from Heather...

The very first ever Blonde GUY joke.....


And well worth the wait!


An Irishman , a Mexican and a Blonde Guy were doing construction work on scaffolding on the 20th floor of a building.
They were eating lunch and the Irishman said, 'Corned beef and cabbage! If I get corned beef and cabbage one more time for lunch, I'm going to jump off this building.'
The Mexican opened his lunch box and exclaimed, 'Burritos again! If I get burritos one more time I'm going to jump off, too.'
The blonde opened his lunch and said, ' Bologna again! If I get a bologna sandwich one more time, I'm jumping too.'
The next day, the Irishman opened his lunch box, saw corned beef and cabbage, and jumped to his death.
The Mexican opened his lunch, saw a burrito, and jumped, too.
The blonde guy opened his lunch, saw the bologna and jumped to his death as well.
At the funeral, the Irishman's wife was weeping. She said, 'If I'd known how really tired he was of corned beef and cabbage, I never would have given it to him again!'
The Mexican's wife also wept and said, 'I could have given him tacos or enchiladas! I didn't realize he hated burritos so much.'
(Oh this is GOOD!!)
Everyone turned and stared at the blonde's wife. The blonde's wife said,
'Don't look at me. The idiot makes his own lunch.'

No Justice... rocks!

AUG. 29 River Road Icehouse, New Braunfels, TX
AUG. 30 Rolling Oaks Sports Bar & Grill, San Antonio, TX
AUG. 31 Hat Tricks, Lewisville, TX

"Spinning Wheel" is number 7 on the Texas music Chart. Call and request it at your favorite radio stations.

Mama Sweet

Hello to all my FOS (Friends of Sweet),

This weekend is all about Texas! We start the weekend off in Denison, TX to play at T-Bones. We had a blast last time we were there and can't wait to return. Saturday, we head on down the road to Ft. Worth, TX where we will be joining Travis Linville at Woody's! Woody's is always a blast, so we are definately looking forward to another show there (Root beer anyone?).

If you were at the Wormy Dog show and are waiting for your song, please just hold tight a little longer. I hope to have it to you by Monday.

In the meantime, keep a constant eye on www.mamasweet.com. We are posting daily (see "The Sweet Spot") and have lots of new stuff up all the time. Plus, the calendar on the website is the most up to date and accurate list of Mama Sweet dates available. If you're not sure whether we are playing or not, check the website and it will give you a definitive answer.

That's it for now. Thanks for all your support and I look forward to seeing you down the road.

-Aron

Susan Herndon

Greetings!

Hope this finds you well, as summer leaves its trail...

Have enjoyed everybody coming out-- it's just not the same without you,

thanks for gracing us with your presence!

Now up north for some gigs; there's still time-- you can make it.

Here are the details.

xxooo

~Susan

(for dates without blurbage, scroll down...)

************************************************************************************

Barley Street Tavern. (2735 N 62nd St, Omaha, Nebraska.) Thursday, 21 August, 9 pm.

In Omaha now... the gig was last night... didn't get this out in time... nevertheless,

just letting you know, 'twas well worth the 8 hour drive. Good vibes up here. And lots of corn.

The Potter's Wheel. (205 South Main, Ottawa, Kansas.) Friday, 22 August, 7 pm.

Now back to Kansas. And more corn. Toto's not with me, but the Princess Jackie PI Freckle-Butt Shadow

Goddess of Joy God the Destroyer Snuggle-Bunny of Love is. (And not happy she got

kicked out of the motel last night.)

Tavern on the Plaza. (912 Walnut Street, Coffeyville, Kansas.) Saturday, 23 August, 7 pm.

Yep, right there, across the square where the Dalton gang got shot down in front of one of the two banks

they were holding up. Thinking I won't be holding up any banks this trip... and two banks? I wish I had

such initiative. One, I might could do.

Sam's Cellar. (101 North Wood St., Neosho, Missouri.) Tuesday, 26 August, 7 pm.

