Blogdangit

Talent Shows

As the heading states: I'm referring to 'talent shows' as a business, group or persons having one, two, or more persons on their squad who basically have no talent and it's ruining the whole concept. And everybody in the click is talking so loud about how they are the shit, that nobody can hear or see the lack of talents displayed. And if the lack of talent is recognized, the truth is not revealed because of protecting long-term friendships whether they are intimate lovers or close acquaintances. This is clearly evident that business and personal affairs don't mix!!!

If your folks are not talented enough to carry you and the group or business, then there needs to be a cut-off point. But you have to recognize that. If your friendship or relationship has grown that much where you can't make the right business decision with them, then perhaps they are not best for the business, or you are not serious about this industry of entertainment.

It's always easy to encourage by telling the truth. If you feel perhaps they need conditioning and or re-assessment with what they call a gift, then we as open ears and eyes should give them that. Be honest. It may hurt at first, but there's no way it's not going to help them later on.

I've watched the wanna be's and the gonna be's. I've seen knuckle-heads say they're hot, and depending on and dancing to the rhythm of their own drums while hyping themselves and juggling between each other for ^5's. That's cool, but you've got to come outside your circle and connect with a group of true supporters. (Real ears and non-biased opinions)

Perhaps I want to see the best in everyone, and for everyone to succeed. But we all know that's not possible. As producers, artists and business leaders, we all need support. I'm not talking about your fans or dawgs that hang out with you in the studio -- but a group of people who support your movement and are true fans of your talent. We can sit around all day and talk jive about how we're the hottest shit to hit the streets, but what happens when you got to prove it. And in that case, if you're good, it will reveal itself. People talk, and people listen.

Check yourselves and your group of talents you're working with, and sit down and have the talk if you need to. Evaluate the circumstances and the situations. Keep it real with your peoples, and by all means remain humble! There are too many arrogant players on the field. Be the one to stand out by doing business and making music that makes others brag about you.

Keep risin…

Tha ProducHer

Breakfast

Picture this… waking up to an egg scramble dish including sausage and cheese, and homemade skillet coffee cake with ingredients such as vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, eggs, milk, flour, and it even had a homemade streusel. I'm not talking boxed or pre-made stuff! And there was a pot of fresh coffee to wash it all down.

Where did this all come from, and how is it that I can easily be spoiled by this type of thing? My lil' cousin Evan prepared this meal. She's made the eggs before and garnished them with parsley. What blew me away was the coffee cake. I don't even know how to make coffee cake. The food was good!

I am very proud of her and didn't realize she had such talent. As you all know I enjoy cooking, and she comes from a slew of family folks who also love to cook.

So… I guess she get it from her people…

Having a Moment

Hello friends. At this very moment I am sipping on a glass of Pinot Grigio by Sutter Home. GOOD STUFF! I'm sitting here actually thinking about the contents of the writing projects I'm working on. I'm also thinking about how I sooooooooooooo miss my friends, co-workers, and acquaintances along the highways and byways of this great country. I miss the snow storms and white outs and temps so cold, it became an advisory to expose skin for more than 30 minutes. I miss the airports and delays and shuttles and short term parking in Dallas, Houston, Chicago, Boston, Atlanta, New York, Memphis, Phoenix, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Denver, and Omaha. I'm sure I've missed a few. I miss the cities and countries and mountains and hills, and people of different cultures, race and structure. I miss the Maine lobster in Maine, the walks along Manhattan and the somber feeling of the atmosphere one year after the towers fell. I miss the country roads and the farms and strangers taking me in their homes and cooking me steak dinners and seeing tractor pulls for the first time. I miss hearing high school children talk about feeding the chickens every morning and milking the cows before school. (much admirable to see young people so disciplined)

I miss the sand storms, and the thunderstorms just outside my hotel window as the winds blew so hard it hailed golf balls. I miss the Cajun cooking in the hotels feeding staff of two or three because they had never had the taste of Louisiana – while being over a thousand miles from Cajun land (home). I miss having to wear the long winter coat, hat, gloves and scarf and waterproof shoes just to go to the grocery store.

