Concert List

Find The Right Music For Your Ears On The Internet-Gone are the days when the only option that you had to listen to music was to go to the music store and browse through the ocean of CD’s available. Then there would be times when you like one song from a CD and don’t really like the others but are forced to buy the whole thing since singles were not available.

Things have, however, changed over time and the Internet is full of all kinds of music. These sites allow you to download any song that you want. You can pick a mix of your favorites for different genres like romantic, fast track, jazz and a host of others and burn a CD. A creation like this can be a great option for a gift for someone special as well. You obviously have to pay for each song that you download if you are looking at legal music downloads. Do invest in this amount since fly-by-night sites will pollute your computer with viruses that will cause your system to crash.

Today you not only have various options of music that you can surf for on the Internet but also have numerous options on how you want to listen to them. You can listen to music on your computer, play it on a CD player, an MP3 player or download it on your iPod to ensure that you have something pleasant to wherever you go. If you decide to listen to the music that you have downloaded on your computer, then you will need to have an application that can play an mp3 file. You can download a Real Player or Quick Time or Windows Media Player from the Internet easily. Some of the latest computers do not require you do download such software and play CD’s automatically.

Be careful not to open too many applications when you are listening to music if you computer is an old one. The older versions cannot handle too many applications that require a high amount of processing capability. If you try and push your system too much, the music will probably stutter and drag and there is a possibility that your computer might hang.

You might get so addicted to browsing and buying music online that you may forget that there is another option called the music stores that provides a different kind of pleasure. Though online music is convenient, browsing and finding something you like in a music store can be a magical experience.

Music Helps In Relieving Stress-Listening to music does wonder to alleviate stress. Everyone has different tastes in music. We should listen to the music that makes us feel comfortable. Sitting down and forcing yourself to listen to relaxation music that you don’t like may create stress, not alleviate it.

Music is a significant mood-changer and reliever of stress, working on many levels at once.

The entire human energetic system is extremely influenced by sounds, the physical body and chakra centers respond specifically to certain tones and frequencies. Special consideration should be given to the positive effects of one actually playing or creating music themselves.

Among the first stress-fighting changes that take place when we hear a tune is an increase in deep breathing. The body’s production of serotonin also accelerates.

Music was found to reduce the pain during dental procedures.

Playing music in the background while we are working, seemingly unaware of the music itself, has been found to reduce the stress.

Music was found to reduce heart rates and to promote higher body temperature – an indication of the onset of relaxation. Combining music with relaxation therapy was more effective than doing relaxation therapy alone.

Musical Compostion – How To Listen To Music Like A Composer-Did you know that there is more than one way to listen to music? I first read about this from a small book by composer Aaron Copeland.

You see most people listen to music as if something were washing over them. They listen to the oncoming barrage of notes and chords and never wonder or understand how it achieves the effect it does.

Not composers. They listen differently. While most people enjoy music for music’s sake – a composer listens for sections or how the music is constructed.

I’m not saying that composers never listen to music for pure enjoyment. That would be terrible. No. What I’m saying is that a composer or anyone who takes the time to learn, can begin to hear how music is put together.

And most music created today is comprised of sections. More specifically, we have A and B sections, introductions, transitions and endings and so on.

All these “pieces” go into creating a piece of music. Even spontaneously improvised pieces of music have been given a name by composers. They call it “through composed” which means that there are no distinctly repeating sections.

For example, take the lesson “Cirrus.” It starts out with a few notes that, by themselves, seem to go nowhere. But, if you listen to the entire piece of music, you’ll begin to hear sections. Musical composition is the art of repetition and contrast. This is what composers listen for. They listen to see how the songwriter uses these 2 qualities. The piece “Cirrus” was actually an improvised piece but it turns out that even with this, you can hear that repetition and contrast was used.

This can be done consciously, as many composers do as they create a piece, or simply generated spontaneously as in the case of “Cirrus.”

How To Promote A Concert: A Few Tips-Please accept the information below as a guide offering suggestions for publicizing a concert and encourage maximum attendance
and success!

Some of the recommendations may not be appropriate for your type of concert. While some of the concepts may be obvious,
others may be new but worthy of a try.

I will cover the aspects of flyer/poster concert promotion and a few tips for media promotion..

Firstly, the single most importand thing when you want to promote a concert is to start delegating duties and make sure helpers know
what’s expected of them.

So let’s start!

[Flyers and Posters] It’s importand to have a well designed, eye-catching flyer or poster. It will show people that the concert deserves their anticipation,
time and money.

The artist’s management may provide you with some flyers or posters to start with.

