Week 49 - Your Stage Self

 (This is Week 49  of my Fifty-Two Weeks of Music Do-It-Yourself advice)

Hi, I’m a Rock Star.
Who The Hell Are You?

Do you have a pitch? Do you know how you’re going to present yourself? Do you know how you’re going to act on stage? There is a persona. There is an “other person” you can sink your soul into when you hit that stage and those can lights shine down on you. You just need to find it.

The best performers I have seen live are the ones who flip a switch when they get on stage. They aren’t the same person I was chatting with 10 minutes before the show. And you know what? A crowd digs that. They feed off of it. They fall for that persona.

Kimberly Freeman, who performs as “One-Eyed Doll” is a prime example. She is the nicest person you could ever meet, gentle, happy, and lovable. Then she hits stage and she transforms into an anime-esque guitar slinger who acts as the leader of a legion of metal-punk-black lipped-rejected kids. If you’ve never seen her show, treat yourself. You’ll love it or hate it. 

Here’s a glimpse:

Of course, sometimes it’s the opposite. Edwin McCain is one of the funniest musicians I’ve ever talked to. When he launches into a song, though, you’re taken to another place. He presents a place of love, a place of loss, a place where he poetically and beautifully weaves in and out of personal stories. 

Then there are the ones who create a spectacle every time they hit the stage: GWAR, KISS, Black Veil Brides (who bear a striking resemblance to Mötley Crüe a la “Looks That Kill”), Alice Cooper, or Rammstein.

And the ones who play up their looks to gain attention: Backstreet Boys, Ashlee Simpson, Shakira, Ke$ha, Usher, or Bon Jovi.

Who are you? Think about it. Be yourself is a good thing. But you need to find the “yourself” that you can amp up a few notches in order to get that crowd going. You need to be the best yourself on your best day every time you hit that stage.

Believe me, I know how hard it is to get up on stage. I’ve done it a few times. Of course, for me I have a much more forgiving crowd. I sing in my church praise band. I know... it’s not the same… but when I first got on stage, it was really, really hard. I’ve been at it for over a year and I’m just now getting comfortable enough to move around and have fun. But… I don’t consider myself an indie musician. I sing in church. I’m not making any money, trying to cut an album, trying to get media to notice me, or trying to make this a career. You are.

Think about it. Would you rather go see your friend that you just had lunch with walk up on stage and perform the same way he acted while eating that burger and fries… or do you want him to rock out and get into his set? I know when I see a band perform; I’m as interested in the music as I am in the actual performance.

I’ve seen a lot of bands. More than most people. I remember a few. Very few.

The Top 10 live shows I’ve attended:

Image from Ask.com

- U2 – Pop Mart Tour (San Antonio, TX) 1997

Bono and Co. won me over with an AMAZING performance. I tried to hate the show because I really, really didn’t like their new music, but it was amazing.

- Grupo Fantasma – Triple Crown (San Marcos, TX) 2004

Picture an 11 piece (at least) band fit into the front of a single-wide trailer. That was pretty much what they looked like on stage (and pouring over into the front half) of the Triple Crown. They impressed the hell out of me and the 40-50 people who fit into the club. Now, they are Grammy Award Winners.

- One-Eyed Doll – Texas Rockfest (Austin, TX) 2008

I’d seen One-Eyed Doll on the smaller stages and she impressed, but this was a big crowd and she commanded it. It was amazing to watch. I posted a video from that performance where I mentioned her above.

- Darrell Scott – Cactus Café (Austin, TX) 2006 

He is one of the most amazing singer-songwriters ever and watching him perform is like seeing a glimpse of genius.

- Hank Williams III – Stubbs (Austin, TX) 2006 

I’d just finished interviewing him and he strolled onto the small stage at Stubbs and tore up 3 sets worth of material – A country set, hellblly set, and punk set. Amazing.

Edwin McCain w/ my wife, Jodie and I

- Edwin McCain – One World Theatre (Austin, TX) 2009 

It was like sitting in the living room and listening to a friend, except the friend would break into amazing and beautiful songs.

