How to Download Videos Off YouTube

If you've ever really wanted to download a video from YouTube to store it on your home computer, now you can easily with www.media-convert.com.

A free service.

Here is a little video that explains the process.


How To Download Videos From Youtube.com - Click here for more blooper videos

MUSIC AGAINST RACISM PROJECT

Deadline: February 1st, 2008 5pm (PST)
Click HERE for the application form.

Music BC Industry Association is administering this component of the "Music Against Racism" Project on behalf of the Settlement and Multiculturalism Division, Ministry of Attorney General, and Minister Responsible for Multiculturalism. The Music Against Racism Project is a component of the "Make a Case Against Racism" activity kit which addresses Grades 4 - 7 curriculum objectives in British Columbia. This project is to promote multiculturalism, cultural diversity, and awareness of racism in BC.

Music BC is requesting song submissions from music artists from BC. Your song, should it meet the specific criteria, will be uploaded to a web page on www.musicbc.org which will be accessed by Grade 4-7 students across BC. The students will select their top 15 tracks via online voting. The 15 songs selected will be included on a compilation CD. 2000 CDs will be manufactured for promotional purposes, which will feature artwork created by the students.The manufacturing of the first 1000 CDs has been generously sponsored by CDman.The students will be notified that the songs on the website are for personal use only and that file sharing of the music and/or lyrics is strictly prohibited. The artists selected by the students will each receive $250 for a Master Use License Fee (sound recording), and $250 for a Mechanical LIcense fee (composition). For example, if the artist has full ownership of the song (Master Use & Mechanical) then they will receive the full $500 if they are one of the top 15 artists selected by the students.

For submission criteria & more info on the program, please visit the link below

http://www.musicbc.org/backstage/funding/map/musicagainstracismproject.cfm

Music and Life - Alan Watts

I found this to be helpful in my own meditation on life. Thought you might like it too!

Produced by the makers of South Park.

Documentary about early marketing techniques

THE CENTURY OF THE SELF


Two: The Engineering of Consent

The programme explores how those in power in post-war America used Freud's ideas about the unconscious mind to try and control the masses.

Politicians and planners came to believe Freud's underlying premise - that deep within all human beings were dangerous and irrational desires and fears. They were convinced that it was the unleashing of these instincts that had led to the barbarism of Nazi Germany. To stop it ever happening again they set out to find ways to control this hidden enemy within the human mind.

Sigmund Freud's daughter, Anna, and his nephew, Edward Bernays, provided the centrepiece philosophy. The US government, big business, and the CIA used their ideas to develop techniques to manage and control the minds of the American people. But this was not a cynical exercise in manipulation. Those in power believed that the only way to make democracy work and create a stable society was to repress the savage barbarism that lurked just under the surface of normal American life.

Here is part of this episode.


http://video.google.ca/videoplay?docid=1641135807078400467

16 Inspirational Portrait Photography Techniques

I just purchased a Canon Powershot SD1000 Elph. It has made me fully understand how powerful photography can be as a way of communicating emotion, idea and intent.
I have read a few articles from this blog by Brian Auer, and find he has a very good eye when it comes to photography and I agree with his opinions.
Check it out for yourself here.


Photo by Mireia
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mireia/229249044/

News from the Music BC Newsletter

Frontside Promotions Group is looking for an Intern
Frontside is a Vancouver based company with divisions handling promotions, artist management, merchandise and online marketing. We are searching for an organized, ambitious and hard working individual that is looking to get involved and gain experience in the music industry. This is a full time position for a term of 4 months.

For more information please contact Justin Wachtel. He can be reached at 604 648 2782 or you can email your resume to justin@frontside.ca

NewMusicWest 2008 is set for May 14 - 18 2008 in Vancouver, BC!
This will be the 17th year of the NewMusicWest Festival and Conference! Last years festival was a major success and generated a lot of buzz within the industry. NMW will be building off that success and bringing in more A&R from major labels as well as the largest number of Indie label reps! Showcasing artists will also receive passes to the conference and networking events.

Apply today for your chance to play at the largest NEW music festival on the West Coast of North America! With over 200 showcase spots available and hundreds of industry reps, new talent will be discovered. Go to www.newmusicwest.com to apply.

Music BC 2008 Compilation CD Sponsored by CD MAN

DEADLINE: DECEMBER 7th, 2007 at 5pm (PST)

You can download the PDF application form here

This program is open to all current paid Music BC members who are current residents of BC and who have commercially released an album or single within the last 12 months of this deadline date. A jury selected by Music BC will determine which songs to include on the 2008 Music BC Compilation CD of BC artists.

Successful applicants will have one track included in the 2008 Music BC Compilation CD at no charge to the applicant. This compilation will be made available at the MIDEM conference in 2008 in Cannes, France, and also available at various Canadian Consulates. The compilation will be available as a promotional CD only and not for sale. Applicants are advised that no royalties or mechanical licensing fees shall be payable for inclusion on this compilation. Applicants acknowledge that Music BC Industry Association may use the compilation CD following the MIDEM 2008 event to promote BC artists to international consulates, labels, Film/TV music supervisors, publishers, and other music industry companies.

ROGERS WIRELESS CANADIAN MUSIC WEEK 2008 - The Rebirth of Music
Now in its 26th year, Rogers Wireless CMW is the single longest running and premiere conference focusing on business of Music, bringing together Sound Recording, New Technology and Broadcast for one spectacular week of events... Combining informative, intensive conferences, cutting edge trade exposition, award shows & Canada's biggest New Music Festival.

