"Elvis Schmelvis" Diaries(Schmelvis.ca)

2011-10-27T16:18:00.001-07:00

http://www.ebay.com/itm/160670075307?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1555.l2649

2011-10-11T19:00:00.001-07:00

Hi, everyone!
Wow! I totally forgot to keep up this blog with all the 'Oopalah' or 'day to day'' but
Good to be back! Lots has happened since my last posted blog. I guess it;s been over
a year almost without a post! My new year resolution is to write at least once a week or if best on a daily basis!
OK, so what have I accomplished? What have I done?
First of all, I;m the King of Rocks! What does it mean?
It simply means that for the last 2 years I've fallen in love with diamonds &
now make it a business and passion of mine to sell Diamonds!

I still love performing with the Schmelvis Band and Weddings, Bar-Mitzvah's and playing at old age homes and
anniversaries and all those beautiful occasions! But as an addition I also love to sell
Diamonds; especially Natural Color Diamonds for they are much more rare then white
diamonds! So, to end the blog I would like to wish everyone a very festive, joyous
healthy and prosperous New Year!

Only good things!!!

Danny H. aka Schmelvis aka King of Rocks!

2010-07-22T06:52:00.000-07:00

It is soon Elvis's Anniversary of his 'Yor-ziet'.
this year let's make elvis's memory a very special one!
I propose we all do a good deed in his memory.

Schmelvis!

2010-06-10T11:59:00.000-07:00

2010-04-20T21:17:00.000-07:00

2010-04-14T11:42:00.000-07:00

God 'led me directly' to girl lost in swamp, Florida rescuer says...This is a truly unbelievable story! Think about it folks, thousands of troops, volunteers, helicopters are scrounging, looking desperately for this lost 11 year old when out of the blue one man here's the voice of G-d & allows the voice of G-d to lead him to the lost girl!
Does that sound unbelievable? Well guess what? He finds her 2 hours later into his trek through Florida swamps. That is just ;'Wow' in my opinion! Not only that, think of osmosis or something to that affect the Girl aka Nadia was murmuring G-d help me or find me so, 'go figure folks! AMAZING!!!!! Best story of the year in my opinion!!!!!

check it out here:

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/04/14/florida.girl.rescued/index.html?eref=igoogle_cnn

