Let’s be honest: the iPad is still yet to proven. It isn’t even out yet and that certainly needs to be considered before we give it too much credit. But given Apple’s track record, when the California-based company enters a new market they usually cause an upset. Millions now flock to Apple’s newly released devices, causing these devices to become the new standard in their respected industry.

Enter the iPad. No, it’s not trying to be a netbook. I think most people aren’t quite understanding that yet. The device’s focus is to be a book/magazine reader, but with a ton of extra features that will make the Amazon Kindle cry itself to sleep at night. Not to mention, it has some pretty handy features for business users.

But I’m not going to get into the heated debate of the iPad. What I do want to talk about briefly is how excited I am about the marketing potential print media companies now have in the digital playground. I’m so excited, that I’m even dusting off this blog to write a new entry. More on the future of this blog later.

First, let’s rewind a little bit. Sports Illustrated showed some serious game face late last year when they released a video of what the print magazine hopes to achieve on a tablet device. Here is the video:

Clearly they had the rumored “Apple Tablet” in mind when designing the video. However, since the device was yet to be announced at the time, Sports Illustrated was simply speculating on its hardware capabilities. This means not everything in the video may be entirely possible on what will no doubt be the leader in the book reader market. That being said, there are some very exciting things in there. Video integration, seamless transitions, etc. Very, very exciting. It impressed me immensely when I first saw it.

But now we have something a little more tangible. Yesterday, Wired Magazine released a video of their own tablet application. Though they don’t focus on the iPad per se, Apple’s device is obviously the big player in the market so Wired would be crazy to show off something that wouldn’t run on it. Included below is the video that was released yesterday. And note that it isn’t video simulation of an application in the video, but actually the working product:

But what impressed me the most? The advertising. Wow! I love the idea of the interactive advertisements in the demo that boast 360-degree viewing angles of products. An advertisers dream. In a traditional print magazine or newspaper, advertisers simply have to hope that their advertisements are being looked at and their likelihood to purchase levels are increased. But when you add this new-found user interaction into the advertisements, especially in a tech magazine on a popular electronic device, chances are the readers will actually want to play with the advertisements. Genius! If anything, this could allow for a stronger revenue stream from the advertisements for the publishers in the longterm than they would get in a print issue. Advertisers will be begging to develop fun new advertisements for the digital medium. It sort of reminds me of how advertisers are currently playing with augmented reality in print media to try to save the medium; where the reader simply needs the issue, webcam and high speed internet to get interaction with the issue. Augmented reality has it’s place, but I’m not as sold on it in an advertising setting. It’s almost gimmicky. Augmented reality simply has nothing compared to the amount of interaction the tablet apps can offer for publishers. And not just for magazines, but also for local, national and international newspapers. It puts them all on a level playing field for creativity and engagement.

So forget about what the iPad can and cannot do when compared to a laptop or a netbook. That’s unfair, because that’s not what the device is going for (yet). Look at it, for now, as a book reader with tons of potential. Business users in particular will find it handy as they can bring tons of books and magazines, as well as some basic business tasking, together in one thin device. I know first hand how much of a pain it is to bring merely a couple of books and magazines with you as you fly around the continent. To have those couple of books and so much more reading material on one device would be very appealing, especially when the digital magazines will offer interactive features such as the above Wired application boasts. Plus then there are all of games, productivity apps, e-mail, web, and more that the device offers.

I’m geeking out. Not just as a technology enthusiast, but also when looking at things from a business perspective. There are so many opportunities here to change the advertising game within traditional print media, it blows my mind. Yes, moving digital may cause print media to fade many years from now, but it could very well save the companies currently fighting to survive within the industry too. Time will tell. All I know is I’m excited for the games to begin.

As I begin to type this entry, I had just seen the lifeless body of Michael Jackson in a body bag. Michael was being taken from a helicopter and put into an ambulance on its way to the LA coroner. They also just showed the last known picture of Michael before “officially dying,” when they were attempting to revive him in an ambulance on its way to the hospital.

Wow. Simply wow. I’ve been at a loss for words since it was announced. I was never one of the obsessive fans, but I’ve always loved Michael’s music and frequently popped in an album to get my fix. But not only am I a big fan of his material, I also know the significant impact he’s had on pop culture and the world today.

I’m not going to get into some of the more interesting elements in his life, which is still mostly speculation and rumors. I don’t believe we truly know the whole story on some of these issues and, most likely, any chance of truly understanding the truth on these matters are now gone with Michael too. So all I’m going to say is this:

Michael Jackson was a brilliant artist. He had some of the most creative talent we’ll ever see in a human being. His vocals could soar with the melodies, whether a catchy pop tune or emotional ballad. His dance moves were trend setting as he invented so many moves never before seen that are now used by everyone today. His live shows were massive and elaborate, boasting some effects that hadn’t been seen at any other concert prior. If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t have chart-topping artists such as N Sync, Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, Justin Timberlake, Usher, Chris Brown and many, many other artists today (especially those on Top 40 radio, both past and present). His influence can be heard everywhere, arguably having the most influence in pop music than anyone else in history. He set the stage for mixing music and humanitarian work, which lead to events such as Live Aid. He was also the first African American to get crossover success on MTV, which helps prove the case for those saying he helped break racial barriers in certain aspects of America. These are just some examples of the influences he’s had in many areas.

