Ho ho ho gang!
Chris French here from Modern Midwest Entertainment! The holidays are upon us! Are you ready for them?! Recently, I was involved in setting up a show for Robin Williams at the State Theater in Kalamazoo, MI (it was for a class I'm taking). While I was working on that project, I got to thinking, "If this is such the logistical headache and it's scheduled for March, how big of a headache would a Christmastime show be?!"
I tried to do some research on that subject, but I kept finding companies that were selling talent for nominal prices for holiday get togethers. Now I know that big name talent DOES perform during the holiday season, I mean, look at Dick Clark's New Years Rockin' Eve! Big name talent ABOUNDS during that show and it's only the week after Christmas.
I went to several websites of known performers and found that some only play shows in the beginning of December, and not much past the 15th of the month. Metallica for example, played their last show of their current world tour last night (December 10th) at the Fillmore in San Francisco. Lady Antebellum actually plays their last show of the year on December 18 at WVU Coliseum in Morgantown, WV. Meanwhile, comedian Craig Shoemaker is playing shows near his Sherman Oaks, CA home, all the way up until December 23rd. He's then making appearances still in California through out the week after Christmas.
So. . .my fine friends, whatever your holiday plans, where ever you may be, get your butt out of the house, and get to your local venue and see some great entertainment before the end of the year! You deserve a present too!
MERRY CHRISTMAS to all of you, and a HAPPY NEW YEAR too!
SEE YA in 2012!!
Chris
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Artist Management from an Entertainment Venue's Prospective
Hi gang,
Chris French here from Modern Midwest Entertainment. I've recently began thinking about artist management. I've begun to think about it, not only because I'm taking a class in it, but because I'm also going to have to start dealing with managers on a consistent basis. You see, I am currently involved in a project, along with several other folks, to buy a small entertainment venue. I have realized, recently, that there is a LOT more to artist management than just standing around and saying, "I'm with the band." I've been looking at this from the manager's prospective, but now, since I'm going to be the booking agent for my venue, I have to look at it from the venue's prospective.
Knowing that an artist manager basically handles every aspect of that artist, from music, to promotions, to negotiation of shows, and so on, I have come to realize that I have to think in terms of my own venue's attributes and expectations when booking in an act. Most managers, when accepting a booking, will invariably include a rider on the contract with the demands of the artist themselves. One thing I have to make sure, when I book a show, is that I can fulfill the contract riders. If I can't reasonably fulfill the rider of the contract, then I can't feasibly book the show.
A lot of what goes into booking an act at the venue level is going to be negotiation. The manager and I will hash things out as to what we need in terms of both the venue and the artist. Most artist managers handle pretty much all aspects of the negotiation themselves, but there are exceptions. For example, Bill Silva Entertainment (the company that manages Christina Perri of Jar of Hearts fame), has a director of ticketing/artist relations that is in charge of the concert promotion, as opposed to the manager themselves.
According to the Bill Silva Entertainment website, Reba Alexander serves in this capacity. Her job description is as follows:
As Director of Ticketing for Bill Silva Presents and Andy & Bill Concerts, Reba oversees all aspects of ticketing from show build to settlement, acting as a promoter liaison to the venue for artist representatives which include managers, agents, touring personnel, additional promoters, marketing, record labels, fan clubs, subscription programs, etc. She also manages relationships for the company with Ticketmaster, local box offices, production, operations, security and parking and additionally handles all incoming industry and VIP requests.
For Bill Silva Management, Reba communicates ticket requirements to local promoters and venues for our touring clients from the artist/management perspective.
As the venue owner, and booker, I would be dealing with Ms Alexander if I were to want to have Christina Perri or any other BSE managed artists at my venue. I am still considering managing artists myself, so, in those instances it would not take much to get artists into the venue. It's a lot easier negotiating with yourself than anyone else (though folks might think you've gone wacko).
Well gang, I hope I've shed a little light on things today! Keep your chin up and keep guarding with that left!
SEE YA!
Chris French here from Modern Midwest Entertainment. I've recently began thinking about artist management. I've begun to think about it, not only because I'm taking a class in it, but because I'm also going to have to start dealing with managers on a consistent basis. You see, I am currently involved in a project, along with several other folks, to buy a small entertainment venue. I have realized, recently, that there is a LOT more to artist management than just standing around and saying, "I'm with the band." I've been looking at this from the manager's prospective, but now, since I'm going to be the booking agent for my venue, I have to look at it from the venue's prospective.
Knowing that an artist manager basically handles every aspect of that artist, from music, to promotions, to negotiation of shows, and so on, I have come to realize that I have to think in terms of my own venue's attributes and expectations when booking in an act. Most managers, when accepting a booking, will invariably include a rider on the contract with the demands of the artist themselves. One thing I have to make sure, when I book a show, is that I can fulfill the contract riders. If I can't reasonably fulfill the rider of the contract, then I can't feasibly book the show.
A lot of what goes into booking an act at the venue level is going to be negotiation. The manager and I will hash things out as to what we need in terms of both the venue and the artist. Most artist managers handle pretty much all aspects of the negotiation themselves, but there are exceptions. For example, Bill Silva Entertainment (the company that manages Christina Perri of Jar of Hearts fame), has a director of ticketing/artist relations that is in charge of the concert promotion, as opposed to the manager themselves.
According to the Bill Silva Entertainment website, Reba Alexander serves in this capacity. Her job description is as follows:
As Director of Ticketing for Bill Silva Presents and Andy & Bill Concerts, Reba oversees all aspects of ticketing from show build to settlement, acting as a promoter liaison to the venue for artist representatives which include managers, agents, touring personnel, additional promoters, marketing, record labels, fan clubs, subscription programs, etc. She also manages relationships for the company with Ticketmaster, local box offices, production, operations, security and parking and additionally handles all incoming industry and VIP requests.
For Bill Silva Management, Reba communicates ticket requirements to local promoters and venues for our touring clients from the artist/management perspective.