2010-03-24T07:40:00.000-07:00

2010-03-12T10:09:00.001-08:00

How to Call Attention to Your Music
by Derek Sivers
This is my best advice for my fellow musicians, about how to call attention to your music.
My advice here is a combination of my advice from my own experience, and my advice from
watching the experiences of other successful musicians. I never intended to sell my advice.
I just want musicians to succeed.
So - feel free to pass this around to anyone. Email it to your friends. Paste it into your
blog or bulletin board.
sivers.org
Be Considerate: Think of everything
from their point of view
sivers.org
Constantly ask, What do they really want?
Reach them like you would want to be reached
They know nothing about you. Don't assume anything.
Read about new music. Use the tricks that worked on you.
Constantly ask, What do they really want?
Want to know the basic rule or marketing and promoting your music?
Constantly ask, “What do they really want?” (with “they” being anyone you are trying to
reach)
Think hard, and don't take this one lightly.
Thinking of everything from the other person's point of view is one of the best things you can do in
life. If done right, it will elevate you into the clouds along with a few select immortal beings.
Every time you lift up the phone. Every time you write an email. Every time you send out a
presskit.
Think why people in the music industry are REALLY working this job. Try to imagine
them as just a well-meaning human being who is probably overworked, looking for a little happiness
in the world, and likes music (or the music world itself) enough to do what they do, even
though they could be doing something else.
Think what their email “IN” box must look like, and how it would be unwise for you to send them
an email with the subject of “hey” followed by a 7-page email detailing your wishes for success.
Think what people are REALLY looking for when they go out to a club to hear music.
For some people, it's just a way to be seem to increase their popularity. For some, they're searching
for some music that does something completely original and mind-blowing. Some are looking
for total visual entertainment.
Nobody owes you their attention. Not your audience. Not a person you happened to call or email.
Not even the music industry.
Let go of your ego entirely. Think of everything from their point of view. Be their dream
come true. Do what they really want.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Reach them like you would want to be reached
Reach people like you would want to be reached.
Would you rather have someone call you up in a dry business monotone, and start speaking a
script like a telemarketer?
Or would you rather have someone be a cool person, a real person?
When you contact people, no matter how it's done (phone, email, mail, face-to-face) - show a little
spunk. Stand apart from the crowd.
If it sounds like they have a moment and aren't in a major rush, entertain them a bit. Ask about
their day and expect a real answer. Talk about something non-business for a minute or two.
Or - if they sound hectic, skip the “how are you”, skip the long introduction, ask your damn question
and move out of the way.
This means you must know your exact question before you contact them, just in case
that ultra-quick situation is needed.
Reach them like you would want to be reached. Imagine what kind of phone call or email YOU
would like to get.
If you're contacting fans, imagine what kind of flyer they would like to get in their mailbox. Something
dull and “just the facts” - or something a little twisted, creative, funny, entertaining and
unique? Something corporate, or something artistic?
This is a creative decision on your part. Every contact with the people around your music
(fans and industry) is an extension of your art. If you make depressing, morose, acoustic
music, maybe you should send your fans a dark brown-and-black little understated flyer that's
depressing just to look at. Set the tone. Pull in those people who love that kind of thing. Proudly
alienate those that don't.
If you're an in-your-face, tattooed, country-metal-speedpunk band, have the guts to call a potential
booking agent and scream, “Listen you crazy dirtbag! I'm going to explode! Ah! Aaaaaaah!!!”
If they like that introduction, you've found a good match.
Be different. (Even if it's just in your remarkable efficiency.)
Everyone wants a little change in their day.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
They know nothing about you. Don't assume anything.
People will always and forever ask you, “What kind of music do you do?”
Musicians often say, “All styles, really.”
If the stranger you said that to happens to be a fan of African music, watch out! You better combine
the polyrhythmic drumming of West Africa with the rich vocal harmonies of South Africa,
with the microtonal reeds of Northeast Africa. And if they have any awareness of the rest of the
world, then your CD better combine rage-rap, country linedancing, Chinese opera, ambient
techno trance, Hungarian folk songs, and the free jazz of Ornette Coleman. (Hey - you said “all
styles” didn't you?)
This example is extreme, but constantly remember: people know nothing about you, or
your background, or where you're coming from. If you say you sound “totally unique” -
then you better not have any chords, drums, guitars, words, or any sounds that have ever been
made in the history of music.
When you speak to the world, you are speaking to strangers from all kinds of backgrounds and
tastes.
Open your mind. Realize you don't sound like all styles, and you're not totally 100% unique.
Do them a favor. Don't assume anything. Say what it is you sound like. Narrow it down a
bit.
If you do this in a creative way, (“We sound like the Incredible Hulk having sex.”) - you can
intrigue people and make them want your CD, or want to come to your next show. Whereas if you
had said, “Everything” - then you didn't make a fan.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Read about new music. Use the tricks that worked on
you.
Go get a music magazine that writes about new music.
You'll read about (and see pictures of) dozens of artists who you've never heard of before.
Out of that whole magazine, only one or two will really catch your attention.
WHY?
I don't have the answer. Only you do. Ask yourself why a certain headline or photo or article
caught your attention.
(Was it something about the opening sentence? Was it a curious tidbit about the background of
the singer? What was it exactly that intrigued you?)
Analyze that. Use that. Adapt those techniques to try writing a headline or article about your
music.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Have the confidence to target
sivers.org
If you don't say what you sound like, you won't make any fans
Proudly exclude some people
The Most Expensive Vodka
If you target sharp enough, you will own your niche
Bad Targeting Example: progressive rocker targetting teenybopper
If you don't say what you sound like, you won't make
any fans
A person asks you, “What kind of music do you do?”
Musicians say, “All styles. Everything.”
That person then asks, “So who do you sound like?”
Musicians say, “Nobody. We're totally unique. Like nothing you've ever heard before.”
What does that person do?
Nothing.
They might make a vague promise to check you out sometime.
Then they walk on, and forget about you!
Why???
You didn't arouse their curiosity! You violated a HUGE rule of self-promotion! Bad
bad bad!
What if you had said, “It's 70's porno-funk music being played by men from Mars.”
Or... “This CD is a delicate little kiss on your earlobe from a pink-winged pixie.”
Or... “It's deep-dancing reggae that magically places palm trees and sand wherever it is played,
and grooves so deep it makes all non-dancers get drunk on imaginary island air, and dance in the
sand.”
Any one of these, and you've got their interest.
Get yourself a magic key phrase that describes what you sound like. Try out a few
different ones, until you see which one always gets the best reaction from strangers. Use it. Have
it ready at a moment's notice.
It doesn't have to narrow what you do at all. Any of those three examples I use above could sound
like anything.
And that's just the point - if you have a magic phrase that
describes your music in curious but vague terms, you
can make total strangers start wondering about you.
But whatever you do, stay away from the words “everything”,
“nothing”, “all styles”, and “totally unique”.
Say something!
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Proudly exclude some people
Proudly say what you're NOT: “If you like Celine Dion, you'll hate us.” ...and people who hate
Celine Dion will love you, or at least give you a chance.
You can't please everyone in this world. Recklessly exclude people.
Almost like you're the doorman at an exclusive club that plays only your music. Maybe you
wouldn't let in anyone wearing a suit. Maybe you wouldn't let in anyone without a suit!
But know who you are, and have the confidence that somewhere out there, there's a
little niche of people that would like your kind of music. They may only be 1% of the
population. But 1% of the world is 65 million people!
Loudly leave out 99% of the world. When someone in your target 1% hears you excluding the part
of the population they already feel alienated from, they'll be drawn to you.
Write down a list of artists who you don't like, and whose fans probably wouldn't like you. Use
that.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
The Most Expensive Vodka
There is a vodka company that advertises itself as The Most Expensive Vodka You Can Buy.
I'll bet they're very successful with it. It's almost a dare. (And it proudly excludes people!)
Other companies are all trying to find ways to be the cheapest, and someone had the guts to
decide that they were going to do exactly the opposite of everyone else.
There are some people who read the Billboard charts, and try to imitate the current trends and
styles.
I suggest, even as an experiment, strongly declaring that you are something totally UN-trendy -
the opposite from what everyone else wants or is trying to be.
Perhaps you could advertise your live show as, “The most boring concert you'll ever see.”
Perhaps you want to call your music, “The most un-catchy, difficult to remember, un-danceable
music you've ever heard.”
Or tell the music industry, “This music has no hit potential whatsoever.”
I'll bet you get their attention.
It's almost a dare.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
If you target sharp enough, you will own your niche
Let's say you've decided that your style of music should be proudly called “powerpop”.
If you say, “We're powerpop!” in the very first sentence or paragraph all of your marketing.
If your email address is “powerpop@yahoo.com”
If your album title is “Powerpop Drip and Drop”
If the license plate on your band van is “POWRPOP”
Well then... when someone comes into my record store and says they like powerpop, guess who
I'm going to tell them to buy?
Have the confidence to find your niche, define who you are, then declare it again
and again and again and again.
If you do it persistently enough, you will OWN that niche. People will not be able to imagine that
niche without you.
(You can try to make your own, if you're brave. You might be “the best techno-opera artist in the
world”.)
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Bad Targeting Example: progressive rocker targeting
teenybopper
On CD Baby, there is a great musician who made an amazing heavy-progressive-metal record.
When we had a “search keywords” section, asking for three artists he sounds like, he wrote, “britney
spears, ricky martin, jennifer lopez, backstreet boys, mp3, sex, free”
What the hell was he thinking? He just wanted to turn up in people's search engines, at any cost.
But for what? And who?
Did he really want a Britney Spears fan to get “tricked” into finding his dark-progressive-metal
record? Would that 13-year-old girl actually spend the 25 minutes to download his 10 minute
epic, “Confusing Mysteries of Hell”? If she did, would she buy his CD?
I suggested he instead have the confidence to target the REAL fans of his music.
He put three semi-obscure progressive artists into his search engine description instead, and
guess what?
He's selling more CDs than ever! He found his true fans.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Grab people's attention,
senses and emotions
sivers.org
Touch as many of their senses as you can
Never use corporate-speak
Leave 'em wanting more
Touch as many of their senses as you can
The more senses you touch in someone, the more they'll remember you.
BEST: a live show, with you sweating right on top of someone, the PA system pounding their
chest, the smell of the smoky club, the flashing lights and live-in-person performance.
WORST: an email. a single web page. a review in a magazine with no photo.
(Let's say that “emotions” are one of the senses.)
Whenever possible, try to reach as many senses as possible. Have an amazing photo of yourself or
your band, and convince every reviewer to put that photo next to the review of your album.
Send videos with your presskit. Play live shows often. Understand the power of radio to make
people hear your music instead of just hearing about it.
Get onto any TV shows you can. Scent your album with patchouli oil. Make your songs and
productions truly emotional instead of merely catchy.
(Touching their emotions is like touching their body. If you do it, you'll be
remembered.)
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Never use corporate-speak
Don't try to sound pro or use industry catch phrases.
Would you do that to a friend?
Your fans are your friends. Speak to them like real people.
Write every letter or email as if it were to a good friend. From you to your best friend Beth.
Even if it's going out to 10,000 people.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Leave 'em wanting more
What's more appealing?
Someone holding a carrot in front of your face, then pull it back towards them slowly?
Or someone shoving 50 carrots in your mouth?
Brian Eno (my favorite theorist) says the best thing you can do is to bring people to the point
where they start searching.
Not so plain or obvious that there's nothing left to the imagination. No so cryptic that they give
up.
Give people just enough to pull them in, but make them want more. Make them go searching for
clues, or details, or explanations, or “more of what you just gave me.”
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
All the world's a stage.
What character are you?
sivers.org
Imagine a play with 1000 actors on stage
Be an extreme version of yourself
Even conservative legends were extreme
Well-Rounded Doesn't Cut
Imagine a play with 1000 actors on stage
Imagine you're in the audience of a play. Big theater. Opera house.
Imagine there are one thousand actors on stage.
Which ones would stand out? Which ones would you remember?
It's not always going to be the loudest or most hyperactive.
Maybe you'd be drawn into the misty-blue woman with the long black hair in the deep blue cape
with half her face hidden, standing silently at the edge of the stage.
Now you, as a musician, are one of the actors on that overcrowded stage.
Would you stand out? Would people remember you? Are you being strong enough version
of YOU, so that people who DO want who YOU are can find you in the crowd?
(P.S. The most memorable actor on stage might be the one that gets off the stage, walks up to your
seat, and gives you a kiss.)
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Be an extreme version of yourself
Define yourself.
Show your weirdness.
Bring out all your quirks.
Your public persona, the image you show to the world, should be an extreme version of yourself.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Even conservative legends were extreme
Think of the legendary performers in that conservative style. (The ones even your grandmother
could like.)
Frank Sinatra. Charlie Chaplin. Liberace. Liza Minelli. Barbara Streisand.
Even the most conservative “legendary” performers were rather extreme characters.
Don't be afraid to be as extreme as you can imagine. Being in the spotlight is the excuse. You can
get away with anything, all in the name of entertainment.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Well-Rounded Doesn't Cut
Imagine the world's attention as a big foggy cloud. So thick you could cut it with a knife.
You want to cut through that foggy cloud, to call attention to your music.
Only problem is, if you're well-rounded, you can't cut through anything. You need to be
sharp as a knife. Sharply defined.
Example: Your name is Mary and you put out an album called “My Songs”, and the cover is a
picture of your face. The music is good quality, songs about your life, and when people ask what
kind of music you do, you say “Oh, everything. All styles.”. You send the album out to be reviewed
and nothing much happens. Doors aren't opening.
Imagine instead: Your name is Mary and you write 9 songs about food. You put out an album
called “Sushi, Souffle, and Seven Other Songs about Food”. Maybe you recorded your vocals in
the kitchen. Maybe you quit cooking school to be a musician. Yes it's a silly example, you see how
this would be MUCH easier to promote.
You may be thinking, “But I have so much to offer the world, I can't just limit myself like that!” If
you want to increase your chances of the world hearing your music at all, though, strongly consider
stretching-out your musicial offerings to the world, and keeping each album focused clearly
on one aspect of your music.
Notice the long careers of David Bowie, Madonna, Miles Davis, Paul Simon, and Elvis Costello to
name a few. Each went through sharply-defined phases, treating each album as a project with a
defined mission.
Here's some top-sellers at CD Baby:
Eileen Quinn. She's a full-time sailor. She writes songs about sailing. That's it. Five albums of
them. And sailors LOVE it. She gets written-up in sailing magazines all the time.
Rondellus. Sabbatum. A traditional medieval music group from Estonia doing an album of Black
Sabbath songs played on medieval instruments and sung in Latin.
4th25. American soldiers in Iraq wrote and recorded
an album in their barracks on a cheap computer with
a $100 mic, about what it's like to be over there at
war.
Each of these albums got a LOT of press and a lot of
sales, because they were sharply-defined, newsworthy,
interesting to write about, easy to tell friends
about.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Think test marketing -
proof of success
sivers.org
Test. Improve. Perfect. Announce.
A good biz plan wins no matter what happens
Was 10%, now 90%
DIY = Decide It Yourself
This is only a test. See what happens.
Business is Creative
Captain T
Test. Improve. Perfect. Announce.
In this indie music world, the best thing you can do is think in terms of “Test Marketing.”
This is what food companies do before they release a new product. They release it just in Denver
(for example), and see what people think of it there. They get feedback. They try a different name.
They try an improved flavor, based on complaints or compliments. They try a different ad campaign.
They see what works. Constantly improving.
When it's a huge success in Denver, they know they're on to something good. They can now
release it in Portland, Dallas, and Pittsburgh. Do the same thing.
When everyone seems to like it, they get the financial backing to “roll it out” and confidently
spend a ton of money to distribute it around the whole country, or the whole world. The people
investing money into it are confident, because it was a huge success in all the test markets.
Think of what you're doing with your music as test marketing.
When you're a huge success on a lower level, or in a small area, THEN you can go to
the big companies and ask for financial or resource help to “roll it out” to the country or
world.
Then they'll feel confident that their big money is being well invested.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
A good biz plan wins no matter what happens
In doing this test marketing you should make a plan that will make you a success even if
nobody comes along with their magic wand.
Start now. Don't wait for a “deal”.
Don't just record a “demo” that is meant only for record companies.
You have all the resources you need to make a finished CD that thousands of people would want to
buy. If you need more money, get it from anyone except a record company.
And if, as you're following your great business plan, selling hundreds, then thousands of CDs,
selling out small, then larger venues, getting on the cover of magazines... you'll be doing so well
that you won't need a record deal.
And if a record deal IS offered to you, you'll be in the fine position of taking it or leaving it.
There's nothing more attractive to an investor than someone who doesn't need their money.
Someone who's going to be successful whether they're involved or not.
Make the kind of business plan that will get you to a good sustainable level of success, even without
a big record deal. That way you'll win no matter what happens.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Was 10%, now 90%
It used to be that, as a musician, only 10% of your career was up to you. “Getting discovered” was
about all you could do. A few gatekeepers controlled ALL outlets. You had to impress one of these
magic few people to be allowed to present your music to the world. (Even then, they assigned you
a manager, stylist, producer, band, etc.)
As of the last few years, now 90% of your career is up to you. You have all the tools to make it
happen.
Record labels aren't guessing anymore. They're only signing artists that have made a success on
their own. As Alan Elliott says, “A record label used to be able to look at a tree and say, 'That
would make a great table.' Now all they can do is take a finished table and sell it at Wal-Mart.”
You have to make a great recording, a great show, a great image. You have to come up with a plan
and make it happen, too. You have to make thousands of people want your music so much they
pay good money for it. You have to make things happen on your own. Even if a record label puts
it in the stores for you, it's still up to your own hard work to go make people buy it.
The only thing stopping you from great success is yourself. This is both scary and
exciting. At least you're in control.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
DIY = Decide It Yourself
You may have heard of “D.I.Y.” which stands for “Do It Yourself”.
I think many musicians have accidentally interpreted this as “Do It ALL Yourself”.
Instead, I suggest you think of D.I.Y. as “Decide It Yourself”.
You should NOT be the only one making your website, engineering your recordings, designing
your artwork, promoting your shows, booking the gigs, and all that other stuff. Trying to do it
ALL yourself will be a disaster once you have anything happening.
Instead, just be the one in control, making the decisions, but find people to help you. Find someone
who gets excited about making your website. Find someone who gets excited about engineering
your recordings. Someone who loves designing artwork. Someone who's great at promoting
shows.
Yes, it's hard to find these people. But it's harder to watch your career crawl instead of run,
because you're trying to do it all yourself.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
This is only a test. See what happens.
Growing up in America in the 1970's, the TV or radio would often turn into a long warning
BEEEEEP. At the end, an announcer would say, “This is a test. This is only a test.”
Remember that phrase when pursuing your career.
It often feels like everything is so serious - that if you make one mistake, it will all end in disaster.
But really everything you do is just a test: an experiment to “see what happens”.
My favorite times in life have often started with a “see what happens” spirit.
Let's see what happens if I run my vocals through my guitar pedals.
See what happens if I invite that famous producer out to lunch.
See what happens if I call that radio station to ask their advice.
There is no failure. There can't be, if your only mission was to “see what happens”.
This is a test. This is only a test. There is no downside. Try everything.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Business is Creative
Do not turn off your creativity when doing business.
Business is as creative as music.
I see so many musicians who are wildly creative when writing, playing, performing, and recording.
But as soon as it's time to make some money, they clam up, get stiff, and lose all of their
confidence.
They pick up a book that tells them exactly how to make a press kit, exactly how to send a letter,
exactly what to say when making a call. They do everything exactly as told.
To understand how silly this is, imagine a business-person who has worked in an office for 20
years that starts doing music at the age of 50. They're scared and new so they try to do everything
right. They play the “right” chords, the “safe” lyrics, and everything is boring and stiff. They are
making music only like the book told them to do. They take no chances.
That's how musicians look, getting into business. They turn off their creativity and try to do
everything “safe”. But that's the worst thing you can do.
Loosen up. Get confident, creative, playful, experimental. Break the rules. Do exactly what you're
not supposed to.
Think of how comfortable you are on your instrument. Riffing. Improvising. Playing. Having
fun with it.
Now be that comfortable in your approach to business, promotion, marketing. Riff.
Improvise. Play. Have fun with it.
Do with your business what you would tell a new, stiff, scared musician to do with their
instrument.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Captain T
I told you that your marketing should be an extension of your art, so here's a real-world
example:
Back in 1997, when “The X Files” was still on the air, a friend of mine who called himself Captain T
put out a record called US Aliens that was all about conspiracy theories, Area 51, alien cover-ups,
and the Incredible Hulk. It was intentionally funny, but he would stay in character and play it
straight : a guy who was trying to tell the world, through music, about the aliens and conspiracies.
