Posts
I'm in reflection mode...it's been one year since I left for Mississippi. When they say time flies whoever 'they' are...they're not kiddin' around. Wow! A year since that journey south. The miles upon miles of beauty, time, space and searching for inspiration. I've never had a more inspired year since I was in Mississippi. Finished one documentary, working on a second, recorded 3 new songs for the new disc AND got accepted to pursue my love of music full time. My world has expanded to such a degree that it's hard even to keep up. C'est la vie I suppose.
I feel so totally blessed to have the internal and external resources to follow what I love. I appreciate all the teachers who continue to cross my path. I was reminded of them the other day at the Blue Chair with a sold out show and some dear musical friends coming to play just because I asked. Now those are whatcha call friends with a capital F.
Stay Cool...Kat
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
On the Backs of Artists
Well, today seems to be the day where things I've had on my mind for awhile come out the door into wide open spaces. Today's point of view is the use of SonicBids.
For those who aren't musicians SonicBids is a service to the music industry that offers electronic networking between the musician and the talent buyer. I have had an account with SonicBids for a number of years and what that means is that an artist essentially has an electronic press kit for talent buyers to peruse.
There are inherent problems with SonicBids.
#1:
The first problem is that one has to pay approximately $100 - $200 per year just to have your site up and running. On top of that for each talent buyer you want to have peruse your material it costs anywhere from $5-$40. A modest year of submissions to 'competitions' for which you have a good chance is approximately $400/year.
#2:
The second problem is that some talent buyers will not accept any submissions from any other sources other than SonicBids. This situation creates a monopoly and in a free market this is an ethical dilemma. For some reason though whenever I try to address this issue in the industry there is no room for discussion.
#3:
The third problem is that the money the artist submits for the 'competition' is shared between the talent buyer and SonicBids itself. So, the more money gathered, the more money that goes to the talent buyer and to SonicBids. I know first hand that SonicBids pitches the idea of generating income for the talent buyer as the hook to monopolizing the EPK market. And guess who pays...the artist.
My strong opinion is that SonicBids is scheme to bilk struggling artists with both the USA based business and the talent buyers profiting.
I come from the school of thought that whenever you have an criticism one should also have a solution. My solution...that talent buyers receive electronic press submissions from multiple sources not one monopolized out of country business. I beleive that I should be able to send my EPK link (which has all the necessary information to make a decision about hiring me) from my website and save myself literally hundreds of dollars each year.
It shouldn't cost the artist to be considered for a gig. Period.
Soap Box Kat
For those who aren't musicians SonicBids is a service to the music industry that offers electronic networking between the musician and the talent buyer. I have had an account with SonicBids for a number of years and what that means is that an artist essentially has an electronic press kit for talent buyers to peruse.
There are inherent problems with SonicBids.
#1:
The first problem is that one has to pay approximately $100 - $200 per year just to have your site up and running. On top of that for each talent buyer you want to have peruse your material it costs anywhere from $5-$40. A modest year of submissions to 'competitions' for which you have a good chance is approximately $400/year.
#2:
The second problem is that some talent buyers will not accept any submissions from any other sources other than SonicBids. This situation creates a monopoly and in a free market this is an ethical dilemma. For some reason though whenever I try to address this issue in the industry there is no room for discussion.
#3:
The third problem is that the money the artist submits for the 'competition' is shared between the talent buyer and SonicBids itself. So, the more money gathered, the more money that goes to the talent buyer and to SonicBids. I know first hand that SonicBids pitches the idea of generating income for the talent buyer as the hook to monopolizing the EPK market. And guess who pays...the artist.
My strong opinion is that SonicBids is scheme to bilk struggling artists with both the USA based business and the talent buyers profiting.
I come from the school of thought that whenever you have an criticism one should also have a solution. My solution...that talent buyers receive electronic press submissions from multiple sources not one monopolized out of country business. I beleive that I should be able to send my EPK link (which has all the necessary information to make a decision about hiring me) from my website and save myself literally hundreds of dollars each year.
It shouldn't cost the artist to be considered for a gig. Period.
Soap Box Kat
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Masters in Ethnomusicology Here I Come!!
Hey All,
Man, oh, man what a week. Everything from having an electronic grant application I'd worked really hard on get wiped out of cyberspace to frustrated people critiquing my work. But hey, what can you do. All a part of this wild ride.
Good news though, I received the final, final confirmation that I'll begin graduate studies this coming Fall. I'll be working on my Masters in Ethnomusicology and I'm definitely up to the challenge. I look foward to expanding my ability to think critically and to engage different processes that will expand my world view. It's been 20 years since I've been in University so that will be a steep and welcome learning curve. More music...less Social Work sounds like a recipe for reduced stress to be sure.
