tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21934729800610324782024-03-05T17:49:47.350-05:00Elee's FlowUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193472980061032478.post-10359399686854793592014-06-02T00:01:00.003-04:002014-06-02T00:01:29.099-04:00**NEW MUSIC**Check out NEW MUSIC "Flow" available on iTunes and other online stores June 3rd!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaitVgzlLGLGPJYpwJpWypUoknNHfYlv-NESwOsu1U0Y-T2VJh4fP4Xk8s5tnxirE7_SCFxBIYzUejtUMRXoSJRZLAtixmnH1CwzJJLnQjimRWvoPW_b3hGm7GCm9tdUbC66PggFzBumk/s1600/FlowCoverArt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaitVgzlLGLGPJYpwJpWypUoknNHfYlv-NESwOsu1U0Y-T2VJh4fP4Xk8s5tnxirE7_SCFxBIYzUejtUMRXoSJRZLAtixmnH1CwzJJLnQjimRWvoPW_b3hGm7GCm9tdUbC66PggFzBumk/s1600/FlowCoverArt1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /><br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193472980061032478.post-63618850693059248392013-12-27T19:33:00.002-05:002013-12-27T19:33:48.440-05:00E LEE Live at Foxx Trap (UNCUT)<div>
Click <a href="http://youtu.be/5r41CTt2YK8">HERE</a> to watch!!</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193472980061032478.post-57409951042294651742013-10-10T15:44:00.002-04:002013-10-10T15:44:40.969-04:00**VIDEO "It's Gettin Real"Check out the "It's Gettin Real" video by clicking <a href="http://youtu.be/qN4FEBiVUss">HERE</a> <br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193472980061032478.post-58333856639734155392013-09-27T14:07:00.000-04:002013-09-27T14:07:08.535-04:00**TONIGHT**E.Lee performing live at Powerball Mansion Party 2013!!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193472980061032478.post-29568196464654353812013-09-25T04:55:00.001-04:002013-09-25T04:55:48.064-04:00**TONIGHT**E.Lee performing live at Chit Chat Lounge for the Powerball2013 BET Awards Kickoff Party!!<div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193472980061032478.post-77606284926284989812013-09-17T14:01:00.001-04:002013-09-17T14:01:18.109-04:00**VIDEO UPDATE**E.Lee "It's Gettin Real" VIDEO posted on VLADTV!! Check it out <a href="http://www.vladtv.com/video/174414/elee-its-gettin-real/">HERE</a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193472980061032478.post-14667951400147072232013-09-05T08:35:00.000-04:002013-09-05T08:35:10.195-04:00***NEW MUSIC VIDEO***NEW MUSIC VIDEO***NEW MUSIC VIDEO******NEW MUSIC VIDEO***<br />
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Click <a href="http://youtu.be/qN4FEBiVUss">here</a> to check out my NEW video "IT'S GETTIN REAL"!!<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193472980061032478.post-20566632508515692732012-05-02T17:14:00.002-04:002012-05-02T17:17:35.741-04:00Do You BELEEVE??BELIEVE: <span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">to</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">have</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">confidence</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">in</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">truth,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #0055bb; cursor: pointer;">existence,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">reliability</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">something,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">although</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">without</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">absolute</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">proof</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;">that</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">one</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">is</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">right</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">in</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">doing</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">so.</span></span><br />
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What do YOU believe? Since the title of my new campaign is "Do You BELEEVE?", you can imagine I've been asked this question a lot lately. My response? I believe that in order to accomplish anything great, one has to first believe that it can be accomplished. I believe in love. I believe in God. I believe that hard work and giving yields prosperity. I believe that learning should be a life long process. I believe that we are all somehow connected. I believe that I'm the happiest I've ever been. I believe that we are each given a gift to be used for the greater good. I believe in vision and the power to speak things into existence. I believe there really is a season for everything.<br />
My new project out soon is titled "Beleeve". This titled seems fitting and appropriate, because for me, at this point in my life, it's about believing.....what I can accomplish, what is my truth. I believe the records on this project are me in my truest form, or atleast closer than I've ever been to it. I believe the songs have a common thread capable of weaving people together. I believe I've grown a lot artistically and am only getting better. I believe this project will shed new light on what it means to be a rapper of the female gender. I believe I still have so much to learn and look forward to the adventure. I believe you're gonna like it ;)<br />
