Instead of a loud, dimly lit club filled with drunken fans that could care less about watching some band they’ve never heard of, intimate house shows usually draw in people specifically there to see a certain band. Typical problems with tasks such as promotion, sound check, gear set up, or load in are rather limited, as you won’t be dealing with club promoters, security guards, tickets, or any of the other nonsense associated with larger performances. This allows you to focus even more on the upcoming gig while promoting yourself and networking with everyone in the room.

Smaller size can also work to your advantage, and instead of worrying about the audience statistics or ticket sales, you can pour all of your attention and energy into a more concentrated area. House performances usually don’t allow much room for escape, as everyone in attendance will be held in tight, without all the distractions of a typical club or bar. Instead of hundreds of people hanging around, talking, drinking, or ducking out for a smoke, they’re all congregated around you, ready to for their ears to be delighted.

If it’s money you’re concerned about, there’s still some lucrative financial gain to be found at these tinier performances through merchandise or album sales. By connecting with first time listeners or long time followers on a more personal level, it’s far more likely for them to become inclined to purchase something, wanting a keepsake or method for reliving what they just experienced. People who enjoyed the music will tell their friends, which can also benefit your online presence and sales, allowing your work to reach even further. Of course, let’s not absent mindedly forget about the performance fee either, which is probably what originally caught your attention in the first place. Between a flat payment for the gig and the additional income from record sales, this should make the night fairly productive for everyone.

House shows become ever more relevant while trying to fill in an empty date, which otherwise might be spent wandering around a city you’re unfamiliar with or getting lost on another interstate highway. You might not be able to command a specific fee, but requesting a portion of the entrance fee or tips can at least keep the adventure going. Some bands might even be willing to play simply for gas money, requiring the bare minimum to just somehow make it to their next destination and find more willing participants to experience their musical creations. Bands throughout the underground music scenes aren’t the only people using crowded basements filled with friendly faces to reach people, and the potential is there for everyone to utilize this method of promotion.

Ultimately, the house performance experience is about connecting and sharing an experience with music enthusiasts who are there to appreciate and enjoy your set. Obviously, not everyone will be breaking down your door to buy CDs and t-shirts, but given the clear cut positives over playing a larger club, these opportunities are certainly nothing to scoff at. Use social media to make contacts, keep fans posted on open dates which need filling, and it shouldn’t be too long before an opportunity presents itself. You’ll have the chance to impress people in a highly personal setting, which allows you to fortify your current fan base, while building it up with newcomers. Besides, isn’t that why you’re playing music in the first place?

While it seems that you may have to bid adieu to all your entertainment sources, there is still one opportunity that remains a good investment. A quality, but cheap home audio surround sound system can allow you to extract much more enjoyment out of music, computer games, video games, television, and movies all at once. While it’s true that most of the big name speaker manufacturers have inflated prices for their audio systems, there are a few manufacturers who recognize the time is now to offer the greatest entertainment accessory at very cheap prices, with great customer service, and no hassle shipping and returns. To the added advantage, some of the audio system manufacturers are offering discounts up to 50% and more.

The popular, brands are the ones that are affected by the Global recession very much. They have spent thousands of dollars in advertising their products and now they are forced to sell the speakers for very high prices. All we need is great sound quality and not the catchy advertisements. This is where the cheap home audio system suppliers come into play. These suppliers are not new comers to the market. They have been in the industry for quite a long time. They were hidden from the public by the luring advertisements of the popular brands. People are often convinced that the brand names are closely related to quality. The true fact is that a popular brand name has nothing to do with the quality and speaker technology has not changed much in recent years. There are some superb audio systems out there which cannot be matched with any popular branded speakers on price.

Discounts and the free shipping offers are the great money saving opportunities that you will miss out if you opt only for the popular brand speakers. Some of the manufacturers of discount home theater speakers offer 30 day trials to test the speakers and buy them only if you like them. To the added advantage, these audio system suppliers offer to and from free shipping. It means that you don’t even have to pay for returning the products if you aren’t satisfied.

