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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 08.07.02
Now I get nice compliment from Las Vegas....my good pal 'Rosemarie'....one of Irelands great exports!
" Anyway Dec, I'm enjoying your 'One minute' With Dec' series...it's fab. I've learned a lot from it. You sure know your stuff.
I'm being produced by Joel diamond who had 12 Hit Albums with Englebert and recently had 2 Top Ten Hits in the UK with singer called 'Kaci' with the David Cassidy Hit 'I think I Love You'...and a song called 'Paradise'
By the way, I've just been Number 5 in the Album Charts!"
================================="One Minute With Dec"
"My Emails are written in good humour, and should be read with a smile"
Late again! Whoops! Concert on Saturday night, didn't get back until 4.30am - then up to London yesterday 'doing my thing' as guest of honour with my pals, Anthea Turner, Graham Cole [The Bill], Glen Murphy [London's Burning], Vicci Michelle ['Allo, 'Allo], Jess conrad [Joseph and His Technicolor Dreamcoat] and my dear pal Bruce Welch [The Shadows].
Bruce has just done some trial shows as 'Bruce Welch's Shadows' and the shows were amazing. Check out the tour dates for October [8 day tour]. Bruce's website is worth a visit. Just punch in the name into your search engine.
Bruce is the epitome of the great writer, great artist and supreme musical talent...his producing has produced mega Hits. I have talked him into contributing a section to my... new book and Interactive CD '57 Secrets of a Hit Record'...available soon.
Now I know how to do that famous Shadows dance step properly! We did a kidology Shadows 'Air Guitar' plus the dance when we were introduced to the audience...and blow me....I got it wrong. Bruce explained that every Shadows Tribute band has always got it wrong. For some unknown reason The Shad's always started the step to the right and not the left as everyone does! So now you know!
The Success Stories keep coming:
You can tell I get a fantastic buzz out of hearing success stories of the guys who get involved with me.
John Dartnell is constantly on the phone...wow! He's just come back from Italy...his day's work brought him £2,000 and the guys were so thrilled with the job he did that they gave him an extra £500. Last year he was smashed broke!
Then a guy who I started in the business...gave him his first 'pro' drumming gig at age 15...he was so skinny and weak that we had to lift his kik drum case for him...it was nearly bigger than him! Last Monday saw the release of "Easy Girl' by 'Snowblind'. Martin is now one of the most sought after session drummers around...yep - he is the drummer of choice for 'Snowblind'...buy the record....now in the shops, on 'Sony Independiente', or catch them live on the current promotion PA tour. Say hello to Martin...say you know Dec!
But the live part all starts with the few gigs...never forget that, Bruce started with the live gigs, as did 90% of the chart talent today. That is precisely the way I did it, Noel Gallagher, Beatles, Toploader.....for instance...Martin McCormack Emailed:
Hi
Dec,
Just a quick
email to say thanks for your 'One Minute with Dec' series, they have been
informative in more ways than one, and I ordered your 'How to start
your own Publishing Business for less than £100', which, If we ever get offered
that lucrative deal, will come in handy.
I believe that
what I and my Partner in the band do, is excellent. We had our first gig a
fortnight ago and although it wasn't that busy, about half full, we went down a
storm, the pub even phoned us two days later to see when we would play there
again - which was rather cool.
I found your tips
on recording and the like very useful.
I would be
grateful if you would give one of our tracks a listen as it's a change in style,
(some may say selling out but would be interested in your opinion)
Martin McCormack
My Reply:
Glad to hear it's going well...
Little tip: when a venue expresses amazement at how well you went down, always pull out your diary and say: "if you book us now, for say, a months time, we can give 10% discount...it's a special offer we do for venues we like, and we just love playing your venue..."
Here's a trick:
It's much better to be working for 10% less than to be sitting at home waiting for the phone to ring. Also, a BBC TV producer will never see you while you are sitting at home, but he just might be knocking off the bar maid, on the quiet, walks in early and you are on...get it?
Proactive is best:
You see, you have to be 'proactive' at the start of your career...you have to ask for work, rather than wait for them to ask you. This is why the idea of an 'agent' at the start of a career is flawed. And the strange thing is, venues will love it, for some unknown reason it takes the strain off them. The principles are precisely the same as MLM selling. Works every time.
Even at our stage of the game with my band. Happened at the two concerts last week. Guys (obviously powerful and influential) approached us as we merchandised [and that is where you make serious dosh] they said the immortal: "have you got a contact number we'd love to book you for...."
I automatically say: "better still - let me have your number, the best time to call, and I'll have someone call....much better, then we can sort a deal"
That is because...it's an 'impulse buy'...they are so excited, they are fired up with the idea of presenting us at their annual convention, fund raiser, whatever...tomorrow morning they will have sobered up and the excitement of the moment is gone.
The phone call from our agent is proactive...it takes all the strain away, and our agent never misses!
Now the Demo:
As regards the demo, I have found that 99.99999% of demos by non members and even by 'new' members miss the boat by a mile. It genuinely take 2/3 years with a mentor like me or ten/twelve years, without, to even come close to what is required in today's market....
Of course I will listen - but I could almost tell you right now what it is like!
The Serious Writers Guild [attent, Dec]
Stanton Prior
Darley Road
Meads
Eastbourne BN20 7UH
"You never know what is enough until you know what is more than enough "william blake
Dec
"Those who wish to sing always find a song"
swedish proverb
Tip of the week: A lot of compliments about the 'tip' last week...re. Email use.Another idea? Why not simply engage the 'spellcheck' on your toolbar for your Emails.
The old excuse that "nobody cares about spelling anymore" is just not good enough in the Serious Music Business today...reckless spelling shows up a certain negligence...it destroys your credibility in just ONE Email! Would you expect Dianne Warren to write a badly spelled Email?
Print this Email off and it will be easier to action:
When you open 'Outlook Express ' [the preferred business Email method, by the way] just click on 'tools' in the taskbar, then 'options' then 'spelling'. Then tick the first two boxes: "Always Check spelling before sending" and "Suggest replacements for misspelled words", then in the 'when checking always ignore' section tick: "the original text in a reply or forward" and "Internet Addresses".
From now on you will send perfect, 'credible', and business like, Emails. You will not notice the difference but your business contacts [the head of BMG?] will notice...and take note!
It's all a big part in being successful in the 'Serious Writing' business. But, of course, no one will tell you that except Dec!
============================================
Gag of the Week: You guys are sending me some ancient, groan producing gags!
Tommy Cooper:
1.Two
Aerials meet on a roof - fall in love - get married. The ceremony was
rubbish but the reception was brilliant.
2. Man goes to the doc, with a
strawberry growing out of his head. Doc says: "I'll give you some
cream to put on it."
3. "Doc, I can't stop singing the green
green grass of home."
"That sounds like Tom Jones syndrome. "
"Is it common?"
"It's
not unusual."
One Moment with Stuart Goldsmith
"Parasitic people .....
Are skilled at subtle wordplay, innuendo, office politics, backbiting, currying favour, worming their way into positions of importance, being in the right place at the right time. Uriah Heep might be a good role model for such a person."
www.medina.co.ukthe website of my good friend - Stuart Goldsmith
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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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This is not only a guarantee - it's a personal promise. There's no catch, and there's no risk - I personally take ALL the risk.
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When you sign up I'll tell you EXACTLY how to go about recommending this program to others and receiving your commissions - in fact, it's all a completely automatic process and I'll give you everything you need to get started!
Heard enough, want to apply now?
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