Back to Sam's and my home Show Me state. Hoping to see all my buddies up there this trip.

And the celllar is like an oasis in the town square-- you should see!

Lola's at the Bowery. (Main and Brady, Tulsa.) Thursday, 28 August, 11 & 25 September;

Wednesday, 3 September; Friday, 19 September; Sunday, 28 September, 6:30 pm.

With the band and special guests! Having a great time playing this gig with the guys and you all coming out.

Lola's is a beautiful place. Nice crew. Great food. And stuffed olives in your martinis.

We're gearing up for our Flying French Red Dirt Road Show. You come, too.

Red Rock Canyon. (91st and Riverside Drive, Jenks.) Friday, 29 August, 12 September

6:30 pm. Not really a canyon out there, but the Arkansas River is quite nice and there's lots of hooplah

when the sun sets... makes you think you're in the Keys. Without the tropical storm part.

French Hen. (71st and Yale, Tulsa.) 30 August, 13 & 20 September, 7 pm. Aaaaahhhhh...

my home away from home. And when I'm in town, they let me come back to play.

En plus, c'est presque la seule occasion pour moi de parler un peu de Francais ici.

Grape Ranch Winery. (Off I-40, 6 miles south of Okemah.) Sunday, 31 August & 14 September

2 pm. Aaaaaaahhhhhhh, my other home away from home. Only this one serves the Frozen Rose.

Divas/Performing Arts Center. (3rd and Cincinnati, Tulsa.) Saturday, 6 September, 8 pm;

Sunday, 7 September, 2 pm. Liddy Doenges Theatre. I guess if you sing in this town and

stick around long enough, you turn into a diva. Note: I am NOT a diva... but go ahead, peel me a grape!

The proceeds for this event go to a good cause, H.O.P.E.

Central Library. (400 Civic Center, Tulsa.) Wednesday, 24 September, 12 pm.

They've entitled this musical series in September, "Words and Music". So, I've

decided I'll be playing my tunes-- of words set to music.

An Evening with Tracy Letts and Mitch Albom/Performing Arts Center.

(3rd and Cincinnati, Tulsa.) Friday, September 26, 6:45 pm.Chapman Music Hall.

Playing a few songs to kick off this year's Celebration of Books. Who are Tracy Letts and

Mitch Albom, you ask? Why, they're big-wig Pulitzer prize winning, best-selling authors, of course.

And, me???! I think I've read a Pulitzer prize winning book before...

Celebration of Books/The Fine Art of Songwriting. (OSU-Tulsa, 700 North Greenwood, Ave, Tulsa.)

Saturday, 27 September, 9:30 am. I'm on this panel on songwriting... with John Wooley, Steve Ripley, Jim Halsey,

and Davit Souders. It's all still a mystery to me... I don't think I know much about songwriting... but don't tell them!

********************************************************************************************

(All locations Tulsa, unless otherwise noted...)

Thursday, 21 August: Barley Street Tavern/Omaha, Nebraska

Friday, 22 August: The Potter's Wheel/Ottawa, Kansas

Saturday, 23 August: Tavern on the Plaza/Coffeyville, Kansas

Tuesday, 26 August: Sam's Cellar/Neosho, Missouri

Thursday, 28 August: Lola's at the Bowery/with the band!

Friday, 29 August: Red Rock Canyon/Jenks

Saturday, 30 August: French Hen

Sunday, 31 August: Grape Ranch Winery/Okemah

Wednesday, 3 September: Lola's at the Bowery/with the band!

Saturday, 6 September: Tulsa Performing Arts Center

Sunday, 7 September: Tulsa Performing Arts Center

Thursday, 11 September: Lola's at the Bowery

Friday, 12 September: Red Rock Canyon/Jenks

Saturday, 13 September: French Hen

Sunday, 14 September: Grape Ranch Winery/Okemah

Friday, 19 September: Lola's at the Bowery/with the band!

