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'One Minute With Dec'

The widest read, 'delivered to your Email box', weekly music Ezine on the Music Net.

The Archive - '2'

Written by Dec Cluskey with a little bit of help from his friends.

We do not condone any Music Scam on the Net

This Email first mailed to all Members of 'The Serious Writers Guild' and subscribers to 'One Minute With Dec' on

22 AUGUST 05

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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-]

"Living on Earth is expensive, but it does include an incredible trip around the sun every year for zilch."

MENU:

Hi Energy - a blast from the past

I saw a lot:

I regretted a lot:

I do admire bands who concentrate on promo 'ing

Here's a good way to publicise your web business.

The sweet smell of success [an excellent article mainly for the girls]

The Visual Laugh

Success Stories

Marshall JMP1 plus Valvestate amps

Charts

Chart Comment

Subscriber's Section

The Gags

Hi Energy - a blast from the past

What an experience ... what a night mare.

A pal asked me to accompany them to Cardiff around 230 miles...over in Wales. Yep, I learned a lot, saw a lot and regretted a lot.

The venue was a huge 'gay' venue having a charity bash for Leukaemia Research [not one of my favourite charities - but we won't go into that here]. So what did I learn? The sound system was the most accurate I have ever heard [outside the concert rig my band uses]. The main speakers were the bigger version of the ones we use....American Yamaha series. Ours are rated at 1,000 watts a box ...and we use a lot of them. The venue boxes were double the size and sounded like the adverts say they should. Just like a studio only louder.

All the smaller areas had Celestion KR series wall mounted speakers with a single low woofer per pair. So accurate....so tight and exciting.

Hi Energy?

I have not heard gay Hi Energy since 1984, when I stood in awe in a studio in Hanley. First time I ever saw a fully midi driven studio with a load of keyboards daisy chained. When the engineer proudly pushed the button and started the sequencer set all the keyboards in motion...I was stunned. The engineer recognised the look on my face, disregarded any questions I had and ignored me completely [he considered it was all his secret]. But I was hooked on Midi ... I was amazed and fascinated. That started the love affair....not with Hi Energy....but with Midi.

The venue I was at on Saturday was blasting out 'today' Hi Energy...so tight [through the great sound system] and the reaction of the crowd had me fascinated.

I saw a lot:

I was amazed that in a gay club the usual floor fillers had almost no effect ... the majority of the stuff the DJ played was male vocal Dance stuff at almost ridiculous BMP [beats per minute] ... I would have to say that the usual chart stuff paled against it....except for the male vocals...Hmmmmm!

I regretted a lot:

Two things I regretted and to learn from

1) I was asked to go along...but I wasn't prepared for sitting there and just watching, without being involved. I have heard it said "it is the most frustrating thing to look at mistakes and not get involved to help". I swore I would just sit no matter what I saw. How frustrating? I hated it. I'm afraid I am not good at listening to a presentation which could have been so much better. If ever you have an friendly expert around [like me] always declare him in on the action.

2) I leaned to never leave a drink unattended in a strange venue. I had a few glasses of a gorgeous Shiraz wine...but some clever twit spiked my drink while I was in the loo. I was lucky I had a driver...I passed out in the car and woke up in Eastbourne...quite a distance. Spent the next day violently ill. And I though that sort thing only happened in kiddie's discos?

"How long a minute is depends on what side of the bathroom door you're on."

I do admire bands who concentrate on promo 'ing

"We're playing next Saturday in Springfield, IL at one
of the coolest nightclubs downtown (Marly's) from
9pm-1am.....and we will be renting a van from Enterprise
to bring some of our fans (you) to our show!

The Stone Cat Bus departs Glen Carbon, IL at 6pmCST
Saturday, August 27th and returns at approximately 3am
Sunday, August 28th (9 hours total)..... and we only have
enough room for a few of you, so get your tickets today
before they sell out! (Your ticket price includes admission to the
show, round-trip transportation, a Stone Cat T-Shirt, and a Stone Cat CD)

STONE CAT BUS TICKETS: www.snipurl.com/h3cc
for this Saturday, August 27th

more upcoming shows.....

September 30th @ Marly's / Springfield, IL 9pm-1am
October 8th @ LockStock & Barrel / Decatur, IL 9pm-1am
October 28th @ Marly's / Springfield, IL 9pm-1am

Thank you for your continued support!

Stone Cat,
www.stonecatband.com"

Here's a good way to publicise your web business.