Personally, I was very much looking forward to seeing how his upcoming London shows were going to go. I was pumped for his “come back.” Now I’m disappointed it will never happen. Hopefully the material he was working on for a new album will eventually come out.

So much that could have happened is left uncompleted. But that’s the nature of death at a relatively young age.

What’s unfortunate is how the many people who criticized him, mocked him, and basically threw him under the bus are now singing praises for him and his career. It’s to be expected, I suppose, but still too bad Michael couldn’t have seen and heard for himself all the kind words being said around the world.

The world lost a visionary and pioneer for music and pop culture today: Michael Jackson, the legendary King of Pop. It’s a very, very sad and emotional day. While seeing videos of him talking in past interviews or seeing/hearing his music videos being played constantly on TV, it still hasn’t hit yet that he’s no longer with us. This entry doesn’t do justice for my appreciation of Michael, what he’s done for pop culture and my sadness in his death. He will be missed.

Rest in peace, Michael. And thank you.

Earlier I was having a discussion with a friend on Facebook about why opinions of the Watchmen movies are so varied (great idea, Tony). Why do some people absolutely love it, while others thought it was pointless? And does having a thorough understanding of the graphic novel beforehand make for a more favorable opinion of the movie? I thought I’d share what I wrote back, with some additional thoughts thrown in, just in case some people were interested in my take on the issue. It should be noted that I really enjoyed the movie, had read the graphic novel prior to seeing it and thought it followed the original pretty faithfully. In particular, Rorschach was absolutely brilliant.

It would seem that having the movie follow the books so literally is what makes opinions sway so far one way or the other with the public. Graphic novels are typically over exaggerated to make their point, whether it’s Batman, Spiderman, Watchmen, etc. Each franchise/story simply chooses different things to exaggerate in its comics. Typically, the excessiveness of the story’s nature isn’t translated as much onto the big screen, which is what usually leaves fans of the originals disappointed but the mainstream/casual fans happy. Watchmen’s excess was the grittiness and darkness of the city, story and its characters. It was in your face to prove a point. Because it was translated so literally onto the big screen, you see a lot of exaggeration that leads to what some feel as redundant excess (ie: the violence); especially for those who aren’t used to the nature of a graphic novel in general.

But for those who have read the original, some things – such as the violence and couple of sex scenes – may seem tamer than expected in the movie overall (which I found with Watchmen). If you thought the movie was excessive, which it was in some cases, just wait until you read the book. Plus those who have truly read the original tend to be the ones who enjoy it more, because for once it is actually being followed faithfully. They also know what to expect from the movie, as they already have a background on the story.

The thing with the Watchmen is it CAN be confusing for some. There are a ton of flashbacks and references to the past, so you have to constantly keep that in mind and listen closely to the narration to know exactly what you are seeing. At one point, you are seeing present time when the narration is talking about the past. It plays with you a little bit. It can be like jumping into a Lost episode after missing one or two episodes; you need to work a little harder to piece things together.

So does knowing the source material before watching the movie make for a stronger appreciation for the film? Yes, it definitely helps. Again, typically I have found that those who have truly read and understood the source material (as in, not whipped through it a week before the movie came out) are the ones who enjoy and understand the movie the most. Then the ones who did whip through it quickly are second to appreciate, while the ones who haven’t read it or understood it are typically the ones that don’t like it or thought it was redundant. As with anything, these are generalizations though and there are definitely exceptions to the rule (I know a couple personally), but it seems to be accurate from the majority of what I’ve seen/read. Keep in mind, my sample size out of the millions of people who have seen it was only 20 to 30 friends and acquaintances, as well as what I have read through reviews and message boards online. But I still feel it is pretty accurate. This would also make sense since the majority of movie goers have not read the graphic novels and negative word of mouth is the blame behind slow second and third day sales, after having a great first day outing.

But perhaps this is all part of the beauty of movies (and music, for that matter). What may be the best thing in the world to one can be the worst to the others. A movie or song may mean something to one person, but have a completely different meaning to another person. It all depends on a person’s current situation and surroundings, past experiences, conditioning, and so on. While there are certainly some quantifiable criteria we can objectively compare to other pieces of work, for the most part movies and music are very subjective and hard to critique. It’s not that I’m against it; it’s just hard for a reader to truly take a critic’s opinion as fact or at face value sometimes. And this is coming from someone who has been an entertainment critic (albeit, mostly music) for 8+ years.

What did you think of the silver screen adaption of the Watchmen?