Saturday, 20 September: French Hen

Wednesday, 24 September: Central Library

Thursday, 25 September: Lola's at the Bowery

Friday, 26 September: Tulsa Performing Arts Center

Saturday, 27 September: Celebration of Books!

Sunday, 28 September, Lola's at the Bowery/with the band!

Saturday, 4 October: Big Fish/Grapevine, Texas

LIVE MUSIC
FRIDAY, AUG. 22
American Zeros, Belle Isle Brewery. ROCK
Brothers and Sisters, Ghost of Monkshood, Penny Hill and Student Film, The Conservatory. ROCK
Callupsie and Black Swan, Opolis, Norman. JAZZ
Chaka Khan, Riverwind Casino, Norman. R&B
DJ Klever, The Glamour, Dance Robots, Dance! and more, Kamps Market & Deli. ELECTRONIC
Galapagos, The Deli, Norman. ROCK
Hawthorne Heights, Meriwether, For the Atlantic and Theater Breaks Loose, Diamond Ballroom. ROCK
Jessica Tate, Prohibition Room. JAZZ
Vangough and Blackswan, VZD’s. ROCK

SATURDAY, AUG. 23
Boz Skaggs, Riverwind Casino, Norman. SINGER/SONGWRITER
David Allan Coe and Otis Watkins, Diamond Ballroom. COUNTRY
The Dirt Drifters, Wormy Dog Saloon. COUNTRY
Grimy Styles, The Deli, Norman. ROCK
Hush Hush, Commotion, A Kidnap in Color, Angelis and more, Convergence. ROCK
Intronaut, Behold ... The Arctopus, Mouth of the Architect and Komarov, The Conservatory. ROCK
Kacey Walkingstick, Kite Flying Robot and the Adam Ray Funktet, Sauced Annex. FOLK
The Uglysuit, The Non, Junebug Spade and more, Justin’s Bistro & Bar. ROCK

SUNDAY, AUG. 24
Kessler, Myriad Botanical Gardens. ROCK
The New Frontiers, The City Lives and Quiet as Oceans, Opolis, Norman. ROCK
The Pleasure Kills and The Gunship, The Conservatory. ROCK

MONDAY, AUG. 25
Horseshoe Road, UCO Jazz Lab, Edmond. COUNTRY
Method of Destruction, Fueled by Fire, Dwell Within and Ommadon, The Conservatory. ROCK
TUESDAY, AUG. 26
Maximum Homeless Guy, Hi-Lo Club. ROCK

Luke Strikes Back

LeRoi

I saw the Dave Matthews Band open for Phish at the Santa Monica Civic.

I do what Chip tells me. He’d told me I had to come see Phish at the Variety Arts Center and I’d watched them blow up. The DMB was his new band.

I didn’t know that the Santa Monica Civic had a false floor, that it was suspended in such a way that when they started playing "Ants Marching" and the college-aged audience dressed in the same exact clothing as the band members themselves erupted and started moving up and down that the floor would too. I’d never heard the number before, I haven’t forgotten it since.

During the break, before the headliner took the stage, I went with Chip to a side room, just east of the auditorium itself, that resembled nothing so much as an elementary school classroom, to hang out. It was there that I met Boyd, Carter and LeRoi. Maybe LeRoi, I can’t remember exactly, it was fifteen years ago…

This was before Dave became not only a TV star, but a cultural icon, before his humor became widely known. They were just another band. Who kept getting bigger and bigger, whose fanbase kept growing. I followed them to the Palladium, all the way to Staples and the Hollywood Bowl. And got to know their manager, Coran Capshaw, along the way. Not incredibly well. Which is probably why he wanted to have lunch on Tuesday. To talk in an environment different from backstage.

On the way to the Peninsula, I heard "Where Are You Going" on No Shoes Radio, Kenny Chesney testified not only about Dave, but the band’s drummer. I told Coran and Chip this when we sat down. Coran told me Kenny had a place on St. John too. They were buddies.

