The Arthouse Record Co-operative

Some Housekeeping Details

2010-11-24T11:31:00.000-08:00

We have many things to do between now and January 14. Please be advised that I expect you to be working towards these.

Picasso House: Talent Show fliers & Posters by Dec. 1

Ozu House: Groove Hop Contest Video and Upoload by Dec. 8; Microphone I.D. drawings by Nov. 30

Chanel House: Exhibit Curation Plan (Sketch) by Dec. 7; Set up exhibit Dec 10-14

All: Internship Authorization papers by Nov. 29; December Exhibit Entry by Dec. 10; Scholarship Search, Wants list, Internship Visuals, Internship Reflection, Internship Thank You Note by Jan. 14.

All of the above are valid to be working on during class.

A Few Acoustic Show Photos

2010-11-22T09:33:00.001-08:00

Great Show

2010-11-18T08:38:00.001-08:00

This is but a taste of the Nov. 16 show. Shot by an audience member. Check it out: DELAYED RELAY

2010 Winter Acoustic Show

2010-11-16T08:32:00.000-08:00

The 2010-11 season begins tonight with a short acoustic show. We opened the show up to all comers, in hopes that we would find some younger talent, and develop a good working relationship with them moving forward. It worked.

Tonight's set will feature two to three originals and/or covers from each act.

The tentative order of appearances is:

Gracie, Alex, and Gabby

Vlad and the Impalers

Candace and Haley

Delayed Relay

Zach Blackberg

Keegan and the Mountain Men

Kim and Alex

Thu Pham w/ Paul Vlad and Breena Pumpelly

Speakeasy

Show starts at 4 PM and takes place in our lecture hall.

Today's Assignment

2010-11-12T10:40:00.001-08:00

download and complete today

Mississippi Studios Show

2010-05-22T21:57:00.000-07:00

The show on May 16th went down swimmingly. Check out some of the fan photos at flickr.

Tickets On Sale Now!

2010-02-26T14:13:00.000-08:00

Our Mississippi Studios show is coming fast.

On May 16, our bands are going to tear the roof off the joint. Tickets are going fast. You can buy yours online or order through The Arthouse- 503.262.4423

The Sounds of Trenchtown
Sitting Sideways
Skyshatter
Maestro
The Daniel Cheeks Quartet
Hannah and Rachael
Keegan Gogl

Come check out the show- it's for a great cause and you will be amazed at just how good these people are.

Thanks Pollstar!

2010-02-19T21:30:00.000-08:00

No one brings all the players of the entertainment industry together like Pollstar. If you are not familiar with this company, just take a look at their website and sift through the news, calendars, and galleries. For a fee, a professional can invest in a Pollstar Pro account, opening up a world of contact and venue information that can be very important to talent buyers, managers, and any number of people who bring productions to the public.

What else does Pollstar do? They hold an incomparably critical summit every year, and let people like me come.

I had the opportunity to tell the Arthouse Co-op's story to one of the most important people in the entertainment industry, Barbara "Mother" Hubbard. I was there for one purpose--to find a compass. As everyone knows, Eric put us to the next level by making things happen. He opened his iPhone contacts list and put us in the same room as people who make a living putting on shows and putting out records. But the Perkins Foundation put me in the same room as the person commonly regarded as the cultivator of college talent. I listened to seven successful people testify to the mentorship of Mother Hubbard. I heard the realism and certainty of her commentary. They spoke about college students learning the ropes by putting on shows during college. I didn't see how I was going to find anyone better to talk to about us. When they opened it up to questions, I listened to representatives from UCLA, UC Riverside, University of Montana, Syracuse University, Johnson and Wales University, and University New Hampshire. They asked questions about marketing and buying, just as I expected. They talked about venue management and attracting artists. I listened and learned, and then asked for help just as any student should. The response was astounding.

I had been quite nervous about how I would be received. I'm an outsider. A novice. But I am also an educator, and I could tell that people understood this. They responded overwhelmingly with enthusiastic tips and suggestions. But most of all, they followed up by introducing me to people and passing on my info. Mother Hubbard and I touched base a few more times. I can tell that she understands how important it is to catch kids in high school so that they can find their way into colleges and internships, and not fall into the trap of misguided, short term jobs that will ultimately leave them needing more. I can tell her heart is in the same place as mine. This bodes well for us as I learn where to point this program.

My ultimate question was, is this happening somewhere else? I'd love to make a phone call and trade ideas. As far as anyone could say, probably not.

