:Article Marketing At Its Best

There’s no greater way to win the hearts of consumers than to give them something for nothing. In our society of advanced communications devices and state-of-the-art technology, one of the best commodities to target for these give-away tactics is the cell phone. From simple port-to-port communication to comprehensive electronic office features, these hand-held units have become a rather luxurious necessity in these “need-to-know” times in which we live.

Of course, no legitimate business can expect to thrive by giving away its merchandise. Since cell phone companies actually make their money through the purchase of calling plan contracts, the phones themselves aren’t really an issue. From the carriers’ perspective, then, the “free cell phone” strategy offers the best of both worlds: consumers are happy, thinking that they’re being given a substantial gift, and businesses are making money by selling phone service or specific calling contracts, which are necessary in order to use those shiny, new phones. In order to ensure their victory in the race to gain more customers, some cellular phone companies offer packages that even include a rebate. In other words, they’ll give you a free cell phone and then offer a substantial mail-in rebate (usually $25 or more) so that it appears as though they’re paying you to take the device. Kudos to the marketing people who conceptualized that strategy!

Verizon Wireless

As one of the leading cell phone carriers, Verizon offers free devices when consumers purchase one of a variety of calling plans. These cell phone deals include your choice of model (several of which are offered) and, in some cases, a mail-in rebate. Other perks may include:

• Free Long Distance
• Unlimited In-Network Calling
• Unlimited Night and Weekend Minutes
• Free Roaming
• Up to $250 in Mail-In Rebates (allowing for free cell phones plus cash back)

Of the various calling plans which are offered, you may expect to find:

• Discounts on personal plans
• Discounts on family plans (shared minutes)
• Free long distance
• Unlimited nights and weekends (most plans)
• Free long distance plus unlimited nights and weekends (some plans)

Cingular Wireless

Another strong competitor in the area of cellular phone systems, Cingular has also cashed in on the “free cell phones” marketing strategy, offering consumers a variety of perks and calling plan benefits, in addition to state-of-the-art devices and rebates. Among the many “extras” that this company offers are:

• Roll-Over Minutes (i.e., you don’t lose any unused “any time” minutes)
• Free Nationwide Long Distance
• Free Roaming
• Largest Mobile Digital Network
• Free Voice Mail
• Free Call Waiting
• Free Caller ID
• Free Call Forwarding
• Free 3-Way Calling
• Up to $225 in Mail-In Rebates (allowing for free cell phones plus cash back)

Available calling plans may include:

• Discounts on personal plans
• Discounts on family plans (shared minutes)
• Unlimited night and weekend minutes
• Unlimited mobile-to-mobile minutes
• Unlimited night, weekend and mobile-to-mobile minutes (some plans)
• Primary and secondary line deals
• Multiple phones for family members

Sprint

While the plans that are offered by Sprint aren’t as lofty as those of more competitive cell phone carriers, they do offer some benefits to the consumer, including free cell phones and a small variety of perks in order to entice potential customers to commit to one of their calling plans. Some of the specials that may be included in their packages are:

• Free Nationwide Long Distance
• Free Roaming (only with phones that are also on the Sprint PCS Network)
• Unlimited Night and Weekend Minutes

In addition, special calling plans are also provided, which may include:

• Personal calling plans
• Family (shared) calling plans
• Wide-Area calling plans
• Unlimited PC-to-PC calling
• Multiple phones with family calling plan
• Two lines of service on one bill
• Up to $200 in Mail-In Rebates (allowing for free cell phones plus cash back)

T-Mobile

The benefits that are offered by this carrier are similar to those which are offered by Sprint although - when compared - T-Mobile seems to do a bit better in the area of the numbers of benefits that are offered, translating to more perks for the consumer. Of the standard benefits that are offered, you can expect to find:

• No Roaming Charges
• Free Long Distance
• Free Voice Mail
• Free Caller ID
• Free Call Waiting

Their variety of calling packages may include:

• Personal calling plans
• Family calling plans
• Unlimited weekend minutes
• Unlimited mobile-to-mobile minutes
• Two lines of service on one bill
• Unlimited mobile-to-mobile minutes plus unlimited weekend minutes (for some plans)
• Up to $250 in Mail-In Rebates (allowing for free cell phones plus cash back)

