Our Artist Promotions Director, Stacey, attended the Amplify Music Conference in Las Vegas recently and reveiwed her experience with a few inspiring words that are geared towards the companys’ fundemental prospects and some useful tips for up and coming artists. Some of the events at the gala that she remarked on included such lectures about:

>Touring and Booking

> Marketing & Promotions
> The Indie Label A&R Perspective

> The Art of Artist Management
> The Major Label A&R Perspective

and so much more; Check the full schedule here: http://www.amplifymusiccompfest.com/2008-panelist-schedule.htm

Here are her words:

“OK, this is what I learned…

The band & their manager need to create something directed at the attention of “labels/ A & R”. Pretty much, they need to work their asses off & when they get to a place that grabs “their” attention, “they” will come swoop them up & put into place the industry connections, to sell you to the big companies, better conections for huge sponsorships & big events. The only thing “they” seem to have is connections. I asked what they provided that a small time manager couldn’t & that’s the only answer they had. So if you want to have your tour sponsored by Verizon & get David LaChapelle to take your photos – they will provide the $$ & connections to do it & they get a cut of your success. I get it, makes sense.

So, the artist needs to get out there & create a buzz/ fan base. The best asset to an artist is their fans. Their fans will inevitably get the artists name out there, spread the word. But don’t leave it up to the fans, guide them as well. Get out there & hang with them, share info& ideas. Your fans are your best asset, get their info, remember them. No shit kinda.

Another thing they kept saying is think outside the box. Make your website an attraction. Since websites cost $$, Independent self run websites and MySpace are the best route for bands – free hosting & domain. Make the design unique & place as many “widgets” on there as possible. Widgets are a means of keeping in contact with the fans – bulletins, mailing list, videos, text-messagers. On the other hand, don’t over do it, like, don’t send out messages about shows in CA to NYers – don’t SPAM. Make videos, use videos, upload art to your site or MySpace all the time, keep it fresh. The “a&r” people are looking at Page Views on the MySpace pages. If you have over a 500,000 views, they will proceed to listen to your music & check you out.

The days of tape/ cds are over. MP3’s, a pic & stats on an email – that’s all they want. Best source – their assistants, get the attention of the assistant & they will get the info to the boss – they are filters. BUT make sure to have a good press/ promo pack for after the catch – Have a high quality photo for print ads, The best MP3 you have, stats – previos shows – Myspace address. Simple.

The only advice I heard that was real fresh was on touring – to go region by region. Even stick to a region each year, get around town, build a fan base in a region – play, play, play – if nothing happens after a year or so, move on. That way you get your name out redndently in the same area but know when to move on & not become a local band & can come back for shows later. Then branding & recognition should follow by word of mouth.

Branding, stick with a logo or 2 or theme, people become more familiarized with you.. obviously.”

Thanks Mrs. AP Stacey!

And the curve continues as we wind on through the creation towards the cause.

Looking with lightening into the eyes of destiny,

-Mgmt.

Filed under: General by phoreal

Sometimes it’s all like a dream. Like the way that scenes and images flash by like when you have many dreams in one night, well to that, my last week has been filled with music in the same regard.

As a quick re-cap there were a lot of firsts to go down in show history which made things extra exciting. Dave Brogan, drummer of (ALO) busted out his first solo show at our local Moe’s Alley. Trevor Garrod gave us a great show and sat in with Blue Turtle Seduction for the first time. BTS also played a fun one like always and Five Eyed Hand stepped into the mix and made it a very well rounded night at the 12 galaxies venue which is closing at the end of the month. The next night, STS9 played an epic show at The Greek Theatre in Berkeley! A monumental event for them like a threshold celebration in the honor of the venue to have come so far to play there and they represented accordingly and exceptionally.