So for those of you who don’t follow me on Twitter, you may not have known that I made my decision. I did, in fact, dive head first into the world of the iPhone. So I thought I’d lay out my reasoning for buying it and if my concerns are (or are not) valid. I did a ton of web searching prior to my move, so I hope I can return the favor for those in the same situation I was.

First, to give you a little background, I originally was on a Palm Treo 650 for about a year before I moved over to the BlackBerry. The difference was night and day. I loved my BlackBerry. It provided some cool features such as their secure messaging system, BlackBerry messenger, push notification, and the ability to PIN other BlackBerrys. I felt like I was part of the elite club. But something still seemed like it was lacking. While the BlackBerry is a brilliant tool for business users and those looking for an excellent text-based communication device, it just didn’t seem to meet my needs. I’ll be honest, I’m a pretty tech savvy guy. I like my tech toys. So I wanted something that would satisfy my social media urges. Something that could be productive with my business needs, but also do so much more media stuff as well. After about a year and a half, the iPhone came into the picture.

Before I go any further, I’m going to break this down into two categories. First, I will address my main concerns of switching to the iPhone and whether they are still valid, now that I actually have one. Secondly, I will speak about a mere sample of the many things I do with my iPhone to give you an idea of what I use it for daily.

Read the rest…

Has it really been nearly two months since I’ve truly updated this? Yikes. The problem with December and working in retail, as you can imagine, is the fact that it gets busy. Really busy. After finishing my last semester of school, I went from 16 hours a week of part time work to over 40 hours a week. Then I still had my regular music industry jobs on top of it. Plus I had other personal matters to attend to that got put aside because of school…

But now it’s died down at work now and this semester has proved to be less stressful overall. One class, Macroeconomics, is an online course, so I get a four day weekend from college! That being said, I’m going to try to update this more regularly now…

I suppose part of delay of posting is the fact that social networking sites provide me with an outlet to update daily with my happenings and opinions. As I keep saying, the best way to keep up to date with me is on Twitter. I’m also going to start using Qik a lot more heavily, now that I have an iPhone (yes, I got an iPhone. An entry just on that is coming soon). My BlackBerry Pearl’s camera wasn’t worth using Qik since it was such bad quality…

What is Qik you ask? It’s a way to stream video live (yes, live!) from your cell phone to the internet. It’s very cool. I may also post an entry dedicated to Qik in the future. Here’s a video of me testing it out with my iPhone at the Eaton Centre in the heart of Toronto:

So that brings me back up to speed. Like I said, an iPhone entry will be coming shortly. I’ll say what lead me to picking it up, plus how I’m using it in conjunction with social networking/media… Stay tuned…

Until then, keep following me on Twitter! It updates when I upload videos to Qik, pictures from my iPhone, etc.

Now if only I could find a way to integrate Qik into my blog design like I do with Flickr and Twitter… Unless I just post a blog post each time once I get home (so it won’t actually be live). We’ll see…

What do merchandisers at Future Shop (aka Best Buy Canada) do after the store is closed? You are about to find out!

Thanks to Brad for filming and editing. Without your help, this would never have happened. Also thanks to Marc Scott for the DJ voiceover.

I do have a high res version (full 1920 x 1280), but couldn’t shrink it down properly without audio sync issues. Had to upload a low res version that is also a little disproportioned. My apologies… The blurriness drives me absolutely crazy too.

(Okay, so I’m not actually a merchandiser. But the other three are.)

A real blog entry will be coming soon. I promise. Sorry for the delay…

First of all, I upgraded to the latest version of WordPress this weekend. For some reason, it deleted a number of recent comments however, including all of comments from my previous entry. My apologies to everyone who commented! Definitely don’t know what happened… Maybe I accidently clicked something…

Anyway, so I think I’ve decided that I’m going with the iPhone in early January (after Macworld, in case they announce something new). It’s such a hard decision, since I’m a huge BlackBerry fan. But the amount of apps available is staggering. And, because it is one of the fastest selling phones to date, the amount of developer support is tremendous. The BlackBerry (even the BlackBerry Storm) will never have that many. This is what got my attention in the first place…

So what about my concerns? Well, basically I only have three major concerns now:

- First, the lack of unlimited data… I guess I’ll just have to be careful with my use of data and play it out to see how much I need/use.
- Another concern is the apparent short battery life, but I keep getting mixed opinions. I know I’ll be using the phone a lot for apps, surfing, etc. though, so I’m kind of worried. We’ll see what happens.
- Finally, roaming to the States is a bit disconcerting. I’ve looked into data roaming charges, and it doesn’t seem too bad if I don’t surf the web and just keep Twitter, e-mail, etc. going. Plus if there are wifi spots, I’m good. However, it’s sixty cents to send a text message down there! That’s ridiculous. With Telus I can text for free now down in the States… So if I need to send a text to a friend or family member while down there, it’s going to cost an arm and a leg. Ugh.

