First, I got sick right at Thanksgiving and it carried through most of December. Second, I had to address some business requirements for my coaching and writing the 2^nd edition to my career book.

A third reason was to assess and plan what this year is going to look like. More on this later this week.

Indie Music Conference Recap

I spoke at the Indie Music Conference organized by Noel Ramos. It took place at Musician’s Institute in Hollywood and was a great event. The second day of the conference, I attended performance and vocal coach Steven Memel’s workshop. I wrote about that here in Embrace Your Inner Rockstar.

My topic: Don’t Waste Your Time: The Ugly Truth About Social Media – can be found here as 4 videos.

That night, the band performed at the IMC showcase. (see photos below). More importantly, I expanded “Team Matt”.

The Team

I am working with Steven Memel on a few things. I am serving as a coach and mentor to him on Online Presence/Social Media. He is working with me on my vocals and performance dynamics. We are mentoring each other on some of the coaching and speaking we both do and can see the huge potential in this relationship.

I also met producer Steven Leavitt at the conference. We connected recently – he is looking for some social media and online presence ideas and guidance – both for his business and some artists he is associated with.. I am seeking a producer’s ear on our recordings.

I am interviewing some people for the role of Booking & Marketing Assistant – both for solo and band gigs.

Photos from the Indie Music Conference Showcase

Australian songwriter, Fiona Porch, attended the IMC conference and showcase. She sent me these photos from the band’s performance. Thanks Fiona.

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

Kali at her post

Becky’s son Ian just returned from Iraq. During his time there, I would listen to the two of them talk. This some came out of those conversations.

Right now, the band and I are in the studio recording this song with the goal of releasing it as a single. The plan is to find a charity through the VA or USO to provide a portion of any proceeds to an organization supporting and assisting the troops.

…

This Star-spangled Life of Mine

Copyright © 2011 – Matthew Moran

I’ve included a video of me performing the song the morning after I wrote it.

VERSE:
Boots on the ground
Dust in the air
Sometimes I wake up at night and think what the hell am I doing here

But day after day
I toe the line
Dreamin’ about the girl back home, my family, and those friends of mine

CHORUS:
Some days I’m lonely, some days I’m scared
Most days I’m just bored out of my mind
I’ve seen the red glare of rockets, bombs bursting in air
I pray that proof will see me through the night

I’m not trying to be a hero. I’m just trying to survive
This Star-Spangled Life of Mine

VERSE:
My buddies John and Del,
Both served their time
One is pushing paper down in New Orleans, one is pushing up daisies in Birmingham

I promised both I’d visit (them)
It’s what I hope to do
A promise born of selfishness. I hope to God I make it through

BRIDGE:
This is for the ones who never make it home
This is for the ones who do but leave something of themselves behind
This is for the prayers of those who wait for the return
The fear, the pride, the worry, and the love….

click to see a full-sized poster...

We won’t be in costume (or will we) but we will be rocking Canoga Park at the Elks Lodge.

I want you there but to get on the list, you do need to send me an email.

Details:
Elks Lodge, Canoga Park – 7PM-9PM-ish
20925 Osborne St., Canoga Park, CA 91304
$10 (includes dinner). Wear a costume, take $2 off

My presentation, “Don’t Waste Your Time: The Ugly Truth About Social Media” covers some business basics, including both strategies and tools to focus the performing musician on how to best use their time to grow their music business.

You can also download the PDF, by clicking on the image above or the link below.
PDF: Don’t Waste Your Time: The Ugly Truth About Social Media (10mb)

[Show as slideshow]

[View with PicLens]

I wanted a cleaner look – less text and include some active links so that if someone has the PDF, they can click and visit key sites like our Facebook music page or website.

With originals songs that rock you down to the core, danceable pop with hook-laden lyrics, and country ballads to help you drown your sorrows in whisky, the genre is hard to classify but the music easy to listen to.
From the press kit

Check out the updated Electronic Press Kit (EPK) page.

All I Want Is Everything

Copyright © 2011 – Matthew Moran

Behind the Song

In 2009 I had moved back to California. There was some positive movement in a number of critical areas of my life. Music, writing, consulting, etc. But none of it was happening as fast as I would have liked. Isn’t that always the case.