By night Toronto's most popular clubs and concert halls throw open their doors to industry insiders and the general public to create an electrifying musicfest of discovery. The talented emerging new bands are music to the ears of A&R reps on the lookout for next year's stars. The Festival spans 4 nights of performances, with over 500 showcasing bands at over 40 live music venues in downtown Toronto.

POP MONTREAL
International Music Festival
October 3-7, 2007
Montreal, QC
www.popmontreal.com

CMJ 2007
Music Marathon & Film Festival
October 16-20, 2007
New York City, NY
www.cmj.com

BAND LOOKING FOR BASS PLAYER
Bass player needed for N.Delta Surrey area rock band, between 16 to 20 years old. We are a serious band with lots of original music averaging 25 shows per year. Climb on board, only serious, talented and commited musicians need reply.CD Release Party coming soon. If you previously applied to this post please do so again as our previous account is lost. Reply to: deltasurreyband@gmail.com

BASS PLAYER WANTED - THE YEARS
"The Years" is looking for a groovin' BASS PLAYER! Whether a pick or finger player, if you can groove between Flea's melodic side and Sir Paul McCartney - you are what we want! We are based in Abbotsford/Mission and some members of the band have christian faith, although we are not a 'christian band'. Check out our dynamics at: www.theyears.ca. If interested, email: theyears@groups.mac.com

DEMO RECORDING STUDIO AVAILABLE
Demo recording Studio available from local artist Richard Cummins. Richard's work has not only garnered the coveted #1 spot at review sites such as the Phantom Tollbooth, but has also beat out such artists as Paul McCartney & Arcade Fire! A relaxed atmosphere located in the fraser valley, this is the perfect studio for a singer/songwriter or developing band. Richard will record, engineer, and mix your project, and as well can be available to provide guitar, bass, drums, BG vocals, etc, to your project. Cd's will be of broadcast quality and are perfect for your myspace, demo package, independent radio and most importantly - sales at gigs! Check out: www.nectarinestudio.com

Looking for musicians? Wish to offer your services? Email your listing to info@musicbc.org FREE FOR MEMBERS!

December 5th Is International Volunteer Day

Canadians make an enormous contribution of time to make life better in our communities. According to the latest figures, almost 12 million Canadians volunteer with charities or organizations and contribute close to two billion volunteer hours!

Impressive as these numbers may seem, the vast majority of volunteer hours are contributed by a small group of Canadians. In terms of the whole Canadian population, only 11 per cent of Canadians contribute 77 per cent of all volunteer hours. This means that 1.3 million volunteers provide 1.5 billion hours— an average of 1,000 hours each.

Find out more here at:
http://www.volunteer.ca/volcan/eng/content/dec5/about.php

Unique Gift-Wrapping Idea

The concept is a good one, even if the video is somewhat dummied down.

http://www.metacafe.com/w/711737

Eastside Culture Crawl artists on the endangered list

Pulled this off of the Georgia Straight website. A definite sign of the times.

News Features By Pieta Woolley

Publish Date: November 15, 2007

login or register to post comments | email this page | printer friendly version

Development threatens artists like Kathy Atkins (left), Dennis Brown, and Eri Ishii, who work from studios at 190 Prior Street.

Right after artist Eri Ishii hosts Eastside Culture Crawl visitors at her rental studio for the Eastside Culture Crawl this weekend, she'll go to City Hall, hoping to save her creative space and the studios of 31 other artists who work there. Christopher Bozyk Architects, on behalf of Amacon developers, has applied to the city's development permit board to turn the red-brick building at 190 Prior Street (formerly 901 Main Street) into 10 high-end apartments. The meeting takes place on Monday (November 19) at 3 p.m.

"If we lose this and any more buildings like this, we're going to be like just another North American suburb," Ishii told the Georgia Straight during an interview at her studio overlooking the Georgia Street Viaduct. "If this happens, the whole city will be dead."

Ishii and a small group from 190 Prior plan to ask Culture Crawl visitors to sign a petition against the development this weekend. Amacon did not return the Straight 's calls by deadline.

The timing is almost theatrical, but the issue is serious. According to Valerie Arntzen, executive director of the 11th annual Eastside Culture Crawl, the future of the grassroots visual-arts festival is threatened by the swift gentrification of Strathcona and Commercial Drive. Although the number of guests is growing, the crawl, which runs from Friday to Sunday (November 16 to 18), is losing artists.

Read the full story here: http://www.straight.com/article-118409/eastside-culture-crawl-artists-on-the-endangered-list

Craft Fairs - A Good Display Is Important

Found this good article by Susan Ward at About: Small Business: Canada
You can read more at http://sbinfocanada.about.com/b/2007/11/07/story-equals-craft-show-success.htm

I visited my first Christmas Craft Show this past weekend - the holiday craft show season is in full swing already! It can be a very lucrative season for some who have mastered what I call the formula for craft show success. The first thing you need to sell successfully at a craft show is an attractive display that will draw potential customers to your table or booth. Learn how to create the kind of display that will turn your booth into a magnet with these Trade Show Tips.