Nextel

Of the many cell phone carriers, Nextel doesn’t appear - at first - to have as much to offer as most of the others, but the options that they do offer are rather impressive in some areas, which would make up for the lack of some of the more standard benefits that their competitors offer to the consumer. Although they don’t actually list any specific “standard benefits,” they do offer special calling plan packages, which may include:

• Personal calling plans
• Family calling plans
• Multiple phones for family plan packages
• Unlimited night and weekend minutes
• Free roaming (within their network)
• Free long distance (within their network)
• 250 direct connect minutes (most plans)
• Unlimited direct connect minutes (certain plans only)
• Up to 25 cell phones ($15 each additional line)
• Up to $300 in Mail-In Rebates (allowing for free cell phones plus cash back)

While each of these carriers offers a specific amount of benefits to their consumers - some far more than others - the calling plans differ according to whether you’re opting for a personal or family package, and the number of minutes that are included in each package for a set fee each month will vary, as well. To see the latest special offers, simply log on to a major internet search engine and type the name of the carrier in the keyword area.

About the Author: Samantha Goode is a freelance technology writer who loves to provide tips to consumers shopping for free cell phones, prepaid cell phones, and cell phone service.

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Firstly, it’s vital to point out that this short report is NOT one of my many tips or secrets related to saving an absolute fortune on your Mobile Phone expenses. It’s about something even more serious and that is - your health and quality of life!

Now it’s important for me to mention at this stage that I am not a scientist or a doctor, however being a person closely involved in the mobile phone industry for many years I wanted to give you a strong insight into the concerns about Mobile Phone Radiation and the protection you need from EMR (Electro Magnetic Radiation). You can then draw your own conclusions on this subject and make your own decisions.

Later in this report, I will give you some tips and pointers to ensure you are far less at risk by using some simple mobile phone radiation protection techniques!

Ok, so let’s get straight into it shall we?

In 2001 a leading Australian Scientist began researching a link between Mobile Phones and Cancer. These were some of his findings:

Phone companies are insisting that mobile phones only omit low levels of radiation, but tests have shown that even exposure to low levels of radiation CAN be harmful

Long periods of time exposed to EMR can cause changes to cell structure and could ultimately lead to brain tumours

In June of 2004 a prominent neurosurgeon also carried out some research between Mobile Phones and Brain Tumours. Some of his findings were:

A 40% increase over the last 20 years (since the beginning of Mobile Technology) in Brain Tumours

Brain Tumours are now the No:1 threat for children overtaking LEUKAEMIA
Most of his Tumour patients had developed these Tumours just above the ear on the same side that they use their mobile phone
Strange Coincidence or FACT? Certainly it’s enough information to make you stand up and take notice.

Some other interesting facts to come out of tests on this subject were:

EMR (Electro Magnetic Radiation) can cause problems with the following:

The Reproductive System
Your Eyes
Memory and Reaction Times
Sleeping Patterns
Headaches, Dizziness and Nausea
Now don’t panic just yet because there are some ways to reduce your exposure to EMR or what’s commonly known as “Mobile Phone Radiation”

Here are some TIPS that I would recommend - for protection against mobile phone radiation.

First and foremost - try to reduce the AMOUNT of calls you make and receive on a mobile phone and where possible use your home phone. (Now here’s a Quick tip on this point too: - try to avoid the cordless phone because they are not much better!)
Take a look at the actual LENGTH of your calls because the longer the call the higher the possibility of more exposure to radiation.

I’m sure that if you’ve ever had an extremely long call you will recognise the signs like excessive heat around the ear area. This should be avoided as often as possible
Remember that if you’re using a portable hands-free (with a speaker & cord that runs up into your ear) you are NOT necessarily safe.

A controversial test in the UK had shown that radiation can actually travel up the cord and into your ear which can be even more harmful accelerating the damage being done.

Try to avoid keeping the phone ON or NEAR your body because there have even been links to infertility in men - (Frightening isn’t it!)
Ensure you get your point across and get off the phone! In other words, use your mobile phone for what you NEED to say and then end the call as soon as you can…

I wouldn’t recommend using your mobile to make lots of SOCIAL CALLS (these are usually quite lengthy in nature)… You could be frying your head while you’re gossiping.