California Dreamin'

2010-02-12T11:38:00.001-08:00

I'm heading down to the Pollstar Live! conference in L.A. I hope to meet some interested professionals who might share some of their knowledge with me regarding their industry. I expect to learn alot just by being there, though I won't know a soul to start with.

Video of WinterRock

2010-01-28T07:47:00.000-08:00

Some fan video of the WinterRock show is available on Youtube.com-- be careful, the screaming near the camera could put your ear out.

arthouserecords

from the "Rockstar" video, just click on the name arthouserecords to view all of the uploaded videos

Boom.

2010-01-17T20:30:00.000-08:00

The show was smashing. At least 500 people, and at least 90 degrees of smelly hot heat, especially towards the back made for an exhausting but exhilarating concert. I was very happy about the professionalism our people showed, and the response of the audience. It's time to lay down some more tracks, which means summoning some more energy. We still don't have our gear, but we are very close. Then we can record.

Whoa

2010-01-13T21:10:00.000-08:00

The walls are still rattling. Soundcheck was amazing, and this showcase is going to be huge. Greg Lind brought in some extra gear and the place jumped up to eleven. I launched a preemptive campaign for forgiveness from the neighbors. Arthouse West is going to be as loud as it has ever been.

I was especially impressed by the way that some of the less polished bands put together a polished performance. Here's to a repeat.

Soundcheck Tonight

2010-01-13T08:09:00.000-08:00

Soundcheck tonight. Over one hundred musicians, more than 20 bands, and infinite awesomeness. Nerves are tweaked and energy is at an all-time high.

Let the Countdown Begin

2010-01-07T21:00:00.000-08:00

Our big show will be held at Arthouse West--the North Lecture Hall--a week from today. Back to back 70 minute shows featuring over 20 bands has been a huge undertaking, and we can hardly wait. The house will be packed (we seat 204 and have some standing room), the music will be loud, and the atmosphere will be electric. Stay tuned for some video from the show. Here's the poster.

Sitting Sideways Footage

2009-12-29T22:37:00.001-08:00

Checkout some of the footage from Sitting Sideways, shot at The Pantheon as they opened up for the Skyshatter EP release show.

Sitting Sideways

Time to Catch Up

2009-12-28T13:23:00.000-08:00

KUNG FU BAKERY

Understand this: Tim Ellis of Kung Fu Bakery is officially the man. The facility itself is absolutely incomparable. The music I love comes from this peaceful place, and anyone who spends even a short moment inside will realize why some of the world's greatest minds cut tracks here.

Its aesthetics alone, a pallet of bamboo and earth, set us at ease. When producer and proprietor Tim Ellis, accompanied by friend and client Tucker Martine greeted us, it was quite clear that we had stepped into a very special place. Professionals of this caliber don't have to spend time and energy on projects like ours. But they continue to, and for that we are quite grateful.

Tim gave us the tour. Showing us the engineering concepts behind the studio set up was critical as we strive to map our own place out. The pyramids on the ceiling were so well placed that they looked like a design element fitted by a decorator. Their acoustic impact marks their real importance, but nevertheless, they exemplify the overall greatness of the Bakery as a place to make important music.

Tucker's success in the world of indie music has apparently not gone to his head. The man joined Tim in the control room for an at-length discussion of what he does to prep and land a studio session. They talked monitors, patch bays, and playback strategies. A little Q & A guided the talk, and both men made sure that they had answered the questions, a sign of good teaching. Come to find out, Tim is also a teacher in a Community College Program. I think both would be great to learn from, HS, CC, or apprenticeship.

Joining us mid-talk was singer Tift Merritt and drummer Zeke Hutchins. They were in town, presumably recording at the bakery. They provided the very important artist's perspective. A memorable moment for me was when Tift asked The Arthouse Kids how many of them were musicians. Every single hand went up. Heck yeah, you are. I had a very encouraging conversation afterwards with the two of them, who are obviously advocates for this rare sort of educational experience. Meanwhile, Eric looked like a proud uncle, admiring the masterpiece of a trip he put together.

I just hope that future Arthouse kids will be able to get such an experience as this. Right now, it appears we are quite spoiled.

Hollywood Lighting Services

2009-12-14T21:20:00.000-08:00

We had a great time checking out the gear at Hollywood Lighting Services. Rich, Punch, and Eddie really illuminated (pun intended) the lighting services industry. More importantly, we learned alot about safety, design, and preparation.

As we prepare our show, we are thinking about how it will look. It's true that most of our time is spent preparing sound. But sound without aesthetic is rather pointless, yes?

