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The widest read, 'delivered to your Email box', weekly music Ezine on the Music Net.
The Archive - '2'
A FREE 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
30 Aug 06
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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-]
"If we ever forget that we're one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under."
- Ronald Reagan
An Apology
You haven't heard from me for a couple of weeks ... mainly 'up to my eyes' with touring and recording. So, sorry for being away.
My band's 68th album is set for release and the advance orders are flowing in [must be doing something right?]. Artwork came out well. Now here's a secret. When designing artwork, or having it designed, be very aware of the picture you will use. The best pics are close up with good atmosphere in the background which brings over what your album is all about. The close-up pic will jump off the shelves at people.
Keep to bright colours ... you have to compete with thousands of albums in the store. If you are intent on not using a 'real' person photo, say it's a dance release, then still make sure that cover leaps off the shelves and slams people in the eye. There is no room for subtlety when you are attempting to make $fortunes.
The backgrounds we used were while we were in Guernsey [a small island next to France] ... the backgrounds look exactly like Ireland ... so were perfect for an album of our favourite classic Irish songs. Check it out www.thebachelors.co.uk/BachelorsIrishRecordSales.htm
Obviously a Hip hop album would have totally different thoughts as regards the photo, but the logic is still exactly the same .... experience tells me that the close up plus the right background for the project wins every time!
Tip of the week:
Just by coincidence my pal, Bob, sent me a brilliant tip for showing sample photos to, say, your band members:
Photo Proof Sheet
Most photo organizing software allows you to print these out, but for XP users, it's built into the Window's Picture and Fax Viewer. Here's how to do it...
Open the folder that your pictures are in and select "Thumbnail View". Hold down the Ctrl key and select the pictures you want on the proof sheet or Ctrl+A to select all.
Right click one of the pictures and select "Preview". This will bring up the picture in the WIndow's Picture Viewer. Press Ctrl+P to bring up the Photo Printing Wizard. Click Next, Select All or check off the pictures you want then Next again.
Choose your printer then Next.
Select the "Contact Sheet" layout. You'll see a Print Preview of your contact sheet. Then, "Next" again and you should end up with a printout of all selected photos. You can get multiple proofs on one sheet of paper. Play with it a bit and when you’re happy with the layout, print it on good photo quality paper. Good to take with you when you travel to show to friends.
Bob
"If men can run the world, why can't they stop
wearing neckties?
How intelligent is it to start the day by tying a little noose around
your neck?" -- Linda Ellerbee
Interesting observations on one of my band's mega hits 'I Believe'.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia
'I Believe' refers to a number of songs, albums, and plays, including:
"I Believe (1953 song)" is the name of a song written by Ervin Drake, Irvin Graham, Jimmy Shirl and Al Stillman in 1953, and recorded by Frankie Laine, David Whitfield, The Bachelors, and Robson and Jerome.
"I Believe" is also the song title that has been used as the title of the most songs to become hit singles in the United Kingdom. As of 2002, 15 different songs entitled "I Believe" had made the UK singles charts, recorded by 18 different artists.
I
Believe (Tata Young album) is the name of the first English language album by
Thai singer Tata Young.
I Believe is the debut solo album by Tim Burgess, frontman of The Charlatans.
I Believe is the name of a controversial anti-apartheid play by Gibson Kente
for which he received a one-year jail term in 1976.
"I Believe (Fantasia song)" is the name of a song by 2004 American
Idol winner Fantasia Barrino.
"I Believe" is the name of a popular 2002 dance song by Dee Robert.
"I Believe" is the name of a song by British singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor.
"I Believe" is the name of a song in Japanese singer Kokia's album
Remember Me.
"I Believe (When I fall in love with you it will be forever)" is the
title of a song by Stevie Wonder, which was featured in the movie High
Fidelity.
"I Believe (single)" is the name of the 1991 song by EMF.
"I Believe" is the name of a song by Swedish power metal band
Hammerfall in their album Glory to the Brave.
"I Believe" is a single released by singer Marcella Detroit
"Some of us are becoming the men we wanted to marry." -- Gloria Steinem
A good visual laugh? [this will amaze you - what is your birthdate?]Perhaps
they should live next door and just visit now and then." -- Katharine
Hepburn
Success Stories
Hi DecI got him a record deal for a single release and an album in the UK.I have an investor in USA who want to release the single there this year and do 3 albums and they want us to move over there in a month etc etc. The advance is £**k and they have said that MGM studios want one of his songs for a film sound track.