With the availability of cheap home audio systems, entertainment has less limits even under the drastic economic conditions.

To have a truly successful choral group, you must find some great choral music. One of the best places to find music is on the Internet. Looking online you can find all different types of music, whether religious, pop, gospel, or something else altogether. One huge benefit of looking online is that you can usually hear a clip or sometimes even the whole piece when you are shopping. Being able to really hear the music can help you find music that is appropriate for the choral group you are working for, or the solo voice that is performing. Online shopping is also more convenient for people. You can look for your music at a time that works best for you-you don’t have to go in to the store during its hours. Also, you can usually find everything you need in one place. You can listen to the song (or a clip) and immediately order it. Within several days you have the music you need. Another benefit of looking online is being able to see who has performed the piece and often being able to order a recording of it at the same time. This adds depth and prestige to your performance of the choral music. This is why going online for your music is the best way.

1. Oasis – “Wonderwall”

Wrote by Noel Gallagher for an imaginary friend who’s gonna come and save you from yourself.” But even if it isn’t technically a love song, millions have embraced “Wonderwall” as an intimate conversation between lovers trying to survive a rough patch in their relationship.

2. Slipknot – “Snuff”

Taylor sings twisted lyrics about a love affair that seems doomed thanks to his own self-loathing and her inability to cope with his failings. “Snuff” sure isn’t romantic, but it feels very, very real.

3. Buckcherry – “Sorry”

On “Sorry,” singer Josh Todd apologizes to his woman while asserting all the reasons why she means the world to him. Next time you screw up in your relationship, play your significant other this song.

4. Red Hot Chili Peppers – “Under the Bridge”

“Under the Bridge” is best known as a tale of drug addiction and self-doubt, but it’s also a love song to a place that gives Kiedis a reassuring sense of community. For many brokenhearted souls, this Red Hot Chili Peppers track has been a source of comfort during hard times

5. Guns N’ Roses – “Sweet Child o’ Mine”

A love song both hopeful and despairing, “Sweet Child o’ Mine”. That mixture of love and innocence are then juxtaposed with Slash’s searching guitar solo and Rose’s worries about whether something so wonderful can last.

6. Foo Fighters – “Walking After You”

“Walking After You” pinpoints that moment in a failing relationship when both sides are past the point of reconciliation but can’t quite let go of one another. The song is painful and beautiful all at once, seeing the end in sight and crying all the way.

7. Stone Temple Pilots – “Sour Girl”

A love affair has ended, and Weiland tries to figure out what went wrong, guessing he’s probably the one to blame. Stone Temple Pilots mix acoustic and electric guitars with a deceptively bouncy rhythm section, and the melody is so wistful that the song’s heartbreak seems to be happening in real time.

8. Metallica – “Nothing Else Matters”

James Hetfield risked his credibility to attempt his first love song, and the results are striking — an unabashedly romantic salute to finding your soul mate. “I never opened myself this way,” he admits, but this ballad argued that such candor suited him well.

9. Smashing Pumpkins – “By Starlight”

“By Starlight” is the man at his purest, showering his lover with affection and admiration, while at the same time wondering if one person can ever truly know another completely.

10.Pearl Jam – “Black”

this is that rare breakup song that refuses to be bitter. Vedder sums up his still-abiding affection and pain with these eloquent final lines: “I know someday you’ll have a beautiful life/I know you’ll be the sun in somebody else’s sky/But why why why can’t it be/Can’t it be mine?”

| Love Test |

| Titleist AP2 Irons |

Happy Thanksgiving’s Day!

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/which-is-your-favorite-love-song-1514645.html

by Clay Butler

 The recording industry is a very dynamic and ever-changing realm.  In today’s fast-paced culture, which is so focused on the “flavor of the week”, it is often difficult (if not impossible) to maintain a grasp on the fluctuations of the music market and the recording industry.  While styles, trends, equipment, and even techniques may vary drastically, there are certain principles that remain constant when producing a quality recording. 