A Little Help From My Friends?

2009-11-30T11:16:00.000-08:00

We are preparing songs for our WinterRock 2010 performance, the warm-up for our show at Mississippi Studios later in the Spring.

We need some help in the way of small practice amps that can be used for (wait for it) practice. Bass, guitar, and keyboard amps would help us tremendously. All our stuff is kept under lock and key, on site.

If you are interested in helping out, email us at arthouserecords@gmail.com or call 503.262.4423

If you are feeling even more giving, we need a PA and Mixer. Our progress could be greatly enriched with just a little help.

Skyshatter Release

2009-11-17T23:41:00.000-08:00

Skyshatter is releasing their EP on December 18. Check out their blog for info.

Opening act is Sitting Sideways.

Amateur Lyric Contest

2009-11-16T09:53:00.000-08:00

American Songwriter

Here is the link to the songwriting contest I spoke about today. It's a lyrics contest so no need for music or a demo. The prizes are very good considering the entry fee is so low. I highly suggest you enter if you have a polished song with a good hook.

Thanks go out to. . .

2009-11-03T22:13:00.000-08:00

Enormous thanks go out to Peter Horne of Horne Audio, Inc. He didn't have to take time out of his day but he did. He schooled us on analog and digital audio setup, gear, prep, and inventory. His company is making David Gray audible at the Schnitz tonight, yet he found time for us. Guys like Peter are the backbone of events like The Obama Rally at Waterfront Park, The Oregon Zoo Summer Concert Series, and KUFO Rockfest.

More enormous thanks to Travis Labbe and Jay Demko, two guys who make the magic happen at the Crystal Ballroom. They gave us an inside look at that historic venue, and with the help of Sound Engineer Rich Vink (Taj Majal, Blues Traveler, Gov't Mule) we had a lesson in soundpath. Rich said to me that he sincerely wished there were a program like this at his high school back in the day. I concurred. I suppose that's why we are doing this now, right?

Jay and the Abnormal crew

That's a lot of Channels

The sound lesson included Skyshatter's Aubree singing a three-song set on stage with the weight of the house sound behind her. She sounded great through the XLCs--Rich's wife said so.

We also saw Lola's room, and the room where the bands hang out before the show. This venue is solid, and so are the people who run it. As someone who loves Portland, this place exemplifies it in spirit, architecture, and character. For some of the students, it was their first time there. I hope they see a show there soon, and get a chance to see it come to life.

The Crystal Ballroom back in its Ringler's Dancing Academy days.

Here it is today.

Bands are Still Posting Blog Sites

2009-11-02T10:04:00.001-08:00

They might be a bit behind, but bands are still posting blog sites as we speak. Stay tuned.

2009-10-29T10:51:00.001-07:00

Post your Blog Site Here

2009-10-28T11:44:00.001-07:00

In the comments section

Skyshatter in Studio

2009-10-27T21:45:00.000-07:00

Skyshatter has been working hard in studio to record their EP. I got to hear a rough mix of the track I wrote, A Thief Lay Dying. It rocked.

We are planning to have an EP release party, which will feature Skyshatter and some other performances. Perhaps Tom Little's Lunch?

I reached out to my alma mater today, visiting with Professor Elena Bernard at The University of Portland. We had a great conversation about giving her current student-client a set at The Arthouse. He's looking for exposure to a younger audience, and I'm looking for a just out of high school musician to talk about trying to make it in music while going to school.

Great things happening. I just read an article in The Beacon about my old radio station, KDUP looking to put on a major show on campus. Eric, are you reading this? Perhaps Skyshatter opening for one of your amazing bands? I'm just sayin'.

Boomin'

2009-10-24T16:50:00.000-07:00

We cut some hip hop tracks yesterday. I was very impressed by all the MCs and by our own Steven's engineering chops. His beats set the pace for both songs. Neither song is finished of course, but we have the bulk complete.

We are going to be taking a look at the Portland music scene next week.

Busy times right now.

'Zines

2009-10-15T11:59:00.000-07:00

Bands are going to create 'Zines about other bands. This should be good for promoting unity amongst the group and for learning about each other. Interviews are especially good for this.

New Bands:

Sounds of Trenchtown
Easily Abused
Lint
Maestro
Falling Sidewalks
The Lost Fingers
Johnny Potato and the Tube Worms (must change this name)
Little Bitty
Alive By Night

Manager's Meeting Thursday 10/15

2009-10-14T16:05:00.000-07:00

Managers will meet on Thursday at 2:45.