As the venue owner, and booker, I would be dealing with Ms Alexander if I were to want to have Christina Perri or any other BSE managed artists at my venue. I am still considering managing artists myself, so, in those instances it would not take much to get artists into the venue. It's a lot easier negotiating with yourself than anyone else (though folks might think you've gone wacko).
Well gang, I hope I've shed a little light on things today! Keep your chin up and keep guarding with that left!
SEE YA!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
The Fine Art of Negotiation.
Hello gang,
Chris French here from Modern Midwest Entertainment. Recently, I had the opportunity to have a phone chat with Jason Dilyard, founder of Hillsdale, Michigan's Dily Promotions. Since the beginning of 2008, "Dily", as he's known to everyone that knows of him, has been involved in over 50 different negotiation sessions with artists from comedians to rock bands to country bands. During the course of our discussion, we talked about different issues in doing negotiations.
I started off the interview by discussing the issue of people. More specifically, we talked about how he separates people from the problem, or basically, how the human factor doesn't affect his negotiations. "You have to work with people you don't know. That way, personal interest, such as working with friends, isn't there. It allows me to be more objective in what I want and how I'm going to get it."
Most of the time, a negotiation is conducted to garner a mutually beneficial result for both parties. When I asked Dily about this, he stated that his role in negotiations has been a little bit different. "Most of the deals I've done, I've been the middleman. I gotta make the clubs happy, I gotta make the acts happy. I have to make sure the venue's gonna make money by getting people into the place, and I gotta make sure the band gets a good price from the venue."
When a negotiator can show affiliation to the other party, such as an Oscar winning actor, a Golden Globe winning producer or director, it lends credibility to that person as an expert in their field. I asked Dily his thoughts on affiliation, "It goes to benefit because everyone knows that you bring more to the table. You have to keep all of your newspaper clippings and stuff so people can see what you've done. Bands that you've booked, venues you've gotten bands into. Name recognition is a lot to this business."
Getting into the heart of the negotiation, leverage and power are two key elements that each negotiator hopes to curry in their direction during the negotiation. "Try to keep it on your side," Dily commented, "It helps make it so much easier when you're able to have that leverage and power. You're able to get what you want. It helps make a profit and get things done when you get what you want from someone."
Sometimes in a negotiation, one party may try to "pull the wool" over somebody's eyes. I asked Dily how he deals with dirty tricks from a venue or a band when he's in a negotiation. "If it comes to a lost venue, you have to suck it up and take it. Sometimes you just have to deal with it and move on. That's when you have to realize that they're not the only venue or band out there and you have plenty of other opportunity."
Often times in a negotiation, the first deal is not readily accepted. That's when you have to turn to The Best Alternative To the Negotiated Agreement (BATNA*), "I try to concede to a middle ground so that each side leaves somewhat happy."
I would like to thank Jason "Dily" Dilyard for speaking with Me about negotiations. I hope you've learned a little something today!
*na-na na-na na-na na-na nah. . .BAT-NA!!! Sorry, I couldn't resist!
Chris French here from Modern Midwest Entertainment. Recently, I had the opportunity to have a phone chat with Jason Dilyard, founder of Hillsdale, Michigan's Dily Promotions. Since the beginning of 2008, "Dily", as he's known to everyone that knows of him, has been involved in over 50 different negotiation sessions with artists from comedians to rock bands to country bands. During the course of our discussion, we talked about different issues in doing negotiations.
I started off the interview by discussing the issue of people. More specifically, we talked about how he separates people from the problem, or basically, how the human factor doesn't affect his negotiations. "You have to work with people you don't know. That way, personal interest, such as working with friends, isn't there. It allows me to be more objective in what I want and how I'm going to get it."
Most of the time, a negotiation is conducted to garner a mutually beneficial result for both parties. When I asked Dily about this, he stated that his role in negotiations has been a little bit different. "Most of the deals I've done, I've been the middleman. I gotta make the clubs happy, I gotta make the acts happy. I have to make sure the venue's gonna make money by getting people into the place, and I gotta make sure the band gets a good price from the venue."
When a negotiator can show affiliation to the other party, such as an Oscar winning actor, a Golden Globe winning producer or director, it lends credibility to that person as an expert in their field. I asked Dily his thoughts on affiliation, "It goes to benefit because everyone knows that you bring more to the table. You have to keep all of your newspaper clippings and stuff so people can see what you've done. Bands that you've booked, venues you've gotten bands into. Name recognition is a lot to this business."
Getting into the heart of the negotiation, leverage and power are two key elements that each negotiator hopes to curry in their direction during the negotiation. "Try to keep it on your side," Dily commented, "It helps make it so much easier when you're able to have that leverage and power. You're able to get what you want. It helps make a profit and get things done when you get what you want from someone."
Sometimes in a negotiation, one party may try to "pull the wool" over somebody's eyes. I asked Dily how he deals with dirty tricks from a venue or a band when he's in a negotiation. "If it comes to a lost venue, you have to suck it up and take it. Sometimes you just have to deal with it and move on. That's when you have to realize that they're not the only venue or band out there and you have plenty of other opportunity."
Often times in a negotiation, the first deal is not readily accepted. That's when you have to turn to The Best Alternative To the Negotiated Agreement (BATNA*), "I try to concede to a middle ground so that each side leaves somewhat happy."
I would like to thank Jason "Dily" Dilyard for speaking with Me about negotiations. I hope you've learned a little something today!
*na-na na-na na-na na-na nah. . .BAT-NA!!! Sorry, I couldn't resist!
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Joshua Walters - Educating and Inspiring
Hello gang!
Chris French here from Modern Midwest Entertainment. I was sitting here, just surfing around on the Internet and was told to check out a website called TED.com. Me, being the curious sort, I decided to take a look at the site. It’s an incredible site where just about anybody can speak on subjects that they know about and help teach and reach people! I think this is great! It’s almost like the Learning Annex, but online and for FREE!
