–      Visual Artists      –      Writers      –      Musicians      –      Composers      –      Designers      –

Need legal advice?  Check out this webinar.  Yeah, I said Webinar.  It’s short for “web-based seminar.”  I didn’t know such thing existed until I found this thing.  Basically, it’s an online seminar, but not to be confused with a webcast.  Webcasts are one way – the people talk at you and you watch.  But webinars are interactive.  You have the ability to give, receive and discuss information in a webinar.

The ARTS & BUSINESS COUNCIL of Great Boston is putting this webinar shenanigans together.  Unfortunately, there is a fee of $20, but hey, cheat the system.  Just have five friends come over, and then you only pay $4 each.  Not bad, eh? Read more…

March 15^th 2010: Musicians at Work Forum: When to Get a Manager

I’ve got a an event coming up here for you guys and gals to check out.

I couldn’t make it out to the last AT WORK: Touring Tips forum through the Cultural Center, but I heard it was pretty good from my colleagues who made it there.  So I’m going to tell you about the next one coming up since this stuff is legit.

This FREE event is great for musicians and bands in limbo.  But it’s not only for those guys and gals; if you’re a music business major or getting some sort of an arts management degree, you should go, too.  It’ll help you see what it is that artists and musicians are looking for, and help you get the upper hand when looking to manage them.

This forum is a panel discussion [only an hour and a half – you can handle it]. Read more…

FREE MUSIC INDUSTRY EVENT – The Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs has some rad stuff coming up with co-sponsor Chicago Music Commission.  [They’re the fellers that put together Chicago Music City.]   It’s nice to know that the city is still keeping the arts alive with events like this.

This February they have their “At Work Forums” which is a series of well …forums that “brings artists and experts to discuss the best practices for Chicago’s creatives in music, dance, theater, visual art, and more.” [Thanks, Explore Chicago].

This shits good.  And best part – it’s FREE.

Yeah, panel discussions can get kind of dry at times.  But it’s free education and insight about what’s going on in your industry. Here’s one that you all should know about:

Musicians at Work Forum: Touring Tips for Finding and Booking Gigs

Date/Time:
February 22, 2010
Networking: 5:30pm-6:00pm
Panel: 6:00pm-7:30pm

Location: Chicago Cultural Center
78 E. Washington St., 5th Floor Washington Room
Chicago, IL 60605

Moderator:
Joanna Quargnali-Linsley – Misery Loves Co.

Check out the Panelists: Read more…

Scared about getting a job after school?

Ch-ch-check this out.

For all you arts business kids – whether it’s music, performance art, visual art, literary art, or media art, this is a must-be-at event.

The SEA Conference [Self-Employment in the Arts], is held all over the U.S. hitting up Washington, Cali, Florida, Missouri, Minnesota, and Illinois.

They hold a conference every year around February in Lisle, IL.  The conference is over two days with panels, performances, speakers, workshops, etc.  It’s designed to cater to multiple arts and businesspersons and put together by the Coleman Foundation, Columbia College, North Central College, and a few other sponsors.  It’s designed for college kids studying to enter the arts industries.

My faculty advisor does a lot of work for the conference, and has been quite animate about getting me to go this year.  My marketing teacher also raved about it, too.  I looked in to the conference a bit more and asked some other people about and I did get some mixed reviews.  I guess it can be dry at times, but has overall been found beneficial.  Hey, it’s worth a shot. Read more…

The other night I found myself bored and turned on the tube.  The only thing one was “Gossip Girl” and my coworkers raved about it, so I thought I’d check it out.

Gossip Girl is the second worst [only second to Jersey Shore] show in the history of television.

Besides losing massive amounts of brain cells from watching, I did gain something.  I really liked one of the songs playing in the background and looked up who it was.

PASSION PIT is a band from the east coast composed of members with intense last names.   Get this, the band group consists of Michael Angelakos (lead vocals/keyboards), Ian Hultquist (keyboards/guitar), Ayad Al Adhamy (synth/samples), Jeff Apruzzese (bass/synth bass) and Nate Donmoyer (drums). Maybe it’s an east coast thing.

The band’s name, “Passion Pit” is actually a slang term for a drive-in theatre; “The pic is playing at two passion pits in Miami,” [Thanks, www.variety.com].  Think about it – teenagers go to movies, have raging hormones, away from the parental units …you get the picture.  Hah. Read more…

If you’re a Chicagoan and geeked out when it comes Christmas time, I’ve got something for you to check out.

It snowed pretty hardcore this morning here in Chicago, and nothing gets me more in the Christmas mood more than snow, unless it’s Bing Crosby on the stereo.  Well if you’re one of those kids whose eyes gleam at the sight of gaudy Christmas trees and tacky Christmas light displays, and geek out over anything that reminds one of Christmas, make sure you leave this and next Friday evening open.

Millennium Park hosts Christmas has caroling at ‘The Bean’ from 6:00pm-6:50pm on Fridays.

[Random Fact: “The Bean” is actually called “The Cloud.”  The artist’s intention was for it to imitate a cloud.  ..which maybe he should have rethought that before making it in the shape of a lima bean.  But if you ever see anything published by the city calling it “The Cloud” – that’s why.]

