Cutting Edge Voices News

Daylle Deanna Schwartz e-mail Newsletter Issue # 27

Happy Spring! I hope that your world is blossoming with joy and prosperity. 2007 has been springing into action on many levels for me. My latest relationship book, Straight Talk with Gay Guys, launched in March. It has advice for women from 33 gay guys, including Michael Musto (writer/TV personality), Dan Mathews (head of PETA and Pamela Anderson's "gay husband"), hairdressers, etc. Get more info on the book at http://daylle.com/daylle/bookinfo-straight.htm

In the last issue, I had info about promotion with a video on YouTube.com.It motivated me to make a video - one of the first for a book! Please check it out, forward it to friends, and subscribe if you have an account. I'll be releasing more clips shortly on a variety of specific topics.

I'm starting a Conscious Gratitude Yahoo group and invite you to join. Acknowledging blessings attracts more. I created this group to help us become more conscious of the good we have. Pay attention to little things to be grateful for and send it to the group. Reading them can trigger more consciousness of things you can show gratitude for, that you hadn't thought of. The more you're grateful for, the more you receive. Bonding through blessings is a wonderful way to stay connected to positive energy. I invite you to share your blessings with my group. To subscribe, send an email to consciousgratitude-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Get more info at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/consciousgratitude/

Feel free to contact me about my fees if you need CONSULTING on how to make progress in your music career or need a shot of motivation by using my CAREER COACHING. I do it in person and by phone. You can email me at consulting@daylle.com for more info .

Please forward this newsletter to your mailing list or anyone you'd like. If this was forwarded to you and you'd like to subscribe, send me an email that says "subscribe" in the subject header with your name and city/state. If you'd like to post it on your site, please ask for permission and I'll give it. Read past issues at http://www.daylle/monthly.html If you prefer to be taken off my list, please say unsubscribe in the subject header of an email.

My other newsletter, Self-Empowerment Quarterly, for the body, mind and spirit is also free. This WON'T come to you automatically. If you don't receive it and would like to subscribe, please send an email to subempowernews@daylle.com with you name, city/state. Read back issues at http://www.daylle.com/daylle/newsletter-growth.html

Please visit my website, http://www.idontneedarecorddeal.com/ to take advantage of the many resources for developing a career in music. Also, please come and be my friend at http://www.myspace.com/daylle . : )

This issue has helpful articles by two of my successful industry friends - publicist Ellyn Solis (formerly with SONY, Atlantic, etc.) and multi-platinum producer/ recording engineer, Arty Skye. I also have interviews with Lt. Col. Tamara Moes, Chief of Armed Forces Entertainment and Lev 'Ljova' Zhurbin, a successful violist, arranger (from Yo-Yo Ma to Jay-Z), and composer of music for film, theatre and media. The rest is written by me. Please feel free to write with suggestions and questions that I can include in future issues.

Daylle Deanna Schwartz, author, speaker, consultant/coach.
Revenge Productions
http://www.daylle.com

1. Turning Struggles into Challenges
2. Interview with Lt. Col. Tamara Moes, Chief of Armed Forces Entertainment:
3. Daylle's Seminar & Books
4. Improving your Recording Quality by Arty Skye
5. Interview with Lev 'Ljova' Zhurbin
6. Minding Your Music Biz: Coming to Your Own Party by Ellyn Solis
7. Ask Daylle

1. TURNING STRUGGLES INTO CHALLENGES: It seems like many people struggle - to get up in the morning, to make enough money, to book gigs, to get a career off the ground, etc. But that one word - struggle - sets a burdensome tone for any endeavor. Be careful! Your choice of words influences your perception of a situation, which sets a tone for your attitude and mental state. It applies so much to creatives, who have special kinds of obstacles to conquer. Struggling is NOT a word you should use about your situation, unless you like being miserable! We associate it with tough situations, overwhelming difficulties, fights, things that need huge efforts and other unpleasant scenarios.

