As you can see, I’ve posted (the non-edited version of) my guide to house concerts.  I apologize for any usage and grammar errors and you may certainly let me know about any via email.

Both pages are now linked in the right side-bar as well.

Again, a special thanks to Chris over at GaiaConsort.com.  All the good ideas about house concerts came from him and the rest I made up on the fly.

So, let’s get some house concerts booked…

I am trying to create a title for the CD and will give you a couple of idea but if you have an idea, based on content, let me know…

My tentative CD titles ideas - lacking creativity but…

• Morning Girl
• Dangerous Girl
• Songs About Girls and Other Delusions
  …get it? there are two "__________ Girl" songs

The tentative/working song List- not necessarily in what will be final CD order:

• Dangerous Girl
  -bluesy rock number.  about that girl who got herself and others into trouble
   
• Morning Girl
  - finger picked - sweet tune - best time of the day
   
• Can’t Let Her Go
  - song I did years ago - finger picked up tempo - about obsession
   
• Everything I Thought I Never Wanted
  - the most straight country sounding song I’ve written about discovering the love you never wanted..
   
• Misty Blue
  - early early tune - one of my favorites - has a 7th chord jazz pop feel - ballad about love - various flavors
   
• Is It Too Late
  - new very fun, up tempo tune - about keeping love together (are we seeing a pattern)
   
• With You Tonight
  - a largely autobiographical question about keeping love together
   
• Where I Belong
  - moving on through mistakes to get back where I belong - this is the answer to 2AM
   
• The Night Is Not For Sleeping
  - the song with a warning disclaimer ;-)  sort of a blues feel to it.  About making love - no, really it is about sex
   
• The Tide
  - written the first time she left to the ocean… some of my favorite lyrics. ballad
   
• Gathering Feathers
  - more of a folk feel - very pretty but very melancholy - love it lyrically though…  about memories
   

Yes, I know, that is 11 songs - might cut one out or just leave an extra there.

Any ideas?

C4’s wine bar is not really the best venue for me - as a songwriter.  Songwriters need to have a captured audience - a listening venue - but in this context, I am primarily background noise for the diners.  Typically, such venues are more for the cover musician/performer.  My covers are so obscure, most people would believe they were originals anyways

However, I love C4 and do appreciate the opportunity.  If you are in Arizona and want a great dining experience - great food, wine, and ambience, come on out.  Listen to a song or two as well.

The House Concert, on the other hand, is very much the songwriter’s dream.  A listening event, where the songs and the writer (ME) are the focus.  My friend’s Ray & Andrea booked me as part of their birthday bash - so it will be me for the first hour and fifteen minutes - and then we move to the party.  I get to be both entertainer and guest and plan on having CD’s, T-shirts, and a few other items to help build a fanbase.

If you are in Chicago, and not a friend of Ray and Andrea’s - but think you might like to attend this show, contact me directly.  I’ll see what can be worked out.

Recently I added 2 new condenser microphones and the sound quality is greatly improved.  My gear at this moment is:

• Toshiba Laptop - 100GB harddrive, 1 gig of memory;
• Magix Music Studio Pro multitrack recording software;
  sure there is better software but this has worked great, allows for punch-ins, has some good basic effects, and for acoustic digital recording has been great.
• An M-Audio Solo Firewire;
  If you have this equipment, get the latest driver.  It really works much better.
• 2 MMX condenser mics - 1 guitar mic, one large condensor for vocals;
• A high-quality stereo headphone;
  this plugs into the M-Audio and allows me to hear the tracks on my PC and hear my incoming vocals or instrument.
• My pantyhose pop-filter;
• Xilisoft Video Converter - I use this to convert my .WAV files to .mp3 because it allows me to set the bit rate and song and artist details.

I am excited about this next project because I’ve hooked up with some musicians who will be recording a few parts for me remotely.  Should be fun.

Look for more information soon.

One I’ll add is simply taking something I am currently writing - where I have an established melody - perhaps a hook or chorus - and completely re-write the melody line (key, tempo, structure) - just to see what happens.  There have been times this has completely altered a song forever - although I might go back and reuse the original melody later.

One thing she is dead on about is phases in your songwriting.  I have a group of songs that when I play them I refer to them as from my “7th chord years”.  Don’t get me wrong - I love them - still play them - but if they were strong together, song after song, you would see these familiar chord phrasings.  I kept from even considering such phrasings for many years.

