Holiday Cheer

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all!!!!

I usually do the annual wrap-up about this time, but so much is happening I think I'll wait until January to sum up 2011.But today....today I'll make a few announcements I've been promising. From a Christmas/Holiday present to web-related up-dates and more.

1) Locations: Private lessons still at Hurst Music (corner of Mt. Tabor & Richmond Rd), Thursday groups at the Beaumont YMCA (Beaumont Circle), and Tuesday groups...looks like we'll continue at the COC (corner of Man o' War & Beaver Creek) for now....BIG sigh of relief (hahaha!).



2) Holiday Gift: I wanted to do more for all my students, but I'm at least gonna manage the list below this year:


A) BEAUMONT students: I can't offer discounts due to my arrangement with the YMCA, but I can offer this to all Beaumont guitar students registered for the 8-week January-February session - you can also come to my COC location (Tuesdays, same schedule) for FREE for the 8-week January-February session so that you'll have 2 lessons per week.

B) COC students: I can't offer the same deal (going to Beaumont), so ALL students registering for the 8-week January-February session will get 50% off!

C) HURST students: All of you get both a 20% discount for January AND get to come to the GTR-4 class at COC (Tuesday at 8pm) for FREE during the January-February session.

My apologies I am unable to do more this year. Hoping next year I can do a bit better!

3) Student resources: As we speak, we're doing a massive web-site re-design. Included in that re-design is the splitting off of most "content" to the new Skinny Devil Magazine (which will feature music, articles, reviews, lessons, art, literature, and more....not just from me, but from a variety of creators) and the re-vamped SkinnyDevil.com (which will have info on performance, lessons, composition, Alien Blue, student resources, and more). The student resources will include an expanded student play-along set (formerly known as the student play-along CD), rhythm drills, classic & new song charts (some in "studio cheat-sheet" form , others in tab/notation), a gig guide, jam trax, and much more.

4) Student Recital: The next student recital will be in February. A date has not yet been selected, but likely late in the month.

I will be doing the 2011 wrap-up soon...so please remind me of all YOUR music accomplishments in 2011 (no way I can remember it all!) so I can include it in the newsletter.

I may also have a few private lessons slots opening, so please let me know if YOU are still in the market for private lessons....or you can also call Paul Felice, Chris Simpson, Luke Jackson, Michael Fogler, Dave Peterson, or Tim Fowler.

I'm always interested in creating opportunities for everyone....so if you are interested in gigs, becoming an SDML instructor, studio opps, or partnering with me in some way to work in the music biz, please don't hesitate to let me know!

That's all for now. See ya soon!!!!!!!

November Lifestyle Challenge

Here we are...NOVEMBER of 2011! Time for another challenge....which, as an aside, I'm now linking in more venues than just FB (feel free to share this link elsewhere if you'd like).

For those new to the challenges, it isn't to compete against others. It's to push yourself to greater heights, have some company & inspiration along the way, and a few ideas the help get us focused. For example, you can use this waving of the analytical knife to help organize your goals:

1) Exercise - Set a specific plan or goal(s). Keep us posted weekly (or more) on your progress!

2) Creativity - Music, art, writing, acting...set a goal to complete by month's end. Keep us posted!

3) Personal life - Re-affirm your personal relationships, get to that project/chore you've been avoiding, or just read a book you've always wanted to read!

4) Professional life - Set a work goal or change jobs or....just tell us what it is and keep us posted!

I'll post my goals below, and then provide weekly up-dates...

How about YOU?

Recital Vids & moree!

Quick note....recital videos, new recital, new session, scholarships:

1) Guitar Lessons:

     a) Groups Classes - the new session begins NEXT WEEK at both Beaumont and the CoC. GTR-1, GTR-2, GTR-3, GTR-4, and Youth-GTR!

     b) Private Lessons - I may have a few early slots opening up. I'll keep you posted, but best to contact me now about possible openings.


2) Scholarships - Scholarships at ALL 3 locations are available. Contact me for information! Do NOT let financial stress stop you or anyone you know from taking guitar lessons.

Also....to help me keep the SDML scholarship alive, please lend a hand - SPREAD THE WORD about lessons!


