Tuesday, June 30, 2009

hypebot: Pandora Forces $29.95 Payments From Indie Bands

hypebot: Pandora Forces $29.95 Payments From Indie Bands
UPDATED) Until recently, Pandora accepted music from indie artists at no cost in almost any form including home burned CD-R's. But now, in part because of a deal to display album cover art via Amazon's servers, submissions must be available as a physical CD for sale on Amazon and include cover art and a UPC code to even be considered for airplay.

Compliance with the new rules will cost artists in several ways. According to its FAQ page, to get play on Pandora you now need:

* Cd many a CD of your music
* a unique UPC code for that CD
* your CD to be available through Amazon (must be a physical CD, not just MP3s for download)
* the legal rights to your music
* MP3 files for two of the songs from your CD
* free Pandora account, based on a valid email address, which can be associated with your music

In addition to art and packaging costs, Pandora explains that to comply with the new "available through Amazon" rule, indie artists should join the Amazon Advantage Program. Membership costs $29.95 each year plus Amazon takes 55% of the list price of every CD sold.

Established artists and labels already comply with Pandora's new rules. But for an indie artist trying to win new fans with a little help from Pandora and to keep his hard earned cash by selling direct, the new threshold may shut off an important avenue for exposure.

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Saturday, June 20, 2009




Hot, humid day watching the bike races in Worthington. Lemonade Fitness needs some help with their PR. Maybe next year?

Thursday, June 18, 2009

GameSoundCon, First Industry Conference on Game Music and Sound to Launch in Los Angeles

GameSoundCon, First Industry Conference on Game Music and Sound to Launch in Los Angeles
PRESS RELEASE

SoundCon, LLC announces the launch of GameSoundCon, the first of its kind game music and sound conference for the professional audio community. GameSoundCon is an intensive two-day seminar for composers, sound designers and other audio professionals, teaching the unique creative, technical and business challenges essential to work in the game music and game sound industry.

“More people are playing video games than going out to the movies,” said Brian Schmidt, Conference Director and President of SoundCon LLC. “Although many schools teach music composition and sound design, few teach the additional skills needed to create music and sounds for interactive video games. GameSoundCon attendees will learn the information critical for success in the multi-billion dollar games industry.”

GameSoundCon’s sessions and panels feature some of the biggest names in the video game industry ensuring an unparalleled experience, and provide attendees an opportunity to meet and talk with the leaders in the field.

GameSoundCon’s inaugural event will be held in on September 24 and 25 in Los Angeles, CA, at the Hyatt Regency Century City. The second GameSoundCon for 2009 will be held on November 13 and 14 in San Francisco, CA, at Pyramind Studios.

Sunday, June 14, 2009



The results for the Wendy's Tri are posted. I have a few questions about their validity but we'll go with results as posted.
(First - there's some questionable times/places represented on the overall list. For instance, someone whose swim time is logged as "blank", rode at 19.9mph and ran a 9:11 mile is third overall? I don't think so. There's at least one more questionable time)

Swim - long wait times between waves. I'm ok with that though, thinned out the crowds and made for an easier swim.




I had thought this swim through last night laying in bed, so I was mentally prepared. My plan was to count strokes to 200. Take them nice and easy and take as many breaths as I needed - really without regard to racing. I wanted to avoid any sense of stress or panic and that's exactly how it went down. I think I got to about 150 and felt great. On one breath, I gulped a ton of water when I was supposed to be breathing air due to a splashy swimmer next to me, but one stroke of breaststroke and I was back underway.

Once I settled in, I was able to concentrate on my stroke, on breathing, pulling, reaching - all of the necessary items for a good swim. My sighting went well and I feel I swam a pretty good line, especially for as little pool time as I've put in.

Rank for the swim: 63/425
Swim time: 15:51
Distance: supposedly half mile

Improvements: 1) Getting over the first race hurdle without any stress or panic is huge.
2) More time in the pool. This is tricky cos I'm usually training for longer swims, not shorter sprints.


T1 - getting a wetsuit off my ankles never goes easy. sigh. I had mentally planned T1 when I set up and that worked really for me. Helmet, glasses, socks - shoes were already on the bike.

Bike - I really felt I put everything in to this bike. I got passed by about six riders, otherwise, I was passing a lot. Nice rollers, no huge hills. Two very touchy turns though. I scrapped a pedal on one and felt my back tire skid on another. Whew!

I had not ridden this course before, so I didn't really know what to expect. I don't think I really left anything out on the course.

Rank on bike: 46/415
Bike Time: 52:35
Avg MPH: 21.2

T2 - I thought this went well. Shoes were left on the bike, speed laces were in my running shoes but not until late last night.

