed to death...his voice, toons and sheer exuberence got right through to the heart strings of the audience...he cried with emotion and we cried...quite remarkable!
He played his all-time great show at The Albert Hall a few months ago....we all reckoned that perfection could never be repeated...but he did it...he did it!
I had an Email from some guys who you may be able to help...and they may help you:
We are making a community video programme for Healthlink Worldwide and its African partners about HIV/AIDS in Uganda and Kenya and are looking for Birmingham-based Kenyan or Ugandan artists that could speak both english and ki-swahili or luganda to work as voice over. It would take just one day and earning up to 100,- British Pounds. Could you help us out?
Yours Sincerely, Joshka Wessels
Sapiens Productions
63 Abbots Road, Shrewsbury, SY2 5QG, United Kingdom
Tel: +44(0)1743-343240
www.sapiensproductions.com
Check out the 'Busted' book here in the UK and probably in The States...it's at Number 3 in the book charts. Guess who is featured? Yep...John. He made the fist major video with them last year...and now he is in there...great picture...the man...the beard!
Just a little warning here...as John will tell you.
When he did the Video his deal was what is called a 'buy-out'. In other words, he was paid a straight fee [a heck of a straight fee, as it happens]. He literally gave away all his rights. But then it was the chance of a life time...his first major video. Sadly, in giving away all rights, he doesn't even get a name check in the featured photo...
That won't happen again!
Vicci Esselle does it again!
I can't tell you who Vicci was recording with today...WOW! [Vicci is managing director of Serious Writers Guild]
I'd love to...but....the 'self appointed examiners of my material' will, no doubt check this out! What a sad bunch they are....checking every comma and every full stop I write! Get a life! Enthusiasm for music and for life does not exist in their mindset.
'Self appointed examiners of my material' are a bunch of no - hopers out there on the Net who hate every single thing I do. They loathe and detest any thought that music guys CAN make $Millions...in fact many $Millions. They moan and carp and complain about all that is good in musical ambition...don't ever join them.... ' "Never deprive someone of hope - it may be all they have" said H Jackson Brown...Amen to that!
Remember that moaners and groaners in life are always perceived as a 'pain in the neck' and certainly have no place in our exciting, laugh a minute, music industry....always have 'fun'...it shows in your music...and leads to success.
I always encourage the Members of my Serious Writers Guild to think Versace, think Armani...champagne and caviare plus a BMW...those 'Self Appointed' guys think pints of bitter and check every sentence on my web sites!
But back to Vicci....
You could say it was 'right time right place'. You will know that she appeared with my band, last Sunday night, for the 80th birthday celebrations of Jim Marshall...my pal, the guy behind Marshall Amplification.
There was a camera man there doing a 'fly on the wall' film documentary on Jim. He was gobsmacked by Vicci's performance...as was everybody else! He rang the next day to say he had played some of the footage to ***** ******** . ***** called Vicci yesterday at the Robbie concert....she rang me an hour ago to play the track she recorded today for his Production Company down the line! And the basic back-track for the next track will be in my In-box in the next half hour...can't wait!
John Brown from Fender has done it again...
He sat beside me at a 'do' at Hampton Court Yacht Club, on The Thames, near London, last night...slipped his hand under the table and drew out a beautiful miniature 'Fender Strat'...perfect miniature, strings and all. Everyone at the table was amazed...what a guy. He, and Fender are such supporters of charitable evenhts...as I always encourage YOU to be. Generosity all comes back to you -over and over.
He also gave my charity, The Water Rats, a beautiful 'Vintage' blonde Acoustic/Electric guitar to raffle...you know the sort of deal...everyone puts a signed £5 in the pot and we draw out the winner. I played 'Romantica' on the guitar while the money was being collected...we probably took around £1,500 just from that one act of generosity by John. That will help a lot of those in need in Show Biz. Everyone gets old, you know!
Tell you what, I was mighty impressed with that guitar. I don't think they are overly expensive, but check out 'Vintage' guitars...lovely feel...expensive looking finish....beautiful acoustic sound...and looked like nice modern day electrics [although I couldn't check 'em out].
Try one in your local shop and let me know your thoughts.
A note from a phenomenal acoustic guitar player...my pal David Kilpatrick:
[See www.makehits.co.uk/art007.htm for a brilliant David Kilpatrick article]
Dec:
I will be 'appearing' at the Auld
Hoose Festival (and then disappearing
for a further year) at 9.00pm on Saturday August 9th - till
10.30pm or
whenever they drag me off... The venue is New Dalry House, a
Jacobean
house in Dalry, Edinburgh, near the Haymarket railway station -
the King
Charles Music Room, a 90-seat venue with a ceiling dating from
1661.
Details of the entire month's events and concerts can be got
from:
http://www.scotfestival.com/contents.htm
You can download a 640 x 480 jpeg of my poster from
http://www.troubadour.uk.com/posterdk.jpg
The intention is to feature the three instruments shown ghosted;
they
are Simpson of London c1770 English guittar, Hanna Hessler 1965
'gyterne' (or who knows what?), and Peter Cox 1999 six-course
cittern.
I am erroneously down as 'Early Scottish Music' which is a
misleading
title - actually, I'm doing mainly new and original songs and
tunes
using my modern Lowdens (steel and nylon strung), and diverting
to
glimpses of the past as it relates to this.
The profits go to assure the future of the building.
Cheers, and enjoy the sunshine! Just got past 30C today in Kelso,
Scotland. [David]
SPECIAL NOTICES: These special notices are published for the information and guidance of Readers. It is in the Reader's own interest to observe these Notices.