The second thing you need to sell successfully is a good story. As About Arts/Crafts Business Guide William T. Lasley says,

"Every crafter has a tale about how they got started making and/or selling their particular product. These stories are not only interesting, but can also prove to be a powerful marketing tool for craftspeople."

In my experience, it's often the story that's the closer to a sale. Read William's article The Story Behind the Crafts to learn how to craft and present your own story.

More articles on trade / craft show success.

Review Writing Workshop

Are you a writer interested in exploring reviewing contemporary arts?

RealTime, the Australian magazine focused on innovation in the arts, is conducting an intensive 10-day workshop in reviewing contemporary art practices at the 2008 PuSh Festival. The selected writers will respond to performances and events in a festival that offers the opportunity to explore the very latest in exhilarating and challenging performance.

Applications are being accepted from now until November 16. Click here to download more information and the full application instructions.

International Songwriting Competion

Hi,
This is Jennifer Bair at the International Songwriting Competition (ISC). I thought you might be interested in songwriting opportunities, so I just wanted to send you a quick update about the 2007 competition.

ISC is one of the most prestigious and respected songwriting competitions in the world. ISC welcomes original songs from musicians, artists, bands, and songwriters at every level from amateur to professional. ISC gives away over $150,000 in cash and prizes, including an Overall Grand Prize package of $25,000 (US) in cash -- the largest cash Grand Prize in any songwriting competition. ISC winners also benefit from extensive press, publicity, and increased exposure.

ISC's phenomenal judging panels include some of the most legendary recording artists, most popular current performers and writers, and some of the biggest names in the music industry. There are 19 categories that cover all major genres of music, so if you're interested in different genres, click on the link below to see the list of judges for all categories, including our new comedy category (with "Weird Al" Yankovic and Arrested Development's David Cross judging).

The ISC deadline for the 2007 competition is only a few weeks away. All entries must be postmarked on or before November 19. This is your last chance to enter this year's competition. The deadline will not be extended beyond November 19. Entry forms and instructions for entering are available on our website, or call us at 615.251.4441 for more information. You may enter online or by mail.

For more info and to enter, go to: http://www.songwritingcompetition.com

Don't have time to upload your MP3s? ISC is always looking for ways to make it easier for our entrants to enter the competition, so we are excited to announce that ISC is the first major songwriting competition to allow you to enter your songs directly from MySpace.com. This means that if you already have your songs posted on your MySpace page, you can simply include the link to your page on the entry form - instead of having to send a CD in the mail or upload your songs. This will save you a lot of effort and time (so you now have more time to write songs)! Of course, you can also enter via the mail (with a CD or tape) or online (with an MP3).

For more information on this news, please visit the ISC myspace page at http://www.myspace.com/isc

Please feel free to pass this information on to anyone else who might be interested. If you have any questions about the competition, feel free to contact me at any time.

All the best,
Jennifer Bair
ISC
1307 Eastland Ave
Nashville, TN 37206
615.251.4441
http://www.songwritingcompetition.com

To be removed from this mailing list, email remove@songwritingcompetition.com

Important Craft Survey

ATTENTION ALL EAST VANCOUVER ARTISANS AND CRAFTS PEOPLE

Hi Folks,
I'm looking into the possibility of putting on a craft fair and variety show at the Roundhouse in December 2008 - “The Spirit of East Vancouver” Artisan and Family Fun Event. This unique event is meant to showcase East Vancouver artisans and performers by exposing you to a potentially more lucrative Yaletown/Downtown marketplace. We are currently negotiating a partnership which could significantly reduce the cost of venue and table rentals which we, in turn, would pass on to you, greatly reducing your risk for participating in this event.*
*The craft fair will be juried to maintain quality.
Other planned attractions include:

• A corralled children’s area with a variety of top-notch children’s performances
  
• Strolling entertainment to support low traffic areas
• A Saturday evening meet-and-greet (an opportunity for crafters to network and meet our sponsors )
• A family-oriented Christmas Cabaret on Sunday night

To promote our event properly, I am proud to be partnering with Richard Forzley, Director of Marketing for Vancouver Civic Theatres (www.vancouver.ca/theatres), a seasoned performing arts specialist with more than 20 years experience in developing and implementing innovative, cost-effective marketing and communications strategies.
Marketing plans include:

• 500 posters and 10,000 handbills distributed in the Yaletown/Downtown area
• Extensive web coverage
• Regular public service announcements on Co-op Radio 102.7fm
• Paid advertising in the Vancouver Courier and West Ender
• Comprehensive, regular press releases to the local media

We will use our own website as an online directory and a resource for media looking for stories, and will profile as many participating vendors as possible. I hope that you will take a couple of minutes to answer the the online survey to help us with our planning and marketing for the event.
You can find this survey at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=mpwE_2b4v1OsRB_2b91Z7t8eNw_3d_3d

If you have any questions or would like to participate in this great event, please contact Steven R. Duncan & Associates at 604-788-8340 or email srduncan@shaw.ca.

Feel free to pass this on to anyone you feel might be interested in this.

Why I Went Back To School

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands,
but in seeing with new eyes.
- Marcel Proust, French novelist

When I was a health care worker, the time came when I realised I was in a dead-end job. It had been good career while in my twenties but was starting to take it’s toll on me emotionally and physically as I got older and more frustrated with the system. The average person burns out and leaves that branch of the field after 3 ½ years. I was dangerously overweight, very unhappy and probably headed for a heart attack.