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All of this allows us to revisit the thought; with soo much to believe in....what do you believe?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193472980061032478.post-1314770980831244322012-03-27T13:23:00.000-04:002012-03-27T13:23:24.956-04:00History Repeats ItselfFunny how history repeats itself. You remember being a little kid and your parents say something like "That 'new' dance ya'll younguns doin aint new! We did that back in the day. What ya'll call steppin is what we called the charleston. What ya'll call the kid n play we called mashed potatoes!"?? Ok, so maybe the conversation you remember didn't go quite like that, but you catch my drift, right? <br />
Anyway, as I sit here sippin my cocoa cappucino, listening to Pat Benatar and<br />
writing to ya'll, I realize that lately I've been learning and relearning things at a lightening speed. It's like everything I've been through over the past few years is just now starting to make sense and things are connecting in my mind, making the circle complete. For instance, all the teenagers are break dancing hyping it like it's a new thing. Well, to them it is, but to me I'm reminded of Ozone and Turbo lol. Even now, listening to Pat Benatar's "Love Is A Battlefield" is like I'm hearing it for the first time...really hearing it. As a kid, I just remember rockin out to the song cause it was bad ass and having no idea whatsoever what she was talking about. Now I understand and feel every word. I feel like I'm seeing everything for the second time around. This time with a totally different perspective. As I've witnessed it before in another time, another place, another world as a bystander. Now, finally, I'm a participant. Like once watching a play from the audience and then next being the actress in that same play. Oh the difference a few hundred days makes!!<br />
Funny thing is, the more I learn, the more I realize I don't know shit; except for those things that were already told to me as a child. I just happen to understand them now.<br />
<a href="http://youtu.be/CjY_uSSncQw">http://youtu.be/CjY_uSSncQw</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193472980061032478.post-90847040295856593902012-03-19T15:14:00.000-04:002012-03-19T15:14:20.328-04:00Doing It All?? : A SimpleTool to Make the Grind Make SenseSometimes, I feel like I'm standing at the bottom of a mountain I want to climb...walking around it, circling the perimeter, figuring out how to climb. If you stare at the top for too long, it can seem daunting and insurmountable. So, why not look at the foot? Looking at the base of this mountain and sizing it up step by step will help you wrap your mind on how to just BEGIN. Besides, every great journey starts with just a small step, right? Right.<br />
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So, for me, the mountain is figuring out HOW the heck am I gonna get all this work I have to do done efficiently and effectively as possible? How am I going to manage traveling, and promoting, and recording new music, and performing, and consistent contact with my fans all at the same time?? Hopefully, you have a team in place that can split up all these responsibilities. More than likely, in the beginning you won't...but no worries, where there is a will, there is a way. I know you're asking, well what's your formula Ms. Elee since you seem to have it all figured out? Lol...I wish!! I do, however, have some ideas to share on how I do manage to get a lot of things done. <br />
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My biggest suggestion: MANAGE YOUR TIME!! I cannot stress this enough. Time is your most valuable asset, and learning how to use it to your advantage is half the battle!! For starters, get yourself a good calendar. One that you like...you like the way it looks, it feels, the way it's laid out. You may prefer a paper or digital calendar. You may even choose one that has daily inspirational quotes (I do) because believe me, you're gonna be spending a lot of moments looking at, going over, revising your calendar. Now that you have a way to keep up with your tasks, ask yourself what you need to be doing to get to the top of that mountain....well, eventually anyway. Write down specific steps such as, how much do I need to perform per week, per month? How often do I need to record? How often do I need to send music out? How often do I need to blog and keep in touch with my fans? Etc... You get the idea right? Ok, now fill in your calendar with those steps. Make sure you stay consistent and repeat those steps over and over. A simple tool like a calendar can keep you from feeling "lost" when you're in the midst of the grind. Be prepared to invest a lot of time, be prepared to PACE yourself, and be patient. We are climbing a mountain afterall!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193472980061032478.post-64788490581378314782012-03-05T13:13:00.000-05:002012-03-05T13:13:33.594-05:00You Need To.... Yeah, But How???Artists, do you continuosly hear about what you NEED to be doing, but no one actually tells you how?? Yeah, me too. Talk about frustration! Thank goodness we are resourceful and know how to get the information we need right? Actually, I always think it's better to know a little something about what you're seeking before you go and ask anyone...especially in this business. Some people will try to tell you anything! lol. Besides the more of a DIYer (do it yourself) you are, the more results you will see. There are plenty of books and websites on whatever topic you may come across. Need to know how to license music? Go to the bookstore or library. You'll find plenty of books on the technicalities. Once the rules and steps are understood, then comes the WHO? That's the thing about the music business. It really is relationship driven. You can have all the knowledge in the world, but knowing WHO to go to in order to get the job done is a beast of another nature. <br />