Recently, however, I have taken to another method for taking my songwriting in new directions.  I guess, for lack of a phrase, I call it “Thematic Songwriting”.  I’ve always been an organic songwriter - a melody line catches my mind and I take it naturally into a phrase or hook or song idea - based on the melody.  ie: What does this sound like?

Thematic Songwriting is where I don’t wait for any special inspiration.  I sit down and write a series of themes - using books I’m reading, current events, or other songs.   It could be as simply as writing a list like the following:

• A Mexico Song
• A hopeful song about a woman leaving an abusive relationship
• A song about greed and the destruction it causes
• A song with a strong parable message
• A song about the fleeting nature of time

The goal is simply a list of ideas where inspiration did not really strike first - and then force yourself to write a hook, chorus, or even jot down notes of a story idea.

Then pick up your guitar (my songwriting instrument - use your own here) and write at least one verse.

I found that this alone has opened up creative channels - literally forcing creativity to occur on cue.

If you are struggling with new ideas, grab a newspaper, a book of poems, or just peruse the local library.  Ideas abound.

I created a mini-brochure - both color and black & white - promoting me (yes, wonderful me as Laura said in a funny poem she wrote).

I played Cave Creek Coffee Company last night and wrote about that here.  Thanks Mike for the “Sweet & Spanish” guitar sound you added…

I am finalizing a guide to house concerts - mostly stealing ideas from Chris Bingham over at GaiaConsort.  But he said I could….

If Mom Were President, she’d set things straight
She would battle for causes just….

Read the rest of the poem here.

Sara, my 9 year old, narrated my poem, If Mom Were President with the illustrations by Joye Petrine.  I put the Battle Hymm of the Republic in the background.

If you like it, leave a comment at youtube and pass it along.

Enjoy!

The goal is to focus this site more clearly on songwriting, performance, and other creative endeavors - while keeping my consulting and speaking business information separate.

Of course, this is really far less an issue of creative versus business - both must exist in both arenas.  Creativity is as much a part of my consulting and speaking (hence: Kreative Knowledge - creative spelling) as it is in songwriting and writing projects.

And, while many songwriters seem to forget this, songwriting and performance benefits greatly from a business mindset.  In fact, I watched a recent biography on Dolly Parton, who is, by all accounts a great songwriter, performer/entertainer, and business woman.

I’ve updated information on my bio - with some fun pictures of me as a kid - cute as could be - and information on where I could use the assistance of those who enjoy my music.  Finally, after a great conversation with Chris over at GaiaConsort.com, I’ve updated some information on House Concerts.

Chris’ write up on putting on a house concert is excellent.

Over the next several weeks I will be putting together more information about house concerts.  However, if you are interested in putting one on, please send me an email - go to the contact page for more information.

Special thanks for Kathleen Erickson for bringing a full entourage and snapping a couple of pictures with her camera phone.

 
dancin’

 
singin’

I gave away 11 or 12 copies of my demo - and a piece I wrote called "Lyrics Matter - an open letter from Matt Moran" - I’ll post that here later.

She must come across this a lot - I know I do.  People who have good ideas, passion for an idea, and the talent to execute on the idea - but one thought - one nagging concern - derails the entire process.

In fact, Pam spoke recently for Club E (E for Entrepreneur) - their new North Scottsdale chapter.  I attended the event and as expected, she was great.  I had the opportunity to meet her husband and see their new baby - who may be the 5th cutest baby I’ve ever seen (I have 4 kids).

I spoke to her after, briefly describing my dilemma - which sounded a lot like her coaching subject, Laura, in her post.  Pam, are you sure it wasn’t me?

When I approached her I told her how all this turmoil - our flood, Laura and I (my wife Laura, not Pam’s coaching client Laura), and other factors had put an exclamation point to direct me back to my first love music and writing.  I talked about my passion, plan, the reaction of those people who are fans, etc.

Then I said, "but I have this nagging thought…"

And I proceeded to explain how I was concerned about the marketing aspect of what I do because I want to market what I do but not be viewed as some slick marketer when the music and the experience is what is important to me.

Pam must have thought, "Oh no…  another one…"

What’s funny is I can give this advice to my family without a challenge - to people I mentor and coach, to my readers.  And I’m not lying - but it is easier to see through their mental excuses than push past my own.

In fact, I was talking with another friend yesterday and he was mentioning how he has this idea for a videocast - good idea - he has the content, has the knowledge, has the ability to pull it off - but he is waiting because next month there is a coach coming into town and he wants to work with him to refine his message.  He then said, "there is this book, maybe after I read that…" (paraphrased)

I told him, produce some stuff, put it out there - and then you will know what you have to work with.  I said, "I’ve known you for three years.  You don’t need more coaching, another book, another anything - neither do I.  We need to do."

