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“We live in the land of the FREE, only because of the BRAVE!”

  - an American citizen 

‘The Speaker’  [ the show that should get you up and excited ]

Orange Amps launches Limited Edition 2009 White Finish [great looking amps]

Steve Levine takes the reins at the MPG  [Music Producers Guild (UK)]

A great site with so much information [do you like Show Biz stories?]

Testimonials 

Subscriber's Section [a new way of writing an ‘act’?]

The gags: .....      [ Two Interesting Years - from Willie ]

 

‘The Speaker’  [ the show that should get you up and excited ]

 

One of the main bits of advice I give to anyone who asks is that to be successful in music you must learn how to ‘speak’.

 

It is a well known fact that 95% of the world’s population would rather die than stand in public and speak.

 

So, isn’t it strange that at every episode in your music career or business career, for that matter, you will be called on to speak?  It could be a meeting selling your music, it could be a presentation of your music to a board of directors … it could be presenting your music on TV, Radio, Film, DVD.

 

Almost once every few days you will be in a position that you will be ‘presenting’ in some form or other … at a lunch meeting, breakfast meeting … even a meeting in the A and R man’s local pub.  They are all situations of ‘public speaking’ … oh!  You didn’t look on it like that?  Hmmmmmmm!

 

In the USA this fact is taken for granted …. Americans can talk!  Irish can talk!  Australians can talk!  But music guys in the UK?  I feel someone should tell them …. Oh, here I am just doing that.

 

I have always realised the importance of talking ever since I heard myself on a USA talent show in Boston USA when I was a kid.  Yuck!  I sounded dreadful… well not dreadful … but I swore that I would learn to speak properly … and I have done ever since … I have had awards left right and centre for public speaking … it is now my main tool in business.

 

So …..

 

Check out ‘The Speaker’ on BBC2 TV [you can catch the whole series on BBC ‘I Player’ http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/ ] and get yourself involved with Toastmasters International [the world wide speaking club] … you have to talk to promote your music, so why not do it properly?  Find your local club nearest you at: http://www.toastmasters.org/ … you can meet me at Eastbourne’s Speaker’s Club every 1^st and 3^rd Wednesday of the month go to  http://d71.org … 7pm for 7.30pm finish at 9.30pm

 

"In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity." - Albert Einstein  

Orange Amps launches Limited Edition 2009 White Finish [great looking amps] 

Orange has announced a ‘limited edition 2009’ white finish on their UK built, valve amps and cabs. The cabs have a stunning white finish, complete with black fittings and come with the classic Orange front grill cloth, Orange logo and crest. This finish has previously only been available for artist’s special orders and is now being offered as a special limited edition for the duration of 2009 and will cease to be obtainable thereafter.  

The white finish has already been used by artists as diverse as Madonna, Monte Pittman and The View and following numerous requests, Orange are able to offer this for a limited period only at the same price as existing Orange amps and heads. 

Visit  www.orangeamps.com and have a look for yourself. 

"If you do what you've always done, you will get what you've always got.

If you don't like what you're getting, you must change what you're doing."- Tony Robbins  

Steve Levine takes the reins at the MPG  [Music Producers Guild (UK)] 

In a music world where the role of producer is constantly being changed and blurred it is nice to see a solid man intending to make the boundaries more clear. 

The distinguished producer intends to highlight the "phenomenal" skills and expertise of Music Producers Guild (UK) members. Steve Levine replaces long-serving chairman Mike Howlett. 

As a producer and engineer, Levine's credits include acts as diverse as Culture Club, The Beach Boys, Gary Moore and The Creatures. In recent years, he has also become an increasingly prominent broadcaster and speaker on issues relating to record production, and has taken an involvement in industry organisations including the PRS, MCPS, BASCA and the Musicians' Union.  

"The producer's role is more important today than it's ever been in terms of mentoring," he says. "Personally speaking, it's more exciting than it's ever been out there, and that's why it's so great to be in the role."  

The changing model of remuneration for producers is among the many issues that Levine will have to grapple with as MPG chairman. "The question now is how do we monetarise our creative industry in a way that is fair and equitable," he says. "We also need to bear in mind that, while we might not necessarily be making [great amounts of] money producing records, there is a whole other industry out there that requires that intellectual property we all possess. That has a value as well, and we need to make sure that we are involved."  

"If you have nothing to lose by trying and everything to gain if successful, by all means, try" - Robert Pausch 

A great site with so much information [do you like Show Biz stories?] 

A pal sent me a link to a phenomenal site with mountains of information on what Richard Mills promoted and was involved with in his long and hugely successful career as a promoter, Chairman, Entrepreneur in the World of Show Business. 

One of the stories that has gone in to the ‘legends’ is the story of him playing golf with my brother and I in Blackpool, North West England …. Read on:- 

“The Bachelors were starring for me at the ABC, Blackpool. They had performed their act so many times; they were extremely laid back, and invited me to play golf with them at St Anne’s on the afternoon of the first night. With slight misgivings, I joined them. When we were about half way round, one of them hit a wayward golf shot and the ball sailed away into the car park, bouncing off the roof of a Rolls Royce. Con said, ‘We’d  better keep quiet about that – it would have left a nasty dent in the roof’. ‘Yes, I’m sure it will have', I said. 'It’s my car’.  