All of this said, I am asking for your help once again. This time it is for current iPhone users. If you could answer all or any of these questions either in a comment or e-mail (josh[AT]joshmcconnell.net), it would be much appreciated. I received a ton of feedback from the last post…

The first two could even be answered by current iPod Touch users too, since a lot of the apps will work on both…

1. What are your favorite apps from the app store? There is no limit to the amount of apps you list, how much it is, or the categories they belong to. Just give me your favorites (games included).
2. What are your favorite apps for a jailbroken iPhone (for those who have theirs jailbroken)?
3. What is your favorite case(s) for the iPhone 3G?
4. What are your favorite accessories for the iPhone 3G?

Thanks guys! Keep the feedback coming!

So there is something that is pretty common knowledge if you follow me through my profiles on various social websites or even if you know me in person: I use my BlackBerry. A lot. Texting, E-mail, Facebook, Twitter, surfing and other multi-media goodies is what I use my current smartphone for. I always have it with me and it keeps me connected (though I’m not one of those guys who will be anti-social with friends because of it, I’m tasteful about it)…

That being said, I need an upgrade from my boring Pearl though. The crappy built-in camera is annoying for TwitPic and Qik, plus I miss my qwerty keyboard from my Treo smart phone before it (though I don’t miss the Treo at all). So I’ve been seriously considering jumping to the BlackBerry Storm with it’s big screen and 3MP camera goodness… But lately the concept of the iPhone is becoming very intriguing to me.

Let’s set the stage quickly: I am in a three year data contract with Telus, so if I did get the Storm I would be paying full price for it ($650 to $700). However, if I wait until the end of January when I finish my first year, it would cost me $480 to break my contract and then $299 to go with Rogers with a 16GB iPhone… So essentially for another hundred bucks, I could get an iPhone. This is why I’ve actually been considering it… When you’re spending that much, what’s another hundred bucks to get something you’ll really like (maybe, I haven’t decided that part yet)?

And I’ll be honest, the thought of so many apps available at my disposal (10,000+) and heavy developer support really excites me. As you may know, I’m a big fan of the social/media/open-source type stuff, which the iPhone is supposed to be good for. Well, okay, maybe not open-source, but you know what I mean… However, in order for me to actually make the switch to an iPhone, I have a number of concerns…

This is where you come in.

Feedback on any (or all) of the following issues would be very much appreciated. Either comment on this post or send me an e-mail (josh[AT]joshmcconnell[DOT]net). The answers to these questions could very well solve my problem quickly, one way or the other…

1. Data Usage
I’ll be honest, I will be a heavy data user. Videos will be recorded and streamed via Qik. Pictures will be uploaded to TwitPic/Facebook/Flickr… Plus there will be surfing the web, constantly checking Twitter, having the phone check for e-mail, etc. However, I can’t seem to get a good idea of how much data this would all entail. I wish there wasn’t a stupid 2GB cap with Rogers (Canada’s iPhone provider), because I like my unlimited data through Telus. If I didn’t have to worry about hitting a cap, I think this deal would practically be closed… Curse you, Rogers! Do you want my business or not?

2. Email
I want to be able to set up my JoshMcConnell.net e-mail address so I can send and receive e-mail… But I don’t want the messages to delete from the server, as I still want to be able to download those messages back in Outlook on my computer like regular. I do this now with my BlackBerry. Can this be done? How good is the e-mail setup?

3. Calendar Sync
I currently have my BlackBerry calendar synced to Google Calendar via Google Sync. I then have Outlook synced to Google Calendar as well via Google Calendar Sync… So I can add something on my BlackBerry and it’ll be there on my desktop or visa versa. Can the iPhone do this too in some shape or form? It must be over the air so I don’t have to connect it manually via USB.

4. Battery Life
I hear it sucks. A lot. Especially with 3G… Now if I just have to charge it every night before going to bed, that’s okay. But if I can’t get up and use my phone from 8 or 9AM to the evening, and I have to charge it by afternoon or dinner, then we have problems. Especially on day outings when I’m not going to be near a charger.

5. Touch screen
I’d have this problem with the Storm too, but I’m still goofing around with the idea of a screen instead of the keyboard. Can you truly type as fast with it after practice? I’ve been playing with my dad’s iPod Touch and I seem to be getting the hang of it a little bit, but I’m curious how fast those who have been using it for a little while go… I should have a race with someone…

6. Roaming charges
This one I don’t think people can really help me for, it’s just a point that does still hold me back a little. Consider it more like a rant. When I go down to the States once or twice a year, I simply turn off my data so I don’t get hit with roaming charges. All I do is text down there because through Telus I don’t get hit with any roaming fees to text in the States (whether it’s to a number in the States or back up to Canada). However, Rogers charges you 60 cents for every text sent! That’s brutal…

I’m sure I can come up with more, but these are the main ones right now… Maybe these things are do-able, maybe they aren’t… Maybe I have to wait until the next hardware update so problems such as the battery life can be improved, I don’t know…

All I know is I’m a sucker for these kind of gadgets and the many, many apps and uses for the phone are exciting and would be nice to take part in. I would use my phone for a lot more fun and social tasks if I had the option. However, if it can’t last long with a battery, is going to cost me a lot because I’m going over my data cap, and can’t handle e-mail or calendar syncing with ease, then maybe it’s not for me… Maybe I’ll stick with a BlackBerry….