It was that kind of conversation. Catching up, filling in the little details. Telling me about the status of the band. How they’d mixed it up, how they were playing better than ever before, with Tim Reynolds on the road with them and two replacements for LeRoi.

LeRoi had been in an ATV accident. This I knew. But Coran told me the details. The four-wheeled vehicle flipped over backwards upon him. He broke ribs, had a collapsed lung, his shoulder was hurt, they had him in an induced coma for a week. And three days after he came to, LeRoi checked himself out. Against the will of the doctors.

And after being home, he got an infection. The nurse taking care of him had LeRoi readmitted to the hospital. Where he was on both heart and lung machines. But he pulled through.

The story was told with seriousness, but no drama. There was no question, LeRoi was coming back. Certainly by the first of the year. We started talking about other things. The challenges of maintaining a superstar act in these confusing times, ticketing, Music Today. And an hour later, the phone rang.

Coran carries both a BlackBerry and a Razr. He picked up the Razr. He was listening rather than talking. And after two minutes or so, he flipped the phone closed and became wistful, let us in on his mental soliloquy. That was LeRoi’s assistant. They’d called 911. LeRoi’s lips had turned blue. They were taking him to the hospital. He had a blood clot.

Coran traced it back to the infection that had put LeRoi back in the hospital weeks before. He’d had a hard time fighting back. And he hadn’t gone into the process in the greatest shape, he had diabetes, other health problems.

LeRoi had flown to L.A. for rehab, he was staying at his house here, just miles away. Suddenly the story took on a different feel. Somewhere in the landscape visible from the Peninsula deck, this story was playing out.

Then ten minutes later, the phone rang again.

But this time, the call was longer. Chip and I engaged in conversation. For the better part of ten minutes. And when Coran flipped the phone closed again, he said:

"He died."

A jolt just went through my body, writing this. I’ve never been in a situation like this before. I might have met this guy, but in a perfunctory way, I don’t know him. But he’s part of the lifeblood of Coran and Chip’s world. And he’s a human being, like the rest of us. And he’s now gone.

Chip put his head in his hands. Coran stared into space. I was in shock. Trying to decide the best thing to do. Feeling that I needed to excuse myself, that they didn’t need an intruder, I was just about to stand when Coran got up, said "I’ve got to deal.", and walked off.

Chip asked, WHAT NOW?

I realized that I needed to stay. As long as Chip needed to.

I figured this was L.A. LeRoi had probably gone to Cedars. The news would be on the wire, on the Internet, in a matter of minutes. I told Chip that Coran was probably trying to beat the press to the punch, in addition to alerting the rest of the band.

DO THEY PLAY?

I didn’t know. It could go either way. Maybe they were too fucked up to play. Or maybe they’d say this is what LeRoi would do.

Chip called Dan, founder of the agency. Told him and asked him the question too. The gig scheduled for that night, in Staples Center, only hours away, did it happen? Dan said what I did. Maybe, maybe not.

And then it became that moment in "Almost Famous". The plane crash scene. When suddenly truth passes between human beings. Chip and I have a deep, honest relationship, but we touched on subjects we’d never delved into before.

Then, after about forty minutes, we left.

In the car to Felice’s house, the shock truly set in. I realized why you needed the living around you when someone passed. If you were alone, you drifted away.

Felice was on her exercise bike, watching "Oprah". I could barely speak. She realized something was wrong. I ultimately got the story out. It barely registered. How could it? You go to lunch and a band member dies, DURING LUNCH? News like that bounces right off of you, it doesn’t stick.

And it seemed that only Coran, Chip and I knew. I kept going online. The band’s Website had not changed, there was nothing in the Google News. I was in the loop, but no one else was. This never happens in 2008, where everything is instant, where everybody knows everything all the time.

I spoke with my mother. But I basically listened. I called Chip two hours later, as we’d agreed. He still didn’t know whether the band would play. He said he’d call me back. A little after six, he told me to come on down.