On a performance front I've been performing this past weekend at the University of Alberta Graduate Music Students Conference. I had a terrific time and was exhausted but in a good way at the end of it all. I did a presentation on "Images, Pen & Performance: Inclusion of the Listener in New Works of Art". It felt good to share my musical life in that setting and thank Micheal McDonald for including me.
Because I love performance and writing so much it may be hard to share space with demanding academic work but I feel like my developmental flow is to learn about music and the interface with culture that shapes it. And, it'll definitely accord me the privaledge to study about blues and grassroots music at a deeper level. I'd better love big words and complex thoughts :-)
I hope you are well. Rock on...Kat
Man, oh, man what a week. Everything from having an electronic grant application I'd worked really hard on get wiped out of cyberspace to frustrated people critiquing my work. But hey, what can you do. All a part of this wild ride.
Good news though, I received the final, final confirmation that I'll begin graduate studies this coming Fall. I'll be working on my Masters in Ethnomusicology and I'm definitely up to the challenge. I look foward to expanding my ability to think critically and to engage different processes that will expand my world view. It's been 20 years since I've been in University so that will be a steep and welcome learning curve. More music...less Social Work sounds like a recipe for reduced stress to be sure.
On a performance front I've been performing this past weekend at the University of Alberta Graduate Music Students Conference. I had a terrific time and was exhausted but in a good way at the end of it all. I did a presentation on "Images, Pen & Performance: Inclusion of the Listener in New Works of Art". It felt good to share my musical life in that setting and thank Micheal McDonald for including me.
Because I love performance and writing so much it may be hard to share space with demanding academic work but I feel like my developmental flow is to learn about music and the interface with culture that shapes it. And, it'll definitely accord me the privaledge to study about blues and grassroots music at a deeper level. I'd better love big words and complex thoughts :-)
I hope you are well. Rock on...Kat
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Mississippi Bound...Again!
Hi Friends,
I've been on a little hiatus managing winter, the cold and a car accident. I'm doin' really well though and back to writing again which always makes me happy.
When I got back from Mississippi I found a group of people who could help me understand the breadth of my experiences at the Canadian Centre for Ethnomusicology located here at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Long story short, I ended up realizing that I wanted to continue my artistic development in Mississippi and decided to apply for a graduate studies. I have been accepted and, much to my surprise, I'll be starting graduate school full time in September 2009...this year. I am very, very excited to have this opportunity and to be willing to give it to myself. So what does this have to do with Mississippi...well, I'll be focusing my thesis on the Rising Star Fife and Drum Band of North Mississippi. For the first time in the lineage of that style of blues music the fifer is a young woman named Sharde Thomas.
After 24 years in Social Work it is quite a thing to realize that I want to dedicate my life to music. My new motto...if it doesn't have music in the title I don't want to do it!
I've also made application for some music grants and have had a blast working on my 3 song demo with don benedictson and Christian Dugas. The songs turned out great now we wait to find out if the coffers will open for a brand new CD project. I'm very excited that this will happen for us. Positive thinking.
I hope you are well and that you'll drop me an email at: katdanser@shaw.ca so we can keep in touch with each other.
xo Kat
I've been on a little hiatus managing winter, the cold and a car accident. I'm doin' really well though and back to writing again which always makes me happy.
When I got back from Mississippi I found a group of people who could help me understand the breadth of my experiences at the Canadian Centre for Ethnomusicology located here at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Long story short, I ended up realizing that I wanted to continue my artistic development in Mississippi and decided to apply for a graduate studies. I have been accepted and, much to my surprise, I'll be starting graduate school full time in September 2009...this year. I am very, very excited to have this opportunity and to be willing to give it to myself. So what does this have to do with Mississippi...well, I'll be focusing my thesis on the Rising Star Fife and Drum Band of North Mississippi. For the first time in the lineage of that style of blues music the fifer is a young woman named Sharde Thomas.
After 24 years in Social Work it is quite a thing to realize that I want to dedicate my life to music. My new motto...if it doesn't have music in the title I don't want to do it!
I've also made application for some music grants and have had a blast working on my 3 song demo with don benedictson and Christian Dugas. The songs turned out great now we wait to find out if the coffers will open for a brand new CD project. I'm very excited that this will happen for us. Positive thinking.
I hope you are well and that you'll drop me an email at: katdanser@shaw.ca so we can keep in touch with each other.
xo Kat
Monday, December 15, 2008
Mississippi Medicine Show
Hi there....