On the Agenda:

1) Logo Design Contest vote (Aubree)

2) State of the division address: Managers from each section- where are your projects? (ALL)

3) The Newsletter (Elli)

4) Fan 'Zines (Spencer)

5) The window (Thomas)

6) Professional Expectations for all ARC members (Franzen)

7) Eric's Visit (Franzen)

8) Challenges so far, how to meet them (Franzen)

9) Moving forward (Franzen)

Bands, bands, bands.

2009-10-12T19:37:00.000-07:00

Epic Syndrome
The Halo Reference
5 + 2 Pac (We'll see if we can come up with something less referential)
Blind Venetians
Salty Brodsky
Sevin
S.T.A.Z.
Arnold's Departure
Minus Joey
Stained Glass Roses
The Lady Killers

It was a pretty funny process. Some divulging of musical talents, interests, experiences. Admitting the lack of. I can see that this scares some people, but we love to let them take a smaller, less visible role. They'll still be forced into taking a risk, but not so much that they'll be set up for failure.

I want to see some coverage of this in our first newsletter, and I'll be assigning writers and designers to starting Fanzines for each band. In fact, I think I'll put each band in charge of a 'zine for another band.

More bands tomorrow.

The Coming Week

2009-10-09T07:52:00.000-07:00

Bands are forming Monday and Tuesday. This includes the side projects, press releases, photography, the beginning of the fan 'zine work, the repertoire. . .

The first newsletter deadline is October 19th. We'll be editing and posting it by the 22nd. Stay tuned for that.

Next week, the ARC staff will take some time for staff development. We'll watch the comedy classic
That Thing You Do for the sole purpose of talking about vision, relishing learning experiences, and communicating artistic preferences in the context of bands. We'll also talk about establishing "the hook" in songwriting. I'm going to ask bands to try to write a one hit wonder. Or a one hit oneder, if you prefer.

Thursday

2009-10-08T21:27:00.000-07:00

Cameron added some gritty guitar to the Steven cut today. I think Terrence and Chris are getting some vocals together for it. Terrence has a vision for a spotlight promo and they are going to shoot that next week.

Elli and I talked out some details for a paperless newsletter. She's training Tessa on inDesign. I am looking forward to this piece simply because it reaches out to alumni, teachers, and students alike. I also think this is a great way to get our writers involved in talking to the other people in the creative departments and getting a handle on our day to day ops.

Next week we form bands. Then it begins.

In the Swing of It

2009-10-07T21:51:00.000-07:00

Tuesday and Wednesday were pretty good this week. Everybody has an eight item To Do list. I'm pretty close to calling for some time management training.

I would also like to say we may need flu management training too. There is more sickness in this place right now than I have ever seen.

Eric booked a couple of trips for us. They had been in the works, but now it's to the paperwork stage. November 3 is a dual-trip to a local venue and a local audio outfitter. I'm refraining from the details until after the trip. We are going to get a sound-path lesson and check out the behind the scenes stuff that kids want to see.

On December 4, we are heading to the studio of a local legend. I will keep his name out of the blog for now, but stay tuned. It's a pretty cool thing for this guy to let us peek behind the scenes.

I decided that we need to have a newsletter. I'm going to install some inDesign software and put some writers to work. I figure they can cover our endeavors, do written "Artist Spotlights," etc. We'll keep it paperless, so look for a way to subscribe to the newsletter soon.

Managers Still Learning

2009-10-05T20:54:00.000-07:00

Communication is not a luxury at the co-op--it is the lifeblood of our organization. I'd like to see some of our managers be more thorough in the planning of projects and the utilization of their team members. Project sheets have to be completed and put into the promotions book, absences have to be reported. . .

On the other hand, there are some impressive examples of people following through on projects, leading others and redirecting people when necessary, firing off emails to schedule a pitch. Beautiful.

I heard back from Professor Bernard tonight. We're going to try and meet next week to brainstorm some ideas.

Managers need to meet next week. We're going to begin the Artist and Repertoire work (in an official capacity) which includes the talent we've been scouting since our last meeting. Adam is my man in the A & R department. We'll see how he does. I'm pretty sure he's up for it.

Also, I think somebody needs to clean up that desk.

University of Portland

2009-10-04T14:10:00.000-07:00

I was out at my Alma Mater, The University of Portland, this morning. The campus was still asleep for the most part. Signs of life on the bluff were few, limited to the steady stream of marathon runners and 20 or so volunteers who manned drink stations along Willamette Boulevard. I ducked into the Pilot House and picked up a copy of The Beacon, the school paper and sat down to warm up.

