Hi All,
Well, if you want to believe in others, you first have to believe in yourself. Over the past ten years, Shirley and I have devoted our time and money to help talented song artists make it in the music world. Most of our clients did just that, to varying degrees. We, however, kept putting out our money and not getting anything in return. Shirley and I put together four Talent Showcases in the past, video taped the performances, and sent the finished product to an Independent Record Label in Nashville, Tennessee. As the results of our efforts, many of the performers forged forward in their careers. We sometimes got a pat on the backs for our efforts. Once our talent was reviewed, those chosen were nominated for awards in Nashville at a taping of the E.I.A. Awards show that was taped twice a year. By attending a taping of the E.I.A. award show you had to pay a pre determined fee. Shirley and I had to pay the same fee as the clients that we brought with us. On our next venture, we taped the performances, I spent a lot of hours editing half hour shows and managed to get them on the air on a local cable channels. Not much about us was mentioned on these shows, however a lot was mentioned about the record label. Therefore, if anyone was listening and wanted to get their talent recognized, all they had to do was contact the record label direct. We had one client whose band's name was Robins & Wheeler. Five weeks after they signed with us, they were nominated and invited to attend a taping of the show. Within two weeks after the taping, Delton Robins was informed that they had won first place for their performance and had won a $1,500.00 Recording Contract. We were not informed. Robins & Wheeler had a song called "Ghost of James Dean" that was number one on the country charts for six weeks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVxcRlXb-Mw
Basically speaking, for ten years, we did all the work and took none of the credit.
In 2009, Shirley and I made our last trip to Nashville. During that weekend I realized for a fact that we were not being treated fairly. In this next video, Shirley is singing. Behind her, you can hear two voices. One was Sherri Lynn who was one of our newer clients. The other was Cliff Ayres, owner of the Record Label.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bwhrCO8K-E
This rudeness devastated me, bit also made me realize that we were being used from the very beginning.
I did not do anything for quite awhile to promote deserving artists because I felt that they were not that deserving. However, I began to realize that it was I who was not reading the writing on the wall. I don't have to promote clients to a record label that doesn't play fair. I have already proven that I can set up Talent Showcases and I can still promote my clients to record labels. Ours will not be available for awhile because it cost quite a bit. However, my plan is to put together at least one Music Talent Showcase by the end of the summer of 2014. The first one will be in the Indianapolis area and depending on the degree of success we will try to have at least two per year. I will be looking for record labels and radio stations in the Indianapolis area that would be interested in being on our panel of judges. I will also be looking for people in our area that would be willing to help us get this project going. On our first showcase we will be looking for people to help with sound, location, announcing, ect. We will also limit the first showcase to Singer/Songwriters only so that we can introduce new music to the public. The showcase itself will not be limited to local performers, as we will also accept mail in entries. The judges will view these performers in a separate room and include them in their final judging. At each Showcase, we will have special performers to begin each show. At the 2009 taping in Nashville, one of our clients named Chuck Kesilman struck us as someone who was going places. He has. Since the taping, he contacted me several times to let me know how he was doing. He is well on his way. Chuck sings in the style of the Beatles and at one time was sited as being the World's Greatest 12 string Beatles Guitarist by Julian Lennon, son of the late John Lennon of Beatles Fame.
Recently, Chuck headlined his own show in Shreveport, La and the same week his first album was released in the U.S.
There were times that he felt that things were going too slow, plus he was putting out a lot of money without getting results. I advised him to change directions and he took my advice. Now, he is well on his way.
Lastly, I will be looking for musically inclined people to introduce acts. I would prefer a nice looking woman because if she is nice to look at, people will listen. If she has a wardrobe malfunction others will take notice as well. So, let me know what you think and if you are interested in being a part of this in any way. I turn 72 tomorrow and I decided not to give up. I'm too young for that.
GOD BLESS YOU
~Mike~
http://www.countryvalues65.com
http://country-values-socia.yooco.org