Two things kept me there so long:

1. Financial security
2. A lack of self-confidence in my skills and abilities

In regards to the former, it is difficult to justify leaving a good paying job for the sizably disparate revenues typical of the arts world. The old line “Don’t quit your day job” isn’t necessarily an insult. The key is to find a balance that allows you to be creative while covering your bills until you “make it big”.

I’ve had a ton of temporary part time jobs since finally making the break, and while some might have been unpleasant, I learned something with every one which I could take away with me and put to use in my own business.

In an attempt to address my self-confidence issue, I did two important things for myself:

First, I found out what transferable skills I had; and then, I went back to school for the skills I needed. Most of my paid work since high school would be considered unskilled labour (or so I thought). When I looked at all the things I’d learned to do through work experience, and as a part-time literary event promoter and graphic designer, I’d accumulated a lot of adaptable skills over the years. Knowing this helped me shift my mind set from a stagnated one to one that wanted to move forward with confidence and faith in my own abilities to adapt and grow.

Having a diploma was also an affirmation that I was doing something credible and worthwhile – that I was taking myself seriously. It also started revealing new opportunities to me, but more so, going back to school gave me some perspective about what I had been doing and allowed me to see ways of perhaps doing it more effectively.

While in the college program I chose, I saw that there was a real need for artists (and non-profits, for that matter) to promote themselves better and to start looking at what they do in a more business-like manner with an eye for creating income for themselves. Without spending a ton of money to do it!

As I started building my workshops, I kept this in mind. That’s why the workshops I offer through the Vancouver School Board take way less time and money than similar college level programs.


Get more info at http://smart-arts.blogspot.com

You won’t find any other classes that offer so many great benefits (like fabulous guest speakers) for so little time and money.

I wish they had these courses when I went back to school! Lucky you!

PS: When the big band music business slowed in the late sixties, Vancouver legend Dal Richards returned to school and received a Diploma of Technology in Hospitality Management from BCIT. He worked for fifteen years in the hotel business. Once big band swing music regained popularity in the 1980s, Dal resurrected his Orchestra, and the band and Dal have never been busier. He’s performing on his 90th birthday in January, 2008.

Go back to The Creative Spin

Call for Submissions: FRONT Magazine

FRONT Magazine is seeking new submissions for our fall and winter issues.We are looking for artist projects, short text pieces, images and any other interdisciplinay projects that will fit on the printed page. The upcoming themes are Resolutions, due by Oct 1 and Averages due by Nov 10th. You can mail or email your submissions, please send theme related projects as low res jpegs and please keep text pieces to no more than 1000 words max. Visit our website

www.front.bc.ca/frontmagazine for more submission details.

The next themes for FRONT Magazine are:

Resolutions. Make one now to submit by October 1.

Resolutions:

A strangely fuzzy term: Is it a smoothing, or a sharpening? Or the

promisory note to self? Viewed from any angle, it points into the

future, wherever that might be these days: be it resolved then that

it is temporal. Cost is a factor, as always. And while it is insisted

that higher is greater, some things are unsavory when viewed from any

distance. Unsharp that!

Upcoming

Averages. If it's better than ... you better send it in by November 10.

A series of related or unrelated points, sifted into one thing that may or may not describe them as a whole. We're looking for a new set theory or an unset theory. Sometimes you play them it's hard to beat them. Do your worst or your best, just don't be them.

email:

frontmagazine@front.bc.ca

Contemporary Art and Ideas

Eventsetter: A Free Tool For Producers and Promoters

I found this Craigslist-type event listing web page: http://www.eventsetter.com/.
It was very easy to use and I was able to copy and paste my blog post text flawlessly.

I'm not sure how many people look there, but it does have RSS capability, so you never know.

Check it out.

International Theatre Laboratory of Sergey Ostrenko

Konstantin Stanislavsky

Vsevolod Meyerhold
Michael Chekhov
Theatre Methods Today

September 20-23, 2007
Riga, Latvia

To register, please send your CV and a brief letter of motivation to info@iugte.com

If you'd like to know a little more…
http://www.iugte.com/projects/TheatreLab.php

The Laboratory program was designed for professional performing artists inspired by the teachings of Stanislavsky, Meyerhold and M. Chekhov, interested to establish deeper understanding of their approach and to integrate their ideas into contemporary practical work - rehearsal process, performance and teaching. It focuses on the practical and playable aspects of theatre training, particularly in terms of exercises .

Valuable SEARCH Program Ends

Funding from Service Canada has ended for the SEARCH Program, and it is no longer being offered by the Alliance for Arts and Culture. The Alliance is developing new initiatives that will build on the work of the program and address the needs of artists and other cultural workers. Please visit our website (www.allianceforarts.com) in the fall for updates on these developments.

If you require immediate assistance, you may contact the Alliance at info@allianceforarts.com or by phone at 604-681-3535.

Introducing The Arts and Non-Profit Marketing and Fundraising Mentorship Program

I’m excited to be starting a new 8 session class on Saturdays at Britannia High School for people in the Arts and Non-Profit sectors who may have great ideas for their organizations but feel they need help designing and putting their plans in action. It combines my regular Marketing and Corporate Sponsorship classes (which are also happening again at JO in September) but also features an incredible line-up of guest speakers including Richard Forzley, Director of Marketing for Vancouver Civic Theatres, Terry Hunter, Artistic Director of Vancouver Moving Theatre, Rita Albano, Executive Producer of CelticFest Vancouver and Stefania Buonocore, Special Events Coordinator for the GVRD, who will share their valuable insights and look at your project and offer their feedback. Go to my Learning Events blog to get more info.

