Now you may feel that this week I am having a 'rant'.  Well trust me, I never rant...I am probably one of the most up beat guys you could ever me, or so I have been told!

I don't believe in being negative or putting people down, or doing anything negative, in fact...life is too short.  Life is too busy.

BUT.........

Read this week's 'One Minute' and read between the lines...it will be [it's all in my head before I commit it to paper] an education on how to be successful...so let's start.

A couple of month's ago I had a call from a member telling me that 'The Musician's Union' had it 'in for me' again.  They had a notice on their 'Special Notices' page of their quarterly magazine, warning the members of their Union to get in touch with the Union's legal representative before getting involved with 'The Serious Writers Guild'...pretty spooky eh?  They gave a number to call and the name of a person - "talk to Nigel McLoon 020 7582 5566 before, etc".....scary!  Go ahead - try and call the number...I did....many times...never anyone there.  "He'll get back to you"...all that stuff.

Please call now, ask for Nigel McLoon and ask what is so worrying about 'The Serious Writers Guild'.  Please call him.  Let me know how you got on.  You could even tell him to subscribe FREE to 'One Minute With Dec'...think he will?

I had all this from The Musicians Union a few years ago.  Eventually I got to talk to Mr McLoon [they take months to answer letters].  No, he did not know what we do, what we are, or the services we supply.  No, he had not had any members complain about us...but he 'had a duty to protect the members of his Union'..."against what?"....well, nothing really, just to protect his members.  He breathes through his ears, by the way...impossible to get a word in edgeways. 

Turned out he had ONE call from a member of his Union pointing out that he did not like the tone of a mailshot he got from us.  Hmmmmmmm!  He did not believe my encouragement that you could make £Millions out of music!

I pointed out that I had made many £Millions [which is documented widely] that Stevie Wonder had, Sting, Michael Jackson, Eminem, Hearsay, S Club Seven...the list is endless....so what he was saying, really, was that he was 'protecting his members' against making £Millions....

Are you reading between the lines here?

So - the largest musician's organisation in the UK is suggesting to members that it is impossible to make £Millions in music...but I thought that that is what we did it for.  Have I got this completely wrong all my career?  Have all the Members of 'The Serious Writers Guild' got this completely wrong?

Let me help you read between the lines.

Now, I am told they have 'The Serious Writers Guild' mentioned in their Special Notices again.  I should explain that the 'Special Notices' are mainly to warn about disreputable rip-off agents, black listed venues, managements and bankrupts.  Crooks and villains, in other words.  Yep, I regularly get calls from guys telling me that we are mentioned...but why? 

When I started writing my books, courses, I called The Musicians Union and asked would they like to cast an eye over the stuff...they said there was no need whatever.

By the way, I made sure of 'giving more than we promise', right from the start.  If you can find any music organisation, in fact ANY organisation that gives better customer service, I would be very surprised.

Then, we were invited to advertise in their 'Musician's Yearbook' and we featured on their inside last page, a full page advert.  As a result, there are many Musicians Union members who joined our Guild and are more than ecstatic.

I have offered Nigel McLoon sight of our "How To Make A £Million From Your Music" program but he declined.  Now, British Actors Equity [representing the performing profession] looked at it and sent me a glowing letter..."obviously, you offer a worthwhile service to your members".

I repeatedly offer Mr McLoon sight of all our materials and offers...he declines...WHY?

My great pal John Waterman, who runs 'Bandit'...which I highly recommend, by the way...see the little promotion towards the end of this Email, eventually got a call back from Mr McLoon who said that he had nothing against me or 'The Serious Writers Guild' but didn't like my 'attitude' on the phone.  Don't know why he said that, I didn't get to say anything...I couldn't get a word in!  So - why did he have 'The Serious Writers Guild' on the Special Notices page?  Couldn't give an answer....John told him he had seen my products, loved them, recommends them highly and reads them avidly...was Nigel impressed?  What do you think? 

THIS IS THE REAL REASON FOR THE 'SPECIAL NOTICES' MENTION:

When I founded The Guild, it was in answer to the problem that there is NOWHERE in the UK, in the USA, on the Net, that you can find the answer to this question: "I know all about music and playing and stuff, but how do I actually make money from what I love doing, making music?  How can I write / perform / produce HITS, and make a fortune like I read in the magazines?"

I set out to give the REAL story, the genuine way to success and not the theory that you hear from so many so called experts who have never had a HIT in their lives.

The Guild has been a runaway success, lots of the Members have had phenomenal success and given me glowing thanks and testimonials...Boniface, John Dartnell, now booked for the THIRD 'Harry Potter' film, even a letter from Michael Barrymore thanking me for helping him at the start of his career.  Michael is the year on year 'TV personality of the Year' in the UK, and a good friend.  Check out the success stories at www.makehits.co.uk/applause.htm

Bureaucratic Organisations HATE success...FACT.  And unions are bureaucratic organisations...I have never been a member of a union in my life...can't see the sense in them...I am big enough and bold enough to represent myself...thank you very much.  And I encourage my Members to be self empowered, successful, people.

Governments HATE success.  A successful person with money and power is very difficult to control.  Bill Gates?  Donald Trump?  Ross Pero?

Inland Revenue, Customs and Excise, Dept. Trade and Industry, Health and Safety Authority etc. etc.  all hate success.

My good friend Stuart Goldsmith, who gave me immense support and encouragement [he used to be a BBC sound engineer], warned me that success would bring 'hatred'. 'jealousy' and the anger of the bureaucrats....how true that is!  Stuart is regularly visited by those folk....all trying to close him down.  He tells the great story of the last 'raid' on his premises by the 'authorities'.