- Terri Hendrix – Cheatham Street Warehouse (San Marcos, TX) 2000 

A Terri Hendrix Show will change your attitude. You can walk in pissed off and walk out loving the world. She is a poet, a beautiful person, and a dedicated and amazing musician.

- Loblolly – Gordo’s (San Marcos, TX) 1998 

These guys were Redneck Punk at it’s finest. Songs like “Going To Jail (To Visit Dad),” “Love Is A Horse,” and “White Trash America” and a band that included a washboard player, a drummer named Mojo, and a lead vocalist that would spend the last song stripped down to his underwear and wearing a Tweetybird head. They were my favorite college band.

- Monte Montgomery – Gruene Hall (Gruene, TX) 1997 

Technically this was my wife and I’s first date, but it was masqueraded as work. We got in free w/media passes and I took photos and got mesmerized by the amazing guitar work and lyrics of this man. This is one of the reasons his “Girl Like You” is my wife and I’s wedding song.

Full Service @ Backwoods Bash

- Full Service – Backwoods Bash Music Festival @ ThunderMoon Ranch (Mannford, OK) 2008 

They drove up from Austin, Texas on my word that they’d have a great time and played the first ever Backwoods Bash… and it was epic. You had to be there. This video I got doesn’t really do it justice. 

Don’t get me wrong, I would probably list out another 10 easily, but these shows, to me, were them performing as their best selves on their best day. Impressed the heck out of me.

I don’t care how personable and easy going a person looks up there on stage, they’ve worked at that banter, they’ve rehearsed the stories, they know what they are doing up there. There is no room for “um” moments and there’s no use in getting up on a stage and trying to entertain if you look, dress, and sound like you’d rather be at home playing Madden 2012.

Of course, I’ve stated this before on this blog. I’m writing this assuming you are a good band who plays music people will WANT to hear and you’re trying to make music your full-time occupation. This column is just to try and give you some advice to get to that next level.

So, figure out who you are… and who you will be on stage. It matters.

Sean Claes is the owner of Austin's INsite Magazine and has been a freelance entertainment writer since 1996. For an introduction to his "52 Weeks of DIY Music Advice" visit this link - http://www.tinyurl.com/Claes52DIY. If you like what you read... please share. To visit Claes' homepage, go here - http://www.seanclaes.com/. 

Week 35: What's the Big Idea?

(This is Week 35 of my Fifty-Two Weeks of Music Do-It-Yourself Music advice)

 

What's the Big Idea?

 Here’s a tweet I posted recently, based on a true story:

Musician: This group needs to do a compilation.

Me: Awesome. Here are the steps to do it.

Musician: Oh, not me...but someone should do that"

Apathy strikes again. Here’s the deal. You can do anything. I put out a compilation CD a few years ago. Did I know how to do it? Not at all. Did that stop me? No.




2007 INsite Compilation Cover*

 If you’re going to invest in your band, you can do it with time and money. The more time you spend, the less money you’ll have to put in… for the most part. The sad thing is, most bands won’t take the time or spend the money to promote themselves. They think by booking a gig, they are done… and when only their girlfriend shows up to the show, they are quick to point fingers.

- The venue didn’t promote the show.
- The other bands didn’t tell their fans to hang out to see us.
- It was a weeknight and nobody goes out on a Tuesday.
- I didn’t like playing this club anyway, the owner’s a jerk.
- I made a Facebook post about it 3 hours before the show… Facebook doesn’t work.
- People don’t get our music.
- It happened when a great roadshow was playing at Stubb’s. They took our crowd.

In the weeks leading up to the show did you:

- Contact the other bands and try and do a promo-share thing?
- Make posters.
- Hang up the posters you made?
- Hang up the posters in a place where people who should like your music go?
- Pimp the show on social media?
- Give away tickets?
- Create a buzz?
- Play a local news/radio/podcast to promote?
- Hand out fliers w/ discount?
- Make promo music to hand out?
- Tell ANYONE?

If the answer to all or most of the items above is yes… well… you may have had an off night. I’d say you did a good job trying to promote the show.

