วันอาทิตย์ที่ 1 ธันวาคม พ.ศ. 2556

Getting Real About Going Independent

Once upon a time, not too long ago, most music artists wanted a record deal. Being an independent artist was more of an ambition than a phenomenon. While Ani DiFranco, a non-commercial music artist and the poster child of independence, garnered attention and respect from her peers, she didn't exactly serve as a catalyst to the independent movement.Then a highly publicized feud between Prince and Warner Bros. erupted in which he likened his contractual obligations and restrictions to that of a "slave," caught the media's attention and truly galvanized the movement.More recently acts such as Radiohead, Nine Inch Nails, and Madonna have left the homes of major labels and taken-up residency in the independent hotel. Will it be a permanent one? That remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain: rooms are filling up fast.It's apparent that being independent has become a right of passage; a badge of honor and valor that's proudly displayed for other music artists to identify with and applaud...a blueprint for greater autonomy, creativity, and financial dividends. But what does being an independent artist really mean?In short, it means being a business person and an entrepreneur. That's the one little (and often overlooked) aspect of "going independent" that I never hear artists discuss, and it's the one major issue I have with industry professionals who promote being independent as more of a lifestyle, than a career choice.Most artists are creative, emotional, right-brained people. Those are the intrinsic qualities that make them what they are. Those are also the qualities that make it difficult for them to function and thrive as business people who are required to engage in left-brained activities. But at every conference I attend, and every panel discussion that I witness, there is no mention of the necessity to think and behave like an entrepreneur while being an independent artist. It never comes up.Why is that?It's because for artists, the choice to "go independent" is often an emotional decision, not a business decision. It's not really a choice that they make, but rather one that is made for them when they are unsuccessful in landing the elusive and rarely obtained record deal. They are not responding to the scarcity of recording contracts, they are reacting to the frustrations that stem from not getting one. This frustration either becomes the fire that fuels their motivation to prove their worth, or the wet blanket that extinguishes their dreams, and validates someone else's opinion about their lack of commercial value.They also don't mention that the most successful independent artists either came from, or have affiliation with, a major label.By overemphasizing the creative freedoms and bigger paydays that await independent artists, focus is diverted from the monumental task of marketing and promoting music as a business person and entrepreneur. It's tantamount to telling people that they should just leave their jobs and work for themselves. That's unrealistic and downright ridiculous - especially without having the fundamental knowledge of what being self-employed entails. How many self-employed people do you know? Cut that number in half and that's how many successful independent artists there are.Make no mistake about it; being an independent artist is the equivalent to being self-employed.While everyone can recognize the fringe benefits such as freedom and flexibility that the self-employed enjoy, there are a myriad of challenges that they are constantly faced with in order to survive and succeed. Funding, legalities, taxes, overhead expenses, operational costs, accounting procedures, and attending to endless administrative details are functions of their everyday life. They also have marketing costs, but unlike music artists, they don't sell products that can be obtained for free.So what does it take to succeed independently?Ironically, operating like a major label. Go figure. The independent movement reminds me of teenagers who don't know what running a household requires, involves, or entails because their parents handle that responsibility. It's not until they have to run their own households that they are forced to learn how to do it own their own. The same holds true of the independent artists that attempt to run their own labels: they discover how expensive it is, and how much work it takes.If you are going to get real about going independent and being successful at it (i.e. profitable), be aware that it can't be something that you just do on the weekends; it's a huge business decision that impacts your world both professionally and personally. It requires the same level of preparation, organization and commitment that being a prosperous business person entails. Establishing your success and maintaining it will be one of the hardest things you can do in your life, and one of the most rewarding.



Gian Fiero is a seasoned educator, speaker and consultant with a focus on business development and music/entertainment industry operations. He currently teaches at San Francisco State University where he conducts courses on Music Industry Career Planning and Publicity/Public Relations. His affiliations include National Association Of Record Industry Professionals (associate director); CLA (speaker); West Coast Songwriters (consultant); The Muse's Muse (producer of the Muse's Muse Awards); and SBA (business advisor).