3) Recital Videos - The videos from the last recital are up! Here's the playlist:

     http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCEFD779D80C7273


4) Recital - Reminder....the next recital is Sunday, November 6 at the Beaumont YMCA. First names A thru K at 1pm. First names L thru Z at 3pm.

That's all for now......

"So, my big brother was playing guitar and I figured I'd try it too."
-- Stevie Ray Vaughan

“Together we can change the world, one good deed at a time.”
-- Anon

 

Backing up Nancy at a 2011 guitar student recital!

 

Guitar Student Newsletter

Guitar Student Newsletter

October 2011

Howdy!

Coming up FAST on the holidays...the next recital...a new sessions...new lesson schedules....

OCTOBER Lifestyle Challenge!

Here we are...OCTOBER of 2011! Time for another challenge....which, as an aside, I'm now linking in more venues than just FB (feel free to share this link elsewhere if you'd like).

For those new to the challenges, it isn't to compete against others. It's to push yourself to greater heights, have some company & inspiration along the way, and a few ideas the help get us focused. For example, you can use this waving of the analytical knife to help organize your goals:

1) Exercise - Set a specific plan or goal(s). Keep us posted weekly (or more) on your progress!

2) Creativity - Music, art, writing, acting...set a goal to complete by month's end. Keep us posted!

3) Personal life - Re-affirm your personal relationships, get to that project/chore you've been avoiding, or just read a book you've always wanted to read!

4) Professional life - Set a work goal or change jobs or....just tell us what it is and keep us posted!

I'll post my goals below, and then provide weekly up-dates...

How about YOU?

ALIEN BLUE: Cigar Box Guitar Jam - "Medusa"

Just sharing this before ALIEN BLUE hits the studio this weekend......ENJOY!!!

Object Writing

Sooo...10 minutes a day is all Pat allows. It's an exercise, he says, to learn to dive fast and, ultimately, deep. Supposed to be "sense-driven", too. But I've been reading too much Amy Hempel, I should think. We'll see if it flies.

I think I like Pat, though it's hard to say. Too early to tell...only 12 pages in or so. But I like what I hear about him, and I like those 12 pages. A lot.

I like what I hear about Amy's teacher, too, Gordon Lish. And Chuck's teacher, Tom Spanbauer. I like Chuck & Amy's writing, and of course William Gibson, and many others.

Since one of my goals for the year was more literary essays (and blogs), and one of my goals forever has been to write better lyrics (not to mention assist students with exercises & info to help them write better music & lyrics), I thought it was time to get down to it the way I've always gotten down to guitar and music and other things that I presumably do well. Soooo....to that end, I'll write mostly every day for only 10 minutes, non-lyric format, sense-driven, based on one object. This from Pat's book, though it reminds me of the writing exercise for Pirsig's class (even though it wasn't). I recall the building that became the wall that became the brick....then the ideas flowed....

2011 Goals - 9 month up-date

WOW!!! 2011 has been a roller coaster so far...and no signs of slowing down!

Let's jump right in with the up-dates...but first, here is the original post:

http://skinnydevilmusic.blogspot.com/2011/02/sdml-creative-biz-goals-for-2011.html

1) Skinny Devil TV - still in a holding pattern. Full disclosure: I've spoken to the likes of Jennifer Batten, Greg Howe, Rory Block, Dave Martone, Kelly Ritchey, Ben Lacy, & others....but this baby is coming down to money. No corporate sponsorship, no SD-TV. We may try to run ONE show as a "pilot", then use it to attempt to secure sponsorship, but right now this has floated to the back burner until the economy improves and businesses are willing to take a few chances.

But I'm all ears if anyone has any ideas!

2) "A Personal Note" - Also on back burner. Simply put, I don't have enough hours in the day to make this fly right now. For those wondering what "APN" is, just listen...HEATHER

Jason & me - Sneak Attack!

3) Music Production - BOOM! Since the last up-date, we've recorded demos for Slade, Travis, Kayla, and more...done 3 sessions at Sneak Attack Studio (Greg's A/D conversion as well as forth-coming CDs from both Julia Knight & Sydney Cubit)...scheduled October & November dates for Stephanie and JD/DQ's duo....done a mobile recording for Tango Mango...and am currently pouring thru live recordings from various gigs at Natasha's.

  

Alien Blue - LIVE!

