Monthly Archives August 2010

Final adjustments for the performance now
-loading vids into the proper folders and in sequence
-adjusting sound levels
-playing along with them on the drums to see if there are any un-expected glitches or mis-aligned samples
-figuring out what gets run through my board and what gets sent to a direct box

Every time I do a run through, something pops up that is a problem, as soon as it gets fixed, other things happen as a result of the actions I have just taken to fix the first problem
It is getting a bit taxing on me and I am discouraged
I was thinking of going out to GZ tonight but I cannot allow myself any social time until everything is fixed
100%
It would have been a good opportunity to flyer but I am also running out of steam in that department

Let’s hope I get everything running smoo...

I just came back from my 2nd dentist visit and have had 4 of my 7 cavitites filled
Although I am not terrified of the thought of it, everything changes when your’e in the chair and the drill is in your mouth
So, in order to cope, I have applied my philisophical/overthinking mode to the most un-comfortable aspects of having drills and grinders applied to your teeth
I try to keep my eyes shut and breathe evenly to relax
The eye shutting is also helpful because the needles and drills can be a bit frightening

The surface anesthesia made it easy to take the needle which spread the numbing agent throughout my mouth and jaw
I didn’t really have problems with pain but I started to think about what it feels like to have these things happening in your mouth without feeling the consequences of intens...

I love mistakes
Especially in music
I get to say to myself “they just fucked up there” to myself (and anyone around me) whilst listening to the track
Some examples are-
-The intro to “On With the Show” on the 1st Motley Crue album (Mick Mars doesn’t completely synch up when double tracking the guitar part)
-The beginning of “Start Me Up” by the Rolling Stones (Charlie Watts is trying to find the beat and hesitates for a sec, covering it up by making his hi-hat washy)
And countless other flubs like stray voices when recording instrument tracks or slight mistakes in technique
I know lots of other music-philes that share the same love and it becomes like an episode of MST 3k
Rock music is full of such mistakes but I find that electronic music is lacking in such a human element
Obviously, the ...

getting ready to ride my bike
taking 3 hardboiled eggs and a peanutbutter sammich
Trying to figure out how to access flyers in the left big pocket of my cargo pants whilst there’s a sammich in the same pocket
After all, there’s no way you can fit a sammich AND 3 hardboiled eggs in one pocket
Right?
Until you try to put them in the same pocket
Then you have the difinitive answer and you can stop standing there thinking about how to do it and just do it
Now get your ass to work
You’re gonna be late

Now that Marko has helped me tweak my loops and samples, I can start constructing the set from start to finish
Marko gave me advice early on that all samples should be sent as flat as possible to the board which makes sense
Sound as with any kind of art like painting or cooking, it is easier to add to than take away from
This means send a fairly bland signal to the board and the sound person can mix it the way it sounds best for the club and the PA
Sending too much bass is especially bad because it can sound distorted even before it gets to the board
Highs are easier to tame and get affected less by too much gain
I wish I could actually apply these techniques because I still mix like shit
Just because you watch Hell’s Kitchen don’t make you a chef

There are only a few things left to accomp...

Up until now, I have not really sent anything to any record labels and i was asking myself why
I just now came to the conclusion that I have been avoiding the subject because I believe in the concept but not in the product

A huge issue that I am figuring out is that I have put so much effort into developing the concept that I haven’t even really considered looking for any kind of support

The recent advancements I have made in preparation for the live show have given me a new sense of momentum and I need to start learning how to approach a record label

The next project after the show will be a promo reel
Hopefully, there will be lots of good footage
I must encourage my friends to bring their video cameras

I have been trying to work a guitar player into the band for this performance for the last month or so and the guy looked promising at first but he showed pretty much no enthusiasm
If you have been reading my blogs lately, then you know I have been re-cutting all of the loops and sample for the live show
This is because I had made my decision to let him go but I could not tell him in person until yesterday
Luckily, he was of the same opinion and we parted ways amicably

I just finished all of the backing loops for the live show
All I need now is for Marko to put the adjustment on the levels and the EQ so that the PA will need the least abount of adjustment
My deaf ass is terrible at mixing, plus, what I like in a mix doesn’t always produce the best result out front

One of the biggest advan...

The last few months have been developing very quickly for me and I have to make sure I take stock of things so that I can capitalize on my accomplishments as well as learn from my setbacks

The biggest news of all is that I have gotten medial insurance through the state of Minneasota
This has allowed me to see a dentist, a doctor and a therapist
All for $29 a month (plus $6 for certain visits)
This has relieved a deep seeded anxiety regarding my physical and mental health
A huge amount of built up pressure is streaming out of me
Especially important are the therapy sessions which are teaching me how to fix my own problems
This has resulted in an increased amount of self confidence, which, in turn, results in a huge boost in my drive

My job at orchestra hall almost made me want to quit becau...

Watching the Daily Show and Arcade Fire is performning
Immediately, I thought to myself “Judging by the people I have seen that listen to Arcade Fire, they will be some lame ass indie band that’s nothing more than backwards haircuts over un-inspired crappy pop music”
I can’t remember ever listening to them so I gave them a try
After all, my new efforts at opening my mind to new things has resulted in some very positive attitudes that have helped me get over my bitter resentment towards most people and their shitty tastes

Well turns out
I was right
They are a lame ass indie band just like 90% of the rest of them
Their biggest sin is to have 2 drummers that play the exact same thing

See?
There’s a reason why I lump people into groups
Most of the time, they prove me right

I have been working in the phone center of Orchestra Hall for almost a year now in the fundraising/marketing department
Of course, I wanted to work in the box office and deal with customers who call me up and tell me what they want
Instead, I got a job calling people and trying to convince them they wanted something

Jobs are scarce, I said fuck it and repealed my “no outcall” rule
I have worked in answering services, ticketmaster, and a million food service places taking orders on the phone
The one thing that was OK with that was that I didn’t have to make any effort other than to deal with the customer and do my job
Of course, I developed lots of skills, most imortantly, the ability to control a call and lead the person towards the most efficient resolution
In other words, getting them to...