Jazz Fest 2015

Jazz Fest 2015-A Must Do

Once again, the 2015 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival will prove to be one of the best festivals to attend this year.  This year’s line up was recently released to the public and contains another magnificent and stellar list of bands and performers.   As any dedicated festival lover knows, Jazz Fest, it’s more popular name, is a two-weekend deal.  If one chooses to patron the first weekend of Jazz Fest, he or she can expect to hear mega names in music such as Keith Urban, Tedeschi Trucks Band, The Who, John Legend, Ryan Adams, Robert Cray, Jimmy Buffett, Tony Bennett, lady Gaga, and Pitbull.  The second weekend is an even greater weekend and by this I do not mean better entertainment; I mean an extra day of entertainment.  The second weekend of Jazz Fest magic starts on Thursday which kicks off with one of my all time favorites, Widespread Panic and continues through the weekend with brilliancy like Third World, Alison Krauss, No Doubt, Chicago, Elton John, Ed Sheeran, T.I., and Steve Winwood. 

            As always, Jazz Fest will be separated into areas of cultural experience, not just from New Orleans, but all around the country as well as Africa.  Within Congo Square, one can listen to the many fascinating performers that will grace it’s stage, learn ancient crafting techniques and shop rare finds, all the while experiencing a true African culture.  I highly suggest that festivalgoers experience the magnificence that takes place around the Contemporary crafts area.  Here, sounds of Blues, Jazz, and Gospel music radiate the soul; truly the best spot to spend time, in my opinion.

One of a kind crafts can be found in this area stemming from handcrafted leather and metal goods, the cleverest hats around, beautiful and very chic clothing, paintings, jewelry, sculptures and pottery.  And of course Jazz Fest would not be Jazz Fest if it did not include The Louisiana Marketplace of which houses local and Zydeco music, as well as the best arts and crafts from around the state. 

            As if all of the previously mentioned isn’t enough to excite even the most Oscar of the Grouches, Jazz Fest in known for it’s food.  Foodies from all around the world have paid homage to the greatness that can be found at Jazz Fest eateries.  As one can see, Jazz Fest offers the most awesome of awesome times for anyone and everyone, even the kiddos are more than welcome and have their own area of delightful happiness.  The dates of Jazz Fest 2015 are April 24 through May 3.  If an opportunity presents itself, go to Jazz Fest where everyone is guaranteed an experience of a lifetime.

Christmas Music Memories

Christmas Music Memories

Photo Credit: http://www.jenningswire.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/bigstock-Musical-Tree-Christmas-Over-Bl-6412242.jpg

      My mother began our Christmas festivities every Thanksgiving night by gathering my father, brother and me into the living room to begin unpacking aged ornaments and strategically placing them upon our tree.  This childhood memory remains ingrained within me with laces of Christmas tunes stemming from Elvis and Willie, to Kenny G and The Carpenters.  As soon as we heard the burst Bing Crosby’s iconic and beloved “It’s Beginning to Look A lot Like Christmas” of roar through the house, my family knew that our mother’s favorite time of the year had begun.  We all hurried from wherever in the house that we were enjoying our turkey comas and put our decorating game faces on. 

     Christmas would not be the same without festive songs tickling our heart and making our insides gush with childlike joy.  I love the ease and blithe of each and every tune.  Even the saddest of Christmas songs deliver a bright and cheerful message from which the Grinchiest of Scrooges can learn.  Finding one person who cannot at least hum the tune to Jingle Bells, Away in the Manger, and/or Frosty the Snowman would be a very daunting feat for any of us.  With that being said, my curiosity guided me to research exactly what Christmas songs are most popular in 2014 as well as the artist who sings them.  According to www.fuse.tv.com, http://www.fuse.tv/2014/11/best-christmas-songs-2014 the top ten most popular songs of 2014 are:

10. Pentatonix, "Mary, Did You Know?"

 9. Meghan Trainor, "I'll Be Home"

 8. idina Menzel & Michael Bublé - "Baby, It's Cold Outside"

7.  Fifth Harmony, "All I Want for Christmas Is You"

6. Band Aid 30, "Do They Know It's Christmas?"

5. Straight No Chaser & Kristen Bell, "Text Me Merry Christmas"

4. Jessie James Decker, "Baby! It's Christmas"

3. Pentatonix & Tori Kelly, "Winter Wonderland/Don't Worry Be Happy"

2. The Saturdays, "Christmas Wrapping"

1.  The Flaming Lips & Yoko Ono, "Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”

            The previously mentioned list is a far cry from the top ten all time favorite Christmas song list.  That list, according to top40.about.com http://top40.about.com/od/holidaymusic/tp/Top-100-Christmas-Songs.htm, is as follows:

10.  Bing Crosby, “White Christmas”

  9.  Jewel, “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer”

  8.  David Bowie and Bing Crosby, “The Little Drummer Boy”

  7.  Billy Idol, “Jingle Bell Rock”

  6.  U2, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)”

  5.  Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”

  4.  Celine Dion, “O Holy Night”

  3.  John Lennon, “Happy Xmas (War is Over)"

  2.  Judy Garland, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”

  1.  Nat King Cole, “The Christmas Song”

            This blog would not be complete if I failed to provide my list of all time favorite Christmas songs.  Please enjoy each and every one of them.  Some are old classics and some are such awesome newer versions that I feel they surpass the old renditions and are well worth the recognition.  I recommend searching for live versions of the songs on my list for extra shivers down your spine action.  My numberless list, in no particular order is:

*Vince Gill, “Let There Be Peace On Earth”

*Cee Lo Green, “Silent Night”

*Josh Groban, “Oh Holy Night”

*David Bowie and Bing Crosby, “The Little Drummer Boy”

*The Carpenters, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”

*Bob Dylan, “The Christmas Song”

*Billy Mack, “Christmas Is All Around”

*Otis Redding, “White Christmas”

*Mariah Carey, “All I Want For Christmas Is You”

*John Lennon, “Happy Xmas (War Is Over)”

*Alabama, “Christmas In Dixie”

*Willie Nelson, “Pretty Paper”

*2012 The Morman Tabernacle Choir, “Oh Come All Ye Faithful”

*Vanessa Williams, “What Child Is This”

*Carrie Underwood, “The First Noel”

*Bruno Mars, “White Christmas”

*Amos Lee, “Holiday Song”

*Josh Groban, “Ave Maria”

*Alabama, “Angels Among Us”

*Sammy Kershaw, “All I Want For Christmas Is You”

*The Beach Boys, “We Three Kings”

*The Eagles, “Please Come Home For Christmas”

*Stevie Wonder, “What Christmas Means To Me”

*The Ramones, “Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want to Fight Tonight)

*Tchaikovsky, “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy”

            As one can see, I could not fathom stopping at a list of only ten, and I have no idea how I would put this list in any sort of order.  So, What are you waiting on? Gather your family around, start Googling these songs, and make yourself some of your own Christmas family memories.  I hope your traditions and these three lists of eclectic and fascinating tunes bring the warmest of holiday love and spirit to your homes this season.  Merry Christmas!

p.s.  Please respond to my blog with any of your personal favorite Christmas music that you feel I should add to my list.  I would greatly appreciate you!

           

Business Plan Monster-Genius Experts

Business Plan Monster-Genius Experts

     There are people in the world that supersede the definition of intelligence.  This depth of knowledge is so great and intense that I don’t think I’ll ever be able to quite understand what exactly goes on in these ultra-intelligent and mega-impressive minds.  Reid Hoffman is the epitome of this very kind of person I am attempting to explain.  Hoffman is a Symbolic Systems graduate of Stanford University.  He also obtains a Master’s degree in Philosophy from Oxford University.  Hoffman’s notoriety stems from his involvement with popular Internet sites, LinkedIn and Pay Pal, both of which were co-developed by Hoffman.  To say the least, Reid Hoffman is a technological monster-genius, but he is also an extremely savvy and talented businessman.  He has recently written a book entitled The Alliance: Managing Talent in the Networked Age, on the subject.  Inside the book, readers learn that Hoffman claims a critical and key component to writing a business plan that will attract investors is to focus on achieving revenue as well as member growth.  Reason being, revenue and the growth of a company are the main objectives focused on by potential investors.

     Donald Trump agrees that revenue and member growth are at the top of the importance ladder for possible investors but also stresses that developing a time frame is also a crucial and key component for a successful business plan because possible investors must envision how long the process will take before the revenue member growth becomes palpable.  I have been a long time admirer of Donald Trump’s genius moneymaking mind.  Trump’s ability, like Hoffman’s, to monopolize on absolutely anything he attempts is part of that mind-boggling, intellectual depth that I mentioned in the beginning of this blog.  While Hoffman’s genius is technology driven, Trump’s passion lies within the real estate realm.  Trump graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in economics and went straight to work in New York City for his father’s already successful real estate firm.   Today, Donald Trump is viewed as one of the world’s best real estate entrepreneurs.