Also avoid long calls BEFORE going to bed. Tests show that your quality of sleep suffers greatly as a result.
Finally, the best recommendation I can give is EXACTLY what I do myself and that is…

You might like to consider getting yourself a mobile phone with an inbuilt SPEAKERPHONE - In other words a Mobile Phone that has an inbuilt HANDS-FREE feature to give you ultimate mobile phone radiation protection!

This way you’ll be able to actually place the mobile phone infront or away from you - for example on a table, and speak and listen to the other person - WITHOUT having the Mobile Phone near your head or ANY part of your body for that matter…

It could take 10-15 years before we really know the TRUTH about Mobile Phone Radiation and the effects of EMR’s. In the meantime, don’t be a person that ends up with a brain tumour just because the Mobile Phone industry is trying to protect its financial interests at the expense of you and your family’s HEALTH!

If you’re NOT currently using a mobile phone which has an inbuilt SPEAKERPHONE feature, you might like consider getting one soon.

John Bertone is the author of Mobile Phone Secrets Revealed. An insider’s guide on how to save Hundreds to Thousands of dollars on your mobile phone costs. John will show you exactly how to compare and review mobile phone plans and deals to massively reduce your mobile phone charges!

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Different people have different ideas about paid survey. Many people think the rule, as always, is to stay away from those that ask you to pay before you can get these surveys. Legitimate market survey companies recruit members based on demographic characteristics - e.g. mothers of babies 0-12 years old - and will send surveys of products and services targeting this demographic group. Getting College Student Intellectual Development Survey is simple. The amount that a paid survey site pays will vary, read on more about College Student Intellectual Development Survey. There are truly sites that pay you top dollar for completing their survey offers. Also see Free Career Choice Surveys. Four: Many people have fun taking paid opinion surveys because it is nothing like having a boring job and it is fun.

Okay, one thing to understand before we even get started is that you will be paying for access to what they have available. The only reason we feel this is important to tell you upfront is because of those data entry typing jobs you see all the time. Where they promise you the world and then it ends up being a list of companies and not the actual jobs. Well, this is definitely not like that, but the upfront membership is which is why we thought you should know ahead of time. If you read this would you think there must be a catch? You would probably be right. Find out more about College Student Intellectual Development Survey and Free Career Choice Surveys. The reason why these people put their websites down is because they were hoping to become millionaires within a few days.

Inside of these topics is where you can gather valuable information about where other people are stacking the most cash and can make money online through PayPal. More about College Student Intellectual Development Survey and Free Career Choice Surveys at our website. You get control of how much money you spend by taking some action to get in with a bunch of the good programs you can find. Get all the info on College Student Intellectual Development Survey from our homepage. The trick is to always be vigilant so that you don’t end up paying more money than you have to when completing online surveys to make money online. Get paid survey network list absolutely FREE from our website! Absolutely no charge for joining the industry’s TOP 7 paying survey networks.

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Good Luck!

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Most piano teachers have no problem teaching technique or note reading from textbooks. This is what they’re good at. In fact, this is the bread and butter of their curriculum because they can make a lot more money by stretching out the “learning process” ad Infiniti.

But, most piano teachers have trouble guiding students and helping them learn how to trust themselves. Why? Because they aren’t trained in this! They’re trained in getting you from point A to B and while this linear approach satisfies many… it won’t help you with your own artistic expression.

Listen, if you want to spend years learning how to play other peoples music (no matter how good it is) then great. You’ll be taught this and you’ll pay a lot of money for it. In fact, if you were to see a piano teacher every other week for 3 years or more, that’s a couple thousand dollars right there!

And what will you have? The ability to read what other people have written in order to play what other people have composed. Thiink about this! Would any other artist, be it writing, painting, whatever.. spend 3 years learning how to write another persons book or paint another artists picture? No way!

The bottom line is - if all you’re interested in is note reading and playing other peoples music, then most any piano teacher will do. If, however, you want to be able to improvise and create your own unique music, then find someone who will help you trust in your own unique talents and abilities.