The approach I take in getting to the WHO is to network as much as possible. Go to music pools, conferences, release parties, showcases, open mics, wherever music folks gather. Get to know people there. If you're not a big talker, like me, then LISTEN. You'd be amazed at what you learn just by paying attention. Of course you can always make the "dry call" to a company you may have seen on the internet or found through your own research or heard of through various conversations. If you are polite and present your questions in a non-threatening, to the point manner, who can be mad at you? Afterall, this is business here, and businesses receive calls all the time. <br />
On another note, I've been keen to learn all I can about music licensing, and as I learn about it, I will share that knowledge with you. Because this business is very competitive, most people will not be willing to share information with you for fear that you'll become competition or take their spot, or become a better artist or something. Who knows! Afterall, knowledge IS power. People play their hands very close because of conflicts of interests or caution of letting unscrupulous individuals within their circles or various other reasons. So, when you do find someone who is willing to give you that much sought after inside info, value them! Meaning pay for their services, or if you don't currently have the money, try trading services. Whatever be the case, maintaining relationships with knowledgeable people who are willing to help/share is key!<br />
Stay tuned as in the next post I will discuss music licensing basics...Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193472980061032478.post-32623825239669430992012-02-23T21:49:00.000-05:002012-02-23T21:49:11.281-05:00My Fat Tuesday ShindigOk, so I didn't ACTUALLY have the party on Fat Tuesday. It was the next day, but oh well, close enough! LOL. You know you're getting to a place of contentment in your life when you start hosting dinner parties for your nearest and dearest. So, yesterday I hosted a party at home with the Mardi Gras theme. It was just a small intimate occasion, not a big deal, but it gave me soo much pleasure to cook for my friends. And boy did I cook! I was really pleased with the way my shrimp n grits came out! (and so were my guests lol) It was slammin!! The menu consisted of shrimp n grits, shrimp po boys, pan seared cod, mashed red potatoes with sour cream n chives, apsaragus and cheesecake variety. I tell ya, sometimes it's the simple things in life that can bring you the most joy, and for me, it came wrapped in a warm cozy evening at home with a few close friends and a slammin cajun, comfort food cuisine! Oh, and I mixed up some great refreshing cocktails. Among them, the sweet tea vodka with lemonade and fresh lemon slices was the hit of the party, and the remy with sweet tea was the close runner up! Check out the pics below, and hope they inspire you to invite some loved ones over and serve them with some good southern hospitality!! Enjoy:)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqb6cJYOcQmtbySaAFn1m65Ve8nX1F_GvD6N2hOVYJ0qy1XjiO1BG3ol077C1h428orXZYyITS3W2l2wGiUKC7ImRhDese25gAbO8f-kNByuARJAOPK1GaQfWOBJQTqvW8rfGJrYkVds/s1600/cocktails.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" lda="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCqb6cJYOcQmtbySaAFn1m65Ve8nX1F_GvD6N2hOVYJ0qy1XjiO1BG3ol077C1h428orXZYyITS3W2l2wGiUKC7ImRhDese25gAbO8f-kNByuARJAOPK1GaQfWOBJQTqvW8rfGJrYkVds/s320/cocktails.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193472980061032478.post-2884982748399974282012-01-16T14:51:00.002-05:002012-01-16T14:51:56.907-05:00The Key To Greatness"Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don't have to know Einstein's theory of relativity to serve. You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love" -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.<br />
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Happy Birthday Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. !!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193472980061032478.post-72653385499177726722012-01-11T17:56:00.000-05:002012-01-11T17:56:02.597-05:00Change Is Never OptionalSo, things happen right? Right. Either they happen to you, or you happen to it. The whole conclusion of this post is to encourage you; to share with you what I think about change. <br />
Change can be refreshing. Change can be painful. Change can be frightening. Change can be wonderful. Change can be terrible. If you are experiencing any of these feelings, you are probably in the midst of change. Buddhists say that you know something is real if it changes. Like the idea in the movie Inception, that if the top stops spinning you're in reality. If it doesn't, it was all just a dream.<br />