While looking on TED.com, I came across a young comedian named Joshua Walters. He spoke a bit about his background in the nearly six minutes he was on the stage. Here is a young man who is diagnosed with Bi-polar Disorder. For those of you who aren’t sure, that used to be called Manic-Depressive Disorder. This young man was inspiring to me personally. I have worked a day job in the mental health field for the last 10 years. To see a young man who has had the experiences he has, such as being committed to a psych ward, taking medications and such going out on stage and educating people with humor about his own illness is very inspiring.
It warms my heart to see that someone with a diagnosed mental illness has done something positive with their life. Many people, unfortunately, once diagnosed, tend to slip into self-pity, and blame the world for their problems. Joshua Walters inspires me to want to reach out to those people and tell them, “Hey, look, you don’t have to turn into a lump! Look at this guy, look at what he’s doing.” This young man is entertaining people, he’s enjoying what he’s doing and still, he’s diagnosed with a mental illness.
It truly makes me stop and think about all the actors, actresses, singers and entertainers out there who are also diagnosed with mental illness. Several years ago, I had the opportunity to meet Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia in the Star Wars films). She was touring with a national production called “Out of the Shadows”. She discussed in the show her struggles with Bi-polar Disorder and how she overcame the diagnosis. She discussed her setbacks and successes. It was a very moving show.
Well gang, I hope my blog today has been some food for thought. Just because someone is diagnosed with a mental illness, doesn’t mean they can’t entertain people. It’s inspiring to see.
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Another look at film theft (Something I'm rather passionate about preventing)
Hello again gang!
Chris French here at Modern Midwest Entertainment! Awhile back, I posted a blog about film theft and the Motion Picture Association of America’s actions towards stopping it. The site www.fightfimtheft.org is the MPAA and National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO)’s website that is trying to help combat film theft.
As I wrote in my previous blog, a standard procedure is in place to stop someone who is suspected of trying to bootleg a film in the theatre. I spelled out the procedure in my previous blog about film theft. I recently went to my local theatre in Hillsdale, Michigan, and asked about the instances of film theft in their theatre. I was told by the staff there that they have actually used the procedure put in place by MPAA and NATO and have stopped “a few” instances of attempted bootlegging.
As I mentioned in the earlier blog, the ad campaign by MPAA and NATO to combat film theft is both creative and entertaining. I personally feel that they should show these ads in EVERY movie theatre in the United States, but unfortunately, they do not. When I asked the staff at Hillsdale’s movie theatre about this, they told me that they did not even know the ads were out there. I directed them to fightfilmtheft.org and asked them to take a look at those ads.
Like I previously said, film theft, whether people believe it or not, IS A CRIME. You who bootleg films are not only cheating the public by giving them low grade, crappy looking films. You are cheating the very people who put their time and creative energies into creating the film you’re ripping off. I shouldn’t have to be the one to get up on the soapbox and tell you this, but I am. The entertainment industry, for as much as folks seem to complain about it, is still giving people the entertainment they desire. So please, for everyone’s sake, don’t steal films. If it keeps up, pretty soon, studios could lose money, forcing them to close. . .then there wouldn’t be any films LEFT to steal.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Come to Michigan. . .Make a Movie!
Hey folks, Chris French here from Modern Midwest Entertainment! Say, are you making a movie? Well, I think you should, because movies are cool! I also think that if you're going to make a movie, you should make it here in Michigan!! I just looked up the Michigan Film Office website and the state IS STILL offering tax incentives for companies wanting to make movies here.
Think about it, in 2007, Michigan took in 2 million dollars of revenue from films. In 2009, thanks to the film incentives, Michigan took in over 227 million dollars! Think about what that means for what Michigan is paying OUT in incentives!
Of course, with any program, there are rules. Here's a few for Michigan's movie tax incentive program:
Think about it, in 2007, Michigan took in 2 million dollars of revenue from films. In 2009, thanks to the film incentives, Michigan took in over 227 million dollars! Think about what that means for what Michigan is paying OUT in incentives!
Of course, with any program, there are rules. Here's a few for Michigan's movie tax incentive program:
- Minimum spend of at least $50,000 in Michigan to be eligible.
- Up To 40% refundable tax credit, across the board on Michigan expenditures.
- Claim an extra 2% if filming in one of the 136 Core Communities in Michigan.
- Labor and Crew: Up To 40%-42% Resident Below the Line. Up To 40%-42% Above the Line regardless of residency. Up To 30% Non-resident Below the Line.
- $2 million salary cap per employee per production. There is no other cap and no sunset.
- All applicants can expect a 4 week review process once all materials have been received.
- Must spend at least $500,000 annually in Michigan to be eligible for an interactive web site project.
So, now that you know a little bit about that, go to the Michigan Film Office's website, check it out and go make a movie!!
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Another Look at This is Vintage Now.
Hello folks,
Chris French here at Modern Midwest Entertainment! A few months ago I blogged about a new movement in fashion, art, and music called "The Vintage Movement". This movement is picking up a surefire head of steam in the European countries as well as farther east such as Japan and Australia! Today, as I sit here in my house and write this, I think back to the compilation album called This is Vintage Now. This compilation (www.thisisvintagenow.com), put together by Swing City Productions' David Gasten, showcases the best of the modern Vintage Movement, along with bringing out the best of the original era itself!
Sitting with me, here and now, is the Director of Swing City Productions, David Gasten, who will answer some questions about This is Vintage Now, and the Vintage Movement in general.
Where and when did the idea for This is Vintage Now originate?
David Gasten - The idea came about in mid 2010 based off of a demo I had recorded in April 2010 called The Deacon Don't Like It EP. I couldn't finish the EP and I just didn't want to do the whole "check out my band" thing that a lot of artists are doing. I realized there were a lot of bands doing the style we were doing, the old style brought to today. I found a lot of fantastic artists doing this, and I realized that they were all spread out and not connected. I felt like the smart thing to do would be to bring all of these great artists under one umbrella. I figured that it would have more impact that way and so far I've been proven right.
How did you select the artists represented on This is Vintage Now?