By time we got to Staples, the news had just broken. Maybe by going to Hollywood Presbyterian, the vultures had missed the story. Ambrosia had written a press release, the news was now out, Chip’s BlackBerry was going berserk.

The halls were almost empty. Dave was talking to a gray-haired gentleman. There were no festivities, there was no buzz, but in less than an hour, the band would take the stage in front of thousands.

Coran’s number two said the band had had a meeting, uttered "Back to the van.", their mantra, to remember where they’d come from, their brotherhood.

We went to catering. Coran nodded his head, but stayed glued to his phone. It was positively bizarre.

And twenty minutes after the time on the sheet, the Dave Matthews Band took the stage.

I don’t know how you play under those circumstances.

And being in L.A., the roar of the crowd was muted to a degree. L.A.’s jaded, everybody plays L.A., a concert here isn’t just enough of an event!

But the band is firing on all cylinders. Coran’s checking the set list as we stand behind the lighting board, he tells me they’re going to play my favorite, "The Dreaming Tree".

The ten minute number calmed my nerves. Music is a magic carpet loaded with oils and other soothing potions, it’s just what you need when you don’t know what you need, when you’ve got more questions than answers.

And they played "Ants Marching", with even more ferocity than they had fifteen years before. Their cover of "Sledgehammer" had more power than Peter Gabriel’s. But the highlight of the evening was unexpected, a rendition of Talking Heads’ "Burning Down The House".

Only played for the first time live two weeks before, the number is unmistakable. It starts with an ethereal guitar, the drum pounds and then…

Watch out
You might get what you’re after

Whatever the audience expected, this exceeded it. I’d say the band was a freight train, but it was more like a 747, that had DRIVEN all the way from Charlottesville to Los Angeles and was burning rubber at the airport before finally coming to a rest… THE TIRES WERE SMOKING!

And just like a modern jet, EVERYTHING was working. It has to in order to move. And boy was the band moving. Musically. There were no dance steps, everybody was almost rigid in his place. But Carter’s arms were churning, Dave was spitting into the mic like he was seventeen, and he needed to show the bullies, who he was, where he was coming from.

I’m an ordinary guy
Burning down the house

This was not the hair band eighties. The members of the DMB were wearing the same clothes that had covered them backstage. They were not stars, they were MUSICIANS!

There was nothing on tape, no loops, no hard drives. This night they’d had to conjure the fire from scratch. They’d had to reach down deep and do it one more time, knowing that their brother was not only gone, but was never coming back.

EVERYDAY

Pick me up, love, from the bottom
Up on to the top, love, everyday
Pay no mind to taunts or advances
I’m gonna take my chances on everyday

The video of the hugger played on the hi-def screens. The audience sang along, knowing every word. That’s just what we’ve got, every day. Until we don’t.

I don’t know what happens when people die. Is this really the end? LeRoi had called his business manager just that morning, left a voice mail before the crisis, did he know this was going to be his last day on this mortal coil? And the recipient of this message, he didn’t receive it until after LeRoi expired.

The audience was cascading in a virtual wave, going up and down in place, not the artificial arena exercise, but something inspired by the music. We were in unison.

Jump in the mud, mud
Get your hands filthy, love
Give it up, love
Everyday

Get up from that couch! Go out into the bright sunshine. Dial your crush and ask her for a date. It may be messy, but maybe not. Don’t be somnambulant, get out of your own way, don’t only embrace life, but eat it up. Everyday.

*****from lefsetz letter

Steel Guitar Convention

ATTENTION HANK/COUNTRY MUSIC FANS - Just in case there are a few of you steel guitar enthusiasts out there that don't have details of the August 28, 29, 30 & 31st, 2008 Steel Guitar Convention - be sure to check out http://www.scottysmusic.com/ - It promises to be a great event and be sure to ask if there are any questions ... Thanks for all you said and all you do Scotty !Robert AckermanPalmer, Alaskap.s. Look over the names of who will be there on the schedule and while looking at the web site be sure to check out the great items for sale... (which includes a ton of CDs - including the Don Helms/Ron Elliott release and Don's book "Settin' The Woods On Fire").