On a good day, we can view change as an opportunity or a chance to start something new. On a bad day, we may view change as the end of the world. But unless it actually is the end of the world, even days change. There comes tomorrow, and with tomorrow comes a chance to have a better day. <br />
Oh, and one more thing...deep and profound change tends to take a lot of time. It can take years for a heart to heal. Believe me, I know! All I can say is hang in there!<br />
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I believe change sometimes occurs to bring us to a better knowledge of ourselves; to bring us closer to our true potential, or force us to tip the scales of our personal evolution. With the conclusion in mind, I'm just now learning to embrace change, the good, the not so good and the oh so beautiful!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193472980061032478.post-33679746870271064742011-12-29T14:51:00.000-05:002011-12-29T14:51:40.790-05:00Birthday Bliss<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57WtMu2-DJBTmpGJ0YeDQiAwByGpMKL-TZ2KXVNNJU-xugo7WFM00hdgvTGWRk7-ORJVWueOQONeLHnmBmcKb7bpx4wyIX6hXaTFosK1Yt9YLvfxUo7TZ7gfN74WsOvzBZeJIEzFPOTI/s1600/IMG01166-20111218-1157.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57WtMu2-DJBTmpGJ0YeDQiAwByGpMKL-TZ2KXVNNJU-xugo7WFM00hdgvTGWRk7-ORJVWueOQONeLHnmBmcKb7bpx4wyIX6hXaTFosK1Yt9YLvfxUo7TZ7gfN74WsOvzBZeJIEzFPOTI/s320/IMG01166-20111218-1157.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonlCXrX9a8GptHF8DNsifDdyZxd9j8oRxq3V8vPI89fsk3AWqyw9Is3yhmNk3BHXSIh-I1UaJQY1Kax2Wu3detMM9XU1alQigxpiDqwXp1aK6NNjAmU1vgdSG0wKOv4F7NlEF9GxJkwo/s1600/IMG01171-20111218-1159.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonlCXrX9a8GptHF8DNsifDdyZxd9j8oRxq3V8vPI89fsk3AWqyw9Is3yhmNk3BHXSIh-I1UaJQY1Kax2Wu3detMM9XU1alQigxpiDqwXp1aK6NNjAmU1vgdSG0wKOv4F7NlEF9GxJkwo/s320/IMG01171-20111218-1159.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCinsN-2Bu9MUyX7JRX9v3-cmacHfYnfDQsiLUZUVyXe5t3oPVtwciID2BPn0PPEA1P7OhBA_RihgR6S_41rF_LgV_PH5klq3EO39cpxJuAEgbNN0rLuauKRvRC8kNiIBkVWIo2KrJdw/s1600/IMG01146-20111217-2251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" rea="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJCinsN-2Bu9MUyX7JRX9v3-cmacHfYnfDQsiLUZUVyXe5t3oPVtwciID2BPn0PPEA1P7OhBA_RihgR6S_41rF_LgV_PH5klq3EO39cpxJuAEgbNN0rLuauKRvRC8kNiIBkVWIo2KrJdw/s320/IMG01146-20111217-2251.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I'm soo blessed to have lived another year with the people I love and doing what I love to do! So, for the bday this year I decided to throw a party! Oh yeah, we got lifted and tilted and smiled a lot. Oh, and let's not talk about the dancing! Lol The ordinary "be cool" personalities went out the door, or were left at the door should I say, and I'm so glad for it! Don't like pretention one bit!! lol As you can see from the above photos, we had a great time! Only a small glimpse into the birthday bliss:)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193472980061032478.post-20691189295180741912011-12-14T14:07:00.000-05:002011-12-14T14:07:39.010-05:00Key West Kickin ItWow! I had such a great time last weekend. Where else can you go that has authentic Cuban cuisine, deep sea fishing charters, beautiful beaches, and endless entertainment??? Good ol Key West! It all started with an adventurous 12 hour drive...yes I said drive. Not sure I'd drive it again...although it was something seeing the sun break through the ominous night clouds onto a purple/blue colored sea that stretched as far as my eyes could see. We were driving into daybreak on a single lane bridge, sky wide above us, sea stretched and flowing below....simply beautiful. The December days there were brilliantly bright, with not a cloud in the sky....ok, so maybe there were a few but it didn't seem like it.....wind blowing just enough to remind you of the life in the air. The occassional random rooster walking by crowing like people talking on the street. Oh yeah, and everybody was smiling that "life is good" laid back Key West smile. While deep sea fishing on the whimsical waters of the Atlantic, my lil dude caught a barracuda as big as him and a grouper as big as me! Next, we went to get matching tattoos....his being henna of course! Perusing Duval Street brought with it a lot of lovely sights and designs from local and national artists. Animals carved out of gemstones of every color in the rainbow. Paintings had that signature Key West bright playfulness. Mojitos that worked their mojo. A Christmas parade with jammin Santas of every nationality...lol. It was truly a fresh and unforgettable experience. God willing, I'm surely going back! You know I've included some quick camera phone pics of the beuatiful things I saw for your viewing pleasure!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dy5bMAD25Vi4KaMjstDl4Y-4WZfvefxeFP4dddJHaZJubPFrRXZzUFDQvJEEPyZsKTEHOy7WTbYCgxinVtz7w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193472980061032478.post-64355420911979241882011-11-29T09:42:00.000-05:002011-11-29T09:42:30.493-05:00Music Licensing: Players and Opportunities pt.2Since we've established what music licensing actually is, let's talk now about who the specific players are. There are two sides of a licensing situation, the side who wants to use the song for a TV show or movie, and the othr side who gives permission for the song to be used. The side who wants to use the music is called the "licensee". Licensees are the movie makers, TV producers, music supervisors, music editors, or other production companies. The other side is called the "licensor". Licensors give permission for a song to be used in a film and are the artists, artist representative or administrator, publishing company, lawyer or other licensing service companies. Independent artists can be the all of these people rolled into one if they have not signed over their copyright to another company, representative or publisher. Make sense? Cool.<br />
