david wood

A Tired Little Boy

Yep, that's what I am!

For the past three/four weeks I have been working 8 days a week touring....well so it seems....sometimes it felt like 9 days a week.

I even played an afternoon concert in Worcester and played a full evening concert at The Opera House in Blackpool that same night.  We used two separate sound and lighting systems for those gigs.  Plus a very fast BMW.  My brother and I always make sure we have guitars/stage outfits etc. in the trunk/boot of the car so that we can play the concert - if the crew and musicians/back singers are late or somehow don't make it following behind.

Strangely we enjoy a challenge like that...do you?  Or could you do it?

The latest in our A/B sound system testing?

My brother's son is a successful sound engineer and sound designer.  He kindly loaned us a Nexo Arena concert rig.  Quite a huge speaker box size but what a sound.  Massive....loud?  We'll show you loud.  It proves the point, completely, that a great mix, by a great engineer, through a massive, quality, system can never hurt the ears.  But a bad mix through any system will always lead to complaints and damaged eardrums over a period.

I said to Mac [Mac Neil, probably the greatest live sound jockey in the world]

"Mac....that was loud!"

"Yep....I spotted someone talking while you were on....no one talks when you are on!"

Mac is the ultimate Pro

He understands the logic, completely, that he is there to 'mind the desk'.  He is well used to working major tours and seasons where the sound mix is set up by the sound designer [in our case, by me].  So Mac's job is to ensure that that mix is adhered to.  His main job is to change the drum samples and the FX [effects units] patches.  Stop and start any added instruments tracks.  This is all accurately scripted.  His great skill is in keeping the vocals completely above the instrumentation whilst still having the backing sound monstrous.

We use a mighty sound trick:

Have you ever been in a situation where the sound level is really thumping and the sound boy just cannot get any more out of the vocals?  We've all been there....even Robbie!  Or Beyonce.

The usual way to get more level is to pull all the instruments down, including the drums / percussion, and then lift the main output faders.  But - what if the output faders are up to the rails [full on]?

On any decent desk there will be facilities to route each channel to one of the sub groups [they will be differently coloured faders near the main output faders].  Simply route all the vocals to two of the group faders.  When the show is really jumping, then the engineer will have a ton of extra level available for the vocals through those groups...get it?

If you are a member of 'The Serious Writers Guild', and want to discuss this in detail, then you have my private personal number to my studio desk...call me!

If you are not a member ....then you are bonkers [grin!]  www.makehits.co.uk

An interesting thought:

I sometimes wonder at our Music Industry. I have spent the past week in the company of the recently retired Chief Superintendent of the Transport Police Authority here in the UK.  He has retired on an obscene index linked pension [at 50].  He is a total expert on our career...knows every time I went to the washroom, I would think!

He now is bored and lectures on Maritime terrorism and management business skills....£!,000 per day.  He teaches a course, mainly to Indian/Pakistani/Arab students.  This course is ten months long and costs £10,000 - which the students fund themselves.  There is a waiting list to join the course.

So that brings me to Music courses and Music seminars.  I charge less than £200 for a ten month program that can make 1 Mill per year...easy...all anyone has to do is follow it and action it 100%.  Some music guys go to an odd 'lecture' or supposed 'seminar' that costs 39.99 dollars  - hoping for success.  Yet 'real' going places business men pay £10,000 for a management course that can make them circa 60,000 per year....doesn't make sense to me!

It does tell me that the 'real world' people understand that you have to study and study hard - and that the real knowledge does not come cheap?  $39.99 would not even buy a decent meal!

"In life - there are no free lunches"

A good thought from a good Guru:

So, what is the secret to an on-line music business?  It really isn't a secret, and it is as obvious as the nose on your face.  People are not stupid, inexperienced maybe.- but not stupid.  Treat them with the same courtesy and respect you would like to receive, and you will be happy with the results.