Know Your Environment

When producing a quality recording, you must be aware of your environment at every stage of the process.  Do you understand the acoustics of the recording space?  Are you comfortable with the equipment?  Are you familiar with the style of music you are trying to record?  These are all important questions you must ask yourself before, and during, your project.  It is very easy to lose focus, especially during a high-pressure, fast-paced recording session.  These questions will not only help you decide how to approach your project, but they will also help keep you on task.  When producing your own music, deadlines may not be an issue.  However, when you are engineering or producing someone else’s music, the old familiar adage still holds true:  time is money.  This is especially true if you are renting studio time.

Understanding the acoustics of your recording space is critical to the quality of your recording.  A bad room can produce an ugly sound.  Conversely, even a good sounding, well treated room can yield unsavory results when combined with improper placement of microphones or the performer(s).  The key is in understanding basic acoustic principles in order to correct acoustic problems or to be able to work around the inadequacies of the room.  Then, you can maximize the overall quality of your tracks.  You can even use an ugly sounding room creatively to produce some interesting natural effects.

Being comfortable with your equipment is equally as important to any project.  Recording sessions are not the time to introduce yourself to new equipment.  If you know you can get a good sound while using as little gear as possible, by all means, do it!  Resist the urge of using that cool new piece of gear just because you have it, especially when you are not familiar with it yet.  If you are recording your own music with no time or budgetary constraints, only then do I advise experimenting with new gear.  However, on a paid session, save experimentation for those times when you really know the gear and you are looking for a unique or fitting sound.  Also (and I’m preaching to myself here too), read the manuals so you don’t get stuck in a rut of using only a small fraction of a piece of gear’s functionality.

Being familiar with the style of music you are trying to record almost goes without saying.  Even if you are not well-versed in the given style (which often happens when you record someone else’s music), at least take the time to listen to similar music throughout the project in order to keep yourself focused.  Especially if you would like your music to compete on a commercial level (i.e. if you want to make money from your music), you have to listen to your competition.  Take notes on particular tricks and sounds that you would like to incorporate in your own music.  In fact, almost all professional mixing engineers reference similar artists or songs during the mixing process.  This technique is even more advisable to those engineers who are just getting started.  Because it is so easy to get tunnel-vision when you are working on your own music, make yourself take a break and listen to those similar songs and artists.

Great Sound is All About the Front End

The old saying “garbage in, garbage out” is particularly true in audio recording.  When engineers refer to “Front End”, they are referring to the sound source (the actual sound you are trying to record), and everything that happens to the audio signal (the gear it passes through) before it gets to the recorder.  The key to getting a great recording, as imparted to me by Ronan Chris Murphy (whose credits include King Crimson, Steve Morse, and Terry Bozzio), is to “capture the best possible source, and don’t f— it up!”  Wise words.  Unfortunately, though, many engineers often say, “we’ll fix it in the mix.”  The problem with that approach is that the engineer will spend more time trying to make bad sounds sound better, rather than using that time for mixing.  Remember, the more time you spend getting the sound right before it goes to tape (or disk), the less time you spend tweaking that sound later.

Obtaining the best possible source is a culmination of many factors.  First of all, your instrument should be properly maintained and tuned (e.g. a guitar with good intonation and new strings, or a tuned drum kit with new heads).  New strings or drum heads have “brightness” in the upper transient frequency range that cannot be recreated.  If you record dead strings or drum heads, no amount of equalization will compensate.  You cannot boost frequencies that were not recorded to begin with.  Similarly, any equipment used should be functioning properly–no bad, crackly cables or noisy, humming guitar amps.

Microphone technique is another important factor, which we will discuss in more depth in the section entitled “The Tracking Engineer.”  Choosing the right microphone and finding what position sounds the best is crucial to capturing the best possible sound coming from your audio source.  If you are recording using multiple microphones, pay careful attention to any phase problems.  Much like those dead guitar strings, no amount of processing can fix an audio signal that is out of phase.

