MAKING MONEY: Digital Distribution and Shows
In the music business, it takes money to make money. Starting out for any independent music artist can be hard and artists almost always invest more money than they make initally. This generally means that the less money you have to invest, the less likely you will be noticed. However, the amount of money isn’t the only factor because the effectiveness of your investments determine how far your money will go. I covered exposure in my last blog and now I will discuss how an artist can capitalize on the exposure and translate it to income.
Prior to the digital music age of ITunes and file-sharing, hard copy album sales (Vinyls, tapes, and CDs) and shows were the most profitable sources of income for independent artists. Now that CDs are becoming a thing of the past and MP3 players are about as common as cell phones, independent artists must adjust to the revolution. The hard copy sales are primarily focused on by elite, major label artists with a hot product and independent artist get the most revenue from digital distribution.
Independent artists have to shell out thousands of bucks for studio sessions, duplication, and promotional materials and at the end of the day, each CD unit usually comes out to around 3-4 bucks if done professionally. Now when the artists take their prized possessions to the local record store or distribution company they can negotiate the selling price. If the store sells it for $9.99 you get around 6 bucks back per copy and if they sell it for $6.99 you get 4 bucks per copy. To get a decent deal, most artists must purchase the minimum of 1,000 copies which is pretty much the standard for most duplication spots. So if all these numbers get confusing, remember that independent artists can only expect to receive around $2-4 per copy sold! So for all the time and money invested in getting the hard copies, it’s hardly worth it for an artist to sell hard copies unless they can sell at least 1,000 units.
So if you honestly feel like you don’t have the following to sell 1,000 units, don’t feel trapped. There are a few ways local artists can make a few bucks to make your time and investments worthwhile. Firstly, ITunes is your BEST FRIEND!! For $35, you can sell your music on Itunes, Rhapsody, etc... through CDBaby. A few album sales and you get your money back, then it’s all profit from there. You can even send in a homemade CD to them and they will still sell it as long as all the material is original. For each 99 cent download, you get around 60 cents and that adds up especially if you have a few singles which stand out from the other tracks on your album. Realistically, most people would rather just buy a few songs that they like instead of the whole album so this gives the audience more options in purchasing and enjoying your music.
Also, if you have a decent amount of exposure from free shows and your reputation for putting on a good show gets around, start charging! Be humble and charge venues reasonable amounts to perform and if you bring a good crowd, they will bring you back! And another tip in getting good venues is to offer a discount if they give you free tickets. That way they get more traffic that buys there drinks and you can get a familiar crowd in the spot to help get your audience crooning. Even simply charging the venue for gas money can be valuable for artists since they can break even while reaching a wider audience.
Even though the hard copy sales are decreasing, ditching hard copies entirely is not a good idea. Making free promotional CDs or cheap demos to pass out to potential buyers is a good option for low budget artists. With that said, digital distribution and shows remain the most profitable for local independent artists. Another way to get money on the side is to branch out and offer services to other artists that they don’t have. This can be a business or bartering system that is called networking, the topic of my next blog.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Monday, September 15, 2008
Exposure – Why is it Important and How to Get it
We hear it all the time, “Hey take a second to listen to my music, I promise it’s good.” And some of us at some time probably felt bad for the artist and shelled out $5 for some unsavory music on a blank CD just to help them out. Artist promotion comes in many forms and a successful promotion plan can help any artist or band separate themselves from the everlasting pool of sub-par musicians.
First off, remember you are an artist everywhere you go. Don’t be ashamed of your work and take advantage of the personal connections you make everyday. Let’s be realistic. Most up-and-coming artists have at least a plan B to lean on if they don’t blow up or get signed. Getting a degree or working a job is a must when trying to make it because it takes money to make money and 99% of underground artists never make it to a truly profitable situation. So when you are at work, at school or even at the gym, make sure you keep flyers or business cards with you to direct the public to your music. Free promo CDs are valuable in giving the public an immediate ear to your work. TV commercials are useful in getting your image out there, but they won’t translate to record sales unless you have the rest of your maketing plan in place. Realistically, most people who get flyers won’t actually follow-up and check out your MySpace, add you and buy your music like a true fan would so giving them a free CD is convenient and effective in getting ears for your tunes. However, make sure that you are reaching your targeted audience with your CD promos because CDs cost the most out of all the promo giveaways.