Independent artists and the music they make can be attractive to licensees who want to use their music. Why? Because independent artists usually own all their rights and the licensee doesn't have to go to a whole group of people to get permission to use a song. It makes the whole process easier. The less people you have to deal with to clear a song, the better. Remember in the last blog we talked about how it would probably be smart for an independent artist to get a representative to help them market/shop their music for a licensing deal? Some options for help could be getting a publisher. Now getting a major publisher like EMI or Sony or Universal is going to be hard. Since major publishers like these usually deal with major artists. But like anything else in this business, if you have the connections, it is possible. Another option would be to get a very good entertainment lawyer. These players can be very helpful in securing licensing deals and dealing with all the licensing paperwork that comes along with it. Besides, movie makers like to deal with established publishers and lawyers because usually everybody is on the same page as far as understanding what needs to happen. So, try to get yourself a good representative, whether is a boutique publisher, lawyer or licensing service. Before bringing these people on board, make sure you ask what their fees are, who have they represented in the past, and what were the last few licensing deals they've secured. This will help you to make an informed decision on if they will be a good fit for your music. This goes without saying, but pay attention to the way the communicate, because you will want to be sure they are pleasant and professional since they will be representing you. Ok, stay tuned for the next post in which we will discuss approaches to meeting these players and they licensing agreement in detail.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193472980061032478.post-89523440035838399392011-11-21T12:02:00.000-05:002011-11-21T12:02:10.556-05:00Cold Weather Cook: Cooking Up A Storm!Thanksgiving is this week, and since these chilly nights have rolled in, I've found myself craving those particular culinary creature comforts associated with this type of weather. Among these recipes are Chili, various Cajun creations, old school homestyle like fried chicken or meatloaf and cabbage right down to homemade chili dogs. You ever heard of Tater Tot Casserole? I hadn't until my BFF shared this favorite childhood recipe with me recently, and man was it good! lol. So what has inspired this sudden outburst of kitchen creations? Who knows, but my family LOVES it! Much of it probably has to do with me cherishing these rare quiet nights I have at home and giving in to that oh so womanly desire to nurture. Those in the music business and those associated with the music business understand what it's like to go days, maybe even weeks or months without some homecooked food. Needless to say, we learn to appreciate and cherish the simple gestures in life, and for me those simple things include things cooked up in my kitchen!! So, go ahead! Look below to take a peek at pics of what I've made recently!! It just may inspire you to give yourself or your nearest and dearest some homecooked love:)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyhJZLGMvMNomAHPQBe7b7sR8QY1HKw8UiFoFb-komDKxz2sQ-yD0wdbkJUTomQJheuTp3GbddG3QdBAyZA7g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193472980061032478.post-1469764607235267172011-11-15T15:52:00.001-05:002011-11-18T21:54:04.356-05:00Roaming & RomanceWhat are we all soo afraid of? Ok, so that's a dumb question. Everyone has their own particular hang- ups...apparently. The issue that makes it (by "it" I mean romance) even more daunting is that so many of us hide behind a fascade, a fantasy that tends to play out in our own heads to keep the real emotions at bay and from surfacing. Then, of course, what happens next is that all involved parties end up masquerading as this particular character until it rains and a sudden downpour washes off the stage make-up, and we're all left staring at people we don't recognize, sometimes in a mirror.<br />
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In this life of roaming from city to city, state to state, place to place....can there exist a stable place for romance? It's all quite ironic. We run to stay, cry to smile, fall to rise, fear to love.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193472980061032478.post-11734226393798969222011-11-07T15:17:00.000-05:002011-11-07T15:17:39.233-05:00Music Licensing: Basics pt.1If you're and independent artist, there are three main things you seek to advance your career : income, exposure and credits for your press kit. Music licensing is a terrific way to attain the three main things for career advancement that are mentioned above. <br />