NB: This list is the current one and supersedes all others published in previous issues of 'One Minute With Dec'. Readers are advised that offers of engagement by or on behalf of the following should be reported to the relevant office BEFORE acceptance. If you have any knowledge of dubious practice within our Music Industry please apply to have that practice brought to the attention of our Readers world-wide.
Musicians Union [UK] - Contact ref-MU@makehits.com
A band called 'The Bachelors' - [without Con and Dec] ... or any band passing themselves off as 'The Bachelors' - contact ref-bachelors@makehits.com
And now, believe it or not, a band called 'Con and Dec The Bachelors' ... passing themselves off as my brother and myself. - Contact ref-ConandDec@makehits.com
Name them and shame them
[Virus sending nerds .... in the same league as the 'self appointed examiners of my material' -
Never
open anything from these sad Email hooligans - they are not sent
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The persistent offenders list gets shorter and shorter]
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SUBSCRIBER'S SECTION
Collaborations can yield wonderful results.
Paul Hartley says: But please.......be flexible.....be objective.......be critical.
What
do I mean?
I mean if one writes the lyrics and one writes the music, don't
be possessive about your "art."
I have had situations where lyricists send a complete set of
lyrics
(although in truth they are more like poems; completely different
arena).
They are so possesive, they don't want to change one word and see
it as a complete lyrical masterpiece that just needs the addition
of a good tune.
This is poor collaboration. Sometimes the words need to adapt to
the phrasing,
sometimes a syllable needs stressing in a different place.
Collaboration is taking the whole shooting match and mixing it up
between you
in order to finish with a great piece of work.
Agree to a 50/50 split and then the world is yours because....
Who says a lyricist can't chip in with a bit of melody?
Who says the tunesmith can't add a word here and there?
The objective is to write a great song between you; not compete
for the crown.
cheers Paul Hartley Hartsongs
Tel: 01825 761742 Mob: 07799 832636 mailto:paul@hartsongs.co.uk
Financing a really good demo
Dear Dec
I was just wondering why songwriters do not get interviewed like people going for other jobs? I believe that a lot of people with lots of talent would not be left on the shelfif this were the case.
Afterall, if you make a living songwriting it is a job, a fantastic job but a job nevertheless and not everyone is good at producing thier material to a level whereby it will get noticed properly or have the money to do this. Lots of talented songwriters will never be found because of the financial burden of financing a really good demo. Which lets face it it needs to be these days.
What a pity. Thank you for listening.
S***** M****
My Reply:
S*****
>>>>>..Lots of talented songwriters will never be
found because of the financial burden of financing a really good
demo<<<<<<
You couldn't be further from the truth! There has never been an
extreme talent, in history, that has been left on the shelf.
The art of 'selling yourself' to a record company is all to do
with interview skills...the object of the exercise in getting
record companies interested is to make them enthusiastic about YOU!
The principal aim is to get an interview or a 'meet' as
we say.
It is little to do with the music! As Shel Talmy says:
"music today is 70% visual"....looks, personality,
talking ability and, most of all, charm and performing ability.
The 30%, which is the music, is, then, totally missunderstood by
99.99999% of amateurs.
So you see, S*****, the real way to success is extremely obvious
to guys like me who have actually done it. Sadly, the novices and
amateurs are too much 'up their own b*ms to realise that they
have got to sit down and learn, study, analyse, graft, work their
socks off, practice, gig, learn every single aspect of this great
business....and, most of all, turn themselves into gorgeous,
delectable, creatures who can kill audiences and sell the
material.....
I hope that clears up a huge mistake that many make......it's
actully very easy! But no one will show you how.
The Serious Writers Guild at www.makehits.com does...that is why
so many Guild Members are so successful.
Regards
Dec [Cluskey] dec@makehits.com
"The greatest pleasure
in life is doing what people say you cannot do."
Walter
Bagehot
Regards
Dec
When a thing has been said and well, have no scruple. Take it and
copy it.
Anatole
France
Rose Hay
http://www.teamvisionary.com/members/RHay/ sums it up
beautifully. She says "Remember, an
Opportunity Doesn't Go Away,
It Just Goes To Someone Else." How
true - here is someone who
has her act together, and will capitalize on the inaction of
others.
Bob
Osgoodby
============================================
Gag of the Week [from my friend John Hutchinson]
A duck
walked into a pub and orders a pint of lager and a ham sandwich.
The landlord looks at him and says, "But you're a
duck".
" I see your eyes are working", replies the duck.
"And you talk!" exclaims the landlord.
"I see your ears are working", says the duck, "Now
can I have my beer and my sandwich please?".
"Certainly", says the landlord, "sorry about that,
it's just we don't get many ducks in this pub. What are you doing
round this way?".
"I'm working on the building site across the road",
explains the duck. Then the duck drinks his beer, eats his
sandwich and leaves.
This continues for 2 weeks. Then one day the circus comes to
town.
The ringleader of the circus comes into the pub and the landlord
says to him, "You're with the circus aren't you? I know this
duck that would be just brilliant in your circus, he talks,
drinks beer and everything!".
"Sounds marvellous", says the ringleader, "get him
to give me a call".
So the next day when the duck comes into the pub the landlord
says, "Hey Mr. Duck, I reckon I can line you up with a top
job, paying really good money!".
"Yeah?", says the duck, "Sounds great, where is
it?".
"At the circus", says the landlord.
"The circus?", the duck enquires.
"That's right", replies the landlord.
"The circus? That place with the big tent? With all the
animals? With the big canvas roof with the hole in the
middle", asks the duck.
"That's right!", says the landlord.
The duck looks confused. "What the hell would they want with
a plasterer?"
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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http://www.makehits.com/040803oneminarchive.htm -- Revised: 27 APRIL 2004
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