From an equipment standpoint, try to use the highest quality equipment you can afford on the front end.  Use a good quality microphone with good preamps.  If you are recording digital audio, try to get the best A/D (Analog-to-Digital) converters that you can afford.  Also, try to use the shortest signal path possible.  For example, the sound source goes to the microphone, then to the preamp, and finally to the recorder, with nothing (or very little) in between.  That is not to say that only expensive, top-of-the-line equipment will make your recording sound great–you can get good sounds with less expensive gear.  Just know that the cleaner your signal is, and the less equipment it passes through, the better your sound will be when it gets recorded.

Good Music Begins With a Good Song

Most people who are interested in recording are at least somewhat interested in recording his or her own music.  As a general rule, a good production begins with a good song.  I know that, due to politics in the music business, there is a lot of junk on the radio.  However, for those competing in the commercial music market (i.e. those who are trying to make a living from his or her music), the song is the most important element of the production.  A well-crafted song, both musically and lyrically, increases the chances of the song becoming a hit, not the swirling keyboard sound or the trippy effect on the vocal.  When you put loads of work into recording a poorly written song, you still result in a well-produced bad song, and people will notice.  As I tell my clients, “Sure, you can put a nice, shiny bow on a pile of dog poo.  It might make it prettier, but it’s still dog poo!”  All of the production and recording elements support the song, not vice versa.

That being said, it really behooves anyone who is interested in recording to learn basic music theory and songwriting techniques.  Consider taking some courses at a local college, purchasing some books, or even checking some out from your local library.  The more you know about music, the better equipped you are to record it.  Remember (and I can’t stress this enough), all of the production elements support the song, not vice versa!

Capture the Performance, Don’t Manufacture It

 This principle refers a great deal to the editing process.  With today’s technology, primarily the Digital Audio Workstation, it is becoming ever easier to construct songs.  Although this is a viable method of creating music (especially in electronic music), this approach has put so much emphasis on editing that some claim it makes music sound more sterile and robotic.  With technology such as Antares’ Auto Tune pitch correction software, synchronization software such as Vocalign, beat mapping, and the ability to easily slice, dice, and splice audio files, it is also entirely possible to produce music that is perfectly in time and in perfect tune.  Editing products such as these are wonderful tools which are widely used in professional music production, but it is tempting to go too far.  The feel of a live performance, which is really the human nuance of the players, is often what really gives a particular track its magic.  If the performance needs tightening, it is always best to rehearse the band or players a little more in order to get a more solid take.  Then, once the performance is tighter, correct any blatant problems with these handy editing tools.

As far as overdubs are concerned, the more players you can have playing as a band, the better.  Obviously, getting everyone together may not be feasible due to schedules, budget concerns, or even available space.  However, a good, well-rehearsed band playing together will almost invariably produce a better track than individuals laying down tracks at different times.  The players feed off of each other and play with a kind of energy that is often hard to coax out of players in overdub sessions.   Most rock and country records, primarily in Nashville, almost always record the basic tracks together as a band.

http://www.claybutlermusic.com

© 2008 Butler Productions.  All Rights Reserved

He has sold more than 200 million albums during his career, which is still going strong. He made his debut into the country scene in 1989 with the release of his first album that was self titled Garth Brooks. Right away his music was a success. You couldn’t tune into a country music radio station without hearing his songs being played. Even today you can hear his hit singles on Internet radio sites. His songs have won numerous awards including Grammy awards, Billboard Music awards, Academy of Country Music awards, American music awards, People’s Choice awards, a Golden Globe, and Recording Industry Association of America awards.

His unique country sound mixed with rock made him a successful crossover artist. His music charts both rock and country lists. He released hits from 1989 until 2001. He officially retired in 2004 and made a comeback in 2009. He had originally retired because he didn’t want to lose out on family life. He retired to spend more time with his family as it was rumored he and his wife were having marital problems.

In 1999, Garth Brooks took on an alter ego role as Chris Gaines. He was a fictional character that was supposed to star in a movie. The alter ego didn’t make a big impact and the movie was never made. Chris Gaines, however, did make an album which produced a number one hit. You can see the alter ego on a VH1 mockumentary and on a Saturday Night Live episode.