4) Alien Blue - The CD keeps getting delayed due to gigs (most recently after being chosen as a finalist in the KBS Blues Challenge & now the KYB Blues Challenge), but we're about to schedule time and get this thing done!!! We have a song or two from Mike Froedge's Open Sky Studio (Atlanta) & will record the rest at Sneak Attack Studio (Lexington) and 13 O'clock Studio (Richmond).

5) Skinny Devil Magazine - Keeps getting pushed back as I try to find a computer guru who can help without charging me an arm & a leg. But slowly re-designing the web-site so it'll be ready when an entrepreneurial guru shows up....

6) SDML Instructor Network - Harder than I thought....but since the last up-date I've begun organizing material for e-books, putting together biz data, added my buddy Tim Fowler to the fold, speaking to 2 more Lex-area instructors, and am chatting with others out of state.

On-stage with MJ at Woodsongs!

7) Gun-for-Hire - Awaiting trax to complete the "Pharaoh 2.0" and "Denmark Dance" projects, and am on the look-out for other projects. Got to play on-stage at Woodsongs with my friend Michael Johnathon again!

8) Film/TV/media and Music Licensing - I've provided music for the zombie movie and am actively seeking more projects for film & TV. I'm also chatting with a couple of folks about licensing my solo works as well as music from Alien Blue.

9) Endorsement Deals - Securing a few select deals now. I will keep these to a bare minimum.

10) Skinny Devil Records - As before, we'll see how this pans out at year's end....

11) Recording Studio - No longer a viable goal (deals with Sneak Attack & 13 O'clock have made it unnecessary), though I still have my mobile recording gear and may well look to others to start using it actively in the community. This goal has mutated into something else....which I will announce (hopefully) by year's end!

If you're interested in engineering a small mobile set-up, let me know!

12) Workshops - On hold....BUT we're looking at a performance series (sort of a hybrid between SD-TV & formal workshops) bringing in great artists from the region. I've already spoken with award-winning bluesman "Blind-Dog" Gatewood, rippin' Americana duo Mamakitty, One-Shot Johnny, & more. Still requires some financial backing, but a MUCH smaller amount.
Now we just need a family-friendly venue that serves full meals & has a full bar (per audience requests)....that hopeully also has stage, PA, & lites!

Any ideas???

SDML showcase at Natasha's!

13) Student Opps - BOOM! Since the last up-date 3 months ago, we've booked performances at Woodsongs (pre-show), Moon Dance Amphitheater (DAC film series), hosted 2 SDML Spotlight shows (one at Common Grounds, one at Natasha's), booked students into 3 of the Pop's Singer-Songwriter events, and hosted yet another SDML guitar recital. Plus, we've seen more students playing events in Nashville, Memphis, Louisville, Cincy, etc....and encouraged even greater participation in local events like Lex-Jam! Also, I got to put my buddy Tim Fowler on the main stage at Woodosongs playing slide guitar using an Eric Hutchens custom Cigar Box Guitar!

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I also mentioned several other items in the original post.....I'm still teaching 5 days a week, but we'll have phased out Saturday by year's end, I have a new location to teach groups in the Richmond Road area, and looks like I might not significantly increase my income BUT it won't drop by 20% when I drop to teaching 4 days.

Total failure with the literary blog, but I plan to be on that soon, too! Might even start writing fan mail!

Sooo......things are cooking along. Big success in some areas and lack of success in other areas has crystalized some ideas for me, which in turn has enabled me to re-focus and, with luck (and a little help from all of YOU), turn the failures into success.

Stay tuned - we've got 3+ months left!

Time is running out in 2011 - HURRY!!!

September Lifestyle Challenge

Me & Jason, Sneak Attack Studio, summer 2011.

Here we are...SEPTEMBER of 2011! Time for another challenge....

For those new to the challenges, it isn't to compete against others. It's to push yourself to greater heights, have some company & inspiration along the way, and a few ideas the help get us focused. For example, you can use this waving of the analytical knife to help organize your goals:

1) Exercise - Set a specific plan or goal(s). Keep us posted weekly (or more) on your progress!

2) Creativity - Music, art, writing, acting...set a goal to complete by month's end. Keep us posted!

3) Personal life - Re-affirm your personal relationships, get to that project/chore you've been avoiding, or just read a book you've always wanted to read!

4) Professional life - Set a work goal or change jobs or....just tell us what it is and keep us posted!