Again, all feedback is welcomed and appreciated!

I received a LOT of positive feedback from the last entry… Thanks everyone. I will try to get more interesting articles posted here…

As you may have guessed with my absence, things have been busy. But upon further reflection, I think I’ve realized why blogging updates have been minimal. With so much social networking at our fingertips, there are just too many avenues to keep tabs on. I’m sure if I had more time I could… but when you are bouncing a few jobs plus trying to obtain a business degree, your time is short. Only two weeks left until the end of the semester though, which means one month off school!

I think this is why Twitter is such a fantastic tool. You can post quick updates on what you are up to, make your opinions known quickly, get instant feedback, etc. Plus I can do it on the go on my BlackBerry… Then when you add in extra social networking goodies that enhance the Twitter experience, you almost forget about blogs completely. ha. Examples of enhancements would be TwitPic.com (posts pictures from your cell up on Twitter) or my new personal favorite, Qik.com (stream video LIVE from your cell to the internet). Very cool. I need to use them a lot more than I do now, but my crappy camera in my Pearl isn’t very encouraging at the moment. I will be using both of these a LOT when I upgrade my phone next month with a much, much better camera.

All of this being said, I’ll try to post more blog posts here… Even if they are little ones. Again, follow me on Twitter to stay up to date and have a real conversation with me. It’s quite fun…

Anyway, on to a few reviews/comments on CDs I’ve been listening to recently…

Kanye West – 808s & Heartbreak
It took a few spins, but this disc is really growing on me… Despite what some people try ti say, it’s not really a straight up hip-hop CD It’s more like pop meets rock meets some hip-hop/rap… It’s very mainstream at times, but at other times it’s quite unique… Again, takes a bit to get used to, but I like it. Kanye himself calls it “pop art.” You can tell he’s going for the mainstream crowd a bit too, because it’s his first CD without a Parental Advisory sticker. ha. I keep finding myself coming back to it though. It’s a pretty solid disc.

Coldplay – Prospekt’s March
It may only have eight tracks (two of which are new versions of songs from Viva La Vida), but it is still a brilliant little EP. Lost+ with Jay-Z is pretty snazzy, while some of the new tracks are so atmospheric and epic that you remember why the band is phenomenal. Coldplay’s latest full length is one of my favorites, so this extra EP is just icing on the cake.

P!nk – Funhouse
Wasn’t sure what to expect going in… I mean, P!nk has her signature sound, but at the same time she always has a little different flavor with each record. This one seems to be more of an extension of her last one… Very upbeat and fun, though maybe an emphasis on the latter due to the album’s funhouse theme. ha. Nothing too memorable overall though. Just more addictive P!nk music.

Taylor Swift – Fearless
Wow… There’s just something about Taylor Swift’s music that is refreshing. The music’s honest story telling captures your attention and the catchy melodies hold it. It’s also great to see her having a significantly large role in the songwriting process (see: the vast majority of it). Definitely one of the best country-pop CDs of 2008.

Kevin Rudolf – In The City
Another interesting CD… It’s like rock meets rap meets pop. Lots of distorted guitars and vocals… Very in-your-face and upbeat… It certainly gets the foot tapping and head banging. After a spin or two, I’ve determined I like it.

Linkin Park – Road To Revolution
Meh, it’s simply another live CD/DVD combo from the band. You can tell from the camera quality that it would look very good in HD… and you can tell this even on the inferior DVD medium. It’s cool to see the band play some of their songs from Minutes To Midnight live and to see them play some classics with some new twists, but overall nothing to write home about. Jay-Z comes out to sing two of their mashup songs, which is cool…

And that’s all for now… See you on Twitter.

As I sit here typing, I’m also filtering through the many artist submissions/recommendations/CDs that are begging for my attention. Not necessarily because they are good, but because they have been sitting here for some time… And it’s been a while since I’ve thoroughly gone through them, so the pile is rather hefty.

It’s not that being in this situation is foreign territory for me, as I usually have at least fifty or so discs on my desk and countless artists waiting for me to evaluate digitally. I can’t even recall a time in the past seven years that this hasn’t been the case. So I simply start attacking the pile, giving the ones that grab my attention the first dibs on my listening time (though if it is a major release that I need to review, then obviously release date will be the deciding factor).

I must admit though, it can be frustrating how some of these artists really don’t look like they WANT to be discovered or listened to. Instead of commanding my attention and striving for professionalism, it feels like these artists are either apathetic or think they are the hottest new thing and is giving me the privilege to let me listen to their music. Easy there hot shot, I get it.