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วันจันทร์ที่ 25 พฤศจิกายน พ.ศ. 2556

Krups Coffee Makers Review

The company all started as a forge in the town of Wald in North Rhine-Westphalia in 1846. It was originally owned by Josua Kortz along with his several friends including his nephew Robert Krups. The son of Robert Krups which was also named after him was then the one who made great efforts in transforming the forge into an industrial company.In 1866 the company then started delivering its products to Holland and Switzerland until it became one of Germany's top manufacturers in 1900. Krups has been well known as a leading manufacturer of kitchen tools and appliances bringing a more meaningful essence to food preparations.Included in its long line of trusted products are the beer tenders, blenders, bread makers, can openers, coffee grinders, coffee machines, electric knives, electric slicers, espresso machines, food processors, ice cream makers, juicers, kettles, kitchen machines, kitchen scales, mini choppers, raclette, and toaster ovens.Some of the company's front liners are its coffee machines that have successfully added more intensity when it comes to drinking coffee. Its coffee makers comprise of the Automatic-drip Coffee Machines, the Coffee/Espresso Combination Machines, and the Pod Machines.The Automatic-drip coffee machines are used in the traditional brewing of a pot of coffee. These machines come in 12 and 10 cup capacities with programmable timers and pause to serve features. The FMD3 in particular has an aroma selector feature which makes it to stand out among the rest. The Coffee/Espresso Combination Machines on the other hand can provide you with fresh hot coffee and pump espresso as well.The Pod Machines of Krups are good for single and fast serve coffee. In less than a minute, you are served with either 1 or two cups of brewed coffee. Not only that it can brew regular coffee but it can also provide you with a brewed decaf and creamy drinks as well.



For heaps more coffee maker reviews check out CoffeeMakerCritic.com where you will find reviews and ratings on all the leading coffee machine brands including Cuisinart coffee makers, Black and Decker, Breville, Delonghi, Kitchenaid, Krups, Mr. Coffee, Zojirushi and more. Get your FREE 'Coffeemaker Buying Guide' full of tips and tricks on how to buy the best coffee maker for your needs.

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วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 19 กรกฎาคม พ.ศ. 2555

Ergo Baby Bc6sp Sport Black Baby Carrier And Led Safety Reflector Light

Cheap Ergo Baby BC6SP Sport Black Baby Carrier and LED Safety Reflector Light Reviews

Ergo Baby BC6SP Sport Black Baby Carrier and LED Safety Reflector Light Details

A new concept in ERGObaby Carriers, the Sport is sure to be a hit with active parents & caretakers! The ERGO Sport carrier is made of a lighter fabric which offers a slight wicking feature to help keep babywearers more comfortable. A vent in the body of the Sport carrier provides extra breathability, keeping both baby and parent cooler. With a waist belt that can be worn up to 48 inches around (5 inches longer than the Standard & Organic ERGO baby carrier ), and shoulder straps that extend 4 inches longer than other carriers, the Sport carrier is a great fit for babywearers of all sizes. Sleeping Hood is completely detachable and can be stored in the pocket. Made By: ERGObaby Made Of: 35% Cotton Body, 65% Polyester




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Ergo Baby BC6SP Sport Black Baby Carrier and LED Safety Reflector Light Features

Ergo Baby BC6SP Sport Black Baby Carrier and LED Safety Reflector Light

Product By ERGO Baby
  • 100% cotton batting in body of carrier to soften edges
  • One inch, high density foam in shoulder straps
  • Quarter inch high density neoprene foam in waist belt
  • High Quality buckles tested by SGS
  • Reinforcement stitching used at all fabric intersections
Ergo Baby BC6SP Sport Black Baby Carrier and LED Safety Reflector Light Available From 5 Sellers
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