I was suddenly taken back to 2002. I was teaching a class called Arts and Literature II. It was a hybrid class (English Lit and the Arts), and the predecessor to Arts and Communications. I decided it was time for the students to take on a project that incorporated marketing, copywriting, agency, design, and speaking strategies. Is this sounding familiar? I brought in my guitar and some pretty mainstream sounding lyrics and played eight or ten songs. I told them that their job was to form teams of four and market me. "Come up with a package and pitch it, I'll pick one," I told them. I gave them time to research avenues and vehicles for a singer-songwriter and they took off with it. The results were very impressive, and though the intent was never to actually market myself, the point stuck. I still see alum from time to time who call me "Seamus," which was my stage persona for the project. That of course was the seedling for what became known as "Rock Band," which was quickly changed to "Winter Rock" after the Rock Band video game came along. Now, we have a full-on company in bloom.

Snap back to the present.
Just above the "N" in Beacon was a lead and a small photograph of a young man and a guitar. The tease said "Marketing sophomore Sam Wegman's music". I opened to page 6 and read the story. The title of staff writer Megan Osborn's article was "Marketing a musician: Marketing class given task to promote student's burgeoning music career". According to the article, professor Elena Bernard has responded to the real-world demands for students to experience hands-on learning, assigning her marketing class the task of promoting Wegman. He is the client, they pitch strategies. Simple.

I was, of course, very excited to hear that my beloved University was still in the business of hiring innovative teachers. The disconnect between high school and university teaching has always been glaringly obvious. I think more students would succeed at the college level if the professors worked to hone their craft in classroom instruction. The issue becomes desire--the turnover of students from semester to semester coupled with the pressure to publish can beat the teacher right out of a person. It is much easier to speak about what one knows than to create a plan to help others discover the same things for themselves. We all know that inquiry and discovery is more effective than memorization and recitation.

I was very happy to see the article. Perhaps I'll send her a copy of this month's The Highlander. She'll be able to see the co-op on the center spread and tell her class about our project. Maybe I'll see if she wants to join me in The Pilot house for curly fries and an hour of story-swapping. Maybe I'll get ahold of Sam and he can come to The Arthouse for a performance and a little guest speaking.

Great Meeting

2009-10-01T21:15:00.000-07:00

We worked out some new project ideas today. We also put some things to bed.

We need some funds to get the buttons going, but we are going to restructure an idea and get it done.

Today we decided to put an all-call out to poets, songwriting singers, bands, etc. Time to pull in some talent and add them to the fold. I'm thinking some small shows on-site as fundraising opportunities that we can then turn around and use to fund a CD of those same shows. Or, we could podcast the shows. We need to plan that.

Our non-profit status is good. We need to find good people and businesses who can help us make some of our hard work come to fruition.

Tomorrow

2009-09-30T21:57:00.000-07:00

Critical visit from the career center. Discussion of internship procedures.

After:

Kayd, Lauren, Joey: Group will vote on a button design to submit to the managers for a vote.

Thomas, Joey, and our other window leader? Do the same for your project.

We need status reports and new project proposals from all managers. Please lead your groups in proposing new project ideas. Remember, you don't need to stay a group, people will move where they are needed. We must, however, talk about projects first-- make a formal project proposal, define and assign roles, specify equipment needs, etc. Have that finished by the end of class.

Manager's meet at 2:45 or dang close to it.

Putting Projects to Bed

2009-09-30T09:19:00.000-07:00

The date to put the button and window projects to bed has come. We'll vote tomorrow on the designs, and begin to implement.

Project Ideas? Come armed with ideas about the next wave of projects. Leave a comment if you think of something that we could do to promote our brand.

Managers Meeting Thursday October 1, 2009

2009-09-29T09:05:00.000-07:00

Goal: have projects and groups formed and have time lines established

Agenda:
1. Look at window designs
2. Look at button designs
3. Status report from all managers regarding their projects
4. NEW PROJECTS!

Poster?

2009-09-28T21:27:00.003-07:00

ARC's Staff Development Day: What Can We Learn from Dylan?

2009-09-28T08:45:00.000-07:00

Transcending Creative Boundaries
When Bob Dylan went electric, he effectively blurred the lines between folk and rock. He lent his fame as his generation's poet for change to the genre of "Yeah yeah yeah," and "ooh baby baby." This of course opened visionary doors for people like John Lennon, and Neil Young, who would also pen some of the more memorable lyrics of the 1960s and 70s. Dylan also redefined "singing" in music, paving the way for less-traditional voices to step up to the microphone.