He wanted to send his album to college radio stations, but couldn’t afford to hire a real radio
promoter. When we decided to do it ourselves, I was about to do things in a very normal way, but
I thought I should take my own advice, and make his marketing an extension of his art, his image,
his message.
(Also, I was thinking about that kid in the college radio station that gets 20 CDs a day, all exactly
the same, in boring envelopes. I wanted to make his week.)
So - we bought 500 black envelopes, 500 sheets of brown oatmeal paper, 500 alien head stickers,
and the best part : 500 huge stickers that said “CONFIDENTIAL MAIL - DO NOT OPEN FOR
ANY REASON”.
We did a mail-merge to the 500 program directors at 500 college radio stations, so that each one
got a personalized letter that said this:
Dear __name__,
You don’t know me, but I live in the bushes behind your station.
I have been here for 12 years and your station has saved my life many times over.
The music that you play has kept me going through my darkest of days and for this I owe you everything.
In this spirit, I must tell you that a man named Captain T found me in the gutter yesterday, and he taught me about
what is really going on with the government and what really happened down there in Area 51. This man has a message
that you have to get out to the world, because people need to know the TRUTH!
Signed,
Man in the bushes, looking through your window right now
We took each letter out to the backyard and literally rubbed it in dirt, crumpled it into a little tiny ball, then
flattened it out a little bit, put the CD inside, sealed it into a black envelope, put the alien head sticker on it,
covered it with the huge sticker that said “CONFIDENTIAL MAIL - DO NOT OPEN FOR ANY REASON”,
and mailed them out to each station.
We laughed for hours while doing it.
Now, imagine you're that kid working at the radio station, getting 20 CDs a day with
normal boring packages, saying “Please play my record!” Then you get this scary
black mess of a package that says “DO NOT OPEN”, and when opened is covered in
dirt and says, “You don’t know me, but I live in the bushes behind your station.
375 of the radio stations played it.
Every now and then, my friend Captain T gets approached by someone that used to
work at a college radio station back in 1997. They tell him they still remember it,
because it was the coolest package they ever got.
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The Power of People
sivers.org
Someone you know
Be a friend, not a mosquito
Persistence is Polite
Stay in close touch with hundreds of people
Get used to the idea of database and quantity
Database tips
Meet three new people every week
Always think how you can help someone
Get personal
Don't be afraid to ask for favors
Small gifts go a long way
Life is like High School
Shining example: Rayko
Make these habits, and they won't seem hard
More thoughts about people
Someone you know
Everything great that happens in your career always starts with someone you know.
Don't think that the big opportunities are somewhere else.
You don't need to surf the 'net. Your next big break will not come from a some mysterious
technology, or discovery of new information.
Your next big break will come from someone you know.
Go know people.
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Be a friend, not a mosquito
When you see a room full of people, make sure you are not thinking like a mosquito, looking at
them as something to suck dry, to get what you want and move on.
It's important to meet people, but more important to really get to know them. Ask questions.
Listen. Make a point of discovering what you can do for them.
The best opportunities will come from real friends, not “contacts”. Be a good friend. Relax.
Don't be a mosquito.
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Persistence is Polite
As teenagers, we painfully learned that if you call someone and they don't call you back, they're just
not into you. If you keep calling, you must be a total loser.
But in the business world, it's the opposite: persistence is polite, and if you don't keep
calling, you must be a loser.
Imagine this:
* You call me, and get my voicemail. You leave a message.
* You don't know that I hardly ever listen to voicemail.
* A few days later you call again, but I'm out, so you leave a message with a real person in my office.
* I see a message on my desk that you called, and I mean to call you, but I get distracted.
* My desk fills up with other stuff, and buries the little message, so I forget.
* You email me to let me know you've been trying to reach me, but your email arrives just as I'm
leaving for a conference for 5 days.
* When I return from the conference, I've got 1000 emails in my IN box.
* You call again, talk to someone in my office, and tell them to tell me it's important, that you've
left messages with no reply.
* They come knock on my office door to tell me you're on the phone.
* I finally pick up the phone and say, “Hi! Sorry I was hard to reach.”
At this point, I am sincerely glad that you had the manners to keep trying, because I
really did want to talk to you.
Imagine this, instead:
* You call me, and get my voicemail. You leave a message.
* I get busy with other things, and forget to call you back.
* You silently rage for years, thinking I'm an asshole, thinking I hate you, so you hate me, too.
Calling once, and never again like that, is rude and inconsiderate.
In this business, you have to prove that something is important
to you by being persistent. If you mail someone a package, and
don't follow-up until you reach them, it means you didn't care.
Persistence is polite and considerate, because it shows
that you understand how busy people can get. It also
shows how much you care.
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Stay in close touch with hundreds of people
It's a shame when you get lost in a project, or go out on a tour, or get stuck in a demanding
relationship, and find out that all of your old contacts have dried up.
You go to call a booking agent you used to see weekly, and she says, “I'm sorry - I don't really
remember you. You're going to have to remind me...”
A successful publicist advises that you secretly give everyone in your phonebook an A, B, C, D, or F.
That's your A-list (call every 3 weeks), B-list, (every 5 weeks), C-list (every few months), D-list
(twice a year), and Friends.
There are a few people in my life that would have disappeared long ago if they hadn't been so
persistent in calling me every month, or insisting on a face-to-face a couple times a year.
Go through your database, and call those people just to say, “Hi.” Or - even better - know their
interests and life (from memory or perhaps from your notes) - and call them with some news that's
of interest to them, even if it's of no other interest to you.
In other words, don't *only* call to say “How are you?” when it's always going to end with “So - can
you come to my gig tomorrow night?” Call unselfishly. Call with some news that will make them
happy. Keep in touch to make both of your lives better.
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Get used to the idea of database and quantity
If you want any level of success beyond the admiration of friends and family, you have to get used
to the idea of dealing with great numbers of people.
One good review means almost nothing. Getting airplay on one radio station is not enough.
You need to stay in close touch with hundreds, and soon, thousands of people. Whether fans,
music biz, or the endless characters you're going to encounter around the world on your way to the
top, you're going to need to keep track of them all.
You're going to need a database. A “contact manager”. A fancy term for an address book. An
amazing tool with endless memory to help our artistic, creative, musical brains which are often lost
in space and notoriously flaky.
It takes a discipline and orderliness you may not be used to, but comes in SO handy when you need
to contact that graphic designer who introduced himself to you once after a gig in St. Louis a year
and a half ago. Or to be able, in 5 seconds, to find the 6 drummers you know in Southern
California.
Get used to this concept, and we'll go into detail on the next page.
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Database tips
Pick a program. If you travel a lot, and have a laptop, get a program that runs on your laptop. If
you don't have a laptop, and often use other people's computers, use one of the many websites that
let you track your contacts online. If you need to do business away from a computer, completely,
use a smart phone.
Make sure it has keywords, notes, and hopefully a conversation history. This is the
difference between an address book and a contact-manager. A good contact manager will let you
keep track of past phone calls, emails, conversations, including a date. You may hear from
someone after two years of not speaking, and be able to pull up your notes and remind yourself
what happened last time you spoke.
Try to find one with reminders. It is SO nice to punch a future date into your computer, and
tell it to remind you to do something on that date.
Whichever one you choose, know it well. Spend a few hours really getting to know it. Then
it will be effortless for years to come.
Keywords: Multiple keywords are the most important thing in your database. Every person in
your address book should have a few words attached to their record like “drums, webdesign,
percussion” or “agent, clubowner, songwriter”. Some people will only have one word
there, some will have a list of the 25 instruments they can play. This comes in the most handy
when you need to find “drums” in Texas, or you're trying to remember the full name of that
webdesigner named “Dave”.
Notes: You need a big text area next to their contact info, where you can type anything you want.
Type notes from your conversations. Cut-and-paste emails they've sent you.
Mail-merge: Mail-merge is what they call it when you write a form letter, and it puts the
person's name in each letter, sending it separately, instead of sending everyone something that says
“Dear Music Industry Professional” or “Hey everyone!”. You can even use these on a small level.
Sometimes you need to email ten guitarists to see who wants a gig. Mail-merge would let you easily
personalize those ten emails.
What program? I don't know. I used to recommend some, but times change so fast, new
things coming out every month, old things disappearing, so instead you're just going to have to find
one yourself.
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Meet three new people every week
One of the best books about the music business was called “Making It in the New Music Business”
by James Riordan.
He suggested that, as an aspiring musician (or producer/agent/writer/etc.) - you make a point to
meet three new people in the music industry every week. (And, as he says, not just
burned-out guitarists.)
Imagine that! Three new people every single week - people that could actually help your career! In
a year from now you'll have relationships with over 150 new people that are potential “lottery
tickets” - and hopefully the interest is mutual. (Meaning - always keep in mind how YOU can help
someone, not just how they can help you.)
The thing is, you have to *develop* these relationships. Put them on your A, B, or C list.
Stay in touch. Go beyond the introduction, and really get to know these people, what they're looking
for in business and life, what they're interested in, and how you can help them.
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Always think how you can help someone
As you're meeting all of these people in your life and career, always keep in mind how you can
help someone. You should practically meditate on it before contacting them.
There must be someone you know that is exactly what they're looking for. There must be some
resource you've got that would really make their day. Some favor you can do.
An article you read in this morning's paper might be of particular interest to someone you met last
summer. Cut it out and mail it to them. A film/TV music supervisor might mention she's getting
married and is looking for a reggae band. You don't do reggae, but with your database you can help
her find a great band that does.
Maybe you spent 3 months shopping for a laptop. Maybe a booking agent you met today
mentioned that he's looking for a new laptop. Send him a fax or email with all the best info you
found.
Give give give, and sometimes you will receive.
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Get personal
Some people, out of the thousands I know, actually contact me on a regular basis. I consider them
friends.
But some of those always stick with a strict business “script” when they call: “Hi I'm calling to
check in to see how sales are doing, if you need more inventory, how things are going.”
Others seem to have the gift of smalltalk. I don't know how they do it, but soon we're talking about
my girlfriend, their dogs, about yoga, high school, Japan, and something that happened on the way
to work today.
Now - when an opportunity comes up to help someone - (say, a Film/TV person I know
calls up and asks “who's good in that standard rock genre?”) - guess who comes to mind first?
The person who hasn't departed from the standard business call, or the person who went beyond?
Be a real person. Be a friend.
Don't always be selling yourself. You'll be like that annoying uncle who shows up at the family
reunion to try to sell everyone on life insurance.
Have the confidence to know that being a cool person, being a friend, will sell you more than being
a pushy salesperson.
People do business with people they like. With their friends, whenever possible.
Don't be afraid to ask for favors
Don't be afraid to ask for favors.
Some people LIKE doing favors.
It's like asking for directions in New York City. People's egos get stroked when they know the
answer to something you're asking. They'll gladly answer to show off their knowledge.
One bold musician I know called me up one day and said, “I'm coming to New York in 2 months.
Can you give me a list of all the important contacts you think I should meet?” What guts! But I
laughed, and did a search in my database, emailing him a list of 40 people he should call, and
mention my name.
Sometimes you need to find something specific: a video director for cheap, a PA system you can
borrow for a month, a free rehearsal studio. Call up everyone you know and ask! This network of
friends you are creating will have everything you want in life.
Some rare and lucky folks (perhaps on your “band mailing list”) have time on their hands and
would rather help you do something, than sit at home in front of the TV another night. Need help
doing flyers? Help getting equipment to a show? Go ahead and ask!
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Small gifts go a long way
10 years ago, I worked at Warner/Chappell Music Publishing. Being the largest music publisher in
the world, I dealt with thousands of songwriters. Most of them I can't remember their names.
Three times, and only three times, I got a surprise gift from a songwriter.
James Mastro, a great songwriter from Hoboken, got me a cool little “Mother Mary” keychain when
he was touring in Spain.
Gerry DeVeaux, a successful R&B / dance songwriter, got me some funky plastic fish with lights
inside, like Christmas ornaments, when he went to the Bahamas.
And Jane Kelly Williams got me a red sweatshirt from the Gap, for helping her out with a demo
session. I was thrilled.
Can you believe I remember these details 10 years later? Believe it!
A little gift you might give to someone, as you climb the ladder of success, may go a long long way,
and mean a lot to someone down the road.
If any of the three people above called me today to ask a favor, you can be sure I'd stop what I was
doing to help them out.
Be generous. It will be returned. As you stay in the music biz, you're going to see the same faces
for years to come.
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Life is like High School
Last week a musician wrote an email to the effect of, “I've been working hard - why isn't it paying
off?”
Keep this in mind: life is like high school.
When you're in high school, it's ALL about popularity, clicks, being cool, what you wear, what
parties you're at, etc.
When you go to college, the focus shifts to academic achievement.
Many people get out of college thinking the world will be like that. “The harder you work, the more
you will be rewarded.” But it's not.
Life is like high school. It's all about who you know, how socially charming you are, what scene
you're in, what you wear, what parties you're at, flirting, and being cool.
But you can make this work in your favor.
When I think about every big leap that happened in my career, it was always because of “someone I
knew.” Always friends of friends. People in some position of power who I kept in touch with, did
favors for, and got the same in return.
Go meet 3 people each week you think could help your career. Be a good friend. Make it mutually
beneficial, not some suck-up relationship. There's always some resource you have that can totally
help out someone who may be “above” you on the ladder. Invite a NEW friend to a party or show
you know about.
For years I was booked solid, touring the college market, making way too much money, not because
I'm GOOD, but because we made a FUN, ENTERTAINING, “COOL” show. We won the popularity
contest.
I think it's possible to approach the music business as if you were a new kid going to a new high
school, and wanted to be the most popular kid in class. Sounds shallow, but it works.
Ask Andy Warhol, or someone like Miles Davis - who made
great music but knew how to play his image : to be cool.
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Shining example: Rayko
At a music conference in Las Vegas, summer 1999. Hundreds of artists there but one made the
biggest impression on me. I noticed her first because she's gorgeous, but the other stuff quickly
made that unimportant - and there's an inspiring lesson in here.
Her name is Rayko. Japanese musician from L.A.
She was going up to every single person at the conference introducing herself, getting into great
conversations, finding out what everyone does, taking notes. Every time someone handed her a
business card, she grabbed her pen and wrote down notes about that person on the back, to help
her remember.
She probably befriended hundreds of people in 3 days, including me.
Whenever she has a show on the road, she goes in the day before to do countless meet-and-greet
interviews, in-store appearances, flyer-promotion, and every other promotion tool you've ever
heard of. She gets right into the crowd after every show to sell CDs and sign up hundreds of people
to the mailing list.
She answers every fan letter with a hand-written letter. She immediately sends a thank-you card to
every biz contact she meets.
And all the while, she's constantly practicing and writing and recording new music.
I was on the receiving end of this when, the very first day back from the conference, she called me
in New York to sign up to CD Baby. Maybe she called 200 people that day, but she knows how to
make you feel like you're the most important one. (2 days later her whole package with CDs, shirts,
videos, and purple handwritten letter were at my door.)
I've heard this same skill is behind the success stories of Garth Brooks, Madonna, and Bill Clinton,
too. Meeting everyone. Remembering everyone's name. Developing relationships. Following up
and constantly keeping in touch. Treating everyone special.
Who knows if this is just part of her personality, or if it's a trait she developed because her career is
THAT important to her.
If you care about your music, and you really REALLY want - in your heart and bones - to become
incredibly successful at it, you're going to have to go meet tons of people and “plug away” with
tireless drive, and joyful determination every waking moment.
Meet every person you can and treat them the way you'd love to be
treated.
And still somehow balance this with making the best music you can
and constantly improving your musical skills.
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Make these habits, and they won't seem hard
All of these suggestions may sound exhausting to you.
But keep that database at your fingertips. Get used to taking 1 minute after a conversation to take
some notes about it. Give some of these ideas a try.
You can probably tell, by reading this, that if you were to actually DO all of these things mentioned,
you'd be much more successful than you are now. The gates of life would swing wide open.
Hard to start, but easy to continue.
Incredibly powerful when done every day. (Like a little river made the Grand Canyon.)
Make these habits, and they won't seem hard.
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More thoughts about people
Give away lots of CDs. But do NOT just toss them away. Make every one count!
Get volunteer friends/ bandmembers/ fans to help call or email and track the results of as many of these as
possible.
Go ahead and ask for favors - be a little bit of a pest. Ask each mag what they'd want to put you on the cover.
Take notes of each conversation.
Keep everyone happy. Don't lose touch. Ask for references. Ask if there's anyone else they know that can help
you. Then contact all THOSE people, and keep doing it.
It's a LOT of emailing and calling. But it means EVERYTHING. (As long as you superhumanly balance this
with making new music and writing great songs.)
I think KEEPING IN TOUCH is THE single most important thing. Here's why:
Whenever I'm talking to someone in the “industry” or have the opportunity to help promote a CD Baby
member, I often find myself hooking up the person who I just got off the phone with. (You know - “Oh I was
just talking with Scott from the band called the Rosenbergs, you should talk to them - he's home right now,
and just told me how well their tour is going!”)
On the flip side, there are 60 people a week or so who submit their CD to CD Baby, I put it in the store, I email
them but they never reply, I send them checks for CDs sold but never hear from them.
I often wonder who these people are that just let a potential fruitful relationship just disappear into
anonymity.
(Do I sell a band called Conundrum? Umm.. let me check the database. Well it says here I do. I don't know
them, though.) And CD Baby is just ONE company!
Imagine if you actually stayed “close” with 100 little companies! Or 1000!! You'd have people
in all corners of the industry everywhere constantly recommending you, referring you,
hooking you up with opportunities, promoting you, etc. You'd be very successful, very soon.
When you're on tour, look up all the people who you've sent CDs to in that area. Meet with them. Sleep at
their house.
Ask everyone's advice. Pick everyone's brain. Hear their thoughts & point of view. Remember it.
Oh, send them a present every now and then. Chad the Dungeon Bunny sent me a bag of Baby Ruths. Guess
who comes to mind first now when people are asking for his kind of music??
God now that I think of it I probably remember every little present anyone has ever given me in my 10 years
being in the music biz. I can count them one hand. It's such a rare wonderful surprise.
On the flip side, I made a friend for life at the top ranks of BMI because I showed up to his office with a pizza
for our meeting. (Luckily he was hungry and never forgot it.)
Radio stations are just people.
Magazines are just people.
Websites are just people.
Record companies are just people.
People like to work with their FRIENDS whenever possible. Be a good friend. Be a real
person, not a slick schmoozer. If you're acting TOO professional in all this “keeping in
touch” then it just sounds fake and will be forgotten.
Oh, and try to sense when they don't like you. Sometimes they just don't like your music, and aren't willing to
help. Don't take it personally. Mark it in your database and move on to the next.
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The Power of Words
sivers.org
Why words matter more than ever
A short description - 10 seconds or less
How to describe your music
Hillbilly Flamenco
Tell people why they should care
Blah blah blah... What NOT to say
Think like a person or poet, not a musician
Have fun - do NOT be corporate
Or you can not talk at all
Why words matter more than ever
On the radio, your music speaks for itself. People hear your music and decide if they like it.
No words were needed to describe it.
In concert, your music speaks for itself. Watching you perform, people appreciate your style
as an artist. No words necessary.
But on the internet, and in print, and in conversation, words matter a LOT.
When people have not yet heard your music, your words describing your music have to be SO
good that it makes people go to the trouble of hearing your music.
Online, the words need to make them go click the links to hear it (and buy it).
In print-media, the words need to make them put down the magazine and go find a way to
hear you.
In conversation, the words need to make them remember enough to go hear you later.
It's a BIG job, but since these are the ways you're going to call attention to your music
(until you're on every radio/TV outlet in the world), you need to learn how to describe your
music. It's not that hard, and it's VERY important.
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A short description - 10 seconds or less
Did you ever see the movie “The Player”?
Hundreds of screenwriters in Hollywood are pitching their movie ideas to the studio executive.
Each one has about 5 seconds to impress him. The ONE sentence they use to describe their story
decides whether the studio will read it or not.
You need to come up with one good sentence to describe your music. It has one goal : MAKE
PEOPLE CURIOUS.
It should not try to describe every note of music you'll ever make. It should not try to justify your
existence on Earth. It only has to describe your music just-enough to make people curious
to hear it.
I described my band as “a cross between James Brown and the Beatles”. Of course not everything I
did sounded exactly like that, but that phrase was just-enough to make hundreds of people want to
hear more. I would see it work, every day, as I told it to people. You'd watch their eyes look up,