Struggle is often used as a catchall word, sometimes out of habit. But when you see life, and individual parts of it as a struggle, life isn't good. But life should be good! Struggling evokes a feeling of being powerless, bogged down, failing, behind in the game, not capable, losing. Think about how that word makes you feel. Does using it make you feel unhappy, depressed, frightened, helpless, desperate, or insecure? Living in a mentality of struggles can destroy self-image. That's a small word with a lot of power - IF you choose to use it.

When a client says that he or she is struggling with their career, I insist, at least while we're working together, that they eliminate "struggle" from their vocabulary. Reframing your situations into more empowering terms makes you feel more empowered. Why make what you're doing worse than it is? If you're going after the career you want, feel blessed to have the opportunity instead of feeling burdened.

Your choice of words truly makes a difference to your mental state. And your mental state helps you succeed or leads you to give up. Challenges feel good. Tackling them feels empowering. Struggles don't. Yet the goal is the same with each - to get past whatever is keeping you from reaching your goal. You can turn your music career struggles into challenges in your head. Change burdens into challenges that you tackle with energy. When you feel like you're struggling:

* Acknowledge that what you're doing is your choice. This may seem obvious, but it's a good reminder that you've chosen this path. Having the opportunity to walk down it is a blessing in itself. When you're caught in a struggle, you may forget why you began in the first place. Hopefully it's because you love doing music. Let that lighten your perception of how hard it is.

* Decide if you want to pursue music for income or as a hobby. Most things that earn money require an effort. If you also have a day job, especially one you don't like, you can feel spent, with no more to give for music. But you must if you want to create musical income! You have 3 choices: 1) If it's too much, take a break. Work harder to put money aside and then take time off for music only. 2) Dedicate all your free time to putting in the work. 3) Just do music for fun when you can.

1) If it's too much, take a break. Work harder to put money aside and then take time off for music only.

* Plan a course of action. If you want to take on the challenge, make a plan that fits into your life. Have small baby steps you can take forward. Plan a tour on your vacation or over long weekends. If you focus on each step instead of the big picture, it may not seem so much like a struggle. Each step is a challenge to conquer.

* Make a schedule. What needs to be done first? Create a specific schedule of steps that need to be taken. Write it down on a calendar so you know what you're gonna do and when. 6 - 7PM: Put press kits together. 10-11PM: Work on MySpace. Lunch hour: Make calls to venues. Choose specific times to do each task and stick to it! Accomplishing stuff eases the feeling of a struggle.

* Put your faith into action. Without my strong faith, I'd be struggling instead of conquering challenges. Knowing that I get support in everything I do motivates me to do more. We get back what we give out. Living in a struggling mindset brings more struggling.

* Watch all your words. Your thoughts create your circumstances. Words, whether spoken or mulled over in your head, are a vehicle to success or failure. Be conscious of how you describe situations. Just like struggling, there are many other words that damage your confidence and spirit. Choose words with care. I hear musicians moaning about an upcoming tour - how tedious the drive is, all the problems they've had before that could happen again, etc. They're struggling before they even leave! Why suffer when you can rejoice that you have the opportunity to do it?

* Write down what you love about doing your music - all the joy you feel performing; the energy of making new music in a recording studio; sharing your music with others; etc. Read it often to motivate changing struggles to challenges.

* Express regular gratitude for your gift of music. I often look up and say thanks for being able to write and share it with people who can benefit from my work. The law of attraction works best when you're grateful. That's why I invited you to join my Conscious Gratitude Group. Gratitude will keep you focused on following your passion instead of how hard it can be.

Get your head straight and passion can help push you forward to your goals. Play Word Police - arrest any negative words you use in connection with your creative goals. You can lift your spirits by simply changing your perspective with a more positive choice of words! Enjoy those fruitful challenges!

What is the main mission of Armed Forces Entertainment? "The primary mission is to provide entertainment to the U.S. military personnel serving overseas, with priority given to those in contingency operations and at remote and isolated locations. As an organization our goal is to find some of the best up-and-coming artists and performers willing to bring a touch of home to more than 500,000 troops annually."

