Productive weekend...

Had a very positive night at the poker table, notwithstanding the fact that I was dealt pocket kings three times in the first hour of play - and lost two of those hands.  Gotta love variance... particularly when it eventually swings back in your favor.

Recorded a few additional backing vocal/vocoder tracks for Other Places and Million Years.  In particular, I think the last part of the bridge on Million Years would be perfect for a female backing vocalist, primarily because of the song's lyric at that point.

Also revised the theramin keyboard part on Grey Wolf so that it trails off at the end, along the lines of the effect at the close of ELO's "Wishing" from the Discovery album.  That song and album triggers a nice childhood memory of mine, as it was the album I was listening to - as an early teenager - on the way to a brief winter family vacation somewhere that I can no longer specifically recall.  But I remember the place had a small indoor ice rink in the recreation center, and I played a bit of one on one hockey with another kid who was vacationing there.  And while that was fun, it was meeting his sister that proved to be a sweet/innocent adolescent experience I've never forgotten... 

A lost season...

Islanders have just gone down 6-2 to the Bruins in this weekend matinee.  They may have been playing better of late, but the season's disappointing result is more than just a function of the slow start attributed to the extended road trip and Covid issues.  They have to do something to shore up the bottom third of their D.  Chara and Greene had great careers, but it's time for both of them to hang up the skates...  

I tried to hire someone to build the website, but the potential provider proved to be non-responsive.  I suppose that shouldn't surprise me; unreliability is becoming a standard societal trait.  In any event, I've built the template myself, and I like how it looks.  When I have the content to incorporate, it will represent the project well.

Going to hit the gym, put some additional backing vocals on Other Places... and then get some poker in at the local cardroom.

Regular Updates...

 I feel like it would be a nice touch to monitor progress as we work towards completion and release of this first album.  For posterity?  Who knows... I imagine I'll just eventually appreciate the nostalgia of it all.  So in that regard...

• Confirmed for Steve that we'll likely go with the relatively expensive (but most-proficient) Clockwork orchestra in Glasgow.  Waiting on confirmation of a couple of caveats that I'm hoping will be nothing more than a formality.
  
  
• Asked Dave at CLG for particulars regarding obtaining the design files for the II logo and band cover art; also discussed eventual development of the CD booklet and labels.
  
  
• Received feedback from Kerry at Frontman regarding which songs would be most beneficial for video production; awaiting similar type of feedback from Donna at 351 Studio.  Will likely look to utilize the services of both, based on which tracks each finds to be the most favorable.
  
  
• Sent a request over to a fiver provider (hey, that's catchy) for development of a website on bandzoogle, with branding based on the logo (and perhaps cover art, which I love).  Awaiting feedback.

Found a website that focuses on training game-theory-optimal poker play, which is incredibly complex, but very useful.  Will be spending time studying those materials in the hope of eventually adding poker as another component of generating advantage-play income on a more regular basis.  

Slow start to 2022...

First week of March, and I haven't yet taken an extended blackjack trip for the year.  And, I haven't been all that focused on wrapping up recording the album.  I started reversing that trend this weekend, though, as I spent a lot of time recording backing vocals for Visitor.  I've also been making a concerted effort to work on my poker game, with mildly positive results thus far... getting regular time in at local poker rooms with a positive expectation would be ideal.

Trip close-out...

A Saturday night and the end of a successful trip in terms of AV.  Nowhere near enough hours, but that's mostly a function of some difficult playing conditions in one region, and my having made the mistake of camping out tonite in a location with only one casino within reasonable driving distance.

This casino has a reputation of being sweaty, but what really ticked me off is that the PB refused my standard buy-in request of three green and two black.  He instructed the dealer to give me all green, and immediately got on the phone with what was presumably an instruction to security to 'watch this guy without a player's card and asking for black".  

Rather than end up in a less than optimal situation on my last night and a solid win already on the books, I elected to wrap the trip.  I've found a local bar and will relax with a few amber ales, preparing for the flight back tomorrow.

Versatility

Landed in a new region last night; played poker since the blackjack options in this particular city are less than ideal for non-rated players (driving to a better spot momentarily).

I caught some good hands last night, and they held up - leading to a nice win.  The key to playing low stakes no-limit - where people generally go too far with their hands - is to wait for hands with solid value and then maximize the hell out of them.  If I catch a set out of position in a raised multiway pot, I'm betting big into the field.  I want pot-sized action on all streets (as long as the board is reasonably dry), and generally at least one opponent will oblige with an overpair/top pair top holding.

The players in this room were particularly bad in that regard.  Need to think about working more poker into my repertoire.

I AM the Record Company...

I've had more than one person inquire as to why it is I have to pay for the recording of this album... as if professional musicians and producers just work for free all the time... lol.

I think the underlying question is, "why don't (or can't) you just get a record deal, so that the record company pays all the costs?"

The proper answer to that question is complex.  First, I probably couldn't get a record deal if my life depended on it, for a variety of reasons - but most importantly, because I'm creating a style of music that is worlds different than anything on the radio right now.  Record companies primarily exist to make money, and are therefore largely interested in signing artists who are producing material similar in style to what is popular today.  All well and good.

Second (and more importantly)... why would I want a record deal?  This is not the holy grail that everyone seems to think it is.  It essentially involves signing away ownership of your master recordings, as well as roughly 85% of the potential profits derived therefrom (plus a host of ancillary income to which no label should have a rightful claim, but that's another story for another time).

The reality is, I'm wearing two completely separate hats in this endeavor: Yes, I am the artist... but I am also the label.  Not only am I paying the recording costs, but I am the A&R exec, as well as the executive responsible for contracting with distribution partners (to get the music to the world), videographers (for the creation of promotional videos), and marketing firms (for the purposes of creating artwork, updating social media profiles and posts, generating press releases and facilitating blog placements, and managing targeting advertising campaigns).

It's a lot of work, and a fair amount of expense... but in the event this project becomes successful (to whatever extent), it will be me reaping the rewards.