You can see him perform live in Las Vegas. He has a lot of shows scheduled in 2010 at the Encore Hotel and Casino. He agreed to the performances and making a comeback because he is keeping his schedule light. There are only a handful of concerts scheduled and he will get to fly back home to his family during performances.

Garth Brooks is an American legend, an unforgettable country music star, and the best selling American artist of our time.

Jeff Bachmeier is owner of 977music.com, an online music and online radio station network providing live streaming Internet Radio channels with music from the 50’s thru Today. Users can also choose to create their own customized on demand playlist through their own social media profile. For more information please visit http://www.977music.com.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/music-articles/garth-brooks-best-selling-american-artist-1387432.html

The reality is that for many of you the road to good paying gigs and a handful of fans won’t come easy and it won’t be quick.

You’re going to have to put some work into this music business thing and shed some blood sweat and tears to make it happen. But hey, you’re ready for that aren’t you? I mean that’s why you’ve spent all these years practicing your scales and drum solos for hours on end, right?

Good. I’m glad to see that you’re feet are on the ground and that you’re not sending your band out into the world with some pie in the sky idea that this music business gig is going to be a breeze… That you’re going to play your tracks out in the streets and be discovered overnight. That’s not you right? Because if it is… this is probably not the right article for you.

Where Do You Begin?

You know that to make it in the music business you’ll need to be a business savvy marketing machine and take the time to learn the ins and outs of marketing your product (yes your music is a product). Expose it to the masses!

Of course you’re so ahead of the game that you also know that the masses we speak of are way too big a target for you and your music. In fact… you’re so ahead of the game that you know that you’ve got to start right in your own home town. Right? Excellent!

Now, before you start breaking down walls in your mom’s house to set up the band’s office, you’ve got to sit down with all members of your band and really evaluate what it is you all want to achieve.

Are expectations totally in line with the band as a whole? If they aren’t, it’s best to find this out before you go out and make yourselves known. There’s nothing worse than beginning a marketing and exposure campaign only to find out that your bass player isn’t really into it. Come to an understanding of exactly where it is you all expect to be in this music business within the next 2 to 3 years and get off your trombones and start the process of making it happen.

Remember, all successful endeavours start with a plan. Yeah sure Duss! You say we need a plan but how do I go about making one? Good question.

You Need A Music Business Plan My Friend

Your music business plan can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. In general, the best music business plans are ones that are well researched and have been thought through and through before implementation. So doing your homework is a must. Absolutely necessary.

Once you’ve made it this far and you’ve determined what your bands’ ultimate goals are, it’s time to go through the process of researching what’s needed to begin to make them happen. Take it one step at a time and complete each goal one by one like walking on stepping stones to cross the stream. Perform each task you’ve planned to complete in order and you’ll slowly find that your building blocks (remember how fun Lego was when you were a kid?) will naturally take you to the completion of your ultimate goal. Music business success!

Now I realize that some of the musicians in the world really have no head for the music business and if this is you, you’ve got to get your head out of the ground. There’s no room for ostrich style musicians here in the world of independent music. They really do get left in the dust. You NEED to do everything to you can to market your music to your fans. Believe me they want to be sold to. They already love your shows and your music so why not learn a little bit about how to properly get it in their hands. You just might make a little money to be able to do it again and again and… well you get the point.

If you’re a musician and you’re not doing everything you can to learn more about your business believe me your neighbor is and his band is the one getting the gigs that you can’t or worse yet, don’t even try to get. You don’t want to be left behind so hop to it. No time for excuses…

This Is The Real World

I’ve really got to tell it like it is my music friends. The music industry is a tough business and if you don’t have the drive and the determination to learn, learn and learn some more about how to run your band like a business… you can bet your bottom dollar that the ever elusive mountain of success will keep rising and rising as it moves ever so slowly away from you and your lazy self. Yes. Lazy!

You’re here in Barrie, Ontario. One of the best places north of the big smoke to be involved in music and believe me this is not a take me by the hand and fill my eyes with lights and glam music business talk I’m offering you my friend.