Unfortunately, many would be online music folk don't take their business seriously, and will fail.  This is not something you can do when bored, and there is nothing good on TV that night.  If your bottom line is to succeed, you must take your online business seriously, and the returns you receive will be in proportion to the effort you exert.

Bob Osgoodby's Free Ezine
Subscribe at: http://adv-marketing.com/business/subscribe2.htm

Support Fellow 'One Minute guys?

Jennifer Whisper has a unique gig coming up...should be interesting, to say the least:

My Dear Friends:

To commemorate 9-11-01 from the "other side"  celebrated composers George M. Cohan and Irving Berlin, present their patriotic musical production, through  psychic Musical medium, Jenifer Whisper.  “I am your red white and b-l-u-e”

This Friday and Saturday Oct. 15 and 16th 8 p.m. at North Park Vaudeville and Candy Shoppe
2031 El Cajon Blvd.  (call jenifer whisper for reservations or just show up)

 858-874-8678 or email jwhis7@quixnet.net )
General admission – 12 dollars 
Seniors -10 dollars 
Children under 12- 6[dec cluskey]   dollars .00

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To hear the best in lyrically conscious song, poetry and spoken word come to Nyahbinghi Nights.  Come witness Original Son of Man - Birth Of A Legend. When? The last Tuesday of every month. Where? Manjaros Wine Bar, 148 Holloway Road, London N7 in the UK. Why? Cause you deserve it. What you going to do when you get there? Enjoy good food, poetry, spoken word and rock to some serious muzic.

The next event will be Tuesday 26th October, thereafter 30th November and 28th December.

Manjaros, a West African wine bar and restaurant (Ghanaian proprietorship), of which we can be proud, a great atmosphere, which has had some good write ups for food and drink.  For an independent review see http://www.london-eating.co.uk/3834.htm

I hope you all know this is Black History Month.  There is lots happening for a listing of events go to http://www.black-history-month.co.uk/events.html

Please visit my site http://www.thesonofman.co.uk for information as to where I will be performing in the coming month. 

Peace Love and Guidance
Original Son of Man

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You have been a GREAT teacher Dec, and I really don't know how to say thank you ..I hope some day I'll be able to express better than just sending you mails and writing thank you....

Thank you Dec...I appreciate you very much......Regards,  'kk'  [Nigeria]
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I need your help once again.  The agent from Las Vegas is flying up to meet my sister's band and see them rehearse at the house.  I sent the songs as you suggested giving a 'real' representation of their sound.   Steve Zaborski [Canada]
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Also thanks again for all your help, I am sure to have a number one soon I have been writing some serious hit material and I just know that I will be doing big things shortly.   Quincy  Ellis [Alabama]
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I was just told that the remix we made (a remix for a no.1 one from Australia) was accepted for the German single!
 
YEAH! WE DID A NUMBER ONE REMIX!!! 

You always advise to have your own publishing company.  NOW  - WE DID IT!  Florian and I now run our own all professional publishing company as a division of a HUGE Nr.1 Publishing Company in Germany.
 
Feels good :-) Thanks  ... Have a look:
 
www.xyres-music.de
 
Marcell  [Germany]
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I can't afford to miss out on the rest of my material, it has been fantastic!  Dean Smith

This song oh, what can I say? It certainly blew me away;

Made its debut at Nyahbinghi Nights, Manjaros Wine Bar 148 Holloway Road, London N7 - 28th Sept.  Left the audience spellbound and mesmerised.  I have been asked to become resident performer at Sista Vision's Nyahbinghi Nights an honour I duly accepted.  - Original Son of Man

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USA

1) Goodies, Ciara Featuring Petey Pablo

2) My Boo, Usher And Alicia Keys

3) Lean Back, Terror Squad

UK

1)  ROBBIE WILLIAMS -  'RADIO' 
2) ERIC PRYDZ -  'CALL ON ME'
3) RACHEL STEVENS -  'MORE MORE MORE'

Download Chart

(1) 'Vertigo' - U2  Island 1

(2) 'American Idiot' - Green Day

(3) 'I See You Baby' - Groove Armada Jive 1

Chart Comment:

Wow....there's hope for us old timers yet!  Duran Duran have a top ten hit in the UK...amazing.

