Day 507

Post #25 of ANNIE B.'s D.I.Y. MAGAZINE: "A Day in the Life"
"I promise to post blogs here, sharing some daily activities & the work I do to achieve my career goals, and when I do win that Grammy, YOU can say you followed me all the way! I also hope to give inspiration, information, & advice to indie artists, and I hope you take a little something away with you when you read my posts, whether or not you are yourself an artist!"

If you ever have ANYTHING you'd like to respond to in my blog, PLEASE find me at Facebook.com/AnnieBMusic
THANKS!!!

So far it has been a good day. I am way, way behind on all things Artbeat, but I am moving forward nonetheless. Just confirmed the face-painter, Indie LaLonde, and the boys from D.C. Monroe are donating face-painting supplies. Working on having Artbeat in the Heat posted on the Volunteer Center of Milwaukee's website so we can hopefully recruit some good folks. You can have a free 6-month trial on thier site if you are a certified non-profit (I am still working on the LONG application for Artbeat)! The YWCA is the 501(c)3 we are working with, so I just left a message for Jeanette at the Y to see if she can create the event page there to start recruiting volunteers. She & the Y have been pretty amazing to work with!!!

Still recruiting artists/artisans who might like to have an Artbeat in the Heat booth as well.

Last week, Sarah Horvat invited me to the Spreenkler meeting and I got a chance to meet Steve Glynn (head honcho of Spreenkler) who also happens to be involved with Danny Gokey's foundation Sophia's Heart. I'd LOVE to have the youth choir who performed with Danny at Summerfest also perform at Artbeat in the Heat. I left him a message yesterday... wish me luck! Also at the Spreenkler meeting, I met Sarah Patterson at True Skool. True Skool works with kids who enjoy the hip-hop culture, and they provide creative & productive ways for these kids to perform & create art, such as breakdancing, graffiti art, music, and other cool stuff! Hoping to get some of the True Skool kids in Artbeat in the Heat as well! Then I also met LaDonna Leazer with B.E.A.M. (Business and Economics Academy of Milwaukee). They work with kids to create art and I think we'll be able to have a booth that will feature some of their work (ceramics & photography). They graced me with a beautiful gift... a ceramic bowl made by one of the students! Photo on Facebook to be posted later today!!!!!!!!

Lots more to accomplish today, but I gotta run... I have a 2pm with Chris from Sooper Dooper to pick up my CDs for my CD Release & Website Launch at the Elbo Room tomorrow night!!!!!!!!!

Oh, and also I have to day, Heather Acton is doing an AMAZING job with all my websites!!!!!!!

Woo-hoo!!!!!
:)
Annie

Day 454

Post #23 of ANNIE B.'s D.I.Y. MAGAZINE
"I promise to post blogs here, sharing some daily activities & the work I do to achieve my career goals, and when I do win that Grammy, YOU can say you followed me all the way! I also hope to give inspiration, information, & advice to indie artists, and I hope you take a little something away with you when you read my posts, whether or not you are yourself an artist!"

If you ever have ANYTHING you'd like to respond to in my blog, PLEASE find me at Facebook.com/AnnieBMusic
THANKS!!!

Well, these last few weeks have been interesting! For my Linneman's show on May 14th, I was hoping to get more friends out, but I was very happy that morning when VIC THOMAS (yes, Vic Thomas from Summerfest) actually called me, letting me know he's heard good things about me & he'd try to make it out to Linneman's to see me! I was surprised to get a call from him, but I also found out that some friends of mine are friends with him, and they had some very nice things to say to Vic about me the Thursday night before my show. Thanks, guys!!!! It turns out I did not see Vic at my show, but that does not mean he did not make it out (it's a very dark venue inside)!

Anyhoo, my schedule has changed... I am now looking to have my website launch party in July at the Elbo Room, and a CD Release party in Sept., maybe. I am scheduled to get back into the studio to work on the bass track for The Kiwi Cafe (title track) this Thursday. We started tracking bass about 10 days ago, and will hopefully finish editing on Thursday.