The game continued, and we got held up by players in front of us. I now started to get extremely nervous. ‘We’d better stop’, I said, ‘because we’ll be late for the first night’. Dec said, ‘Don’t worry, we’re not on till the second half’. ‘You might not be, I said, ‘but it’s going to look rather bad if I’m late for my own first night’. Anyway, we made it in time, but I’ve always remembered how unconcerned they were.” 

And the reason we were unconcerned was that we were so rehearsed and so prepared for the season …. 15 weeks, two shows per night … house capacity 3,029 that made 7,058 customers a night .. for six nights a week.  Whew! 

More stories?  Go to http://www.richardmmills.com/ 

Are you asking me or telling me?  Ali El Jishi

Testimonials 

“Your consultation has been immensely helpful and inspiring, I can't thank you enough for taking the time to come to Leicester to spend some one to one time with me.

I will get in contact with to make sure that you have received the check and would love to discuss with you of my developments and what I've been up to for the last couple of months since your visit.

I'll look forward to speaking to you,

Kindest regards,

Harpal”.

"The very essence of instinct is that

it's followed independently of reason." Charles Darwin 

Subscriber's Section [a new way of writing an ‘act’?]

Hi Dec, 

I need a little encouragement here....I've chosen (finally!) some songs to cover and make a show out of. The theme is a day-in-the-life of a city commuter. I learnt a technique for writing songs called destination writing...and I wanted to use that here, so I broke down the commuter's day into different destinations. I haven't written any songs yet to the headings yet, I just thought of cover songs that might fit those headings, however loosely. I just wanted your opinion on whether these are OK choices of songs, or whether I really need to choose more recent/familiar songs. I plan to sing a few songs for each heading, showing different perspectives. 

[songs omitted for sake of respecting R*****’s copyright] 

Thank you again, 

R***** 

My Reply:   

Our rules are "one short reply to ONE question on music FOR NON-MEMBERS, Members of 'The Serious Writers Guild' have unlimited personal access to Dec by direct telephone, Fax and Email, apply at https://secure.mistral.co.uk/makehits/swgappsecure.htm ".     

[Any advice given here shall not be deemed as financial or legal advice under any existing or future laws of any country] 

R***** 

Just noticed your details have slipped off the 'One Minute With Dec' list ... now back on .... the archive is always accessible on www.makehits.com/archive4.htm  

"3 Minutes on the Radio with Dec" has just been launched and is an instant success... www.myspace.com/makehits 

Your plan.... 

Excellent idea ... especially if you 'script' it right ... could be much more than a pub/rock type presentation. 

Source some good short comic bits .... and personalise them ... like as if they happened to you. 

Join your local Toastmasters International club .... you will love it. www.toastmasters.org  to find your nearest.  Free until you decide whether it is right for you ... then it is non-profit making.  Essential for learning how to talk and control an audience. 

I would be wary of songs that YOU know, but the audience may not particularly know .... remember they have to stand up on their own merit ....  

Also be aware that 'talking' is death.  You only talk when you have something to say ... not to fill in time as amateur acts do. 

With my band ... we do not say a word for the first 23 minutes .... bang, bang, bang, bang .... we keep hitting them in the face .... we only talk when it is scripted and we know what the audience reaction will be ... there are no ad-libs [the best ad-libs are rehearsed ad-libs] 

I note that you do not have a 'huge' song in the act ... we have recently put 'Somewhere' [West Side Story] into our act ... from our latest album .... it stops our show completely .... even the acoustic guitar solo gets spontaneous applause. 

Also, design a great opening ... and an even greater finish ... slow and huge always works best ... with a slow, huge play off. 

In any first presentation 30% should be your own material ... but never tell the audience that .... therefore your own songs have to stand up for themselves. 

Regards  

Dec [Cluskey]  dec@makehits.com <mailto:dec@makehits.com>  

2 Gold discs in 2008!  Decca have relaunched their ‘World Of’ series on the back of those hits.  Readers Digest are now promoting a triple album set …. Do you think I can help your music career succeed?  

 “How to Make A $Million From Your Music”. To see the course go to http://makehits.com/products090707/million.html   fast cred*it card line: +44 1323.728005 or UK 01323.728005 

To purchase go direct to: https://secure.mistral.co.uk/makehits/swgappsecure.htm 

“3 Minutes on the Radio with Dec” …. Available immediately at http://www.myspace.com/makehits 

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The gags: .....      [ Two Interesting Years - from Willie ] 

Interesting Year 1981

 1. Prince Charles got married

 2. Liverpool crowned soccer Champions of Europe

 3. Australia lost the Ashes tournament.

 4. The pope died 

Interesting Year 2005

 1. Prince Charles got married

 2. Liverpool crowned soccer Champions of Europe

 3. Australia lost the Ashes tournament

 4. The pope died  

Lesson to be learned:

The next time Charles gets married, somebody warn the Pope.

===================================

http://www.Twitter.com/DecCluskey

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