I'll post my goals below, and then provide weekly up-dates...

How about YOU?

August Lifestyle Challenge

Here we are...AUGUST of 2011! Time for another challenge....

For those new to the challenges, it isn't to compete against others. It's to push yourself to greater heights, have some company & inspiration along the way, and a few ideas the help get us focused. For example, you can use this waving of the analytical knife to help organize your goals:

1) Exercise - Set a specific plan or goal(s). Keep us posted weekly (or more) on your progress!

2) Creativity - Music, art, writing, acting...set a goal to complete by month's end. Keep us posted!

3) Personal life - Re-affirm your personal relationships, get to that project/chore you've been avoiding, or just read a book you've always wanted to read!

4) Professional life - Set a work goal or change jobs or....just tell us what it is and keep us posted!

I'll post my goals below, and then provide weekly up-dates...

How about YOU?

Summer 2011 - NEWS

Life has been fast & crazy..... In an attempt to impose some order on the chaos of the Skinny Devil Universe, I shall attempt to categorize and hit some of the high points of the last few weeks....live gigs, students, teaching, raw food friends, Zakk's BLS, & more!

1) TV/radio - I was honored to get the call from my friend Michale Johnathon (see MJ's official fan page) last month to play guitar for him on the Woodsongs Old-time Radio Hour (check local listings for public TV & radio). I got to play MJ's Martin guitar and brought along my buddy Tim Fowler to play slide on his Cigar Box guitar (made by the same guy who made my CBG, Eric Hutchens of Smokin' Instruments). Also got to chat back-stage with old friends & new, as well as a lengthy conversation with Dick Boak, and excellent multi-instrumentalist & multi-disciplinary artist.

2) Alien Blue - Regarding my duo Alien Blue: Hot from our return headlining the Sandbar's Tybee Blues Jam & prepping for our Wounded Warriors gig Friday (8-5), we got word that we are a finalist in the KBS Blues Challenge. We'll be performing in Louisville August 14 at the Zeppelin Cafe along with 9 other acts. Looks lie a FUN gig! We are humbled and honored to be included in such a stellar line-up - big thanx to ALL involved!

3) Raw Pals - While in Tybee, not only did we hang out with Danny O (one of the coolest people on Planet Earth) & a rowdy group of talented musicians, but I got to see & play with my old buddy Tony Thorpe (formerly of David Wolfe's Healing Waters Band). In addition to being a fellow raw foodie, he also does the best Elvis since, well...Elvis! Another big shout to our mutual friend Tonya Kay (see Tonya's official fan page). She has, with her chaotic yet systematic magic, taken hold of Hollywood by the throat. Big things in her past and even bigger things coming down the pipe for this young lady!

4) Zakk Wylde/BLS - Big shout to Zakk for making the best career choice ever: He invited my former band-mate & owner/engineer of Open Sky Studio Mike Froedge (see Mike's official fan page) to be his new drummer. Mike - the best drummer/percussionist I've ever worked with - has been on tour with BLS for the past few months (US, Europe, & more), rockin' the planet hard! For those who recall, Alien Blue recorded last summer at Mike's studio (listen to "Like it Like That" for his handiwork as engineer).

5) Students - I've lost count, but it looks like at least 5 CD releases from students planned this year, and a lot of demos. I'm very fortunate to work on most of these in one capacity or another (guitarist, engineer, or producer). Students have also been playing EVERYWHERE...from local gigs all over Lexington to regional gigs (St. Louis to Nashville to Louisville to Cincy to Atlanta to Destin to Memphis to DC...), not to mention we've started the new SDML Showcase gigs that will be hosted by Common Grounds, Natasha's, & perhaps another venue or two!

6) Students 2.0 - In addition to their recording & gigging, many are racking up pro credits working with others musically, as well as stage & film. Big nod to Paul Felice (an SDML certified instructor) for landing the BIG gig with Kristi Miller, John Davis (another SDML certified instructor who will be studying jazz at Morehead State this fall) for nailing the OutletDown gig (complete with studio sessions & 12 city tour), and Caitlyn Capriette (see her fan page) for landing the lead role in the new movie "No Lost Cause" (where 3 of her original songs also appear).

