Tuesday, December 28, 2010

No News is GREAT NEWS! How to promote yourself!

Just finished reading this article (http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20101228_Deep_snow_no_threat_to_solar_panels.html) about solar panels. What does an article about solar panels have to do with performing songwriters?  A LOT.  

Read on.

"Solar installers were calling Sunday's storm a nonevent. The proof: Their phones were not ringing with customer complaints or pleas for help." 

Can you imagine having no phone calls coming in, and nothing happening in the office, and you have the balls to call the newspapers? You tell them that "Guess what, miss journalist? Nothing in particular is going on!" Then, you follow with, "Oh yeah, and you should write about it!!!"

This article, about nothing in particular happening, got a front page placement.  

Can you imagine how many sales Dynamic Solar is now going to rake in because of this news? How many people now know their name, and the benefits of solar panels?


As performing songwriters, as performing artists, your livelihood depends on how many people know your name, buy your music, and attend your concerts. You NEED to be a marketing machine.  You must constantly be on the lookout for ways to tell people about your music, your concerts, and yourself as an artist.   Even when you think there is no story to be told, no reason people would want to listen.

As Dynamic Solar proved by having this article written about them -- no news is GREAT news.  Journalists, bloggers, ALL content generators are dying for a great story.  Do them (and yourself) a huge favor by giving them one.  Go start a song-a-day project, volunteer to teach songwriting at a local school, start writing open letters to your senators in the form of youtube-posted songs -- anything to grab attention.  

Your success grows with every fan you gain, so get started now!


Hope you all are having a fantastic break!  Keep writing, and we'll see you in a few short weeks!


Saturday, December 18, 2010

Our Holiday Party was a huge success!






































Thank you to everyone who made it out to the Holiday Party!!! A special thank you to our performers, Cory for running the sounds system, and everyone who came to help set up and clean up. We had an incredible time networking with the Producer's Society and Music Business Club and rumor has it a Valentine's Party is in store!

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Berklee's 4th Annual Substance Abuse Awareness Songwriting Competition


Submissions MUST include:
- lyrics that capture the dangers of alcohol/substance use & abuse
- 3 copies of the lyrics
- 1 CD demo of the song
- Name, Student ID # & email address to the Professional Writing Center on Friday, February 4th, 2001 by 5pm

Prizes:
Grand Prize: $1000 worth of studio time to record at Q Division Studio and $500 Visa Gift Card
First Runner Up:$300 Visa Gift Card
Second Runner up: $200 Visa Gift Card

Top finalists will also be invited to perform at March 1st concert at Cafe 939

Previous Winners include:Keppie Coutts, "Last Call" & Aryn Calhoun, "Crave"

If you have any questions or comments, contact the Substance Abuse Prevention Team in the Couseling & Advsing Center email: substanceabuseprevention@berklee.edu call: 617-747-2849

Monday, December 6, 2010

If you want to be HEARD you have to PLAY. Here's your opportunity!


Every Wednesday Michaela Kaser hosts Open Mic Night at Kings. It's a great location right by berklee(50 dalton st.). It's 18 and up and free admission. There is also a menu where everything is $4. It's becoming a very popular venue and they would love to have a berklee songwriters club night once a month. This is a great way to start putting yourself out there or to just have a good time!

Your songs needed for 9/11 Memorial concert!

9/11 Memorial Project

In the Berklee tradition of caring for others (Concert for Haiti and Darfur CD Project) and giving to worthwhile charitable organizations, I am proposing a 9/11 Memorial Concert to be held at the Berklee Performance Center on Sunday, September 11, 2011.

In order to bring this project to fruition, I am reaching out to all Berklee clubs and departments to ask your interest and assistance with this project.


All net proceeds of the one night Memorial Concert will be donated to 9/11 charities. In addition, I propose a production of a CD of the original songs selected and a DVD of the concert itself. Once again, a designated percentage of the net proceeds of the sale of the CD and DVD will be donated to 9/11 charities of Berklees’ choosing.

The initial step for this project to become a reality is to seek Berklee students’ talents to create 12 to 15 songs/compositions to pay tribute to all of those lives that were forever changed by the events of 9/11. Songs of remembrance for those lost, songs of celebration and joy for the lives saved, songs of courage for those who gave their lives to save others and songs of determination of a people that will not be made to live in fear, are all welcomed.

Submission of songs/compositions of those that wish to participate will be from January 18th thru midnight of February 14th. A panel of Berklee students and faculty will announce the final selections on March 1st. Further details regarding the submission process will be provided after Winter break.

If you have any questions or comments regarding this project please contact Alexander Arntzen at aarntzen@berklee.net as soon as possible.

Thank you,

Alexander Arntzen
Producer, 9/11 Memorial Project

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Bob Dylan Fans: Get Out Your Video Camera!!!


Sony is looking for video submissions of musicians playing along to the song "Subterranean Homesick Blues" by December 10th.
You choose your instrument and background and get your video groove on!

Here's the instructions:
1. Set up a location where you will play along to the song “Subterranean Homesick Blues” on an instrument of your choice. (or feel free to submit a dance video)
2. Get someone to shoot you on video playing along or set up a video camera to record yourself
3. Position yourself in the middle of the frame. We are going to crop the sides and we want to see you
a. Do not wear anything with any logos on them or position yourself in front of any logos (instruments not included)
4. Put your headphones on to play along to the song
5. Press Record on your video camera
7. Play along with the song all the way through
8. Wait 10 seconds
9. Press stop
10. Fill out the waiver attached
11. Save the video and signed waiver with your name in the title, eg. Remix song_JoeSmith and Waiver_Joe Smith (make sure the name is the same)
a. Preferred file format is .mov or .avi, but most video file formats should work
12. Send a blank email to Mike.Fayne@sonymusic.com with the subject line “Remix Project Submission”.
13. You will receive a reply to your email with access to the dropbox
14. Upload the video and the waiver to the dropbox