Did you know that subscribers to Bob Osgoodby's Ezine [for zip]
"Tip of the Day" get an Ad [again for zip] for their Business on his Web
Page? Subscribe at: http://adv-marketing.com/business/subscribe2.htm
Great Business and Computer Tips - Monday thru Friday
Instructions to place your ad are in the Newsletter.

Best Wishes
Bob .

The sweet smell of success [an excellent article mainly for the girls]

Wearing perfume can make you feel and look more confident. No, this isn't an advert, it's the implication of a study by a team of Japanese researchers who filmed thirty-one young women while they underwent a mock interview.

Halfway through the 10 to 15 minute interview, a break was taken and half the women were sprayed once on the wrist with the perfume "Breath Garden-Tenderness Time". Afterwards, 18 students were asked to compare video clips of the interviews taken before and after the mid-way break.

Crucially, the student raters were unaware that half the women had been sprayed with perfume during the break. Also, all the interviewees were given the same grey sweatshirt to wear, and personality tests revealed no differences between those women who were, and were not, given perfume.

The student raters were asked to study the interviewees' body language, eye contact and so on, as closely as possible. Their ratings revealed that after the interview break, the women who were sprayed with perfume, but not the other women, reduced the amount of nervous movements they made, for example they shifted their seat position less often and touched their hair and face less. The female student raters also judged the women given perfume, but not the other women, to be more confident after the interview break than before it. Furthermore, after the interview break, the women sprayed with perfume reported feeling more relaxed and more dominant.

While acknowledging there was a possibility the interviewees had guessed the purpose of the study, the researchers explained that: "The olfactory areas (i.e. smell related) in the brain make anatomically unique and direct connections with the neural substrates responsible for emotional information processing.[therefore] people who interact with those who wear perfume may experience relatively intense affective responses that result in a positive impression on the perfume-wearer".

"Such positive reactions to perfume may also be experienced by the perfume-wearer", they said "If this is so, perfume may cause behavioural changes that result in the wearer's projecting a positive 'visual' impression".

"One of the things I learned early in life was to ask for help" - michelle obama

The visual laugh - and a nice preggie pic that you will love

We all like a laugh, so each week I will give you a 'visual' laugh, just mouseclick on the link [don't forget to come back?].

You will need Power Point program or Windows Media Player for these visuals...should be on your computer. Don't forget to hit Alt and Return to make the picture full size.

http://www.makehits.com/funnypics.pps

Success Stories:

Go to www.makehits.com/testimonials.htm for stories that will amaze you and fill you full of hope for YOUR future.]

"This is Yosi & Ofir Nafkar from Israel member of The Serious Writer Guild Membership No NET0778030W

We wrote music for an Australian Movie By Kerry Bowden. She is a great woman who helps children in need. The movie and the music had a great success and Together we gathered 1 million $.

So, we already made a million from our music. Now we are working on our music to gain another million –"

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Charts:

USA [my thanks to Charles in the USA for supplying this]

(1) We Belong Together, Mariah Carey

(2) Don't Cha, The Pussycat Dolls Featuring Busta Rhymes

(3) Pon de Replay, Rihanna

1) Mc Fly - 'I'll Be OK'

2) James Blunt - 'You're Beautiful'

3) Daniel Powter - 'Bad Day'

Download Chart [now the most important chart in the UK]

1) Daniel Powter ... Bad Day (Warner Music)

2) James Blunt .. You're Beautiful (Warner Music)

3) Black Eyed Peas .. Dont Lie

"Take what you can use and let the rest go by" ken kesey

Chart Comment:

Change is good for all of us isn't it? Finally after what seems like most of the summer on top, the ubiquitous James Blunt is finally dumped from the top of the charts, his place taken by one of the few remaining pop acts with ability to make an instant chart splash.

Little change in the USA ... so back to normal.

"Ever notice that the people who are late are often much jollier
than the people who have to wait for them?"

Subscriber's Section:

A guitar player with a 'choice' problem.......

Hello Dec,

Having read one of the 'one minutes' recently where you mentioned using a marshal JMP1 to record guitars.
Well I was wondering whether you use a cab and mic up as well, or do you just go straight from the JMP1 to your line input?
For live use do you use a JMP1 and the Marshall rack mount power amp and cab? Or if you use a Marshall head and cab which cab (2 x 12 or 4 x 12)? Finally which Marshall head did you use before you received your gold one? Was it JCM800 or one of the newer models?

Hope you can help me decide on which of the multitude of Marshall options to go for.

Kind Regards,

Zac.

My Reply:

Zak

Interesting questions. Files updated.