If your answer is no to most of the items, you need to take your petty little complaints and think about what you did leading up to the show. You likely booked this show at least a month in advance. You had PLENTY of time.


You’ve got to figure out of you have a hobby or a job. If it’s a hobby, quit complaining. If it’s a job, step up.

Try different things. If you have an idea… a good idea… follow thorough and make it happen. Two weeks ago there was a weekend festival just outside of Tulsa Oklahoma called the Backwoods Bash. Five years ago I got a call from a buddy of mine who had an idea. Throw a festival to promote indie bands. We decided it was a good idea. We made it happen. There were four of us. No seed money. No big supporter. None of us had ever done something like that before.

But we decided it was a good idea. So, we just did it. We did it poorly.. but we did it. The people who came to the show didn't notice that we were barely holding the thing together by the skin of all of our collective teeth.

The deal was, we knew that the ONLY reason to have a "First Ever" is to have a "Second Annual."

One of my old bosses used to say that anything worth doing it worth doing badly. That means, if you have a good idea, pull it off... and learn froom mistakes and keep at it. THAT is how you promote. THAT is how you become known. THAT is how you succeed at life and music and business. Is it s guarantee? No.. but you surely won't have any regrets if you put your all into it and try and make things happen.

So... next time you have an idea think long and hard about it. Unless you're ready to jump into the water with both eyes open and not stop swimming until you reach land.... keep it to yourself.

If it's a good idea, jump in.. the water is awesome.

Sean Claes is the owner of Austin's INsite Magazine and has been a freelance entertainment writer since 1996. For an introduction to his "52 Weeks of DIY Music Advice" visit this link - http://www.tinyurl.com/Claes52DIY. If you like what you read... please share. To visit Claes' homepage, go here - http://www.seanclaes.com/.

* About the compilation CD. There were 15 Austin area bands on it, we did a run of 1k.  Murillo Design designed the project, Fireside Creative did the physical packaging, Dewar's Whisky covered the cost (great promotional tool), and Ben Mills from RockShow Promotions organized a CD release party at Stubb's. Oh, and we gave the CDs away.

Backwoods Bash Music Festival Line-Up Released

Third Annual Backwoods Bash 

Bigger Than Ever

This Memorial Day Weekend (May 28-30) if you're interested in taking the family (or a bunch of good-natured friends) to a music festival that boasts great music and camping for just $20, head to Prue, Oklahoma, as The third annual Backwoods Bash on Keystone Lake at Walnut Creek State Park is where you need to be.

First held in 2008, the yearly outdoor family-friendly music festival that boasts "Good Music. Good People. Good Times." has attracted such diverse acts as Full Service, The Moai Broadcast, The Banner Year, Greg Schroeder, and the Will Evans Project.

It's bigger than ever in 2010. The 27 bands who make up the three day music and camping festival include Tulsa favorites like Steve Liddell and Project Huckleberry, Oklahoma bands like Rock Bottom Ramblers, Ghosts, and HipHopotamus and Austin bands like Eleven Fingered Charlie and The Jeremy Miller Band. Headlining the festival will be the legendary Red Dirt Rangers.

According to a March 9, 2010 Article in Tulsa World Red Dirt Rangers frontman John Cooper had this to say about the festival.

"We're really proud to be a part of this," said Red Dirt Rangers frontman John Cooper during the press conference announcement. "Going indie, being independent, is how we've kept our longevity -- and our identity -- for so many years. It's about supporting your community. ... That's what this festival is all about."

Aside from the music, the festival will also include a Kids Area, Lots of Good Food, Boat Ramp, Swimming Beach, and a Veterans Memorial Service on Sunday.

The full line-up was released at a press conference in Tulsa yesterday. For tickets, visit https://backwoodsbash.ticketleap.com/.

For updates, follow Backwoods Bash on their Website, Twitter, Facebook,or MySpace.