Jared Tyler

VISIT www.JaredTyler.com for new dates- Including: Canebrake Resort Wed. 8-20-08

Stoney LaRue

Stoney LaRue

appearing with Cody Canada

Sun 08/24/08 San Marcos, TX Cheatham Street Warehouse

appearing at "Cross Canadian Ragweed's Red Dirt Roundup"

Sun 08/31/08 Fort Worth, TX Fort Worth Stockyards

appearing with Corb Lund

Mon 09/01/08 buy tix Fort Worth, TX Billy Bob's Texas

Stoney LaRue

Sat 09/13/08 Goliad, TX Schroeder Hall
Fri 10/10/08 buy tix Dallas, TX Palladium Ballroom
Sat 10/25/08 Thackerville, OK Winstar Casino

Jason Boland & The Stragglers

Jason Boland & The Stragglers

Sat 11/15/08 Hutchinson, KS McGraw's Cowboy Casino
Fri 11/21/08 Lincoln, NE Pershing Center
Sat 11/22/08 Omaha, NE Whiskey Tango
Wed 11/26/08 Odessa, TX Dos Amigos
Fri 11/28/08 Tulsa, OK Cain's Ballroom
Sat 12/06/08 New Braunfels, TX Gruene Hall

Bait

ROCK AND ROLL MEANS WELL TOUR - FALL 2008

ROCK AND ROLL MEANS WELL TOUR - FALL 2008

DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS AND THE HOLD STEADY HIT THE ROAD TOGETHER

You've heard the rumours - and this rock and roll wet dream is coming true.

Drive-By Truckers and The Hold Steady have teamed up to bring you the Rock and Roll Means Well Tour this Fall! Catch the double-rock show in cities across the country.

Tickets go on sale Tuesday, August 19th, 2008 at 10AM ET.

Check out the tour dates and buy your tickets ASAP!


Rock and Roll Means Well Tour Fall 2008

Thu Oct 30 Louisville KY COYOTE'S @ CITY BLOCK (HS Closes)

Fri Oct 31 Nashville TN RYMAN AUDITORIUM (DBT Closes)

Sat Nov 01 Atlanta GA TABERNACLE (DBT Closes)

Sun Nov 02 Tallahassee FL THE MOON @ FSU (HS Closes)

Mon Nov 03 Raleigh NC LINCOLN THEATRE (DBT Closes)

Wed Nov 05 State College PA THE STATE THEATRE (HS Closes)

Thu Nov 06 New York, NY TERMINAL 5 (Closer TBA)

Fri Nov 07 New York, NY TERMINAL 5 (Closer TBA)

Sat Nov 08 Philadelphia, PA ELECTRIC FACTORY (DBT Closes)

Sun Nov 09 Boston MA ORPHEUM THEATRE (HS Closes)

Tue Nov 11 Toronto ONT PHOENIX THEATRE (DBT Closes)

Wed Nov 12 Pittsburgh PA CARNEGIE MUSIC HALL (HS Closes)

Thu Nov 13 Bloomington IN BLUEBIRD (DBT Closes)

Fri Nov 14 Chicago IL RIVIERA (HS Closes)

Sat Nov 15 Minneapolis MN FIRST AVENUE MAINROOM (DBT Closes)

Sun Nov 16 Minneapolis MN FIRST AVENUE MAINROOM (HS Closes)

Wed Nov 19 Boise ID THE BIG EASY (DBT Closes)

Thu Nov 20 Seattle WA THE SHOWBOX (HS Closes)

Fri Nov 21 Seattle WA THE SHOWBOX (DBT Closes)

Sat Nov 22 Portland OR CRYSTAL BALLROOM (HS Closes)

Sun Nov 23 San Francisco CA THE FILLMORE (DBT Closes)

Mon Nov 24 San Francisco CA THE FILLMORE (HS Closes)

Tue Nov 25 Los Angeles CA THE WILTERN (DBT Closes)

No Justice....