7) Teaching - My teaching schedule is changing radically. Looks like 3 locations teaching 4 days a week, leaving the weekends open for more live & studio gigs. The new location will be announced soon, where I'll be teaching group classes in synch with the schedule I use at the Beaumont Y. Private lessons will still be at Hurst Music. Also hoping to add more certified teachers to the SDML network!

As an aside, the next student recital is August 28...

8) 2011 Goals - I'll be up-dating the "2011 Goals" entry soon. You can see the 6-month follow-up (both my successes & failures) HERE. Also keep an eye out for our next monthly Lifestyle Challenge!

More soon!

JULY Lifestyle Challenge

Here we are...JULY of 2011! Time for another challenge....
For those new to the challenges, it isn't to compete against others. It's to push yourself to greater heights, have some company & inspiration along the way, and a few ideas the help get us focused. For example, you can use this waving of the analytical knife to help organize your goals:
1) Exercise - Set a specific plan or goal(s). Keep us posted weekly (or more) on your progress!
2) Creativity - Music, art, writing, acting...set a goal to complete by month's end. Keep us posted!
3) Personal life - Re-affirm your personal relationships, get to that project/chore you've been avoiding, or just read a book you've always wanted to read!
4) Professional life - Set a work goal or change jobs or....just tell us what it is and keep us posted!
I'll post my goals below, and then provide weekly up-dates...
How about YOU?

6 Month Goal Up-date

I posted my plans & goals for 2011 at the beginning of the year so I (and others) could learn from both my successes and my failures. This post is to do an up-date...and to invite others along for the ride! You need a CD produced, engineered, or mastered? You need a guitarist for a studio or live gig? You wanna partner for one of the biz opportunities (recording studio, SD-TV, etc?)? You want a job as a guitar instructor, booking agent, personal rep, or PR agent? Or perhaps you just wanna duplicate my right moves and avoid my wrong moves? READ ON!

The original post with my goals & plans for 2011 is here:

http://skinnydevilmusic.blogspot.com/2011/02/sdml-creative-biz-goals-for-2011.html

How am I doing? Let's see:

1) Skinny Devil TV: Has mutated to web-cast...but currently on-hold. Several super artists lined up, but the financial support is just not there right now. Comes down to cash.....

2) A Personal Note: New logo, but has taken a back seat to other projects. Will ramp up at summer's end.

3) Music Production: The original post said: "Get back into producing, engineering, & mastering. In addition to Alien Blue, engineer &/or produce &/or master 6 projects this year." This one has taken off....student AND non-student projects: Already worked as producer on Sydney Cubit's up-coming CD and am actively involved with other student CDs (John Davis, Caitlyn Capriette, Paul Felice, Julia Knight, Chung Yen Twins, etc.), touring area studios, several non-student production & guitar player gigs on the table, and more. PLUS gigs as guitarist (see below).

4) Alien Blue: Half the CD was recorded at Open Sky Studio (Atlanta) and sessions are being set up for 13 O'clock Studios (Richmond) and Sneak Attack Studio (Lexington) and possible Pinnacle Studio (Lexington). Plus hope to record some live shows & maybe include some live trax on the new CD!

5) Skinny Devil Magazine: Totally on hold at the moment.

6) SDML Instructor Network: Original post said: "Actively work to expand the SDML Instructor Network to include instructors in at least 5 states outside KY. Produce expanded teaching & business materials." 2 additional states as of this writing have instructors-in-training!

7) Gun for Hire: As with item #3....played guitar on Sydney's CD and will have guitar credits on at least 2 more and a couple possible offers on the table! In addition, played bass & am currently recording guitars on a multi-state project (Pharaoh 2.0) and guitar clips for a dance project out of Denmark.

8) Film/TV/media and Music Licensing: One film credit for producing 3 songs for Caitlyn Capriette that appear in the movie "No Lost Cause"....and one more to go!

9) Endorsement Deals: I've dropped most of my old deals and will be pursuing new deals at year's end.

10) Skinny Devil Records: We'll see how this pans out by years end.....

11) Recording Studio: Original post: "Partner to open recording studio by end of 2011." Not sure how this one is going to go down. The continuing recession has put a big damper on this as well as item #1.

12) Music Workshops: On hold.