I miss the visits to the Mall of America, the stroll along Virginia Beach and staring at the huge Nova Scotia cruise ship just before it sailed to sea as it sat on the Atlantic Ocean. I miss the interstates 55, 65, 40, 95, 85, 44, 35, 10 west, 70 and 80, to name a few.

I've only scratched the surface here. There are so many memories and I am grateful and blessed to have endured the wonderful experience of these things and more during my travels. Always being an adventurous type, this just makes me proud to have traveled thus far.

If you're new to my blog, please dig through the archives and travel back with me as I took you there.

I realize now that I was creating history. I didn't realize the importance of the experience until now when it hit me that I've… been places and have seen life's wonders through many things. I'm honored. I know it was planned and here I am. As that chapter has closed, the livelihood of the experience is forever embedded in my soul.

I'm also thinking about the here and now. How I'm indulging in the arts. How I'm connecting to another chapter in my life. How I'm reaching out to find the ultimate purpose of my well-being. I believe it all plays a part of my existence. And again, I'm thankful.

I think I'm just having a moment. There's never enough time in a day to absorb it all.

3am

Good morning friends. I napped for a few hours and now wide and awake and accompanied with a one-year old. That would be my niece A'Naiya. I think I could go back to sleep, but uhm, she's not having it right now. As I type this post, she's physically standing on top of my extra large CD book which holds like over 300 CD's. I'm telling you the girl's alert and ready for the day. I just had her on my lap and she peed all over me through her Pamper and PJ's… okay. Hmmm… Yeah right… me too! So gotta take care of that… we'll be right back.

Okay! Back… I'm sitting at my desk thinking about daylight and the few errands I need to run later. I do have several things to do in the studio as well. Y'all hit me up at my music page to check out my latest creations. I think I'm going to go read other blogs now to be enlightened, encouraged, fulfilled, and simply to be… entertained.

My General MySpace Etiquette

Ladies and gentleman, as you all are aware, I have a Music Page on MyS.pace, therefore the following is basically what works for me. It's how I get down. I'm not saying what you do is wrong or right, I'm just sayin….

1. Although I'm often hit up with many different people for friend requests, I always LOOK at every page to see who I am befriending. It's nothing personal if I deny you… Really it's me! Remember I don't know you.

2.  I make it a point to comment or respond to every message and/or comment, period. If someone spends the time to shoot me a valid message, I'm going to spend the time to acknowledge it. That's just common courtesy. Now when and if the messages become excessive and I can't keep up with responses, it will be politely acknowledged that it is impossible for me to keep up. This does not include the bogus multiple self-advertising system generated stuff which I don't accept on my page in the first place.

3. If you send me a bogus/self advertised and bulk generated comment and or message – (believe me, I know them when I see them) the message or comment will be deleted immediately and if you continue this behavior -- so will you.

4. I don't and won't send generated messages to your inbox. That's just pure invasion for me to throw my stuff at you like that. The profile page was made for me to put everything where it belongs. Heck, if you can't read my information on my page, what gives me the right to throw it in your inbox? That aint right!

5. My page is geared toward my business. So therefore I conduct business there, and it is my business page. (I think I made that clear!) I value my friends and have made contact with some of the most talented, influential, professional, respectful and simply the nicest people I know, while several of them are clients. With that being said, the following does not apply to them. But to those of which this applies: I'm not seeking, looking, trying to find, interested or want to get with you. You don't know me like that to ASSUME we got a love connection. So stop beating around the bush. State your business and we move on from there. As I do enjoy networking, making friends and connecting during social occasions, you'll know if we are on to something. Please respect the information on a person's page when it reads, I'm here for business/networking only.

6. People stop fighting across the airwaves. You're making a scene!

7. If you post 10 bulletins in a row – I will delete you. That's hogging the board. There are other musicians who've got something to say.