November came and went so fast that I didn't have a moment to catch y'all up on what's goin' on in my music life. The summary...two sold out shows, great audience (minus the out of control fan ...aka...the toe licking stripper) and the catfish...yummy! Great nights of music and a wonderful way to share the adventure. Right after that I hopped the train to Winnipeg and back to do some pre-production work with don benedictson and Christian Dugas. It is very exciting to be moving in the direction of the new disc. We've got a solid start with the demos and the grant writing will begin tomorrow. Yeehaa! Bring on the funds.
I'm in a holding pattern right now with festival applications and such. I was very fortunate on my tour down south as I'll be playing a bigger festival this coming summer. Can't say which one just yet but I'm really, really pleased.
Solstice and Christmas are creeping up so quickly. It'll be good to be moving into days with more light after December 22nd. One of my favorite days of the year is...boxing day. No, not for the sale, for the quiet and reduction in consumerism.
On that uplifting note...ha ha...I'll wish you all the best of the season and catch up with you again in 2009.
Thanks for a great year! xo Kat
November came and went so fast that I didn't have a moment to catch y'all up on what's goin' on in my music life. The summary...two sold out shows, great audience (minus the out of control fan ...aka...the toe licking stripper) and the catfish...yummy! Great nights of music and a wonderful way to share the adventure. Right after that I hopped the train to Winnipeg and back to do some pre-production work with don benedictson and Christian Dugas. It is very exciting to be moving in the direction of the new disc. We've got a solid start with the demos and the grant writing will begin tomorrow. Yeehaa! Bring on the funds.
I'm in a holding pattern right now with festival applications and such. I was very fortunate on my tour down south as I'll be playing a bigger festival this coming summer. Can't say which one just yet but I'm really, really pleased.
Solstice and Christmas are creeping up so quickly. It'll be good to be moving into days with more light after December 22nd. One of my favorite days of the year is...boxing day. No, not for the sale, for the quiet and reduction in consumerism.
On that uplifting note...ha ha...I'll wish you all the best of the season and catch up with you again in 2009.
Thanks for a great year! xo Kat
Saturday, October 18, 2008
MJB & Me
I had the immense privaledge of recording my song (Notes from) The Other Side with national roots musician, Michael Jerome Browne. We recorded it in the Twilight Lounge with sound engineer Ian who managed to get a sound that was incredible! The producers, Graham Guest and Grant Stovel, were simply outstanding to work with. I couldn't even imagine a more calm, centered and caring environment. I think it will definitely reflect in the finished project!
One of the great blessings music has bestowed on my life is working with like minded, sensitive men!
xo kd
One of the great blessings music has bestowed on my life is working with like minded, sensitive men!
xo kd
MGAM Inc. & Busted Flat Records
Hello Fellow Music Lovers...
What a week...what a week this has been!!! I am very pleased to announce that I have signed an exclusive international artist management agreement with Toronto based MGAM Inc. With clear minded and inspiring Marilyn Gilbert at the helm I fully expect to be putting into place even more foundational career building blocks. It is wonderful to have the support of a professional of this caliber in the business. I feel very blessed and look forward to a long and productive working relationship.
Busted Flat Records from Kitchener/Waterloo, an indie label, has come on board to support and distribute my next recording which I'm temporarily naming 'the mississippi project'. Mark Logan and the gang have been super positive and wonderful to work with. Just the energy I need to welcome my new 'baby cd' into the world. Ha ha.
And, to complete the trifecta...funding has come through to complete my pre-production with my producer, don benedictson, and our kickass percussionist, Christian Dugas (The Duhks). In mid November I'll ride the rails to Winnipeg for the first in a year long process of recording this disc.
Over and Out...Kat
What a week...what a week this has been!!! I am very pleased to announce that I have signed an exclusive international artist management agreement with Toronto based MGAM Inc. With clear minded and inspiring Marilyn Gilbert at the helm I fully expect to be putting into place even more foundational career building blocks. It is wonderful to have the support of a professional of this caliber in the business. I feel very blessed and look forward to a long and productive working relationship.
Busted Flat Records from Kitchener/Waterloo, an indie label, has come on board to support and distribute my next recording which I'm temporarily naming 'the mississippi project'. Mark Logan and the gang have been super positive and wonderful to work with. Just the energy I need to welcome my new 'baby cd' into the world. Ha ha.
And, to complete the trifecta...funding has come through to complete my pre-production with my producer, don benedictson, and our kickass percussionist, Christian Dugas (The Duhks). In mid November I'll ride the rails to Winnipeg for the first in a year long process of recording this disc.
Over and Out...Kat
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