Starting with the Dave Brogan show on Wednesday, Moe’s Alley brought many of us down to entetain the evening with a break out performance of a musician and a friend. Dave actually started out solo and then brought a slough of many friends to join the stage in what we would call the accompanyment of DBB, or Dave Brogan and Friends. T’was a fun show even though I left mid-set to cruise across town to catch my amigos in Byron Space Circus who were playing with Bucky Walters at The Crepe Place. However, when I got there I was mistaken thinking that BSC was the headliner but they were not so when I got there, their set was already finished. It was a packed though and lots of friends to see and so I stuck around to check out Bucky Walters who I heard a lot about lately. Well, the chillin with the crew was top notch but the music was too bluegrassy for me on this particular night so I, like the night crusader, hoped back over to Moe’s Alley to catch the end of DBB only to find that that show too had ended early as Chris and Jennae crossed my path and notified me right as I arrived. C’est la vie! It was a fun night for a mid week montage.

Friday night brought me back up to San Francisco for a great show I was looking forward to and considering that I was not in NYC, it was a parallel location of musical joy. Trevor Garrod played a solo show in SF on the same night that Josh Clark was playing a solo show in NYC, so two members from our favorite band were tantilizing our ears and moving our feet and representing coast to coast and it was a good night in the world. Trevor’s show was fantastic as always and to me, it was one of the best of his solo gigs to date. I say this because he played all my favorites and they consecutively consoled such a beautific set, not just because I got to hear “Ships” with a shout out although that was my highlight to hear amazing material make a comeback. And after T-bone’s set, we all stuck around and enjoyed Five Eyed Hand, a band who is up and coming and shreds and whose guitarrist I’ve known for a long while and has seen many of his music incarnations along the way, and this one is becoming more prevalent which is awesome. Blue Turtle Seduction headlined the night and played two awesome sets in their style so sweet and then Trevor joined them for a couple songs towards the end of the night as well.

Saturday night was hilarious. I had looked on Craigslist to get my ticket for the Sound Tribe Sector Nine show at The Greek and met some Grad student named Mike who had the ticket for me. This kid told me that he was new to the scene so I asked him if he was meeting friends at the show. He said he was rolling by himself so I insisted that he join us and assured him that he would have the best time ever. So Chris and I met up with Mike and headed into the show to our usual perfect spot and accumulated the crew steadily. Breana and Hannah were holding down the fort when we arrived and graciously had access to the backstage bar so they kept us supplied the entire show. Tania and Alana appeared in fine form shortly after, I’m starting to realize that a lot of my friends names rhyme. Anyways… With the best spot in the house and the greatest crew in the venue, we rocked hard and proud all night long. Having been seeing STS9 for about 9 years now and being there to see them headline The Greek Theatre, the largest venue in their show history and an amazing venure in itself, not only were we pretty extactic but the band was too and we all could tell as they catered to one hell of an in your face bass blasting bonanza!

After the STS9 show, we weaved our way through the bizarre streets of Berkeley in a rambuncious haze and stumbled with style into the after party at Shattuck Down Low where the band Pnuma was playing with some other DJ’s. Someone at the bar bought us all drinks and we got down for a bit it the posh underground lair and met up with the rest of the crew for a few and then bounced. All and all, I ended up with lots of crazy pictures throughout the night and somehow I lit my eyebrow on fire, so again…great times as always.

Up next…Outside Lands? Hmmm

Much Love,

-Mgmt.

Filed under: General by phoreal

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*Happy 888 everyone!*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Celebrations count triple when they are accounted for numerically, and this is one helluva day!

And the party countinues on the one year and one month anniversay of the founding of our company on 07-07-07! …And that’s just about all I gotta say.

And 143 mucho amigos!

Hope all you wonderful beautiful folks have a fantastic weekend!

422

-Mgmt.

Filed under: General by phoreal

It’s the practical necessity of leisure and the praise of the sun that embody the essence of summer. It’s also freedom and travel like seeds on the wind, and that is where it is also likened to the passion of music. That’s where it’s always been. Traveling; Nationwide, worldwide, left side, right side. Travel is the essence of summer. Music is passion like a fever. There should be a world that describes this kinship in effect but alas…It is what it is.

I’ve been in town for 2 weeks now and in between intervals of domestic attentiveness and selective social gatherings, I am home. Familiar and enjoyable home. The time granted has given me ample time to think of the next place of venture and plans of even far off lands of distant language in December. Visions of places that arise in my interest are like maps to me that make up a well rounded journey. This time is making me ponder where my home really is. If my heart is on the dusty open road and down streets of unknown stone than am I just at a rest stop?