This course is part of the Vancouver School Board’s brand new Liberal Arts Certificate program.

The American Theatre Wing

I stumbled across this great site with over 400 hours of podcast interviews with professional actors, directors, producers and casting directors.

Learn How To Belly Dance

at Hastings Dance Studio
828 E Hastings Street

Instructor: Venus

Tuesdays Jul 24 to Aug 21
NO CLASS AUG 14 as the studio is unavailable

Beginner 1
7:00 - 8:15pm
Price: 4 WEEKS $40 ($42 online)

Beginner 2 - technique & Repertory 1
8:30 - 9:45pm. Instructor: Venus
Price: 4 WEEKS $40 ($42 online)

Please register online or let me know ASAP if you plan to attend these classes.

Register online: http://www.venusbellydance.com/classreg_Sum_2007.htm#beg


#############################################
Venus
http://www.venusbellydance.com
info@venusbellydance.com
#############################################

Vancouver Artists' Collective Association

Marketing’s next wave: How technology can bring change

Came across this interesting article in the latest Village Vibes, from Charity Village.


By Elisa Birnbaum
June 18, 2007

If someone had told you a few years ago that they produced a video showcasing their organization’s cause and were uploading it on the same site that houses Saturday Night Live sketches, political campaign speeches and amateur musicians, you would have thought they were joking. Yet, that’s exactly what Christian Children’s Fund of Canada did recently when they placed a clip with their moniker on YouTube, a popular video sharing website where users can upload, view and share video clips. No longer considered unusual, nonprofits are becoming increasingly innovative to get their word out in a competitive charitable marketplace. And technology, in all its incarnations, is playing a key role.

Read the full story here...

Children's Poetry Workshop

World Poetry proudly presents

Children’s Poetry Workshop

For ages 8-13
multilingual participants welcome.

Within every child there is a creative poetic adventurer waiting to explore ...

This workshop features readings from children’s poetry and others, introduction of several poetic forms and interactive, fun exercises with the objective of helping each participant to create poems and present them.

Workshop Program

The workshop consists of three sessions.

Session 1

Introduction to poetry with readers from various countries.

§ An overview of simple poetic forms.

§ The brain and creativity.

§ Inspiration for writing using such tools as the treasure box, coloured pens and large pieces of paper.

§ Finding expression and creating poems.

§ Sharing the poems with the group.

Session 2

Additional poetry readings and review.

§ How to deal with critics, both external and internal.

§ Creating additional poems, sharing them with the poetic group.

§ Simple editing of poems.

§ Selection of performance poems to be read at the World Poetry Children’s Show § Performance skills for reading.

Session 3: The World Poetry Children’s Show .

§ This show will showcase the participants from the World Poetry Children’s Workshop along with a featured musician.

§ A World Poetry Certificate of Completion will be given to each participating poet.

§ Friends, parents and other family members as well as the general public will be invited.

In addition:

§ Selected poems from the workshop will be read on the World Poetry Café Radio Show on 102.7 FM and published in the World Poetry Electronic Newsletter.

§ Selected poets are invited to read at the World Poets’ Night Out Venue and at the World Poetry Reading Series at the Vancouver Public Library (Central Branch) as time permits.

The Workshop will be held over three sessions.
The first two sessions will be 2 hours long (10 minute break in between) New Westminster Arts Council, Queen’s Park, New Westminster.

Dates: August 2, 9, from 1-3 pm.

Performance: The Orange Room, 620 6^th Street, 3-5 pm.

Fee: $ 35.00 per participant for three sessions.

For more information call 604) 526 - 4729

Workshop Presenter

Ariadne Sawyer, M.A. (C. P) is a Peak Performance Plus Trainer and the CEO of Peak Performance Plus Training.

She is a former teacher and has had two private schools. Ariadne specializes in creativity and enhancing performance. She has worked with writers and performers of all ages from Canada, the US and Europe.

In her work with children and youth, she has helped them to create and present in various venues at different festivals.

Ariadne is the co-founder and co-host of The World Poetry Reading Series, Radio Show, The World Poetry Electronic Newsletter (with over 2,000 readers in 20 countries and includes a children’s section) and World Poets’ Night Out , a new venue which trains women co-hosts. World Poetry in Vancouver consists of over 300 poets, writers and musicians originally from 60 countries, including a strong Canadian and First Nations component.

Ariadne is the host and producer of Creativity Rocks! heard every Tuesday at 9:00 PM on CFRO. 102.7 FM

She is the winning recipient of the MacLean Hunter Award for Programs of Excellence for her tape: Discover Your Creative Worlds which has been played on radio stations across Canada and has had poems and writings published in anthologies and magazines.

Her new book is called: Creativity Rocks! Answers to your Creative Questions.

Artist of the Year Award 2007 by Project Cultural South.

For more information about Ariadne you can contact her at ariadnes@uniserve.com

Volunteer specialists asking "Who Cares?"

Linda Graff and Paul Reed, two leading experts on volunteerism in Canada, have put out a compelling new call over the internet. They want all Canadians to become more aware of the threat to our communities that is posed by the declining number of volunteers across the country.

