Performance

Performance / Promoting / Venues — Comments Off
18
Nov 10

Agia Napa More Than The Party Capital Of Cyprus

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketThe word “Agia” means saint and “Napa” translates into wooded valley so when you go clubbing in Agia Napa be sure to remember that. Yeah right! You will probably associate this beautiful holiday resort with late night clubs and trendy bars buy believe me it has a whole lot more to offer holiday makers of all ages. True, it is a great place for a good time but it is a great family resort too offering something for everyone. So before you write it off as somewhere just for young party goers it could be worth reading on.

The town was once a small fishing village with a pretty harbor and a few local shops tucked away a few kilometers from the bustling resort of Protaras. The harbor is still there and now it is home to a host of pleasure craft as well as the little fishing boats. If you don’t wear yourself out clubbing you can still catch the fishing boats as they return in the morning and maybe even pick up some fresh fish too. Another great feature of the harbor area are the many restaurants where you can relax and watch the world go past whilst enjoying a huge range of cuisine including surprisingly, fish!

The beaches in Agia Napa are amoungst the best in the area perfect for bathing or sun bathing with plenty of beach front bars and restaurants to escape to when the sun gets too much for you. Continue reading →

Industry Trends / Performance — Comments Off
15
Nov 10

Dance Your Blues Away With A Good DJ

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketIn today’s busy and hectic times, people young and old look for an opportunity to chase away their blues with good music. There is a large variety of music available in the market these days. You can even download music from the net on to your computers and from there to your mobiles. No family function or gathering is complete without a good DJ system – everyone dances together enjoying themselves for hours. Music and a good voice are God’s gifts to humans.

A disc jockey or a DJ is a person who selects and plays prerecorded music for an audience. In 1934 American commentator Waller Winchell coined the term “disc jockey” the combination of “disc” referring to discotheque and “jockey” which is the operator of a machine. Continue reading →

Performance / Venues — Comments Off
12
Nov 10

One Night In Bangkok – Recommendations For Women Travelers

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketBangkok, or the City of Angels, is a popular stopover destination for many thousands of air travelers every year. It is famed for its historical temples and its male oriented nightlife, as the song from Chess, the musical, implies. But what are the options for women travelers if you find yourself with a day and a night to spare in this vibrant city?

A lot depends on whether this is your first visit or indeed you first time in Asia. If so then you need to get a real flavor of the city by visiting some if its famed temples, historical sights and shopping opportunities.

If your time is limited to a 24-48 hour stopover the best way to do this is by taking two half day tours – a morning tour of the Grand Palace with its famed Emerald Buddha and an afternoon boat trip down the Chao Phraya River on a traditional rice barge. There are many similar tours available and can be booked either from your hotel or the plethora of tour operators scattered along the main streets. These tours usually last around 4 hours, giving you time to rest before taking on more of Bangkok’s exciting sights and sounds (and shops.)

The Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha Continue reading →

Advice / Performance — Comments Off
30
Oct 10

How To Write A Killer Dance Tune

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketHell, if I really knew how to do this I wouldn’t be writing about it, I’d be churning out dance floor classics like they were going out of fashion!

I think I can give some helpful advice, having ripped up many a podium in my dancing days, and having studied music all my life, but if anyone tells you they know the secret to writing Ibiza’s big summer tune, then they’re lying……. Unless you happen to be talking to Kid Crème, in which case listen to every word he says, write it down immediately and email it to me. Cheers.

This piece assumes you have a little musical knowledge.

(before I start I feel a disclaimer coming on!… Over time I will refine and rewrite these lessons so that they work well together. Please forgive if this first one is a bit hotchpotch I’ll come back to it in time and in light of future lessons)

Ok. Let’s get stuck in. Lesson one is all about……..