DG - How I selected them was more or less following my nose. I went for artists that had a great vibe when I listened to them. When I'd listen to their music, or see them live, they had this "anything can happen" feel to them. These artists are hard to come by, because a lot of artists out there want to be this way but they just can't get it right. I've been following a lot of bunny trails. An Ebay search brought me to Caro Emerald. An accidental YouTube search brought me to Ilana Charnelle. I found The Waitiki 7 and Blake Jones and the Trike Shop on CD Baby. I knew the Necrotones way back when as a local band in Dallas. What I really went for, though, were things that resonated with me.
This is Vintage now has been released for just nine weeks at this writing. What do you see, at this point, to be the significance of this album?
DG - The big thing is that it's the first album to really try bring all the groups that are reviving the old style together under one umbrella, and try to make a franchise out of that. I think that's really important, given all the vintage music and movies and such, is everybody's "We'll always have Paris." This is referenced to the movie Casablanca. No matter how bad the economy gets, the state of socialization gets, the state of political affairs gets, it's something people can always go back to as a good memory. It lets people know that life is worth living and we can think about better times. What I like about the Vintage Music Movement is that we can bring the best of those times to today and help people relive them as if they'd never gone away. Now the caveat is, in order for this to work, it has to be based in the period values. If it's not, all it is is a big costume party and it's not going to feel real. If it's done correctly, I can absolutely see it being not just "We'll always have Paris", but a return to Paris.
Having said all that, where do you predict the future to be for the This is Vintage Now franchise?
DG - Right now, we're taking a little detour and putting things together for a documentary about Beverly Kenney, who is on the compilation. She's a jazz singer who committed suicide in 1960 at the age of 28. She has an appeal that really connects with people today. I kind of perceive her as the jazz version of Nick Drake (British folk singer who had a few albums in the early 1970s who has gone on to have a very strong cult following that influenced indy rock and has had a profound effect on many artists today). There are some unanswered questions as to why she committed suicide and why that transpired. This documentary is hoping to answer those questions. We're just getting that started. I have a general idea of who I want for TIVN volume two when I'm ready to begin work on that. I do have one artist confirmed, Tiki Joe's Ocean in Seattle. As the group of TIVN artists grows, I hope to start a newsfeed in Google+ when that opens where people can keep up with the artists and their adventures. I want it to be a feel good news feed where people can see their favorite artists and see what's going to happen next. I'm also hoping to have a TIVN concert series as the demand for that opens up. The big thing is, I want to see all of the artists that have the vibe of the period come together and bring this alive to people. I want to see everybody working together to get the vintage lifestyle and music rolling and really bringing it back to people. We have to do this by sticking together and supporting each other. I'm really looking forward to the positive impact it will have on culture as a whole and I have no doubt in my mind that it will!
THANK YOU, Mr. David Gasten, for sitting down with me and discussing The Vintage Movement and This is Vintage Now! Now, everyone needs to go to www.thisisvintagenow.com and check out this album, and as always, keep your head up and keep smiling!
SEE YA!
Chris French here at Modern Midwest Entertainment! A few months ago I blogged about a new movement in fashion, art, and music called "The Vintage Movement". This movement is picking up a surefire head of steam in the European countries as well as farther east such as Japan and Australia! Today, as I sit here in my house and write this, I think back to the compilation album called This is Vintage Now. This compilation (www.thisisvintagenow.com), put together by Swing City Productions' David Gasten, showcases the best of the modern Vintage Movement, along with bringing out the best of the original era itself!
Sitting with me, here and now, is the Director of Swing City Productions, David Gasten, who will answer some questions about This is Vintage Now, and the Vintage Movement in general.
Where and when did the idea for This is Vintage Now originate?
David Gasten - The idea came about in mid 2010 based off of a demo I had recorded in April 2010 called The Deacon Don't Like It EP. I couldn't finish the EP and I just didn't want to do the whole "check out my band" thing that a lot of artists are doing. I realized there were a lot of bands doing the style we were doing, the old style brought to today. I found a lot of fantastic artists doing this, and I realized that they were all spread out and not connected. I felt like the smart thing to do would be to bring all of these great artists under one umbrella. I figured that it would have more impact that way and so far I've been proven right.
How did you select the artists represented on This is Vintage Now?
DG - How I selected them was more or less following my nose. I went for artists that had a great vibe when I listened to them. When I'd listen to their music, or see them live, they had this "anything can happen" feel to them. These artists are hard to come by, because a lot of artists out there want to be this way but they just can't get it right. I've been following a lot of bunny trails. An Ebay search brought me to Caro Emerald. An accidental YouTube search brought me to Ilana Charnelle. I found The Waitiki 7 and Blake Jones and the Trike Shop on CD Baby. I knew the Necrotones way back when as a local band in Dallas. What I really went for, though, were things that resonated with me.
This is Vintage now has been released for just nine weeks at this writing. What do you see, at this point, to be the significance of this album?
DG - The big thing is that it's the first album to really try bring all the groups that are reviving the old style together under one umbrella, and try to make a franchise out of that. I think that's really important, given all the vintage music and movies and such, is everybody's "We'll always have Paris." This is referenced to the movie Casablanca. No matter how bad the economy gets, the state of socialization gets, the state of political affairs gets, it's something people can always go back to as a good memory. It lets people know that life is worth living and we can think about better times. What I like about the Vintage Music Movement is that we can bring the best of those times to today and help people relive them as if they'd never gone away. Now the caveat is, in order for this to work, it has to be based in the period values. If it's not, all it is is a big costume party and it's not going to feel real. If it's done correctly, I can absolutely see it being not just "We'll always have Paris", but a return to Paris.
Having said all that, where do you predict the future to be for the This is Vintage Now franchise?