What are the benefits to a musician who does a tour? "Most artists feel compelled to give back to the troops through the gift of music. Armed Forces Entertainment does work quite a bit with the artists to promote the tour and their music. We provide a number of materials such as posters, press releases and a featured artist page on our website. We also try to assist the performers in receiving local, regional and even national media coverage, along with the military publications that cover the tours. The promotions we offer our artists are important, but I think that the opportunity to tour internationally and the memories they make along that tour can be some of the most invaluable moments of their career."

How long does a musician need to be away from home? "These tours can last anywhere from two to six weeks and we typically try to give our artists at least a three month advance notice of when and where they will be going."

How much traveling is required once a musician reaches the initial destination? "Depending on the region, an artist could travel to 10-15 different military locations."

How are the musicians paid and where do they stay? "All Armed Forces Entertainment artists volunteer their time to perform. As a way to encourage more artists to volunteer, Armed Forces Entertainment pays artists $75 per person/per day for meals and lodging costs will be reimbursed. Armed Forces Entertainment also handles all the travel arrangements, passports and visa fees, excess baggage fees handling (musicians carry a lot of equipment) and other incidental costs like taxi/bus transportation. The majority of the time, artists will stay in lodging on the military installation. This allows the artists more opportunity to interact with troops. If military lodging is not available, Armed Forces Entertainment will arrange and cover hotel costs."

What kinds of musicians are more likely to be chosen? "Looking at the diverse family of the military it's easy to see why we send out a broad range of performers. We send out artists of all musical genres, comedians, cheerleaders, dance troupes and even magicians. When it comes to choosing artists, we focus on talented and established bands. Ideally, the performers should have a local, regional and even national fan base, be professionally managed, currently touring throughout the U.S. and have produced at least one album. The one item we are absolutely rigid on is keeping the performances by all of our entertainers clean."

Some music contains lyrics that might not be appropriate for the program? Can musicians agree to only do songs with lyrical content that's more mainstream? "Yes, but it's on a case-per-case basis. The US military is a diverse family, and we must respect each member in regards to race, religion and ethnicity. The troops have been placing a large number of requests for hip-hop, R&B and rap artists to perform through Armed Forces Entertainment. However, rap artists have to keep it PG rated and edit their songs, as much as they would for the radio. Also, we typically require the bands to play a number of cover songs so that the troops will be able to recognize and sing along with the music, again bringing that familiar taste of home." Can someone go on tours regularly? "Artists can only tour once in a fiscal year. Most of the entertainers that Armed Forces Entertainment books is driven by requests from troops and their base's commanders."

Colonel Moes says they have a need for up-and-coming artists who are committed to bringing over great entertainment to military personnel stationed overseas. If you or any entertainers you know are interested in touring with Armed Forces Entertainment, go to their website to see if you meet the requirements and find out where to mail in a submission. <http://www.armedforcesentertainment.com > They're currently streamlining the submission and review process to have everything online. Signing up with Armed Forces Entertainment is a great way to travel the world and provide a service for our military - those who serve overseas to keep us safe at home. Entertainment is a rewarding way to bring some joy to them!

3. DAYLLE'S SEMINAR & BOOKS: I've been putting on private seminars for over 10 years but my time is getting tighter. From now on, I'll only speak when someone puts an event together and brings me in for it. If you want more info about booking me to speak, please email me at booking@daylle.com . I just gave a talk at the USA Music Fest in Newark, NJ. I have several more events coming up that I'm speaking at which are open to the public if you're in the area:

April 17th, 7-10: LI Music Hall of Fame - Digital Marketing.
May 19th, noon, Mamapalooza http://www.mamapalooza.com

My latest book, I Don't Need a Record Deal! Your Survival Guide for the Indie Music Revolution, continues to do really well! The focus is on making money from musical talent. It guides you to creating as many income streams as possible and has specifics on how to pursue the variety of opportunities. It's the only book I know of with so many specifics on how to tour and license music in international markets. People are surprised to find chapters on taking care of your physical and mental health too. But part of surviving and thriving includes taking good care of YOU.