Run - Obviously to me, this is my weak link. Where I can push and grind and burn my legs on the bike, I'm just not at a point where I can send my body into overload on the run. The run starts with a several hundred yard run on pavement before it heads onto the grass and into the woods. I quite enjoyed this trail running. Sharp turns, rolling gradient - makes for an interesting run at least. This didn't last long though as the run pops out on the Alum Creek dam, for the rest of the out and back. Seeing the first mile marker sign was pretty uplifting. I had just got my legs feeling normal, so I know I was able to push just a little bit. My half marathon pace is over a minute slower. Hm? I caught up with COTT Pres. Stephanie on the run. Didn't have much to say so I know I was running at least fairly hard. Also caught someone in my age group and

Rank on run portion- 118/412
Run time 25:23
Pace: 8:12

Improvements: My routine is to settle in for a comfortable run, rather than pushing my heart rate, pushing my lactate threshold.

Overall 1:36:37
Place: tied with 3 others at 54/412 finishers
Age Group: 10/50



Bonus Feature Food Item at Finish Line: Yellow watermelon. Odd - tasted like regular watermelon but it was a pale yellow rather than pink/red. yum.
As CL says, "Holden is done."

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Rowan on the elliptical

Great spectator, great cheerleader, enjoyer of snacks - that's my Rowan.

rocking the stationary bike

yea! These bikes are hard for me to ride. The seats are too big, the handlebars up too high. But I made do.


Originally uploaded by YMCA of Central Ohio
Audra swam while Tracy rode and ran. Good team effort. Holden coached and cheered.

Holden



Originally uploaded by YMCA of Central Ohio
As long as there were snacks, the boy was happy.

Team Schmitt


Neal Schmitt
Originally uploaded by YMCA of Central Ohio
After the Hilltop mini-tri with my coach, Rowan

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Bike Snob NYC

Bike Snob NYC: "education is the only industry in which consumers actually prefer shoddy merchandise. In other words, the easier the class, the happier students are-even though they're supposed to be learning, and even though they're often paying top dollar to do so."

YouTube - Columbus State Community College IMMT 297 Fundamentals of Video and Sound

The 10 Commandments of Social Media | The Ten Commandments Of Social Media | Fast Company

The 10 Commandments of Social Media | The Ten Commandments Of Social Media | Fast Company
As an author of The Social Media Bible, I am often asked, "What do I need to do engage my company, my products, and myself in social media?" The answer is easy: participate. Get out there and get involved. If you aren't in the game, you can't win. Here's your Ten Commandments or things you need to be doing to get in and win with social media.

1. Thou Shalt Blog (like crazy).
2. Thou Shalt Create Profiles (everywhere).
3. Thou Shalt Upload Photos (lots of them).
4. Thou Shalt Upload Videos (all you can find).
5. Thou Shalt Podcast (often).
6. Thou Shalt Set Alerts (immediately).
7. Thou Shalt Comment (on a multitude of blogs).
8. Thou Shalt Get Connected (with everyone).
9. Thou Shalt Explore Social Media (30 minutes per week).
10. Thou Shalt Be Creative (go forth and create creatively)!

Commandments 1. Thou Shalt Blog (like crazy)
Blog. Please. That's the first priority. Set up a blog, a personal blog, a business blog. It's easier than you think. Use an existing blogging site such as Blogger.com or GOingOn.com or install your own branded blogging site right on your own server by using WordPress. And, WordPress is free.

Commandments 2. Thou Shalt Create Profiles (everywhere)
Create your profiles; do it now before someone else takes them. Once they are gone, they are gone forever. That's called cyber squatting. So get out there. Use Open Social to make filling in your profiles as easy as a click of a button.

Commandments 3. Thou Shalt Upload Photos (lots of them)
Upload photographs. You've got them. Don't upload the one with you with a lampshade on your head…counterproductive; but other photographs? Absolutely. Customers want to see and participate. You want to give people a face to go with your company.

Commandments 4. Thou Shalt Upload Videos (all you can find)
Videos. You all have got videos. I don't care whether it's training videos or customer videos, grab your video camera and go interview some of your customers. What's better than seeing your customer's smiley face on your Web site? And it doesn't cost anything.

Commandments 5. Thou Shalt Podcast (often)
Podcast. If you're too cheap to get a camera, use the free audio software that's in your computer. That's what I did. I created 48 audio podcasts. If you take the podcasts I did for my book and played them back-to-back, they run 24 continuous hours of interviews. You can do that. It's free. It just takes time.

Commandments 6. Thou Shalt Set Alerts (immediately)
Set alerts. People are talking about you. You probably need to know what they are saying and you want to participate.

Commandments 7. Thou Shalt Comment (on a multitude of blogs)
Comment. Commenting is like going to a cocktail party. You wouldn't walk into a networking event, walk up to a group of people talking, and tell them your name and what you do in your business. That would be rude and unacceptable. Listen first. Read the blogs and add comments. You can be controversial, that's okay. But participate. Get involved.