watch their face change as they tried to imagine a cross between James Brown and the
Beatles. Then they'd say, “Wow - I have to hear this!”. And that's all I wanted.
The shorter, the better. Give them one good sentence (a few good words), and stop talking. Let
them imagine the rest.
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How to describe your music
How do you come up with one good phrase to describe your music? Here are some ideas:
* Email everyone you know (especially your fans), saying you're trying to come up with a single
phrase to describe your music, and ask their help. Maybe make it a contest.
* Notice what's most unique about you. Do your songs have a recurring theme? Unusual
instrumentation?
* Find a few 14-year-old kids, and treat them to pizza if they'll sit and listen to a few songs, and
describe it for you while waiting for the pizza to arrive.
* Read a music magazine that's describing other people's music you've never heard before.
Notice which phrases make YOU curious to hear more.
* Offer to pay a music writer to help you. This is what they do for a living.
When you've got one you like, start trying it out on people. Watch their face. See if it lights-up.
See if they get curious.
When you've got a great one, you'll know it. Use it for years and years.
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Hillbilly Flamenco
Two words, to describe your music, can change your career.
David Feder and his band Salagua-Azul always wanted to get into big music festivals. They had
been performing for years, and doing OK, but the agents that book music festivals would never give
them a chance.
At a show, a drunk fan said, inbetween songs, “You know what? You guys are HILLBILLY FLAMENCO!”
The crowd laughed, and so did the band. They joked about it again on stage that night,
and again on the drive home.
The next day they started to notice that they all STILL remembered those two words, “hillbilly
flamenco”. It was funny, but described their music well. The crowd liked it. They decided to use it
more often.
They started telling the audience, each time they played, “If you are wondering what kind of music
this is, this is hillbilly flamenco!” And the end of the show, they'd ask the audience, “And when you
tell your friends what kind of music you heard tonight, what kind of music is it?” The crowd would
say, “HILLBILLY FLAMENCO!”
And believe it or not... it worked! People started telling their friends about this band, because it
was so easy (and fun) to describe.
And then, one day, they were talking to one of those booking agents who books festivals, and told
him, “This music is perfect for your festivals. This is hillbilly flamenco!” The booking agent
laughed and said, “Ok - I've GOT to hear this!”
Now David Feder and his band are playing the festivals they always dreamed of. He told me his
career took a definite turn the day they started using those two words to describe their music.
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Tell people why they should care
When asked, most musicians say, “We don't sound like anyone.” Or when asked what kind of
music they play, say, “You can't describe it. Just check it out.”
That's a lazy, inconsiderate, stupid mistake.
Think of it from the other person's point of view: Imagine you saw someone with a business card
that said, “President - Some Company, Inc.” You say, “What kind of business do you do?” - and
they say, “Oh, I don't know. It's not like anything. I can't describe it. You'll just have to check it out!
We're about 20 minutes down that road, and we're only open next Thursday from 11 to 12 at night.”
Would you really get in your car and spend a Thursday night to check it out, if they couldn't even
tell you WHY you should? No!
You have to convince people! Grab their curiosity. Describe what you actually do, in an interesting
way.
Make the wheels in their head turn. Make them taste it, hear it, see it, want it.
Anyone who asks what kind of music you do is giving you a chance to impress them.
Take the opportunity.
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Blah blah blah... What NOT to say
At CD Baby we ask musicians to give a one-sentence description of their style. You'd be surprised
how many artists say, “A sound like no other. A hot new artist for the new millennium. A band
you're sure to enjoy!”
Imagine if a business-owner told you about his company, “We're a top-notch 9-person company.
We believe in service, quality, and dependability. This is a business you're sure to enjoy!”
Would you remember that 1 minute later or give a damn what that business did?
Nope. They lost you.
Think how many people you're losing when you describe your music in a boring, or generic way.
When writing their description, musicians often say “The members grew up in Boston and met in
high school. After the bassist left to pursue another career, they found a replacement who has
solidified the lineup as it stands today. They regularly play the local club scene.”
Imagine a computer store saying, “Our VP of finance graduated from Penn State. We found our
office manager through an employment agency. After our initial marketing director left, we
solidified our lineup as it stands today.”
WHY SHOULD I CARE?!?
Get out of your own skin, and describe things in a way that's interesting to other people, not just
yourself.
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Think like a person or poet, not a musician
When describing your music, PLEASE don't be a musician.
Don't say, “Wonderful harmonies and intricate arrangements. A tight rhythm section and
introspective lyrics!”
Real people don't even understand what that means. That's musician speak.
Think what an office-worker would say to a friend about your music: “It's cute! They have this song
that has a little ”hoop-hoop!“ at the beginning, with that baby voice. It's kinda funky! And he's got
this sexy bedroom voice. Cool video.”
Think what one teenager down at the mall would say to another, when describing what they love
about your CD: “Dude - it's like if Korn hadn't wimped out. It's like Busta Rhymes went metal, but
they're from Mars or somethin. It's slammin. And you gotta see that picture on the inside cover!”
Real people often compare an artist to other famous artists. Real people talk about the overall
“vibe” or sound of something.
Real people DON'T talk about “insightful lyrics” and “wonderful harmonies” and “tight
musicianship”. That's musician-speak.
Play your music for some non-musicians, and ask them what they'd say to a friend about it.
Avoid musician-terms, and learn to describe your music in ways that reach normal
people's emotion and imagination, and your music itself will be that much more likely to
reach and touch people.
Your descriptions of your music should be almost as exciting (or touching, or sad, or shocking)
as the music itself.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Have fun - do NOT be corporate
Never use corporate marketing-speak.
Be weird.
Be a real person.
Sound like one person speaking to one person.
This is a big reason why it's COOL to be indie instead of corporate.
Real people respond better to the weird fun stuff.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Or you can not talk at all
Words got you down? Nothing new to say?
Spend some money on a great photographer.
Calvin Klein showed you don't have to talk and talk and talk.
But if you don't, it's ALL up to the image.
Unless you're in heavy rotation on every radio station, it's not very easy for people to hear your
music without trying. They have to go seek you out, and make an effort to go hear you.
Music is like perfume. You have to convince and persuade people, with your words and images, to
take that initiative, to make an effort, to hear your music.
If you try to just “let the music speak for itself” most people will never hear you.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Tools and Skills
sivers.org
Know the important skills
Promo box on your desktop
Your Interactive Website
Know the important skills
Like proper manners, or knowing how to drive, here are some things in the online world you just
need to know:
1. EMAIL
- Have a good signature file that tells who you are, how to find you, and entices people to click
through to your web address. All in 4 lines or less.
- How to make good subject headers. So when your email is one of 500 in an “IN” box, it will say
exactly what is contained inside, from the other person's point of view.
- How to quote someone's email message back to them. Or not.
- How to subscribe to, post messages to, and unsubscribe from to a mailing list.
- Manners. Spelling. Punctuation. How to turn off your caps lock key, and not use 25 exclamation
points in a row.
- How to communicate personality through these typewriter keys.
- Separate sentences into paragraphs. Reading a computer screen is different from reading a book.
There's no paper to waste - leave plenty of space.
2. DATABASE SKILLS
- Know how to work your “address book” program. How to find people, sort, print, add, remove,
change, and do bigger find commands (how to find all guitarists in the 818 area code)
- Keep it nice and clean and updated. Keep street address separated from the city, state, zip,
country. Don't be sloppy in these early stages.
- Assume you ARE going to get more popular and soon your little address book will need to sort
thousands of people.
- If you get really fancy, track each contact you have with someone: each call, email, visit. It comes
in handy when someone from a year ago calls you up saying, “It's George! Remember?”
3 . WEB SKILLS
- Know how to make an MP3, and how to upload it to a website.
- Sort your bookmarks/favorites into categories/folders so you can find things later.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Promo box on your desktop
The self-promoting musician of the past needed to always have a presskit (with CD and photo)
nearby and ready to send.
The modern self-promoting musician needs to keep a “PROMO BOX” folder on the desktop of your
computer.
It will take you just one hour to put together, and you'll be able to use it again and again and again:
Make a folder on your desktop called “promo box” and put these things inside for quick easy
access:
1. At least one full-length MP3 file of a track from your CD. Encoded at the standard 128k
bitrate. Give it a nice long name, without spaces, so that if anyone runs across it on the web they
know who it is. (Example: RACHAEL_SAGE-sistersong.mp3 ) Preferably have 3-5 songs from
your CD encoded here, ready to go.
2. An entertaining bio written four times, in four different lengths.
- Long long version (over 3 paragraphs. 1-2 pages. exhaustive and rarely used.)
- Medium long version (2 - 4 entertaining and important paragraphs. the top end of what people
will sit and read on the web.)
- Short version ( 1 killer paragraph)
- One-liner ( 1 killer sentence )
3. Quotes from reviews:
- one big text file with every review you've ever gotten, all typed out and credited
- one text file with just the best short quotes from these reviews
4. Graphics, with a few different sizes of each:
- artist photos (studio shot, live shot, up close, far away)
- album cover graphic (big version, small version)
- your logo, if you have one
IF YOU DO THIS, JUST ONCE, then the job of uploading your
information to another website will be painless. You'll just say,
“da-da-da! all done!” and let your MP3s upload while you go
make dinner.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Your Interactive Website
Your website can be your best tool, if you make it communicate with your fans and potential fans,
TWO-WAY.
Your website should get people involved, make them want to introduce themselves, ask questions,
shout out.
YOUR WEBSITE SHOULD:
1. Get their email address! Interact! Make an easy fill-out form. (hint: try a fun question like
“who are you?” or “do you know your own name?”)
2. Encourage them to buy your CD, constantly. It's a great way to start a relationship.
3. Show what's unique about you. Image, quirks, colors, moods.
4. Make the sound clips easy to get to, not buried under layers
5. Answer the obvious questions: who are you, what do you look like, let me hear the music
6. Acknowledge them! Have their pictures on your site. Answer their questions on your site. Show
them they ARE a part of your life.
And make sure you have your own domain name.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Big Strategies
sivers.org
Call the destination, and ask for directions
Put your fans to work
Make your success a we or us. Include everyone.
Photos of your audience on your website
Go where the filters are
Assume the basic sale, and go for quantity
Have someone work the inside of the industry
Be a novice marketer, not an expert
Extreme results = extreme actions
Stay In Over Your Head
If this is draining your energy, please stop!
Call the destination, and ask for directions
Work backwards.
Define your goal (your final destination) - then contact someone who's there, and ask
how to get there.
If you want to be in Rolling Stone magazine, pick up the phone, call their main office in New York
City, and when the receptionist answers, say “Editorial, please.” Ask someone in the editorial
department which publicists they recommend. Then call each publicist, and try to get their
attention. (Hint: Don't waste Rolling Stone's time asking for the publicist's phone number. You
can find it elsewhere. Get off the phone as soon as possible.)
If you want to play at the biggest club in town, bring a nice box of fancy German cookies to the club
booker, and ask for just 5 minutes of their advice. Ask them what criteria must be met in order for
them to take a chance on an act. Ask what booking agents they recommend, or if they recommend
using one at all. Again, keep your meeting as short as possible. Get the crucial info, then leave
them alone. (Until you're back, headlining their club one day!)
I know an artist manager of a small unsigned act, who over the course of a year, met with the
managers of U2, REM, and other top acts. She asked them for their advice, coming from the top,
and got great suggestions that she's used with big results.
In other words:
Call the destination, and ask for directions.
You'll get there much faster than just blindly walking out your front door, hoping you arrive
someday.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Put your fans to work
You know those loyal few people who are in the front row every time you perform?
You know those people that sat down to write you an email to say how much they love your music?
You know that guy that said, “Hey if you ever need anything - just ask!”
Put them to work!
Often, people who reach out like that are looking for a connection in this world. Looking for a
higher cause. They want to feel they have some other purpose than their stupid accounting job.
You may be the best thing in their life.
You can break someone out of their drab life as an assistant sales rep for a manufacturing company.
You might be the coolest thing that ever happened to a teenager going through an unpopular
phase. You can give them a mission!
If they're a fan of your music, invite them over for pizza to spend a night doing a mailing to
colleges. Go hit the town together, putting concert flyers on telephone poles. Have them drive a
van full of friends to your gig an hour away. Have the guts to ask that “email fan” if she'd be into
going through the Indie Contact Bible and sending your presskit to 20 magazines a week.
Soon you can send them out on their own, to spread the gospel message of your amazing music,
one promo project at a time. Eventually, as you grow, these people can be the head of “street
teams” of 20 people in a city that go promote you like mad each time you have a concert or a new
CD.
Those of us busy busy people may think, “How could ANYone do this boring work?” But there are
plenty of people out there with time on their hands that want to spend it on something besides TV.
Don't forget that to most people, the music business is
pure magic. It's glitter and fame and fantastically romantic.
Working with you might be the closest they get to that magical
world of music. Give someone the chance to be on the
inside circle. Put 'em to work.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Make your success a we or us. Include everyone.
If you're putting your fans to work, let them know they're on the “inside family” now. That if you
hit it big, THEY hit it big.
No need to make specific promises. It's a feeling more than a contract.
Same with your casual fans and email list. Make them part of an exclusive club. Bring them inside.
Everybody wants to be able to say they hung out with ____(your name here)_____ when she was
just playing little clubs in her hometown, and now look at her!
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Photos of your audience on your website
Secret trick to get people in the audience to sign your mailing list AND be part of your inside club.
At every show you do, from now on, bring a camera and a notebook.
About halfway through your show, when everyone is having fun, take pictures of the audience,
from the stage. Tell them to smile, make a face, hold up their beer, whatever.
Afterwards, pass around the notebook and say, “Please write down your email address in this
notebook, and in a few days, I'll email you, telling you where you can see YOUR goofy picture on
my website.”
At the end of the night, before bed, write up a journal/diary/memoir of that show. Scan and
upload all their pictures onto a page of your website. Dedicate a page of your site about that show,
with the diary, photos, and a little link on that page that says, “If you were at this show, please
introduce yourself!” - so people can contact you.
Email everyone that was there that night. Of course EVERYone will go look at your site. How
could they not? People are infinitely more interested in themselves than they are in
you.
Stay in touch with them all!
The other hidden idea in this is to make every show a Real Event. A Big Deal. Something worth
documenting. This will get you out of the habit of thinking of it as “just another gig.” Because for
many of your fans, it's not. It's the most fun they've had all month.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Go where the filters are
Have you been filtered? If not, you should start now.
With the internet, there are more “media outlets” than anyone can digest. People in the music biz
get piles of CDs in the mail everyday from amateurs. Many of them are crap.
You need to go through filters. Places that reject many, only letting the best of the
best pass through.
As long as you're good (really good) - what you want are MORE filters! More obstacles... More
hurdles...
Because these things weed out the “bad” music. Or the music that isn't ready. Or the people that
weren't dedicated.
I worked at Warner Brothers for 3 years. I learned why they never accept unsolicited demos: It
helps weed out the people that didn't do enough research to know they have to go meet managers
or lawyers or Jimmy Iovine's chauffeur FIRST in order to get to the “big boys.” (Deal with the
'gatekeepers' to get to the mansion.)
If you really believe in your music, have the confidence to put yourself into those places
where MOST people get rejected. (radio, magazines, big venues, agents, managers, record
labels, promoters...)
Because each gate you get through puts you in finer company.
(“the best of the best”)
And you'll find many more opportunities open to you once
you've earned your way through a few gates.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Assume the basic sale, and go for quantity
My first job ever was telemarketing: renewing people's subscriptions to Time magazine. We worked
on commission.
When I started, I used to meekly ask, “Um. Hello. Your subscription is coming up for renewal. I'm
wondering if, maybe, perhaps, you might want to renew it again this year?”
After three weeks, they were going to fire me, because I was doing terribly. But the manager
(Denise Koss) thought I was cute so she let me listen in to the top salesman on the floor. Here's
how his calls would go. Pay attention to the difference in approach.
“Hi there this is George Amos from Time Magazine, and I'm calling to renew your subscription
today. I notice you've been wasting money by renewing only one year at a time, $54/year, and I
hate to see you waste money like that, so let's get you in for a three-year subscription, bringing your
price down to only $25/year. That way, as the price of that one-year renewal keeps going up each
year, it won't matter to you, because you were smart and got in at the half-price rate for three years.
Now are you still at ___(their address)___?”
Now if they complained about the price of a three-year subscription, he'd say, “Ok I can tell you'd
rather just do it for a two-year subscription, then.” If they complained about that, he'd say, “Alright
- we'll do just a one-year renewal.”
It was amazing that almost every phone call he made renewed, whereas I would call 200 people
and none of them would renew. After listening in to a few of his calls, though, I tried it myself, and
became the top salesman on the floor. It's easy. Just get into the right mindset. You'd be surprised
what a huge difference it makes.
A band on CD Baby called Celldweller did this wonderfully. When their new album came out, they
emailed their fans and said, “Our new album is out tomorrow, and nobody anywhere has it yet. If
you buy only one, the price is $12. But if you buy more than one, the price is only $9 each. So buy
10. It will cost you $90, but you'll be able to sell them to your friends for $12 each and make a
profit.”
What's amazing is most of them did! Most who didn't buy 10 would apologize at the end of the
order form, saying, “Sorry I don't have $90 now, but I'll buy 5 copies today and come back for 5
more soon.”
They sold 3000 CDs in no time at all.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Have someone work the inside of the industry
I prefer to ignore the music industry. Maybe that's why you don't see me on the cover of Rolling
Stone.
One of my only regrets about my own band was that we toured and got great reviews, toured and
got lots of airplay, toured and booked some great-paying gigs. BUT... nobody was working the
inside of the music business.
Nobody was connecting with the “gatekeepers” to bring us to the next level. We just kept doing the
same gigs.
Maybe you're happy on the outside of the biz. (I know I am.)
But if you want to tour with major-label artists, be on the cover of national magazines, be in good
rotation on the biggest radio stations in town, or get onto MTV, you're going to have to have someone
working the inside of the biz.
Someone who loves it. Someone who is loved by it. Someone persuasive who gets things done 10
times faster than you ever could. Someone who's excited enough about it, that they would never be
discouraged.
Like your love of making music. You wouldn't just “stop” making music because you didn't get a
record deal would you? Then you need to find someone who's equally passionate about the business
side of music, and particularly the business side of YOUR music.
It IS possible. There are lots of people in this world.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Be a novice marketer, not an expert
Get to the point of being a novice marketer/promoter/agent. Then hand it to an expert.
Moby, the famous techno artist, says the main reason for his success was that he found experts to
do what they're best at, instead of trying to do it himself.
(Paraphrased:) “Instead of trying to be a booking agent, publicist, label, and manager, I put my
initial energy into finding and impressing the best agent, publicist, label, and manager. And I just
kept making lots of the best music I could.”
If you sense you are becoming an expert, figure out what your real passions in life are and act
accordingly.
Maybe you're a better publicist than bassist. Maybe you're a better bassist than publicist.
Maybe it's time to admit your weakness as a booking agent, and hand it off to someone else.
Maybe it's time to admit your genius as a booking agent, and commit to it full-time.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Extreme results = extreme actions
You don't get extreme talent, fame, or success without extreme actions.
Be less leisurely.
Throw yourself into this entirely.
Find what you love and let it kill you.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
Stay In Over Your Head
Stay in over your head.
Whatever you're doing in your life right now, if it's become a routine, it's time to move on to
something new and scary.
Abraham Maslow wrote, “Life is an ongoing process of choosing between safety (out of fear and
need for defense) and risk (for the sake of progress and growth): Make the growth choice a
dozen times a day.”
Whatever scares you, go do it.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org
If this is draining your energy, please stop!
“Whatever scares you, go do it.” <-- one of my favorite slogans
If something scares you in an excited way, (something that *gives* you energy) - that's a good sign.
BUT IF SOMETHING IS MAKING YOU MISERABLE AND DRAINING YOUR ENERGY,
PLEASE STOP.
Life is telling you that is not the path for you.
QUICK EXAMPLE: Biggest mistake I ever made in my life:
My band was doing well. A well-meaning lawyer that I trusted told me that I should start a record
label. “Find and sign 3 other artists. Do for them what you did for your band. Then sell the whole
label for a million bucks!!”
I walked out of his office with slumped shoulders, miserable, saying, “yeah... I guess he's right...”
With a long face, I plopped in a chair back home and thought, “Oh man... do I really have to do
this?” But because I trusted him, I spent 2 years of my life trying!
It wasn't what came natural to me, and so of course it was a failure, AND since I had spent so much
time on it, the thing that I WAS good at (making music) was being ignored!!
I wish I would have paid attention to my lack of enthusiasm and stuck with the things that excited
me.
Please don't make the same mistake.
If anything I'm talking about here makes you tired instead of wired, just don't do it!
Stick with what excites you. That's where you'll find your success.
Please share freely - Credit Derek Sivers - Link to sivers.org

