China Club - Meeting Dawn Richard of Danity Kane

China Club, New York City -

Dawn Richard of Danity Kane

Saturday night I went to the China Club in downtown New York City. After a lengthy ordeal waiting to get in, I finally was able to settle in and have fun, although, the whole "getting into the club" game is pretty fun in and of itself. This time, those of us in the line and on the list mind you, were able to watch an entire circus of folks bypass the line and get in after greeting the bouncer-guy. Obviously you have to expect a certain level of this, and it's not uncommon for a group of attractive young females in tight-fitting, flesh-baring clothing to make an uninterrupted b-line for the door, but this Saturday it reached epic proportions of ridiculousness. It was as if anybody who ever met this bouncer-guy even once in their life was given a high-five and and ticket to party. "Hey dude, I was working the drive-thru window of a McDonald's you ate at once in 1989, can I just walk in?"

Why did I go to the China Club you ask? Well, I saw on a flier that Dawn Richard of Danity Kane was going to be hosting and I wanted to meet her.

15 minutes after getting in I was able to meet Dawn and I got my picture taken with her. She was very friendly, outgoing and humble by the way. So, thanks Dawn. Why did I want my picture taken with her? Well, several reasons. One, as a memento and two, because you can't have enough flicks with hot chicks, but the real reason is pretty self-serving: for some reason people think you are successful, famous and making money when you have lots of pictures of yourself with celebrities, socialites and other important people. By helping to create an image of success, opportunities tend to arise to support that success.

kyle b. jones with Dawn (and crazy sunglasses :-)

We live in a pretty celebrity-driven culture and the media certainly reflects this fascination. Therefore, access to well-known people helps to position you as someone who everyone should know as well. I think we can see this with myspace. If you are checking out unsigned artists on myspace and you see someone who has lots of flicks with celebrities, then you tend to think that they are doing pretty well and that they know the right people. While I legitimately have ongoing personal and professional relationships with quite a few well-known artists and music industry personalities, I have seen how many people assume that I know everybody there is to know, or that I'm well-known myself, just because I have a few pictures with famous and moderately famous people. I've definitely met more famous people than I've had my picture taken with, but people tend to assume that I'm golf-buddies with high-rollers just because I've put myself in the right place in the right time here and there. Get your picture with 50 Cent in a studio during a bathroom break and just watch how many people will hit you up thinking that you and Fiddy hang out all the time.

Andre Ramone of the Drumline with Akon

Everyone knows the adage that "it's not what you know, it's who you know" and that networking is key to success in just about any industry. Therefore, if you are seen with enough of the "right" people, the public will assume that you too are in the cut like neosporin. Getting your picture with famous people is hard evidence of your success. Just like a receipt or an invoice, you always want to have proof of the things that you're doing. Always be sure to take some extra fliers of the shows that you play and get some extra copies of any news articles about you or your band.

Anyways, here are kyle b. jones strategies for getting your picture taken with celebrities (or other people who do cool stuff):

1. Always carry a camera on you. Celebrities are like UFO's; they can seem to come out of no-where at random times and places and no-one will really believe your story unless you get it on film. Since so many people have camera phones, this is becoming much easier.

2. Scout the scene and know what to look for. If you are at a function with several famous people in attendance, check out the scene and take note of where everybody is and what's going on. Invariably, timing plays a major role so you need to be aware of your surroundings so you can move quickly when Akon steps out to find the bathroom. Also, know what and who to look for. I once met the rapper Freeway, but I had no idea at the time, because I didn't know what he looked like. I thought he was a body-guard and I kept thinking that this Freeway fellow that was supposedly around must be really important to have such a big, menacing security guard. Also, many celebrities look different in person (usually shorter and more real).

3. Make sure the camera is ready. As simple as this sounds, this can be huge. Make sure the camera is on, the battery is charged and the settings are correct (flash, night-mode, etc). You will only have a few seconds to act, so you won't have time to turn the camera on and fiddle with it.

