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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 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
24 November 03
"Where the lil' guy gets the same chance as the big guy"
Run by real, successful, active, performing and music making human beings - not 'faceless' businessmen.
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=================================
'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 standards."
Clive
Sanderson [legal dept. Serious Writers Guild] clivesanderson@makehits.com
My Goodness what a week for Members. Record Releases all over the place....and one bouncing into the Music Week pop chart at Number 8 on airplay and club activity.....unbelievable. It will be released early Feb. and is sure to be a massive Chart Hit...watch this space.
My good pal Chaz... the crazy one from 'Madness' joined the Rats last night and we had a bumper celebration....he is living proof of everything I say in the Music Industry. He has learned the 'business' of being in the music business....he knows it inside out...and backwards!!!!!
He looks like a star, acts like a star and IS a star!
Graham Cole [The Bill], King Rat Chas Mc Devitt [The 'Freight Train' man],
Chaz Smash [Madness] join Dec at the famous Water Rats lodge on Graham and Chaz's initiation.
Would you like to be a 'friend' of The Water Rats? Click on the picture.
Graham Cole from the top UK police soap 'The Bill' also joined 'The Rats' last night. I bet you don't know his Show Biz background. He proves that knowledge of this great business and dedication - plus sheer skill and persistence can make you a household name....
Again, Graham looks like a star, acts like a star and IS a star!
I was late for the emotional initiation ceremony [very Masonic]. I usually take part in the ritual....but alas, I had to do a three hour radio program yesterday for BBC with my good pal Eric Hall....the 'monster' man. Eric worked for our office many years ago and the stories we can tell? Whoops! He tells the best ever Frank Sinatra, true story...Frank and Eric...what a combination?
I want to thank all the guys who listened in...and called in. Lots of Emails and I had a marvellous time...good fun and, in between the fun, I delivered a very serious five minutes on my real thoughts re. 'look-alike's bands and 'tributes'. They are OK, but not when they set out to 'fool' the public. My brother and myself are plagued by two bands who use the name 'The Bachelors' and blatantly try to fool the public into believing that they had all the mega hits that we actually recorded and charted with.....they even used our publicity photographs when touring in Australia....true!
Lots of bands, of my era, have the same problem.
If you are ever asked to get involved with a look-alike scam, please ensure you stick to the guidelines of The Advertising Standards Association:
Plain
Clear
Not Misleading
Do that and you will sleep at night...better still, be the guys who actually made all the records, made the Hits, the Films, the TV shows, The World-Wide tours, record breaking theatre seasons and the huge Wembley concerts....much better feeling! Be original, be innovative, be the first.....the bank balance is also much better!
So, next Sunday we have 'The Water Rats Ball' at Grosvenor House in Park Lane. London. The glitziest, star studded, red carpet evening of the year. Who is getting 'Show Business Personality' of the year award? I could tell you [we decided yesterday] but I won't! And don't even try to get tickets. It's the hottest ticket in London and totally sold out. A record year. But I will be at the top table...plus Sandy and my two daughters. By the way I sign the cheque for the whole evening....OK? 1,147 people. It is our biggest fund raising night of the year...have you bought our fund raising album: "The Gathering" with Brian May, Rick Wakeman, Midge Ure, Mike Batt....Con and me, Gordon Giltrap and loads more? Call +44 20 7278 4238 UK business hours. Or Email me : Rats@makehits.com
I have just been invited as an honoured guest to the annual Television and Radio Industries Club awards on 16th Dec. A lesson to learn in our great business is that the more you help others, the more respect you get and the more honoured you are. To be invited as a top table guest to so many functions brings a tear to my eye. Did I know I would be so honoured when I did my first professional concert at age 15? My first concert was in The National Boxing Stadium in Dublin. The biggest venue in Ireland, at the time. The equivalent of Wembley in the UK - or Radio City in New York. Scared? You bet! Excited? You bet. But once I got the feel for the big venues I felt it was electric.
My advice is always to get yourself on stage, performing, no matter what it takes....live performing is where the fame and fortune lies....