In Canada, 67% of all volunteer work is done by just 5% of people, and those numbers are continuing to become even more lopsided. The Reed-Graff Conversations explore the data and ask the important question: "Who Cares?"

The website includes a terrific series of audio conversations and supporting text documents that highlight the issue and offer suggestions for how communities can begin to tackle it together.

Take part in the conversation yourself, and share it with leaders in your community. The website is at: www.canadawhocares.ca

Z95.3 Fades Into History

Once dominant rock station rebranded with a 'new name and new direction.'

Michael Kane, Vancouver Sun

Published: Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Z is dead. Z95.3, Vancouver's dominant rock and pop radio station in the '90s -- and source of the decade's most popular bumper sticker -- is off the air, a victim of declining ratings.

The station signed off at midnight Sunday and will relaunch "with a new name and new direction" at 7 a.m. today, said general manager Gary Russell. He declined to reveal details except that the new format will be pitched to an older audience.

Read the full story here

What To Do With All That Art You Have Lying Around

Robert Genn is a great artist with a great, no nonsense approach to the business of art. His website, The Painter's Keys is full of useful, practical information. This article was the most recent piece from his "Twice Weekly Newsletter". Well worth the read.

Yesterday Juliana McDonald of Ottawa, Canada wrote, "I have
been a prolific painter over the last 7-8 years and my older
work, large and small, is piling up without much hope of
display or sale. I would like to invite people to buy them from
my studio at a discounted price (say half of the value, taking
off what a gallery would take) so that they can be moved on to
a new home, and I could recoup some of my investment of time
and energy. My concern is I don't want people who bought work
previously to feel that the work is devalued through such
action. Any suggestions?"

Thanks, Juliana. In professional circles the only person you
sell to at half price is your mom. All others pay at or near
the established prices. That's what keeps you professional and
dealers coming back for more. Sometimes painters find it hard
to realize that all paintings can't be sold, nor need to be.
This may be because they are substandard, but not always.
Perhaps they number too many for the market to bear. Apart from
destroying them, consider making the odd discreet gift. Life is
a gift, why then not art? Charities make noble recipients.
Giving the gift of art is a chance to show your love.

Having said all that, a possible route is to auction the work.
People understand that auctions often do not realize
"realistic" prices. Auctions generally operate outside the
gallery network. It's important not to flood this market--you
must still keep your work rare. Auctions are full of
bottom-feeders these days, as well as folks with vested
interests who want to push prices higher. Participating in the
auction world, particularly with outstanding rather than
marginal work, can actually have a beneficial effect on your
career.

Another route is to assemble a retrospective of top quality
pieces, perhaps thematic, and offer them to public galleries.
This manoeuvre opens new friendships and adds legitimacy. If
that fails, offering them on permanent or semi-permanent loan
to any number of worthy institutions is also good business.
Hospitals, clinics, tax offices, as well as the foyers of
public buildings often have a need for art. While it can be
expensive to frame and display such a project, the exercise can
be worthwhile. Finally, if you don't feel like lending, you
might consider leasing to some office or other private space.
Lessees often see art as an opportunity to deduct the cost of
looking good.

Best regards,

Robert

PS: "Love has always been the most important business in my
life." (Stendhal)

Esoterica: Many countries in the western world are currently
enjoying buoyant economic times. Art prices follow general
liquidity, and abundant cash is being thrown at substandard as
well as quality work. This is no time to lose your head. Good
times offer the opportunity to raise personal creative
standards and to learn to handle the market in a responsible
manner. Markets fluctuate, but an artist should never forget
that art is for all time. Day-to-day as well as long-term
personal integrity is all-important--and that goes for moving
your stuff too.

Current clickback: If you would like to see selected,
illustrated responses to the last letter, "Good question,"
please go to: http://clicks.robertgenn.com/good-question.php

If you would like to comment or add your own opinion,
information or observations to this or other letters, please do
so. Just click 'reply' on this letter or write
rgenn@saraphina.com

Give the gift of the twice-weekly letters. We are currently
snail-mailing a free copy of The Painter's Keys (the book) to
current subscribers who go to the URL below and send us the
names and email addresses of five or more of their
creatively-minded friends. No strings, just a thank-you. We
make it easy. We even send your friends a personal letter to
let them know the twice-weekly connection is from you.
http://www.painterskeys.com/clickbacks/giftscribe.php

It's a big world! A Premium Listing in the Painter's Keys
Directory is the most effective thing an artist can do to be
tastefully and respectably noticed. This listing--really a mini
web page--costs $100 per year--and we do all the set-up. You
can find out how well it might work for you at
http://www.painterskeys.com/art-directory.asp

Yes, please go ahead and forward this letter to a friend.

If you think a friend or fellow artist may find value in this
material, please feel free to forward it. This does not mean
that they will automatically be subscribed to the Twice-Weekly
Letter. They have to do it voluntarily and can find out about
it by going to http://www.painterskeys.com


(c) Copyright 2007 Robert Genn. If you wish to copy this
material to other publications or mail lists, please ask for
permission by writing rgenn@saraphina.com Thanks for your
friendship.