Then, I read this post about True Fans…

Those who enjoy what I do - musically or writing - have passionate reactions.  They understand that I both want to create & share but also that I want to make it a profession.  Those who don’t enjoy what I do - they don’t give me a second thought anyway.  Knowing your internal truth and drivers is what is critical.

Can I be both an artist and business person.  The best in the business are.

Thanks Pam.

Back at Inza Coffee in Scottsdale.

The difference?

A CD will be available to those who pre-register!!!

Click on the graphic in the sidebar or click here for the details of the show and how to get your copy of my CD.

Photos by Blakeman Photography

I also have a few speaking engagements coming up:

February 12th - AZ Entrepreneurs - Productivity Technologies for your Small Business

February 15th – 11:30AM-1:00PM – US Airways in Tempe
I will be giving a presentation titled, Throw Away The Box: The TAO of Innovation & Creativity.

February 20th – Lunchtime - Gazel eLearning Summit
http://www.gazel.us/summit08
I will be part of a Panel with Francine Hardaway and Lon Safko – discussing “Social Media” and learning. We are still trying to figure out what Social Media is – but never mind that. This is a lunchtime keynote/panel.

March & beyond:

March 11th – ASBA – Blogs, Podcast, and Social Media for Your Business
March 26th – Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP) – Concept Over Process – A Project Development Methodology and Mindset
March 28th – Prentice Hall Technology Symposium – Tampa Bay, Florida
April 4th – Prentice Hall Technology Symposium – Connecticut

I’ve created a page with links to all the chapters.  The final section should be released this week…

Find all the chapters here:

I’ve written about this challenge several times - more recently on my blog at IT Toolbox.

I looked this morning, saw the category change and voila - #3.

Now, of course, I might make the finer distinction that of the 3 books above in the Computers & Internet -> Business & Culture -> Careers category, mine is the only one that is, in fact, about Computers & Internet -> Business & Culture -> Careers.  But that would whining.  I am happy to report that someone at Amazon got my message and fixed this.

Technorati Tags: computer career, CIS careers, MIS careers, professional growth, professional development

I did pull-over - unable to do 2 things at once and I was heading into a cellular dead-zone.

We discussed the importance of soft-skills for the IT professional.

FYI: My author’s page at Cisco Press…  Apparently, my image was deemed too dangerous.

Chapter 4: Defining Yourself: Aptitudes & Desires
http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1156072&f1=rss

Enjoy and if you know of someone who can benefit from this information, please pass it along.

For the print version, visit Amazon.com (link below)

Technorati Tags: career, careers, professional growth, MIS, CIS, computer, technology professional

Chapter 3: Information Technology: A Great Career
http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1156071&f1=rss

Enjoy and if you know of someone who can benefit from this information, please pass it along.

For the print version, visit Amazon.com (link below)

Technorati Tags: career, careers, professional growth, MIS, CIS, computer, technology professional

Chapter 2: Career Building Defined
http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1156070&f1=rss

Enjoy and if you know of someone who can benefit from this information, please pass it along.

For the print version, visit Amazon.com (link below)

Technorati Tags: career, careers, professional growth, MIS, CIS, computer, technology professional

Chapter 1: The Toolkit Approach to Career Development
http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=1156069&f1=rss

Enjoy and if you know of someone who can benefit from this information, please pass it along.

For the print version, visit Amazon.com (link below)

Here is a poem I wrote while flying to a speaking engagement a few years ago.  I got off the plane, called Laura and read it to her, and heard her crying on the other end of the phone.  Such is life with a Hyperactive Boy…  I suppose, she might say the same about a Hyperactive Husband…

THE HYPERACTIVE BOY
by: Matthew Moran - Copyright (c) 2003

Too loud is how I speak
  In the morning, I’ve beat the sun again
  The world spins too slowly & sleep cannot contain me

Too fast is how I run
  Through this house just waking, a bull in a china shop

Too impatient is how I cannot wait
  For the rest of my family, and again there is no sleeping in this Saturday

Too shattered is the glass
  That I’ve dropped to the floor – clumsy but beyond embarrassment

Shattered like the silence in the yelling
Of my mother, father, brother, sister & me
An angry prevailing common chorus

Shattered again like my heart & psyche
But I shrug-feigning & feeling apathy

Too soft is my Mother who in love and shame
  Holds me – stroking my hair

Too quiet & still I lay
  One or two toes moving because something always must…move

Too proud my Father telling someone
  Of something I have said – “Genius, genius!” the words used

Too means also, also is additional, additional is more
  More laughter & tears, more fun & pain, more life!
I’m a hyperactive boy!