Mon. 18. Steve and Brandon w/George Devore acoustic Dirty's Tavern in
Stillwater, OK.

Thurs. 21. Tumbleweed (College Fest) Stillwater, OK

Fri. 22. Firehouse Houston, TX

Sat. 23. Shroader Dance Hall Goliad, TX

Request Spinning Wheel it moved up to #11 this week!!

South 40

South40

South 40 will be at Cain's Ballroom in Tulsa with the Red Dirt Rangers, Friday, Aug. 22. Should be a great show. Hope to see you there. Thanks.

Top 10 Mistakes Artists Make

Top 10 Mistakes Artists Make
By David Hooper | August 2008 If you want to get a record deal, get people to your shows, or sell music like crazy, the answer isn't some kind of "magic pill" website that you post your music on, blindly sending out a bunch of demos, or anything to do with having good music... although good music certainly helps. The answer is to develop a mindset that naturally attracts people to what you're doing as well as an understanding of how the music business game is played.

As you develop as a person, your music career will develop with you. Sounds crazy, but it's true, and I've seen it time and time again, with thousands of acts that I've worked with, from garage bands, to the guys selling out arenas.

Of course, part of developing includes making mistakes along the way. Check out these ten common music business mistakes, and ways to avoid them...

10. Being too difficult (or too nice)
First of all, let’s get this clear... Just because you wrote a few good songs and recorded them, it doesn’t mean the world revolves around you. Lots of people write and record good songs, so get in line.

Contrary to what the online rumor mill or media would have you believe, people in the music business are involved because they love music, and they’re not making enough to deal with jerks. And they won’t deal with jerks. If you’re a pain, they’re just go to the next guy, who also writes good songs, but has a better attitude.

With that said, don’t be too nice. You don’t have to say yes to everything. Pick your battles. If there is something you really feel strongly about, don’t settle for anything less.

Bottom line: Keep your ego in check and behave with courtesy and respect. At the same time, don't let anyone treat with you anything less.

9. Trying to convince people of anything...
You play music, and people have strong opinions about music. Either people get what you’re doing or they don’t.

So, some reviewer, booking agent, or manager doesn't like your new album. Let it go! Don't try to convince him he'll like it better after a second listen. He won't. And the more you press him to give your music another shot, the more he’ll remember how annoying you were. This means he’ll be far less open to ever listening to you again.

There are a lot of people who won't "hear it" when you approach them. So what? Move on. There are plenty of other people in this business who can help you. Go find the people who do "hear it" and put your energy into building good relationships with them instead.

8. Looking for industry approval
There was a time when the "industry" had a lot more pull when it came to breaking an artist, getting them distributed, and everything else. This is a new time, so we're playing with different rules now.

Distribution is easy. Every day, more and more albums and songs are being sold online, physically and digitally. Recording music is easier than ever. You are not limited by a lack of options for getting something recorded that sounds professional.

But more importantly, once you get a recording together, you don't need the industry to tell you your music is worthy. The consumers, the people who buy music, are really the only opinions that matter. And when you have the love of the consumers, the industry will come around.

The thing is, in the music industry, technology has changed faster than mindset. Stop believing you are at the mercy of any record label executive. You're not. Connect directly with your fans on your terms. The feedback, loyalty and money you receive from them will be far more gratifying than you spending your time beating your head against a wall trying to figure out a way to get an approving nod from a record label.

7. Not building strong relationships with fans
People aren't stupid. They know when they're being marketed to. They know when you're looking to sell them something.

Do they mind? No.

In fact, if you have a good relationship with your fans, they won't mind being marketed to, and if you do it well, they look forward to being marketed to. However, they have to know you care. Building relationships with fans take time. You have to show them you care.

Do things like:
• Give them a few free songs to download.
• Have message board on your website and build a community there.
• Do a "fan appreciation" show.
• Record a holiday album or an EP that you give out exclusively to members of your fan club.