Free Workshop: Basic Chapbook Design and Marketing

Free

Workshop Date: June 12, 2007

Time: 2:30pm - 4:30pm

Place: The Gathering Place -609 Helmcken Street

ATTENTION ALL WRITERS, PERFORMANCE ARTISTS AND SMALL PRESS ENTHUSIASTS:

Basic Chapbook Design and Marketing

Be your own publisher. Join the ranks of literary giants like Hunter S. Thompson and Ray Bradbury and learn how to create a “chapbook” (your very own professional-looking published booklet) step-by-step, from editing through basic graphic design, right through to distribution. This unique, hands-on workshop starts by getting each participant to assemble their own text book!

We go on to:

Þ look at the benefits and pitfalls of self-publishing!

Þ offer various modern and rare examples of this ancient type of publication!

Þ give you tips for marketing and publicizing your book on a shoestring budget!

A basic knowledge of computers and word processing programs like Microsoft Word is required.

Reference material provided.

Facilitated by poet, performer, and long-time graphic designer, S.R. Duncan.

To register contact Irene Brooks at 604-257-3847 or email her at irene.brooks@vancouver.ca
Space is limited.

Literary: Calls For Submissions

New Calls for Submissions

Celebrating UNESCO's Rumi's 800th Anniversary year, the Arabesques Review is now accepting submissions for two special issues on themes:

Vol 03, Issue 04 Peace & Humanity

>>> Submissions Deadline: August 15, 2007

Vol 04, Issue 01 Rumi in Love (a special issue dedicated to love in poetry and

english literature)

>>> Submissions Deadline: September 30, 2007

We would be very honored to read and consider your contribution for these upcoming anthologies

To SUBMIT TO THE ARABESQUES REVIEW <http://www.arabesquespress.org/journal/>

Click here <http://www.arabesquespress.org/journal/guidelines.asp>
to check out our submission guidelines.

For more details, see our web site at: http://www.arabesquespress.org/

or email us at: submissions@arabesquespress.org

Call For Submissions: Fearless Festival Needs Talent

The 1^st Annual Vancouver Fearless Festival is looking for live entertainment to perform at one of our venues in and around Pigeon Park and up Hastings to Carnegie Centre on Canada Day (July 1) from 3-9pm.

We will be celebrating the people, the history, the music and art of the extraordinary people of the Downtown Eastside.

We want musical groups, theatre, dance, spoken word, children’s performers and entertainers of all types to help us turn the Downtown Eastside into a fun party for people of all ages.

Please send any promotional material to Steve Duncan, Event Coordinator either by email at srduncan@shaw.ca, or by dropping of attention of Steve Duncan at the 3^rd floor administration office,

Carnegie Community Centre
401 Main Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6A 2T7

We will be offering a limited number of small honorariums (yet to be determined) for acts used on our stages, but we also are encouraging talent come out and try busking along Hastings street and join us in the day’s festivities.

For more info call 604-788-8340, email srduncan@shaw.ca or check out the Fearless Festival blog at http://fearlessfest.blogspot.com.

Audition: Singer/Actors Needed

Carnegie Opera
Condemned - a work in progress
will be holding auditions to replace two of the original actor/singers in our production at the Firehall Arts Centre in June. Rehearsals for individual singers will begin immediately with Musical Director Earle Peach. Group rehearsals with Earle and Stage Director John Cooper will begin May 28th. The performance dates are June 21 - 24.

The two roles available are: "Joe" and the "Fire Chief".
We are also seeking a tenor saxophone player.

Auditions will be held on May 18th,
3 - 5 PM, in the Carnegie Theatre.
Please come out to lend your voice to singing this story.

Job Posting

SHORT-TERM JOB AVAILABLE
Volunteer Coordinator
Fearless Festival / Downtown Eastside

Interested persons are invited to submit resumes to Steve Duncan, Fearless Festival Event Coordinator, NO LATER THAN NOON MONDAY MAY 14.

The Fearless Festival is a Downtown Eastside celebration of art and theatre, music and diversity,
history and hope.

It will be held from 3 to 9pm on Canada Day, July 1, 2007.

It will involve community art and performers on stage at Pigeon Park, and in nearby venues. It will involve professionals and volunteers at every level. It will be led by an Event Coordinator.

The Volunteer Coordinator we seek will:

1. find, train, and support volunteers at every level of the Festival;

2. assist the Event Coordinator in fundraising and publicity; and,

3. generally advise and assist in the overall design of the Festival.


The Volunteer Coordinator will be paid an honorarium of $750, and start work on Wednesday May 16, 2007.

INTERESTED IN THE JOB?

Please submit a ‘Letter of Interest and Experience’ and resume to Steve Duncan,

c/o

Carnegie Centre,
401 Main Street, Vancouver, B.C. V6A 2T7
Fax (604) 606-2736
srduncan@shaw.ca

NO LATER THAN noon Monday, May 14.

Be advised that only winning candidates will be notified.

My List of Top Internet Marketing Sites

Podcasting

Rules for YouTube: Make Art, Not Bore - washingtonpost.com

YouTube turns two this month, which presents a fitting opportunity to decry it. The video-sharing Web site -- whose name has come to stand for every other such site on the Web -- has clearly emerged as the great new media drain catch, an uncurated museum of everything from dumb home movies to slick...

http://web.mac.com/johnchavens/iWeb/Site%2025/InstaCast%20Tutorial.html

Blogging Info

Web Logs - Blog Blogs Weblog Weblogs - A Comprehensive Resource on Web Logs

Web Logs (or blog / blogs / weblog / weblogs) site here at About.com is your entry page to learning all about blogging and bloggers. You can find the meaning of the term 'blog' and other web log related words. There are web log tutorials, blog articles, blog reviews, web logs glossary and more on blog software, weblog tools, RSS, RSS feeds, and other blog-related topics.