The question is, what can we learn from Dylan?
First, consider the historical context: By looking at Dylan in relationship to the cultural fabric of 1965, the year he "went electric" at the Newport Folk Festival, we can get an idea of what he was risking. Dylan had a dedicated following of "folkies" and the respect of the world's most famous folk musicians. He could have continued on that path and still have had a very comfortable life on the fringe of pop culture. Instead, he followed his heart, risking infamy by pursuing a new sound. It is said that people do not like change. Some accounts of that initial performance seem to support this notion. However, others claim that the audience-unrest was largely due to other issues. Check out some of these accounts:
Bruce Jackson, The Buffalo Report

Rolling Stone

The Festival Today
The Newport Folk festival still exists today. The 2009 incarnation featured The Decemberists (a band very dear to The Arthouse), Fleet Foxes, Billy Bragg, Neko Case, Iron and Wine, and Langhorne Slim. The connection? All feature lyrics that tell stories, question the status quo, and push boundaries.

The Connection to the Arthouse Record Co-operative
We speak to each other of innovation and risk. We talk about the inevitability of change and how it is necessary to identify the paths that lead in directions we want to go, but that we must also explore new paths. The spirit of the pioneers is alive in us. As we move along we will encounter obstacles, self-doubt, fatigue, outside pressure, the temptation to do less. . . let us remember that in setting a new standard for public education, there will be a road of trials. We are 135 strong. We can do it.

More efficient than we thought

2009-09-24T23:31:00.000-07:00

We started with a reasonable timeline. Then we started to work. The company's teams functioned so well that we actually jumped ahead. We hadn't planned on starting promo videos but we did. We were ready to. And we actually made it to the point where we were able to shoot . After a staff development day where we will look at the legacy of Bob Dylan, we will begin editing. I have a lot of confidence in the video crew.

Today, I heard Terrance and Chris and Steven's demo. It was very good. Those guys have voices that compliment each other. Steven obviously has talent for production--his beats were solid. I'm looking forward to songwriting so that we can get an EP out. Our catalog should build pretty quickly, and the A&R is going to be a great part of the process.

We hit the ground running

2009-09-23T15:21:00.000-07:00

Our managers were incredible. They got people working in the smae direction and by the time 85 minutes was over, they had accomplished goals and set new ones for next time. If only we could meet every day for the same amount of time.

John sets us up to tweet. Tamera prepares to be beamed up.

Spencer and Tamera conduct interviews.

First Manager's Meeting

2009-09-22T20:00:00.000-07:00

Our first manager's meeting is tomorrow, 7:30 am in The Arthouse. I will be spending the evening shaping some agenda items. They haven't really been trained yet in how to lead meetings, set agendas, and then divide and conquer projects in creative and administrative teams.

First we'll need to cement some personnel issues-- we need to appoint Art Directors and Creative Directors for our design and production teams. We have a pretty good handle on the photography department, and our audio department has some experienced people in place as well. Fortunately, our agents and copywriters come with solid résumés and I am confident that our promotions will be pretty hard to miss.

We don't have quite as much of a video team this year. I am also unfamiliar with some of them so I will be anxious to see how much of a hand I'll have to play in that.

Some of our gear has broken down. We are hurting for tripods in particular. Funds won't be coming in for a while so we will have to figure out how to creatively work around that.

Eric and I had a phone meeting today (he's in Norfolk, Virginia) to nail down some dates. He's looking to book some field experiences--lights, audio, venues. . . and has already spoken to some of the key players.

I'm going to get Leonardo to finish our web banner ASAP so we can link sites to us. He has one done, but I sent it back for some refinement.

I really do need to get back to work now. Not that this really feels like work.

What'll It Be?

2009-09-21T21:36:00.000-07:00

Today was the day I have been waiting for--the first wave of interviews. The manager candidates didn't know I was going to do this, but I put them in charge of the interview process, asking questions, taking notes about the interviewees, who spoke briefly about their interests and qualifications.

We got to spend some time formulating decisions about how we are going to carry forward. I am pleased with the variety of skills that our managers possess. Rather than the two-per section I had planned on, I am averaging three per. There was just too much talent to choose from and I couldn't imagine not hiring them.

Tomorrow features two more interview sessions, and Wednesday is our first morning manager's meeting. I am pretty excited about that.