DG - Right now, we're taking a little detour and putting things together for a documentary about Beverly Kenney, who is on the compilation. She's a jazz singer who committed suicide in 1960 at the age of 28. She has an appeal that really connects with people today. I kind of perceive her as the jazz version of Nick Drake (British folk singer who had a few albums in the early 1970s who has gone on to have a very strong cult following that influenced indy rock and has had a profound effect on many artists today). There are some unanswered questions as to why she committed suicide and why that transpired. This documentary is hoping to answer those questions. We're just getting that started. I have a general idea of who I want for TIVN volume two when I'm ready to begin work on that. I do have one artist confirmed, Tiki Joe's Ocean in Seattle. As the group of TIVN artists grows, I hope to start a newsfeed in Google+ when that opens where people can keep up with the artists and their adventures. I want it to be a feel good news feed where people can see their favorite artists and see what's going to happen next. I'm also hoping to have a TIVN concert series as the demand for that opens up. The big thing is, I want to see all of the artists that have the vibe of the period come together and bring this alive to people. I want to see everybody working together to get the vintage lifestyle and music rolling and really bringing it back to people. We have to do this by sticking together and supporting each other. I'm really looking forward to the positive impact it will have on culture as a whole and I have no doubt in my mind that it will!
THANK YOU, Mr. David Gasten, for sitting down with me and discussing The Vintage Movement and This is Vintage Now! Now, everyone needs to go to www.thisisvintagenow.com and check out this album, and as always, keep your head up and keep smiling!
SEE YA!
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Goodbye To a Mentor.
Hey folks, Chris French here from Modern Midwest Entertainment. I took today off sick from my day job at a mental health agency, because I wasn't feeling the greatest. I decided to get on Yahoo and check out some things, and I noticed one of my broadcasting instructors, Ron Smith, from my days learning the trade at American Broadcasting School. I talked with Ron for a brief time, and shared what I've been up to with him. As we ended our conversation, I asked Ron to say hello to Del Cockrell, ABS's founder and one of my mentors in the world of broadcasting. Ron informed me that Del is gone. He passed away on July 9th from a massive stroke. I'm at a loss for words. Del and all the folks at ABS had a profound influence on me, but Del was always the one that would call me up and say, "Chris, you're gonna go somewhere in this business, I know it". I'm going to post Del's obituary below, and a personal message to Del. . .Del, you were an inspiration to me, and to everyone who ever met him. You will be sorely missed.
Delton Cockrell
September 11, 1943 - July 9, 2011 OKLAHOMA CITY Del Cockrell passed away July 9, 2011. He was born on September 11, 1943 in Shawnee, OK. Del graduated from Tecumseh High School in 1961 and from the University of Oklahoma in 1965. Del was the owner and founder of American Broadcasting School. He opened ABS in March of 1970 and dedicated his professional life to training thousands of radio broadcasters over the past 41 years. Del was not only a highly successful businessman who was admired and respected by many but was also a loving and devoted family man. His family meant the world to him. Del enjoyed fishing, sports, and spending time playing with his grandkids. Del was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Lorene Cockrell; and his older brother, Gary Cockrell. Del is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Janice; his son, Shawn Cockrell; his daughter, Staci Cockrell; grandsons, Shea, Brendan, Carson, Chase; his twin brother, Mel Cockrell and wife Pat; his brother, Jerry Cockrell and wife Susan; sister-in-law, Pat Cockrell; and numerous nieces, nephews, great- nieces and nephews, cousins, and many friends and colleagues all of whom he loved dearly.
We will always carry you in our hearts Del.
Delton Cockrell
September 11, 1943 - July 9, 2011 OKLAHOMA CITY Del Cockrell passed away July 9, 2011. He was born on September 11, 1943 in Shawnee, OK. Del graduated from Tecumseh High School in 1961 and from the University of Oklahoma in 1965. Del was the owner and founder of American Broadcasting School. He opened ABS in March of 1970 and dedicated his professional life to training thousands of radio broadcasters over the past 41 years. Del was not only a highly successful businessman who was admired and respected by many but was also a loving and devoted family man. His family meant the world to him. Del enjoyed fishing, sports, and spending time playing with his grandkids. Del was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Lorene Cockrell; and his older brother, Gary Cockrell. Del is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Janice; his son, Shawn Cockrell; his daughter, Staci Cockrell; grandsons, Shea, Brendan, Carson, Chase; his twin brother, Mel Cockrell and wife Pat; his brother, Jerry Cockrell and wife Susan; sister-in-law, Pat Cockrell; and numerous nieces, nephews, great- nieces and nephews, cousins, and many friends and colleagues all of whom he loved dearly.
We will always carry you in our hearts Del.
Monday, August 22, 2011
Only YOU can prevent. . .movie theft?!!
Chris French here at Modern Midwest Entertainment! As I am currently working on production of a movie, I decided to take a look at the pubic awareness campaign held by the Motion Picture Association of America. Over the course of the last decade, with the advances in camera technology in cellphones and other devices, motion picture theft has become an increasing problem in Hollywood and all over the world. I took a closer look at the MPAA's website www.fightfilmtheft.org. The MPAA along with the National Association of Theatre Owners (NATO) have joined forces to tackle the problem of film thefts.
According to fightfilmtheft.org, a standard procedure is in place to stop someone who is suspected of trying to bootleg a film in the theatre. Theatre employees are to be on the lookout for anyone trying to film the movie. They then will call the police, they will stop the recording of the movie before the movie ends, file a police report and contact the MPAA within 24 hours to report the incident to them. Once done, the person who initially spotted the potential film theft can then request a 500 dollar reward from the MPAA.
The MPAA, along with it's website fightfilmtheft.org, also had a creative ad campaign designed by them and New York Mayor Michael Bloomburg. This ad campaign was created to stem the tide in New York City of illegal DVD copies of movies that were pirated from movie theaters. In the advertisements, clips of different movies are shown (as they would be in a bootlegged copy) with people's heads in the way, crying babies, theatre doors opening and closing. These humorous advertisements are meant to show the public that, while you may pay a lesser price for a bootlegged DVD, you're getting what you paid for, a DVD that is of poor quality, sound, picture and overall crap. The other message this ad campaign sends out is that pirating films is illegal!
I have personally seen what can happen when someone tries to pass off a pirated film as a legit version. I knew a man a few years ago that got beat up over a copy of a film he had pirated. The person that bought a copy from him was very unhappy when they tried to watch the film. When they went back to him and he wouldn't give them their money back, they beat him up and took his money. Film theft is NOT a good business to get into. Not only are you taking away the livelyhood of a good number of people in the industry, you run the risk of physical harm to yourself! My advise, leave the movie in the theatre where it belongs, and save yourself the beating!