4. Don't look sketchy. Even though you are doing a little "recon," you don't want to look like a terrorist plotting an assassination attempt. Bodyguards, managers and PR workers are all trained to scan for threats, including paparazzi and fans seeking autographs. You want to alway maintain a very calm demeanor. Don't have your camera out in full view, but don't look like you're hiding a gun. Don't get wide-eyed and stare. DO act like you are supposed to be wherever you are and appear calm, friendly and unimpressed.

5. Move quickly and deliberately. Along with the right demeanor, you want to exude confidence and move with purpose. Like hitting on a girl at a bar, the window of opportunity can be very limited. Just like hitting on chicks at a club, avoid moving in too quickly, but don't wait too long, otherwise your target will be surrounded by d-bags or leaving with the "let's go" girlfriend who can't stand to see everyone else have fun. In the case of pictures with celebrities, take control of the scene and move deliberately. Approach your target calmly, quickly and with friendly, non-threatening body language.

6. Be direct and to the point. What do you say? Well, keep it simple. Let your words mimic your calm, confident and deliberate manner. "It's very nice to meet you. I loved you in (fill in the blank) movie. Can I please get my picture with you?" Remember, you only have a few seconds to establish repore and get the picture taken.

7. Get someone to help. If you are with a friend or colleague, get them to help. Soon as you are standing next to Alicia Keys and ready to pose, your accomplice should be ready to shoot. Make sure that your partner knows how to work the camera. If you are an artist yourself and you are getting your flick taken with a well-known artist, it can help to have someone else take the picture, because they can also do the talking and this may make you feel easier about asking. It may feel awkward to certain artists to ask for pictures with other artists, because you are trying to be considered legit and accomplished in your own way and it may hurt your ego to ask for a picture, since you feel like "just a fan" or rod-rider. So, in this case a manager or entourage member of your own can help, as they are actually asking both parties (you and the famous person) to pose together. This strategy worked well in several instances where I was managing a group opening for well-known industry artists and we wanted to get their picture together for marketing purposes and for keepsakes.

My advice if you don't have anyone with you: suck it up and ask for the photo yourself. If you really want to win, you will put your ego aside and get the flick, because you will realize how it can help you. Also, just because you're alone doesn't mean that you can't get help. As much as the hold your arm out and take a picture of yourself and your girlfriend on top of the ferris wheel shot works great with friends at Disney world, it's probably a little ineffective for shots with Denzel Washington or Slash. In this case, enlist the help of a bystander. When you're doing your "recon," check the scene for anybody who may be able to help. I have shoved my camera in the hands of roadies, groupies, and back-up dancers to name a few. You're odds of a bad shot go up with someone who isn't familiar with your camera, but most camera's these days are pretty easy to use.

8. Always take at least two pictures. The risk of getting a good shot goes up exponentially with each additional attempt. Usually two tries is the most you can hope for with a busy socialite being hurried off by handlers. The most common trick is to have your photographer claim that the camera messed up and ask to try another one. You can also say "Let's get another one real quick, just in case I blinked. Thank you." and then immediately resume the pose. The key, again, is to do everything with quickly and deliberately and with a friendly tone. Getting two shots can dramatically increase the chances of a good take, since people blink, malfunctions occur and people move in front of the lense and so forth.

9. Be where the people are. You can't meet any celebrities if you never see them. I don't suggest you take on the same sleazy schedule as the paparazzi, but being out and about can't hurt.

10. Always say "thank you." Thanks Dawn!

Now, here's more pictures of Dawn Richard for you to enjoy and appreciate:

Feel free to share with me any pics that you've taken with celebrities and tell me about your experiences.

kylebeejones@yahoo.com

-kyle b. jones

Spotlight Live

Spotlight Live, Times Square, New York City -

quick clip I took at Spotlight Live

You can find me in the club... This weekend I partied and did my thing at various New York hot spots including Spotlight Live. Spotlight Live is in downtown New York City and during the week it hosts daily karaoke competitions and shows. The twist is that they provide you with backup singers and a nice stage and your performance is broadcast live to a huge video-tron outside the building in Times Square. Lot's of fun.