If you prefer to create your own flyer or poster, you should find a graphics professional or pronting company willing to donate
services in exchange for advertising..

If it’s the first time the artist is coming to your town or city be sure to include a testimonial on the flyer or poster. A flyer that simple
advertises an artist or a band will mean nothing to someone who has never heard of them!

Assign volunteers to post the flyers in places likely to attract the most attention. Try grocery stores, local chamber of Commerce
offices, Art Councils or other communities, malls, shoping plazas, music stores, book stores, galleries and other popular gathering
spots where flyers are displayed routinely but be sure to ask for permission before posting.

Do not forget to post the flyers or posters to the concert location itself! Try to hang posters as close to the average eye level as possible..

[Media and other sources of publicity] List the concert in community calendars, Newspaper, Magazines or radio and TV stations if possible. Radio and Tv stations may be
willing to anounce events for free.

Be sure to notice them many weeks in advance. In the listing include the date of the concert, time, location, ticket price, ticket outlets,
sponsors of course and phone numbers for information.

Ask promotional material from the artist’s managementslike interviews, video clips, song samples, photographs etc. Try to deliver the
material to the media along with the news release anouncing the concert.

Make sure you follow up by phone. Ask from the management to arrange an interview with the artist(s) if possible. Discuss other
possibilities.

Provide artist’s promo material (if available) to radio stations likely to air it. Encourage them to play it often especially a week or two
before the concert. Have volunteers and friends telephone the stations and request more..!

If you are using an answering machine make a recording using sound clips from the artist. Advertise the phone numbers available to call
in newspapaer or on the radio. Include a short message in the recordings detailing concert info.

When you are online, subscribe to any music-related newsgroups or bulletin boards. Post messages about your anticipation, plans and
later, show specific information! Of course if you own a website, consider creating a special area to advertise the concert with a hot-link
to the artist’s home page (if any).

Ask from the media to co-sponsor (sharing in work or revenues) or to endorse the concert for publicity purposes. If they say ‘YES’
then make sure you include a ‘..co-sponsored by..’ message in the flyers and other promotional material..

Online Concert Ticket Supplier Reviews – Survey of Sources for Buying Concert Tickets Online-Have you ever seen a performer, singer, musician, or favorite sports event on TV and you just really enjoyed it? Heard an artist on the radio, and you were wanting to hear more? I was that way when I first heard Jennifer Nettles the band Sugarland. Jennifer’s powerful voice and the vibe of the music and band just clicked with me.

It seems that everyone has a favorite singer, musician, sports team, or performer that they really enjoy. When the time comes that you want to see an event where they are playing or performing live, where do you go to get tickets? Well, these days, it’s so easy to get things online, that it doesn’t make a whole lot of sense to travel to a box office far from your home, to try and get tickets for an event. It’s much, much easier to turn on a computer, get on the internet, and find ticket suppliers that carry tickets for the event you want to attend. It could be cheaper too, with the price of gas these days!

Of course as with so many other things online, there are many scam artists out there, and plenty of online ticket dealers that may not be exactly what they seem. It’s important to know the ones to deal with, and the ones to avoid.

I am an avid concert goer, and have seen many, many live concerts over the years. I’ve even performed myself as a singer and musician in many concerts. It would pain me to know that some unscrupulous ticket dealer cheated people trying to buy tickets to a concert of mine. Consequently, I have done the research over the years, and found what I consider to be the Top 3 online ticket sources.

What you are looking for when considering purchasing concert or event tickets online is really what I call the “Big 5 Reasons to Use a Particular Online Concert or Ticket Event Supplier.”

1. Security – Their website has a secure ordering process (No ID theft worries.)
2. Pricing – Their prices are competitive and the service offers a good value.
3. Selection – They have a large selection of tickets for all sorts of events with great seats.
4. Reliability – They have a track record showing great customer service. You can trust them.
5. Navigation – Their website is easily accessible, easy to use, and the ordering process is intuitive.

In my opinion, there are three website sources for concert and event tickets in particular that go above and beyond the call. These sources are TicketsNow, PurchaseTix, and RazorGator. I have assembled even more info while searching for Sugarland concert tickets, that applies to anyone searching for online tickets to any concert or major event.

Concert Secrets Revealed – Stop Waiting in Line For Your Concert Tickets-Pssst, wanna buy some tickets?

Are you tired of missing out on tickets for your favorite band? If you’re like most fans, you’ve been forced to purchase high-priced tickets on eBay or from online ticket brokers because the concert you wanted to see sold out before you could get tickets.

Take heart! That’s all about to change. I’m going to let you in on some information that can literally take you to the front of the line the next time you want to buy concert tickets!

