Quit Yer Bitchin'

This Monday, researchers at Harvard and The University of North Carolina issued a study that shows illegal music sharing is no threat to CD sales. The study tracked sales of 680 CDs in late 2002. Songs that were heavily downloaded showed no measurable drop in sales and in fact, file sharing actually increases CD sales for albums that sell more than 600,000 copies. For every 150 downloads of a song from those albums, sales increase by a copy.

Today, Variety said that Usher's "Confessions" sold nearly 1.1 million copies in its debut stanza, posting the biggest sales week since "The Eminem Show" moved 1.3 million units in June 2002. The album is the year's biggest one-week seller but also the biggest seller for a male R&B artist since Soundscan started tracking sales in 1991.

So the recording industry needs to quit their bitchin'. And hire me, dammit.

Peeling and Cutting Mango

Mangos have a large central pit, which can make them a little tricky to cut. Follow this technique as a safe and easy way to handle them.

Slice about a 1/2-inch off both the top and bottom of the fruit. Then stand the mango up on the counter. Look down over the mango and position it, so the broad pit runs horizontally. Cut the skin off the mango in panels, cutting from the top to the bottom. Discard the skin.

Repeat this same action, but now cut along the pit. Don't cut too close to the seed, however, because the fruit is very fibrous close to the seed. You will have 2 large oval slices and 2 thinner panels.

Then you can dice, slice, or use the mango in large pieces.

Rocket Bob

I received a phone call on my cell this past Saturday afternoon from my best friend. I was happy he called because we had been playing phone and email tag for a while and we needed to catch up. So after 30 seconds of bullshitting about the day, he said "I have a favor to ask you." I was 100% sure that it involved Bob's lack of computer knowledge. But rather than tell him I had no internet access -- a rare occasion, no doubt -- I asked him what was up. His response: "I'd like for you to be my best man at my wedding." After a "WHAT?!" and an "ARE YOU SERIOUS?!", I determined my boy wasn't fucking around. I told him it would be an honor. I couldn't be happier for Bob and his wonderful fiancee -- and fellow ER doc -- Stephanie. Bob is my oldest and closest friend; a better man does not grace this earth.

Once I hung up with the Bob, I called my girlfriend to tell her. I don't think I said a word before tears were welling-up in my eyes. You see, I was visiting my college for the weekend for both business and pleasure. I had just seen some old friends on campus and was walking around my old 'hood reminiscing when Bob called with the news. Needless to say, it was very emotional for me. So I shed a few tears. Big deal. I'm sure I'll shed more at the wedding. And definitely at the bachelor party.

I'm thinking Mitch-a-Palooza...

El Producer

Warning: this might be boring to non-musicians

For as long as I can remember, I've been fascinated with all the behind-the-scenes aspects of music. Most musicians just want to show up to a venue or studio and play. But I've always wanted to play AND know the type of microphone someone uses to record a 1975 Leslie cabinet or how Stevie Wonder got Hare Krishners to record the ending of "Pastime Paradise." That's what led me to start my own artist management and concert booking agency. I've recorded and produced a number of music projects in the past 10+ years and I have managed all the bands in which I've played. It's a unique feeling to be behind the mixing console and have as much of a role in the sound as the actual playing. But since I moved out of my parents' house (a/k/a El Paralawyer Studios) and sacrificed all my recording equipment in lieu of an apartment, I haven't felt that same way. Until yesterday.

A young buck (20 year old) client of mine brought 4 guitars into the El Paralawyer Studios II in Apartment 12. My computer has been a biatch lately, so the setup was less than stellar. I played some keyboard and some electronic drums; he played guitar and sang. The ideas were flowing like Guinness on St. Patty's Day...which isn't bad considering we've never collaborated before. I recorded, arranged and edited everything. He departed at midnight after 10 hours of recording and agreed to work together again.

It has not been a very good 2 months. I got laid off, have no money, zero job prospects (I don't count the weekly phone call from a headhunter asking me if I want to be a legal assistant -- i'm not a focking secretary), the company I started in not profitable, and will be moving to a smaller apartment for more money in 6 weeks.

But this morning I woke up and felt something that was long overdue: the feeling that I NEEDED to continue editing and recording yesterday's work. So I have vowed to myself -- and to my neighbors' dismay -- that I will do everything in my power to maintain this feeling. If it means using my 2 hours of free time this summer while studying for the bar to find the right effect for the bridge to a song, so be it. If it means driving 5 hours to produce a 5-song EP with a client that has little shot of signing a record deal, so be it.

Now I have to just convince my girlfriend to let me keep all the extra equipment in the apartment. DOH!

Go Heels!