In another area of my life, I visited my Dad today (he has Alzheimer's) and he is not doing the greatest. I can tell he has lost weight but he can still converse with me. I hope to visit him a few times a week these days, rather than once a week or so. I have a picture of him on my dresser from when he was in high school... he was quite the handsome guy. And no, I'm not just saying that because he's my Pop.

Life is short, that's for sure. I know my Pop always wanted to be a famous actor. When I lived in Hollywood, he used to tell me about his trip to Hollywood when he was down there in So Cali (probably training in boot camp)... he went to the Brown Derby and the owner there said my Pop should go back to the Derby after the war to become a famous actor. My Pop used to tell me all the time, "Go find that guy at the Brown Derby (which is how just "The Derby") and tell him you're my daughter.... he'll remember me!" I guess I have always been a lot like my Pop... a person with some big dreams! Although I also think my Pop should have been a drummer... When I was a little girl, my family used to all eat dinner together at the dining room table at least once a week, & he used to do paradiddles at the kitchen table with his utensils... topped off with a couple of tasty drum fills on his milk glass and dinner plate. That's my Pop.... generally a happy guy, often in a sing-songy mood, but with a little Archie Bunker mixed in for good measure.

This should be a busy week. Last week, Sig (from the Hide House) and I met with Alderman Zielinski to get his blessing for ARTBEAT IN THE HEAT happening on July 31st in the Hide House parking lot! Need to get to the Licensing Division this week and talk to the guy about all the permits we'll need. Artbeat Board Meeting tomorrow night, and I need to rehearse with Eroc & meet with Heather Acton (website developer) on Tuesday if possible. Wed. is a day I can hopefully get caught up on e-mail & FB (over 100 friend requests that I am trying to answer, sorry I have been sooooooooo behind)!! Wed. night is our last JustFaith meeting, Thursday is my first "Afterwaterfest" gig in Oshkosh, and then we're already into Memorial Day weekend! The following weekend is the big Unnatural Act: Milwaukee debut at RipTide!!! Totally excited about that! We have to really spread the word - Lisa's List is helping get the word out on that one!!! Thanks, Lisa!!!

Hope you have a fabulous week. Peace & Harmony,
Annie B.

Day 423

Post #22: 'Making it through this week' : ANNIE B.'s D.I.Y. MAGAZINE
"I promise to post blogs here, sharing some daily activities & the work I do to achieve my career goals, and when I do win that Grammy, YOU can say you followed me all the way! I also hope to give inspiration, information, & advice to indie artists, and I hope you take a little something away with you when you read my posts, whether or not you are yourself an artist!"

If you ever have ANYTHING you'd like to respond to in my blog, PLEASE find me at Facebook.com/AnnieBMusic
THANKS!!!

Milwaukee Artbeat's One Year Anniversary is Friday. Thanks to all the amazing board members, I did not have to do almost everything by myself this time!!! We'll have a raffle, a silent auction, and a salsa dance lesson! These are all new since the last Artbeat. But I am STILL sick this week (I usually get sick the week of, or the week after Artbeat, due to all the stress of all the extra activity)!!!! But the fact of the matter is that there are almost 11,000 kinds in 30 MPS schools who have NO ART classes in their schools, & I want to change that!!!!

Good news = There will be an article online about Artbeat in the Shepherd Express, and in the Third Coast Digest - YAY!!! Plus I'll be on 91.7 WMSE on Thursday at 2! Totally cool!!!

Anyhoo, I am still working on getting my original music gigs too... I have been trying to get a hold of the Alchemist Theater for my CD release party. Thinking that June might be a good time for the CD release party, hoping I do not conflict with festivals. The website launch will be September maybe?

Too many tasks for one person... do I get an intern? To come to my house? Is that safe? Not sure... I guess I'd have to talk with Mike about that. I could really use one.

How to prioritize & balance everything - that's the big question. I know I am looking for more ORIGINAL music gigs right now, and that's been a nice change in direction. More soliciting for gigs, and less pay at first. But now I might be able to put together a promotional budget. Getting enough work these days to actually have the ability to put something back & start re-investing in my career. I'll totally have to remember to contact the Bay View Compass about my CD release since I want to do it in Bay View. Plus, getting posters up all over town for shows such as the Art Bar, etc., would have been a good idea. Street team... must do!!! But Don (Art Bar owner) estimated I had 80 people to see me at the Art Bar... was that mostly online/Facebook promotion, or what? I wish I knew!!! I guess my Linneman's show on May 14th & Elbo Room show on June 16 will be a good thing to start promoting right now!!!