Saturday, July 23, 2011
On the Cusp of The Cutting Edge!
Chris French here at Modern Midwest Entertainment! It’s not everyday that I get the chance to talk shop with a “Musical Pioneer”, but that is just what I have been doing for the last week! For those of you that are unfamiliar at the moment with the Vintage Movement in music and fashion, you soon will be. Right now, if you’re in Europe and reading this blog, you already know what I’m talking about. Those of you that are reading this in the US, let me explain a bit about the Vintage Movement.
According to David Gasten, the producer of the album This is Vintage Now, The Vintage Movement is a social movement that broke in the UK in 2010 that centers around an interest in reliving the lifestyle of years past, especially the 1940’s, 1950’ and early to mid-1960’s. Much of the initial interest has been in the ladies’ clothing fashions of those periods, but the interest spreads into many other aspects of the period, including the magazines, movies, homemaking, décor, furniture, and music. The music arm of the Vintage Movement is still making inroads, but it appears that once it sets in, it will be the banner that gathers people together and sets the tone for the movement as a whole.
According to David Gasten, the producer of the album This is Vintage Now, The Vintage Movement is a social movement that broke in the UK in 2010 that centers around an interest in reliving the lifestyle of years past, especially the 1940’s, 1950’ and early to mid-1960’s. Much of the initial interest has been in the ladies’ clothing fashions of those periods, but the interest spreads into many other aspects of the period, including the magazines, movies, homemaking, décor, furniture, and music. The music arm of the Vintage Movement is still making inroads, but it appears that once it sets in, it will be the banner that gathers people together and sets the tone for the movement as a whole.
As I stated earlier, Gasten is being referred to as a musical pioneer, and in talking with him, I’ve gotten to learn a lot about just who David Gasten is. The This is Vintage Now compilation album came about nearly single-handedly from the efforts spurred on by David Gasten. Already being referred to as “The Architect of Vintage”, David Gasten has been responsible for helping define and set a new standard in Vintage that connects people with the depth, quality, and genuine vibe that people come to Vintage for. Gasten has been a music fan since the age of twelve, but it was DJ’ing during the Nineties Swing Revival that made Gasten fall for what would eventually be referred to as Vintage. Gasten devoted a number of years to trying to understand the mechanics behind the type of swing music that clicked with people at swing dances, and realized that what they were looking for was jump blues, the style of R&B music the immediately preceded rock and roll. This, combined with his mentoring by a post-vaudeville entertainer, led him to found the group David Gasten & the City Kids. David had discovered a number of other artists that were also dedicated to a genuine Vintage-style sound in other genres that translates well to today, and brought those artists together under one roof with the This is Vintage Now compilation. The compilation was created in 2010 and released on June 2011, and has been almost universally acclaimed and recognized for its high quality and vibrant delivery of nostalgic sounds that feels as though it is picking up where the original Vintage left off in the mid-1960’s.
This is Vintage Now gathers together artists from yesterday and today who understand the spirit and vibe of the original period and re-engineers the sounds the needs of current audiences without compromising the sound with punk, techno, or hip-hop. Some of the artists on the compilation include saxophone legend Big Jay McMeely, Dutch hitmaker Caro Emerald, modern exotica group The Waitiki 7, infectious cult singer Beverly Kenney, and five more. The album was released on MP3 format June 21st, 2011, and is available on CDBaby, iTunes, Amazon MP3, and other online retailers.
The compilation’s official website, ThisisVintageNow.com, is a beautifully-designed information site that is the equivalent of falling down the rabbit hole into the new and exciting world of Vintage. There are pages on each one of the This is Vintage Now artists, a detailed links page featuring the best in Vintage music and lifestyle, an Our Heroes section with rare and otherwise little known information on classic Vintage artists like Louis Prima and Bill Haley, and much more.
So there, NOW you’re in the know, and NOW you’re on the cutting edge! You’re welcome! I want to personally thank David Gasten for his assistance in this blog, and I will say that I am extremely looking forward to working with him, and seeing what the future holds for the Vintage Movement! Keep smiling, keep loving life, and keep on being the hep cats and kittens you already are!
SEE YA!
Reference:
Gasten, D. (2011). This is Vintage Now. Swing City Productions: Denver, CO.
Retrieved from www.thisisvintagenow.com
This is Vintage Now gathers together artists from yesterday and today who understand the spirit and vibe of the original period and re-engineers the sounds the needs of current audiences without compromising the sound with punk, techno, or hip-hop. Some of the artists on the compilation include saxophone legend Big Jay McMeely, Dutch hitmaker Caro Emerald, modern exotica group The Waitiki 7, infectious cult singer Beverly Kenney, and five more. The album was released on MP3 format June 21st, 2011, and is available on CDBaby, iTunes, Amazon MP3, and other online retailers.
The compilation’s official website, ThisisVintageNow.com, is a beautifully-designed information site that is the equivalent of falling down the rabbit hole into the new and exciting world of Vintage. There are pages on each one of the This is Vintage Now artists, a detailed links page featuring the best in Vintage music and lifestyle, an Our Heroes section with rare and otherwise little known information on classic Vintage artists like Louis Prima and Bill Haley, and much more.
So there, NOW you’re in the know, and NOW you’re on the cutting edge! You’re welcome! I want to personally thank David Gasten for his assistance in this blog, and I will say that I am extremely looking forward to working with him, and seeing what the future holds for the Vintage Movement! Keep smiling, keep loving life, and keep on being the hep cats and kittens you already are!
SEE YA!
Reference:
Gasten, D. (2011). This is Vintage Now. Swing City Productions: Denver, CO.
Retrieved from www.thisisvintagenow.com
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Concerts: More goes into 'em than what you think.
Hello folks,
Chris French here at Modern Midwest Entertainment. As the manager of the band 4 Stroke, I have been working to get them some shows booked here in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. Some of you are familiar with concert booking and have understanding of what all goes into a concert. I am still learning this, myself, as I have only helped so far with a show or two of 4 Stroke and am now in the process of setting up future shows. Let's look at what one performer, Michael Cooney, a folk singer with over 40 years of experience in the music business, has suggested we do when putting on a show.
