today was full of good news

There just are not enough hours in the day! My to do list will never be blank.

I received some great news late last night – we have our baby band as support for an upcoming tour, for an artist that I respect and like live. Woohoo! The venues vary in capacity, but hover around 1,200. The artist that we’re supporting has been recently breaking into the scene and has a lot of indie cred. Though we don’t have any product yet (CD won’t be out until after), we are in the talks of merch and promo at the show. This is especially exciting for me since I thrive on live shows and can relate to the target audience. Now is my time to shine in being innovative on how we can get the crowds to remember and be excited about our opening artist. Though I’ve got some good ideas formulating, I’ve called upon my fellow concert buddies and artist friends for their input. Hopefully by brainstorming we’ll all come out more knowledgeable and progressive.

Towards the end of the day, B1 was in B2’s office and asked if B2 had told me I was going on the road with our baby artist for some of the dates. Oh hell yes!

In other news, the TM that often gives me shit was actually pretty decent today. We knocked out a few stuff regarding the world tour and I was criticized or put down. The only issue that remains now are the tour busses, but that is out of my hands. B1 is going on some of the tour, and of course I have done all that I need to do regarding travel arrangements, just waiting on the TM and travel agent to give me some itineraries and numbers. I don’t like when people take too long.

I had to FedEx show contracts to one of our tour accountants. Naturally he told me to send them to the venue where he would be at the next day. These contracts have now vanished – and no one at the venue knows the name who had signed for them. Now what the hell do I do?

So we are meeting with the artist that I mentioned previously in my blog. Yes, the one whose music I didn’t really enjoy. I spoke to her on the phone for about 20 minutes today and we have a good rapport going on. She has a music video that she recently made, so I watched it. Ehhh…she has great style, the video was shot pretty interestingly – though slow at first, but the music is still so-so. It’s not bad, just got a good first single.

Before I left the office I was talking to one of the assistant tour managers that I talk to several times a day. Come to find out she lives in NYC so once she’s off her current tour, we’re going to go out for some drinks and shows since we have a lot of the same music tastes. Nice – I’m really excited because she’s always fun to speak with, and its funny because she asks me if she is doing things correctly. I just don’t know how old she is since we only speak on email, aim, and the phone. What if she is 55? I doubt she is – but still, that would be funny.

Yes, tomorrow s Friday. See, some people live for Fridays, but Fridays sometimes scare me. Most people have a two day vacation, for me – it’s just two days away from the office where I have to be prepared for any random question that comes to be while I am either driving, drinking, sleeping, or ignoring my phones.

score one for me

Not too long ago we had an artist come into our office to feel her out about possible management. B2 and I don't really enjoy her music. I've listened to a lot of her tunes, and though she is very marketable and fits into that young girl pop rocky niche, I don't feel the music. Rarely do you when you fall into that category. I still gave it a chance though and there are a few songs on there that have potential - not to be groundbreaking, but to sell albums.

B1, B2, and I met with her even though B2 and I went into is with the mindset of just talking with her, not to be proactive about anything. This girl has her cards lined up all right: already signed to a major, great booking agency, and her dad is pretty well respected in the industry. Those factors do overshadow the music at times. The girl has talent, she's been on stage, on film, on tv, and recordings - perhaps she is still just young so there isn't much substance and doesn't know who she is, or wants to be yet.

B2 and I have very similar music tastes and are very realistic, whereas B1 is all about the trends, but obviously knows the game. There's no second glance if B2 doesn't like something at first glance, and it comes off as attitude. I can read B2 and really mesh well with his personality, which is the main reason I think we get along so smoothly - mostly everyone new that he meets, not so much. B1 is slightly different, if he likes you - you know it by his attention, time, and willingness to personally open up. If he doesn't dig you, he is still cordial, but more straighforward businessy.

We are still courting the artist, pretty much just waiting to see how one of her auditions went. Today B1 and B2 said that she didn't have much to say about them, but spoke very highly about me to her father. NICE! That made my evening - especially how it came as a surprise. I still don't think I want her to be one of our artists though.

Yesterday sucked

Ever have one of those days that within five minutes of being in the office, you know it is going to be hell? Yesterday was it. I hadn't been so frustrated and close to tears since I first started. To make matters worse, I wasn't responsible for any of the craziness, I just received everyone's anxiety.

As soon as I walked into work, early, the phones were going crazy. I had booked B1 a vehicle for a big meeting with one of our artists. He was also with a few of the best agents and label heads in the US. Their car wasn't at the confirmed location - it was 20 miles away. The company had made a mistake, and granted though it wasn't my fault and I was able to fix the damn situation, it didn't put B1 in a good mood.