Must get started on that Artbeat program... that's always plenty of work. Since I am a perfectionist... UGH!

Have a great evening, and send good vibes so I get better and my health is back to 100% by tomorrow!!!!!
Peace & Harmony!!

Day 416

Post #21: 'COVERS VS. ORIGINALS: LIVING YOUR LIFE TO CREATE YOUR LIFE THE WAY YOU WANT IT' of ANNIE B.'s D.I.Y. MAGAZINE
"I promise to post blogs here, sharing some daily activities & the work I do to achieve my career goals, and when I do win that Grammy, YOU can say you followed me all the way! I also hope to give inspiration, information, & advice to indie artists, and I hope you take a little something away with you when you read my posts, whether or not you are yourself an artist!"

If you ever have ANYTHING you'd like to respond to in my blog, PLEASE find me at Facebook.com/AnnieBMusic
THANKS!!!

Well, it's a question that all original artists have. Do you play covers, or do you not? Plenty of us have to play cover gigs to pay the bills. We play hits on the radio, learn those songs from other artists, and we play the ones that we do well, since lots of bars that hire bands & musical entertainers cater to people who want to hear their favorite songs.... the radio hits. They can be from Frank Sinatra or from Lady GaGa. Either way, it's not a song written by the artist up there on stage. And I know some venues that will not book you again if you play "too many originals". But let's face it: We are never going to "make it" by playing covers. We need to get out there and push those original songs, we need to get our original music out there consistently and regularly growing a bigger fanbase with every show. In most venues, you can get away with playing one to four original songs in a whole night. You "sneak them in". Or, you just decide that you are not going to play cover gigs, and then you have to find another "day job" (which is what I call cover gigs.... that's my "day job")! Thank goodness I can make a living as a "live music entertainer" (but I am moving towards making my living as an artist, which is someone who plays their own music)! Granted, at this point, it's mostly cover gigs that pay my bills. But I am on a mission to earn my living with my original songs, making money at "original music venues", selling CDs and merch. So, how can that be done???

I guess the first thing we need to do is start looking for those venues, and start booking enough cover gigs to allow us to take a Friday night "off" and play a gig at an original music venue... where we won't make the same kind of money, if we make anything at all! But then, let's NOT PUT THAT OUT THERE! We have to start looking for our target audience at the right venues... it is here that we will find people who WANT to discover new artists, who will buy our CDs & Tshirts, and who will tell their friends about you!

Although, we might be better off just booking original gigs on Sunday/Monday/Tue. nights... since those are the nights that the club does not usually expect to have a big crowd of people who want to hear their favorite radio hits. I just e-mailed the Elbo Room in Chicago - I have played there before with Sparklepussy and am looking for some opening gigs as a solo artist. They should be able to offer me some dates. I also just e-mailed a venue in Madison.

So, the goal is to keep contacting venues until you get a substantial amount of dates lined up with your original music, and hopefully you will be asked back and can start building a regular following as an original artist.

It's hard to find that balance, though. As an original artist, you will not make the same kind of money until you have been doing it and returning to those venues for a year or more. It takes time and patience, which most of us do not have! I was just reading a book about building your audience, and the author recommends the artist hangs out at the venue where they want to play for a month or two, offer to play for free on a weeknight, and then work your ass off for weeks to promote the show to fill the joint and get a great review. Well, that sounds like a great plan on paper, but actually doing it would be frustrating. How can you put so much energy into ONE show, and expect to feel like you are accomplishing your goals? There HAS to be a better way.

We must actively create that perfect situation where we are making enough money playing original music to pay the bills and also have enough to keep getting back into the studio to record new CDs, etc, etc. That requires us to travel. You can't keep playing the same market an expect people to come out to your shows if you are playing every week. You must make your shows a big deal, and they must be sparse enough to compel people to come out when you do have a show, since they might not get a chance to see you again for 2 or 3 months or more.