Here's some pics I took at Spotlight Live:

Oh, and get this. This year the best of the best wins a recording contract with Epic records. That's right, the best karaoke performer of the year wins a record deal. Personally, I think it's a brilliant idea. The club has a great promotion and the record company can scout undiscovered talent American Idol-style; although I can't imagine the contract offer can be all that artist-friendly, given that many up-and-coming artists with a big buzz and a powerful team still get the shaft.

Also, Spotlight Live hosts a music-industry networking event every Tuesday and a different artist performs each time. The performances are usually a mix between big-name industry veterans and newer industry artists being pushed by label reps. Evidently the audience each week is a who's who of the industry, though, so if you want to shake some hands or grease some wheels, then you may want to check it out if you haven't already. Please hit me up if you want to roll through some time.

Diddy watching over Spotlight live (view from the terrace)

Thanks everyone for all the emails and support. Get at me if you wanna hit the clubs sometime.

-kyle b. jones

kylebeejones@yahoo.com

Superbowl

Sunday, February 3rd, New York City, Times Square:

Here is some video I took in Times Square after the Giant's won.

Tiki Barber look-alike rapping while his buddy plays drums on the mailbox

(Did you notice the guy who pulls on this girl's underwear!)

Unless you live under a rock, you know the Giants won the Superbowl. It was a great game with plenty of subplots fit for today's celebrity hording culture. We heard about Tom Brady's hack job, and I'm not talking about his on-field performance, which was subpar in and of itself. I am talking about his mongoose fake hair, worthy of those Bosely hair restoration commercials. In fact, click here to see a hair loss forum dedicated just to Mr. Brady.

Speaking of crazy headpieces, I'm sure everyone also heard about the crazed Pats fan who is tattooing his bald domepiece to look exactly like a Patriots helmet (he has the side decals done and is just waiting to fill in the rest with silver).

Click here for a post-game update.

What did you think of the halftime show? Most reviews have all agreed that it didn't suck, but it didn't blow anyone away. It was clearly a safe move by the powers that be who seemed to be a little gun shy from the infamous JT-Janet Jackson fiasco. WEAK. Let's see...

Choice#1:


OR

Choice#2:

What do they say in Drumline the movie??? HALFTIME IS GAMETIME! Whatever happened to the Michael Jackson halftime extravaganzas with him teleporting around the stadium, or the halftime show where you had to buy special 3-D glasses to really get the full effect. Did they run out of ideas??? A fallic electric guitar piercing a big heart? BFD. I guarantee you that wasn't the intern's suggestion when they were brianstorming ideas. "I got it, let's make like the dude in your frat who always plays it safe and settles for a mediocre gf when he could be runnin game with much hotter material." Wanh-Wah :-( Bring back the energy man, and I'm not talking about 35 year old obese ford taurus drivers with free neon T-shirts being hurded on the field by PA's with headsets and sheepdogs.

Next year I want something great again. I'm thinking a TMNT throwback concert. Oh, you think the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are just a cartoon? Then you clearly missed the stage of your life called "college," which entails skipping class to eat 3-week old pizzacrusts for breakfast while watching TMNT 2: the Secret of the Ooze. You also must have missed the fact that the turtles went on tour...As a music group.

And, be sure to check out this gem from some guy called Vanilla Ice:

interview starts: 1:00 mark
song starts: 1:36 mark

Vanilla Ice - Ninja, Ninja, Rap!

Without further ado, here are:
kyle b. jones' TOP 5 things to keep in mind to make YOUR next performance worthy of the superbowl halftime show!:

5. Practice makes permanent - If you've heard that practice makes perfect, you're wrong. We've got to go with the coachspeak on this one that says "perfect practice makes perfect." Practice alone makes permanent, meaning that whatever you practice, whether its good or bad, is what will become ingrained in you via the repetition. Whatever you do in practice, you're training your body and mind to re-create that experience later. So, take rehearsals seriously. If you goof around and do silly stuff during practice, then guess what? Yep, you may very well have trouble running things the right way during your real gigs.