2010-02-19T10:55:00.001-08:00

2010-02-18T19:14:00.000-08:00

Move this video to the top of youtube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXd_uYnn3KY

2009-10-12T22:33:00.001-07:00

2009-08-26T21:22:00.000-07:00

2009-08-13T06:24:00.000-07:00

If all was spelled out - exactly what we are supposed to do, when, how, where, A to Z -what room would be left for your own accomplishments?

2009-08-03T17:20:00.001-07:00

2009-07-13T08:01:00.000-07:00

Identity

You need to decide what you are. If you believe yourself to be angel, be prepared for some disappointment. If you think of yourself as a beast, you may well become depressed.

Best to know you are human. Stay away from situations you can't handle, and face up to the mess when you fall down. That's even higher than the angels.

2009-07-12T08:23:00.000-07:00

Late year!
One thing for sure in Canada is you can count on miserable weather!
When the day is nice people come out, crawling from under their beds.
lavishing in sunny weather. Spring in the air! The way things are going;looks like summer will be here in Aug./Sept. Oct. so look for late heat-waves!
In the mean time don;t forget your umbrella!

2009-06-30T07:41:00.000-07:00

G-d with the Oppressed

By Tzvi Freeman

Visit the prisoners and bring them some happiness. Even if they are guilty, even if, in your eyes, they deserve whatever misery they have. Bring them joy.

G-d is always with the oppressed. Even if the oppressor is righteous and the oppressed is wicked, our sages tell us, G-d is with the oppressed.

2009-06-18T07:21:00.000-07:00

Kosher Yearnings

By Tzvi Freeman

A man sits and yearns for a thing he should not have. The yearning in itself is good - a man who does not yearn is not alive. To live is to yearn. But the form this yearning has taken, this is death itself.

So the form must be crushed. Extinguished like the embers of an abandoned campfire in a dry forest. Once that is done, the inner yearning, the flame of life that burns inside, can be freed.

2009-06-17T07:27:00.001-07:00

One whose wisdom is greater than his deeds, what is he comparable to? To a tree with many branches and few roots; comes a storm and uproots it, and turns it on its face... But one whose deeds are greater than his wisdom, to what is he compared? To a tree with many roots and few branches, whom all the storms in the world cannot budge from its place.

- Ethics of the Fathers 3:17

2009-06-10T07:42:00.000-07:00

Related to wonder
By Tzvi Freeman
Yes, there is wonder in the world, but we do not stand on the outside with gaping mouths. This wonder, it is our father. We are its child. It is our G-d and we are its people.

2009-06-08T12:28:00.000-07:00

Schmelvis is now officially working with the Hora-Boys!!!
The dynamic trio have conquered fans locally and abroad.
The Hora Boys are Mike Rien: keyboard/percussion/drums, vocals &
Jason Lipstein:Sax/clarinet, flute & vocals.

There is only one way to enjoy the fabulous trio:

BOOK THE ACT!!!!!!!

So if you are having a festive activity, we're here!!!!

2009-06-06T20:17:00.000-07:00

Yeah, you have my vote!!!!

Can you imagine working for a company that has a little more than 300
Employees and has the following statistics?
30 have been accused of spousal abuse.
9 have been arrested for fraud.
14 have been accused of writing bad cheques.
95 have directly or indirectly bankrupted at least 2 businesses.
4 have done time for assault.
55 cannot get a credit card due to bad credit.
12 have been arrested on drug related charges.
4 have been arrested for shoplifting.
16 are currently defendants in lawsuits.
62 have been arrested for drunk driving in the last year!
Can you guess which organization this is?
It is the 301 MP's in the Canadian Parliament.
The same group that cranks out hundreds of new laws designed to keep
the rest of us in line!
Which one did you vote for?
TAKEN FROM THE OTTAWA CITIZEN

2009-06-04T07:27:00.000-07:00

Wise Contraption

By Tzvi Freeman

When the telephone was first introduced, a wise man was asked, "What can we learn from this contraption?"

He answered, "That which is spoken here is heard there."

So they asked, "And from the telegraph?"

He replied, "Every word costs."

"And from the train?"

"One minute of hesitation and you could lose the whole journey."

2009-05-31T20:08:00.000-07:00

Eminem's 'Relapse'...

beats are catchy and makes you wanna shake your booty! The words are a plethora
of poetic-diarrhea filled with selfish, diabolical, violent serial killer,offering nothing but self-distractive dead-end solutions to a world seemed devoid of values!

Eminem's come-back 'Insane' is just that, a clear depiction of a'sick-America'and paying the price!
Eminem's constantly fighting addiction 'swallowing a Klonopin while nodding in and out!' He's out of whack and he blames his momma: 'Valium was in everything: food that I ate,The water that I drank, fucking peas on my plate," and his sick behavior is her doing!
There is nothing new here it is Eminem all over again whinning once more, irresponsible, blaming everything on his momma for growing up in a cruel cruel Detroit. Yes, he might be the new
Elvis but i wish the message was positive and uplifting rather then dark and depressing cause after all, lots of people listen to the kid!!!

2009-05-31T14:48:00.000-07:00

Urgent Yearning

By Tzvi Freeman

At the base of our Torah and our Jewish psyche lies an incessant urgency. Not just a sense that things are not the way they should be, but a relentless yearning that things should heal this very moment. Relentless, because it refuses to decay with time or to fade with disappointment. In the morning, we make our plea as though unable to tolerate another moment. And as evening comes, we demand again as though morning never passed.

We live on the verge of eternity. May we arrive now.

2009-05-28T07:25:00.000-07:00

Interface

By Tzvi Freeman

Torah is the interface between the Infinite and creation. On the outside, it speaks the language of humankind. On the inside is depth without end.

Grasp either end and you have nothing. Grasp both and you have G-d Himself.

2009-05-27T07:20:00.000-07:00

Talking to Himself

By Tzvi Freeman

He talks with Himself, entertained by His own thoughts. The thoughts imply a background, which is the world. But the Torah, those are the thoughts themselves.

And we? Our souls are the self with whom He speaks.

2009-05-26T10:32:00.000-07:00

Playing With Our Minds

By Tzvi Freeman

If He had made the world a complete and utter mystery, we would have no path to know Him. And if all would fit together like a neat and tidy grandfather clock, we would not know that there is anything more to know.

So He took His raw, unknowable Will and cloaked it in wisdom, from which He formed a world. We approach the wisdom only to find ourselves swimming in an unfathomable ocean of wonders.

Now it is within the mind's grasp to know that no thought can grasp Him.

2009-05-25T07:43:00.000-07:00

The Process
By Tzvi Freeman

Torah is not about getting to the truth. When you are immersed in Torah, even while pondering the question, even while struggling to make sense of it all, you are at truth already.

Torah is about being truth.

2009-05-22T11:11:00.000-07:00

The Unnatural Nature of Things

By Tzvi Freeman

He could have made a world where the nature of each thing may be deduced from its parts. A predictable, orderly world. A world void of wonder. And then we would say, "Things are this way because they must be this way." G-d would be a stranger in His own world.

Instead, at each step another surprise greets us, a new way of being emerges unexpected from everything we knew before. Until we must conclude that things are the way they are for no particular reason -- other than His desire that they be that way.

He has made a world that has room for Him, because its nature is wondrous.

2009-05-21T07:07:00.000-07:00

Spiritual Disdain

By Tzvi Freeman

As spiritual beings in a material world, we engage it in a posture of descent, in compromise, with a lessening of light. That is why spiritual people disdain all interaction with this world, and strive to minimize it at all costs.

Yet the Torah provides an interface with the world that is more G-dly than the soul itself. How does it accomplish this? By unlocking the spark of G-d within each thing.

2009-05-20T05:39:00.000-07:00

Music Music Music!!!!!

Give me strength! Give me music! G-d give me strength!!!!
There are some powerful positive forces in the universe
where one can draw power from and Chopin's music is definitely one!!!

What a beautiful day!

The sidewalks are so clean!
The cobblestones await and anticipate each step
here in old montreal! The air is crisp!
What a pleasure!

Enjoy your day!!!

2009-05-18T15:56:00.000-07:00

Infinite & Intimate

By Tzvi Freeman

Does G-d then laugh? Is He so vulnerable as to cry over failure and rejoice in success? Does He that brings heaven and earth into existence truly love with the passion of a frail human being? Can the Infinite Light feel regret, just as a creature trapped within the tunnel of time?

But G-d desired Man with all his struggles. The proof: We are here. And G-d looked down from His lofty realm beyond love and laughter and passion and remorse, down into this thought of a human being, and He said, "Shall he then be alone in his place and I in mine? Is this oneness?"

So He arranged a meeting place, in the boundless emotions that are the fabric of Man's soul and are reflected within the bowels of the Infinite Light. So that in love and laughter and compassion and awe and beauty, Man and G-d could find one another, and neither would be alone.