13) Student Opps: Glad this has taken off!!! Some I have provided and some not, but I have students in all manner of projects now...from touring the southern US to movies to Hard Rock Cafe & Six Flags gigs to opening for nationally touring acts to CD releases to radio airplay to big festivals.....and cutting deals with area recording studios to provide discounts for student projects....BOOM!

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Also in the original post I mentioned reducing teaching to 4 days a week (done as of June 2011), aggressively reducing debt (car is now paid off and I have little debt left other than my house payment), and increasing income by 50% (not done yet, but currently at about 10% increase).

4 out of 13 are on hold, and 8 out of 13 should meet or exceed expectations by year's end.

I'll check in again at the 3/4 mark and see how things are progressing!!!

May Lifestyle Challenge!

Here we are...MAY of 2011! Time for another challenge....

For those new to the challenges, it isn't to compete against others. It's to push yourself to greater heights, have some company & inspiration along the way, and a few ideas the help get us focused. For example, you can use this waving of the analytical knife to help organize your goals:

1) Exercise - Set a specific plan or goal(s). Keep us posted weekly (or more) on your progress!

2) Creativity - Music, art, writing, acting...set a goal to complete by month's end. Keep us posted!

3) Personal life - Re-affirm your personal relationships, get to that project/chore you've been avoiding, or just read a book you've always wanted to read!

4) Professional life - Set a work goal or change jobs or....just tell us what it is and keep us posted!

I'll post my goals below, and then provide weekly up-dates...

How about YOU?

April Lifestyle Challenge!

Here we are...APRIL of 2011! Time for another challenge....

For those new to the challenges, it isn't to compete against others. It's to push yourself to greater heights, have some company & inspiration along the way, and a few ideas the help get us focused. For example, you can use this waving of the analytical knife to help organize your goals:

1) Exercise - Set a specific plan or goal(s). Keep us posted weekly (or more) on your progress!

2) Creativity - Music, art, writing, acting...set a goal to complete by month's end. Keep us posted!

3) Personal life - Re-affirm your personal relationships, get to that project/chore you've been avoiding, or just read a book you've always wanted to read!

4) Professional life - Set a work goal or change jobs or....just tell us what it is and keep us posted!

I'll post my goals below, and then provide weekly up-dates...

How about YOU?

Thumbtack Listing

Heard this was a great idea, so here it is:

GUITAR - lessons, performance, recording, more!

MARCH Lifestyle Challenge 2011

Here we are...March of 2011! Time for another challenge....

For those new to the challenges, it isn't to compete against others. It's to push yourself to greater heights, have some company & inspiration along the way, and a few ideas the help get us focused. For example, you can use this waving of the analytical knife to help organize your goals:

1) Exercise - Set a specific plan or goal(s). Keep us posted weekly (or more) on your progress!

2) Creativity - Music, art, writing, acting...set a goal to complete by month's end. Keep us posted!

3) Personal life - Re-affirm your personal relationships, get to that project/chore you've been avoiding, or just read a book you've always wanted to read!

4) Professional life - Set a work goal or change jobs or....just tell us what it is and keep us posted!

I'll post my goals below, and then provide weekly up-dates...

How about YOU?

SDML: Creative & Biz Goals for 2011

For educational purposes (mine & anyone in the arts who is or wishes to be self-employed), I decide to put all my cards on the table...my professional & artistic goals for 2011. The qualitative I don't list (things like "improving as a guitar instructor"), but the quantitative goals are put here in advance to provide a way to assess accomplishments & trajectories by year's end.

I should mention that as I've provided opportunity for others over the past decade, I've usually done so painlessly (hahaha!), but often done it by either giving up an opportunity of my own or by waving financial gain. It has become clear that this is cool when it works to everyone's advantage, but that I can help everyone much more from a position of increased fiscal security. Lucky for me that my creative projects contain a high degree of revenue generating potential, so the following projects are designed first to serve creative ends, but can also easily be monetized.

ALL of these goals include partnerships with others (financially, we're talking about up to 50% splits), so if you have expertise & desire and want to be involved, feel free to contact me.

Here's the baker's dozen:

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1) Skinny Devil TV: Actualize the "Skinny Devil TV" performance clinics, bringing regional & national talent to Lexington to produce clinics similar to what we've done in the past with Muriel Anderson and others, in a more compact 60 minute "ready for broadcast" format.

2) A Personal Note: Revitalize "A Personal Note" (custom music compositions for individuals & business) and sell 6 in 2011.