Ok, so what is music licensing? Music licensing is when "the owner of a song gives permission for part or all of this song to be used in a TV show, movie, commercial, or other format where music is played along with visuals" (Wilsey and Schwartz, Musician's Guide to Licensing Music). The owner of the song may be the artist, another representative, or the publisher. Just depends on how the copyright and publishing agreements are worked out. Many independent artists are the "artist" and the "publisher", making them the "owner" of the song. If you haven't signed the copyrights of your original song over to a publishing company, then you , the artist, own the song.<br />
Here's another great thing I learned.....independent music is attractive to those seeking music for their projects!! Apparently, in some situations, it can be easier to deal with an independent than major label music because of all the "red tape" associated with using a major artist's song. This may not be true on a case by case basis, but it is the general concensus.<br />
So, let's dig a little deeper. What are the two sides of music licensing? On one side, you have the artists, or the people who represent those artists. On the other side, you have the people who need musical content for a TV show or film or video game or commercial. These people are the filmmakers, directors, producers or production companies. Between the two sides is the middleman, aka the music supervisor.<br />
Now that we know WHAT music licensing is, and who plays a role in it; how do we license the music?? Honestly, if you are trying to self market and license music on your own it can be VERY challenging. The time and effort it would take to build and establish contacts and who does what and then figure out how to pitch your music to them is more than a full-time job!! What artist has time to create the music AND market it?? I'm not saying that it's impossible. I'm just saying in this fast paced business it would be wise to use your time wisely and find representation for your music. If you want better chances at having your music placed in film or TV, find someone professional and reputable to market and represent your music. In other words, find a good music marketer. More than likely, they will already have built in systems on marketing music, established contacts, and already know all the licensing lingo.<br />
Stay tuned to the next Music Licensing post that will discuss fees and types of agreements.<br />
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*Information obtained from "The Musician's Guide To Licensing Music" Wilsey and Schwartz*Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193472980061032478.post-5918773000798930992011-10-24T06:00:00.001-04:002011-10-24T06:00:07.716-04:00Performance AnxietyMy chest is filled with flutter, my stomach is flipping and I'm having to concentrate on breathing. I feel like I'm about to base jump for the first time and the moment of truth is eminent. That split second adrenaline rush of fight or flight gives birth to action....I jump.....blackout.<br />
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Have you ever felt like this before? My guess is that if you're a performing artist, you have. Oh my, that feeling makes me feel like I'm gonna freak out at any moment! But if you're ever anywhere near me right before a performance, you probably wouldn't know it. Practicing keeping yourself calm and focused before a show is really a work in progress, and if you're constantly reaching to better your show, it's a feeling that never really goes away. You've learned some new choreography for the show, and it's your first time performing it. Or what about the knowledge that there's this really important person in the audience on whom you need to make a good impression? Even better, you're perfoming somewhere and no one knows who the heck you are! lol. So, you catch my drift, huh? So, how do you prepare yourself to face this feeling night after night for 365 days a year? Ok, so I'm not trying to scare you here, because really, it does get better. The more you do something over and over, the more it's going to feel like second nature. You'll start to feel more comfortable with it and more comfortable dealing with nervous energy. Before a show, I need a moment of stillness, a moment alone to get in touch with my own energy and the energy of my surroundings. No alchohol, no nothing, because I need to draw from my natural energy, and I need to be in the moment. Basically, I breathe. I may pray, I may meditate. Sometimes when the nervouseness is too much, I find somewhere where I can just go scream without anyone hearing or do a lot of jumping jacks...lol. This doesn't make me crazy does it? That sounded super crazy in my head typing it out...lol. Oh well, I do what I do. My performances up until now have been mostly improv, which means I don't follow a choreographed routine. I just rock out according to what I'm feeling. I don't know exactly what I'm gonna do when I go out there, but I do know exactly what I want to give. I don't know if the way I prepare to go on stage will change in the future. I can only imagine what it will be like when my shows become bigger, become better. But hey, I'll definitely keep you posted!