I’ve spent the last week and a half dissecting manuscripts and watching every volume ever released of The Twilight Zone. I am however pleased and content with the sweet, sweet time that I have taken to unveil my next plan of action…whatever it may be, be it right. Sights set can only see upon the decided mind.

Well it was a great weekend trip to SF with another one of Shaggy’s fabulous parties. I had missed hanging out and dancing with the crew from the bay to great music by friends and we got a bonus suprise show with 3/4 of og TLG kind of reunion show in an abandoned apartment that we commendeered for the partys’ sake…good times. Thanks to Shaggy for his hospitality and Shagginess.

Yesterday we had a Birthday in the company! Miss Krista Lee!! My concert confidant and one of favorite ladies on the planet! Hope you had an absolutely amazing day my darlin’! New York plans still in tow.

Tomorrow, Trevor Garrod performes part III of the Garden Shed series, live in San Francisco. And Saturday, we have a Manager’s meeting at the beach for a group surfing session and feast afterwards by all of our most favorite Chef, Joe. I have finally uploaded new music to the radio site and am learning a lot about how most technology is so far beyond my comprehension. I’m trying to make friends with it but I keep getting schooled. So far, you can check out the Turbine album as well as a live show from 3-27-08 (Donegal Saloon, NJ.) as well as the Naomi and the Courteour Rudeboys full album…but I think it’s all jumbled and I have to figure out how to straighten it all out. To the learning degree, I have decided to enroll in classes with 3-one this fall so that we can gain more fundamental techy knowledge for the company to develop further in the direction that we are so inclined to prosper in.

We welcome August in many ways, for the completion of a season brings new ideas to our days.

Hasta,

-Mgmt

Filed under: General by phoreal

Having grown up in the Los Angeles area, 818 was my area code for all of my days so today is an appropriate day to give a huge shout out to all the friends and fam in the ol’ homeplace.

Mad love to the So. Cal madness in you all and I’m glad you had fun in that earthquake earlier this week! And another gigantic honorable mention is to my folks. Mom and Dad celebrated their 40th freakin wedding anniversary just a few weeks ago on July 4th! 40 years of seeing fireworks in eachothers eyes, now that is truly awesome and they gives hope for the whole world. And my brother M. Ten, he’s made me a partner of x-site media radio and the ship is ready and steady to set to sail soon on the site. What up, Chris, Colleen, Taylor, Joe, Andrea, Luke, Carly, Ozzy, Mike, Sean, Stina, Noelle, Heather, Ghandi, Ish, Matty, Jones, The Atma, The Janks, Omega 3 and The Fatty Acids, 1AD7, and everyone else that I love seeing when I’m back in L.A. Rock on you sexy beasts. So, anyways…

Following a progressive week of transitional thought, it’s time to get down to business. I have had a keyboard in front of me all week and have dilligently restrained from purchasing two plane tickets for the next upcoming travels in the agenda on my rock n’ roll itinary. It’s been like sitting on my hands and sipping a cocktail from a straw and I need a re-fill but lost my voice. Which translates to not being able to do anything further until I receive some more information. My sights are set on heading back to New York in two weeks if the forces see it to be, then i’m waiting on a specific set of dates to be announced for a killer Colorado run in September. These are the travels on my mind.

It was exactly a week ago when I saw a really rock’n show right on the beach here in Santa Cruz. Every friday in the summer, the city sets up free concerts on the beach and these concerts are acts that you will never gets to see them in any other place, why? Because they no longer tour and they choose to play these types of shows to make their appearances. It’s really great, they have a large stage set up on the sand, 50 feet from the water, and right next to the boardwalk rides and such. Last year I saw Tiffany and Eddie Money and last friday we rocked out to the rocks legends; Blue Oyster Cult!! I mean, where else could we have the opportunity to catch a show like this? And it was stellar.

So this weekend will bring me up to the city for my good friend Shaggy’s birthday celebrations and some special live music performances. Shaggy always throws great parties and he hosts the usual hot spot after all the shows. Most of the bay area chapter of the company will be in attendance and we have a few special appearances as well. I’ve got a feeling…this will be one helluva weekend in downtown San Francisco.

Filed under: General by phoreal