8. If you have nakedness as your profile picture… don't even ask! I don't need to look at you like that! Pulllease!

9. As you all know we have the stars among us. I mean the big money makers. They are people too with human feelings. Stop Stop Stop posting comments which are constantly repeating the same information. For instance… check my new music check my new music check my new music check my new music… It's disrespect to throw your jive all over somebody else's page. Stop being selfish! There's a difference between 'trying to get in' and being 'disrespectful'. And I don't see a fine line in that…You are crossing the thick ass double yellow line!

10. Stop using friend generators to get your friends. Anybody with eyesight can tell when you've done it.  Stop Playin' and keep it real.

11. I work hard for my friends. I seek them out. I read their pages. It's really a job in itself to do that every day. I ask for their friendship, and every time they send me a 'thank you for the add' comment, I respond back to them in thanking them for the connect. If it's an artists page, I will acknowledge their talents if I am feeling it. This is respectful. Plus to me, my friends are all potential clients. I couldn't see myself conducting business any other way.

Okay I'm done. I'm sure there's more …and if you want to add some…then go ahead…. and if you got a music page and we haven't connected already, hit me up!

H.ap.py M.y.Spa.ci.ng….

An Afternoon with Lil’ Cuz

What's up readers? I'm really trying to do better with updates. Forgive a sistah! Remember I told you about my lil' cousin who started school at SU? I picked her up yesterday around 3ish and we'd planned to just come back home and chill. But I decided we would enjoy the cloudless skies and get out a bit. We drove over to grab something to eat as I had the best lobster a sustah could ever put her lips on. My lil' cousin ordered an appetizer which included alligator, shrimp and crawfish tails. Eighteen year olds around here don't go to a restaurant and order alligator. Blew me away!

As I've had lobster from several places across the country, this one time was even better than other times I've had it here. It was closely comparable to the way the New England folks cook lobster, and y'all, they know how to cook lobster! The meat was sweet and cooked to perfection. The chef came out when my meal was served. So of course I had to later give much love to a brotha. (yeah he was a brotha). With cooking like that, I could have packed him up and brought him home! Along with my two what seemed like jumbo lobster tails was a loaded baked potato (even the potato was cooked to perfection… Yeah I had a moment with that meal) and I had a glass of Chardonnay. Evan had sweet tea.

After dinner we drove over to the new B&N here in Baton Rouge. She'd brought along her laptop to finish some updates with Mi.cr.os.oft and I of course brought my laptop to do what I do… write. The coffee aroma was tempting as we laughed about the upper/downer thing in contemplating having the coffee after having had the wine early on. She ordered an Iced Caramel Macchiato. Nope I had never had it, yep it looked good… I watched her sip on it a few minutes and couldn't resist. I went up to the counter and as the folks back there know me well 'cause you know I'm a regular…:) , the manager smiled and eagerly versed my usual back to me…'Venti Pumpkin Spice Latte extra shot extra hot, one shot short on the syrup." Now how impressive was that especially with all the people in line listening in as she had her ish together. I smiled and said politely that I was going to try something else. I didn't want to seemingly ruin her moment ya know. I kept a brief conversation with her telling her the drink looked good after my cousin had it, so I decided to try it. Then she says, "…and you do want to add the carrot cake cheesecake, right?" Y'all she was on it. Another usual! Again impressed, I told her I had just eaten… but thanks for remembering and I appreciated her service. We kept small talk even while she waited on other customers as I waited for my drink to be made.

The coffee was good. I ordered mine extra shot too, so it is now on my list of favorites. My cousin and I talked and browsed about online. I tried writing this blog then, but lil' Evan can keep a conversation going… That's my cuz! Later we decided to call it a day and she bought a couple books and I… get this… bought no books. That's right readers, none…

After we got in, we spent a few hours in the studio. Did I tell ya'll she writes poetry and has desire to do spoken word? She has goals of owning a TV/Film/Broadcast business so she was all up in the studio deep. She played around on one of my keyboards and talked and talked and showed me pictures of her friends and her honey-bun (whom she misses dearly) who's many miles away in her hometown. He's a handsome young man, and they look so adorable together in the many pictures she has of them. Finally she went to bed, and I spent a couple more hours in the studio.