So let’s assume you are an aspiring musician and you want to get noticed. The entertainment industry is a cut throat field that truly revolves more around who you know than what you know. But even if you had a contact or two to abuse, unless you get off your backside and not rely on others, you too could very well end up chasing the paparazzi with umbrellas shortly after shaving your head. How’s that for a mental image? That being said, labels are now looking heavily for artists who can show they know how to hustle and make a name for themselves on their own first, so it is less work for their company once you are signed.

Now keep in mind that if the aforementioned industry insiders are good enough, they will be able to detect potential talent and whether you are worth their time within seconds of pressing the play button. So how do you get the attention of the talent scouts and media? Well, I’m going to try to give you a few pointers that should hopefully help in the process. If everyone would follow these simple rules, I would already have a lot of the music I have to go through daily filtered out. Keep in mind these aren’t all of the rules though, just a few of many…

1. Make it professional, both inside and out. You’d think this would be common sense, but unfortunately it isn’t. When you are making your CD, spend the extra bucks and get professional production qualities that can be compared to those found on record labels. Don’t make it sound like your roommate made it on his crappy computer that was lying around and/or with free recording software. In this day and age, studio setups are much, much cheaper than they used to be and you should be able to find a producer that can pull off some magical things for a relatively inexpensive price. Also, make sure the actual packaging of your product is professional and doesn’t look like it was done by Grandma on her Apple II.

2. Have a press kit? Make it different. Everyone sends it in a folder that will hold the standard 8″X11″ sheets inside with a bio, fact sheet, and so on. Needless to say, when you have a stack of them sitting there on the “to do” pile, they all look the same. Spend the extra couple bucks to make it unique so it jumps out at us from the stack. Change it to an unconventional size, make the colors bright (but tasteful), throw in some extra swag… Do whatever it takes to just make it jump.

3. Communication: you have spell check, so you better use it. When making communication to a member of the press or a scout, please refer back to grade school grammar rules. If you are trying to sell yourself or if you have finally found someone who will listen to your music, use common sense. Don’t use any sort of abbreviations (thx, u, y, tho, etc.) and use proper grammar/punctuation/capitalization. If you look sloppy and lazy in your communication, it leaves a bad first impression. If I get initial e-mails like this, I’m already turned off. Every e-mail client and word processor has a spell checker, so there is NO excuse to not have it look like business correspondence. No lingo or gang signs either, please.

4. Communication: you get what you pay for. If you are going to be professional, get your own e-mail (and preferably not a free one such as hotmail or gmail; that just looks bad). In both my scouting and journalist positions, I’ve had managers send me an e-mail initially to which I would reply. But then suddenly when they reply back to me, the sender has a different name in the “From” field (sometimes even someone of the opposite sex) and still sign it with their name at the bottom of the e-mail. This is confusing and lacks any sort of professionalism. It’s too bad when the artist they are representing happens to be a promising talent, because it still taints their image. Don’t use e-mail forwarding (especially to a shared e-mail account), just get a real address. It’s cheap.

5. I know sliced bread has nothing on you, but calm down. Sure, you need to be somewhat convincing and forceful in your presentation, but stay humble about it. If you don’t shove it down our throats that you could rock those four British guys from the sixties’ world, we’ll appreciate you more. Don’t go over the top in selling yourself, just list your accomplishments/bio and let the listener decide. If you try too hard, it’ll show painfully. And trust me, way too many artists go overboard in selling themselves that it usually isn’t even close to being accurate anymore. Have someone else look over your promotional content just to make sure.

6. If you’re finding yourself comfortable, you aren’t working hard enough. Remember, scouts are looking for artists who can establish a following and accolades on their own. So work, work and work some more. Play tons of shows, stay late to hang out with the fans to win their adoration, build a great looking website, promote yourselves online by signing up on the popular social websites, and don’t give up. Again, just don’t go excessively overboard in the online promoting or it’ll feel more like spam to users. You’re trying to earn their respect as well as their ears.

7. If you network, they will come. Even with all of these other points, you still need to make that initial contact with key individuals to get noticed. As I stated earlier, this is a business where it’s more about who you know than what you know. Networking is one of your most valuable tools in any business. So get out to industry events, make your name known, become best friends with those lower in the food chain at labels and rub shoulders with absolutely everyone. Don’t just assume those who make the big decisions are in suits, as they could be the guy in the back with the ripped jeans. Just make sure you complete the other steps about being professional and having a professional product first so the networking goes smoother. The last thing the insiders want is a disc and package in their hands that looks like it was made in your basement. Otherwise, if you’ve got the goods, be fearless. The worst you can get is a “no.” Business cards are very handy (and inexpensive) too.