Mission Statement

2009-09-17T22:21:00.000-07:00

The Arthouse Record Co-operative is an organization founded on the principle that students have the potential to achieve greatness when provided the opportunity and motivation to do so. This can, however, only occur in an environment where risk is rewarded, respect is the norm, mentoring is prevalent, and expectations are high.

In a co-operative model, students divide projects into attainable smaller tasks. They discuss with each other their interests and skills, and then utilize their knowledge and abilities to accomplish those tasks. The result is an empowered approach to teamwork, and a sense of accomplishment that breeds more success.

Many of the negative behaviors exhibited by some teens, especially those looking to go straight into the workforce, are the result of a disconnect between their imagined future and the reality of the classroom. In other cases, college-bound students find themselves bored by the pedagogy of the desk-and-test classroom. We will provide our students with the power to exercise leadership skills, and acquaint them with the reality of teamwork, organization, and networking. This will instill a sense of community, self-worth, and responsibility that benefits everyone. As a result of this student-centered model, new avenues of relevant academic, professional, and technical education will be open for exploration.

While socioeconomic factors may hinder the opportunities available to our students, there is a vast network of socially-minded professionals willing to lend their time and expertise to better the lives of teens. It is our mission to cultivate those relationships and open doors for our students, doors they otherwise might not approach. In return, we will work to always be diligent in our ethical and professional responsibilities. In order for us to realize the full potential of this groundbreaking educational model, our partnerships with field professionals is critical.

Music is a well-funded elective at David Douglas High School. It is important to recognize that there are no options outside of the choir, jazz, and orchestra programs for student musicians. The Arthouse is interested in giving the hundreds of student musicians with less traditional interests a reason to come to school, and a way to learn about the industry off-stage.

Students learn by doing. We hope to give them the freedom and tools to do great things.

Market Thyself

2009-09-16T20:34:00.000-07:00

I probably need to clarify the schedule before you get utterly confused as to why we have been doing the same thing two days in a row. I meet with three teams one day and then two more the next. This adds up to 134 students. I was operating under the number 125, but after careful review, it appears that I have even more talent to work with.

As part of our organizational structure, we will have two managers (promotions and products) for each team. Those managers will meet and communicate across class periods. They will use a Professional Learning Community style of meeting and collaborating. This means that they will drive agendas, identify problems to solve, directions to take. . . In other words, they will function with purpose.

You may have noticed the quasi-Shakespearian-capitalist title. The message of the day was that students preparing résumés must not be afraid to provide prospective employers, internship hosts, and the like glimpses of their true skills. So many of the students were operating within the 10th grade paradigm that a résumé told everybody the exact same thing. Unfortunately, this disregards a basic communications concept: Audience Analysis.

Because this résumé serves to inform me of their value to the ARC, and further serves to advocate for the freedom to contribute in a way that most interests them, I suggested they examine their existing résumés for extraneous items. The four week stint making Blizzards at the Division Street DQ? Gone. The night you baby-sat for the neighbors while they went to square-dancing lessons? Buh-bye. The last thing their résumés need are entries that indicate short-term commitments. Replace it with the band you have been in since sophomore year. That's right. You're trying to gain position in a creative field. Show me your creative commitments. That band took second place at the Battle of the Bands? Great work. Put that down. It shows the ability to be a part of a successful production.

It was hard to help people who had nothing to show for the last few years. I think it drives the point home that participating really does build character.
That character shows up in unexpected places, like a résumé. I really do think people miss out when they don't take part in activities at school, church, community centers. Even that Dairy Queen job, over time, becomes an integral part of one's growth. Of course, too many Blizzards on the job leads to the wrong kind of growth, so one must have balance.

Speaking of balance, tomorrow the first three cover letter writing sessions will give students a chance to vocalize their interests. It'll be interesting to see how they apply formal language to such a personal topic.

On another note, Eric was firing off emails today. I'm thinking of creating a comic strip. Eric would wear a cape, a mask, and a really space-age bluetooth device. Maybe a utility belt. He would find people in need and help them put shows together. Not sure what to call it. Captain Agentpants? BATMANager?

Pollstar Live 2010

2009-09-15T18:01:00.000-07:00

I was digging for a way to learn more about the business. Eric suggested Pollstar Live! 2010. All I had to do was look at their site and read about it a bit to know it was exactly what I was looking for. I have enough time that some of the better promo materials should be ready, a venue booked, and some of the organizational kinks worked out. I think this is pretty cutting edge stuff we are working on.

We are working to establish our brand right now. We are going to start a logo design contest, open it up to the school, and then reward the winner with some merch. Joey and Angie spoke to The Highlander today, and they generously agreed to place an ad in their September edition.