Well, now at least we have a plan. I'll let you know how it goes with me! Anyone who can suggest a venue in SE Wisconsin or Northern IL, even as far as Dubuque, IA, PLEASE e-mail me at AnnieBBaby at gmail dot com!

Thanks!!!

Day 236

Day 236
Post #18 of ANNIE B.'s D.I.Y. MAGAZINE "Annie could be the most hard-working woman on the indie music scene today." - George Radai, Deep End Productions. ANNIE: "I promise to post blogs here, sharing some daily activities & the work I do to achieve my career goals, and when I do win that Grammy, YOU can say you followed me all the way!"

Day 236
Well, it has been exactly 4 weeks since my last blog, so I must apologize! I have been to and from Texas, Milwaukee Artbeat came & went, my mom had surgery, my dad is in the hospital, and I FINALLY finished my mom's & dad's taxes for 2008! What more can I say? Can you blame me for not keeping up?

Texas was a blast, but next time I take such a trip, I will have to insist on better guarantees. I am glad I made the trip, but next time it will be different. I am glad I got to Austin to see my friends this time, however, since the last time I was down there, I did not make it to Austin. My boyfriend Mike met me in Dallas so he could experience the drive home with me, which was a lot of fun... we talked almost the whole time. Music was playing only for a few songs from New Maximum Donkey, a band my friend Steve from Sherman, TX told me about... very funny lyrics and groovy 60's kind of songwriting. We stayed with JJ in Tulsa that night, after a nice dinner at her folks' house. The next day was a 12-hour drive which was included a visit to "The Biggest Gift Store in the World" and a huge candy store... somewhere in the middle of MO, I think.

The following week was an interesting, as I woke up with a sore throat on Tuesday, and then found out on Wed. that our permit to serve/sell beer & wine was not sufficient. All day Wed. & Thurs. I was on the phone trying to figure out how to get the correct permit, but we ended up not having alcohol at the event. I was in bed for a good part of the week as well, which made for a crazy Friday, the day of Artbeat. I woke up early to color my hair, programs were designed and printed, cue cards for all 5 artists were written and printed, (which would explain all the typos, including the question asked by Nick Ramsey, "What's your most embarrassing sex story?" for Jeremy Scott, the SAX player!!!! This was a very funny moment in the show!!!), items for giftbags were gathered and some wonderful Artbeaters including Tally Hayden & Shelly Bird (among others) helped to stuff all 200 of them, the set was designed by the M.U.T.E.S. and and thank Goodness Theo Q was available to bring the water & soda from the house, (plus buy more,) Mike ended up dealing with the coupons for Cafe Centraal at the last minute... it all seems like a big blur to me now, but it was a great show and we all had a great time!

Dad ended up in the hospital on Sunday morning, and visits are happening on a regular basis. Not sure the plan for what happens next, but please say a few prayers, also for: My uncle, who is also now receiving a higher level of care and I'll be taking my mom to visit on Tuesday for his birthday.

Taxes were the next item on my To Do list, and those got finished, which is a HUGE burden off my shoulders, Yay! I am now trying to get caught up with rehearsals (we had 3 weeks off, right?) and other Shut Up Marie & promotional issues. I just realized that some people actually post their e-mail addresses on Facebook, so I'm now working on getting those of my friends and adding them to my list. There is a HUGE list of suggestions for promoting your show at the Elbo Room, and now I can start that. If you wish to see it, I can post it. You would FREAK.

Facebook promotions for the BBC is moving along, but there is more work to do with swapping mp3s from the other bands on the bill to cross-promote. Fortunately, these two bands are just as hard-working as S.U.M., so I believe we are all pulling our weight. I send an mp3 from the other bands to my fans, and they send a S.U.M. mp3 to their fans. Hopefully people bother to download the song. Terry from Ian and the Dream suggested just sending links, but I think there is something about sending an actual mp3... it's a free song, like a gift. Most websites don't offer the song as a free download.

It's 6:20am! OMG I have been up all night! Better get some sleep!

Peace, Love, & Light!
Annie