Now let’s tackle the latest phenomenon: MySpace. Nowadays, major labels don’t take “MySpace famous” artists as serious as they did when Cassie got signed off MySpace because everybody is doing it and some even resort to artificial buzz enhancers. Companies actually sell programs which increase the play count on an artist’s page which give the appearance of a successful artist. In reality, the cheating artists are only cheating themselves. This is because they aren’t getting the feedback and true fan base of a genuine artist who puts in work for his or her plays, comments, and friends. 5,000 fake plays a day and three actual comments per week don’t add up. Also, MySpace prohibits using these programs or putting your player on other pages so the risk of getting your profile deleted isn’t worth it. Also, cheating is bad for an up-and-comer because it clouds his or her perception of their buzz level plus you don’t get the satisfaction of reaching a higher level of MySpace buzz on your own. Posting bulletins, clickable comments and ads on everyone’s page is the best way to relay fans your way on MySpace. Also, updating your page with new and downloadable music every few months is a must to keep your buzz going. Once you reach a respectable level of authentic MySpace stardom, the fans will come to you. MySpace is a powerful tool to reach fans you normally wouldn’t reach by doing shows or passing out flyers and should act as a complement to the rest of your artist promotion.
Finally, in order to maximize your exposure, you must be seen by the fans! Doing free shows and passing out promotional giveaways in person always has a better connection to potential fans than a stack of flyers sitting at the door in your local record store. When people see you acknowledge them they are more likely to give your music a chance. Your goal is to hit fans from every direction because most of the time, a person who bypassed your spiel the first time will take your second approach more seriously. They say, “Ohh yeah, I’ve seen you guys before, ” and subliminally in the back of their mind they are thinking “well maybe they are good since their stuff is everywhere.” Lastly, don’t get tunnel vision and focus on one method of promotion because a balanced system which incorporates them all is the most effective way to maximize your exposure.
First off, remember you are an artist everywhere you go. Don’t be ashamed of your work and take advantage of the personal connections you make everyday. Let’s be realistic. Most up-and-coming artists have at least a plan B to lean on if they don’t blow up or get signed. Getting a degree or working a job is a must when trying to make it because it takes money to make money and 99% of underground artists never make it to a truly profitable situation. So when you are at work, at school or even at the gym, make sure you keep flyers or business cards with you to direct the public to your music. Free promo CDs are valuable in giving the public an immediate ear to your work. TV commercials are useful in getting your image out there, but they won’t translate to record sales unless you have the rest of your maketing plan in place. Realistically, most people who get flyers won’t actually follow-up and check out your MySpace, add you and buy your music like a true fan would so giving them a free CD is convenient and effective in getting ears for your tunes. However, make sure that you are reaching your targeted audience with your CD promos because CDs cost the most out of all the promo giveaways.
Now let’s tackle the latest phenomenon: MySpace. Nowadays, major labels don’t take “MySpace famous” artists as serious as they did when Cassie got signed off MySpace because everybody is doing it and some even resort to artificial buzz enhancers. Companies actually sell programs which increase the play count on an artist’s page which give the appearance of a successful artist. In reality, the cheating artists are only cheating themselves. This is because they aren’t getting the feedback and true fan base of a genuine artist who puts in work for his or her plays, comments, and friends. 5,000 fake plays a day and three actual comments per week don’t add up. Also, MySpace prohibits using these programs or putting your player on other pages so the risk of getting your profile deleted isn’t worth it. Also, cheating is bad for an up-and-comer because it clouds his or her perception of their buzz level plus you don’t get the satisfaction of reaching a higher level of MySpace buzz on your own. Posting bulletins, clickable comments and ads on everyone’s page is the best way to relay fans your way on MySpace. Also, updating your page with new and downloadable music every few months is a must to keep your buzz going. Once you reach a respectable level of authentic MySpace stardom, the fans will come to you. MySpace is a powerful tool to reach fans you normally wouldn’t reach by doing shows or passing out flyers and should act as a complement to the rest of your artist promotion.