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193472980061032478.post-24012334166533315202011-10-17T06:00:00.001-04:002011-10-17T06:00:01.154-04:00...And A Child Shall Lead Them<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsiHpTOKAkxYr-1Uo3fshyvfG20UrRbWn_TZjkadtQbpQ4ke8GcF2vXGqT-5DfN9xxGnM1KUBdKNManCLvgw7H7DbQ0LSZEFpJtb4N4oE72MjnPe9kzkpg9Wvq7hHPiwIHZbKawZUO7fU/s1600/IMG00410-20110617-1820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsiHpTOKAkxYr-1Uo3fshyvfG20UrRbWn_TZjkadtQbpQ4ke8GcF2vXGqT-5DfN9xxGnM1KUBdKNManCLvgw7H7DbQ0LSZEFpJtb4N4oE72MjnPe9kzkpg9Wvq7hHPiwIHZbKawZUO7fU/s320/IMG00410-20110617-1820.jpg" width="320px" /></a></div>As a child, I had a certain imagination about the world around me. I wondered at everything I saw, dragonflies, bees, the sky. I used to believe I could make it stop raining by looking at the sky and praying long enough. Little did I know summer rain never lasts that long in the first place:) <br />
As we age, so do our perceptions. Our perceptions of reality, of people, of places all shift and change, and then change again. Part of me thinks that we already knew everything we needed to know as children, atleast innately. We instinctively knew what was wrong, or what was right. We instinctively felt a person's spirit. We instinctively knew how to treat people, for the most part. Our minds were an open book, for we had not yet learned what "impossible" meant. We had no concept of it, actually. Ever watched a child play and marvel at her/his ability to be in the moment? Their ability to not occupy their minds with anything else except what they were doing at that exact moment? When's the last time you were able to do that?<br />
I used to read the verse "...and a child shall lead them" and not understand what it meant. Now, I have a much better concept in mind. When most people have children, it inspires them to become better people in order to give their children a brighter future. In a sense, their children lead them. They take one look at their<br />
child(ren) and are lead to do better and do right in their pursuit of success. On another note, maybe we ourselves are the children. Well, we once were, and now our task is to look at the world the way we once did; through childlike eyes. Eyes that were believing and imaginative and had real vision. Eyes that saw butterflies without thinking of their very short lives. Eyes that focused on the bright lights, unkowing of the dark side. Oh, what the world could be like, if we once again were led by the child inside!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193472980061032478.post-55863113908892327442011-10-10T16:23:00.000-04:002011-10-10T16:23:00.401-04:00"Who Shot Rock N Roll?"...Art and Inspiration<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwGoyakysfyP99SNVkdYbyY7L9Seylt3Wt-PHujChcxTlzrAm40j7wNREFyJsKabirri928_QCtM2vSV0jJdg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>As art inspires inspiration, I occasionally find myself seeking art at various museums. Whenever I come across art, I usually can't help but stop, look and listen. Recently, I went to the Birmingham Museum of Art's exhibit "Who Shot RockNRoll?" and saw some really great shots of artists throughout the decades. The exhibit offers visitors a glimpse into the personalities and personas of entertainers of past and present. You know the saying, a picure is worth a thousand words. I found this to be true when looking at a lot of the pics on exhibit. My thoughts..... Many of the photos capture the eccentricities of the artists they portray, all the specific and particular querks that draw the public to awe at them. Other photos attempt to capture a sincere emotion, a rare look inside the heart of the individual. I was completely thrilled at one photo of Elton John in his shiny bell bottoms, both feet kicked up in the air with both hands remaining on the piano as if he were a spastic superman! I had no idea that Elton could get down like that!! The Elton I've seen is laid back and reserved in nature. I guess time has a way of chilling us all out! Another photo I thought was pretty amazing if not completely self explanatory in its attempt to explain its subject, was the one of Tina Turner mid-dance move during one of her electric performances. The photo is indeed electric with blurred images all around the main image, as if movement could echo. It's like capturing her when she is speeding. As if watching her is an electrifying dizzying experience! Dope indeed!! (Would've included these photos, but museum security shut me down before I got to them lol) While I was staring at all of these perceptually charged pics, I couldn't keep a certain thought out of my mind. "Do I look this weird sometimes too?" I mean, I'm just saying. Being that I'm an artist as well, do I ever appear to be off my rocker to people? Um, probably, but who cares! I'm doing me. So, I've attached a couple pics and video of my experience at the museum. Oh, one other thing. The marketing company behind the exhibit's party was on point! They had 3 booths set up around the premises for guests to take FREE pics. A very nice touch given the topic of the evening! Of course you know I've included the snapshots of "yours truly" *wink*:) S/O to Cool Shots Photo Booth!