Commandments 8. Thou Shalt Get Connected (with everyone)
Get LinkedIn. Put it in your email that you have a LinkedIn account, you have a FaceBook account, and that you have a Twitter account. Make it a part of your heading on your letterhead, because that's how you propagate. That's how you sell it.

Commandments 9. Thou Shalt Explore Social Media (30 minutes per week)
Explore social media. Give me thirty minutes a week, that's all I'm asking. Friday morning grab your coffee, lock yourself in your office, and give me thirty minutes. Just Google something. I promise you within the first 30 days you will be excited. You'll be as excited as I am. You will get excited because of the ROI.

Commandments 10. Thou Shalt Be Creative (go forth and create creatively)
And the most important commandment is creativity. That's all. It's just creativity and having fun. But you know what, that's what your customers want. They want to see transparency. They want to see authenticity. They want to see you having fun. They want to be able to relate and communicate.

Read more of Lon Safko's Social Media Bible blog

Click here for your free Fast Company The Social Media Bible Ten Commandment Ball. Just print, cut, glue, and be inspired!

Lon Safko is the co-author of The Social Media Bible: Tactics, Tools, and Strategies For Business Success. He is also an innovator and professional speaker with over 20 years of experience in entrepreneurship, marketing, sales, strategic partnering, speaking, training, writing, and e-commerce. He is the founder of eight successful companies, including Paper Models, Inc.
So, I swiped the following from donewaiting (the message board that is)...no one had cross-posted yet, so I figured I'd do the honors:

Comfest

FRIDAY, JUNE 26

Bozo Stage (Main Stage)
12:00 Mount Carmel
12:50 The Jellyhearts
01:40 Help Is On the Way
02:20 Josh Krajcik Band
03:20 Josh Fitzwater & the Shambles
04:10 OPM
05:00 Tin Armor
06:00 Mick Divvens' Psychic Revolution
07:00 This Is My Suitcase
08:00 Happy Chichester
09:00 Muzzleloaders
10:00 Two Cow Garage

Gazebo Stage
12:00 Ryan Smith
12:55 The Tin Hearts
01:50 Pup the Rabbit
02:45 Monolithic Cloud Parade
03:50 Spirit & Purpose
04:15 Harvest King
05:10 Miss Molly
06:10 ZA's Pawn Shop Special
07:10 Cowboy Hillbilly Hippy Folk
08:10 Eric Nassau & Friends
09:10 Andy Shaw Band
10:10 The Floorwalkers

I Wish You Jazz
12:00 Crabfeather Quartet
12:50 Otis Davenport and Friends
01:45 The Boki Quartet
02:40 Big Nasty
03:35 Sam Blakeslee Quintet
04:35 Jon Coleman
05:35 Matt Adams Quartet
06:35 Circus of Cool
07:40 Mojoflo
08:45 Edwin Bayard Trio
10:00 Liquid Crystal Project

Offramp
12:00 Old Worlds
12:40 The Nuclear Children
01:20 TV Eye
02:00 Absolute Magnitude
02:40 Ghengis Green
03:20 Wing & Tusk
04:00 Alwood Sisters
04:40 The Lost Revival
05:20 Grafton
06:10 Church of the Red Museum
07:00 Brainbow
07:50 Nick Tolford and Company
08:40 Sandwich
09:30 Day Creeper
10:10 Guinea Worms

Solar Stage
12:00 Leslie Zak
12:30 Workshop
01:15 Joanie Callem
01:45 Workshop
02:40 Workshop
03:10 Workshop
04:00 Fern
04:40 Workshop
05:30 Leah-Carla Gordone
06:10 RJ Dowdery
06:50 Heartbreak Orchestra
07:40 Hayseed
08:30 The Great Mad Hoax
09:20 Erika Carey and the Calamities
10:15 Trains Across the Sea

Live Arts
01:00 Drum Circle
02:45 Garth Harrison Shack
03:30 Wallabe
04:20 Jim Maneri
05:00 Fake Bacon
05:35 Johara & the Gypsy Gems
06:00 Native American Dance
06:10 Wimmin Out Loud!
07:10 S.P.I.R.I.T.
08:05 Speak Easy
09:00 Khalipa Tribe
09:20 Doctah X
10:15 Jesse Henry & the Royal

SATURDAY, JUNE 27

Bozo Stage (Main Stage)
12:00 Local Color
12:55 New Water Moonshine
01:50 Jahman Brahman
02:45 Bum Wealthy
03:40 The Cellar Hounds
04:35 Collingwood Nights
05:20 Spirit & Purpose
05:55 IN3D
06:55 The Flex Crew
07:55 Willie Phoenix Band
08:55 BHB & Family
10:05 Titonton & the Notorious They