The two groups where there to clean up in preparation for the Christmas celebration for the Orthodox and Armenian churches - which takes place the first week of January.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22419654/

The reporter had to be laughing when he wrote this story - the irony is too good to pass up!

Personally, I think they should make it a yearly grudge match - cage fighting at the nativity - perfect!

Haven’t we seen this scenario before….

“Johnny.. why did you hit your brother?”

“He touched my side of the seat!”

When I wrote about being a writer (the noun is wrapped up in the verb), I discussed the idea that your muse may not show up on queue - when you want her/him/it to.  I references Stephen King’s book, On Writing - where he suggest that you must get down to the heavy lifting - show up at the same time, same place, every day so your muse knows where to find you.

My muse, looking to see what I am doing… Hi Muse…

Ze, in this video, “uninspired” suggest that you cannot count on inspiration - but that you must keep producing and can’t you use sadness, boredom, anger, frustration, etc. as sources of creating something.

Thanks Ze.  As usual - genius!

Note: In case you are wondering.  I was born in 1965.  One Million Years BC - the movie that the picture above is from - and a movie that forever changed my life - was released in 1966.  I don’t know when I saw it - it must have been on TV - sometime in the early 70’s.  I was probably 5 or 6 (what were my parents doing allowing me to see such smut).  I loved those Japanes “B” flicks with Giant Robot, Gamara, Godzilla, and all that but they were nothing compared to dinosaurs and Raquel Welch!!! Especially Raquel Welch.

Since then, that is what my muse has always looked like.  To be honest, it can be distracting - I’m sitting there typing away and suddenly “poof” there she is, sitting on the edge of my monitor - acting coy and unassuming.

Don’t judge me too harshly - your muse can look however you want her/him/it to.

I’ve registered, http://www.AZSongwriterShowcase.com.

My plan is to start a weekly online broadcast featuring two Arizona-based Songwriter’s each week.  It will include a call-in component and as things progress, include interviews with established artists, industry professionals, and others who can help songwriters gain a competitive advantage.

I’ll explain more about the synthesis and creation of this idea - and where I’d like to take it.  However, it has come about in part due to conversations with Scott Walter - who runs the Inza Coffee open mic, Chris Frazer who runs AZOpenMic.com, Jim Pipkin, and a few others.  As I alluded to in my prior post, I have found current songwriter organizations to be slow to respond to communications - if there is any response at all.

With my background in technology and marketing, I plan to streamline communications and create an effective platform for Arizona Songwriting Talent.

I am not planning on maintaining a list of Open Mics.  You can get those at AZOpenmic.com or MusicPhix.com.

If you are an Arizona Singer/Songwriter and would be interested in being interviewed and showcasing a couple songs in the near future, let me know.  Email me at: cbtoolkit (at) —  gmail (dot) com  (formatted to reduce spam, simply remove spaces and —, convert (at) to @ and (dot) to .  Make sense?

Thanks.

However, I have been a little dismayed about the lack of organized venues in Phoenix - specifically for Singer/Songwriters.  If you have a rock n’ roll or country cover band - there are bars and such.  But for the individual or even group that focuses on original music, it is a tougher scene.

There are some songwriter’s groups out here but my contact with them has proven to be frustrating - sometimes weeks between responses to emails - or no response at all.  Their websites are dated, with information on the home page announcing events back to 2006.

So I have started a discussion with a few other songwriters about what a songwriting group would provide…

While sitting around in self-congratulatory style to talk or showcase your latest song sounds interesting, I am more interested in finding collaboration ideas, joint-marketing ideas, promoting live music and helping venues find a reason to have song-writers present, etc.  Finally, for those who are serious about pitching their songs, trading and helping promote within and then extend our networks.

Oh, and by the way, serious songwriting does not mean you have a pinched face, snub your nose at someone who wants commercial/pop success, or are an unhappy and discontented social miscreant.  Nope, you can actually smile, be engaging, and be as comfortable in a suit as you are in jeans.  Of course, the miscreant - if they are serious about the craft - would be welcome too.

Note: I have not formed such an organization - I am just musing it.  What would it look like?