3) Music Production: Get back into producing, engineering, & mastering. In addition to Alien Blue, engineer &/or produce &/or master 6 projects this year.

4) Alien Blue: Complete & release Alien Blue's 3rd CD....release on hard-copy as well as digital download using experimental model (perhaps a "set your own price" or free lo-fi/pay up-grade) similar to Radiohead & NIN. Alien Blue live: Put Alien Blue on stage with prominent national acts at at least 4 gigs; book "revenue" restaurant gigs; book at least 3 rockin' blues &/or general music festivals; begin cost-effective merchandising.

5) Skinny Devil Magazine: Launch web-zine "Skinny Devil Magazine" and streamline SkinnyDevil.com web-site. Re-vitalize "Guitar Gods" and "Artists at the Edge" interview series and create creative & financial opportunities for performance artists (music, dance, etc.) as well as other artists (writers, visual artists, etc.).

6) SDML Instructor Network: Actively work to expand the SDML Instructor Network to include instructors in at least 5 states outside KY. Produce expanded teaching & business materials.

7) Gun for Hire: At least 4 gigs working as studio musician on projects where I am not involved as producer or engineer ...OR... in live setting as hired guitarist &/or music director.

8) Film/TV/media and Music Licensing: At least ONE film credit as musician, producer, engineer, or composer....At least ONE success in licensing music (using either Alien Blue or my personal music) for broadcast or other media (radio, games, etc.) - then begin expansion.

9) Endorsement Deals: Completely re-align endorsement partnerships, and work more closely with Eric Hutchens on his awesome Cigar Box Guitars and guitar customization.

10) Skinny Devil Records: Expand Skinny Devil Records to include artists other than Alien Blue.

11) Recording Studio: Partner to open recording studio by end of 2011.

12) Music Workshops: Partner to conduct educational workshops on hand-drumming, singing, & song-writing (lyrics & music).

13) Student Opps: Outside of obvious opportunities for students by achieving the above list of goals, provide expanded opportunities for guitar students in the areas of live performance, collaborations, TV/radio, live/studio session work, and the like.

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I'm considering dropping to 4 days of teaching a week to spend more family time (and to allow for the above projects). Despite the decrease in teaching, a definite financial goal is to aggressively seek to increase income dramatically (at least 50%) and aggressively reduce/eliminate debt.

Also considering expansion of past "style" guitar lessons into e-books to include song snippets, interview with the artists, lessons, style analysis, and more. I also hope my blog posts can begin to sound less like an office memo and more "literary"!

Time to fly...!!!

February Lifestyle Challenge!

It's time!!!

For those new to the challenges, it isn't to compete against others. It's to push yourself to greater heights, have some company & inspiration along the way, and a few ideas the help get us focused. For example, you can use this waving of the analytical knife to help organize your goals:

1) Exercise - Set a specific plan or goal(s). Keep us posted weekly (or more) on your progress!

2) Creativity - Music, art, writing, acting...set a goal to complete by month's end. Keep us posted!

3) Personal life - Re-affirm your personal relationships, get to that project/chore you've been avoiding, or just read a book you've always wanted to read!

4) Professional life - Set a work goal or change jobs or....just tell us what it is and keep us posted!

I'll post my goals below, and then provide weekly up-dates...

How about YOU?

January Lifestyle Challenge!

2010 behind us & 2011 is here. Everyone is making New Years Resolutions and getting a fresh start. I'll do you one better: Make your resolutions do-able by chopping them into 12 month-long blocks...which is to say, come join us for our monthly Lifestyle Challenges!

For those new to the challenges, it isn't to compete against others. It's to push yourself to greater heights, have some company & inspiration along the way, and a few ideas the help get us focused. For example, you can use this waving of the analytical knife to help organize your goals:

1) Exercise - Set a specific plan or goal(s). Keep us posted weekly (or more) on your progress!

2) Creativity - Music, art, writing, acting...set a goal to complete by month's end. Keep us posted!

3) Personal life - Re-affirm your personal relationships, get to that project/chore you've been avoiding, or just read a book you've always wanted to read!

4) Professional life - Set a work goal or change jobs or....just tell us what it is and keep us posted!

I'll post my goals below, and then provide weekly up-dates...

How about YOU?