Finally, in order to maximize your exposure, you must be seen by the fans! Doing free shows and passing out promotional giveaways in person always has a better connection to potential fans than a stack of flyers sitting at the door in your local record store. When people see you acknowledge them they are more likely to give your music a chance. Your goal is to hit fans from every direction because most of the time, a person who bypassed your spiel the first time will take your second approach more seriously. They say, “Ohh yeah, I’ve seen you guys before, ” and subliminally in the back of their mind they are thinking “well maybe they are good since their stuff is everywhere.” Lastly, don’t get tunnel vision and focus on one method of promotion because a balanced system which incorporates them all is the most effective way to maximize your exposure.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Hoppy minus the brew - food review
Hoppy minus the brew
By rewarding voters with a free brew on election night, Hoppy Brewing Company had a Tuesday night packed like a Friday.
Located on 65th and Folsom, Hoppy had a pretty good variety on the menu for a brewery, but many of the choices were a bit pricey for a broke college student. Anything over the $6 dollar Chipotle burrito is a special occasion for me so I took dinner advice from Jake Corbin, a Hoppy regular.
I went with the greasily-famous Philly Cheese Steak for just under the double-digit dollar price of $9.75. It’s been awhile since I had one and the grilled onions, bell peppers and steak seemed like the fail-safe investment of the night.
The sandwich was greasy as expected and in fact a little bit too greasy since the bottom of the sourdough roll was a bit soaked leaving a glossy coat of evidence on my fingertips. Of course some roll-bottom saturation can be excused when taken from a standard foil-wrapped Philly Cheese Steak, but for almost $10, I want perfection!
The fries that occupied the other side of the plate didn’t last long even though they tasted the same as 95% of other restaurants. The fries weren’t anything special, but they got the job done for someone who can never turn down fries as a side.
I’ve been telling myself I’m on a diet, but it’s just too hard to eat a salad with my girlfriend not around. Greasy was the topic of the night for my appetite, but I did try to make myself feel less guilty by choosing the steak instead of the ground beef in a Hoppyburger.
After eating greasy foods, my head always seems to feel “clogged” or hazy which prompts a response to drink excessive amounts of water. The waiter seemed to be juggling around six tables at once which granted me only one water refill.
I know I am a camel when it comes to water sometimes so I didn’t even bother interrupting the waiter since I know what it’s like to be understaffed. Considering the unlikely full capacity, the waiter did all he could to keep a fresh supply of ale to others.
Even though the word “free” made grabbing a brew very tempting, I had to pass on it because I have been taking 2400mg of ibuprofen daily for about the last 6 months due to hand tendinitis. I felt a bit juvenile lifting my glass of water among the crowd of ale-drinkers during a toast, but it just wasn’t worth ignoring my doctor’s warning by trying a pint of Hoppy beer. Plus, I never really drank much beer as a beverage; only as a bridge to inebriation.
As far as Philly Cheese Steaks go, I’d give it a B+, but as far as $10 sandwiches go, I wouldn’t repeat it. I am El Cheapo when it comes to food unless I am sure to have a good box of left-overs (i.e. Buca Di Beppo a.k.a. the best leftovers ever). Nevertheless, the chat and the lively environment made my visit to Hoppy a fun time. Next time I’ll try a Heff-a’s-weizen brew.
more info >> www.hoppy.com
By rewarding voters with a free brew on election night, Hoppy Brewing Company had a Tuesday night packed like a Friday.
Located on 65th and Folsom, Hoppy had a pretty good variety on the menu for a brewery, but many of the choices were a bit pricey for a broke college student. Anything over the $6 dollar Chipotle burrito is a special occasion for me so I took dinner advice from Jake Corbin, a Hoppy regular.
