What Blogs Are All About

I found this great little video that explains very simply what a blog is and why you might consider trying one for yourself.

The Ad Graveyard - Ad campaigns that didn't make the cut.

Jeffrey Zeldman has a great collection of ads which came remarkably close to actual ad campaigns. Obviously my own dark sense of humor comes out by posting these.


See more at http://www.zeldman.com/adgraveyard/

Blogging Experts Talk

I found some interesting videos by various blogging experts talking at the SMC Louisville conference, on Scott Clark's blog, Finding the Sweet Spot. The first video talks about the importance of content on a blog. I was interested in their different perspectives on posting frequency. The other looks at "linkbaiting" and "link building".
These are the experts:

• Chris Pearson - Personified.com (Best Damn Blog On The Planet)
• Rob May - Coconut Headsets.com (formerly of BusinessPundit.com)
• Michelle Jones - ConsumingLouisville.com
• David Finch - DavidSFinch.com, BusinessPundit.com
• Moderated by - Jason Falls, SocialMediaExplorer.com

Go hear to find out more about the conference >>

Real-Time Referrers Tracks Incoming Traffic As It Happens

What's happening on your website right now? This tool shows you the live incoming clicks, and where each visitor came from. It's useful when tweaking your marketing campaigns, or simply satisfying your curiosity. Below is a sample of what your page will look like.

• It's free!
• Works with any website or blog
• Installs in 5 minutes or less

http://real-time-referrers.com/

By installing their code on your site, you agree that your Real-Time Referrers page isn't password-protected, so anyone might see it. You agree that this product is provided as-is, without warranties, and that it might be flawed in ways that harm you or your business. You agree that your website is not pornographic, offensive, or illegal.

Finally, If you don't understand or like their product, don't use it!

6 Traits You Need to Move From Being an Employee to Being Self-Employed

From Susan Ward,
Your Guide to Small Business: Canada.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!

Part 1: I Lost My Job! Should I Start a Business?

I get a lot of email that starts, "I just lost my job!" Somewhere in each email, the writer goes on to ask, "How do I start a business?"

More people are getting downsized, terminated or just plain fired all the time. And because of the state of the economy, finding another job can be difficult. Creating a job of your own by starting a business looks attractive when you can't find a job - or just can't stand the job you have.

But "How do I start a business?" is not the first question you should be asking if you're in this situation; the first question you should be asking is "Should I start a business?" Before you start thinking about the different types of businesses you might start, you have to do some thinking about you.

Starting a business is not for everyone.

Being self-employed is very different than being an employee. And some people find it impossible to adjust to the differences. Let's see if you have the necessary entrepreneurial mindset to become self-employed. These are the six traits that I think encapsulate the ways you have to think and behave if you want to make a successful transition from being employed in some one else's business to starting a business of your own.

1) You have to be flexible to be self-employed.

If you start a business, you no longer have "one" job with clearly defined duties and responsibilities. You'll suddenly have multiple jobs, which will be often interrupted by unforeseen crises (particularly in the startup phase). Many employees are used to having days filled with predictable activities; many self-employed people don't.

And once you start a business, there's nowhere to pass the buck. As an employee, you may be used to passing problems up along the food chain or not be very involved in decision making. As a self-employed business owner, you're the one who will have to deal with whatever the crisis is and solve the problem. You're the one who will have to make the decisions.

2) You have to be a self-motivated initiator.

When you're an employee, other people tell you what to do, either directly or indirectly. You get used to having your actions directed by others. But you have to direct your own actions as a small business owner. You can't just sit there and hope that maybe some clients stroll in or that someone will drop by out of the blue with inventory for your retail store. No one's going to drop work on your desk or point out what needs to be done. For many people who try to become self-employed and start businesses after having a long-term full-time job, this is the hardest adjustment to make.

Read the rest of this article here>>>

Photoshop Ebook by Sherry Hutson

The Painter's Guide to Photoshop, is a great resource for artists who want to learn how to use Adobe Photoshop and Photoshop Elements to resize images, save them as jpg files, set the correct DPI, learn about RGB and CMYK, and more.

http://www.matanzamedia.com

The Everywhere Girl

I recently stumbled upon an interesting blog entry about the "Everywhere Girl", which I think illustrates just how small the world is becoming with the internet.
This technology could be put to use by casting directors faced with the dreaded imperative: "Find someone who looks like this..."
For the actor or model, tracking their media reach just got that much simpler (anyone remember clipping services?)
Unfortunately, there are still some flaws to work out. I tried the BYO Search Lab offered on the website and got far less-than-perfect results. Check out some of the matches to my photo at the end of the blog.

Everywhere Girl, The Book

If you’ve ever worried about photos from your past coming back to haunt you, get to know the story of the Everywhere Girl. Over a decade ago she was a young actress posing for a series of stock photos. While she’s no Mona Lisa, in recent years her photos have made their way into royalty-free collections and crept into print and web designs the world over. First chronicled in Paul Hales’ technology blog The Inquirier and later by Idée’s own CEO Leila, the Everywhere Girl now even has her own blog. While fans have been compiling her images with the human eye for years, no method is better suited to this kind of task than image-recognition technology.