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Over the years I have had many conversations with music artists about commercial music, which usually leads to them disclosing their disdain and hatred of it. Some refer to Pop music (Pop, as in what’s popular now) as commercial music.

Others think of anything that is receiving heavy rotation on radio as commercial music. Whatever their definition, one thing is often overlooked: commercial music is the heart of the music industry which pumps the blood that keeps it alive.

So why then are so many music artists resistant to making commercial music? The answer that I’m often given is because they don’t want to “sell-out” their creative integrity by conforming to some industry version of what’s popular (i.e. what’s selling at the moment). It becomes very obvious to me that the problem is not commercial music, but rather the perception and definition of it.

The misconception is that the music industry created this superficial definition of commercial music to strip away the artistry and true identity of artists for the purpose of making money; forcing artist to create songs that the “masses” will enjoy. That fallacy is often perpetuated by music artists who are usually incapable (not unwilling) of creating commercially viable songs.

The truth is the public, not the industry, dictates what is commercial, and for decades they have gravitated towards, embraced, and purchased songs that adhere to a commercial music format.

If commercial music is the rule for success and sales in the music industry, there are inevitably going to be some exceptions to it, but unfortunately, the tendency is for music artists to try and become the exception, instead of observing the rules and why they exist.

Simply put: the rules of commercial music success have not, and will not change. Not in your life time or your children’s lifetime. They exist because it’s human nature to reject the unfamiliar; in the music industry, similarity is the cornerstone of acceptance. This is why so many popular songs sound similar and contain familiar elements.

It’s a rule that is prevalent in every genre, and on every continent. There are those artists who do a masterful job of observing their own artistic values while delicately balancing the demands for commercial music by industry professionals. Artists such as Prince, Sting and Bjork, have pushed the envelope of creativity for years. But artists of their caliber who possess such sublime talent and vision are rare.

For the sake of clarification and argument, I will offer my explanation and industry definition of what commercial music is; based on 25 years of listening to recordings as a music lover, music industry professional, and music critic in what I will call, “The 6 Rules of Commercial Music Success.” They are songs that have the following:

1.) A STRONG HOOK/MEMORABLE CHORUS. If no one knows what your song is called, they can’t request it when they hear it on the radio. More importantly, they can’t buy it at retail…or track it down on the Internet to illegally download a copy of it.

2.) GOOD MELODY. Commercial music is characterized by good melodies (i.e. verses, choruses, and sometimes bridges that get stuck in your head and make you want to sing-along). What can the top selling hip-hop acts of the last 10 years (Tupac, Notorious B.I.G., Jay-Z, Eminem, and 50 Cent) attribute their success to? Good melodies (not cool beats) that increase the commercial value of their music.

3.) WELL-PRODUCED. Coming from an R&B background where producers are a pivotal part of commercial music success, I did not realizeuntil I became a consultant that many rock bands don’t utilize, nor value producers like R&B music acts. Perhaps they should since the record company often assigns top-notch producers to enhance the quality of songs (through their musical expertise) and enrich the records (through their experience and proficiency in the recording process), ultimately making them more enjoyable to listen to and, you guessed it…more commercial!

4.) APPEALING LYRICS. The lyrics don’t have to be profound; people just have to be able to emotionally connect with and mentally relate to them. If you have a way of saying common things in an uncommon way, your lyrics will have an edge over the songwriter whose song is about the same topic. Write about what’s closest to your heart for credibility and sincerity, and others will be able to relate to your songs - especially if it’s on a subject matter that they know or have
experienced.

5.) KEEP IT SHORT. Keep the length of your songs down to a maximum of four minutes. Jazz and World Music are exceptions. A song that is well-written makes people want to hear it again, and again, and again. The longer the song is, the less likely that will happen. Don’t believe me? Check the length of your favorite songs.

6.) TALENT/WELL-PERFORMED. Most outstanding vocalists are often surprised by how low this rule is on the list. The fact is that there are more mediocre songs performed by outstanding vocalists, than there are mediocre vocalists performing outstanding songs. A good song that is well-performed gives it an edge, but if the song is lacking, all of the yelling and vocal acrobatics that singers tend to use to compensate for it will not make it a better song…though it may help the singer to attract better songwriters to work with. If you lack talent and it’s a really good song, someone more talented can (and will) sing the song and make it better.