Once he was in the car, I had to navigate him to the artist's house because the rental company made another mistake by not equipping the vehicle with a navigation system. They were trying to drive out of a city, but most of the roads were closed due to an event and a storm. His frustration, again, was taken out on me. I finally got him out onto a highway and he pleaded with me that I was taking him the wrong way. I ensured him that I was following the map and reading it to him exactly how I should. He became exasperated with me and hung up to get directions from a gas station. An hour later he called to apologize saying that I was right all along, it just didn't look familiar to him.

I'm now 2 hours behind schedule my day. I usually do my artist ticket counts and guest lists first thing in the morning, but obviously I am already into the afternoon. Oh, I almost forgot, B1 also had lost his blackberry over the weekend, so in addition to answering all of the calls and emails directed to me, I also had to keep tabs on all of his incoming emails. I'm already behind schedule, have to deal with his correspondence along with my own, but now I am on the search for a new blackberry. He has a model that was new 6 months ago, there is now a newer one out - he doesn't want that one - so most of my day was spent searching for said blackberry. Once found, I had to run out downtown in the rain - not that pleasant.

Midafternoon he asked me to check for flights for his daughter. I have artist stuff to work on! So while still searching for all possible flight scenarios for his daughter, I was juggling setting up worldwide phone interviews. I was yelled at for not finding a flight fast enough!

I don't get upset that often, and though I'm pretty high strung, I have a high frustration threshold. I've dealt with a lot of crap during my childhood that pretty much all obstacles thrown at me as an adult have been pretty mundane. So I just don't let it get to me. Not today. I could only get yelled at, hung up on, and let down so many times. And of course I am upsetting our artists because I can't get any of their stuff done due to having to run around with B1.

Could it get worse? Yes, his cell phone stopped working. By the way, he was in a different time zone. He just lost both of his life lines in less than 24 hours - his cell and blackberry. So now I have to field all of his calls and emails while trying to do EVERYTHING ELSE. Oh wait, B2 had left mid afternoon because he was sick. So add all of the responsibilty he left me with my already crazed day and you get one frustrated and overworked assistant. I ate lunch at 5:30 pm.

I was at work for about 13 hours and left after an apologetic phone conversation with B1. I'm not tht upset anymore - I was just completely burnt out yesterday, and thought I was drained, I felt unsatisfied as my work day was pretty much unsubstantial. Sigh, there will be days like this.

searching for something that isn't there

Hello there, it's been a while.

I was at work the other day for 11 hours. The last hour was spent looking for an email that didn't exist. B1 swore that it was in English, and I swore that it was not. I was correct, and was validated after worldwide calls.

I also got yelled out for something I was completely not involved. I think B1 just needed a scapegoat, so fine.

Abum artwork is still being negotiated. Tours are about the start. Giddy up.

And B1 and I took a roadtrip last night to check out a band. What went not so right the other day became so right on Friday night.

After this weekend, it all begins...the tours, the album release prep, and seeing what happens with the bands that we've seen.

I am way too tired to write anymore.

busy as a bee

Lately I've had a one track mind - work, work, work. No fear though, because I'm really enjoying it. The comaraderie in the office is at an all time high and there is much excitement going on with our artists.

For the past week and for the upcoming days I have been immersed in, but not limited to: spellchecking lyrics, researching radio markets for an upcoming tour, gathering all foreign promoters information for a worldwide tour, calculating distances and chosing the best transpo for the upcoming national and worldwide tour, chosing promo photos for the label, selecting artwork, passing on mock ups, planning trips to LA, researching clusters and viewing habits of website visitors, and I forget about what the hell else.

Back to the comaraderie - the atmosphere has really changed in the past year. The other day B2 was speaking with one of the booking agents we work with and stated "the three of us" blah blah blah. Yes - I am apart of the "us". I know they view me as more than just an assistant, I becoming more the day to day point person. We have two meetings with high profile potential clients coming up and apparently I have to be present, good to see my input and outtake is valued. I'm just waiting for my damn very own artist because I know things will change even more.

the kids are in town to play

I guess it means somehting when today is an extremely slow day in the office due to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame dinner tonight. Apparently everyone I deal with on a daily basis is enjoying cocktails right now.

diner calls

I was at the diner with my friends tonight and B1 calls. Naturally I had my blackberry on the table, because you just never know and missing a work call is not an option. So B1 calls and I debated on answering it since I was out in public, not near a computer, and preoccupied. I answer is he is asking me about tv lineups and channels. my friends, hearing my side of the conversation, start laughing because they are obviously not used to what a portion of my day entails. I see them from my peripheral vision and I almost lose it because B1 is going on and on and on and the laughter is continuing. I hung up and really had nothing to say in defence, just that I pretty much have to be on my toes at all times and be a walking reference. While at the gym this weekend I was also summoned asking when this years Siren Festival is - luckily I knew that without second thought.

cd release prep

One of our artists has an album coming out, which means much excitement. I haven’t been so heavily involved with a release before and I’m really loving it.