     I encourage anyone reading this blog who finds it remotely interesting to research both of these business experts.  You too may learn the importance of Reid Hoffman’s “think big, act fast” theory, and/or Donald Trump’s “focus on the positive and blatantly ask for the money” theory; both of which I will be considering when writing my future business plan.

Sources:

http://alevicuna.blogspot.com/2014/06/listen

www.bbc.co.uk

www.biography.com/people/donald-trump

www.klariti.com

    

Business Negotiation and Deal Making

My wonderful learning experience from a respected mentor

            I had the most enjoyable and informative conversation today with Robyn Smith, Entertainment Director and Talent Buyer of Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, Biloxi.  Let me start this blog by stating a few randoms: I reached out to Robyn Smith for the sake of completing an assignment for Graduate School but never imagined that she would respond to me.  Smith is a really big deal to the entertainment world on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.  Needless to say, I morphed into a ball of nervous excitement when I realized I would have the opportunity to interview her.  And, I would like my readers to know that interviewing Smith was as easy as putting socks on in the morning.  We spoke for an hour and twenty-six minutes.  She is filled with great information that she so graciously shared with me.

            Smith’s background is in Speech, Radio and Corporate Communication, but she was led to the casino industry by performing as a dancer for the Grand Casino.  She quickly discovered the casino industry was filled with great opportunity as she moved from casino to casino, honing craft after craft in such positions as Tour and Travel coordinator, Production Manager, and later Entertainment Manager.  Smith received an entertainment award for the Grand Casino, Tunica of which promoted her to the Regional Grand Casino Talent Buyer.

            Hurricane Katrina hit and ruined a large portion of the casino industry for the Gulf Coast, but Smith turned tragedy into opportunity.  She owned and operated RL Smith Agency LLC and became the sole talent buyer for casinos on the coast. This business closed its doors in January of 2007 when The Hard Rock came knocking and asking Smith to join their team.

            Robyn Smith’s casino experience has been a rewarding one.  She comments that she has become a jack-of-all trades, but her average day consists of morning meetings, which discuss and analyze reports on revenue, marketing and future schedules.  She spends the rest of the day discussion offers with agents, contacting tour managers, and confirming acts with the six different venues of which she schedules the talent – Hard Rock Live, Afterhours, Detox, Center Bar, Vibe and the Record Company. 

            Event day for the larger acts is quite different from her other days.  Event day consists of solidifying sound checks, catering, hotel schedules, reservations, meal vouchers, and any special requests.  Although there is a multitude of chores to check off the list on event day, Smith says her main goal is to strategically plan to bring an artist with lots of game playing fans.  Legends Doobie Brothers, Styx, Foreigner, and Stevie Nicks, along with newer acts such as One Republic, Maroon 5, and Zac Brown Band seem to sure fire satisfy this goal for her.

            In order to score acts as high in demand as these, Smith has protected her negotiation skills.  Smith negotiates dates, price, hotel rooms, transportation, charity offers and photo options.  She also negotiates riders also known as the artists’ wish lists.  She says some of the more fun riders have included Kid rock’s Reddi Whip request, Stevie Nicks' treadmill and full-sized refrigerator need, and Pat Benatar's obsession with having brand new sheets.

            Smith dots her “i’s” and crosses her “t’s” before she involves herself in a negotiating deal.  To ensure a mutual benefit between Hard Rock and artists she does her research.  She looks at box office reports as well as regional reports in order to factor in all aspects to foster the most fair deal and offering price.    Smith claims separating the problem from the people can be very difficult.  She never lies, remains calm, and negotiates only in writing when confronted with this kind of challenge.  An example of Smith’s best alternative to a negotiated agreement was when Smith wanted to schedule the group, Heart.  She soon found herself on a predicament because Heart would only play as long as its opening act could also play and be paid by the Hard Rock.  She accepted Heart’s offer.  Low and behold the contract came back with the band Heart plus a totally different opening artist other than the one originally negotiated.  Smith said simply, “no way”.  She put the band on the hot seat.  The situation turned out positively for Smith.  She got what she wanted from the beginning and Heart played without any opening acts.

            My Business Negotiation and Deal Making assignment has turned out to be quite a treat for me to complete.  Thanks to Robyn Smith, I have discovered a more in depth look into a part of the entertainment world that I hope to soon be part of.  She filled me with knowledge of her job, explained her negotiation skills and supported me by leaving me with this advice:  never say no to a job opportunity in this business, take on responsibility so that I soak up all learning opportunities, and stay positively persistent. 

Robyn, I truly thank you for your valuable time, awesome kindness, and heartfelt inspiration!