4. Simulate game conditions - Since practice does make permanent, do your best to simulate real show conditions when rehearsing. It's the little things that need to be worked out and perfected before a show. If there are 3 mics and 5 performers, then grab some mics and practice who will be holding them and "when." Figure out how to pass them to one another in a fluid way. Is everyone holding the mic in the same hand? What happens when the venue says they will have mics for everyone, but when you get there, one is missing. Have you worked out ahead of time and practiced how to handle such a situation? How are you going to come on the stage and how are you going to exit? Nothing looks more amateur than band members bumping into one another as they move around the stage, so figure out your places and your movements and who goes where. Also, make sure that you practice in the same clothes and get-ups that you will wear during the real thing, hence the term "dress rehearsal." The difference between coming across as an amateur and a real showman is in the small things. If you don't practice holding a comb a few inches a way from your face and holding it there for an hour, then you're going to look sloppy when you have a mic all of a sudden and you'll accidentally move your hand too close and too far away from your mouth.

3. Learn everyone else's part - Along with knowing where everyone will be and "when," make sure that you know everyone else's part just as well as you know your own. I remember working at a show for a hip-hop group I was working with a few years back and one of the MC's didn't come in when he was supposed to. With only half a second's delay, another MC came through and delivered the other guy's entire verse perfectly, even with correct intonation and dramatics. The only people who knew that there was an issue were on stage. In order to feel completely comfortable and in control, you need to understand all the details of the overall performance. The more that you know your bandmates, the better your overall synergy will be. You will learn to anticipate each other's moves and really perform in sync and the results will speak for themselves.

2. Leave them wanting more - My mom always says that when visiting relatives, it's OK to leave a little early, because then you don't overstay your welcome and your hosts want to have you back soon. If you've ever lived with "guy on the couch," who somehow turns "a few days" into a few weeks or months, then you can relate to what I'm talking about. When performing a set, especially if you're a lesser-known act, it's best to leave the audience impressed and wanting more. Play your best material. Don't have unrealistic debates about playing new stuff because people have already heard your first album's material. Trust me, familiarity with your work by your fans is a plus, and it's probably way more played out to you than it is to any fans, including family and significant others. Get on stage, do your thing and get off. If you've ever been at an end of the year function, you know how boring it gets when each speaker rambles on too long. If you're at a music festival or concert with a bunch of undercards, it's the same thing. Once you get huge, then you can concentrate on not leaving fans with a feeling of being ripped off for such a short concert.

1. Be an entertainer - Along with not taking too long for your set, the best thing and most obvious thing you can do to have a great show and career is to BE ENTERTAINING. People who pay to see you live are paying for an experience. They could have spent that money on a video game or movie ticket, but instead they are there watching and listening to you! Don't leave them disappointed. Give them their money's worth and then some. Stand out from the other acts by creating and delivering an interactive, multi-faceted production. Incorporate lots of visual elements, or just a few strategic dramatic elements. If you want to be a professional artist, do just that!

Take a pil!

-kyle b. jones

kylebeejones@yahoo.com

What is the Drumline?

What is the Drumline?

I'm so glad you asked!

The Drumline is the in-house music production unit of Team Business LLC (the company I co-founded with marketing guru Tom Hynes). Comprised of two highly skilled and knowledgable producers, the dyanmic duo of Andre Ramone and Blake Brandes is poised to take over the industry.

Andre Ramone (of the Drumline)

From his skilled production and composition of Hip-hop, R&B, Soul and Pop music to his ability to paint murals and accurately assess the world around him with the linguistic command of an English lit professor, Andre Ramone is the future of music.

Blake Brandes aka DJ Decryption (of the Drumline)

Blake Brandes is a producer, composer, rapper, beatboxer, DJ, breakdancer and Marshall Scholar. As a well-rounded musician and a classically trained pianist, Blake composes and promotes hip-hop, rock, pop, R&B, trip-hop, world music and film scores for a globalized future.

Blake double-majored in English and French at Wake Forest University and also earned a Master's degree from the University of Kent, where he is currently completing his PHD studies involving music and pop culture. Blake is committed to mediating the gap between the academy and the street.


If you need production. Get at us!