2009-05-17T08:13:00.000-07:00

Unimaginable Journeys

By Tzvi Freeman

Each journey the soul travels takes her higher.

There are journeys that are painful, because there is struggle. Struggle to wrestle out of one place to reach another, struggle to discern the good from the bad and put each in place, struggle to face ugliness and replace it with beauty. But in each of these, a sense of purpose overwhelms the pain and brings its own joy.

Then there are journeys that seem to have no purpose. Where nothing appears to be accomplished, all seems futile. There is no medicine to wash away the pain.

But every journey the soul travels takes her higher. It is only that in some, the destination is a place so distant, so lofty, she could never have imagined. Until she arrives.

2009-05-15T06:34:00.000-07:00

Flight

By Tzvi Freeman

When Man desired to fly, two paths lay before him: To create vehicles lighter than air, or to use the air's resistance to his advantage. In the end, the second path proved more successful.

It turns out that when you wish to fly above, resistance is to your advantage. In fact, it carries you higher than the angels.

2009-05-13T07:10:00.000-07:00

Maturity of the Soul

By Tzvi Freeman

The ultimate elevation of the soul is to find it has purpose. To discover that it is not here simply to be, but to accomplish, to heal, to make better. In that moment of discovery, the soul graduates from being G‑d's little child to become His representative.

2009-05-11T08:04:00.000-07:00

Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

To be envious of someone is a negative commandment. In fact, it is one of the
ten original sins and one which we should guard ourselves from falling into and veer
away from b/c it can have a spiral of negative affects. That and greed can probably shake hands.
Yes, it is true if you look at your material life you most likely have everything you
need!

2009-05-08T09:14:00.001-07:00

However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

Earth is only traveling through our solar system at 178.000km per hour!
If it were to deviate or slow down by one kilometer we'd all fly off into space: G-d Forbid! But just as earth is moving forward, hence constantly changing, so
do our situation good or bad! Good Shabbos!!!!!!!!

2009-05-07T08:25:00.000-07:00

Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

Every individual is given just enough according to what they can handle.
It's like a serum to the wound. It's a give and take. Some people compare
their lives to others but we cannot because you do not know what it is like
to walk in anothers' shoes! The journey must be enjoyed and as you clear the rocks
from under your feet in order to walk forward, do it all with a smile!!!

My guitar is in the shop today for minor repair; Spring cleaning!
My left hand is a little sprained from smacking the badmington birdy a little
too hard..hehe!

2009-05-05T07:35:00.000-07:00

Schmelvis & The Hora Boys performance tonight on CJAD 800am tonight at 9:15pm...http://www.elvisschmelvis.com

2009-05-04T07:18:00.000-07:00

No Need for a Middleman!!!

By Tzvi Freeman

He doesn't need you to report on the dirt in His world. He is quite aware of its existence, He put it there and doesn't really care to hear about it.

He sent you here to search out the jewels hidden in the mud, clean them and polish them until they shine. And when you bring them to Him, the angels make a crown of them for Him, saying, "Look what Your children have made for You out of the mud!"

2009-04-30T07:39:00.000-07:00

Detachment

By Tzvi Freeman

You may consider yourself a single entity, but your personage is actually composed of multiple components, each capable of detaching itself from the others. Intellect can go off on its own journey happily detached from emotion. Emotion can detach itself from action. And the soul can fly high, forgetting altogether that it has anything to do with your down-to-earth life.

When you eat your meal with mindfulness, do business with a conscience, treat a cranky child with loving patience -- in all these things a harmony of parts is achieved from which the entire person benefits.

2009-04-29T08:26:00.000-07:00

Comets anyone?

A new study by researchers at Tel Aviv University in Israel has suggested that comets might have provided the elements for the emergence of life on our planet.
While investigating the chemical make-up of comets, Professor Akiva Bar-Nun of the Department of Geophysics and Planetary Sciences at Tel Aviv University found they were the source of missing ingredients needed for life in Earth's ancient primordial soup.

"When comets slammed into the Earth through the atmosphere about four billion years ago, they delivered a payload of organic materials to the young Earth, adding materials that combined with Earth's own large reservoir of organics and led to the emergence of life," said Professor Bar-Nun.

It was the chemical composition of comets that allowed them to kickstart life, he added.

Using a one-of-a-kind machine built at Tel Aviv University, researchers were able to simulate comet ice, and found that comets contain ingredients necessary for providing the basic nutrients of life.

Specifically, Prof. Bar-Nun looked at the noble gases Argon, Krypton and Xenon, because they do not interact with any other elements and are not destroyed by Earth's oxygen.

These elements have maintained stable proportions in the Earth's atmosphere throughout the lifetime of the planet, he explained.

"Now, if we look at these elements in the atmosphere of the Earth and in meteorites, we see that neither is identical to the ratio in the sun's composition. Moreover, the ratios in the atmosphere are vastly different than the ratios in meteorites which make up the bulk of the Earth," said Bar-Nun.

"So we need another source of noble gases which, when added to these meteorites or asteroid influx, could change the ratio. And this came from comets," he added.

During the comets' formation, the porous ice trapped gases and organic chemicals that were present in outer space.

"The pattern of trapping of noble gases in the ice gives a certain ratio of Argon to Krypton to Xenon, and this ratio - together with the ratio of gases that come from rocky bodies - gives us the ratio that we observe in the atmosphere of the Earth," said Bar-Nun.

Thus, the arrival on Earth of comets and asteroids led to the necessary ratio of materials for organic life, "which eventually were dissolved in the ocean and started the long process leading to the emergence of life on Earth," he added.

2009-04-28T14:33:00.000-07:00

Forgive everyone for everything.

Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment. Enjoy the day, plan your day by saying: 'My purpose is to________________ today. I am thankful for_________________."
Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Now go out there and 'Try to make at least three people smile each day.'

2009-04-27T07:13:00.000-07:00

Decisions

By Tzvi Freeman

There is no such thing as an easy decision. G-d put you on this earth to make choices and it's going to be hard.

Real choices are when there are two paths and both appear attractive. Only by choosing to look deeper can you determine which path leads to life.

2009-04-26T10:54:00.000-07:00

Getting Real

By Tzvi Freeman

To know that this world is not some wild jungle where whoever is stronger or richer or smarter can abuse and destroy without regard for those beneath them -- this is not a matter of religion or faith, particular to one people or group of believers. This is the underlying reality -- that this world has a Master, and it is not any of us.

A peaceful society can only endure when it is built upon that which is real.

2009-04-24T06:36:00.000-07:00

Essential Good

'Words from the heart, touch the heart'
Today being Friday it is a day to reflect, to fine tweek our lives, just lie
there in the bath if u can relax and let your thoughts soak in the hot bath water.
Today is a great day to rest for Shabbas is right around the corner.
(Oh, well maybe after 4pm when i finish work)
GOOD SHABBOS!!!!!!!!!!

By Tzvi Freeman

At the core of all our thoughts and beliefs lies the conviction that the underlying reality is wholly good. That evil lies only at the surface, a thin film of distortion soon to be washed away by the waves.

2009-04-23T07:40:00.000-07:00

Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

I cut out coffee out of my diet! It took a lot of will power to do so b/c i've been
an avid coffee drinker for centuries or at least it seems so! Instead, i start my day now with lemon and water/room temperature. I find the combo cleansing for some reason
and it does make me feel better! There is a positive thrust that comes along with it as well!
More and more people are eating right! I see it all around me. Besides food there is yoga, pilates,Krav-Maga (which is Israeli Army self defense training) and all kinds of ways to reduce stress from the everyday 'chorba'or responsibilities on our plate.

I bought 'runner' magazine for the first time and running is something i;m looking to get into...have a great day!

2009-04-22T08:43:00.000-07:00

Stranger no more!

It's a nice Elvis song but it also reminds me of what a positive impact we can have
on the world if we each took it upon ourselves to just do a little more each day
to make a difference. Like opening a door for a stranger as courtesy at a building
front, allowing an elderly or pregnant woman to have our seat on a bus or train
when no seats are available or simply smiling. These acts of goodness may seem futile
perhaps but have can only have a positive affect on the world. Making a difference, showing care and devotion is right up there with 'peace, love and understanding' in my book which is another title of a great song by E.C. Have a great day!!!!

2009-04-21T11:24:00.000-07:00

Panic

By Tzvi Freeman

Panic, confusion and pessimism are the product of a heart gone wild. When the mind holds the heart's reigns, these beasts are replaced with courage, optimism and a drive to go forward. Especially when the guidance comes from the essential wisdom of the mind, the inner eye that perceives the process of creation's renewal at every moment from the Source of All Good. From that perspective, there is reason for joy even at the darkest moment.

2009-04-20T06:07:00.000-07:00

Saw Martin Sexton last night at Cafe Campus and one thing i noticed through-out the entire show is that he looked like he was born to play guitar. He wore the guitar around him like a warm blanket. Sexton uses the guitar fully as a vehicle to express voice, percussion, rhythms and mood. He had the crowd hooked and eating out of his palm with his psychedelic folk-lore sounds and together we all ventured into a 'magical-bluesy, southern Sexton trip' that warmed the heart like a good whiskey in front of a good fire.

2009-04-20T06:01:00.000-07:00

Original Success

By Tzvi Freeman

Before your soul descended to this world, it was known it would succeed. If not in this lifetime, in another, or yet another--eventually it will fulfill its entire mission. And in each lifetime, there will be gains made.

That knowledge itself is the origin of the soul. It is also the origin of all that exists in your world--it is the point of inspiration that brought all things to be. It lies at the essence of all things.

The power is there, and there is nothing that can stand in its way. Your job is no more than to make it real.

2009-04-14T07:38:00.000-07:00

The Freedom Connection

By Tzvi Freeman

We are limited by the very fact that we have human form. There is no freedom in following our whim, only further slavery to our own limited selves. Freedom can only come by connecting to something infinite and beyond us.

And so Moses was told, "When you take the people out from Egypt, you shall all serve G-d on this mountain."

2009-04-13T07:53:00.000-07:00

Faces

By Tzvi Freeman

We, are a single being with many millions of faces.

Know this, for there is no way around it: Whatever one of us is eating, all of us chew it with him. When one of us does an act of G-dly beauty, all of us participate. If one us is suffering, all of us share that pain. When one rejoices, all of us dance and sing.

None of us can say to the other, "It is your fault!" All of us share the blame for each other's failures. And even more so, we share the benefits of each other's good deeds.

2009-04-11T19:32:00.000-07:00

Happy Passover!!!

It's "Matzah-Time" once again! Time to enjoy that parched sandwich with
parsley and Charoset and remind ourselves of the hardship we persevered
in the desert coming out of exile.Every year we come out of exile and are redeemed!
We celebrate this even and after reading the Agaddah we say:"Next year in Jerusalem!"

This is the year!
We are entering 5770!!!!

This is the final year of redemption!

See you at the Kotel in Jerusalem!!!!!

2009-04-08T11:37:00.000-07:00

Today is the day!!!!

It's the first day of the rest of your life! It's you final dinner!
It's your first launch! Make it, give it your best!!!!
today we come out of exile. Today we are fee!
Opportunity is knocking...the rest of your life is in front of you!
Make good things happen!!!!!!
I know you can do it!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-04-07T08:39:00.000-07:00

The World is treating me bad!....

This is the opening line of one of my favorite Beatle songs ever written.
"Can i blame you for this and you for that?"

My father in-law always said that we can always blame the whole
world why things are not working out.
But if you believe that every thing is through the hands of G-d then
we can also learn to always to do 100% everyday and let G-d do that extra 10%.
Everything is for a reason!!!

2009-04-06T13:13:00.000-07:00

Here is a 'quiz sample' i saw on 'facebook'. Now something turned me off
from getting to question number 2. I some how just let it go. Keep in mind that
I;m biased & against these things but regardless, there is something to learn from having a pet dog.

You step out of the front door in the morning and think:
1)Wow, it's such a beautiful day outside - I might go golfing.
2)I wonder where the paper is?
3)Crap, I'm late!
4)I don't feel like going out today.

Each day is a new beginning! I learned that from my dog Webster!
I see how he reacts each morning;wagging his tail, eager to go outside and
greet the day. He also greets people he meets with a smile! Now that is
a great attitude and one to live by!

2009-04-04T19:12:00.000-07:00

Schmelvis's 5 favorite quotes for April 4th!!!

If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

2)If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.

3)Always remember you're unique. Just like everyone else.

4)Your mind not only wanders, it sometime leaves completely.

5)The easiest way to find something lost around the house is buy a replacement.

2009-04-02T21:49:00.000-07:00

If you wait until you find the meaning of life, will there be enough life left to live meaningfully? - The Lubavitcher Rebbe -

Today i was awakened by my cross road! I was lying in bed and in reverie envisioned the almighty. It was something not for the eyes to see but for the mind to conjure for a split second and intuit it and in that passing thought i awoke with my heart quickly throbbing. Today I heard a cute answering machine message: 'we're having an out of the house experience please yada yada'. Every day I talk to G-d and every day G-d talks to me! I know what i have to do!It is always easy to 'leave things for tomorrow' but really we got to do good now! Now have a great Shabbos!!!!!

2009-04-02T05:05:00.000-07:00

No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
Isn't it a fact! Try it! Lie in bed and wait for the phone to ring, wait
for that happy call! Good Luck!

Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.Just move on
from it, remove it like a worn out garb, toss it into the bin of eternity and
start fresh. Say to yourself, Today is the first day of my life!!!

Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does. Some people just take everything so seriously that they never get off
the launching pad. You can't be fully clothed on the diving board.

You are not so important that you have to win every argument. Agree to disagree. How true! Especially with loved ones!

Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about. Your luggage is geared for you and has your name on it. It's the perfect weight just for you! Everyone has luggage. It's geared and measured just right for every traveler!

2009-04-01T15:20:00.000-07:00

Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

Why bother hating anyone? Besides the vibe is so negative so why go there!
Instead concentrate on positive things!!! Use that energy to harbor good thoughts
and follow your action with good thoughts! Sounds difficult to do? Well try it and you will see that you will feel better. It takes one act of goodness to tip the scale and make this world just one act better!

2009-03-31T20:44:00.000-07:00

Try to make at least three people smile each day.

We live and are surrounded by technology. Cellulaire phones are with us 24/7, Computers are saddled in our carry-ons, Flat Screens occupy our homes and are a loud voice to boot and the list goes on. All this is to say that our electronic age has distanced us from nature. In fact, we are so pre-occupied with electronic devices that they are
always in between us humans and we do not even know it or seem to forget. Take for example at coffee houses, i've noticed there is always a laptop in between 2 people or a cell going off and this my friends is the epitomy of the 'plastic age' and what that means inevitably is that we quickly are becoming callous beings devoid of feelings and campassion. Human contact is dwindling and we are like robots, androids and alien beings! We had it coming all along, Aldus Huxley predicted it, Sartre and Orwell too and so as an offset, 'try to make at least three people smile each day'...i think this is a slandered way of fighting the machine and instilling some beautiful humanity into the plastic age which is quickly taking over. Do it today and start doing good!