Here's the full three-day line-up:

Friday (May 28)
12:30 a.m.: Digital Graffiti (Tulsa) late-night set with light show
11:10 p.m.: Paul Benjaman Band (Tulsa)
10 p.m.: Rock Bottom Ramblers (OKC)
9 p.m.: Dante and the Hawks (Broken Arrow)
8 p.m.: HipHopotamus (Tulsa)
7 p.m.: Roger Jaeger (Tulsa)
6 p.m.: Duende (Tulsa)

Saturday (May 29)
12:30 a.m.: The Moai Broadcast (Tulsa) late-night set with light show
10 p.m.: Red Dirt Rangers (Glencoe)
8:20 p.m.: Eleven Fingered Charlie (Austin, Texas)
7 p.m.: Sam and the Stylees (Tulsa)
6 p.m.: The Jeremy Miller Band (Austin, Texas)
5 p.m.: Steve Liddell (Tulsa)
4 p.m.: Whirligig (Tulsa)
3 p.m.: Parallel Play (Dallas)
2 p.m.: Joel Wade (Tulsa)
1 p.m.: Pillo Talk (Broken Arrow)
12 p.m.: Kayla Fitzgerald Jacobs (Wichita, Kansas)

Sunday (May 30)
12:30 a.m.: Ghosts (Tulsa) late-night set with light show
11 p.m.: Flatland Travelers (Stillwater)
9:30 p.m.: Cody Clinton & The Bishops (Tulsa)
8 p.m.: Project Huckleberry (Tulsa)
7 p.m.: Go Action Team (Austin, Texas)
6 p.m.: Ray Bridgemay (Cabot, Ark.)
5 p.m.: The Move Trio (Tulsa)
4 p.m.: The Televised (Tulsa)
3 p.m.: Joe Mack (Tahlequah)
2 p.m.: Michael Gibson (Austin, Texas)
1 p.m.: Will Porter (Marietta)
11 a.m.: Veterans Memorial Service

Note: Lineup subject to change without notice.

A 2008 Interview with headliners Red Dirt Rangers:

Here's a video recap of 2009's Backwoods Bash:

Just Make A Move

DSCF0558.jpg
Originally uploaded by seanclaes

I've been thinking about something and thought I'd jot this down. I get a lot of people share a lot of ideas with me. Big plans to launch concerts... open restaurants...book shows... ask someone out... produce music... sell products...get educated... the list goes on and on. But the one thing that always gets me is they never put their ideas into actions.

This is usually on the heels of finding out that I have my hands in a lot of things. I am a husband and father of two fantastic daughters, a client consultant, copywriter, owner of an entertainment magazine in Austin, Communications Chair of my church, have a photo blog, am part of a group that throws a yearly festival in Oklahoma, host monthly concerts in Austin, and have been involved in my neighborhood.

I'm not special. I'm not someone who has anything figured out. I'm just a guy who makes a move. I do something. I don't like to talk about making things happen. I like the put my efforts into actually MAKING them happen. I'm horrible at organizing. My time is stretched too thin. I don't have a lot of money. I love my wife and family and love to spend time with them. I have excuses. I could easily say "I don't have the time for that..." and people would totally understand.

I'm not built that way. I'm kind of like the gust of wind that propels the fuzzy white things off that flower (or weed) in the photo above. I know a lot of stuff is going to be flying through the air and I know that not everything is going to end well.. I just know that nothing will succeed if every effort isn't put in to making it happen.

Some of those seeds will land, take root, and grow.
If you are talking about doing something. Stop talking. Take a deep breath and blow with all your might. Watch as your ideas take flight and follow your heart.

Just make a move.
Do it.
I dare you.

- Sean

Background on the photo. I took that in Mannford, Oklahoma at the Second Annual Backwoods Bash. We had a great time. We had space for thousands of campers. We had just over 300 (It threatened rain for 2 days). Are we doing it again? Heck yes.

INsite Night #2 for May

ROAD TO THE BACKWOODS BASH

The Banner Year
Chartreuse
Will Evans Project
Michael Gibson



Featuring four bands who will bring Austin to Backwoods Bash (http://www.backwoodsbash.com) in Mannford Oklahoma over Memorial Day Weekend this year.

This show is the "Road To The Bash" where the guys are hoping to raise the $$ for the gas to Oklahoma.