-kyle b. jones

kylebeejones@yahoo.com

Chillin with Mya at the Halloween Masquerade Ball

Wednesday, October 21st, New York City, Club Capitale - 6th Annual Halloween Masquerade Ball hosted by Mya

Helping Mya navigate through the crowd

So did everyone else have a great Halloween? I had the honor of attending the 6th Annual Halloween Masquerade Ball at Club Capitale in NYC. Once again, it was an awesome event and this year it was hosted by Mya and DJ'ed by DJ Rob Flow. Mya was promoting her new single "Ridin." What do you think? Good song?

Mya performs her new single "Ridin" live

When my friend Dan the Man (not the dude who does videos for the G-Unit) heard that I was chillin with Mya, his first question was "did you put in a good word for me?" The answer was "no," but it's ok, because Mya is actually running a contest online for someone to win a date with her. So, Dan, you (and the rest of the world) still have a shot.

Click the jumpoff to enter the contest yourself!

The DJ did a good job and Mya was very friendly and approachable. I think the costume of the day was the girl who did her own take on JT's "dik in a box" by dressing up as "boobs in a box," which was pretty creative. And, is it just me, or is Halloween awesome because all girls dress up like hookers under the pretense of wearing a costume? I think it's because most girls love attention and want to be exhibitionists, but normally they are worried about other chicks judging them. On Halloween, however, girls just get naughty and know that they have a built-in excuse to wear whatever they want. The result: cats, bunnies, angels, soldiers, police-women....but all the same costume. Hot, tight, skimpy and naked.

True or False - There are 4 different costumes in this picture?

That's me on the right with fellow Halloween revelers

Russell Simmons and Petra Nemcova at the Halloween Ball at Capitale


Me with Mya at Capitale

Anyways, lemme know how Halloween was for you! Oh, and Dan....Mya's waiting for your submission!

Mya

-kyle b. jones

kylebeejones@yahoo.com

Backstage at the Blue Note

Blue Note Banner

Blue Tie at the Blue Note

Jeremiah performs


Jeremiah on stage

Friday, October 26th, New York City - Blue Note Jazz Club - Jeremiah performance

This Friday my good friend and Soul, singer-songwriter Jeremiah performed live at the world-famous Blue Note jazz club in Greenwhich Village in downtown New York City and I had the privilege of helping out (misc. "managerial stuff").

For more on the Blue Note, click here...

Jeremiah was accompanied by some really great musicians (thanks Chris, Marvin and Keith) and a wonderful background vocalist (thanks Tricia), but the highlight came when Barry Eastmond joined J on stage to perform their newest song together.

Chris drums it up

By the way, if you don’t know who Barry Eastmond is.....wake up! He has more than 50 certified gold, platinum or multi-platinum records under his belt.

Barry Eastmond performs with Jeremiah at the Blue Note

In fact, peep Barry Eastmond's myspace here…

It was a great experience to help with a performance at the Blue Note, and being in the green room had an extra-special vibe to it.

kyle b. jones getting ready

Jeremiah warms up

Jeremiah performed brilliantly, as always, and he even sang to my cousin Amy and my friends Lyndsee and Jackie (great group of girls b.t.w.)

And now, without further ado; here's my list of things to keep in mind whenever performing live.

kyle b. jones' Fifteen things to remember when performing live:

15. Be Flexible – Live performance requires quite a bit of flexibility. You may have to go on earlier than expected or, if you're an opening act, you may have your set-length cut. There may be less mic’s than expected. No matter what gets thrown at you, you need to be ready to adapt and to put on a great show without complaining. Knock out a great performance regardless of whatever B.S. is going on backstage. This leads us to...

14. Prepare - If you’re well-rehearsed, it comes across in your performance. As an audience-member, one can easily tell who has a polished presentation and who is winging it. Whether you play the kazoo or the turntables, practice your craft. Knowing your part cold allows you to make adjustments to handle any unexpected snafu’s that come up since you have a foundation of stability and comfort from which to adjust.