2009-03-30T18:23:00.000-07:00

New Balance Needed!

It's mind boggling to read news headlines these days and even more so to comprehend them fully without having some kind of a psychotic reaction. Yet as i read them:'Alleged torturer accused in 15,000 deaths' or 'Ousted GM CEO could get $20M package' I see more and more how headlines seem surreal, stretched or maxed but yet unfortunately disturbingly real! Today, we're so overwhelmed with a plethora of information that if the headlines are not bombastic the media believes that we the masses will not abide to read the article. The media world is driven to get our attention.
Yet Media is not about truth, moral or ethics and has never been about that!
The media is about advertising and captivating stretched out headlines to the max and staying alive in a competitive market. And we as an audience supposedly have all grown callous, sick and just tired or indifferent to it all. That is not true!

there is a yearning out there for a new kind of media. A media based on truth rather then distortion. There is an expression that says: 'think good and it will be good'
Yes, terrible things do happen. But why does the media give all the attention to the murderer rather then the victims? Unfortunately,murders happen everyday. Yet, we need a new balance in the media, and a concerted effort to drive out articles for change! More on this later...

2009-03-30T15:44:00.000-07:00

Juno Night In Canada!!!

I saw the Juno's last night hosted by the colourful and funny Russel Peters but the whole 'Juno' thing kind of rubbed me the wrong way! First b/c we're not America and so please try not to emulate American TV because we cannot even come close! We tried to look like the American music awards and failed miserably! Yes, it was nice to see 'Loverboy' honoured but also sad not to see focus on bright & up coming talents. Canada's Juno is small enough to feature a city category or just be more creative. What is disturbing once more, is to see such adulturated focus on 'so called' legendary's like'Nickleback, Bryan Adams &Sarah Mcglaughlin. i imagined what can come next & at that point had to close the TV because I didn't need to see Anne Murray singing the national anthem!

2009-03-29T18:20:00.000-07:00

Settling!

We all have have our day job and we have our dream job!
90% of Canadians dislike their jobs! THe other 10% are unemployed!

'Time is on my side' the Rolling Stones may have sung it
but i do not see Micky getting any younger!

Way back when settlers came here to Canada, they were all mislead.
No one came here for the weather!
The weather was definitely not the selling point!

It must have been sold as 'the land of opportunity'!
Job opportunities!

well right now, as always, there is an opportunity for creative people!

The world is quickly changing and the smart survives!

The time to do it is now!

Canada is thriving. its our little secret!

THe world awaits you!

2009-03-28T21:28:00.000-07:00

A new Start!

"I want to know how people ought to live, not how people used to live!" Gorky

It's a new week! It's almost Passover, the month of Nissan is amongst us, spring is in the air and gigs are starting to pick up! for this year we're learning new material for the shows and i'm quite pleased with the repertoire! (some songs will be disclosed shortly) The days are longer and walking these days is such a pleasure, especially at night! There is nothing like smiling in the midst of a walk just to say, 'thank you G-d for giving me such freedom.' Have a great week!!!!

2009-03-27T05:46:00.000-07:00

Schmelvis's Top 10 Elvis Quotes.

10.The Lord can give, and the Lord can take away. I might be herding sheep next year.

9.That's why I hate to get started in these jam sessions. I'm always the last one to leave.

8.The army teaches boys to think like men.

7. My movements, ma'am, are all leg movements. I don't do nothing with my body.

6.Just because I managed to do a little something, I don't want anyone back home to think I got the big head.

5. I've never written a song in my life. It's all a big hoax.

4.I was an overnight sensation.

3. I think I have something tonight that's not quite correct for evening wear. Blue suede shoes.

1.I was training to be an electrician. I suppose I got wired the wrong way round somewhere along the line."

4. I'm not trying to be sexy. It's just my way of expressing myself when I move around.

2009-03-26T07:42:00.000-07:00

Where is Humanity?
I walked by a homeless man today on my 'daily walk' with the dog. I thought he would ask for change but instead he uttered:" I envy your dog, I would like to sleep on your warm couch, please bring me home." "Hmm, something to ponder," It left me speechless and really nothing to say. But, the man was right in one way; we regard pets or treat pets better then humans. THese days, pets get more respect then humans. A stranded dog would be picked up immediately off the street and brought to a shelter or would be adopted where as a 'homeless' would be left to rot in the street and until sinews are not splattered all over the floor, not a thing would not be done. It's a fact! It happens here in the city quite frequently; a few years back a woman was left to die outside Vendome metro and people just walked by her leaving the authorities to deal with. But no one called 911, everyone thought 'someone else would call' or 'someone already called already' or 'I do not want to get involved.' Luckily, she was was taken to hospital a few days later and survived. But if it was a strayed dog or cat, don't ask! Right away that poor thing would be looked after. So i ask:"What is going on?" and
"Has humanity lost hope in humanity?"

These days, in this economic 'meltdown' lots of friends of mine are felling the crunch and are pleasantly unemployed! This year for some reason, many people have been under the weather. There is 'something' going round;some kind of 'weird virus-infected flu-bug'that is just causing havoc! I myself have been busy coughing up half a lung for the lost few months and now i;m working on the other lung!

I wish everyone who has the flu a full recovery and a great Day!!!!
Have a great weekend-Shabbat Shalom!!!!

2009-03-25T05:26:00.000-07:00

The Core
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It has to come from the core, but we are not masters over that place.

We can barely master our wardrobe--our conscious thought, our words to others, what our hands and feet are doing. Never mind the hidden things within.

But we can do this: We can wash our clothes and bathe our skin in pure waters. We can focus our thoughts, guide our words and clean up our act. Once scrubbed enough that light can pass through, we await the moment when the core awakens.

This is what Moses told his people on their last day together:"The hidden things belong to G-d. But the obvious is for us and our children forever, to do what needs to be done." By Tzvi Freeman

2009-03-23T20:46:00.000-07:00

Nice to be important but more important to be nice!

I was at a gig recently and we were in between sets. I was getting a beer opened when
a young brunette comes up to me and says,'so you're the one?'i took a long sip and looked at her well cropped hair which was her best feature. "So you're a millionaire?" she continued. I was startled by her words and all i could do was utter a low "yeah"and walk away with a chagrin grin. I pondered her words days later because her words only returned to me days later and they bothered me some what. What bothered me is the importance to peg wealth with money. I'm actually happy because i do what i love doing and that is playing in front of live audiences! And the only reason i play is because i cannot do anything else! Actually i can do lots but everything else makes me miserable! I tried to hung my guitar to dry like clothes on a line but to no avail! I was such an aggressive miserable shit that i couldn't stand myself and other couldn't stand me more!
So, here i am doing what i love best;giving myself to audiences. Elvis did the same.
So to you, who ever you are, i hope you found your niche and are doing what you love doing and every night you go to sleep knowing in your heart that you are what you are supposed to be!!!!

2009-03-23T07:54:00.000-07:00

How should i act?!

When our days are done here on earth and we are summoned up stairs to the heavenly courts, the first question asked of us is:"How did you conduct business?" or "were you honest with people?"

From this we can incur that the utmost importance element in our actions or deeds here is not about our relationship with G-d,or our love or devotion to the holy one but how we are with other people!

The world today is a small global village! When we hear bad news we somehow all feel the pain and are negatively affected and of course when we hear good news we are happy and feel positive! My actions affect the world and thus i choose to do good! For example, if i smoke a cigarette and walk down the street then my message to people of the world is:"look at me, smoking is cool, i do not care about the health hazards associated with it, i think everyone should smoke too!' or the story of the person on a boat and is feeling depressed and so he wants to puncture a hole and end his life.
But, there are other people on this boat and so not only is he taking himself down but others with him.
Perhaps, i;m getting ahead of myself here, but all i;m saying is think before you act!

This entire topic reminds me of Elvis! Elvis was a gentle soul, cared about people, his fans and was sensitive to pain and suffering. I heard through Larry Geller that Elvis actually cried over the suffering in this world and it bothered him immensely that he was powerless to do much about it! None the less, Elvis showed compassion to towards the sick, poor and was a giving man!

2009-03-21T20:16:00.000-07:00

The Magic of a hat!!!

I put on my french beret this evening and drove off into the wicked horizon with my guitar in the back seat without a plan or a care in the world and a smile on my face. Staying positive with a smile and making people smile is the key to my ultimate high! To some, buying a lotto ticket is the equivalent of buying hope and a smile. I think driving into a wide horizon with little clouds in the sky and the sun setting up ahead is a wicked view! At that particular moment i felt one with the creator or was it the wind in my face that made me feel that way, i dunno! Well it;s the weekend folks so enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!

2009-03-20T07:26:00.000-07:00

Meditation is a necessity!

'Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to G‑d about what is going on in your life. Buy a lock if you have to.' No matter what, it is recommended to talk and just let it out!. There are times when we feel alone or feel a spiritual void even though
materialistically we might feel content, like after a good meal but life equates change
and we all need to vent because obstacles always come up and so meditation is the way to go!!! You might hit a 'wall', face the 'dead end' or feel nauseous all: 'figuratively speaking' and to me that is just G-D's way of calling us to seat down and have a chat.
After all, who is a better listener out there?

2009-03-19T10:17:00.000-07:00

The Importance of Walking

Each night I take myself walking. No matter what the canadian night
has in store for me, i dress to the occasion and challenge it!
I used to walk with the dog and he
happened to be a great walking companion but these days b/c he is already
too old, frail and just prefers to 'sleep', i thus leave him at home.
Instead, i walk the streets like 'Green day' singing it
alone usually accompanied by the moon at my side. These 45 minute walks have become
therapeutic so much that without them i feel 'unfulfilled' or my day is just
'incomplete'! one last thing, it is important to smile while
walking because this action is a luxury, a necessity & a blessing. Now, go and enjoy!!!

2009-03-18T05:14:00.000-07:00

Twenty-five Wise Principles
By Sholom Ber Dubov

[I found these 25 ideas, preciously wise principles in how to lead a happier life. I thought you'd enjoy them too.

1. Take a 10 - 30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to G‑d about what is going on in your life. Buy a lock if you have to.

3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to________________ today. I am thankful for_________________.

4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.

5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli, almonds & walnuts.

6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.

7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

9. Life isn't fair, but G-d is good.

10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.

14. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this really matter?'

17. Forgive everyone for everything.

18. What other people think of you is none of your business.

19. G‑d heals everything - but you have to ask Him.

20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch!

22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for_______________. Today I accomplished_______________.

24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.

25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings. You'll be smiling before you know it.

2009-03-17T08:00:00.001-07:00

It is nice to be important but more important to be nice!!!!

I read that somewhere on the internet or heard it recently from an associate and thought that to be the most beautiful words to live by! I aspire to make that my life's philosophy! Most people that i come across and deal with are nice and share that same philosophy i think !

Today's thought:

Meditate on a single pool left by the tide and all the life it holds. On a single leaf and all the genius within it. On all the forests of the world, all its seas, and all the life of the skies.

Then meditate that all this He has entrusted in our hands. And each person must say to him or herself: "All this He has placed in my hands alone."

2009-03-16T08:04:00.000-07:00

Start by doing what's necessary, then what's possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.
Francis of Assisi

Today, right now, this minute, is the best time to start what i;ve always dreamed
of doing and making it happen is definetly in my head. I can see that i'm already there!
I've wanted this for so long. A friend always said to me: Dan you gotta 'plan you work & then work your plan."

Throughout the centuries there were men who took first steps down new roads armed with nothing but their own vision.
Ayn Rand

The sole obstacle that stops you from doing what you may think is the 'impossible'
is you. Change the channel. You have the remote and i know you can do it!
The remote is in your hand! Right now is the time to do it!

There are three types of people in this world: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen and those who wonder what happened. We all have a choice. You can decide which type of person you want to be. I have always chosen to be in the first group.
Mary Kay Ash

2009-03-15T08:42:00.000-07:00

Spring is in the air!!!!

What is spring? A time to blossom, a rebirth, a new beginning!
A time where people come out of hibernation with a smile. Every day is like spring!
We should look at each day as a rebirth; as we wake up, we are given a 2nd chance
at the world, a new beginning! Today is the day! Carpe-Diem!!!!!

2009-03-14T13:56:00.000-07:00

Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com

2009-03-13T07:57:00.000-07:00

Friday's & Shabbos around the corner

It comes once a week, that aura of holiness and it enters the world from
somewhere deep and it awakens the living and lifts them so high. It's a time to reflect, a time to rejoice, a time to relax and a time to rebuild hope. It's Shabbos!

____________________________________________________________________
A Point Within

By Tzvi Freeman

Within each of us is a point where all of us meet. And within that point is a place where we are all one simple essence. That is the soul of the moshiach within us.

If so, the person who we will call the moshiach does not need to convince us to follow. He only needs to awaken that sleeping moshiach within each of us. And then we will look and say, "I know this tzadik. He is the spark I feel awake within me."

That is when we will all be liberated we and all the creation.

2009-03-12T18:54:00.000-07:00

There is a wonderful coffee place nestled in the corner of my mind.
In fact, it'll be positioned right between Star-bucks and some kosher beauty
eatery where we all like to stuff our face! This heavenly place is called
'Fabulous-Cup' but as friends like to shorten it too and simply say: Fa-cup!
Why not i;m going to 'Fa-cup' right now, what would u like?

2009-03-11T21:28:00.000-07:00

Online Shopping, Dating or Weight Loss?

I looked around the web for products to buy or sell, or something to get excited about.
All i get is pop ups to buy 'this' or 'that'! Nothing tangible just products to apparently empower the individual pop up in my face! What is going on? People are trying to sell us 'sizzle' but not the 'STEAK'! I do not want to buy sizzle!!!! I'm tired of sizzle but want the real McKoy!!!

Everyone is talking about dating!! Internet Dating is the hottest thing around!!! Couples are divorcing just to see what it is like to be dating on the internet!!!
It's like a fad gone wild but who is gaining from all of this? Businesses, Florists? I dunno!!!!

Meanwhile there is a craze to lose weight while simultaneously there is a consumption war going on to eat everything in sight! THe westernize world is somewhat ill and is eating up everything like a storm and then acting bulimic and wanting to shed it all and lose weight...what is going on? Where is my guitar? Turn up the volume!!!!

2009-03-11T08:00:00.000-07:00

Pushed to the extreme.

We live in the darkest of times, where life is an elastic and is pushed to the extreme.