I went with the greasily-famous Philly Cheese Steak for just under the double-digit dollar price of $9.75. It’s been awhile since I had one and the grilled onions, bell peppers and steak seemed like the fail-safe investment of the night.
The sandwich was greasy as expected and in fact a little bit too greasy since the bottom of the sourdough roll was a bit soaked leaving a glossy coat of evidence on my fingertips. Of course some roll-bottom saturation can be excused when taken from a standard foil-wrapped Philly Cheese Steak, but for almost $10, I want perfection!The fries that occupied the other side of the plate didn’t last long even though they tasted the same as 95% of other restaurants. The fries weren’t anything special, but they got the job done for someone who can never turn down fries as a side.
I’ve been telling myself I’m on a diet, but it’s just too hard to eat a salad with my girlfriend not around. Greasy was the topic of the night for my appetite, but I did try to make myself feel less guilty by choosing the steak instead of the ground beef in a Hoppyburger.
After eating greasy foods, my head always seems to feel “clogged” or hazy which prompts a response to drink excessive amounts of water. The waiter seemed to be juggling around six tables at once which granted me only one water refill.
I know I am a camel when it comes to water sometimes so I didn’t even bother interrupting the waiter since I know what it’s like to be understaffed. Considering the unlikely full capacity, the waiter did all he could to keep a fresh supply of ale to others.
Even though the word “free” made grabbing a brew very tempting, I had to pass on it because I have been taking 2400mg of ibuprofen daily for about the last 6 months due to hand tendinitis. I felt a bit juvenile lifting my glass of water among the crowd of ale-drinkers during a toast, but it just wasn’t worth ignoring my doctor’s warning by trying a pint of Hoppy beer. Plus, I never really drank much beer as a beverage; only as a bridge to inebriation.
As far as Philly Cheese Steaks go, I’d give it a B+, but as far as $10 sandwiches go, I wouldn’t repeat it. I am El Cheapo when it comes to food unless I am sure to have a good box of left-overs (i.e. Buca Di Beppo a.k.a. the best leftovers ever). Nevertheless, the chat and the lively environment made my visit to Hoppy a fun time. Next time I’ll try a Heff-a’s-weizen brew.
more info >> www.hoppy.com
Friday, October 19, 2007
Matt Taibbi: Loose Cannon
Matt Taibbi: Loose Cannon
“The 52 Funniest Things About the Upcoming Death of the Pope.” Yes, that’s the work of Matt Taibbi. As a writer for Rolling Stone magazine and a political correspondent for Real Time with Bill Maher, Taibbi’s style can be described as comical, witty, and often controversial. He’s the “Eminem” of journalism who isn’t afraid to say anything he feels like even if it will tick off half of America.
#52 on the pope list reads: “Pope pisses himself just before the end; gets all over nurse.” Taibbi loves pushing his limits, but he went too far by making fun of one of the world’s favorite old men. The pope is well-respected by many and as expected, he received a lot of criticism for publishing the list. Making fun of the condition of an old man is mean and cruel, but that didn’t stop Taibbi’s attempt at humor.
He describes himself as a “dissolute, drug-abusing anarchist” and his writing resists mainstream journalism as he is not afraid to cover controversial and touchy subjects such as race and religion. His writing is uncensored and raw as he sensationalizes his views to get attention.
Another notable work of Taibbi’s was when he entered a church as an undercover atheist. Taibbi mocks the churchgoing culture by buying the “very gayest blue-and-white-striped Gap polo shirt I'd been able to find that afternoon” to help him fit in with the stiffnecks. Taibbi flirted with the race card by noting “a few scattered weather-beaten black folk in secondhand clothing whom I immediately pegged as in-recovery addicts.” After the complaints came in, Taibbi apologized and explained that his aim wasn’t racist and that he in fact is an in-recovery addict himself. Taibbi says that since he also is one, that he should know one when he sees one. Brutal honesty is what Taibbi is famous for and he’s not afraid to expose his own shortcomings.