We'll have giveaways... a raffle (Tickets $1 each or 6 for $5...
Prizes include
- $50 gift card for Spiderhouse
- $25 gift card to Eco Clean
- Grand Prize package from Backwoods Bash and the bands that will include a ton of band swag including t-shirts, CDs, and other stuff

Give these guys a proper Austin send-off.

Road To The Backwoods Bash - Rock and Raffle

Backwoods Bash Wrap-up

It was a fantastic weekend of music. If you were there, you may spot yourself in one of these shots... if you weren't, this is what you missed. Hope to see you next year for the Second Annual Backwoods Bash, Memorial Day Weekend 2009.

Friday's Photos - 74 shots

Saturday's Photos - 205 shots

If you'd like to watch the videos I shot:  Visit this link.




Here's a few of the 279 photos I took:

Matt Jostes, Trevor Lane, Damien Hartzell, and Sean Claes. Four men with a mission to create a Memorial Day Weekend Concert just outside Tulsa, Oklahoma. We did it. Backwoods Bash 2008 - www.backwoodsbash.com.


Cosmic Rush


Will Porter/Damien Hartzell


Greg Schroeder


Todd Davis


Steve Liddell


ValerieStar


Cannonball Sunday


Ben Sumner and Sean Claes


The Banner Year


Full Service


Ghosts

Buy this tape... but as a digital Download

You can download this album for just $5 at:http://cdbaby.com/cd/backwoodsbash2008.
The $$ will go directly towards the gas money for the bands playing the first ever Backwoods Bash at the Thundermoon Ranch in Mannford, Oklahoma.. this weekend (May 23-25, 2008)

Backwoods Bash - Line-up and Album Release

Backwoods Bash Releases Benefit Concert Band List
And 20-Track $5 Digital Download Album


TULSA/ AUSTIN – The buzz is building surrounding the first-ever Backwoods Bash which will happen Labor Day Weekend at Thundermoon Paintball in Mannford, Oklahoma. Entertainment, Camping, Music, and Good times will abound at the festival that has adopted the motto Be Good.

Organizers of the event, Sean Claes (seanclaes.com) of Austin, and Trevor Lane (trevorlane.com) and Damien Hartzell (myspace.com/damiennchamp) of Tulsa have announced the full line up for the Saturday, May 24, 2008 Benefit Show. All of the following bands have donated their music and services for the sake of the charities (TC Lane Foundation and Vertical Life) and for the sake of the song.

The Official Line-up for the 2008 Backwoods Bash
Noon - Will Porter (http://www.myspace.com/willporter)
1:00PM - Greg Schroeder (http://www.myspace.com/gregschroeder)
2:00PM - Joel Wade (http://www.myspace.com/jwadeband)
3:00PM - Steve Liddell (http://www.myspace.com/steveliddell)
4:00PM – ValerieStar (http://www.myspace.com/valeriestar2006)
5:00PM - Cannonball Sunday (http://www.myspace.com/cannonballsunday)
6:00PM - The Banner Year (http://www.myspace.com/thebanneryear)
7:00PM - Somewhat Lucky (http://www.myspace.com/somewhatluckyband)
8:00PM - Full Service (http://www.fullservicemusic.com)
9:00PM – Ghosts (http://www.myspace.com/ghosts2002)

Each band has also donated music for an Album Backwoods Bash 2008 – Good Music. Good People. Good Times. that was released on Cdbaby.com on Tuesday, May 5, 2008. For the next 90 days, this 20-song album will be available for a $5 digital download. “We want to make sure everyone has a chance to listen to these great bands. Most of money raised from the downloads will go right back to the bands in order to pay for their gas and expenses,” Trevor Lane said. “These guys are coming from as far away as Dallas and Austin on their own dime.”

Fine folks everywhere will be downloading the album by visiting http://cdbaby.com/cd/backwoodsbash2008 and clicking on the “add MP3 to cart” button.