Seven Blogging Tools Reviewed

Choosing a good blogging tool can be confusing. In this report, we’ll take a detailed look at the top blogging tools and outline key considerations for selecting a platform.

Technorati: Member Sign Up

How Do I? | Google Groups

corporate blogging - The E-mediator blog - The boomerang effect of corporate executive blogging - CEO blogging as an organisational change mechanism

About Corporate blogging, New PR and Social Media

Beta Blogger For Dummies

Beta Blogger for Dummies

Ping-o-Matic!

Technorati: Ping Form

RSS (file format) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

RSS Submissions
Submit RSS files to the following sites and location to expedite content syndication.

How Can I Do That?

I post blogging tutorials for Google, Blogger/Blogspot, Picasa, and monetizing blogs

Dummies Guide to Google Blogger Beta: How to Customize your Header?

Complete help for the New Blogger, blogger Hacks, Blog design, Blog Template, SEO, Adsense, Blogging Tips and Tricks, Making money through blogs, PPC, Contextual Advertising, Social Media Optimization, Web design

Diva Marketing Blog - Marketing blogs and corporate social media strategies for innovative companies

Autoresponder info

FreeAutoBot Free Autoresponders that follow-up leads automatically

FreebieList.com: Free Autoresponder Services

FreebieList.com has the best free auto resonders on the Internet plus a huge collection of freebies and freeware.

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

FeedBlitz provides RSS and blog email subscription services. Offering RSS by email provides greater reach for feed publishers, and gives easy RSS subscription services to blog readers and RSS consumers. Better than Bloglet, FeedBlitz takes all the headache out of converting RSS feeds and blog posts into customizable email digests.

Marketing examples

Get death date and go to "delay your death"

The Death Clock - When Am I Going To Die?

Death Clock: The Internet's friendly reminder that life is slipping away...

ArtsJournal: Daily Arts News - AJBlogs

The Dos And Don’ts For Driving Traffic To A New Website » Connected Internet

OneTipADay.com

What will you learn today?

Calendar Net Setup Instructions

Create a Free Calendar but first you really should print and read this page, which is revised weekly.

MARKETING CULTURE AND THE ARTS

CaFÉ System Overview

Butts In The Seats

A blog of theatre and arts management techniques and other musings

http://www.artsmarketing.org/marketingresources/links-view.cfm?category=Marketing%20Blogs&subcategory=Welcome%20to%20Blog%20Land

Arts Marketing

White House Anti-Drug Ads Trigger "Boomerang Effect," Study Says - NORML

Google Alerts

Josh - Origins of Marketing 24-1-07 : theideafeed.com

The Publicity Hound’s Blog » Flower magazine to debut March 15

Free publicity and public relations tips, tools and strategies

SurveyMonkey.com - Powerful tool for creating web surveys. Online survey software made easy!

SurveyMonkey.com is a revolutionary new tool to create and publish custom surveys in minutes, and then view results graphically and in real time.

Search Engine Optimization -- FREE!

Webmonkey's insider guide to getting and keeping the most traffic from search engines.

Brand history

Playwriting Contest Annouced

Oh Writers, Playwrights, Actors and Directors!

Theatre In the Raw is pleased to announce

It’s fifth biennial 2007 Play Writing Contest

Entry Rules and Fee

The Play must be:

• An original one-act play (comedy, tragedy, drama or radio-play), unpublished and unproduced.

• No longer than 25 double-spaced typed pages equal to 30 minutes, with no more than 6 characters, presented in proper stage-play format, and scripts MUST have page numbers. (Please include a SASE for return of script. Send copies only of script. NO original manuscripts.)

• There is an entry fee of $25.00cdn for each one-act submitted to Theatre In the Raw. (For two plays $40.00cdn) (FEES ARE IN CANADIAN FUNDS, FOR U.S. & FOREIGN ENTRIES, CONVERT AT CURRENT EXCHANGE RATES)

• Please make cheques payable to Theatre In the Raw, bearing the submission date and name of play entry and author on cheque memo line.

(Note: Plays w/o the entry fee check or funds will be returned unread.)

Contest Deadline

• December 31, 2007

• Winners will be announced on March 31, 2008

The Winners Will Receive

First Prize: A $150.00cdn cash prize. At least one dramatic reading or staging of the play at a Theatre In the Raw cafe/venue or as part of a mini-tour program for the One-Act Play Series Nights.

Second Prize: A $ 75.00cdn cash prize.

Third Prize: A $50.00cdn cash prize.

Honorable Mentions: No cash prize, but constructive critique returned with note of appreciation.

Social Issue Plays Recognition: No cash prize, but constructive critique returned with note of appreciation.

*Theatre In the Raw must reserve the right to workshop and to play-edit scripts, in consultation with the playwright, before production or presentation.

Please forward submissions to:

Theatre In the Raw

Artistic Director/One Act Play Contest

3521 Marshall Street

Vancouver, BC Canada

V5N 4S2

office phone: 604-708-5448

website: www.theatreintheraw.ca / e-mail: theatreintheraw@telus.net