Later in Taibbi’s experience of faux spirituality, the pastor wanted the crowd to cast out demons "in the name of Jesus." As churchgoers next to him began to cough and commence in spiritual barfing, Taibbi asked for a bag in an attempt to mask his inability for spiritual cleansing. A man yelled, "in the name of Jesus, I cast out the demon of handwriting analysis!" as Taibbi held the bag to his mouth and Taibbi found laughter easier to achieve than filling the bag.
His latest blog or should I say rant is about Sarah Palin where he described her as the “most half-assed fraud imaginable, 20 floors below the lowest common denominator, a character too dumb even for daytime TV.” Taibbi proves to be a maverick himself and attacks the infamous soccer mom. Attacking Palin for her lack of qualifications has been the dead horse of the media and Taibbi’s blog was his attempt to resuscitate the dead horse to only beat it again. Of course, Taibbi brought it up a notch by hurling harder stones at the VP. However in this case, the Palin punches are commonplace as of lately and Taibbi’s are the closest he has come to mainstream journalism in awhile.
Check out his latest tirades in his blog “The Smirking Chimp” at:
www.smirkingchimp.com
THE ARTICLES MENTIONED:
THE 52 FUNNIEST THINGS ABOUT THE UPCOMING DEATH OF THE POPE
http://www.nypress.com/18/9/news&columns/taibbi.cfm
The full “Jesus Made Me Puke” story can be read here:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/20278737/jesus_made_me_puke/print
The scariest thing about Sarah Palin isn't how unqualified she is - it's what her candidacy says about America
http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/17504
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Placing the Blame: The McCain/Obama Debate
It’s easy to point the finger regarding the current nadir of the nation. Obama and McCain faced off Tuesday night covering tax reform, new energy, oil dependence, and foreign affairs.
McCain is aware that many blame the Republicans for America’s recent problems and stated numerous times that he differed from many of the decisions that led to the recent problems. Obama on the other hand blamed Washington for the “worst financial crisis since the Great Depression,” which he feels, McCain supported along with Bush.
So to be brief, McCain says don't blame me while Obama says blame the Republicans. This is politics and neither will accept the blame no matter how wrong their senator stances were in the past.
However, both also agree that reducing “energy dependence” will help reduce the effects of the recession, but the two seem to differ on most of the remaining issues at hand.
McCain feels drilling offshore and nuclear power are the solutions to the oil crisis while Obama stated that clean coal production and increased production of fuel-efficient cars within the U.S. are the solution. Both didn’t give many details on exactly how this was going to work, but the implied stimulus is MONEY.
All the problems mentioned eventually boil down to money. McCain wants to eliminate the “greed and excess” in the economy’s top-tier businesses by deregulating the system. Obama feels that deregulation is the cause of the problem and that we must have “strong oversight” and “crack down on CEOs” in order to revive the economy.
In order to put money in the hands of the consumers, McCain wants the treasury to buy up unaffordable mortgages and renegotiate them with the people. According to McCain, the “most innovative workers in the world” can benefit from an increase in tax exemption from $3,000 to $7,000 per child a year.
The majority of America is made of the middle class and both candidates made them a priority. McCain stated that walk-in clinics and a $5,000 refundable tax credit would help make health care more affordable.
Obama countered McCain’s solution and said he preferred to use a “scalpel” opposed to a “hatchet” to cut taxes to only those who really need it. Obama said that McCain’s proposed $300 billion tax cut would benefit the big companies the most and not trickle down to those who actually need help. Obama was more direct on the tax cut concentration stating that Americans making less than $200,000 will receive the most tax refunds in his plan.
Both acknowledged the failure in Iraq and McCain wanted to return troops in “victory, not defeat” while Obama wanted to shift the military’s concentration to Pakistan where terrorism is now a more major issue. Both stressed that establishing strong allies is essential for the foreign problems.