Now that you know the 6 rules of commercial music success, hopefully you will be able to use this information to your advantage and create songs that will increase your chances of success in your professional music endeavors…or you can ignore them and continue to wonder why no one (other than your friends and family - all of which listen to commercial music) like your songs.

© Copyright 2006. All Rights Reserved.

Gian Fiero is a passionate music lover, music business entrepreneur, and consultant who specializes in music licensing. He has represented countless music artists, songwriters, producers, record labels, and entertainment companies during his 17 years of experience in the music industry. He got his start as a personal manager and was actively involved in the creation, production, and selection of repertoire used by the music artists that he once managed, successfully guiding 5 of his 6 acts to record deals. Gian is also the creator of The Fiero Filter, an industry lead sheet for advertising agencies and tv/film music supervisors, in addition to being the Senior Music Reviewer for The Muse’s Muse (http://www.musesmuse.com/mrev-gian.html), where he recieves an average of 700 CDs a year from aspiring and established music artists from all over the country. His professional opinion is highly sought after by music artists in every country and his reviews have garnered the attention and respect of publicists and music business professionals throughout the world.

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Radiohead are that rare thing: a band that has maintained is artistic freedom over the years, despite being signed to a major label - and a band that has constantly developed. This week’s article looks at the story of how Radiohead got to where they are today, and hopefully you can take a few tips so that you can make it the Radiohead way.

The band formed back in 1986, when they were at school. Originally called “On a Friday”, they played their first gig in 1986, at the famous Jericho’s Tavern in Oxford. However, when the members left for university, “On a Friday” was put to one side, and it wasn’t until 1991 that they reformed, and started playing again in Oxford.

At the time, Oxford was becoming a haven for independent musicians. Ride were gaining a national reputation, and by 1992 were playing all the major venues across the country, and Supergrass had just formed, playing the local venues, on their way to international stardom. Radiohead benefited from being part of the local scene, and the early 90s were ideal for indie bands.

It was then that they became Radiohead, and they started releasing demos, including the magnificently-titled “Magic Hedgehog Demo”. These self-funded demos were sent out to local venues, industry figures, record companies, etc., and started the band’s road to success. Gradually, through hard work and persistence, they became very well known on the local scene - appearing on the front cover of a local indie music magazine, and playing regularly around Oxford.

Record companies began to take interest as the buzz grew around Radiohead, and it was EMI who were first to pounce, taking the band on their Parlophone subsidiary. In 1992, they released their first single, “Creep”, which barely registered on the British charts, but gained them significant interest with the music press. The indie music magazine NME, for example, made it their single of the week, and with the backing of the independent music press, the band had momentum.

They released their first album, “Pablo Honey”, in the middle of a period that saw British indie music enter a darker phase. The album was given a lukewarm reception by the music press, who had so appreciated Creep. However, the public took to the album very quickly, and its success meant that the band soon went to tour the States. The pressure on the band meant that they almost split up, and as the album became more and more successful, the band felt that they needed more artistic freedom.

And this is where “The Bends” comes into it. Generally recognised by music critics around the world as one of, if not the best album of the 1990s, “The Bends” was the product of a band’s desire to go it alone and to produce something extraordinary. Hiring a new producer who allowed them to do what they wanted, they released an EP (My Iron Lung) before the release of their second album, and went on to provide more musical depth than in their previous album.

Riding on the success that was Britpop, “The Bends” was a huge commercial success, far more edgy than the pop-rock of “Pablo Honey”. Lead singer Thom Yorke had become an idol for many indie music fans across the world, and Jonny Greenwood’s unique guitar style had already become iconic. From their origins as a young unsigned band in Oxford, they had gone international, gaining success in the States, which not many British bands manage.

Although Britpop inevitably helped the band succeed, it also cut short the longevity of other bands. Those that managed to change and adapt when Britpop became passé remained successful, but there were plenty of bands who couldn’t change, and soon fell by the wayside.