Show them in special ways that you not only care, but that you're willing to go the extra mile to show your appreciation. In turn, they will buy your music, travel to see you play, call radio stations on your behalf, and promote you all over the web.

Every day – no matter if you're busy recording, on the road, or at home worrying about how you're going to find the money to make your project happen – do something (no matter how small the gesture is) to reach out to your fans.

6. Not "getting" how the fan/artist relationship works
You’re the leader and your fans do the following. You make the offer, they choose whether or not to accept.

Take charge, record the music, play the shows, print the t-shirts, and let them have the options of buying your album, coming to see you, or getting something to wear.

The average person has enough leadership duties to deal with in his or her own day. People are looking for somebody else to take control, so take control and let them ride along for a little while.

5. Laying Everything on the Table...
You're a rock star. You’re living the dream. Keep up that fantasy. Don't tell people how broke you are, that you're still living with your mother, or anything else that breaks the image of you fans have in their minds.

One of the reasons people like music is because they have the opportunity to live vicariously through the people they are listening to. When you are on stage, they're up there with you. When you're on the road in your tour bus, they're riding shotgun. Don't take that away.

Give them insight into your life and what it's like in your world, but always remember, you're not just selling music – you're also selling a persona.

4. Thinking the key to success is just musical talent, money, or looks
Yes, if we're talking about pop music, MTV, or the major label system, a certain amount of a contrived "image" probably helps sell records.

Obviously, money helps things. And it's always good if you can play and sing.

But "image" without marketing won’t get you on MTV. Good songs without marketing won’t get you on the radio. You can play well, have money, and look like a model, but if you don't have the marketing to back you up, none of it matters.

You know what? If you don’t have a good, solid marketing plan in place, everything else doesn't matter so much.

3. Giving up power
Keep control as long as you can. Yes, a label deal will give you opportunity that being an indie won't. And a professional manager has connections that you don't.

But when you sign with these guys, you're handing over your career to somebody else. Nobody cares as much about your career than you do. When you and your talent are the most important commodity you have to offer, do not give up your power easily and without a damn good reason.

Your music is worth something. You are worth something. Think of your career as being "virtual real estate" which, if marketed correctly, will pay dividends for years to come. So, treat it like that.

2. Jumping at every opportunity
You don't have to say yes to everything. In fact, sometimes, saying no to something can be more beneficial to your career than saying yes.

Why do you say yes to things? Take a look at your standards and make sure they’re high enough. As an example, just because a club has a PA system, it doesn't mean that it's worth playing there. There are some gigs that just aren't worth playing. There are some connections that just aren't worth developing.

When you say yes to something, especially something that takes your time, you're likely saying no to a host of other things by default. Leave yourself open to saying yes to the opportunities that really matter.

Trust your own judgment. If something doesn't feel right and you want to say no, it's okay. At that moment, you may worry you're passing up a great opportunity and will be missing out. The reality is better opportunities (that are a better fit for you) will come if you are open and ready for them.

1. Not getting help
You don't know everything. This business has been around for a long time – long before you were involved.

Read books, get advice from people who work in the industry and keep studying every aspect of the industry. Don't be afraid to ask for help. You can bypass a lot of the problems you're likely to run into simply by asking people who have already been in, and dealt with, the situations you find yourself in.

Remember this: Time is worth more than money. You can always earn more money, but you have a limited amount of time. Don't waste your time. If you don't know something, or need specific help, don't be afraid to pay somebody to help you deal with whatever obstacle you face. Don't let anything stop you from having all the knowledge and know-how you need to have the success you aspire to have.

David Hooper has been serving the independent music community for over a decade and is host of the syndicated radio show, Music Business Radio. Visit www.MusicMarketing.com for more information on David and additional music business advice. For more Top 10 lists, go to www.musicmarketing.com/top_10/.

Last Weekends' DB Okeene Music Fest....

Pictures from the Music Fest are now posted.

www.picturetrail.com/whippetpics

Many thanks for sharing Denise!!!