She had two classes today, and I'm sure just after class, she could have been found tearing down some z's in her dorm…

That's it folks, lil cuz and the Lady ProducHer during our Sunday stroll….

P.S. I didn't throw it in the blog, but as I am allergic to some seafood, I did get minor itches last night and the eyes were red and puffy this morning like I'd been cryin'... Could it have been the lobster, hmmm don't know, but that meal there was worth it all baby. I popped a Benedryl and rubbed the skin rash with my prescribed medicated cream and all is good honey. U know me!

 

ProducHer’s Peeps

My cousin Evan started school today at Southern University here in Baton Rouge. (We have a little Jaguarette coming up) Her mom (my first cousin) has been down for a few days getting her situated as well as working in her own business in meeting with clients she has in New Orleans. A few nights ago, they went shopping for what was supposed to be a few more things (I went with them) and y'all remember how it was when you're excited about going off to college and you want to make sure you have everything you could possibly want and need. My lil' cousin made sure of that! She's such a sweetheart.

We went back to her dorm as she got all packed in. It was most definitely a nostalgia moment when arriving at her dorm and on her floor which happened to be the same floor I was on many moons ago (not too many – stop playin'). Her suite was (they moved her to another floor today) actually a few doors from mine. What memories. Back then all athletes were staying on that particular floor. I'm very proud of her. She's working toward 3 majors. (That's my lil' cousin!) She wants to own a TV and Film Production Business.

Other news brings these little fellas; my God-son and niece. I took the pictures as we strolled about the neighborhood. Tyler calls A'Naiya his little girlfriend. Now isn't that adorable?

On the front of the studio business, I'm maintaining. I'm meeting more clients and steadily making moves. I'll keep y'all posted on new music (tracks for sale) coming soon.

Jan. Second

Hello readers! There's nothing much going today other than the same ole beautifulness with the weather. Sunshiny and a bit nippy -- equals perfection for me. Overnight we got down to the 20's. Can you believe here in Baton Rouge we are having those types of temperatures?

I took my car over to this maintenance shop to get an estimate for changing out the timing belts. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I'd never had them changed out, but I knew I couldn't keep pushing my luck, especially with all the driving and running around I do. From what I'm told, once a timing belt breaks, it's an ugly situation – you're stuck like chuck, plus you can tear up your engine.

Other news, let's see – Oh, as you are aware I didn't make it to Saint Louis for the Holidays as I'd planned. There were numerous things preventing the occasion (more-so with the studio), but I do plan to make it there soon to visit my friends. And believe me, they talked about me baby – bad too. :) (I still love all y'all!)

Well that's it my peeps. Copa get back at me so we can hook something up boyee!

Y'all have a lovely day…

Happy New Year

My friends, fellow readers – WE MADE IT!

I'm anticipating a wonderful year. I had a blast last night! It started around 10ish and ended around 5ish this morning. The New Year's wishes of text messages were pouring in most of the night/morning as I was sending many of them out as well. I did the club thing till almost 2 then we (close friends of mine) bomb rushed another long term friend's house for breakfast. And baby she did that! Biscuits, Sausage, Fried chicken, and the best scrambled eggs I'd ever tasted. I had the chicken (don't you just love cold leftover fried chicken?), eggs and biscuits. She puts parsley and other veggie ingredients in the eggs and baby, talk about some good stuff.

We sat around talking the breeze having good times as we always do. I didn't drink too much last night (well not enough to be hung-over), so this morning was all good. I'm going over to a friend's for the traditional New Year's meal after I finish writing this post, then I'll get back in the studio to work on some things. I have a few new little projects going on. I called an electrician (which a close friend recommended) to have him possibly add another circuit and more outlets for the studio. He says he'll try to come over this evening and check me out and shoot me an estimate. I wasn't expecting the man to come on New Year's Day. I didn't want to disturb his groove, but he was cool with it.

So that's another wrap my peeps.