Radiohead’s attitude after “The Bends” was to explore new avenues, and the release of “OK Computer” saw the band in a more sombre mood. Many saw it as a natural progression, and saw it as a much better album than “The Bends”, while others felt alienated by the band’s progression from the pop-rock of their first album.

The band’s recording techniques also changed. They decided to keep away from traditional recording studios, after several bad experiences, and actually recorded most of the songs for “OK Computer” at Jane Seymour’s 15th century mansion near Bath! By moulding their settings to fit the characteristics of the band, they immediately improved their recording experience. Blending rock sounds with more ambient, technical sounds, the album shot to number one across the world.

With Britpop dead, it was a few years before Radiohead surfaced again. Having detached themselves from the scene, they now became a “word of mouth” band with an enormous fanbase across the world. Music events were organised through the internet, with very little advertising required, and tickets were near impossible to come by. The band seemed reclusive, and were close to splitting up, with Thom York on the verge of depression.

The release of “Kid A” in 2000 shocked both fans and industry alike. Stripping down the guitars, the album was at first difficult listening - electronic, cryptic, synthesised, and with no stand-out tracks at all. It almost seemed as if the band were sticking two fingers up at the world, but it just went to show how brave Radiohead were in their musical direction. After several listens, Radiohead fans grew to love the album, and equally so with the quick follow-up “Amnesiac”. The albums blended electronica with jazz and ambient music, but maintained Radiohead’s lyrical hooks and character.

Again, the albums were given very little advance warning, and very little advertising. It was another case of the word-of-mouth buzz that Radiohead had been building up over the years, and with such a loyal fanbase, Radiohead are the perfect example of a band that has done all the hard work, sent off the demos, and gone from the top of the local scene to the top of the international scene.

After the release of “Hail to the Thief”, which was hailed as a return to the guitar-based indie of “OK Computer”, the band is today recording again, and Thom Yorke is about to release his own solo album, and live performances of new Radiohead songs show them back in “The Bends” territory.

So, did Radiohead “make it” differently from any other band? Well, probably not, if you look at it - they started off by gigging locally, making their reputation in their hometown of Oxford - and you could say that they were helped by two factors - the rise of Oxford bands in the early 90s, and the rise of Britpop bands in the mid 90s. After gaining their reputation, they kept up the hard work, and the most important thing is that they never stood still: no Radiohead album is like the previous one, making them one of the most innovative and interesting bands around. The internet fanbase is another interesting factor, as Radiohead were probably the first band to really use the internet for their promotion, as opposed to traditional channels.

If you want to make it the Radiohead way, then, get yourself known locally, and most important: never stand still.

Visit Blue Beam Radio to read more band biographies or register to play in our music event in New York City!

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Vintage Gibson acoustic guitars are very popular in the music industry even though better designs have come along and replaced them. These guitars still have their place in the industry because of the unique sound they emit, and their top notch build quality and durability.

Vintage Gibson acoustic guitars have always been, and will always be among the favorites of both musicians and collectors world wide. The first Gibson acoustic guitars came out around 1900, and they have been going strong ever since. Even the early models were known to be the best in the industry. The great thing about the Gibson name is that they constantly reinvent themselves, but never seem to fall off the map. Regardless of what they do, or how they design their next guitar, Gibson is always the one setting the trend.

The age of Gibson guitar models are very important when you are trying to figure out information on it. The age is very important because over the past 100 years Gibson has manufactured hundreds of different guitars. A lot of them sound and look alike, but are actually very different. If you are interested in learning more about the age of you guitar you will need to speak with a professional. They will be able to find the model number, and then translate it into years for you.

Overall, Gibson acoustic guitars have carved out their spot in the music industry for now, and for the rest of time. Their early models are very popular, and the models that they come out with today also sell very well. If you are in need of a guitar of high quality and great sound you will want to look into buying a Gibson. Whether you buy new or used, you will surely be satisfied with your new guitar.

For more information about Gibson Vintage Guitars please visit http://www.guitarheadz.com, the complete guide for anything you want to know about guitars and related gear.

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Tips (to help keep ya workin’)

Hey everybody, I am going to change the name of this page of my website to Tips & Tricks because I intend to rap with the musicworld about just that. Tips & Tricks, Both musically and businesswise.