<<<,, whether you use a cab and mic up as well, or do you just go straight from the JMP1 to your line input? >>>>>>>>

I personally use the JMP1 as a guitar pre-amp that has a Digitech 286 in the rack as a quad FX unit .... The signal is then sent in stereo to the recorder. I use exactly the same rack on stage but use the Valvestate 2000 Marshall rack amp to drive a Marshall 4X12 cabinet just for me to hear. The stereo 'speaker simulator' output from the JMP1 then goes through the multi core to the Front of House main mixing desk.

Incidentally I have recently changed my method for 'extra loud' solos on stage....I simply turn up the JMP1 and the Valvestate and the sound engineer decreases the Front of House level of the guitar...this gives a cleaner more direct sound than the triple image ... Left right speakers + 4X12.

I used to use a wedge monitor in front of me powered by the Valvestate but changed to the system above and find the results better.

Incidentally I only use one side of the stereo 4X12 for my guitar ... The other half has the extra instruments track in....that is a stunning way to work.

In the studio the combinations are unlimited ... You can go direct and/or use a 4X12 with standard mic. on best speaker, good quality kik drum mic. at rear [very close] and good condenser mic. In furthest ceiling corner...this is standard metal guitar miking. The 'size' of the sound comes from the number of differing mics and their differing positions..... Like multi tracking. Of course multi tracking really gives the monstrous sound.

<<<<<<<<<For live use do you use a JMP1 and the Marshall rack mount power amp and cab? Or if you use a Marshall head and cab which cab (2 x 12 or 4 x 12)?>>>>>>>>>

As above.

<<<<<<<<<<<which Marshall head did you use before you received your gold one? Was it jcm800 or one of the newer models?>>>>>>>>>

I have never used a Marshall head...ever! Only overseas when the promoters thought they were doing me a favour!!!!! They simply have to be turned up full to get that indefinable Marshall sound from the cabinet. That is why I use JMP1 - I can play at a comfortable level which helps the front of house mix.

I have never switched the Gold amp on! I don't particularly like the sound it makes....very old and very vintage....not enough distort...in fact very little distortion at all...just valve warmth.

Marshall solved the 'too loud on stage' problem by introducing a box which allows the amp to run at full tilt but reduces the output. Similarly all the latest Marshal have the same distortion available no matter how quiet or how loud they are played. In fact the smaller MX series have the best distort for the money.

<<<<<<<<<<<<Hope you can help me decide on which of the multitude of Marshall options to go for.>>>>>>>>>

Best way is to Email or call Marshall Amplification ... Tell 'em Dec told you to call and find the date of the next Marshall Roadshow near you.

Jim will be there and usually Chris George on guitar....you will be shocked at what you see and hear. You can then make an informed choice and trial the amp you fancy at your local stockist.

Hey, I might be there!

Regards

DEC [Cluskey]
mailto:dec@makehits.co.uk

"Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once."

Regards

Dec

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?

Get in touch personally to discuss what you want to achieve in music dec@makehits.com

web: www.makehits.com or call +44 (0)1323.728005

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

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The gags: [a political one for the Brits?]

Tony Blair started jogging near his home in Chequers. Every day, he'd jog past a hooker standing on the same street corner. He learned to brace himself as he approached her for what was almost certain to follow.

"Fifty pounds!" she'd shout from the curb.

"No! Five pounds!" Tony would fire back.

This ritual between Tony and the hooker became a daily occurrence. He'd run by and she'd yell, "Fifty pounds!" He'd yell back, "Five pounds!"

One day, Cherie decided that she wanted to accompany her husband on his jog. As the jogging couple neared the working woman's street corner, Tony realized she'd bark her £50 deal and Cherie would wonder what he'd really been doing on all his past outings.

He figured he'd better have a darn good explanation for the 'Boss'. As they jogged into the turn that would take them past the corner, Tony became even more apprehensive than usual.

Sure enough, there was the hooker. Tony tried to avoid the prostitute's eyes as she watched the pair jog past.

Then, from the sidewalk, the hooker yelled, "See what you get for five quid!!!"

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How to set up a Demo consultation with Dec?

The Professional service the Professionals use. Even available for voice and guitar!

Simply get in touch by Email - click this link: demo@makehits.co.uk and tell me that you want to send your material for a full critique and appraisal. We will then send you a unique PIN number to put on your letter or Jiffy Bag. This will ensure you get immediate attention. This is also for security reasons. We do not open unsolicited Jiffy Bags.

For full details click on this link: www.makehits.co.uk/demo.htm

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