They have sent me a publishing deal over. They obviously want the publishing as its great money but I don't know what to do as if I don't sign it I don't want to scare them off.....can you help me.
H*****
And Another:
I have just had another milestone come up - thanks to you - I have a call-in radio interview (national) next Wednesday.
Any thoughts on interviewing? Things to promote or to avoid? Your input would be most appreciated.
Randell Beck
"The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help."- Ronald Reagan
Charts:
(1) Fergie ...
London Bridge ...
A&M | Interscope
(2) Gnarls Barkley ... Crazy ... Downtown | Lava
(3) Nelly Furtado Featuring Timbaland .... Promiscuous .... Mosley | Geffen
UK
1) Beyonce Ft Jay-Z .... 'Deja Vu'
2) Shakira
ft Wyclef Jean .... 'Hips don't lie'
3) Chamillionaire @Ft Krazy Bone .... 'Ridin'
Download Chart [now the most important chart in the UK]
1) Scissor Sisters ... I Don't Feel Like Dancin' .... (Universal Music)
2) Shakira .... Hips Don't Lie .... (Sony BMG Music)
3
) Justin Timberlake ... Sexyback ... (Sony BMG Music)
Hi Dec,
How do I go about starting and registering my own agency so I can send my music to clubs. A lot of clubs ask for the agent to do the work, so I thought I would become one
******
My Reply:
Hi A*****
[Any advice given shall not be deemed to be legal or accounting advice under the laws of any country]
You are worrying for no reason.
It is very common practice nowadays for an artist to be his/her own agent.
Very big name friends of mine operate in exactly that way. They simply title the agency, have a separate phone line dedicated to the agency and make sure that any family member understands that it is the ***** Agency and has to be answered in a professional way "This is the ***** Agency, Mandy speaking...how may I help you?".
Buy a dedicated answer machine [about £20] and put a professional sounding message on [do not use a BT answer service]. Check out our answer machine messages and copy one.
If you answer it simply
have a name ready and stick to it .... Charles Linthorpe, say ... And always use
the name.... On Emails, on letters ....
Have letter heading done at Prontaprint [not on your own PC] with a small classy
logo .... Use good quality 120 gsm cream vellum paper ... Tiny font printing 6
font is good .... Use the name of the agency and no house number.
Makes the whole thing more important.
Tell the postie that from next Monday you may be getting letters to that agency name and they should go to your number .... He will object but just do it! He'll find you ... Because you told him.
If you want to take advantage of the tax situation you can let the I.R. know that the business started on a particular date and the annual accounts should be delivered each year ... With a sole trading company you get two years grace where you pay no tax.... So you pay the first year's tax in the third year. You can also take advantage of the losses.
By the way, if you act as
a management company you don't have to register as an agency under the
employment act ... Recently the law in the
UK has changed yet again and an agent does not have to register either.
Regards
DEC
[Cluskey]
mailto:dec@makehits.co.uk
Just
released:- "57 Secrets of a Hit Record" ... - 260 pages of the
Secrets plus the CDrom Analysis Software and Audio CD to ensure that your music
is a Potential Hit www.makehits.com/57Secrets.htm
or call UK 01323.728005 [+44.1323.728005]
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 little rude, but very funny?
7 year old and a 4 year old are upstairs in their bedroom.
"You
know what?" says the 7 year old, "I think it's about time we
started swearing."
The 4 year old nods his head in approval.
The
7 year old says "When we go downstairs for breakfast I'm going to
swear first, then you swear after me, OK?"
"Ok" the 4 year old agrees with enthusiasm.
The
mother walks into the kitchen and asks the 7 year old what he wants
for breakfast.
"Oh, shit mum, I s'pose I'll have some Coco-Pops"
WHACK!!
He flew out of his chair, tumbled across the kitchen floor, got
up, and ran upstairs crying his eyes out.
She
looks at the 4 year old and asks with a stern voice, "And what do
YOU want for breakfast, young man?"
I don't know," he blubbers, "but it won't be fucking Coco-Pops."
============================================
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