But before I do, I need to make sure we are alone.

Why all the secrecy you ask?

It’s simple. I’m about to divulge the very same information that the ticket sellers on eBay use to buy their concert and sports tickets for face value all over the country. I’m about to tell you little-known information that will take you from customer to competitor. In short, I would be in serious trouble if they found out I was practically giving away the store.

Think about it this way. If you had a hidden gravy train that let you purchase tickets for as little as $35 each and then sell them later for 200-300% profit, wouldn’t you be pretty ticked off if someone told the whole world about it?

And how do I know about this valuable information?

Easy, I’ve been using it to buy and sell concert and sports tickets for everything from WWE wrestling shows to Kenny Chesney to Beck to U2. This proven information has been refined and developed over the years to make people a lot of money. I know it can do the same thing for you, too.

While this may all sound like typical marketing hype, I can assure you it is absolutely true. Concert promoters, radio stations, fan clubs, booster clubs, and other groups sponsor ticket presales or special promotions for their members. These sales typically occur online a few days or weeks before the tickets go on sale to the general public.

These special advance ticket sales are offered as either an incentive to join in the case of a fan club or radio station mailing list, or as a perk for a loyal group of fans like season ticket holders of an NFL team.

Passwords may be distributed by the venue, artist, team, fan club, promoter, radio station, etc. Whoever is sponsoring the presale will handle the distribution of it. During the presale, a portion of tickets is made available to this select group of people so they may purchase tickets before everyone else has a chance. As you can see, this gives them a huge advantage over the general public. Obviously, the group sponsoring the presale only wants members of the intended group to purchase tickets during the presale. So in an effort to limit the presale, these special sales are, in essence, password protected.

In the past, virtually all presale passwords were a simple word, and anyone who knew this word could purchase tickets. These were considered generic passwords.Recently, in an effort to further limit who could use presale passwords, some groups have begin to utilize unique passwords. A unique password, as the name implies, is specific to each buyer, and may not be used for multiple purchases. Once the password has been used to purchase tickets, it’s no longer valid. Unique passwords are used often by sports teams for season-ticket holder presales or by fan clubs of the more popular musical groups and artists. Due to the additional requirements necessary for unique ticket presales, most of the passwords you find on the Internet are generic passwords, but you need to be aware of the type of password you receive.

Generic passwords are very often used during radio station presales or presales sponsored by concert promoters or venues. Traditionally most passwords have been generic, but more and more artists are employing unique passwords to thwart ticket scalping. Keep this in mind on your quest for a password. I would hate for you to think the password you scored for your favorite band was generic when in fact it was unique.Here are a few things to keep in mind.

* Presales are usually sold from a specified block of seats or a certain price level.
* An event may have more than one presale with its own password selling tickets from the same or different ticket pools.
* The tickets available during the presale won’t necessarily be the same sections that will be available during the general sale to the public.
* Presales provide the advantage of exclusive purchasing links which often results in less people competing for the pool of available seats.
* Presales may have limited seating available in various areas. Since presales are intended as advance purchasing opportunities, they don’t always provide access to better seats. In fact, it is possible that better tickets may be available when the tickets go on sale to the general public, but there will also be more competition for those tickets.
* Presales often have stringent purchase limits that restrict purchasers to 4 or fewer tickets each.
* Presales may be restricted to “will call” only.
* Presales may require you to purchase with a certain credit card or other form of payment, ex American Express.
* A presale may require an additional fee to join the bands fan club.

Hopefully I’ve shown you the value of presale passwords and how they can help you score tickets to your favorite band. With this information, and a little time and effort you, like me, can skip to the head of the line the next time you want to buy concert tickets.

Stay tuned for part two of this guide to learn more specific ideas for finding and using presale passwords. Until then, I’ll be seeing you on the “inside!”

Concert Promoter Learn a Rock Music Career – Spotlight on Concert Promotions-Concert promoters can easily be thought of as major event planners. Every detail of the concert has to go off without a hitch and that responsibility lies solely with the promoter. Concert promotion is a demanding career that requires serious attention to detail. In order to be an effective and successful concert promoter, a high level of organization is necessary. Losing track of important contact names, dates, telephone numbers or venue information could prove disastrous.

The world of concert promotions is full of contracts, legal agreements, insurance policies and riders. In order to make the best business decisions, a concert promoter has to have a working knowledge of all of these legal documents. Not understanding parts of a contract or rider can lead to confusion and difficulties down the road.