Gazebo Stage
12:00 The Vague
12:55 Apocalypso
01:50 New Pollution
02:45 The John Turck Trio
03:40 The Governor Starring Dolly
04:35 Colin Gawel & the Lonely Bones
05:35 Ghost Shirt
06:35 The Wahoos
07:10 Mendelsonics
08:10 Donna Mogavero Band
09:10 The Wet Darlings
10:10 The Ark Band

I Wish You Jazz
12:00 Z-Sharp Big Band
01:00 New Orleans Funk Orchestra
02:00 Patrick McLaughlin
03:00 Jen Miller
04:00 Brett Burleson
05:00 Brian Casey Tribute
06:45 Play House
07:45 Fluid Thought Collective
08:50 Fo/Mo/Deep
10:00 Science Gravy Orchestra

Offramp Stage
12:00 Bird and Flower
12:40 The Kyle Sowashes
01:20 Bookmobile
02:00 Karate Coyote
02:40 Shin Tower Music
03:10 Ginger Fetus
03:40 Hotel Eden
04:25 Flotation Walls
05:10 The Receiver
06:00 Fort Shame
06:50 The Bygones
07:40 You're So Bossy
08:30 The Main Street Gospel
09:20 The Lindsay
10:10 Bush League All-Stars

Solar Stage
11:30 The Electric Grandmother
12:00 Terry C. Keller
12:30 Workshop
01:15 Workshop
01:45 Workshop
02:40 Victoria Parks
03:20 Workshop
04:10 Miller-Kelton
04:50 Workshop
05:40 Kim Crawford
06:20 Workshop
07:10 Time & Temperature
07:50 Jordan O'Jordan
08:30 Dane Terry
09:20 Super Desserts
10:10 Couch Forts

Live Arts
11:00 SOTIW
11:45 Hans Utter
12:30 Raks Shadan Dance Troupe
01:15 Dance 4 Life Columbus
02:00 Short Stop Arts African Drum
02:50 (print too tiny to read)
03:15 Swing Columbus Dancers
03:45 Tai Chi w/ Paul Brown
04:35 Master Zhongxian Wu-Qin Music
05:30 Balletmet
06:20 Reefer Madness
07:35 Tongue in Groove
08:50 Wonder Twins
09:35 The Ooh-La-Las
10:10 Envelope

SUNDAY, JUNE 28

Bozo Stage (Main Stage)
11:00 Vaughn Wiester's Famous Jazz Orchestra
12:20 Central Ohio Brass Band
01:30 Listen for the Jazz All-Stars
02:55 Four Mints
03:45 Awards Ceremony
04:45 Kique Infante & Dejavu
05:55 Long Tall Deb & the Drifter Kings
07:05 Shaun Booker Band
08:10 The Spikedrivers

Gazebo Stage
12:00 Our Cat Philip
01:00 The A.A.R.M.S.
02:00 Ukulele Man & His Prodigal Sons
03:00 Dr. Kenny Delicious
04:00 Old School Union
05:00 Jason Quicksall
06:00 Megan Palmer & the Hopefuls
07:00 The Randys
08:00 Mike Perkins

I Wish You Jazz
12:00 Chern's Noble New Clear Band
01:00 Soul Satyr
01:55 RFG Quintet
02:55 Clave Sonic
03:55 The Jazz Poetry Ensemble
04:55 The Stephen Wood Ensemble
05:55 Joe Diamond Tribute
06:55 David Ornette Cherry w/ Organic Roots
08:10 New Basics Brass Band

Offramp Stage
12:00 Stucco Jones
12:40 Hotel War
01:20 Hells Fire Sinners
02:05 Vegas 66
02:55 Lydia Loveless
03:45 Whoa Nellie!
04:35 Dead Set Ready
05:20 Moons
06:10 Vespin
06:50 Sick Thrills
07:30 Deerhead
08:20 The Slide Machine

Solar Stage
12:00 The Better Days Band
12:40 Workshop
01:25 Ben & Bard
02:00 Workshop
02:55 Annie Finnerty
03:35 Workshop
04:25 Curtis Cole
05:05 Workshop
05:55 Bill Kurtzenberger
06:35 Sweet & Lonesome
07:15 Christian Howes

Live Arts
11:00 Soca
12:15 Signs of Celebration
01:00 Columbus Police & Fire Pipe & Drum
01:45 Sacred Shimmy
02:15 All Soles Contra Dance
03:00 OSU Hillel Folk Dancers
04:00 Is Said & Advance Party
04:45 David Krohn
05:45 Poetry Slam
06:55 Mdofe
07:30 Drum Cicle off-stage