The Groove Continue reading →

Advice / Performance — Comments Off
23
Oct 10

Where the Unknown Music Roams – Expand Your Music Library

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketYou’ve heard all your favorite music and artists on your local radio station. You’ve tuned in while hoping to hear something new and exciting. Unfortunately, the radio stations usually play the same tunes over and over. This causes other musicians to get left out in the cold. You may never hear of many fabulous rock singers, R and B artists, jazz professionals and Gospel greats if you only listen to what your radio station has to offer. Here are some tips to show you how to expand your music library with great songs you’ve probably never heard before.

Where Did The Music Go?

If hundreds of singing groups and musicians submit their songs to producers each year, but only a few get chosen, then where do all these amazing musicians go? Where and how are their songs being heard? Do they just give up? In the past, many of them would likely quit playing or singing all together once they were rejected in the mainstream music industry. But nowadays, a new avenue of getting their sensational music to the public has arisen; it’s called the World Wide Web! Continue reading →

Become Famous / Career / Celebrity Business / Music Business / Music Investors / Performance / Promoting — Comments Off
16
Oct 10

5 Business Lessons I learned from Hanging out in Hip-Hop Class

MODEL
I’ve been a dancer my entire life. I started out at the tender age of 4 with my first pair of shinny black tap shoes with little pink bows. I later graduated to jazz, swing, ballroom, a little country line dancing and in my mid 20s returned to my love of tap where I studied with a professional dancer who taught the likes of Paula Abdul and other celebrities how to shake a leg.

So when I decided I wanted to drop a couple of pounds before the holidays hit I went back to my roots and signed up for a series of dance classes.

Going in I knew that dance requires creativity, focus, control and power. But driving home one day I thought about how much learning to dance is like running a business. Here are 5 business lessons I’ve learned from hanging out in a hip-hop class.

I can do a whole lot more than I thought.

Each lesson is broken down into sections. It doesn’t matter what class I’m in the instructor belts out 8 counts of new steps and I watch thinking, “my body doesn’t do that”.

You know what, after it’s broken down and we practice a bit, “my body can do that”. It’s the same with your business. What business tasks, systems, phone calls, and risks are you not taking because you think you can’t? All it takes is breaking it down and a little practice and you’ll be amazed at what you can do.

It gets easier with time.

My first day in hip-hop class I looked around at the room full of 20somethings and through, “what on earth is a tap dancer doing in a hip-hop class”? I tripped over myself, got frustrated with the steps and pretty much looked like an idiot. But the more I do it the easier it gets and the more fun it is. To top it off I’m surprised at how fast I’m picking it up.

In business you don’t start at the top. You have to try things that make you feel uncomfortable, self- conscious and maybe even (gulp), out of control. But keep at it because soon things that gave you the heebie jeebies become second nature. Continue reading →

Celebrity Business / Industry Trends / Performance — Comments Off
15
Oct 10

Lara Fabian An Underrated Artist

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketStarting her music career at a tender age of 8, Lara Fabian knew that she would become a singer one day. She also emphasized this on her show From Lara with Love, broadcasted by PBS, when she told the audience about her encounter one day when she drove with her dad and vocalized exceptional high notes she heard on the radio, without any problems.

It is not everyday you get such a talented, vibrant person and it is these artists that fans love all over the world. She has a beautiful voice, a beautiful face and a beautiful personality. Everything you need to become famous, and famous Lara became.

Yet her name is not a household name like Celine Dion or Enrique Iglesias, but she has all the talents these great performers have. She is frequently compared to Celine Dion but just like Celine, she also performed the soundtracks of movies like Final Fantasy and AI, she even played the voice of Esmeralda of the Hunchback of Notre Dame and sang the theme song of the movie “Que Dieu Aide Les Exclus”.

It is clear that Lara focuses on the European market, because she has so little English albums (2 English between a total of 8 albums), but who blames her. She did a great job with her album A Wonderful Life, with each song on the album being a hit on its own. Continue reading →

Industry Trends / Performance — Comments Off
14
Oct 10

Halloween Playlist, Horror Stories

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketThis is the perfect playlist for HALLOWEEN!