Concert promoters can make a huge amount of money, and then, they can lose money as well. Most people don’t realize that quite often, concert promoters actually use their own money to fund a concert event. All of the event expenses are his or her responsibility up front. Once the tickets have been sold, the band gets their cut and the bills get paid. It’s only then that the promoter gets what’s left. For this reason, it’s of the utmost importance to get as many paying customers in the door as possible.

Some of the major costs involved with concert promotion are the venue rental and event insurance. The promoter contacts the venue and works out a cost for the duration of the event. Some venues will require up-front payment while others may require a down payment with the remainder due at the end of the concert. Insurance is absolutely necessary and helps to protect the venue owners, concert promoter and band from possible litigation.

In addition, the concert promoter bears the cost of all advertising promotions and other marketing costs. Promoters these days have a variety of choices for marketing. They can use the internet, radio, TV and even flyers to get the word out about their event. Marketing, when done properly, usually takes up a fairly substantial portion of the concert promoters budget.

A successful concert promoter understands how to advertise to get the most people to buy tickets for the show. They’ve got to have a good sense of the band that they’re promoting as well as their fans. Whether a concert attracts a huge audience or a small one depends on how well the event was promoted, plain and simple. Concert promoters really have one objective; to make sure that enough tickets sell to make a profit. Ideally, all the tickets will sell for every night or day the event will run, but that’s not guaranteed.

The location, size and even layout of a venue has to be taken into consideration by the concert promoter. In order to put on a great rock concert, everything has to be just right. Everything must be considered, from band dressing rooms to the house sound system and lighting. Pleasing the band is only part of the story though. The audience has to be taken care of as well, both inside and outside the venue. Things like security, parking and even restroom facilities all fall under the concert promoters watchful eye.

At some concerts, the concert promoter will have to pitch in and help in other ways. Concert promoters are usually responsible for making sure things are ready for the band. This might include setting up the stage, doing sound-checks and lighting adjustments. Quite often it also means they’ll have to decorate the venue to suit the concert.

At smaller events, the concert promoter is often responsible for collecting tickets or working the merchandise table. At certain types of events, they may even have the task of checking ID’s at the door the day of the event. Promoters are often also responsible for helping to break down the stage used by the band. Clean-up after the concert may also be the promoters job, depending on the negotiated contract.

Being a concert promoter can be exciting, rewarding and risky, but it’s worth it. Concert promoters have great jobs because they work directly with the musicians. Besides that and the fact that the income can be excellent, remember, they’ve got some of the best seats in the house at every show.

Three Tips For Venue Setup-When you are giving a presentation, whether it is a keynote speech or seminar, the venue and facilities can have a huge impact on the success or failure of your presentation, so here are three tips to make your presentation successful.

Small is more

A few years ago, my band was offered a headline gig in one of the live music venues in Cape Town. The problem is that while our band could draw a crown of about 50-100 people, the venue held over 700 people We reluctantly turned down the gig and instead asked to play in their smaller venue downstairs that only held 80 people. The downstairs gig was great – it was full, crowded and had a great vibe – we would have needed at least 500 people upstairs to get the energy we had downstairs.

The same happens when we speak. Sometimes we think “let’s rather book a bigger room – just in case,” but in general, the small yet full room has far more energy than the large and empty room. Resist the temptation to book the larger room. You can always bring in extra chairs at the last minute if necessary.

Arrive Early

What has been promised by the venue, and what they actually provide are not always the same thing. If you arrive early you have plenty of time to make last minute changes to the room setup. If possible, check it out a day or two before so that you have time to see the room and make adjustments adhead of time.

Get to know the AV Guy

The AV (audio-visual) guy is the person that (usually) works for the venue, and he is responsible for all of the audio visual equipment. They are the people who know where the hidden button is that lowers the projector screen, or where to get an extra extension cable at the last minute etc. If you are speaking at a large conference, you might have a dedicated AV guy, but if it is a smaller function, the venue might have one person responsible for the entire conference setup.

This person can make or break your presentation. Befriend him and he will be willing to assist. Antagonize him, and he might not be able to find that extra adapter that you left at home!

(I say AV guy – but in all honesty I have never met an AV gal!)

I hope the tips help – good luck with you next presentation!

How to Organise a Gig or a Live Music Event – the Budget-Three times in the last month I’ve been asked the question, “what do I need to do to organise a gig?” In reality, when this question is asked it can mean several things: How do I find a venue? How do I sort out the PA? How do I get an audience? And so on.