You can order this book from me by sending $25 ($20 + $5 priority mail return) in check or money order (made out to Daylle Schwartz) with your name, address, and email address. My other books, The Real Deal: How to Get Signed to a Record Label and Start & Run Your Own Record Label are also available from me at the same price. Please specify if you want it autographed. Send it to:

       Daylle Schwartz
       PO Box 8016, FDR Station
       New York, NY 10150

4. IMPROVING YOUR RECORDING QUALITY by Arty Skye There are things you can to improve the quality of your musical productions, with minimal effort. Here are some that you can put into practice with your own recording:

* Sound it out: To improve the sound of any home studio recording, first look at where you are getting your sounds from? If it's pop, dance, R&B or hip hop, chances are your sounds are from various different synthesizers (both hardware and virtual inside the computer). Most people are content to use very simple stock patches that usually offer very little in the way of personalizing your musical production. Try modifying the existing patches to better suit your song, and/or expanding your sound libraries so you have more sounds to choose from. While quality libraries often costs thousands of dollars, you can usually buy "lite" versions that give you a much smaller selection but are more affordable. Use better sounds to start with and you'll end up with a much better sounding recording.

* Stingy is good!: Be stingy with your reverb! The #1 awful thing I hear on home recordings is too liberal use of the reverb and delay on vocals. You don't need to sound like you're in a tunnel! The reverb must be matched to the individual song. A big hall reverb with a 3 second delay time might be fine for a ballad, but put them same reverb on a fast dance track and you've virtually destroyed it! Also, add just a little bit of "chorusing" to the vocals. It helps put the vocal in front of the mix, while the reverb helps to put it behind. The result is usually a nice clear presence, but with depth. But you need to balance the two or you'll get mush!

* Let's Rock: What if it's rock or jazz and you're dealing with live drums and guitar amps? My suggestion is to take the time and make sure the snare drum sound is right on point! The whole complexion of the drum kit often comes from the sound of the snare. Make sure the skins are fairly new and tuned up right. Check for too much buzz or ring and dampen the snare if you need to. It's amazing how the drum sounds fall into place when the snare is right!

* Recording drums: Please, don't use cheap mics! Cheap microphones sound cheap and you can spend forever in a mix trying to make the drums sound decent. But one simple rule of thumb (however obvious it might sound) is to first start out with a great sounding drum kit. Then use good microphones and pre-amps to capture the sound accurately. It may pay to rent a few good mics on the day you record the drums, or to do that portion of your recording in a commercial studio. Drums are the foundation of the music. If the sound sucks, the overall sound of the project will suffer. Be kind. Change your skins and use good microphones!

* Fix it in the mix?: When mixing, understand that your recording is going out to the world, and no one but you will be listening in the environment you're mixing in. So while mixing, try to check the mix on a few different sources. Check your mix in the headphones. Make a rough CD and play it on your boom box, in your car, or your friends' house. Play it on your MP3 player. Listen to the bass levels, the high end, the stereo spread and the depth. Take notes, go back to your studio and make your adjustments.

* Understand how your home studio relates to the outside world: For instance, if it generally sounds like it has more bass, you'll compensate and end up mixing with less bass. Then when you take your recording out for a walk, you'll find there isn't enough bass. A few strategically placed pieces of foam can also do wonders in making your home studio a more accurate sounding environment.

Arty Skye is president of SkyeLab Music Productions, which produces high quality music for independent artists. He's produced and engineered in NYC for 20 years and has been placed among New York's top engineer/producers, earning him 14 Platinum and Gold records. Arty has worked with top artists including Madonna, Will Smith, Brandy, Santana, 98 Degrees, Wu-Tang Clan and many more. He's also received the prestigious Visionary Award presented by 3M for his outstanding work on SWV's Three #1 HITS on the Billboard R&B Charts. Arty offers all sorts of quality services for indie artists. He's a good person to trust with recording and producing your music!

