consciously creating 2010

last year i didn’t make any new year’s resolutions…  and though it turned out to be a great year, i’m learning of the power of INTENTION and i know that i need to implement more intention in my life because i want to do even more AMAZING things!!!!…. and intention is the first step to manifestation.  setting our intention- allows us to verbalize and get specific about what it is we want in our lives and gets us in the mind-set of how to get there while also connecting us energetically to the desired outcome. now there are so many goals i have for the following year that are great goals (like learning to dance samba or playing guitar better, make a dance EP, work on my foreign language skills, etc. etc.)… and i think it’s important to have goals. i have many! but as one of my LAAFS ladies suggested it’s great to have some BIG  main intentions to have intense focus on for 2010. so here are my intentions for 2010! i’m taking it to the next level! this is my declaration to the world!

* i intend to receive financial abundance through music (my performances, placements on film/tv, album sales, etc.) where all my needs are more than taken care of. My passion, my music, is my life’s work!

* i intend to travel the world, recreational and through my singing!

*i intend to keep growing as an artist of living. i will live a revolutionary life, full of love, creation, music, dance, passion and fearless self-expression.

and in alignment with intention is also the practice of visualization- many superstar performers from singers, to athletes, to successful business men, to astronauts…  practice visualization and i believe it’s  a valuable tool as well… it gets you in the feeling of what you are hoping to manifest which aligns you energetically. and when you are in life’s various situations the experience isn’t foreign to you, you are fearless… visualization helps us to consciously create our own world. it helps us to begin with the end in mind. the more clearly and vividly we imagine the details the deeper we will experience it…. emotions are evoked within you as if you have already experienced what it is you desire. the more we visualize the more we change something within us… our thoughts change, our words change, our behavior changes, our perception changes, our outcome changes… i will be living out the script that I have written for my life and you will be living the script that you have written for yours, rather than us living by the programming that has been written into our hearts and minds by the external.

tonight in our manifestation group meeting we verbalized our intentions to the group and help a sacred space for each intention. we meditated together. we focused love energy towards each of the intentions for our soul sisters. we also let our imagination explore possibilities for each other. in doing this we found it was almost easier to visualize for others as we don’t get caught up in our own bullshit, self-sabotaging  doubts…. but the shared intention allowed us to have breakthroughs in our own visualizations- perfect for 2010 being a breakthrough year! this exercise was powerful. the energy was thick in the room. even my friend’s dog reacted to it!  we can make intentions for ourselves which is amazing but it’s even more powerful when we share it with others and let it expand into the collective consciousness. and visualization and intention isn’t just about achieving personal gain… we can use our imagination to transcend self and create purpose filled lives of contribution… we can consciously create a better world for us all!!!!

currents of love, brazilian pineapple, sex, and hula hooping

just finished my 5+ hour manifestation meeting!!!! LAAFS!!!! incredible night! we got deep with our missions! i feel like changing the world Oprah style! today was POWERFUL! the manifestation blog from yesterday i originally sent out as an email to friends and had so many super positive responses… the message hit a core with people… inspired them to do things they would normally not do… think of things in new ways… reconnect with their spiritual essence. what’s even more amazing is that several people moved by the message passed it on to their loved ones who in turn responded with enthusiasm, inspiration, and love!!!! and it hit me that by me making the choice to put this positivity out into the world i was a catalyst of love… and by those who were inspired choosing to pass on the knowledge and inspiration they are catalysts and so on and so on and we all can be a part of this current of love… receiving and giving and receiving and giving! it’s fucking beautiful!!!!! made my day!……then as i was eating some brazilian pineapple that the rock band (that’s recording in Dre’s studio) left over here, i was missing my brazilian man… and he called me and we had a conversation that rocked my world… he was dropping spiritual knowledge/understanding/compassion on me gandhi style, opening up in ways that shocked me… a layer was peeled.. and it showed me the infinite possibilities and perspectives in love relationships… and i wonder what brought this energetic shift and powerful realization, what was making him hold me in this higher reverence? i guess sometimes people have to be away from you to truly appreciate you and understand you in profound ways…i mean how many people truly understand us?  or was he feeling my experiences and thoughts and feelings here and somehow tapped into that energetically? fascinating! i couldn’t get off the phone with him (though i was running late in cooking dinner and my beans did suffer- they have to sit for at least an hour for ultimate sabor)…i’m excited to keep growing and learning in love! i feel like i’m meant to teach others of love though i may not get to everyone in this lifetime. and speaking of love… though we did speak of our INCREDIBLE accomplishments of our group and our focus for 2010…we got on the subject of sex…. as should be expected with these sexy goddesses!  i love how candid some of the group is… i mean nothing is off-limits and i adore it… the questions came up – if a man is more endowed is he typically less talented or motivated with going down on a woman? (cause he feels he doesn’t have to work to please a woman)… and does size really matter?… also, isn’t a man who is uncircumcised more sensitive in feeling? … the answers were great! i wish we had video taped this conversation… real sex would’ve blushed… what a bizarre magnificent day… full of currents of love, break throughs, good food, deep conversation… i love life! we all have had those moments in life where we feel like hell but we truly create our lives… i’m living proof of that… i’ve developed consciously the beauty that is my life. now i must rest. i have a hula hooping video audition tomorrow! so random! i love life! wishing you the ultimate creation of beauty in your life!!!!