ATTITUDE

OK..Here’s tip #1. It’s something that my father used to always tell me: “Make Yourself Useful!” But no seriously…that is a real tip. To me, you have to do more than just play good these days. Go above and beyond the call of duty in any situation you’re in. Make yourself valuable. Make yourself wanted. Be a team player and let the word get around. Learn the music more thoroughly than anybody else. Give 110%. For example, be eager & ready to rehearse…This is a big point because in LA especially the first question is “Is rehearsal payin?” Most players don’t want to rehearse. They would rather read charts on the bandstand and wing it on the gig and just get the cash with as little work as possible, but I tell you from seeing it first hand, the gig doesn’t go as well and when the next gig comes around the leader is always hesitant to call those guys and ends up asking you for your opinion on that last guy, because you did a great job and were eager to put in the work.

Believe me, your attitude will translate. On top of that, play good and I tell you, you will work. People will want you. The word will travel around. The tendency is to skate and give as little as possible and for some if you are supremely talented you can get away with it…but I say, no matter how talented you are, you can’t get away with that attitude forever. There are players like me, that play good, want the gig and will give 110% with a great attitude.

REHEARSAL?

Here’s another tip: Be on time at the very least. Even better yet, be early! This was a hard one for me. It took me awhile to get it together but finally, I got it down and I tell you, people appreciate it. I know it’s cool and it shows how much you are the man by getting away with being late, but people resent it. They feel as though you don’t take them seriously. They feel disrespected, even if you’re so good they allow it and act like it’s cool. They may love what you bring to their thing and may not be able to find another bassist at the time, but the day will come when they do find a bassist they dig and is on time and you won’t get the call…Being late is unavoidable sometimes and there are times when mistakes just happen, but I’m talking about the habitual lateness that becomes the way you do things. Your M.O. Your baggage. See..Things change, Gigs open up and you don’t want the word to be on you “yeah but you know he’s always late like he don’t give a darn….He can play but you gotta deal with his ego” Because that’s what it is.

THE OL’ BIG HEAD

Tip #3: Control your Ego! Don’t let it get ugly and big! It’s one thing to have a healthy ego, which means you like what you do and enjoy what you do, and feel good and ready to play, but a inflated ego constantly needs feeding. You need to be better than everybody else or you don’t feel good. You either need to knock everybody else down to let everybody know how much better and hip you are, or, you need to boost yourself up by letting people know your resume when they first meet you. You know the type…”Hey man how you been doing?” Answer…”Aw man, I’m working all the time. I’m on the road with Shelia E, Mariah Carey, Elton John and Engelburt Humperdink all at the same time! Everybody loves me and I’m playing with everybody!! My life is so incredible!!” And after that, every conversation they find some kind of way to come back to who they are working with again. “Why when I was with The Spice Girls…what we did was….By the way, Did I mention I was with the Spice Girls and they paid me more than everybody else in the band!!”

What they are really saying is “See how happening I am and how happening you’re not!??” I guess nobody ever told them not to brag and that humility is attractive. Bottom line is…Nobody wants to hear that crap!! And I mean NOBODY! Say “i’m doing fine” and shut up!! See, A big ego says, “What are they gonna do, ha ha..replace me?? replace me?? who can replace me??” A Big ego says, “they’ll put up with it because I am the man!” A big ego says, ” I can do whatever I want, because I am the man, and they know this!!” A big ego says, “I don’t have to rehearse because I am far above all this crap”. (I say, why are you doing it then?) A big ego points the finger and says “He sucks, he Sucks, She sucks and he sucks, and because I am so great I know, who’s got it and who don’t. Respect my word, look up to me because I am the man” A big ego also says..”I’ll just play so good they’ll forget about my being late..” and they might for awhile, but..one thing you can count on..Things change. The tables turn. The tide changes. Those who were the hippest get older and music is fickle. The hippest of hip today become yesterdays sound and then everybody recalls the attitude you had when you were ‘the man’.