Of course, the release date has changed three times already. I have spent the past three days blasting the CD and checking out sequences. We think we have it, but it may change slightly. It’s all a delicate balance of 50 minutes of rock. There’s one song I don’t like, and luckily it’s the last song. The lyrics are good, the music just irritates me. Unfortunately it slid in before the online bonus track and a slew of other, in my opinion, better songs that were cut.

The second single has already been chosen and there is a general consensus, though the first single is still debatable. I am honestly torn between the two songs. One seems more radio ready, though the second one I personally like more and I think is more powerful. I think the lyrics are stronger, and as cheesy as this may sound, the single will be release around April/May and the target market will be graduating and moving on with their lives and this song fits in nicely. Would be a gem for radio request lines in the midst of the summer fun anthems that plague radio shortly after that time.

There’s also discussions and critiques regarding the album art. We had one cover, which I liked, already get scrapped – though it may be used for the advances and promo. The past few days we have gone into various record shops and checking out the album art for artists in the same letter range. We’ll probably do another photo shoot outside of the studio and work with those with the old ones and create one slammin’ mock up.

And then there is the website that will soon go live. I was able to contribute a lot for the design and content – especially since I am all about research and jumping on trends, so gathering the most visitor info was key for me.

It’s all piecing together nicely.

I recently ran into a friend in another band that I knew pretty well and have been with as their develop and they are going through the same thing as I am, just on the artist end. It was comical that he did the record store thing too. Absolutely love it – looks like we are both on the right track. Summer 2006 will be an amazing time for music.

End of week thoughts

Seems like yesterday was a good day, though I was too spaced to realize it. I was complimented by two of our artists about how nice and easy to work with. I then chatted it up with another one of our high profile artists and then later he was in my dream - weird.

I got invited to a meeting with a prospective artist, so that's fun.

In other news...the record is in the can! The full length is done now its all about getting the packaging together. Of course the artist, label, and management all have differing opinions on the album art - hell, all of us in the office have differing opinions, though I share the closest sentiment of the artist. I shared my thoughts before I heard the opposing thoughts, so hopefully I will get the opportunity tomorrow to defend myseld since I think I have some good supportive arguments. Its a gutsy and nontraditional cover, but coming from years of working in a record store-i hold a strong case in the retail aspect.

So this TM has it out for me. Of course sometimes I do get my info wrong and he is calm with me, but most of that is coming from someone else incorrectly and I am merely the messenger. Right before I left work he sent me an email accusing me of getting three emails wrong and how I should check my stiuff and its wasted time. I had just corResponded wiht those promoters so I know that they were valid. I checked what he sent them. In their address he had spelled "clearchannel" "chearchannel" and "entertainment" "enentertainment".

Argh!!!!!!

At least tomorrow is friday where not only do I go in early, but I celebrate the end of the week with lattes.

lack of $$$

In case anyone is wondering, I get paid less than anyone I know with a full time job. Lately I have encountered people with the misconception that I am rolling in the dough because of my "glamourous" job. Wrong.

Yes, I do work 10 hours a day. No, I do not have time for a lunchbreak. Yes, I do eat while on the computer/phone/running around as do my other coworkers. Yes, I do write emails while on the subway. Yes, I have been woken up in the middle of the night for work things. No, I do not have dental insurance. Yes, I have two credit cards almost completely maxed out. No, I do not have a savings account.

I do love my job. There is just no money in it till you put in your dues. Which is why I am here and why despite my complaining and friends' impulsions - why I am staying. And it's obviously not about the money to me, but sometimes it does suck. So don't get into this biz if its the immediate dollas you are looking for.

no more caffiene

This morning I was a little spastic and too methodical. I have been banned from purchasing coffee from outside. B1 will be making me apparently the "best coffee ever" each morning and I will now be monitored. I don't know if he is trying to open new doors to me, or if they are trying to keep me down.

I also just found out that a few upcoming shows that I am going to for fun, B1 will also be attending. He'll be at the bar, I'll be at the stage - and we'll reconvene in the green room.

I am the worst when it comes to managing my finances. It's pretty scary that I take care of all of our artists finances in regards to consulting and expenses. February expenses is the beast that I am tackling now, which is my least favorite thing to do at work. Such a pain in the butt. If I had to do it over, each artist would have their own cc for the company, then a company card. There would be more plastic, but at least there would be less paperwork and thinking.