13. Promote - Part of your preparation for an upcoming show should include dedicated promotion. No matter what any label or concert promoter promises you, no-one will do as good a job as you of promoting your participation in an upcoming show. If you want butts in the seats, it's your responsibility to spread the word and to put up flyers. Don’t underestimate the impact that promotion alone can have on advancing your career. Not everyone will be able to attend your shows, but everyone should see a poster, read an article or hear from a friend about your upcoming performances. You may be surprised at how your brand equity and perceived popularity can be influenced by your promotional efforts. I once worked with a band in New England that plastered every telephone pole in the state with flyers before each of their shows. I must have met 100 people who thought this group was really successful and who had an opinion on how great (or not great) the band was, who would then say, “Actually, I’ve never even heard them.”

12. Be early - Get to the venue early. This allows you to do two main things. First, you can scope out the stage and equipment to make sure that everything works great. Second, you can introduce yourself to the show organizer, the venue owner, the sound engineer and to the other acts and musicians performing that night. This leads us to…

11. Make friends – You may be surprised to find out that making friends with the key role players can have a huge impact on your performance and your career. Be sure to reach out to the bouncers, bartenders, and dancers; and always take some time to politic with the show promoter and sound engineer. As mentioned, being early allows you to get "in" with these people before any crap starts hitting the fan. I guarantee you things will go wrong. Your goal is to be on the good side of all the people who can influence how your set will go, BEFORE anything bad happens. Unruly fans, equipment malfunctions, and delays will all put you at the mercy of others to help you out in a crunch.

10. Meet the engineer - Even though I just touched on the sound engineer, this dude deserves his own tag. Live engineers are like place-kickers in football. If they do their job right, no-one cares, but if they mess up, they are in the dog-house quicker than a New York minute. Like place-kickers, few people really understand or respect just how hard the live engineer’s job really is. Also, like kickers, few players can actually affect the outcome of a performance as directly as they can. A missed extra-point or a last-minute field goal can make a huge difference in a game and a season. Likewise, an unplugged mic, a misdirected reference, or an improper mix can ruin an otherwise spectacular live show. Also, many live engineers are lazy. Nevertheless, if you are “in” with them, then they are more likely to do everything in their power to give you a proper, personalized mix during the sound-check and are more likely to jump to fix any problems that arise. (Shout out to Jeff Crews, one of the best live, engineers in the business)

kyle b. jones with supa-engineer Jeff Crews

9. Bring at least 3 copies of your instrumental CD - For those of you who use an instrumental CD to accompany your performance, be sure to always have at least 3 separate copies on hand. Moreover, these should all be properly labeled with your Band’s name, the name of the song, your name and your phone number and email address. The writing should be very legible and written with a black sharpie. You should listen to your instrumental CD’s to check for errors before the day of your show. Also, be wary of stick-on labels that can catch in various players. Also, be sure that the same person doesn’t have all three copies, because when that person leaves for the bathroom, that’s right when you’re going to need your CD. Give one copy to the DJ immediately upon arrival. Give another copy to the main artist for safekeeping. The third copy should be held by the manager or the manager’s assistant. This person should go stand right next to the DJ just before your band is slated to perform. This way, when you are on stage looking silly while the DJ frantically searches for your CD, your manager is right there to hand them a copy and save the day with little delay. Finally, be sure to get your instrumental CD back from the DJ at the end of the show. Otherwise, your awesome songs may end up becoming someone else’s hit song a couple weeks later.

8. Stay late - I already said to “Be early.” Now, I’m telling you to “stay late.” Either you’re serious about your music or you’re not. You should be the first one to get there and the last one to leave. This way, you have the greatest opportunity to meet people that can help your cause. Also, this shows respect for any acts that perform after you.

7. Be a politician - Since you’re staying late, you might as well make good use of the time. After you get off the stage, you should be out with the crowd, interacting with fans and making personal connections. This day and age, people just want to be up close and personal with their musical idols. Greet each person and thank them for coming. Listen to them and ask them questions.