When he established with them that he had done nothing illegal, and had conducted his business impeccably, they said: "We don't like your kind of business"

Stuart:  "Well, what kind of business do I run?".

Suit:  "I don't know, but we don't like your kind of business"

What he really meant was:

"We hate and detest successful, money making people, because 'money' means we can't control you..."

ARE you still reading between the lines?

Success will bring you hatred, envy, you will lose your friends, you will have constant battles with 'The Powers That Be'.  You will get hate mail, Emails from h*ll, and you will get Virus attacks like you have never dreamed existed....this is all FACT, because we get all of this, and more, on a daily basis. 

BUT! 

"The bigger the problem, the bigger the cheque!"

My parting shot at The Musicians Union is that I was totally turned off in the Sixties when a pal, Phil Seamons, made his dog a Member of the Musicians Union.  They accepted his joining fee and subscriptions.  Also, I was turned off by being threatened in Wales with having our show closed down and the venue black listed because we would not join The Union...the guy said:  "I forced Adam Faith to join last week".  I said "But Adam Faith doesn't play an instrument professionally". The bully replied:  "Never mind that, I made him join".

By the way, we didn't join...we performed, but The Union would not allow the orchestra to back us!  Sad!!!!

It is interesting to note that in Ireland it is a requirement that musicians seeking membership of the Union must have a knowledge of music reading...also in the USA there is a system of grading musicians as to ability.

Then my band played theatre season after season, all record breaking and had to put up with farcical union regulations with the musicians in our backing orchestras....Sad!!!!!  Nowadays, a similar show would be backed by a duo or trio at best....with us, there were 18 musicians....I think that would be called 'pricing a product out of business'.  Paying the prescribed Union Rate for musicians, today, would be financially disastrous...and musicians know that....is that why so many shows have backing tracks?  Hmmmmm!

What shall I do?

So, I shall call Nigel McLoon and ask him again why he is so intent on convincing his Members not to see the glass half full, instead of always seeing it half empty, why he does not encourage his Members to succeed?  You see, if an Organisation like 'The Serious Writers Guild' was 'up to something', then why would we offer a total, no quibble, money back anytime in your lifetime, guarantee on each and every product that we offer? 

There is no risk.

We have only had one guy, in our history, ask for all his money back, after reading everything that we sent him....a 'Songwriting Newsgroup' guy [I won't mention the group...they get annoyed!] who was h*ll bent on trying to find something wrong....he failed miserably...and I would think that he would fail miserably in life!

Are you still reading between the lines?

Consider this in life:

Don't rely on a 'representative' to fight your battles...you should strive to be strong enough to fight your own.

Don't think you are going to have friends when you are successful..."if you want a friend get a dog"!  Seek 'respect', not friendship...and you will be pleasantly surprised.  If you gain one true friend [outside your family] then you are on a bonus.

Don't expect to gain success without spending, without studying, without learning...you won't.  Live a blameless business life....that way no one, even the top bureaucratic departments, can 'have a go' at you.

Always be honest, always be truthful.  Speak your mind.  Stand up for your beliefs, your opinions.  Be outspoken.  Don't resist change, embrace it.  Help as many as you can.  Make money and then give generously to a carefully chosen personal charity.  Give time to Charity.  Be upbeat.  Give a lot of happiness.  Encourage, enthuse.

Never criticise [this rant is not criticising, merely stating fact].  Never malign or speak behind someone's back.  This Email is very public.

Always give more than you promise.

I hope you have read all those things between the lines and realise that this is the way 'success' is arrived at.

A Thought:

It is interesting to realise the way the Bin Ladens of this world, and the regimes that support terror, attack 'success'.  They attack the USA, they attack the UK, they encourage their followers to drag everyone down to the lowest common denominator.  They attack the very Organisations that encourage success and prosperity.  They are bitter people, seeking massive power, who realise that it is impossible to 'control' ambitious, success orientated, enthusiastic people...but very easy to control the indolent, the lazy, and the disenchanted.

Did you read between the lines?  

Gotta rush.....dinner with HRH Prince Philip at 7.15 pm.  Now what shall I chat to him about?  The negative attitude of Major Organisations in the UK toward success and ambitious music makers?

The 5638 additional regulations brought in last year by our 'business friendly' government to further regulate businesses [all time record, by the way!]

The abuse of power by The Musicians Union in including The Serious Writers Guild's name among a bunch of rip-off managements etc. on a Special Notices page, so that the Guild is 'smeared', by inference, without even giving a reason!  Shall I discuss the fact that they rely on the 'no smoke without fire' theory.  Government, the record companies and publishing companies regularly promise schools, colleges and courses dedicated to showing the way to success, but The Serious Writers Guild is the only one that has actually done it.

Yep, I think we'll talk about abuse of power and position...I guess I'll discuss it with the others invited...powerful guys in Show Business...

No.....Nigel McLoon is not invited!

By the way, on a good note, if you require insurance for anything; house, equipment, touring gear, studio gear, car etc. the very best deal will be done for you by The Musicians Union.  They can certainly help you.  True!  Membership is worth it for that alone.  You will find their number in 'Uncle Dec's Lil' Instruction Book - Vol II' where I give them a plug under 'Organisations'.  It's 020 7582 5566, and ask Nigel (if you ever get to talk to him) him what he has got against music people being successful?  Crazy thing is - if you call me, I answer the phone...does that tell you something?