(untouched) photo by megan finley, styled by michele chantel, makeup/hair by tawney bevacqua, art by julia rauda

20 Smart Things To Do With Your CD- for my artist friends -part 1

Music Connection had a great article (awhile back) called “Don’t Throw Your Music to the Wind: 20 Smart Things to Do With Your CD” that I thought I would share on the blog… I know as an independent artist it’s difficult sometimes to launch your product that you’ve worked so hard creating… and I wanted to spread some information… wishing you immense success and endless inspiration!!!

because it’s a long article i’m breaking it down into part 1 and part 2… and i know it’s a bit overwhelming but remember baby steps and do what you feel connects with you…happy learning…

part 1:

1-Define Your Goals- Create a long-term goal broken down into baby steps that can lead you to it. Indie artist Beth Wood Suggests, “Define your goals. Often. Figure out what they really are- be specific.” What do you hope to achieve with your C? Once you determine that, create small goals that can take you to the big one. Do you want a record deal? More gigs? An income stream from CD sales? Immediate and long term goals help plan your direction. If your CD will mainly be a marketing tool, you will need to give more away. To make a profit, create a budget that balances free promo CDs and those you sell.

2-Identify Your Audience-The first step for effectively marketing a CD is to target your specific niche- the group most likely to buy it, such as college students, adults under 35, etc. Once you find the most likely market, figure out how to reach those potential fans. Research what venues, radio stations, publications, and websites are most likely to attract people who would appreciate your music. Focus on getting exposure through those avenues.

3-Develop a Strategy-Ultimately music should speak for itself, but to get heard in the first place you should develop a plan of action to create more awareness of your music. Indie artist Kyler England says, “there are many great indie-friendly magazines, radio stations, and record stores that can help make your music visible and accessible to potential new fans. It’s important to decide the best use of your time and energy.” List publications that might review your CD and radio stations that might play it. Decide how may CDs you can afford to give away. Unless you have lots of spare cash, don’t give them away randomly Assess which media people on your list are more important to create the initial buzz. You can send CDs to others later.

4-Be Very Visible-Your face should be everywhere in your local music community. Get to music events and network with people. Indie artist Alex Woodards says, “And industry pro said to always have a record with me everywhere I go. You never know when an opportunity will come up.” When people like you, they’ll listen to your music and tell others. Do local showcases and open mics. Always announce how to buy your CD. Attend conferences and hang out at night clubs. Invite everyone you meet to join your mailing list and visit your website. Get them excited about your music. Developing good relationships by networking can get you an intro to a distributor and create opportunities for selling music.

5-Team Up with Artists-Some indie artists have cooperative relationships- teaming up under the umbrella of one record label to share expenses and pool resources/ mailing list. Artists chip in for one publicist and have a better shot at distribution for a label with a number of artists. They share advertising and other expenses, but retain all rights to their own music and arrange to get paid individually for sales. If you know artists with great CDs, consider getting a group to work together. Create a legal agreement, drawn up by a lawyer, spelling out everything that will be done, what each artist is responsible for and how expenses and sales will be handled.

6-Go Grass Roots-Mobilize your fans into street teams to create awareness, help find outlets and spread the word about your CD. Street teams can effectively generate an early buzz before street date. Who best to get people excited about your music than a fan? Beth Wood says, “People voluteer to give my music to someone they know (at a radio station, etc…) put up posters, call venues or newspapers, and spread the word about shows. That is how this music grows- it is very much word-of-mouth.” Thank your fans for their help by rewarding them with t-shirts and free admission.

7-One-sheet-A one-sheet is one sheet of paper with a concise summary of facts about your CD that can create interest. Rev. Moose, Editor-in-Chief at CMJ says, “You can fit a lot of information, including who produced it, who guest stars, a short bio of the band, a track listing, a tour routing, some quick press quotes.” (side note- when i worked at WMA I sometimes had to make one-sheets- it’s also good to add in album sales and awards if possible…) Design your one-sheet to look organized on one page. A well-laid out black & white one-sheet is more important than a beautiful glossy which leaves stuff off.” It can be sent to radio, agents, managers, distributors and stores.

8-POP Display- POPs (Point of Purchase) are displays set up near cash registers to entice shoppers to buy products as they pay for their items. Decorate boxes that neatly hold your Cs with artwork from teh cover. Make them look as alluring as possible. Then try to find stores that will let you leave a box on the counter and sell your CDs on consignment (more below).

9-Set a Street Date-Indie artists tend to release CDs whenever they are duplicated. But if you pick a day to release it, and promote it two to four months before that day, you will have the best chance to sell more copies. Aaron Burgess, Managing Editor, Alternative Press Magazine, says magazines plan their article and reviews months in advance. “Sending a CD right when it’s released is too late.” But when you send in material early, you are more likely to get press coverage, which opens more doors. Send the press (with a music sample), radio and retail a one-sheet about the record months before it’s release. That will give you an edge when it comes to getting media coverage and retail support. (I wish I had done a better job with this! )

10-Dress Your CD-Your CD packaging is the first thing a potential listener will see. If your artwork makes a great impression, there is a better chance people will check out your music. Ellyn Harris, with Buzz Publicity, emphasizes, “Make your press kit look clean and have contact information on EVERYTHING. Make it easy for someone to contact you.” While the music is ultimately what speaks, a professional package gets media people to listen to it. Make your CD stand out by dressing it well.

more to come…