Speaking of The Highlander, we have the pleasure of being the subject of the center spread. Hopefully this will help get the word out about what we are doing.

The button campaign starts in a couple of weeks. I'll have more on that later.

Down to Business

2009-09-15T09:16:00.000-07:00

Time to make some personnel decisions. Students are looking at job titles: Art Director; Booking Agent; Advertising and Promotions Manager; Actor; Sound Engineer; Copywriter. . .

Once a student has an eye on a job, the résumé customization begins. Cover letters are next. Then the interview. We are going to do a group interview, with students asking and answering questions pertaining to the positions for which they are applying. I've asked for relevant work samples to accompany any art-oriented applications.

I love it when a plan comes together

2009-09-14T17:47:00.000-07:00

After the last two sections turn in their proposed plan, the real work begins. I must take those proposals and create one plan, with associated jobs. Students will begin crafting résumés and cover letters. During the mass interviews on the 21st and 22nd, I'll make my decision as to who gets what job titles.

I'm thinking business cards to the team leaders, and some ulcer medicine for myself.

Breaking Eggs

2009-09-11T08:55:00.000-07:00

I filled students in today on the conversation between Eric and I. The energy and renewed spirit for school was palpable.

After a pep talk about how birth is more violent than most deaths, and how we spend our lives subconsciously afraid of new ideas and new places, I challenged them to face their discomfort for the challenge that lay before them. I called them to adventure.

I asked students to come up with a plan for establishing and promoting our brand. They divided into a products and a promos division. With calendar in hand and laptop in tow, they generated a tentative plan.

It's hard to believe that so much of the public underestimates the ability of 17 and 18 year olds. Perhaps kids just need a little empowerment? I think yes.

The Meeting That Shook the World

2009-09-10T19:53:00.000-07:00

Eric Mayers and I met up tonight to talk business. By business I mean awesomeness. He is totally dedicated to using his wealth of knowledge and contacts to make this project go. I think he gave me the confidence to raise the bar, and after meeting all of the students I know that the bar was ready to be raised. He will be on tour with The Decemberists for awhile, but when he gets back he will be spending some time guiding us towards the promised land.

We mapped out the next eight months. We went with (at his suggestion I might add) a month-by-month plan of focusing on aspects of the show and release. Most of the months are tied to a field trip for people focusing on that aspect. I won't publish that information at this time, however.
REMEMBER: we are not focusing exclusively on these things for a whole month; we are simply using them as our anchor. We will still bring culture to us in its various forms, and use it as inspiration to create.

This is the plan:

September looks like the month of planning, and getting used to the idea that we can indeed do amazing things.

October will be spent on learning to write and compose songs. We want a high quality catalog.

November is audio month. We will be looking into live and studio audio.

December will bring us to lighting. Techies will love this.

January: Agency, booking- tours and individual shows.

February is when we really start hitting the streets, marketing our show and record.

March is Merch Month. Designing the art for our record. . .

April is when we focus on manufacturing and distribution.

And May. . . is show time. Think venues that matter. That's what we want.

Sure, we'll play some dress rehearsals in the lecture hall. And that will be amazing enough. But the goal is to take it to the city. We have talent. Let's do something with it.

Day One: Establishing the vision

2009-09-09T11:32:00.000-07:00

Five sections, 125+ students. This could be an organizational nightmare. But I don't think so. Today I shared the big picture with students: Create an original full-length CD and put on a show. I asked them to work in small groups and brainstorm things they would like to do to promote our name, products, and events.

Some conventional ideas:

Music Videos
Buttons and stickers
Posters and playbills
Talent Shows

Some unconventional ideas:

Swine flu masks with our name on it
A custom Voodoo Donut
Get Ben and Jerry to name a flavor after us
Busking in the hallways during passing time

One more class this afternoon and then two tomorrow. The next step is to form a products group and a promotions group. From there, students will form plans of action, and set smaller goals.

Next week students begin putting together some employability materials: résumé, cover letter, etc. When they bring those with them to class on 9/21 and 9/22, they will discuss with others their strengths and interests. This is how we will form teams and take on projects.

The Night Before

2009-09-08T21:48:00.000-07:00

We begin tomorrow. I have spent many hours putting this together in my head. I have to admit, I am intimidated by the magnitude of possibilities. The first day will be spent wrapping our heads around what we want to do, imagining what can be done, and managing our talent pool. We have a ton of talent, that is certain; the issue will be corralling it so that we can realize the potential of this great experiment.