Check out our current most exciting cutting edge product at www.liveperforming.com . It's called 'The Art of Live Performing' and takes you from being a scared amateur to being a top flight, mega earning, Show Biz phenomenon.....the program is divided into ten months of two downloadable CD's per month - plus program notes, my personal phone number and lots of other goodies...stunning stuff! The success stories are coming in already...and the initial guys who got on the course haven't even gotten half way through yet!
"Any way I have just been told that the Dec Cluskey (The Bachelors) story will be gracing the pages of the December issue of the Fender "BACKLINE" magazine,complete with pix as well, Good gracious, is there no stopping this man from grabbing the limelight ?
John Brown"
Bomahni (a.k.a. Landish McMillan)
My name is Hakim (stagename:Bomahni), I am in the market for a manager that can help me get to that next level in my music career. I'm not new to the game as I have worked at a record company, done production work, audio engineering, and I even have an Associate's degree in Music and Video business/production. It is very difficult to be an artist and manage your business full time, which is why I could definitely use some help. I have material ready to send if anyone is interested. I would prefer someone with solid connections, but someone who is diligent, focused and persistent is just as good.Thanks,
Hakim http://www.ryze.com/view.php?who=Anubis=======================
Hi Hakim,I own an artist management company located in NYC. You are more then welcome to visit our website at www.StarsCast.com and submit your demos.
We are currently in search of a new, young and energetic hip-hop act so it will be great to see what you have to offer.
Sincerely,
Efi Rodik
Stars Cast Corp.
Artist Management
A Musical Evening in Aid of the Bethany Children's Trust
A relaxed cafe style evening of live entertainment Soft drinks will be available to purchase on the night but you are welcome to bring snacks and drinks of your own.
London, UK - SATURDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2003 19:30
-------------------- FEATURING --------------------
COURTLAND -LETCHER-THE CORONETS-With Very Special Guests on the night: TAIT AND LUDDICK
Tickets: £5 Pounds on the Door. All funds raised go to the charity! Curtains Up at 19:30
St Michaels Church
Wimbledon Park Road
Southfields SW19
MAP TO THE VENUE
http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=525011&y=173828&z=1&sv=525250,173750&st=4&ar=Y&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf
When you leave Southfields Tube Station,
turn left down Wimbledon Park Road Head down to the end of the road
about ten minutes walk, where you'll find
St Michaels on your right.
UK
1) "Many" ...... Westlife
2) "Jump" .... Girls Aloud
3) "Maybe Thats What It Takes"... Alex Parks
USA
1) "Baby Boy" Beyonce Featuring Sean Paul
2) "Stand Up" Ludacris featuring Shawnna
3) "Hey Ya!" OutKast
AUSTRALIA
1)"Me Against The Music" .... Britney Spears ft Madonna
2) "Slow" ...... Kylie Minogue
3) "Baby Boy" ...... Beyonce feat. Sean Paul
Michael Jackson: When CBS announced last
week that the network would broadcast a new Jackson entertainment special
called Michael Jackson Number Ones on November 26, little did they know...
Isaac Hanson: His younger brothers in the pop rock group Hanson will need to teach their elder statesman to be more relaxed with his music ... whenever he gets out of the hospital. The 23-year-old musician was hospitalised in order to treat a blood clot in his right arm that was caused by playing his guitar too much. His publicist told reporters in New York that his client should be released soon. Taylor and Zac will just have to MMMBop along life's highway without him for a few days.
"Um..I bet you are
wondering what is happening with the track: F****** A*****? Well, we
got dropped in the smelly stuff by our distribution
company, and we had a panic etc. I went to Belgium, sure that if I
didn't have distribution by the Friday, I would sit on the single.
I came back on the Friday, picked up Music Week, and there it was, sitting
at number 8 on the club breakers chart. 10 minutes
later the phone rang offering distribution, we accepted, in the next 40
minutes the phone rang 3 times, each time offering distribution,
I had great pleasure in telling them where to go, they where the ones that
all turned it down.
Peaked at number 3 in the
club 40 breakers.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, we hit the commercial pop tunes
chart, in at number 8 this week, and we go to release on Feb 2nd.
We just signed 2 American artists, and are in the process of
signing 2 UK artists, all but one of these artists is a previously
releasing
artist, and 1 has had 3 top ten hits. Anyway, speak later.