Stylewise, McCain was more aggressive against Obama than Obama was against McCain and his McCain's replies were more of attacks than disagreements at times. McCain referred to Obama as "that one" and would slip in little remarks to undermine Obama’s debate. Obama appeared more mature and defensive instead of offensive.
Obama's stance was more professional since it mainly focused on the changes to be made instead of defeating the opponent. The election isn't about a title bout, but instead of choosing the right leader for the country.
McCain stressed that his "record" would make him a better president while Obama would be in “on-the-job training” if elected. McCain may have had more involvement with government, but that can also be a negative thing especially with the recent mess the government is in.
The main premise I found is that McCain attempted to escape the blame placed on Bush’s unpopular tenure while Obama stressed that change is what will bring America back to a better position in many aspects as it was when Bill left.
Saturday, October 6, 2007
Show Review: 90210 - Teens can't help it
What do bright-colored, sugary, fruity cereal and the new 90210 have in common? They’re both for kids!
The original 90210 which was immensely popular through the 90s was not only before my time, but not the type of show I liked to watch when I was growing up. I caught a few glimpses of the adult equivalent, “Melrose Place” as my mom got her weekly fix, but the program sparked zero interest as I started up the tube in the other room watch South Park or an NBA game instead. Even without knowing much about the first show, it’s safe to say that the second 90210 is keeping the tradition of catering to hormonal teens.
I definitely wouldn’t be watching the show if my girlfriend didn’t insist on doing so, but it’s actually a show I can stomach. I like it better than “The Hills” which is similar to 90210 since it mainly focuses on relationships and drama. I sometimes can get into MTV’s “The Real World”, but “The Hills” is just too boring. At least in Real World they have assignments which sensationalize the show a bit, but “The Hills” on the other hand is just a bunch of spoiled kids making drama out of the smallest things.
The new 90210 is centered on a Kansas family who just moved to Beverly Hills as they attempt to adjust to the culture shock of the new materialistic world. After only a handful of episodes, the drama and love triangles seem more like love carousels as the relationships get changed more than a baby’s diapers.
The main girl, Annie, is the main character and even though she’s hot, she seems to have the most problems with guys. She’s definitely the “it” girl and can’t choose who would make the best boyfriend between Ethan the lacrosse player who can’t stop coming back to his ex and Ty who is extremely rich and hard for her to fit in with.
Of course there is always a villain and in 90210, Adrianna is the scandalous young actress who envies Annie and has already used lies to ruin Annie’s night with Ty after Annie’s standout performance in the school play. Adrianna’s foil in “The Hills” is Heidi who also had much tension with the main character, Lauren. Adrianna is the drama queen and is definitely the character you love to hate.
Most of the mingling is between high school teens, but Jennie Garth and Shannen Doherty return from the original cast mainly to serve as role models to the experimenting high schoolers. Even though parents and teachers have some screen-time, the show is clearly about teens and for teens. However, high school was the glory days for many and that is why the older audience still might enjoy the show.
It’s the kind of show that sucks you in and gets you hooked especially if you think one of the characters are cute/fine/sexy whatever you want to call it. The girls in the show have been getting criticized for being too skinny, but I don’t see them as any skinnier than most teen shows out there. They are thin, but at least they aren’t Nicole Ritchie status which is definitely a major turn off in my book.
After seeing Tori Spelling’s show, it’s clear that attractiveness of the characters is key for the show’s survival as it was for the old show and boy bands like New Kids on the Block.
The debut did well and fans are ready for a full season of 90210. Would a brand new show without any ties to the former success of “Beverly Hills: 90210” have been such a success? I doubt it. Fans of the past and even people like me who never liked the original show are just too curious to see the return of one of the most popular shows ever.
p.s. It's kind of funny that my girlfriend's name is Annie and my stage name is Ty just like the main couple in the show. I guess I have to watch it now.....
The original 90210 which was immensely popular through the 90s was not only before my time, but not the type of show I liked to watch when I was growing up. I caught a few glimpses of the adult equivalent, “Melrose Place” as my mom got her weekly fix, but the program sparked zero interest as I started up the tube in the other room watch South Park or an NBA game instead. Even without knowing much about the first show, it’s safe to say that the second 90210 is keeping the tradition of catering to hormonal teens.
