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?

"Where the lil' guy gets the same chance as the big guy"

Latest Music News     Quality Information     Techniques

            Cutting Edge Advice for Today              

Run by real, successful, active, performing and music making human beings - not 'faceless' businessmen.

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

'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 

Check out the full version of last week's 'One Minute'?

Good archive pics...unseen! www.makehits.com/oneminarchive060804.htm

   Check out what your band members can do with simply cellphone picture taking....stunning results...this pic. was taken a couple of weeks ago and I used it right through the brochure for a concert we did last week....this sort of stuff really works.

I had a fun time on Wednesday and I am going to embarrass the life out of John Waterman...the owner of Bandit Newsletter! [who prefers to remain anonymous!!!!]

Enormous respect goes out to John as I know how dedicated he is to providing probably the best A&R Tips Newsletter in the world. Full of latest info. on which record company is looking for what material and addresses and leads to pitch your new material. John and I go back a long time.

He bought a new yacht in Chatham on the South Coast of England and was sailing it to his home on the Isle Of Wight. He planned to stop at Eastbourne to say hello and chew the fat. Guess where he broke down? Three miles from shore outside Eastbourne Marina....embarrassing? Yep! He had to signal the Life boat...which was scrambled in the dead of night....searchlights blazing....nearly as bright as John's red face!

The really embarrassing part was that his sailing companion, who was helping him [it's a pretty large yacht] was Alan, the boss of the Southend Lifeboat Association! How bad is that?

Any ways.....

John called me and we spent a fun filled evening. Sandy joined us and the wine flowed. With a 6am start, the next day, John was being careful....well - a little bit careful.

It was great to discuss the ways forward for both of us in helping songwriters and music guys. John is quite knowledgeable about computer systems and I anticipate that he will help us improve The Serious Writers Guild customer service to even higher levels. We discussed the fact that with his knowledge of what is wanted by specific Record Companies, managements and production companies and our 'Demo Consultation Service' we could provide a unique service to writers and music makers. In other words, by utilising the Demo Consultation Service guys can get individual advice on tweaking the material to make it desirable Hit Potential material.

The advice given on the hour long CD and in the 17 page critique provides the way forward in no uncertain manner. www.makehits.co.uk/demo.htm

"I would just like to say thanks for the demo appraisal I received yesterday.

I found it a massive help and have already implemented some of the great advice and tips that were on the CD and in the booklet. Everything has been taken onboard.

Steve Tanner"

Want to get John Waterman's Bandit Newsletter?

I highly recommend it.  

You can get a free trial - simply send an Email to John asking for one and mention Dec for the best personal attention: mailto:bandit@banditnewsletter.com / http://www.banditnewsletter.com Phone +44 1983 524110 Fax +44 870 762 0132

Check your use of music business slang?

It was John Waterman's companion who picked up on the fact we talked in gobble de gook! And then I got this Email asking what the simplest of terms was....P.A. Alright, it can mean Public Address System which we normally now call a sound reinforcement system at a gig....we always shorten that to P.A. Then again it could be a Personal Assistant?

Dec,

There is one "one minute" where you write:

<<<<Have you a band of gorgeous looking performers [not musicians!] in place doing 2/3 PA's a night around the clubs?>>>

What is a P.A.?

Answer:

Weekly Major writing tip:

Hey, some of the guys are saying that this weekly item is building into a good reference for songwriters?

When you write lyrics, always write as if you were a 'copy writer'. In other words, you are writing sales copy for an advertising campaign or for a magazine/newspaper advert.

The basic rules of copy writing are that you must always write in such a way that the reader is dying to read the next sentence. Copy writers will agonise over their pieces to get that 'next sentence' factor. In fact, they will be very quick to throw out, or alter, any line that does not create that excitement.

Does your latest ditty have that 'can't wait to hear the next line' factor? [I find that a lot of songwriters concentrate, wrongly, on a rhyme or a sound.]

To see this in action, check out ANY Emminem track. He tells the story so well that you cannot wait for the next line. Do you remember the first time you heard "Stan"? I bet you couldn't wait to hear the next line...I know I couldn't.