Mike Harlington
Managing Director
*** Music Group Limited"
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Hi Dec and co
Collaborating with Mundijong at the moment via solariserecords...mixing
fourth track ..looking good for 2004...regards...Arfon williams...Maconda
Music UK
============================
I sent you an email confirming that I'd like to
join the "Master Class"
I'm ready to continue my training... just can't believe what I've achieved so far as a human being and musician as well....Best regards, Ferran Pérez [Uruguay]
=============================
I see you as a good Samaritan in an essentially hard
world - a saint really, who gives so much. [Peter - 'One Minute
' subscriber]
============================
Let me begin by thanking you for the opportunity
to become part of the serious writers guild. how ironic that someone
who questioned and doubted the authenticity, (although I'm sure you'd
agree I was right to do so before parting with my hard-earned cash!), will
no doubt end up being not only one of your staunchest supporters, but one
of your best 'students' taboot! and all this after only one month of
the course digested...C.J. Silva
Subscriber's Section
Mark Brockhurst wrote to me:
Just thought I'd drop you a line with this article from today's Guardian website.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/medicine/story/0,11381,1088230,00.html [Really worth checking out...says Dec]
If I'm reading this correctly, your (and others) philosophy of 'positive mental attitude' just got 30 million in scientific funding.
For the record, Baylis defines well-being as a state that allows someone to thrive and flourish. "It's a result of things going well and the cause of things going well. It's thinking, I'm getting better and life is feeling better. I'm getting better at what I do, whether it is being a friend, a lover, or a worker. I'm enjoying life."
Psychologists have known for some time that optimism is a good defence against unhappiness. "If you're optimistic and you think life is going to get better, it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy," says Baylis. "You will involve yourself more, you'll put yourself forward more, you will take more care of yourself. You'll figure that if you do more exercise and not booze as much, life will be better."
Mark
Interesting and thought provoking article! Thank you....
Just for the record, I never set out, when I started writing my 'knowledge' down, to spout 'positive thinking'. It just so happens that being positive about your music and performing is essential to moving forward and having a successful career.
Take a visit to any record A&R dept. It's buzzing with excitement...the guys can't wait to get on with their current projects...they can't wait for their next sign-ups. Visit a theatre in the middle of rehearsals...it's alive with excitement. A TV studio, Film, Radio studio?
I have always seen that. I also saw that all the novices and amateurs met up in bed-sits to moan about the way the business is 'fixed' and to listen to depressing, poetic based, music [Leonard Cohen] that left everyone in floods of tears [except me!]. Smoking funny stuff made them worse. I was more intent on 'pulling' the chick in the corner and recording a Number One the next day.
So, it's not that you need a positive way of thinking, it's just that you have to be focused on enjoying what you are doing...all the time....how much fun am I having writing this Email? Loads! I've just put the bottle of Dom Perignon in the fridge for Sandy's celebration later....I bought the most unbelievable flowers for her and a book of gorgeous poetry. That is not said to impress YOU it's said to remind me of what I have to look forward to...so I smile...and I'm happy.
Am I really happy? I rather feel that the source of happiness is being educated, being talented, using your talent to make lots of money and, most of all, having the 'style' and the knowledge to enjoy that money. Giving it away can be even better.
And, Mark, that all takes a lot of 'study'...which is what most sad guys are not prepared to do!
I have always found that, in life, if you want to be something you have to study how to be that.
If you want to be healthy...study health
If you want to be successful....study success
If you want to be talented...study talent
If you want to be famous...study fame
If you want to be rich....study wealth
If you want to be happy...study happiness.
Money does not bring happiness unless you have studied it....because the guys who come across money [by accident or luck] have never studied how to be rich! Fame is precisely the same...and how many of my pals have I seen destroy themselves? All personal pals: Tony Hancock, Mike Yarwood, Freddie Starr, Joe Longthorne, and now Michael Barrimore. Plus many more who crashed into the wall even before the 'real' big-time came.
Regards
DEC [Cluskey]
dec@makehits.co.uk
Regards
Dec
Gag of the Week Short and Sweet!
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