I definitely wouldn’t be watching the show if my girlfriend didn’t insist on doing so, but it’s actually a show I can stomach. I like it better than “The Hills” which is similar to 90210 since it mainly focuses on relationships and drama. I sometimes can get into MTV’s “The Real World”, but “The Hills” is just too boring. At least in Real World they have assignments which sensationalize the show a bit, but “The Hills” on the other hand is just a bunch of spoiled kids making drama out of the smallest things.
The new 90210 is centered on a Kansas family who just moved to Beverly Hills as they attempt to adjust to the culture shock of the new materialistic world. After only a handful of episodes, the drama and love triangles seem more like love carousels as the relationships get changed more than a baby’s diapers.
The main girl, Annie, is the main character and even though she’s hot, she seems to have the most problems with guys. She’s definitely the “it” girl and can’t choose who would make the best boyfriend between Ethan the lacrosse player who can’t stop coming back to his ex and Ty who is extremely rich and hard for her to fit in with.
Of course there is always a villain and in 90210, Adrianna is the scandalous young actress who envies Annie and has already used lies to ruin Annie’s night with Ty after Annie’s standout performance in the school play. Adrianna’s foil in “The Hills” is Heidi who also had much tension with the main character, Lauren. Adrianna is the drama queen and is definitely the character you love to hate.
Most of the mingling is between high school teens, but Jennie Garth and Shannen Doherty return from the original cast mainly to serve as role models to the experimenting high schoolers. Even though parents and teachers have some screen-time, the show is clearly about teens and for teens. However, high school was the glory days for many and that is why the older audience still might enjoy the show.
It’s the kind of show that sucks you in and gets you hooked especially if you think one of the characters are cute/fine/sexy whatever you want to call it. The girls in the show have been getting criticized for being too skinny, but I don’t see them as any skinnier than most teen shows out there. They are thin, but at least they aren’t Nicole Ritchie status which is definitely a major turn off in my book.
After seeing Tori Spelling’s show, it’s clear that attractiveness of the characters is key for the show’s survival as it was for the old show and boy bands like New Kids on the Block.
The debut did well and fans are ready for a full season of 90210. Would a brand new show without any ties to the former success of “Beverly Hills: 90210” have been such a success? I doubt it. Fans of the past and even people like me who never liked the original show are just too curious to see the return of one of the most popular shows ever.
p.s. It's kind of funny that my girlfriend's name is Annie and my stage name is Ty just like the main couple in the show. I guess I have to watch it now.....
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
A trip to L.A., another step into adulthood
A trip to L.A., another step into adulthood
In mid-July, me and my girlfriend took a road-trip to L.A. where we stayed for a week while dog-sitting my Aunt and Uncle’s two young golden retrievers. We had wanted to visit L.A. together for awhile and this was our chance to hit Star-land for a week without paying for a room! It was more than just a vacation for us. It was a retreat from our busy summer lives which hardly give us a break even though the time was called Summer Break.
We planned it months ahead of time and saved money from both of our jobs so we could
vacation comfortably and come back with some cool stuff. By the end of the trip, we both had to have spent almost a month of wages on clothes even though we didn’t plan to. We were able to find the newest styles of clothes which we couldn’t quite find in the Bay Area or Sacramento.
The Santee Alley was our favorite spot which earned us two visits because of its great deals in a flea-market atmosphere. I picked up around 15 blank white t-shirts for $2 each which I usually pay around $5 back at home.
After our trips around the city, we would come home to the sound of heavy, furry
paws clawing on the back door. The pups would barge in once we gave in and they kept our engines warm when we were really trying to relax. Even though it didn’t utilize the benefits of being in L.A., relaxing at home while playing Wii games was one of the highlights of the trip. Sometimes the simplest things can make a couple grow closer.