Last weekend I joined a friend and checked out the Chicago Children’s Choir for their caroling performance at the bean.  I always knew Chicago held Christmas oriented events, but never actually went to one or knew when they were.
It was pretty rad.  Caribou gave out free hot cocoa, hot cider, and coffee, as well as free coupons [which I totally took advantage of last night working on crapola amounts of homework – boo finals and papers].  They had programs and gave out candles as well.

I froze my ass off, but it really got me in the Christmas mood.  And hey, it’s free. Nothing beats that.

There only two caroling concerts left – this Friday and next.

devanmarie

I’m not much a fan, and never really was a fan of Thrice when they were still kickin’ it, but Dustin Kensrue has some solo work out there and I have to say it’s not too shabby.

I got introduced to him from a friend of mine, who I was even hesitant to take a listen because I never got on the Thrice bandwagon, but I don’t regret it.  For you folk/bluesy kids, you should check his music out.  It’s nottthhiinnnggg like you would think it would be like, considering Dustin’s past musical work.

I got a listen to his two albums, Please Come Home, and This Good Night is Still Everywhere.  One of my favorite is his song “Please Come Home.”

If you Google “Dustin Kensrue,” check out the first thing that comes up – you can click on it and listen to some of his mp3s for free.  Google is pretty much boss.

Oh, he’s also got a crap ton of Christmas music on his myspace.  Not sure how I feel about it.  I like to stick to the classic Christmas songs when it comes to holiday music and getting in the Christmas mood.  But check them out, if you’d like to add some music to your Christmas playlist.

devanmarie

A couple days ago, I accidentally deleted my entire iTunes library.  And cried.
I managed to salvage majority of my music, but I feel that I’m still not quite complete yet.

I was rummaging through my iTunes to see what remnants remained, and was rather pissed off while doing so, and saw a band called “Holy Fuck” that I didn’t know I had.  Thinking that they were some metal hardcore band that would be synonymous with my mood, I hit play, only to discover they were anything but.

Holy Fuck is this crazy indie/electronica/instrumental band whose name is a bit absurd, but their music is absolutely great.  This Toronto based band(along with Britain, Toronto has birthed some amazing bands, as well) has their own thing going on, consisting of a drummer, bassist, and two crazy synth kids.

My personal favorite band members are the synthesizer dudes.  They are a living tribute to Moog synthesizers back in our parent’s good old days and the revolution of electronic sounds it started.  They even use a 35 mm film synchronizer.

You’re probably like wtf?          …exactly.

In their “Lovely Allen” music video, the two guys have this elaborate set-up for a music workstation; complete with a mini-guitar and pen they run across it to create ridiculously [awesome] sounds, random effects pedals, knobs, buttons, cords, and who knows what.

They are pioneers at best.  I had to let them grow on me at first, but even if you don’t fancy their sound, appreciate what they’re doing.  But you should listen to “Lovely Allen,” and “Korock.”

And here is a great video about the Toronto music scene, and nice bit on Holy Fuck.

So tell your friends about these guys.  It’s a perfect excuse to use profanity in daily conversation without sounding lower-class by using it as figure of speech. Plus they’ll be here in Chi-town October 31st.

Holy Fuck – Check this out.

devanmarie

We Are Scientists are from the east coast that are one of those cool bands with a bigger following overseas in Europe.  I feel like Britain knows what shit is good compared to our mainstream musical tendencies here in the U.S.  Take a look at Kings of Leon.  They’ve blown up in the U.S. over the last six months, when Europe was all over their shit like three years ago.

I seem to fancy how bands come up with their names when researching bands, so here’s their story:

The band had a conversation with a U-Haul worker, and returning their truck, the worker asked them if they were brothers, and after they said no, he looked them up and down and noticed that they were a bit scrawny and nerdy, and then asked them if they were scientists.

And the name stuck after that.  I say it’s pretty sweet.

They’re one of those indie rock bands that is always a good play on the iPod.  I like to listen to “It’s a Hit” before I go out sometimes.  Or when I delivered pizzas, I’d blast the track and yell the lyrics like it was nobody’s business.

Check ‘em out dudes.  You won’t be disappointed, I’m sure of it.

It’s a Hit Music Video

devanmarie

If you’re a writer in Chicago,

this is a reading series you should watch out for:

Silvertongue is a student curated, monthly reading series at Columbia College Chicago that features word based readings of any genre - be it spoken word, poetry, fiction, essay, etc, we house it.  You don’t have to be a fiction major, poetry major, English major, or any of the sort to submit your work to read.

If you write, we think you’re rad.

Along with our featured student readers, we bring in a sweet ass headliner in every reading.  In the past, we have had the privilege in featuring Neal Pollack, Megan Steilstra, Brandi Homan, and avery r. young.

Silvertongue’s readings have been featured and recognized by TimeOut Chicago, the Columbia Chronicle, and other literary forums, blogs, and press around Chicago.

Submissions to read are only open to Columbia students, unfortunately.  But for you other Chicagoans, the readings are open to attend by anyone and everyone.

So come check out a reading, get some free coffee and cookies, and witness all the Columbia writing goodness we have to offer.

We have a reading TONIGHT night featuring Chicagoan writer, [CHRIS BOWER].

With an [awkward moments] themed reading, this  is shit you don’t want to miss:

Theme: [awkward moments]

Headliner: Chris Bower

Place: 731 S Plymouth Court

When: TONIGHT Thursday, Sept 17th

Time: 7:00PM

Check out: www.facebook.com/silvertonguecolumbia

Or email silvertonguecolumbia@gmail.com

devanmarie