We indexed a series of Everywhere Girl photos using PixID our image recognition technology and have been monitoring the appearance of the Everywhere Girl. Here are the interesting results from our book cover monitoring project:

The Let’s Study Series of Christian books

• Peter (Let’s Study) by William W. Harrell
• Corinthians (Let’s Study) by David Jackman
• Galatians (Let’s Study) by Derek Thomas

Read the full article here: http://blog.ideeinc.com/2008/01/22/everywhere-girl-the-book/


My Picture Match
I used this picture in the BYO Search Lab offered on Idee.com's website.

Here are some of the more interesting results:

To be fair, this application, the BYO Image Search Lab, uses a database which supposedly holds over 2.8 million images. Obviously, none of them are of me!

Mag My Pic

Wanna feel like a celebrity, or turn a friend into one? Have fun with this neat little website that gives you a number of different magazine cover options then automatically superimposes them over a picture you upload.
It could also be used as a great visual motivator, to help you see where you want to be!

http://www.magmypic.com/

Create Fake Magazine Covers with your own picture at MagMyPic.com

Subscribe to People Magazine at a 37% discount!

Vancouver To Have Women's Radio Station

Harvard Broadcasting is in the run for a new FM Station in Vancouver. JANE FM 104.1 will feature many established and up & coming BC Women Music Artists with a focus on Roots, Folk & Alt Country.

JANE FM's application is coming before the CRTC in late February - but, support has to reach Harvard Broadcasting, or Grrls With Guitars organizer Nadine Davenport or directly to the CRTC by January 23rd 2008.

On a local level – this application has great potential for Vancouver longest running Women Songwriter Showcase & Compilation Series. The key is getting a successful application & winning the bid for the FM station available. If JANE FM is born there will be an opportunity to produce Grrrls With Guitars Compilation CD's for the next 7 years. From the beginning the Grrrls With Guitars mandate has always been to showcase at the highest possible level some of this Country’s brightest emerging talent. As a multifaceted project with 14 years under it's belt, it continues to seek out new & upcoming women songwriters of all genres that will be the voice of the future. There is certainly no shortage of talent to choose from.

"It is exciting to think about a future with many opportunities for women artists in the years to come on the airwaves of Jane FM. The injection of funding by Harvard into the GWG project will breathe new energy into this grassroots indie endeavour and allow us to produce CDs on an annual basis," Davenport says.

The Vancouver hearings have been scheduled for the end of February. The applications are now public and there are 16 applicants. They are now in the process of getting letters of support and in order for these to become part of the public record they must be filed by the third week of January.

There will be a meet-and-greet tomorrow, January 9th, in Vancouver at the Hotel Vancouver. You can bring anyone you like and anyone you think might be able to help raise awareness and support for this radio service. They would like to get as many people as possible out. They will host two sessions - 5pm to 7pm and a second one from 7pm to 9pm. It will allow them ti discuss their vision of what the service will be, collect input and answer any questions that people may have.

"We will have take away information as well and hope to motivate the submission of a 1000 letters. This will be an important part of the process in convincing the Commission," according to Davenport.

For this reason, Harvard Broadcasting is asking for your support to help make JANE FM 104.1 application a success. The CRTC (Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission) evaluates input from the local community and businesses to determine the successful applicants.

You can also write a letter, showing your support for the application which will be presented at the license hearing the week of February 28, 2008.

Here is the procedure for filing Letters of Support for Harvard Broadcasting

1. Use the sample letter & support info ( the icons below ) to best address the needs of our application. We do encourage you to customize as much as possible or the Commission will file it as a "form letter". While this does not discount it entirely, it certainly has more force if it is seen as been inspired and constructed by the individual.

2. Insure that the application filing number (200714221) is included.

3. Please provide Harvard Broadcasting with a copy of your letter at the same time that you send it to the CRTC. Mail to 1900 Rose Street, Regina, SK, S4P 0A9 or janefm@harvardbroadcasting.com.

4. You can either fax the letter or mail it. CRTC - Ottawa, Ontario Canada, K1A 0N2
The fax number is 819-994-0218. If you fax they should retain the confirmation sheet.

5. Or you can file electronically at on the CRTC web site.

http://support.crtc.gc.ca/rapidscin/default.aspx?lang=en&applicant=n2007-12

Following the link above, click the button labeled > 2007-18
Put a check mark in the box beside ' 200714221' Harvard Broadcasting,
and click next, at the bottom of the page. Add your comments, or attach your letter and click next. Choose whether or not you would like to appear in person at the hearing, and click next. Fill out your personal information and click next. Click Submit.

6. If possible please place the letter on company letterhead.

7. If you would like to appear at the Vancouver public hearing to show your support you must state that in your letter to the CRTC.

8. Filing of the letters of support needs to be received by the CRTC by Jan 23rd, 2008.

For more information go to the Grrls With Guitars website:

http://www.grrrlswithguitars.com/

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

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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.