8. Follow up with your contacts. To say scouts and journalists get a ton of e-mail is an understatement. I get tons of e-mails and phone calls from all levels of seniority in the industry with various pitches or offering potential talent. So if you don’t get a reply right away, try again. It may not be that they are blowing you off; it’s just that you may have been accidentally and genuinely lost in the shuffle. At the same time, don’t hound them too much either, or you’ll be too forceful and that will be a turn off. Find the right balance in your follow ups.

So there you have it… Just some simple tips to get you started. Again, there are lots of dos and don’ts, so think things through before you act. But these are some pointers to help you get started and will definitely make the other person’s job much easier and less stressful. If you follow these rules, you will already start on the right foot.

Any other suggestions, questions or comments? Comment below or shoot me an e-mail: josh[at]joshmcconnell.net

So I’m a big fan of Twitter… Always have and probably always will. Well, or at least until something cooler comes along. You know how it goes. Sure, they could tweak a couple things to make it flawless in my eyes (such as choosing the option to have only @replies sent to my mobile phone. Hint hint, developers), but it’s still a fantastic website.

That being said, I will give you five good reasons why you should join the Twitter world. They will be so convincing, you will want to sign up immediately after reading this entry. Or something like that.

1. Because I’m A Member
Come on, let’s be honest. I could stop the list right here and you would have more than enough reason to sign up for Twitter. What? No? Okay, okay, I’ll give you some more…

2. All The Cool People Are (Finally) Doing It
I’ve had a Twitter account since, well, pretty much when it launched years ago. This was long before it moved to the mainstream internet scene and actually became cool. But when looking at my first reason on this list, apparently me having an account doesn’t cause a mass sign up. Who would have thought? So when Twitter played an integral role in the music festival SxSW a year ago, it caught the attention of big players and got the ball rolling. Now you can find members of your favorite bands, politicians, journalists, TV personalities and more signing up and telling you what they are up to. Sites also use it to share updates such as news stories or the weather. I can actually tell someone about Twitter without getting odd looks because the other person knows what I’m talking about. Fancy that!

3. It’s A Cool Concept
“What are you doing?” is the question that Twitter asks you to answer in 140 characters or less. Through a web browser, AIM, text messaging, countless applications for your computer (or even your Blackberry/iPhone), you can update to tell the world exactly what you are doing. Are you at a concert and the band is playing a classic anthem? Did you see a celebrity sighting at SoHo while shopping? Did you experience/see some sort of natural disaster and want to tell the world even before the media picks up on it? It can all be done in seconds. You can also use sites such as TwitPic.com to upload pictures from your mobile phone (or computer) and have it update on your Twitter account automatically. I love TwitPic.

4. It’s Not Just A One Way Conversation
Let’s be honest: not many people use Twitter primarily for one way conversations. Thanks to the reply feature, you can reply to someone’s entry and they can reply right back to you. You can also send direct messages if you want to keep it all confidential. It really is a community and helps you to get to know new people. And, again, it is all within 140 characters or less.

5. Someone Has To Go First
So maybe you don’t know anyone personally who has a Twitter account. When I first started, it took months (and months) until someone I actually knew hopped on board. But it takes someone to sign up first in your social circle to get the ball rolling before others join. Why can’t it be you? Plus, now with Twitter gaining popularity, there is more than just strangers you can have a conversation with in the beginning (like when I first joined). You have the aforementioned personalities who are all signing up and using it frequently, so you won’t feel so alone. And just think, you can brag to everyone saying you were the first in your social circle to join. I know I like bragging about being one of the first to sign up, period. It makes me all warm and fuzzy inside… I suppose that makes me a geek, doesn’t it? Dang.

So there you have it… Five great reasons as to why you should join Twitter (if you already are a member, feel free to comment and add some more reasons of your own). Sign up and follow me already! Send me a message and we’ll chat it up via tweets (that’s what Twitter calls their entries, by the way). Again, don’t worry if you feel alone, your friends will follow soon enough.

You know, this summer has been a lot busier than I thought I would. Every time I try to post something here to help prove I’m still alive, I get pulled away to do something else…

So what have I been doing? Lots of work. Retail, freelance music journalism, and A&R scouting have all kept me active… I only have three weeks and a couple of days to go until my vacation, so I’m very excited for that. I’m getting rather tired (or is it bored?) of my retail sales job right now, but that’s a different story in itself… That can of worms will remain closed for now. Then once my nearly two week vacation is over, it’s back to college. So that means a break from working full time again. Yes! I’m just not looking forward to homework…

My Coldplay concert is in two days. Can’t wait… Then after Coldplay I have Hedley and Carrie Underwood in the first week or two in October, but who knows which artists may pop up before then.

I’ve decided that I haven’t done enough video/picture/multimedia creating like I used to. I miss those days… The final product wasn’t great by any means, but it allowed for the creative juices to flow. I’m going to try to get back into that soon, if I can find time and something interesting enough to film. The whole process of video is such a fascinating one… Coming up with an idea, mapping out the details, getting the shots, and then the post-production (ie: editing). Plus I got a copy of Pinnacle’s editing suite for free from my former boss that she got when she went away to a convention, but I have yet to really use it. It’s been a year since it has exchanged hands. ha.