To study this great skill, check out any of the tracks on the 'Sleepless in Seattle' motion picture CD. Every one a classic 'Can't wait to hear the next line' song. "As Time Goes By"? Check out any of the classic old folk type songs...."The Battle of New Orleans". Then of course, check Guy Chambers, Diane Warren, Cathy Dennis....

How many times does it take to sell to a record company?

Improve your follow-up. According to the National Sales Executive Association, only about two percent of sales occur on the first contact. Eighty percent of sales require at least five contacts before the transaction occurs. The music Industry is exactly the same....you have to build up a rapport with the record company...they have to believe in you....like you!

  Could you sell to this dude?

That means that if you put out your sales message to them just once or twice, you're barely out of the gate. Those who might eventually buy are hardly even beginning to pay attention.

You must repeat that message again and again before it wakes up busy people to what you are offering.

Clean the screen! [from Willie Foux]

This is something just for the fellas....girls - don't even think about clicking....it's not rude, just good fun. Boys will be boys. Came from my pal Willie Foux. This is the best product I have seen. Basically it is a cleaner for the inside of your computer screen.

It's tried and it's proven - and you can get right into the corners too!

Give it a go and let me know what you think. Just click on the link below for a free trial!

UK

2) "Dry Your Eyes"..... The Streets

3) 'LOLA'S THEME' ... SHAPESHIFTERS

1) "Lean Back" ..... Terror Squad    

2) "Slow Motion" ......... Juvenile Featuring Soulja Slim Cash Money

3) "Sunshine"...... Lil' Flip Featuring Lea Sucka Free

Chart Comments:

First time I can remember the UK charts staying the same for two weeks? And Usher isn't in the Top Three? Amazing!

Subscribers Section:

Hi G*****

All sounds very exciting.

It is a hard slog trying to get anyone interested in a 'musical', but it can be done. It is pointless approaching Lloyd Webber [everyone does] as he writes his own stuff, so why would he want someone else's?

Look in the Kemps Book or as it is titled now: Showcase International Music Book for a suitable list of promoters [Cameron Mackintosh etc.] 020 8348 2332. You may also find useful contacts in The Original British Theatre Directory 020 7437 9556.

Then the system is exactly the same as with selling your music. You have to create enthusiasm...usually by letter. Then have a meeting where you play ONE smash Hit toon. Whilst having a few more available. But basically they are interested in ONE Number One toon that will kick off the musical. Just a brief synopsis of the plot will suffice. But it is the one hit that will sell the idea.

Almost without exception, all shows in the West End and on Broadway have had a minimum of one smash hit, in the past twenty years. That is why revivals are so popular today. They have the hits already built in.

It will be hard slog...but worth it.

Whatever you do, do not go into a studio and spend a fortune before knowing that you have at least some interest from a potential production company....that is pure folly. That is pure 'vanity recording'. A pal of mine, with more money than sense, has just financed his own show....it played for a week! He lost £5Mill +. Ask him...I was with him last night with HRH Prince Philip. 

He is featured on the Interactive CD's of : 'One Minute With Dec - The First Annual'. www.makehits.co.uk/annual.htm   

Today, and always, my studio does not get switched on unless it makes money, also - I never even start a book without knowing that it has potential customers! I already have reservation orders for '57 Secrets of a Hit Record' and it is days away from being finished...does that tell you something?

Regards

DEC dec@makehits.co.uk

Regards

You may use any part of this 'One Minute' in your own publications...we simply require you to add:

Start ============

'One Minute With Dec' is written each week by Dec Cluskey. Dec's advice?

Finish===========

The gags [How bad is this?]

"Mahatma Gandhi, as you know, walked barefoot most of the time, which produced

an impressive set of calluses on his feet. He also ate very little, which

made him rather frail and with his odd diet, he suffered from bad breath. This

made him...(Oh,man, this is so bad, it's good)..... A super calloused fragile

mystic hexed by halitosis!"

Go To 'MAKEHITS' Home Page?