When I speak in colleges, I'm often asked if there are opportunities beyond college teaching for classical and jazz musicians. Absolutely! To prove my point, I interviewed Lev 'Ljova' Zhurbin, a violist, arranger, and composer of music for film, theatre and media. Born in Russia, he moved to New York in 1990 and performs as a violist in his own Ljova and The Vjola Contraband, string quartets, jazz combos and gypsy bands. He's also done a wide variety of arranging music from Yo-Yo Ma to Jay-Z. And Ljova is only 28!

What's your response to those who say there are no opportunities in Classical music? "Less traditional opportunities are seemingly limitless and often much more rewarding. There's teaching private lessons, performing in hospitals, performing at weddings, funerals and celebrations, setting up concerts in art galleries and upscale restaurants, just to name a few. Also, some bands/ensembles can make much more money performing on the street (or in the subway) than they would performing at a concert venue."

What were your original goals? "I dreamt of becoming a touring solo violist, like my hero Yuri Bashmet. I started as a classical violinist, and learned other styles (jazz, Gypsy, etc.) and skills on the job. I never intended to be an authentic virtuoso in any style. Instead, I take what I learn and make something of my own. These days, I aspire to lead an interesting life, divided between family, performing, composing and collaboration in a variety of media."

How did you get your first break? "It was the synergy of at least two things. My composition "Sicilienne for Violin and Piano" climbed to the top of mp3.com's contemporary classical chart, thanks to a recording from a college recital. I gave a copy of its sheet music to the brilliant Grammy-nominated violinist Robert McDuffie, who performed the piece several times on tour and recorded it for NPR's 'Performance Today.' My career was born."

How did you break into composing for film, theatre and media? "I looked for opportunities anywhere - there are always young directors looking for composers to score their shorts. The budgets are minimal, but the learning experience is worth every minute, both for you and the director."

What do you consider your greatest strength? "My greatest strength is probably a combination of passion, education, naivet� and flexibility. Regardless of genre or medium, I always strive to create in a very personal style. I refuse to be generic in anything, and put my artistic obsessions front and center, regardless of the demands of a project. While this kind of approach doesn't lead to a monopoly on every kind of gig, it does lead to an interesting life."

What helps you while networking? "I try to find the aspect of my work which is most relevant to the conversation, and then cast a wider net by mentioning all the other skills as a side, trying not to confuse the person in the process. Since my work spans so many genres, I often duck the question "what kind of music do you do?" by mentioning the mediums I write music for, and who my principal collaborators are. Everyone has the ability to make contacts; some are just shy. Anything and everything can lead to surprising income and interesting connections."

How did you get so much publicity? Promoting my record directly got me reviews in the NY Times, Billboard, and many other publications. I simply called ahead, and got lucky in the process.

How were you able to move into income earning situations for composing? "95% of the music written for TV/film is pretty schlaky generic BS. I try to steer clear of that and write music that for me is the most coveted 5%. You can always eke out a decent living making schlaky-generic production music, but I'm aiming higher. For better or worse, aiming higher means working on lower-paying projects with lesser stakes and greater creative freedom. I didn't go into music for the money, but to express and enjoy myself, and maybe save a few souls from schlacky-generic music in the process!"

Why are music budgets so limited? Most film projects are running behind schedule and over budget. Music is often the last ingredient to be added to a film. The competition for film composers is fierce. There's always someone willing to score a film for free. What they write may actually work well for the film. On occasion, you may get away with a decent budget, especially if you have a track record of receiving awards and/or selling records.

How does building relationships help? The film industry is built on relationships. It seems that music budgets are often reminiscent of charity. A client (or a director) comes and says "I've got $5,000, what can you do?" Some composers scoff, others offer to compose a whole score, hire a string section and some soloists, and win a relationship in the process. I was recommended to the Jay-Z arranging job through a colleague, whom I met at New York's lowest paying orchestra gig. Until someone has a track record, they can't really negotiate. But once you start negotiating, you stand to miss out on some wonderfully artistic projects which simply can't afford your services. Try to balance it all and enjoy as much as possible.