TRACK LISTING
Backwoods Bash 2008 – Good Music. Good People. Good Times
1. Songwriter’s Manifesto Will Porter (3:31)
2. Cold Eyes Will Porter (2:26)
3. Nutz N Boltz Ghosts (3:40)
4. Zarro Ghosts (6:34
5. Perception and Belief ValerieStar (3:12)
6. Soul of Me Haunted ValerieStar (5:33)
7. Daylight Robbery The Banner Year
8. A Long Time Coming The Banner Year
9. Blueberry Full Service
10. Hi Ho Full Service
11. Carry Me Home Cannonball Sunday (2:58)
12. Fall Out of Love Cannonball Sunday (3:37)
13. Walk on Water (W.O.W.) Steve Liddell (3:13)
14. Good Love Steve Liddell (3:49)
15. It’s Easy Somewhat Lucky (3:04)
16. Talking Somewhat Lucky (2:53)
17. Dove into a Dive Abaiyo (3:03)
18. Just Breathe Day Dreamer (5:01)
19. Someone’s Waiting Joel Wade (3:41)
20. Fool Greg Schroeder


Backwoods Bash is a 3-day charity event that has been put together for the people and by the people with an independent spirit and a good heart. The entertainment is free, there is a $5 a day or $15 3-day pass fee for parking. For full details and information about the charities we are supporting and the organizations who are sponsoring, please visit http://www.backwoodsbash.com.

About TC Lane "Make a Difference" Foundation
This foundation is dedicated to "Making a Difference" in memory of TC Lane, who was killed by a man who tried to hide with a history of drinking and driving on Christmas Eve. The mission and aim of this foundation is to support Crime Victims' Rights and Educational Initiatives like "Laptops for Leaders." TC Lane was a political science major, who would have "been a senator, sooner in life, rather than later" according to Stetson University faculty and staff. To learn more please visit: www.tclane.org

About Vertical Life Youth Initiatives & Awareness
Vertical Life works with youth social clubs and students. This non-profit organization is designed to enhance the education experience of students and to prepare them for lifestyles of realized potential. Through enhanced education supplements, youth social integration strategies, community service and personal value enrichment programs, we help ordinary students restructure their priorities, redefine their value systems, become socially well adjusted young men and women with an above average education, moral integrity and personal self worth.

Backwoods Bash - An Introduction

Grassroots Concert Encourages Folks to BE GOOD
First Ever Backwoods Bash Near Tulsa, Oklahoma

Austin, TX - Good music. Good People. Good times. These concepts lay the foundation for the theme, Be Good, at the first ever Backwoods Bash (May 23 - 26) at Thundermoon Ranch and Paintball on Mannford Lake in Oklahoma. This is a completely grassroots event for the people and by the people.

In conjunction with the TC Lane "Make a Difference" Foundation and Vertical Life Youth Initiatives, concert promoters from Austin and Tulsa are contributing to help identify sponsors and raise money for these charities. Thus far, the concert is 100% sponsored at every level from bathrooms to sound.

The bands are donating their time, energy and gas money to travel from Austin, Dallas, and several Oklahoma cities to Mannford Lake for this event. The bands have also granted a limited license and donated songs to be sold online through stores like iTunes and other popular music channels for mp3's and ringtones. Thundermoon Ranch and Paintball has donated the venue and use of land for this landmark event.

Additionally, graphic support and creative direction has been sponsored by Creative Concepts Design Studio, while the website (http://www.backwoodsbash.com) is powered and sponsored by Musiclovr.com.

Camping is encouraged at this event all weekend for $15 per vehicle or $5 a day per vehicle for parking. Parking is the only cost for attendees. There will be food vendors, but people are invited to bring their own cooler and camping supplies (no glass bottles please). This is true camping, no electricity on-site. Also, no RV's or loud motorbikes are allowed. To reserve a campsite, send an email to camp@backwoodsbash.com.

There is a small window of opportunity left for vendors. This year there will be vendors selling food, event t-shirts, music CD's from the bands, a face painter for children, a production team shooting video for a post-event DVD, and original music throughout the weekend with a small revival on Sunday morning. Sponsors include: Auto Optical, Outlaw Entertainment Group, INsite Magazine, Bluehouse Media, Creative Concept Design Studio, and Musiclovr.com.

See the full music and event line-up at http://www.backwoodsbash.com.