But there is a stage before all of this: the budget. I would suggest that the moment you start thinking about organising an event you should write a budget. This budget spreadsheet informs you of most things that you will need to consider and will also show you the risk, projected profit and the breakeven point. A sample spreadshhet is available to download from this address http://www.josaka.com/features/2005/Organise-A-Gig/Event-PandL.pdf

If the budget numbers don’t look like they are working perhaps the event is not the right thing to be running. If you don’t like the level of risk, perhaps you aren’t cut out to be a promoter.

So the start point is a spreadsheet. This should include all costs and all incomes. The key headings for costs should include: performer cost, PA, lighting, venue hire, marketing, box office costs etc. The income is likely to be largely ticket sales but don’t forget the opportunity to add a sponsor to the event.

The spreadsheet will help you work out the breakeven point for the event i.e. how many tickets you need to sell to cover all costs. Every sale beyond breakeven is of course profit (exluding any box office commision). The added bonus of creating an event spreadsheet is that helps define all the key tasks to be performed.

The realisation of the forecasted numbers becoming actual figures suggests that all parties have got the deal they were looking for or agreed to. The sample speadsheet also illustrates that everyone else involved in the gig is largely earning a fixed fee and therefore the only person taking a financial risk is the promoter.

So if you are thinking of organising a live event I coomed you to work on the numbers first. This will help ensure you deliver a great show and have control over the money.

Live Music Dominates New Orleans Nightlife-New Orleans is known as the birthplace of jazz, an honor the city prides itself in. From dim lit jazz clubs lining the city streets to its annual Jazz and Heritage Festival, New Orleans is a great American music city. Jazz isn’t the only music being created in the Big Easy though. Many music clubs and venues offer an eclectic mix of blues, gospel, hip hop, rock and more.

One venue offering up a diverse musical roster is the House of Blues in the French Quarter. Any given week this club can host inspiring musicians and full blown rock stars. A wide variety of musical genres are present at the New Orleans location of this national chain. The heart and soul of the venue besides the music itself is the interesting surroundings and attentive staff. These features give this location its heart and make this corporate club seem more mom and pop. The Sunday Gospel Brunch is also a very attractive weekly event that draws a crowd.

TwiRoPa is the Warehouse District’s premiere music and art complex. This complex houses 100,000 square feet of clubs, music venues, galleries, bars and convention space. The nearly 100-year-old building was once the site of a mill that produced Twine, Rope and Paper. These products are also how this complex received its interesting name TwiRoPa. Live music and DJs are all the rage at this hip location that has quickly made a name for itself.

One New Orleans club that has earned its reputation over time is Tipitina’s Uptown. For over 25 years Tipitina’s has been considered the finest music club in New Orleans. The club is named in honor of its patron saint Professor Longhair for his song Tipitina. The club pays tribute to the New Orleans piano man through performances of local and national artists. Local artists such as the Funky Meters and Galactic regularly play to the crowds and headliners Pearl Jam and Lenny Kravitz have also graced Tip’s Big Stage. The club is a very hot spot during the Jazz and Heritage Festival with its own Fess Jazztival concert series.

Another New Orleans music club steeped in history and tradition is Uptown’s Maple Leaf. Cajun meets Caribbean as this club features a variety of music including reggae and zydeco. The Maple Leaf is a happening spot with a packed dance floor bumping till the wee hours of the morning. Poetry readings and special events round out this club as one of New Orleans finest.

Looking for some rock in Crescent City? The Howlin’ Wolf is regarded as New Orleans quintessential rock club. Here local and national recording artists hone there chops for legions of adoring fans. The Howlin’ Wolf is an unassuming space with a stage, three bars and original artwork from New Orleans artists Lionel Milton and Frenchy. Definitely the spot you want to go for modern rock, the club also features Jazz Thursdays and many celebrated local artists like George Porter Jr.

Local artists and music venues draw their inspiration from Congo Square, the birthplace of jazz. One of these clubs is the famed Funky Butt. This bordello turned club is now the home of modern jazz In New Orleans. Many celebrated and soon to be celebrated musicians have graced the butt’s stage. The club is located in a somewhat rough part of town so a taxi is a better choice than walking to the club.

Traditional jazz fans will want to seek out Preservation Hall in the French Quarter. This hall doesn’t serve or allow food, drinking or smoking. New Orleans style jazz is on the only item on the menu at this rustic hall inspiring to keep traditional jazz alive. The 35 minute sets start at 8:15 pm nightly and includes an intermission. Preservation Hall is a historic jazz experience music fans will want to check out.

Truly a musical city, New Orleans has clubs that cater to anyone’s musical cravings. Creative spaces and incredible talent make the city’s clubs attractive to locals and visitors alike. No trip to New Orleans is complete without a visit to one the city’s fine music venues.