6. Be humble - How many times have you seen unsigned bands act like they are the greatest thing since sliced bread? I’ve got news for you. Even if it makes you feel cool to act arrogant, it’s a turn-off and it kills your career before it even starts. Acting too cool for people is a big sign of insecurity and immaturity. No-one says “I saw Carrie Underwood at the mall and she blew me off when I tried to say hello. I like her even more now and I’m gonna go buy her next 10 albums” Wrong. Interact with everyone and invite them to be a part of your success story.

5. Get everyone’s contact info - Since you’re going to be meeting all the people who help put a show together and you’re going to be out and about interacting with the fans, you might as well take a few extra minutes to collect everyone’s contact info. Having this info is invaluable if you're trying to really start a movement or support a career at any level. Once you have peoples’ email addresses and cell-phone numbers, you can then create custom marketing initiatives to encourage true fan support. You can gather information, generate revenue and gain control of your destiny.

4. Stand out - Give the crowd something different. Stand out from the other acts performing that night. Be sure that they go home talking about YOU. Make your performance memorable and interactive. People pay money to be entertained, so don’t leave them disappointed.

3. Fight for your rights - Inevitably, especially if you’re unsigned, someone is going to try to short-change you, take advantage of you or otherwise say one thing and do another. In fact, even if you're a successful recording artist that sells out shows, promoters, club owners, and other acts will still try to cut your sets, deny you sound checks, skimp your payments and otherwise cheat you. Always stick up for yourself and never lose your cool. You will never achieve your goals if you just roll over and accept unfair treatment. Be flexible, but always stand up for yourself. I remember working a G-Unit concert where I had to stand up for one of the opening acts. The show got started late and the promoter began cutting sets and actually cutting opening acts out of the show. In a very nice, but authoritative way I put my foot down to ensure that my act got to perform. Moreover, the promoter gave me free full page ads in a magazine for the next 6 months and guaranteed my guys an opening slot for Sean Paul the next month.

2. Get proof - Besides just entertaining an audience, selling some merchandise and spreading the word about your band, one great thing about performing live is that it enhances your resume. Performing often, performing at well-known or large venues and opening for more established acts all boost your band’s ongoing resume. Upcoming shows give you a reason to email your fans and to stay in their ears. Nevertheless, all this may be for naught if you don’t get proof of your performances. Be sure to take pictures, save links to postings and keep a few of the flyers from each show. Cut out the newspaper clippings and write-ups that publicize your performances and contact radio stations to obtain copies of ads that include your act. All these things should go into your working press-kit files and epk. It’s one thing to sit down with A&R’s and to tell them about all the wonderful places that you’ve played. It’s another thing to show them a PowerPoint presentation and a 3 ring binder with pictures, flyers and clippings of all your shows and performances. Even if you’re already singed or if you’re not interested in being signed, the pictures, flyers and clippings all give you more tools to attract more fans online.

1. Follow-up - Finally, I have one piece of advice that, if neglected, can lead to lots of missed opportunities. Always follow up! The day after the show you should send thank-you cards and emails to the venue owner and show promoter. Within the first three days after the show, you should go through your new contacts and reach out to all the new DJ’s, producers, musicians and writers that you just met. And, within the first week after the show you should send an email to all the fans that signed up for your listserve, thanking them for joining your story.

Thanks for reading...please let me know about your experiences with live performances!

Take a pil!

- kyle b. jones

Email me at:
kylebeejones@yahoo.com

Note: all photos from the Blue Note courtesy of Francis at www.blurshot.com
Check him out!

Introduction

“All the world is a stage, and I’m gonna freakin rock it!” What can I do for you? I'm glad you asked! If you’re in one of the following categories, I can probably help . . .

• SINGER: Are you making the most of your talent? If you’re still waiting to be discovered, than I think that we’ve found your first problem.

• SONGWRITER: I’m sure you know Ne-Yo got his start as a songwriter and that songwriting is a way in the door to the music industry. But, do you know that it often takes just as much dedication, sacrifice and ever-elusive connections to get into the songwriting game itself?

• PRODUCER: When I was 15 years old my Dad took me to see the off-Broadway production STOMP and I heard the performers do beats on trash. Now, I’m 25 years old and I hear a lot of trash on beats. If you are an aspiring producer, I would recommend that you spend 60 percent of your time networking, 20 percent of your time studying music engineering, 10 percent of your time reading and if you have any time left over, then you should spend that time actually producing.