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193472980061032478.post-80577732781146692662011-10-04T15:35:00.003-04:002011-10-05T13:48:23.176-04:00Psychological Addiction??So, it's come to my attention that I may have a psychological addiction. What I'm addicted to is hot, chocolate, sweet and keeps me crunk indeed. Say hello to my love affair with cocoa cappuccinos! Lol..I'm sorry. I know you had your minds ready for somethin juicy and wild, but this is really trippin me out. I mean for real, I can't leave these things alone. I went into Starbucks the other day, and one of the baristas asked me what was the story behind the name of my record company...Euphratez. I told him to look it up on my website b/c my brain wasn't awake enough to go into all that at the moment. WTF?! I was soo rude. But honestly, that's how I felt. That good ol not right now, not today attitude. How could I be soo rude to not answer this man's simple question when he's never been anything but nice to me and made me the most perfect cup of espresso every time? Immediately after I brushed him off, I felt bad. After I'd taken a couple sips of my cappuccino, I went to apologize for being a butt head and explained the story behind "Euphratez". I think he was quite forgiving b/c he understood the whole morning mindset BEFORE the caffeine thing. Especially since he probably deals with caffeine crazies all day long...lol. He said <br />
he understood and he believes it's a psychological thing. A psychological thing? Ok bruh, so you trynna call me an addict on the low? After I mulled this particular comment over a bit, I concluded that he may partially have a point. Yet still, caffeine has a direct physiological reaction in the body. How do I know? B/c if I don't have espresso for a day I beagn to experience what they call a "caffeine" headache. Your head hurts a little due to lack of caffeine. The body usually adjusts w/out it after a few hours. It's probably psychological due to the fact you have to make a conscious effort to break the habit and ween yourself off the luscious liquid. So, we live in a world of caffeine crazies..and apparently, I'm one of them.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2193472980061032478.post-35885055827756158922011-09-26T06:00:00.009-04:002011-09-26T06:00:04.714-04:00Marketing 101: Building An AudienceSo, now that we've talked about what marketing is and its goal, how do we build and maintain an audience? An "audience" refers to those individuals that like and purchase and generally support your music or "product". SO, how do we reach them? Let's first think about avenues that are closer to home. People that are drawn to your music are usually people that you have a lot in common with and vice versa. Family or friends? What about classmates? Do you have their emails? You do? Great! Start there. Build a mailing list no matter how small. This becomes your core list. Now that you have this list, build on it. How to do that you say? Excellent question...<br />
You can start by looking at all the magazines, web sites, music blogs and radio stations that you know of that play your music or music that is like yours. Look at that target audiences. Most magazines and radio stations will have their target audience information on their websites. Next, figure out how you can get to that audience. Where do they club? Where do they see live perfprmances? (Performing as much as possible is always a great to get your music out there) Where do they hang out, get their hair cut/done, cars washed, shop, etc..? Once you identify those places go to them and promote. Be sure to include your web site on all your promo materials, CDs, posters, flyers, t shirts, lighters, etc.. Then, make sure there's a place on your website that collects information on visitors to your site. Another way to collect more potential fan information is to rent customer information from commercial sites and radio stations and magazines that offer those services. If you need to know of more magazines or radio stations that cater to your brand/type of music, there are lists and directories for that. Simply do a Google search or check out some of the more elaborate options. Some are SRDS Consumer Magagzine Advertising Source, National Directory of Magazines, and Standard Periodical Directory. If your need a list of radio stations, check out Broadcasting and Cable Yearbook, Gale Directory of Publications and Broadcast Media, or Arbitron. Most directories can lead you to magazine or radio media-kits that give information and descriptions of their audience. Now, these may or may not be cost effective for the independent artist, depending on budget. These services/ publications cost and you may be better off taking a more creative grass-root approach or hiring a professional marketing company. Oh, one other thing, Google Analytics can be a very helpful tool in sizing up your potential market! <br />
All this information that you will surely dive into will help you size up, build and bond with your audience. So, get to building!! Lastly, once you establish contact with your audience, be consistent in communicating with them.<br />
*FOOTNOTE: All information in this blog was obtained from "This Business of Music Marketing & Promotion" by Tad LathropUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0