After a nice come-from-behind victory last night, my beloved Tar Heels will be playing the Longhorns of Texas on Saturday night. Adam Lucas is traveling with the team and is keeping a great blog at TarHeelBlue.com.

Hey Carolina fans in New York: the word on the street is that the Park Avenue Country Clubwill be the place of choice to watch the Texas game. Let's have a good showing! (If you mention this blog, I'll buy you a drink. I'll be the guy with the goatee and blue baseball hat with the tar heel on the front.)

Job Posting

Every morning I wake up to 7 or 8 emails with new job listings that match my criteria. My criteria are legal, music, entertainment...or any combination of the three. Somehow the following job got thrown into one of the NY Times emails. Keep in mind that if my checkbook actually balances in any given month, I treat myself to a celebratory steak dinner. Also, anyone wanna guess what "non-traditional support" means in the last sentence?


Business Manager for New York Family
Business/Financial Manager needed for day-to-day management of personal and estate finances for principle located in New York. Position requires extensive knowledge of forecast and budget preparation, management of expenditures to budget and oversight of accounts payable and receivable. Additionally, candidate will interact with family accountant and attorneys and have experience with trust disbursements, preparation of annual forecasts, monthly cash reports and maintenance of family finances.
Highly competitive compensation package.

Requirements:
Candidates must:
Ø Have an accounting degree as well as 5+ years relevant business and/or financial management experience.
Ø Have experience in managing family financial accounts, including trusts, highly preferred.
Ø Be able to manage, as directed, stock portfolio transactions.
Ø Have a track record in implementing cost control programs.
Ø Be pro-active, mature, extremely discreet and capable of working autonomously.
Ø Be a strong communicator with the ability to establish positive working relationships with key contacts. Flexibility is also extremely important as the needs of the family occasionally require non-traditional support.

Tick-tock ya' don't stop

Yesterday I discovered a new Music Choice channel -- Old School Rap. This is not just your average digital- music-through-your-TV rap station. I'm talking Kool Moe Dee, Boogie Down Productions, Brand Nubians, Public Enemy, MC Lyte, Tone Loc, Run-DMC...even DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince.

Ah, the memories of my youth...cruising the north shore of Long Island in my Volvo on the way to prep school listening to "I'm shut 'em down, shut 'em down, shut 'em shut 'em down..."

Represent, yo!

Maybe I should use the Post Office from now on

OK, I've had it with FedEx and UPS. During the summer, I argued with UPS at least twice about not leaving a package at my doorstep. They claimed that my building was not safe enough. That's funny, especially considering that this is one of the safest neighborhoods on Long Island. What a joke.

With FedEx, the last three packages I received were deemed "undeliverable" because my address didn't exist. I find this funny as well, considering there is only one "apt 12" in the whole complex. There are 10 buildings in the complex, none of which have the same apartment numbers. FedEx is just pure lazy. I have to wait at least an extra day for packages to be delivered. And usually, I'm paying more in shipping for FedEx in order to receive my shipment in a timely manner. But that doesn't seem to be working.

So 2 days ago, I specifically told AT&T Wireless (I won't get started on them, but let's just say that they might have the worst customer service on the planet) to put MY BUILDING NUMBER on the package. I also gave them my home phone number to call if there are any questions. So what happens this morning? I get a phone call at 9:30 from FedEx saying that my address was incorrect and the package undeliverable. The FedEx rep had no record of my building number. And to make matters worse, they called my parents' house looking for me. I haven't been at that phone number in a year.

It shouldn't be this fucking difficult to receive a new cell phone.

Today is March 5th...

High-Five, it's Adrienne's birthday!

Ignorance Running Rampant Around Here

I just finished a 10-minute long heated IM discussion with a male friend of mine. The topic? Gay marriage. What got it started was this message to me: "when will the silent majority stand up and tell the fags to go to hell?" Nice, huh?

In utter disbelief, I asked him why it mattered if two guys or two women are given a marriage certificate by Mayor Bloomberg. His answer? That it's a slap across the face to any christian, muslim or jew. Hello! I'm not talking about the church! He mixed church and state. I made the argument that government-issued marriage licenses are fine, but the religious sacrament is not fine. He refused to keep church and state separate, essentially saying that whatever the church does, the government should do as well. This country was not founded on that principle. Church and state are separate for reasons like this.

He said I should never get married because I don't understand what being married is all about. This from a guy who swears he will sleep with as many women as possible until the day of his wedding.

He ended the conversation abruptly by saying I was too ignorant to discuss this. Funny how I was the one open to discussion and being accepting of an alternative lifestyle while he couldn't separate church and state.