I’m here to provide you with the real. The music business is hard. Really, really hard and only those with backbones of steel and the determination of a bull will find success. Even with all that there’s no real guarantee you’ll achieve all of your goals. The good news is that you CAN find SOME amount of success. You just need to start with a plan.

Author: Duss Rodgers
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Guest blogger

New York, NY, United States (AHN) – Time Warner Cable has released its third quarter earnings, showing that while its profits have increased, they have lost 155 video subscribers. According to their data, the profits took a hike after the company increased its price, though it has blamed the bad economy for losing subscribers.

Revenues increased 5.2% from the third quarter of 2009 to $4.7 billion. And although high-speed data subscribers grew by 104,000 and their digital phone subscribers increased by 34,000, they lost 155,000 of their video subscribers.

The company said that the primary reason for the loss was the economy and the competition from new video offerings from Verizon and AT&T, but it was not due to cord-cutters, or those people who ditch cable TV for Web video.

Time Warner Cable is not the only one who lost subscribers. Comcast also reported 275,000 customers who discontinued the video service.

View full post on Arts, Culture And Entertainment Stories

We have a new approach to retailing music, which covers the sale of equipment related to options and accessories, Jake teaches us how to bend strings on CD and DVD-Music Freakz music theme clothing, gifts, novelties and memorabilia , music and rehearsal rooms. We work with Pianos Plus, which has been established and a reputation piano, keyboards and organ store, which boasts a large exhibition space with the best pianos, as Alex Steinbach Yamaha and Roland keyboards and organs Rodgers, six classrooms, is only one port inter-connecting door. We are all under one roof is a bright and inviting atmosphere Chrissy shows the microphone technique where feel like a valued customer, not only the time line. Take fund search our site and hope to see you hear in the shop one day soon. Who knows Perhaps you can see our band house, shopping centers, exchanges with jam on stage.

A music instruments is constructed or used for the purpose of making the sounds of music. In principle, anything that produces sound can serve as a musical instrument. The history of musical instruments dates back to the beginnings of human culture. The academic study of musical instruments is called organology.Musical instruments developed independently in many populated regions of the world. Musical instruments developed independently in many populated regions of the world.

However, the problem this generation faces is about downloading their favorite music albums. Well, they need not venture through music galleries of their area like their elder music lovers. They get different genres of music at the click of the mouse. But still this youth faces problems with the authenticity of the music download sites. Many people complain that the music download takes hell of their time and they cannot devote that much time to fulfill their hobby of listening to music. Quite right, isn’t it?

Especially today many of us want to download full length DVDs or CDs which take really too long time from many sites. This is troublesome. What can we do to avoid time consuming music downloading websites?
Do research! Yes, doing quality research about various music download sites helps us achieve a good perspective of different features of the site and also its authenticity. The music download site reviews help a lot in this regard. Search for the reviews that are authentically written on different music download review sites. Here they also mention about -

1) the download speed
2) Price for download,
3) limit of access to the site,
4) Number of songs available
5) Compatibility with operating system

These things help you gain little knowledge about the site from where you will download your album.

What are the top cheap music download sites?

Obviously you are concerned about the downloading charges of the site. Many sites offer free download but the quality may be very poor if you opt for it. If you have already tried this, you know what I mean. But still, you do not want to spend hefty sum for downloading the album. Here are some top cheap music download sites that will help you realize your music dream-

1) Flickr: This is the topmost music download site that promises many things and keeps all those promises without fail. Here you will get unlimited download access with best music quality, fast download capacity, and reasonable price. You can opt for lifelong membership for as less as $29.4. Isn’t it wonderful to have all the features in so less money?

2) Music Platinum: Here too you will get unlimited download access with good quality of music, and reasonably fast download. For lifetime membership, you need to pay $34.95.

3) MP3 Download Net: this is also one of the premium music download sites where you get unlimited access and fast download for as low as $34.95(lifetime).

Now that you know how easy it is to download whole albums to your iPod or pc, your work is much easier. The music downloads require some research on your part to enable them uninterrupted. The cheap music download sites are plenty. Just beware of fraud sites and opt only for legitimate after thorough search.