THE UPS & DOWNS

Another age old rule my father taught me: You meet the same people on the way up that you meet on the way back down!” Which means, things always have a way of leveling out, so watch what you say and to who. That guy you said sucks so bad might be playing absolutely great 2 years later and be in a position to give you the nod for a great gig. That session that you didn’t give two cents about, it turns out that the producers got a few hit records and works with everybody that did that session except you, and now they pay triple scale. That girl you pointed out to your friend as “so Ugly” might end up being the love of his life! You never know who will be a king tomorrow, so watch who you piss on today!

IN CONCLUSION

Now I know it might sound like I’m preachin’ and I guess I am. What I am really trying do give you young players out there some sound advice. Advice that will help you avoid some pitfalls that may harm your career. Hopefully, when sit down and reflect on your career, you will be thankful that you are working so much! Maybe you will have a nice list of clientelle that call you and are glad to see you! Once again, these tips are based on my opinions, which are based on my experiences. I’m not trying to say they hold all answers, but they might just help. Keep playin’ and practicing and by all means, check back next month. All the best, Dré

Andre Berry is a freelance bassist in Los Angeles. He studied music theory and jazz performance at Los Angeles City College. He has worked with such notables as Chris Standring, Dave Koz, Tom Scott, Rick Braun, Warren Hill, The Brothers Johnson, The Busboys, Mindi Abair, Jeff Golub, Craig Chaquico, TLC, A Tribe called Quest, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas and Tiny Tim.

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As I say time and time again, making oboe reeds is often an experiment, and
changing one variable at a time will provide you with a cheap education and useful
clues to improve your reedmaking results.

Even though it is important you change only one variable at a time, always keep
your EYE on the bigger picture and be thinking, analyzing and scheming about other
ways to solve your problem.

In other words, while you have one “experiment” going (like trying a new shape to
see if it helps bring down your pitch a little bit), use your detective skills to view the
same problem from a different perspective and work to solve it in a less technical
way.

I suppose you could just try one equipment experiment after another and hope to
solve things that way, but I always like the “detective on overdrive” approach and
leave no stone unturned when searching for a solution. I do my best to get out of
my “oboe bubble” and try to reevaluate everything I am doing with fresh eyes.

For example, let’s take the ever popular issue of playing sharp. You know, the
problem that seems like it just came out of nowhere.

First, REALLY think back and remember when you started to notice that your pitch
was high. Was there a weather change, or anything really obvious like that?

Ask yourself some other questions…..

When was the last time you bought a knife? How old is your oboe? Is your oboe
sealing well?

There are so many little things that can contribute to a larger problem like playing
sharp. Luckily, most of the little things are relatively easy to solve.

So while you are trying a new shaper tip, spend some time playing around with how
much oboe reed you put in your mouth while you are practicing. What happens to
the pitch now? Or compare the pitch of your best friend’s brand new oboe to yours.

Even though I still stand by my philosophy of changing only one variable at a time
when making oboe reeds, you can still learn a lot of other things in the midst of
your one “experiment.” Making oboe reeds in a bubble and believing that problems
are caused by only ONE factor is a foolproof recipe for oboe reed frustration.

Even if the shaper tip does end up helping your pitch problem, there are lots of
other things that YOU can do to improve it as well.

Making oboe reeds really is an ART. If it was as simple as x + y = z = great oboe
reed, then ANYBODY could do it. If solving a pitch problem was as easy as just
making 74mm reeds, then NO ONE would ever play sharp.

But that just isn’t true. Playing the oboe and making good reeds is always a
combination of a whole host of factors working together.

It is very similar to being a good healer. If someone comes to you with an earache,
you don’t (in my opinion) just prescribe drugs for them. You look at the whole
person and see what their life is like and how everything in it is working together (or
not). It is really the same with making oboe reeds.

There is rarely one easy fix or answer when you take into account everything that an
oboist is, and everything his/her reeds are.

Get out of your reedmaking bubble and make sure you get a good view of the larger
picture - how everything is working together.

Your oboe reeds and your playing will reap the rewards.

——————————————

Oboist and online entrepreneur Maryn Leister helps beginner and professional
oboists to be more productive and have more fun on the oboe. She publishes the
weekly Oboe:Space newsletter and gives away more FREE oboe reed tips than she
can remember with her Reed Guru service.

Sign-up for the Oboe:Space newsletter and start getting your FREE oboe reed tips
now at http://www.oboespace.com.

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