The trip not only allowed me and my girlfriend to grow closer as a couple, but also gave me a higher regard of independence from my parents. Even though my mom helped me with gas money and packed a bunch of food for us, being able to embark on my first long trip without my parents or a lot of friends made me feel more grown-up.
Even after 22 years of growing, I still feel dependent on my parents because they pay for my tuition and rent and this trip brought a sense of independence and readiness to jump into the real world. We chose our own itinerary and met up with my family down there which is usually something my mother always plans out.
The week went by so fast and I felt like I could really get used to living in L.A. I thought traffic was going to be horrible all the time, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I dreaded driving through grid-locked traffic with cars zooming by, but it ended up being nothing I couldn’t handle.
Even though we have been living together for 2 years now, I noticed that my girlfriend and I would get annoyed with each other especially during the long drives to and from L.A. We got lost a few times trying to find restaurants or Starbuck’s and ended up blaming it on each other even though it’s probably normal to get lost in unfamiliar cities.
Besides coming back with a higher sense of independence, we also developed an
addiction for Pinkberry frozen yogurt. Pinkberry is a fad down in L.A. and the chain hasn’t spread to Norcal yet so after we got back, my girlfriend and I spent several visits to Pinkberry alternatives to satisfy our craving. We found the best fix at Mochii in downtown Sac, which is even better than the original Pinkberry and ever since, we insist on driving across town every week for our dose of nonfat, fruit-topped deliciousness.
In mid-July, me and my girlfriend took a road-trip to L.A. where we stayed for a week while dog-sitting my Aunt and Uncle’s two young golden retrievers. We had wanted to visit L.A. together for awhile and this was our chance to hit Star-land for a week without paying for a room! It was more than just a vacation for us. It was a retreat from our busy summer lives which hardly give us a break even though the time was called Summer Break.
We planned it months ahead of time and saved money from both of our jobs so we could
vacation comfortably and come back with some cool stuff. By the end of the trip, we both had to have spent almost a month of wages on clothes even though we didn’t plan to. We were able to find the newest styles of clothes which we couldn’t quite find in the Bay Area or Sacramento. The Santee Alley was our favorite spot which earned us two visits because of its great deals in a flea-market atmosphere. I picked up around 15 blank white t-shirts for $2 each which I usually pay around $5 back at home.
After our trips around the city, we would come home to the sound of heavy, furry
paws clawing on the back door. The pups would barge in once we gave in and they kept our engines warm when we were really trying to relax. Even though it didn’t utilize the benefits of being in L.A., relaxing at home while playing Wii games was one of the highlights of the trip. Sometimes the simplest things can make a couple grow closer. The trip not only allowed me and my girlfriend to grow closer as a couple, but also gave me a higher regard of independence from my parents. Even though my mom helped me with gas money and packed a bunch of food for us, being able to embark on my first long trip without my parents or a lot of friends made me feel more grown-up.
Even after 22 years of growing, I still feel dependent on my parents because they pay for my tuition and rent and this trip brought a sense of independence and readiness to jump into the real world. We chose our own itinerary and met up with my family down there which is usually something my mother always plans out.
The week went by so fast and I felt like I could really get used to living in L.A. I thought traffic was going to be horrible all the time, but it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. I dreaded driving through grid-locked traffic with cars zooming by, but it ended up being nothing I couldn’t handle.
Even though we have been living together for 2 years now, I noticed that my girlfriend and I would get annoyed with each other especially during the long drives to and from L.A. We got lost a few times trying to find restaurants or Starbuck’s and ended up blaming it on each other even though it’s probably normal to get lost in unfamiliar cities.
Besides coming back with a higher sense of independence, we also developed an
addiction for Pinkberry frozen yogurt. Pinkberry is a fad down in L.A. and the chain hasn’t spread to Norcal yet so after we got back, my girlfriend and I spent several visits to Pinkberry alternatives to satisfy our craving. We found the best fix at Mochii in downtown Sac, which is even better than the original Pinkberry and ever since, we insist on driving across town every week for our dose of nonfat, fruit-topped deliciousness.
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