Ljova's story isn't just about his genre. It's about having the drive to build a career and find alternative income streams that are satisfying. I met him just over a year ago and I've been in awe while watching his career flourish. He's a completely passion driven musician and also a fun, caring person. The two combined with great talent make for a musician that others want to work with. Hailed by Billboard Magazine as "one of New York's fastest-rising composers and instrumentalists", Ljova is proving that hard work and a positive attitude can get a talented musician into a satisfying

6. MINDING YOUR MUSIC BIZ - Publicity advice from Ellyn Solis, a 21 year veteran Public Relations executive serving the music and entertainment industry, including Rogers & Cowan, Atlantic Records and Sony Music/Epic Records/550 Music and now her own, Vermillion Media.

A recording artist is born every ten minutes. With the advent of PRO Tools, iLife Garage Band, M-Audio Session, MySpace, YouTube and all the rest available through the Internet, it is easier than ever for budding talent to call themselves a "recording artist". You can write, rehearse, record, mix, master, burn and sell cd's from your room, your basement, your garage or your deck chair. In essence, you can set up shop as a legitimate, career-minded recording artist all without ever really leaving the house.

If you believe that, then I have some swampland available for you! Here is the real truth of the situation. The more things change, the more they stay the same. For years and years, GREAT musical artists evolved through sweat and hard work. Career artists (as opposed to hobbyists) were passionately committed to their musical voice - they had something to say, a uniquely musical way to say it and they were willing to work hard to move their art forward. No one is really able to have the long-term career that dreams are made of without putting in some sweat equity.

Although popular websites such as CDBaby, Sonicbids, iTunes, Real Audio, Amazon, MySpace, and YouTube help artists get the word out about their music, the Internet is a one dimensional tool. To get the three dimensional view that will truly catapult a musical career, I use this phrase over and over when I speak to artists that are just starting out: Come to Your Own Party!!

The phrase was born for me after countless hours spent counseling artists about development, publicity and other aspects of their careers. It seemed that many new artists wanted everyone else to do the work for them. They seemed to think they could just sit back (or sit in front of the computer) and let it all happen. This is an illusion and a delusion that means the certain end of a career before it ever begins. Here is what I mean about Coming to Your Own party:

* Understand the phrase music business: The Music is first (thank goodness, yes, the Music is still the most important noun here), but the phrase isn't complete without the Business end. It is essential for an artist to understand the basics of how it all works. What do all these buzz words mean; radio promotion, publicity, imaging, styling, marketing, media training, artist development, A&R, touring, publishing, royalties, commissions? Think of it as a homework assignment, do the research, make a list, write it out in your own words. Make certain you understand the concept behind each term - if you get stuck, reach out to someone already in the Music Business, ask them to explain. You'd be amazed at how savvy a new artist is once they understand the basic concepts.

* Look the part: In our line of work, we have the privilege of talking to genuine artists - gifted, talented musical prodigies. What continues to surprise me is many of these very talented musicians don't have the first clue as to how to image their personal art. They seem to have forgotten that in addition to their musical prowess, they have another asset worth exploiting - their human form! It may seem that all successful artists in the music business are young and beautiful and have style. NOT TRUE! What is true is that everyone from the Red Hot Chili Peppers to John Mayer has paid attention to the style details. They are dialed in as to the best way to image themselves so their music is understood sonically and visually.

John Mayer is a great example of this. He speaks openly of the initial misunderstanding the music-buying public had about him after the success of his first CD. He was perceived as yet another - in a long line of - less than outstanding singer/songwriters. Since then, Mayer has done the work necessary to communicate publicly what was always his artistic self-image: that of a uniquely riveting (and self described) Guitar God. Mayer came to his own party on this one and understood clearly that he had to change his style in tandem with his repertoire selection to accomplish the goal of positioning himself as the type of artist he was at heart, not another simple singer/songwriter. Case in point, the February 22, 2007, issue cover of Rolling Stone Magazine where Mayer is now referred to as "Slowhand Junior."