There will come a time when the wolf will lie with the lamb, when the night will shine, when those who have died shall live.

But the wolf will be a wolf, the night will still be night, and the experience of death shall remain the opposite of life.

For all these G–d made for His glory.

2009-03-10T07:46:00.000-07:00

It is forbidden to say things that may hurt or trick another person

Leviticus 25:17 "You shall not wrong one another and you shall fear your G-d"

This Negative Mitzvah teaches us that we must be very careful not to say anything that may hurt or trick someone else.

Sometimes we don't even realize that what we have said caused another person discomfort.

Here are a few examples:

1) Eli was often late for school because he went to bed so late that he could not get up on time in the morning.

Finally, the principal called him to his office and warned him that his lateness would no longer be tolerated. As a result, Eli decided to stop going to bed late. He made a time schedule and kept to it.

One day, two weeks after Eli had begun to arrive at school on time, one of his classmates said:

"You know, Eli, it's good that you don't come late to school anymore! Now, you won't get punished by the principal!"

Although his classmate may have meant it as a compliment, Eli was embarrassed by his comment. It reminded Eli of his bad habits and made him feel very uncomfortable.

This Negative Mitzvah cautions us not to make remarks or say things that might hurt others, even if we don't intend such things to be mean.

2) A friend asked Sherry to lend her a magic marker, but Sherry was busy using her markers and answered, "I'll be finished in no time. You can have it when I'm done." Soon afterwards, the bell rang and the her friend never got to use the marker.

While Sherry and her classmates rushed down the stairs to recess, Sherry tripped and fell. From behind her, she heard her friend's voice: "Well, sometimes people who aren't very generous get what they deserve."

Her friend might have wanted to encourage Sherry to share, but the Torah does not allow us to say such things and hint to another person that he deserves to be punished.

3) A group of children were roaming up and down the aisles of a stationery store. Every time they found something they liked, they would ask the man at the counter: "How much is this?" "How much is that?" "What is the price on this?" "How much does it cost?" After so many questions, the man finally lost his patience. "Hey kids! Are you really going to buy anything?" The children looked at each other sheepishly. Nobody had any money. They were just looking and pretending to shop. They may have been having a good time, but the Torah forbids us to pretend and say things that make another person think we mean them, when we don't.

When the Torah teaches us these lessons it says: "And you shall fear G-d."

We may think - "Well, I meant well when I said it," or "I didn't mean to hurt anyone," so the Torah reminds us that HaShem knows the truth in our hearts and we must be careful about everything we do and say.

2009-03-09T08:44:00.000-07:00

"I need a vacation from a vacation"

These days you hear it all the time. A friend of mine just returned from
the Caribbeans claiming:"i'm exhausted" after a weeks holiday. What is wrong with the
world that people need a holiday to recoup from a holiday?
Seems to me the world is absurd. Ugly absurd.

To repair ugly absurdity, you can't just be normal. You need an alternative absurdity. A beautiful absurdity.

Some call it, "holy madness".

2009-03-08T19:12:00.000-07:00

The Complete Story of Purim
By Nissan Mindel

Purim

King Achashverosh now had every reason to be proud of his Queen Esther, for he had learned that she was a descendant of the royal family of Saul, the first King of the Jews. When the King heard that Mordechai was a descendant of the same noble family, and in fact was Queen Esther's cousin, he immediately appointed him to succeed Haman as Prime Minister.

Achashverosh presented Haman's palatial house to Esther, and the royal signet, which he had taken from Haman he gave to Mordechai.

Although Mordechai and Esther were deeply grateful to the King for his favors, and could feel safe under the King's own protection, they did not for a minute lose sight of the danger that still faced their people. Haman's cruel decree was still unchanged, and unless it was withdrawn in time, the Jews would be lost.

Esther, therefore, again beseeched the King in behalf of her doomed brethren. She fell at his feet and with tears in her eyes pleaded with the King to avert the terrible fate that threatened them.

"How can I endure to see the evil that will come unto my people? How can I endure to witness the destruction of my kindred?" Esther cried in anguish.

The King was deeply moved, and he wanted to allay her grief. Unfortunately, it was not so easy to rescind the decree, for it was sent out by order of the King, in his name, bearing the King's own seal. Such a decree was irrevocable.

Finally, a plan was hit upon. A new decree was to be issued in the name of the King, declaring that Haman had abused the King's confidence by issuing falsified decrees. Instead of issuing decrees to do away with the persecution of the Jews throughout the vast Persian empire, as was the King's intention and desire, the treacherous Haman had ordered the extermination of the loyal Jewish subjects! A further proof of the King's displeasure with Haman was the fact that Haman had been executed by the King's express command.

Once again the King's scribes were called, and the new decrees were prepared, this time dictated by Mordechai himself. The documents were immediately dispatched by royal couriers riding on swift steeds to all the governors and princes of the 127 provinces of the Persian Empire, from India to Ethiopia. By these royal decrees, permission was granted to the Jews to gather on the thirteenth day of Adar and defend themselves against their enemies, and to attack and slay all those who would assault them.

The news of the great salvation of the Jews spread like lightning to the remotest comers of the Persian Empire, and the Jews were now treated with respect.

When the thirteenth day of Adar arrived, the day on which the Jews were to be slain and exterminated by Haman and his evil forces, the Jews gathered in the public places of each town and hamlet. By order of the King, they sentenced to death all those who had revealed themselves as enemies. Throughout the kingdom of Persia, seventy five thousand would-be murderers were executed, and five hundred more in Shushan. All ten sons of Haman were likewise executed.

The King brought the news to Esther. "I have but one more request to make," she said. "There are still many dangerous enemies at large in Shushan. They must be executed or there can be no peace in the land. Let tomorrow also be set aside for a day of judgment in Shushan over the enemies of our people who are also the enemies of all mankind. And may the bodies of Haman's ten sons be hanged on the gallows."

Esther's request was immediately granted.

And so while the Jews outside Shushan celebrated their victory on the fourteenth of Adar, the Jews of Shushan were still grimly engaged that day in the task of ridding the city of the villains and murderers. Only on the following day did they celebrate the great and miraculous salvation.

Mordechai, now dressed in magnificent royal robes, became the King's viceroy and closest advisor. He served the King and his own people with humility and devotion.

From that time, the fourteenth day of Adar was consecrated as the festival of Purim, to commemorate the great miracle of our people's salvation, and the downfall of the wicked Haman.

And the Jews who lived in walled cities, like Shushan, consecrated the fifteenth day of Adar as the day of festivity. This day we now call "Shushan Purim."

The name "Purim," means "lots," in commemoration of the lots that Haman had cast to choose the day most suitable for the destruction of the Jews.

In Heaven, too, these two days were consecrated as everlasting festivals, which shall never be abolished. For the Jewish people they are to be days of feasting and gladness, and of sending gifts of food (mishloach manot) to one another, and of giving gifts to the poor (matanot 1'evyonim).

At the same time the Jews obligated themselves to observe, every year, the Fast of Esther, on the thirteenth day of Adar, the day before Purim, to commemorate the fasts and prayers of the Jews in those days, and to emulate their repentance and devout worship.

The story of Purim was recorded by Mordechai and Esther in the Book of Esther (Megillat Esther), which forms part of Torah, and which is read in the synagogue every year on the eve of Purim and again on the following morning.

The Festival of Purim has now been celebrated for twenty three centuries, year after year, generation after generation. To the enemies of the Jewish People, the Hamans of all ages, the festival of Purim is a solemn and timely warning. But to us this wonderful and happy festival serves as an undying inspiration of courage and faith, of loyalty and devotion to our great and merciful G-d. It is the herald of our certain and miraculous salvation which is not far off.

2009-03-06T09:05:00.000-08:00

Pot-Holes!!! What is potholes?
Here in Montreal we are facing an epidemic of grand proportion
known as pot-hole Season. THe roads are beleaguered and strewn with
nasty holes as big as moon craters as a result of 'supposedly' bad weather.
Michigan state which supposedly has the same weather as we do doesn't have this problem b/c they spend money on roads and maintain them regularly.
Federally, billions of our tax money is well spent on sending troops to Afghanstan
to re-educate, protect and defend American interests or who knows what? Here,
the mayor thought creating a new city logo costing half a million would solve
a crisis but the roads remain a nightmare to car owners and nothing is being done!

Crisis? What crisis?

But regardless, Montreal remains the capitol of pot-holes and not a stitch is being done about it!
My Solution:Bring in the reserves or the army back home and have them fix the roads, and watch our money work on Canadian soil!!!!
In the meantime:

You cannot sue, just vent over blogs & I guess we will just have to persevere and try to swerve through nasty holes without incurring too much damage!

2009-03-05T08:43:00.000-08:00

Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com

2009-03-05T08:03:00.000-08:00

Times are tough. Extremely tough. People are losing jobs. Savings. Homes. It's shaken many of us to our core: "How am I to survive?" "Am I all on my own?" "Must I fend for myself?” Indeed: Is there somewhere we can turn to for guidance and wisdom to help us navigate these trying times?

Throughout our storied history, during extraordinary trials and tribulations, the Torah’s Divine wisdom was our lifeline, providing guidance and succor. We’ve attempted to distill from our timeless Torah some messages that may be applicable to our current predicament.

We hope that you will find strength and encouragement from our efforts. And please take a moment to share your own thoughts and experiences, too.

2009-03-04T08:03:00.001-08:00

One of my Favorite jokes:HAD TO SHARE!!!!!

A High-School History teacher in the USA is reviewing with her students famous quotes in preparation for an exam.

Who said:
“Anyone who trades liberty for security deserves neither liberty nor security”

A Japanese student in the back of the class raises his hand and says:

Benjamin Franklin

Correct the teacher replies!

Who said:

"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."

Another Japanese student raises his hand and says:

Martin Luther King, Jr.

"THat is right" says the teacher and thinks to herself how bright these foreign students are and far superior then the American students.

Just then,an American student stands up and says:

To Hell with the Japanese!!!!

"Who said that," the teacher demands in furry!

Harry S. Trumam 1945 the kids replies!

2009-03-03T14:50:00.000-08:00

Watch the latest videos on YouTube.com

2009-03-03T08:08:00.000-08:00

Where I am is where the party is at!!!!

So many times when i go out with people to a house party or 'what ever event'. Certain people for some reason always feel edgy, removed or just wanna leave if the party is "not happening!!!" Now, folks let me tell you this about that: the way to be is to change your channel and switch in to the "Let's have fun" gear and this could be done by simply smiling, interacting with who ever is there, smiling asking social innate questions like: "So, what brings you to this part of the universe?" or my favorite line: "Tell me, Tell me, Tell me...then pause and say..."HELLOOOOOOOOOO"...In fact, i was just at a party where there was very little people and i knew no one. THere was a small group talking in the living room, i felt somewhat awkward so i just blurted out:"When is the doctor arriving?" and then blurted out:"No worries i have my own rubber gloves!"

Point being said, if you cannot have fun with yourself then G-d help you!!!!!

Have a great Day!!!!!!

2009-03-02T21:12:00.000-08:00

THe Way things are going!!!! they're gonna circumcise me!!! Hey folks these it;s easy to tell who is leading and who is following. I see it all the time:people who speak from the heart and are passionate about 'whatever' it is they do vocation wise are for a fact, Happier, feel more fulfilled, much more driven and most importantly feel that life is with a purpose! My point here is simply and speaks to the heart b/c it is from the heart and that is my message today: Do good from the heart!"

2009-01-21T18:58:00.000-08:00

OBAMA's in the office & as long as he defecates(never mind!)...does anyone really care?
It's time to create a new movie!A Peace Movie or a peace mission flick!
b/c after all, Kissinger couldn't do it, Carter tried, Bush & dick only screwed
the country and now both got 'bailout'...So we're reaching out to do a 30 city tour
from Vegas to Jerusalem and film the whole venture with 4-5 Elvis impersonators!

2008-11-15T21:04:00.000-08:00

Tell me why is it that i feel like Moshiach is 'm'amesh' right around the corner?
There is a sweetness resonating in the air and it is bigger then us and it stems from above and it rises from below and i feel it all around. Is it just me?
It is bigger then these prominent words:it's as holy as the sabbath and deeper then the deepest part of the blue blue sea. Sometimes words cannot describe what the heart is feeling but words from the heart touch the heart and music is definitely the vehicle to bring it all forth and mesh it together like a T'amim' Breslevor who has learned to rejoice for the sake of rejoicing or a Chassid who know that 'we have to do and then listen' are these words aimed to comfort a bleeding heart and let us realize that the 'Aleph' is bigger then us all & will lead us to what the T'sadik daid and accepting the 'Be'es' with open arms...

2008-11-06T17:53:00.000-08:00

A Message from Aquamusic!

Event: "Concert to protect our great lakes"featuring Schmelvis Band & Guests!

Place: Bourbon Street West,1866 Blvd. des Sources, Pointe-Claire, Quebec

Date: December 21st, 2008 7:30pm

Aquamuzic dot org (www.aquamuzic.org), the
first online music label and concert promoter is presently working
with Great Lake United: Great Lakes United is an international coalition
dedicated to preserving and restoring the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River
ecosystem. www.glu.org ,

This will be a great show featuring Award winning actor and DJ Larry Day,
internationally acclaimed Elvis
impersonator Dan Hartal aka Schmelvis with his band
(they are making a great movie about him now),
also featured on the bill is Paula Davis, the On the Spot Improvisational
Troup and special guest 'Zappa' child guitar virtuoso, Nic Mc.

It would be great if you can help us out and give us media attention.

Tickets can be bought at www.aquamuzic.org

Jerusalem Hotel

2008-02-28T22:57:00.001-08:00

70 Million Fans Can't Be wrong!!!!!!!! for Bookings go to http://www.elvisschmelvis.com

2008-01-17T08:45:00.000-08:00

Two weeks into 2008 & lots of exciting things are happening!
First of all 'Techno-Lime-Party' is on Itunes and selling like
Hotcakes. Schmelvis 2: 'The Viagra Incident' is going into production
this summer with hopefully a fall release! It will feature
an array of stars and chameo surprises so Stay tuned!!!!!
On the political front;
It looks like there is no one to vote for in the USA but Ron Paul!
He's the guy!!!! and there is no one else!
Most politicans are phony or just seem to be without a back bone!
Where are the stunchy politicians who back ethnic cleansing? (we miss characters like that:NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Enjoy the heat!!!!

D:) aka Schmelvis

2007-08-01T06:58:00.000-07:00

I'm the luckiest guy in the World! It seems that even Schmelvis has impersonators.
Some guy out in the states is claiming to be the 'man, the legend, the Jew?'
'All the better' I guess, 'because it means someone else is promoting the Schmelvis name!' Good luck to you!