The first thing that Mr. Cooney places emphasis on is attention to detail. Little things done right can mean a great deal to a performer when they have little time from the time they arrive to the venue, until the show starts. An at ease performer is a great performer.
Publicity is the greatest single element that can make or break a show. Having good publicity for a show, mist times, will bring in a good audience and make the performance that much better.
As far as staging, sound and lights go. Big names carry big equipment. Lesser known names can, and have gotten away with venue lighting and sound, or minimal lighting and sound. Most venues have a stage in them, so staging shouldn't be an issue.
During the show, care should be taken to make sure no-one is recording the show, as the show may be recorded for future release. Space should be made available for the band to sell recordings, DVDs, etc. of their work, somewhere in the venue. If the band takes a break, and music is played between sets, make sure the music is "background" music, as bands do not want to hear the next song they were planning to play being played by the venue PA during intermission. Start the show on time and keep opening acts limited to 4 songs or 15 minutes, whichever is shorter. One last suggestion Mr. Cooley makes for the performer who is going on too long. . .ask them politely once to make it their last song. . .if they still go on, pretend you blew a fuse.
Now the concert is over, but the job's not done yet. Hospitality is very important both before and after a concert. You want the band that you just hosted to come back to your venue, right? Then treat them like it. Before the show, have refreshments for them. After the show, do what you can to make them feel taken care of. If you can, have them over for a nice home cooked meal, or treat them to a nice meal at a local eatery. If you, as the promoter, have the money, put the band up in a nice hotel, so they can get some rest after the show, before heading back out on the road.
This sampling of tips of what to do when putting on a show can be used as a guideline for putting on your own concert production. I hope this has been helpful. Thank you Michael Cooney, for your website and the well thought out tips you have helped me share with a larger audience. Keep smiling, keep loving life, and keep looking ahead to that next concert!
SEE YA!
Reference
Cooney, M. (ND). Suggestions for Concert Presenters. Retrieved from
http://www.michaelcooney.com/MC1P011.html
Chris French here at Modern Midwest Entertainment. As the manager of the band 4 Stroke, I have been working to get them some shows booked here in Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana. Some of you are familiar with concert booking and have understanding of what all goes into a concert. I am still learning this, myself, as I have only helped so far with a show or two of 4 Stroke and am now in the process of setting up future shows. Let's look at what one performer, Michael Cooney, a folk singer with over 40 years of experience in the music business, has suggested we do when putting on a show.
The first thing that Mr. Cooney places emphasis on is attention to detail. Little things done right can mean a great deal to a performer when they have little time from the time they arrive to the venue, until the show starts. An at ease performer is a great performer.
Publicity is the greatest single element that can make or break a show. Having good publicity for a show, mist times, will bring in a good audience and make the performance that much better.
As far as staging, sound and lights go. Big names carry big equipment. Lesser known names can, and have gotten away with venue lighting and sound, or minimal lighting and sound. Most venues have a stage in them, so staging shouldn't be an issue.
During the show, care should be taken to make sure no-one is recording the show, as the show may be recorded for future release. Space should be made available for the band to sell recordings, DVDs, etc. of their work, somewhere in the venue. If the band takes a break, and music is played between sets, make sure the music is "background" music, as bands do not want to hear the next song they were planning to play being played by the venue PA during intermission. Start the show on time and keep opening acts limited to 4 songs or 15 minutes, whichever is shorter. One last suggestion Mr. Cooley makes for the performer who is going on too long. . .ask them politely once to make it their last song. . .if they still go on, pretend you blew a fuse.
Now the concert is over, but the job's not done yet. Hospitality is very important both before and after a concert. You want the band that you just hosted to come back to your venue, right? Then treat them like it. Before the show, have refreshments for them. After the show, do what you can to make them feel taken care of. If you can, have them over for a nice home cooked meal, or treat them to a nice meal at a local eatery. If you, as the promoter, have the money, put the band up in a nice hotel, so they can get some rest after the show, before heading back out on the road.
This sampling of tips of what to do when putting on a show can be used as a guideline for putting on your own concert production. I hope this has been helpful. Thank you Michael Cooney, for your website and the well thought out tips you have helped me share with a larger audience. Keep smiling, keep loving life, and keep looking ahead to that next concert!
SEE YA!
Reference
Cooney, M. (ND). Suggestions for Concert Presenters. Retrieved from
http://www.michaelcooney.com/MC1P011.html
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Hump Day, Music, Talent and Wrestling!
Hello!
Chris French here from Modern Midwest Entertainment! Can you believe it's Wednesday already?! This week is flying by, and so is the month! June will be half over before we know it and then the summer concert season will be ramped up into full gear!
Speaking of the summer concert season, Michigan is going to be a travel destination once again for a lot of the big names in the music business! Country greats Toby Keith and Taylor Swift will be playing in Michigan THIS WEEK! This summer, Michigan, and the Region will see great artists perform such as Motley Crue, Poison and the New York Dolls together in one HUGE show at DTE Energy Music Theater in Clarkston! Skid Row and Warrant will appear together at the UP State Fair in Escanaba (way up dere in Yooperland, fer dose of jou dat speak Yoopereese, eh)! Also, don't forget, right around the corner, at Hutchinson Field, in the middle of Grant Park in good ol' Chi-Town, LOLLAPALOOZA will be August 5th through the 7th! So now you're thinking, "That's awesome Chris, but what ELSE is going on?"
Well, let me tell you! Right now, I'm in the middle of brokering deals for 4 Stroke to come to a town near YOU (if you happen to live in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and the vicinity)! These guys are electrifying to watch live, and just as incredible to listen to on CD! I have them in the studio right now putting the finishing touches on their debut album! I am also in the process of scoping out talent that I can help along the path to living their dreams! It's EXCITING times around here at MMWE! I hope YOU are as excited as I am!