* Be Committed To Your Vision But Be Open To A Smart Plan: Many artists think the more they fight the accepted norms of the business, the more 'non-sell-out' success they'll achieve. Unfortunately, this attitude is the opposite of what artists generally need to do to advance their careers. If I had a dollar for every time I was told 'I want a major label deal but don't want my fans to call me a sell-out,' I'd drive a much fancier car. I had the privilege of working with gifted rock artists such as Eddie Vedder (Pearl Jam) and Zack De La Rocha (Rage Against The Machine). Both held tight to their creative principles and at the same time embraced the strategy and advice of professionals on their team. Fans know these artists as not only incredibly talented but also possessing complete credibility.

The backstory is that both Zack and Eddie came to the music business with a clear sense of their creative voice and message. They were able to blend their vision with the demands of building and marketing a successful business brand. Through dedication to their craft and day- to-day involvement in business decisions, they were able to shape a career, without compromising their sense of artistic integrity. You can have it both ways without offending people that try to help you. You can have it both ways, without being labeled a difficult diva. Just remember to come to your own party with a clear head and an open heart.

Ellyn Solis handled publicity campaigns for many artists including Celine Dion, Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine, and Ben Folds Five. At Sony she was responsible for daily pitching to national print and television outlets as well as executing successful events such as the Annual Sony Music Grammy Parties. Since leaving Sony, Ellyn founded Vermillion Media, which handles full scale campaigns for artists ranging from independent to nationally recognized including Denise Rich, Tommy Lee, and The Clarks, and does PR for live tours including Pink Floyd, Pearl Jam, and Lollapalooza.

Ellyn recently founded PRLADY, an online PR consultancy dedicated to educating independent artists on the skills needed to do their own publicity as they start their careers. If you can't afford to hire a publicist yet, this service provides constructive and specific guidance for setting up a plan to do your own PR. A phone consultation to do this is $200.If you use Paypal and put the code DDS01 in the referral code box, you'll get a $20 rebate back. Check this service out!! I've known Ellyn for years. She's excellent and really cares about helping you. http://www.publicitylady.com

No! Some may disagree but I think that CDs will stay around for quite awhile. Sales in many genres are dropping as digital sales increase. But people still like CDs. I just bought three! It takes a long time for a format that's been used for years to disappear. When I began my record label, CDs were just beginning to sell. So-called experts predicted that vinyl would be obsolete shortly. I refused to accept that and was right. It took many more years before DJs slowly phased them out. Many people continue using what they're comfortable with. I don't have time to download and/or burn music. It's easier to just order CDs and pop them in my player. As technology makes things simpler, that will change. But many people are like me in preferring to get music the way we've done it for a long time. But I do think it's important to get your music online too. Check out Tunecore <http://www.tunecore.com > They have a new model for selling online that I'll talk about more in a later issue.

Have you ever watched a musician with second-rate talent have a first-rate success? Did it make you wonder why, since so many more gifted ones go nowhere? The less talented ones may have a key component to success - a determination to rise to the top of their careers. Actress Sophia Loren said, "Getting ahead in a difficult profession requires avid faith in yourself. That is why some people with mediocre talent but with great inner drive go much further than people with vastly superior talent." Think about what you could accomplish if you have the talent and the inner drive, like Ljova talked about above.

I remember watching the gymnastics finals in the 1996 Olympics. The US team was in contention for a gold medal and Kerri Strug was last to do her vault. It was all up to her. I thought it was over when Kerri fell and injured her ankle on her first vault. She was in pain but needed to stick her landing on the second vault. Most athletes would have mourned their bad luck and allowed themselves to be carried off. Not Kerri!

I held my breath as she focused on her second vault with determination. She did it perfectly, landed on both feet and held it long enough to secure gold for the American team. Then she collapsed from the pain. Some have it, some don't. It's hard to stay in the game and not get discouraged or give up because of difficulties. Advancing in any career takes work. The music industry adds another element of difficulty. You need a strong soul, and strong faith, in both you and in your spiritual support. Kerri Strug wanted to win badly enough to endure the pain and focus on what she needed to do.