Anyway, so once again, that brings things up to speed a little. It’s just been a lot of the same old thing… But don’t worry, I’ll try to make things more interesting soon…

So today, in twenty-eight States, is Juneteenth. It celebrates the day of announcement that slavery was abolished. For those unfamiliar with it, you can brush up on your history a bit over here.

I saw OneRepublic in concert a week and a half ago. Wow. I figured they would be good, but they blew me away. Even with the lead singer having to come out on crutches and not move around too much, they still put on a great show. They made me enjoy their music even more, perhaps putting them up there as one of my favorites. I’ll definitely be seeing them again next time they come to Toronto… I recommend them to anyone…

Next concert? On July 30th, I’ll be seeing Coldplay at the Air Canada Centre. Unfortunately, they are the “worst” seats I’ve had at the ACC to date, but that’s not saying much since I’ve lucked out with all of my past shows there (within the first 10 rows every time). ha. I’m about halfway back in the lower bowl (section 120). Not too bad. Either way, the place sold out in about 5 minutes, so I’m just glad to be going…

Speaking of Coldplay, has anyone picked up their new album, Viva La Vida? I’m really, really digging it… Very impressive record. It’s going to be one of my favorites of the year for sure… Pick it up if you haven’t already. You can even buy it in LP format…

Firefox 3 debuted on Tuesday and I like it a lot. It has some new features that are cool, it seems to be even more stable, and basically it reaffirms my belief that Firefox is the best web browser out there right now. You can also watch a real-time counter to see how many downloads it has received. So far it is sitting at over 11 million. Impressive.

I’m trying to decide what my next BlackBerry should be… I have the silver Pearl now and I love it, but I could do more with a more powerful unit since I have unlimited data. Out of the ones available, the only other one I’d get is the Blackberry Curve. But there is also the Blackberry Bold and Blackberry Thunder coming later this year… The Thunder doesn’t interest me too much because I don’t want a full blown touch screen phone. But I’m holding out to see what the Bold ends up looking like, because right now I think it may end up being my replacement…

I finally got around to putting my entire Beatles collection onto my computer and, in turn, my iPod yesterday. ha. It took quite a while…. Twenty albums later (three of which are double discs)…

Anyway, off to work… The two days off were definitely nice but it is time to head back, unfortunately…

So Mute Math is in the studio working on their next album… I’m very excited. I have a feeling this next album is going to be a big one for them.

As they record in the “studio” (it’s more like equipment simply set up inside a house), they are updating their YouTube account with vlogs. Check it out here.

In other news, U2 is also in the studio and apparently their upcoming release is a lot more artsy than their last couple of records. According to Daniel Lanois, it’s just about done. Here’s a quote he recently said in a newspaper in Europe:

… Again the content is very much driven by the aspirations and dreams people have. At the core it is the same U2 but the tones and textures sometimes take a slight different turn sonically to provide a slant on the song and a complexity that listeners will keep coming back to. That’s what we as human beings appreciate in art, the hidden corners that reveal themselves over time.

Complexity that listeners keep coming back to? Hidden corners that reveal themselves over time? I’m pumped already. Sounds like it could be one of their best ones in a while…

Both Mute Math and U2 are hoping for albums around the September time frame.

I’m such a sucker for pop music… Right now my addiction is Maroon 5’s new single. They re-recorded If I Never See Your Face Again with Rihanna… So infectious. It replaced Madonna’s 4 Minutes, which features Justin Timberlake and Timbaland. Of course, that’s not to say I only listen to pop tracks. I’ll usually listen to them in between other stuff, including classics like The Beatles or REM. Still, I can’t help but listen to the catchy mainstream stuff… It’s like a drug.

So I went to Ottawa for a few days last week for business… It was pretty crazy, but fun. Microsoft gave everyone in attendance (250-300 people maybe?) a Microsoft Zune, which doesn’t come to Canada until June 13th. I think it could give the iPod a run for its money… It has some really, really cool social/interactive features…

I just finished reading the book Bringing Down The House, which is what the movie 21 is based off of. It’s a true story, actually. What a fantastic book… I wish I read it earlier. I couldn’t put it down. It definitely gets my recommendation, especially if you enjoyed the movie. I really enjoyed the movie, but the book blows it out of the water. It’s pretty intense. Oh, and for those wondering, the movie comes to DVD and Blu-Ray on July 22nd. Looking forward to it…

You know summer is coming when all of your favorite TV shows are winding down… Everything is ending either this week or next week it seems. How sad… Tonight is American Idol (I’m still sticking to Cook winning) and next week is Lost. Now what am I going to do to unwind after work on Thursdays? Hmm…

Anyway, thanks for the feedback on the new layout. I’ve had a number of e-mails on top of the few comments, most of which was positive. It’s been growing on me more too… It was time for a change.