• MUSICAL ARTIST: Do you want exposure, sponsorships, record deals, financial backing, tour support, big name collaborations and radio play? So does everyone else. If you keep working harder and smarter, success WILL come. Success in the music industry is much more formulaic than some people think, you just have to be willing to do whatever it takes.

• ADVERTISING EXECUTIVE: Remember that part of Airplane the movie where the black guy orders his food and the flight attendant can’t understand a word he is saying? Then, the old lady says, “It’s ok, I speak Jive, I can translate.” That’s what I do. My company translates urban tastes and trends into actionable marketing initiatives and then packages and communicates brand meaning, power and value back to consumers.

• COLLEGE STUDENT: Do you get shaky knees when dealing with celebrities? How do you feel about working long hours for no pay? I’ve found that the best interns are those individuals who are extremely professional and who are willing to do whatever it takes to succeed in the music and entertainment industries. Please contact me for more info if you are interested.

• SINGLE LADY: Make noise! All the chicken-heads, be quiet.

• INVESTMENT BANKER: You are a wussy. You probably only work 90 hours a week and on top of that you probably just waste your free time instead of investing in unique and effective philanthropic efforts to give back to the community.

• INDEPENDENT RECORD LABEL: The reason why you’re successful is because you think outside-the-box. That’s what I do. We should talk sometime. Artist development, tour support, radio promotion, national publicity, let’s make it happen, because no one is going to do this for us.

• MAJOR RECORD LABEL: You and I both know that artist development is a thing of the past and that’s ok by me, because working with artists and egos is something that I have a lot of experience with. Cutting music programs from our schools; bad idea. Cutting artist development from record label budgets; good idea. When I run a major record label in 2015, I will partner with someone like me to find, nurture and develop tomorrow’s greatest entertainment success stories. I also do marketing and promotional consulting projects on a case by case basis.

• ANYONE ELSE: If you are fun-loving, intelligent and down-to-earth then you have a lot to offer the world. I am motivated by people who are passionate about what they do and who think outside-the-box. If you take the path less traveled and you love giving back to the community then we are on the same page, so please send me a message and introduce yourself!

kyle b. jones:

I recently co-founded a company dedicated to serving the needs of clients in the entertainment, advertising, communications, gaming and music industries. In addition to managing talent, we match musical content providers with musical content-users and help producers and artists at all levels to attain placements in national commercials, television broadcasts, independent films, major motion pictures and top-selling video games.

I’ve hung up fliers with a staple gun in the snow till my hands bled. I’ve also sold mixtapes on the street to pay for my next meal with a $120,000 college degree hanging out of my back pocket. I’ve probably spent more nights in the studio than in my own room, and I’ve done it all with a smile on my face because I love every minute of it and I feel blessed to be surrounded by people who believe in my vision. I’m willing to do whatever it takes to lay the foundation for success and I'm constantly looking for others who are on that same time.

kyle b. jones:

EDUCATION:

Wake Forest University - cum laude honors 2003 (music and business)

Liberty high school - Valedictorian

EXPERIENCE:

Band management, promotion, marketing, radio promotion, tour support, recording, engineering, consulting, producing

BUSINESS TRAVEL: 46 states. 13 foreign countries. Major European concert tour. Where are we going next?

Did I mention that I am a musician? Here is a list of some of the instruments that I can play:

Snare Drum

Bass Drum

Quints

Quads

Drum Set

Trumpet

Xylophone

Marimba

Timpani

Bells

Piano

Cymbals, Tambourine, Triangle, Clave, etc

I also have formal training in African drumming in both the Numu and Ewe traditions and can play the following:

Djembe

Kenkeni

Sangban

Doundounba

Shekere

Gonkogui

Sogo

Kidi

Kaganu

Axatse

If you are serious about music or business or both, please get at me!!! And everyone please read my blogs for more free tips on how to succeed in the music industry and in life.

http://www.myspace.com/kylebjones

Take a pil!

- kyle b. jones