I was talking to a friend this morning about how out of touch I have become. I need to get back into the discovering artists kick. Granted, I still love my under the radar artists, but more of my time has been spent enjoying the artists that I have been listening to for a while who are now becoming established. Gotta catch them in the fetus stage.

lots of thinking today

This is going to be me venting.

There's a band that I've known and semi-worked with for about 3.5 years. Though it doesn't seem like a long time, I've been there through different member changes, instrument lineup, sound evolvement, nearly every other sort of drama that has occurred. It was by chance that I met them through music industry activities that I was involved in - we just both happened to be at the same place at the same time. We've been through many states together and have enjoyed many random late night conversations. My relationship with these guys went from a "working" relationship to more of a friendship - which I loved. My friends and I would go to their shows because they needed our support and it was just great hanging out. It was more like just seeing our friends and getting music in between conversations. Many many many great adventures and stories to go along. Because of my various endeavors in the music industry, they came to me for advice, and I always tried to work hard to give them opportunities and to introduce them to many different people.

I can't pinpoint how and when, but everything has changed. A few of the members of the band were people I would talk to weekly, finding them on my call log multiple times within days and for long periods of time. Now it's just few word emails talking about am upcoming show or event. I don't mean this to come across as me being needy - it's something different that I just can't explain.

Maybe it's me just losing passion. I'm so very tired of hearing complaints or what they hope to achieve but don't see them being proactive about it. There is only so many months...years, you can take of it. It's especially tiring when you try everything you can to help them and get ideas in their head and it takes very long, if ever, for those actions to actually take place. Sorry for the vagueness, but that is all I can give. Maybe it's me wanting more for them than they actually want - because I have no other way to explain the stagnantness of it all. Perhaps its the music manager in me that has been trying to fuel a fire and just getting tired of minimal results.

So I am trying to justify this breach and I cannot. I admit, I haven't been as adamant as I have in the past about supporting and seeing them, because over the past few months - they have been replaced in my mind. They have been replaced by friends and by bands who I can be actively involved with - everything that used to be. It's just strange - we're all busy, that's what makes us interesting. But there are artists that I have less personal ties with whom I correspond with twenty times more than all of the band combined, and those artists are a heck of a lot busier. It's hard to work with anyone when there is a lack of communication and desire.

For a while, I was the closest person they had for consulting. At work work, we talk with our artists hours each day - either on the phone, email, or just long meetings knocking out ideas and being constructive about future careers. For the past year every time I was in their area (which is a lot), I offered up my "vacation time" to meet and bounce off ideas and plan and create - not once did it happen. Kinda makes me wonder what we may get from them if we actually end up working together professionally and formally.

The other day, I was unable to make their show at one of the venues I usually see them perform. I woke up in the middle of the night and it bothered me that I was more upset to not be seeing my usual venue friends and roadtripping than I was about seeing the band. It could have been anyone playing - I was more giddy and excited for the experience, not the music. Maybe it's just me being hurt and trying not to face it. I'm still pushing for them and their opportunities (as we may work with them professionally) - but that is merely for the sake of the music biz.

"You guys, you're always talking about the fans, the fans, the fans; she was your biggest fan, and you threw her away! And if you can't see that, that's your biggest problem" - almost famous

don't yell at me

Last week, I set up a meeting for B1 involving him and the President of a major label in regards to one of our artists. The Prez's assistant is usually really nice and helpful - not this time.

I had double confirmed the meeting and even called her when B1 walked through the label's doors since he was a few minutes late. Minutes later, she calls me asking me the whereabouts of our artist. The artist in question was the topic of the meeting, he wasn't attanding the meeting. I know for a fact that the miscommunication was on her end since I had been booking his Academy Award travel, no way I would have mistaken him to be in NYC instead of LA.

This girl flew off the handle at me and I had no idea what to say. I stayed calm and confident in what I had originally discussed with her and reassured her that the artist was not in NYC. She said some choice words and phrases that were just not appropriate for the work place. She ended up hanging up on me.

The assistant called back a few minutes later to yell at me some more and told me next time I want to communicate with her, to do it via email.

A half hour later, she called to apologize saying that when she looked at her notes last week she realized she was the one in the wrong. She said she had a bad day and took it out on me. Sigggghhhhhhh.