I figured these tracks would work great for this time of year when everyone gets dressed up and goes out to parties or trick or treating. I figured a mostly electronica mix would work great so this is what I have come up with.

I start things off with The Hacker of Miss Kittin and The Hacker fame. It’s a great spooky, dark track of minimal electro sounds that The Hacker is known for. The album comes off of his latest release Reves Mecanique. Those of you who are Miss Kittin fans can also find a track that she guests on.

I then head off to the Campy Industrial sounds of My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult. This track comes off of the Confessions Of A Knife album and it’s a great track in this mix. It works perfectly as it has the sampled sounds of movies. Next up is Nightmare by Brainbug. This was a pretty big hit back in the late 90′s in the club world. It’s got that great sample of a classic Hollywood film soundtrack. It’s sounds great and it’s very upbeat and energetic! Continue reading →

Career / Celebrity Business / Industry Trends / Performance / Promoting — Comments Off
12
Oct 10

The Millionaire Mentality

Business suit!
This past weekend I took my girlfriend to the mall so she could pick out some sophisticated stilettos for the upcoming fall season. I could not help but notice a young black male being escorted out of the store in handcuffs and overheard the police officer saying to the young brother “for socks and a hat?” It’s a shame that someone feels like they have to steal to get what they want, but it’s even worse to know that they could have gotten what they wanted without stealing, if only they had a millionaire’s mentality.

When it comes to net worth or cash in the bank, I am far from a millionaire. Some people have asked me why I think I can teach people how to become wealthy when I don’t have a million dollars? My response to that fair question is that people spend thousands of dollars on colleges and universities to be taught economics, finance and entrepreneurship, but how many of those professors you think are listed on the Forbes Richest list? None! Since that’s the case why not learn from someone who has done what you are actually trying to do?

The typical net worth of today’s average Black American family is only $6,000. I had a net worth of $10,000 six months after I graduated college. And since 65% percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck and I have not worked for anyone in almost four years, I feel I am qualified to speak on the subject of wealth. The knowledge and research displayed on The Black Economy may not make you a millionaire. You may only want to make an extra $500 to $1,000 per month, I don’t know? But I do know that you will become financially intelligent, learn how to become an entrepreneur, graduate from an entrepreneur to an investor and be able to understand what’s going on in capitalist America. You will also learn how to finally take advantage of credit cards, build good personal and business credit, make money, reduce debt, accumulate wealth, and so much more! Continue reading →

Performance — Comments Off
9
Oct 10

The Day The Music Died

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketNo matter what generation you are from, if you’re a music lover, you remember certain events: those of the Baby Boomer’s generation remember where they were when Elvis died, those of Generation Jones remember where they were when John Lennon was shot, and those of the MTV Generation remember where they were when it came out that Milli Vanilli were fakes. Different generations tend to remember different things. But, there is one event – due partly to Don McLean’s tribute song – that transcends eras: if you love music, then you probably know about the day it died.

The Day the Music Died is the term often used to describe a plane crash that took place on February 3, 1959 in Iowa. One of the biggest musical tragedies in history, this crash killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, J.P. Richardson (The Big Bopper), and Roger Peterson, the pilot.

The events that led up to the crash were protocol in the music business. Holly, Valens, and Richardson, as well as their respective band members, were on “The Winter Dance Party” tour, a tour that was to stop in 24 Midwest cities in the span of three weeks. When they had an open date, their promoters called The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa and booked a show. The Surf Ballroom, until that spur of the moment decision, was not a scheduled stop.

When Buddy Holly arrived at the ballroom, he suggested that he and his band mates charter a plane to an airport near Moorhead, Minnesota, the destination of their next performance. Holly, and many of the other musicians, were tired of riding in the tour bus. Not only was it crowded and confining, but it also suffered a broken heating system, causing all the band members discomfort and one band member to be taken to the hospital with frostbite. Continue reading →

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