The reign of Eric Prydz comes to a glorious end as even the might of 'Call On Me' is toppled by the biggest of a phenomenal list of new singles (12 new singles make the Top 20 alone) - and the first new material in two years for one of pop's greatest treasures. Robbie Williams.   OK so this is from a man whose music is hard to pigeonhole but this is no 'Angels', 'Feel' or even 'Rock DJ'. Instead radio is a harshly produced electroclash pastiche which harks back to the early 1980s with the feel of an early Human League or Heaven 17 track. OK there is a tune in there somewhere but you will struggle to find anything that you can sing along with here. At the end of the day of course it is hard to knock a Number One hit and the track soars to the top to finally give him a sixth solo chart-topper, his first since the Christmas 2001 duet with Nicole Kidman on Somethin' Stupid
 
Celebrity News:

Donnie Osmond: What a night the audience had at The Grand Theatre in Blackpool.  My brother's son, Phillip is the sound operator in a production of 'Boogie Nights' with Jimmy Osmond and Billy Pearce.  Imagine the shock one night when Donnie Osmond just strolled on and duetted with his brother?

Robbie William's Dad, Pete Conway [right], 

joins us for an impromptu 'Angels'

Robbie's Dad:  More strange happenings in Blackpool.  At sound check one day Robbie Williams' Dad, Pete Conway, strolled in to say hello to my Brother [they play a lot of golf together for Charities].

I cued the band....they went into 'Angels' and Pete and Con rocked the place with a phenomenal version of the classic.  Over a drink he told us the great story of how Robbie sang it to him in the car before recording it...."Will it be a hit, Dad?"  Hmmmmm!

"A committee is a group that keeps minutes and loses hours"
 
David Wood

Subscribers Section:

MY REPLY

<<<<writing commercial themes for television and radio ...and my question is, what is the writing sequence for these themes are the same>>>>>>>>>

A 'theme' would be commissioned by the TV company or Film company.  This would be written as a specific length that they would require for a scene or sequence.  The theme would be used at different parts of the TV/film piece and all the timings would be different.  The composer would tailor the piece to the requirements of the TV/Film producer/director.

However, a lot of modern films simply have Hit toons.....  Moulin Rouge?  So the film helps the record and the record helps the film...publicity wise. A Shark Tale with Christina Aquilera's 'Car Wash' with Missy Elliot.  [Check out the straight faders mix in the video?]

<<<<<<<<<How long should a commercial for television and radio be.>>>>>>>>>>

The makers of the commercial  will tell the composer what they require...usually three versions: 10 secs., 15 secs, and 30 secs.  The differing lengths can be achieved by editing on digital editors such as Protools.

<<<<<<<What is the writing sequence for commercials for television and radio.>>>>>>

Usually the PR or Advertising Company will issue a 'brief'....a description of what is required.  So the composer will write a number of simple versions and they will choose.  When they make up their mind, then the full version is recorded to a specific length/lengths.  It may be that the PR company will approach quite a few writers...so in effect it becomes a competition.  Sometimes they may even require all the writers to prepare finished mixes...so it can be an expensive exercise.

<<<<<<<<<<<please forgive but will like to ask what is the benefit of the certificate I received when I finished the 'How To Make A $Million From Your Music' program?..>>>>>>>>>>

The benefit is exactly in what I am doing now....you get direct access to me - Membership of the Serious Writers Guild is for life, so it means you have a source of accurate commercial music information and advice for life!  Even if I got run over by a bus, the guys in the office are highly knowledgeable....Serious Writers Guild is run by active, successful, music guys and performers...not just business men.

Regards

DEC [Cluskey]
dec@makehits.co.uk