I was justa littleafraid that B1 would catch wind and yell at me, though it wasn't my fault. I told him and he defended me, which was good. We talked about assistants and being all lower rung and stuff. It was a good conversation. I think I am going to start asking the assistants that I work with on a regular basis if they want to go out for drinks after work. I am sure I am not the only underling in the industry that needs to let off steam after work. Would that be weird?

i'm correct

Previously I think I touched upon a tour manager whom I don’t think is very fond of me. I haven’t made many mistakes around him, in fact, I should be the one who is more frustrated as he rarely gets back to me in a timely fashion and he lets things slide to the last minute or doesn’t make me aware of changes at all. But that is ok.

Last night, while home, I sent out a tour itinerary that I have been working on for the past few days. I know this damn tour inside an out and checked and double checked the dates. The TM called me out early this morning in a reply-all response informing me how I need to be more astute and get my dates and locations correct as I have send out the wrong info for some dates.

I came into work to check the contracts to see if I had an oversight, but no – I was correct. Working with this artist is frustrating on so many levels.

tickets

B1 wants tickets to a sold out high profile arena show that has no comps. Oh, but I just scored 4 tickets for him. Because I am awesome.

Before I left work, I got yelled at from some chick because I was nice enough to inform her that B1 was running late in his calls. She told me how she has a family and cannot and will not wait around, though less tactifully. Well, that's nice. I already had gone into work early, ended up staying an hour later, have no time to pee, don't have time to hang out with my friends, respond to my mom's emails with one word, and had to learn key words in a different language today. Be fucking thankful I took the thirty seconds to inform you that you could utilize those ten minutes instead of waiting around.

In other exciting news, a band that I hope we sign is coming into town soon. It's been "their year" two years going now so I kinda feel like 2006 will either be it or not at all. I'm personally invested in the band and know that they have the talent and drive to succeed, they just had some faulty decisions along the way - thus keeping them in a rut. It's just weird circumstances right now. I have a lot of other things going on now - trying to make more time with my friends and of course being crazy deep in work, and less time for the band that I once had. I also recieved an email from one of the members out of the blue that was very strange, which has pushed me away a little bit. I'm positive it wasn't meant to because I brought it up and things were clarified, but the initial seed was planted. It just hasn't been the same lately - I look forward more to the roadtrips and the friends I have made through them than actually hearing the music, maybe I'm just tired, or maybe 3 years of the same grind has gotten to me. Don't get me wrong, they are still great guys and have the potential for a great future - but I think I may be tired of saying that. Having this band on our roster would be one of the best decisions they've made and will also give me some clout in this crazy industry. Additionally, it will be my most hands on project yet.

tired

I could be here for 24 hours a day and still not get everything done. :-/ I'm frustrated because I can't even see my desk. I have so many things that are important that need to be done, but obviously I can only work on one thing at a time.

B1 is looking through an outdated tour binder and I think he is disappointed. It was on my desk because I was about to update it with the latest deal memos, ad plans, market research, etc. But he needed it now. Now was also when I had to get a package ready to be overnighted by 7 pm (I just finished it), set up two meetings for tomorrow, find an artist's cell number, plan B1's trip to LA, research a copyright infringement, and deal with all the people calling.

This morning I knew would be rough, so I made coffee at home. I drank a cup while getting ready, then another 2 cups during my cold trek to the office. After I got out of the subway I received a text from the intern saying she picked up coffee for me. 5 cups before noon and that still couldn't get me through my day.

mobile office

This weekend I went to a show. I spent most of my time during the opening act writing a document to send out ASAP. The best was when they cut the house lights and couldn't see what I was transcribing. Good times. I got it done. Damn good thing I had all of my papers and notes with me as I travelled this weekend, wouldn't want to be caught empty handed while at the bar socializing with friends.

cry wolf

Yesterday I went to the gym - ipod, keys, and blackberry in hand. I don't bring my regular phone, friends can wait. Blackberry doesn't know the term "wait". I start my 4 mile run and prop the blackberry on the machine so I can see it if it goes off. Rarely do I get summoned while I am at the gym, but the day I leave it in the car is when an emergency happens.

Halfway through my run I realize that I have 6 missed calls and 2 emails from B1. I don't know how I missed the flashing, but I did. All of the messages said to call him, nothing descriptive. So here I am sweating on the treadmill obviously without any of my papers or near a computer ready for this catastrophic emergency that warranted 8 reach outs to me in 15 minutes. And yes, I become that girl who is talking on the cell while on the treadmill. Luckily B1 was just asking how I was feeling and how my weekend was. Then as a side note asked if on Tuesday I can change his hotel. Um...? This is one percent of why I am always so anxious.

But today I headed to the coffeeshop before work since I needed to jumpstart my morning and I came in and the intern had on my desk a glorious cup of caffeine. Yay for double caffeine Tuesdays.