On a side note, THIS SUNDAY, June 12th, at The POG Sportatorium (Michigan Sports Camps) in Coldwater, Michigan, YOURS TRULY will be LIVE as the host of Price of Glory Wrestling's FADED GLORY IV! If you're in the vicinity of Coldwater on June 12th, tickets are only 12 dollars per person, kids 10 and under get in for only 5 bucks! Doors open at 5, bell time is at 6! If you can't make it out, DVDs of FADED GLORY IV will be available within a week after June 12th on the POG website!
Well folks, that's all for now from the wilds of Michigan! I hope you've enjoyed my blog as much as I've enjoyed creating it! Remember, keep smiling, keep loving life, and keep your electrical cords away from water. . .TRUST ME!
SEE YA!
PS - I usually don't do postscripts, but I almost forgot. . .check out this interview I did with one of the wrestlers from POG recently.
Chris French here from Modern Midwest Entertainment! Can you believe it's Wednesday already?! This week is flying by, and so is the month! June will be half over before we know it and then the summer concert season will be ramped up into full gear!
Speaking of the summer concert season, Michigan is going to be a travel destination once again for a lot of the big names in the music business! Country greats Toby Keith and Taylor Swift will be playing in Michigan THIS WEEK! This summer, Michigan, and the Region will see great artists perform such as Motley Crue, Poison and the New York Dolls together in one HUGE show at DTE Energy Music Theater in Clarkston! Skid Row and Warrant will appear together at the UP State Fair in Escanaba (way up dere in Yooperland, fer dose of jou dat speak Yoopereese, eh)! Also, don't forget, right around the corner, at Hutchinson Field, in the middle of Grant Park in good ol' Chi-Town, LOLLAPALOOZA will be August 5th through the 7th! So now you're thinking, "That's awesome Chris, but what ELSE is going on?"
Well, let me tell you! Right now, I'm in the middle of brokering deals for 4 Stroke to come to a town near YOU (if you happen to live in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and the vicinity)! These guys are electrifying to watch live, and just as incredible to listen to on CD! I have them in the studio right now putting the finishing touches on their debut album! I am also in the process of scoping out talent that I can help along the path to living their dreams! It's EXCITING times around here at MMWE! I hope YOU are as excited as I am!
On a side note, THIS SUNDAY, June 12th, at The POG Sportatorium (Michigan Sports Camps) in Coldwater, Michigan, YOURS TRULY will be LIVE as the host of Price of Glory Wrestling's FADED GLORY IV! If you're in the vicinity of Coldwater on June 12th, tickets are only 12 dollars per person, kids 10 and under get in for only 5 bucks! Doors open at 5, bell time is at 6! If you can't make it out, DVDs of FADED GLORY IV will be available within a week after June 12th on the POG website!
Well folks, that's all for now from the wilds of Michigan! I hope you've enjoyed my blog as much as I've enjoyed creating it! Remember, keep smiling, keep loving life, and keep your electrical cords away from water. . .TRUST ME!
SEE YA!
PS - I usually don't do postscripts, but I almost forgot. . .check out this interview I did with one of the wrestlers from POG recently.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
The Beginning
Hello folks,
Chris French here at Modern Midwest Entertainment. This is my new blog. I must say, I've never really blogged before. I bet you're thinking, "What?! In this day and age, with the Internet being the biggest source of information on the planet, you've never just sat down and typed your thoughts and feelings into the blogosphere?!" Well, it's true. I never really thought about blogging until now. Up until a few years ago, to me, a blog was a purple, billowing ghostlike creature that I saw in a Doctor Seuss book when I was a kid.
I just decided to look at Wikipedia for the word Blog and came up with this article the size of my arm! Wow! I didn't know that blogs have been around THAT long. . .
Well, since you're here, you need to go take a look at the page of the band 4 Stroke! This is the first band that is managed by Modern Midwest Entertainment, and I'm going to do what I can to get them to the heights of the music industry. We're in our infancy stages right now, but as with any good baby, you need to feed it, care for it and love it, and it will grow. There's a few other bands that I'm giving thought to right now as well. There's a jazz/progressive band out of Kalamazoo called Ordijnns, but when I tried to look up their website (which I WOULD HAVE linked here) they didn't exsist. Weird. Another band I'm looking at is a progressive rock band out of Battle Creek called King of the Forest. I listened to some of their work, THEY are GOOD!
Well folks, that's about it for me for now. I have to get some things done around the house today, and I think I'm out of food, so a trip to the grocery store is in order. Keep smiling, keep loving life, and keep reaching for that next doughnut, because you never want to run out of doughnuts! :-D
SEE YA!
Chris French here at Modern Midwest Entertainment. This is my new blog. I must say, I've never really blogged before. I bet you're thinking, "What?! In this day and age, with the Internet being the biggest source of information on the planet, you've never just sat down and typed your thoughts and feelings into the blogosphere?!" Well, it's true. I never really thought about blogging until now. Up until a few years ago, to me, a blog was a purple, billowing ghostlike creature that I saw in a Doctor Seuss book when I was a kid.
I just decided to look at Wikipedia for the word Blog and came up with this article the size of my arm! Wow! I didn't know that blogs have been around THAT long. . .
Well, since you're here, you need to go take a look at the page of the band 4 Stroke! This is the first band that is managed by Modern Midwest Entertainment, and I'm going to do what I can to get them to the heights of the music industry. We're in our infancy stages right now, but as with any good baby, you need to feed it, care for it and love it, and it will grow. There's a few other bands that I'm giving thought to right now as well. There's a jazz/progressive band out of Kalamazoo called Ordijnns, but when I tried to look up their website (which I WOULD HAVE linked here) they didn't exsist. Weird. Another band I'm looking at is a progressive rock band out of Battle Creek called King of the Forest. I listened to some of their work, THEY are GOOD!
Well folks, that's about it for me for now. I have to get some things done around the house today, and I think I'm out of food, so a trip to the grocery store is in order. Keep smiling, keep loving life, and keep reaching for that next doughnut, because you never want to run out of doughnuts! :-D
SEE YA!
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