Becky was still in Arizona. During a phone conversation I was frustrated about “things” not happening fast enough. Patience is not a virtue I’ve mastered. I was saying to her, “I just want everything. I want everything now!!”

Becky replied, “All I want is you.” (Everyone say, “aaahhhhhh”)

The next morning at 6:00AM I began texting her to wake her up. I had recorded an acoustic version of this song.

Lyrics

VERSE
She said, Baby I must confess
I’m missing you, yea I’m a mess
I reach out for you and your not here
I call for you and your not there
(chorus)

CHORUS
I hear you saying that you just want everything
Don’t you know I want the same thing too
All I want is everything and baby that means
All I want is you

VERSE
I want the sunlight on your face
To be your storm, your sea, your resting place
To kiss you awake, to kiss you to bed
and a brand new day to do it all again

I want passion that won’t ever end
To be your every lover and your one true friend
I want to fill your mind with fantasy
I want to chain you down, I want to set you free
(chorus)

VERSE:
I want to be your morning & be your night
Be there to make up after every fight
I want the best of you and I want your worst
I want to feed your hunger and quench your thirst

I want your 10 cent and 4-letter words
I want you rational and I want you absurd
I want love that burns hot to the touch
Yeah I want everything, is that too much
(chorus)

During our recent “Roots & Roll” shows with Bill Wickham, I had the pleasure of performing in front of some friends in Palmdale. Butler’s Coffee is an excellent little venue and Kevin Smith does a great job of providing a place for songwriter’s to perform.

Here is a video of my song, Dangerous Girl, performed with Melinda Lima. She sings backup with my band but also comes out for acoustic shows. I love her work on this song. I’ve include some videos below that as well to a couple other songs from those shows. We’ve also put the lyrics in the video. Enjoy!!!

Dangerous Girl: (Watch it on YouTube)

____

Everyday Lies: (Watch it on YouTube)

____

How It Goes with the full band (Watch it on YouTube)

Check out this video that demonstrates what they are and how to use them.

This short video shows how it’s done. Enjoy and let others know.

You can see the artistdata website calendar by looking at my show page, here.

ArtistData has a number of other services, including tourbooklets and also blog syndication. Recently purchased by SonicBids, it will be interesting to see how the service evolves.

Less scatterbrained

I am a songwriter, performer, and the proverbial “leader of the band.” I am also, currently, my manager, publicist, promoter, booking agent, roadie, and the sound guy. If you are an indie artist, you know the drill.

For the past year or so, I’ve used TheSongwriterOnline.com as a place to publish information on strategies, technology, and tools to help Musicians (songwriters, bands, street teams, and others) more effectively run their music business and promote their music.

I had no particular goal or approach for this information – just a desire to share ideas and tools I was using to help promote my music. There is no true profit motive, although if I could pay for guitar strings, coffee, or other things.. great!

I’ve been able to help many musicians develop a stronger online presence.

A pleasant side-benefit has been meeting and speaking with other performers, music business professionals, and others interested in the topic. Also, speaking for songwriting groups and for places like Guitar Center and Sam Ash Music has been very rewarding.

The tutorials have also effectively introduce many people to my music. Hey, I’m giving a free workshop, I can also play a song or give a CD.. right?

Lately, life has become more complicated and busy. I am trying to do too much!

In order to consolidate my activities and maintain sanity, I am now publishing advice for musicians here on my music page. I’ve created a category called MusicBiz, and I will publish that advice under that category. There is also a link in the sidebar.

To better understand all the things I had to consolidate and why it was necessary for my sanity, you can read my blog post, Project Consolidation.

This also means that I am consolidating my newsletters – from 4 to 2. Even that is too much but I figure keeping my music and music advice on one newsletter and my consulting, speaking, and writing on another is fair.

The truth is, if you are a musician who wants to learn and adopt more effective strategies and tools, it won’t hurt you to be on my music newsletter. You’ll see tools and strategies in use. Also, for my “passionate listeners” – ie: fans – you’ll probably learn something useful in that content as well.

In fact, I’ll be able to publish more information, more quickly, because of the consolidation. It reduces mental noise.

That’s my story, I’m sticking to it. Thanks for listening.