Thursday, December 2, 2010

Interview Notes

I uncovered a box today with some old stuff in it -- documents, letters and even some old photos. I came across the following, written for me by my supervisor when I worked at the radio syndication company MJI Broadcasting, and about to conduct my very first interview with a rock band. I am still amused by it:

Interview Notes:

1. Don't be nervous. These folks are humans just like you. You cut them and they'll bleed just like you.

2. Try to make your questions short and right to the point.

3. Allow the artist to answer the question. Don't answer it for them. This can be done if you allow your question to go on too long, or if they hesitate at first, don't jump in and volunteer the answer for them.

4. Even though they may have answered or responded to some of your questions before, they haven't done so for your tape. They know the game, and know that they'll be faced with a lot of the same questions.

5. Look for opportunities. If they mention something that you weren't aware of, capitalize on it. Don't be afraid to go off onto other subjects. A lot of times your best answers will come about this way.

6. Don't let them know you're nervous or that this is one of your first interviews.

7. Ignore the clock, but make sure you get at least 30 minutes from them. If you feel you're falling short, you can always find out about their influences, what they're listening to, their tour, the success factor, etc.

8. Make sure your equipment, the interview room and everything else is in order.

9. Concentrate on everything they say.

10. See if they want a soda or a water. Have Lee send out if you need to.

11. If there's a technical problem, don't be afraid to interrupt the interview and address it. Shit happens.


Really good advice. Number one stuck with me forever. Oh, and I'm sure you want to know who was the first... My very first interview was with Our Lady Peace. The song "Starseed" was blowing up for them on radio. They were nice guys. Second interview? Blur. I was nervous as hell. They were promoting their album "Parklife," which I really didn't get at the time. And Damon Albarn kept adjusting his junk while sitting in the chair talking to me. Imagine 24-year-old me, nervous as hell (trying not to fuck up or look stupid) and trying not to look at Damon Albarn's package... eyes darting to the floor...

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Tarot reading, 3/9/10

For those who read cards... this was pretty accurate. Although the readings always depict a bright future... this has been happening for years... where's my nice future?! LOL

Celtic Cross Spread

1. Basis of the matter, or that which brought you to now: 4 of Swords

2. Where you are now: The Lovers

3. Hopes or fears: 3 of Swords

4. Present and passing: 3 of Cups

5. Forces for or against you: 8 of Cups

6. The near future: Death

7. How the near future will evolve: 10 of Cups

8. New Turn of Events and/or the effects of others on you: Ace of Pentacles

9. You in the environment of the future: Temperance

10. Outcome or summation: Wheel of Fortune

Thursday, March 4, 2010

I'll let the late (great) Freddie Mercury speak for me...

Can anybody find me somebody to love?
Each morning I get up I die a little
Can barely stand on my feet
Take a look in the mirror and cry
Lord what you're doing to me
I have spent all my years in believing you
But I just can't get no relief, Lord!
Somebody, somebody
Can anybody find me somebody to love?

I work hard every day of my life
I work till I ache my bones
At the end I take home my hard earned pay all on my own -
I get down on my knees
And I start to pray
Till the tears run down from my eyes
Lord - somebody - somebody
Can anybody find me - somebody to love?

(He works hard)

Everyday - I try and I try and I try -
But everybody wants to put me down
They say I'm goin' crazy
They say I got a lot of water in my brain
Got no common sense
I got nobody left to believe
Yeah - yeah yeah yeah

Oh Lord
Somebody - somebody
Can anybody find me somebody to love?

Got no feel, I got no rhythm
I just keep losing my beat
I'm ok, I'm alright
Ain't gonna face no defeat
I just gotta get out of this prison cell
Someday I'm gonna be free, Lord!

Find me somebody to love
Can anybody find me somebody to love?

Sunday, February 28, 2010

worrisome weekend

So I'm still not sure what to do about my finances. As soon as I get a moment, I'm going to head over to Green Path Debt Solutions in midtown. I found them through the website for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling. The NFCC was recommended to me by someone as well as mentioned in the Suze Orman book I've just started reading called The Laws of Money. I'm not that hopeful, though, since I tried NovaDebt last year and they couldn't help me. I just made a payment to one of the Chase cards (late) and I have to pay the other one before the 6th while I just got a bill for another payment on the first one. Sigh. I don't even have the rent yet, and I'm not able to go food shopping. Then there's the third credit card. :o(

I managed to shove this crap somewhat to the back of my mind while I was in Boston for the last three days. I got to see the new house Jenne and her family moved into, and it was nice. They even had a gathering for a few people Saturday night, and there was loads of great food... Jenne outdid herself! We even got some hamentaschen for Purim, since I was reminded of the holiday during my long and annoying bus ride to Boston in the terrible rain and wind. There was a young (college age) Jewish couple sitting not too far behind me, and I heard them repeatedly make reference to the girl fasting. I knew Purim was this month, but not exactly when, and I wondered what fasting was for, so I was able to Google it on my iPod Touch. Thank goodness for free WiFi on the BoltBus! :oD The story behind Purim is kind of a cool one, and it's really the only Jewish holiday that's a happy one: http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday9.htm

I really like hamentaschen. ;o)

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

John Lennon: The New York City Years

A few days before New Year's, Ted and I went to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame annex in SoHo. I'm glad I went before it closed its doors for good on January 3rd. I had been putting off going because the tickets were so damn expensive - $28.85! I felt I could only justify it by going with Ted, who I usually only see once a year. That, and that a portion of the admission went to Spirit Foundations (a charitable foundation set up by John Lennon and Yoko Ono).

It was a fun place... a small tribute to rock n' roll. I really wanted to see "John Lennon: The New York City Years," however, because I'm a huge Beatles fan. I was only 10 when Lennon was killed, but I will never forget the moment I heard the news.

A few things that struck me about the exhibit:

1. John's feelings about New York City and about being a New Yorker
2. All the pages of handwritten lyrics I was able to look at, for songs like "Woman," "(Just Like) Starting Over," and of course "Imagine."
3. Looking at his pen and ink drawings and collages he made. I didn't even know he made collages as gifts for people. On display were collages John made for Ringo Starr and George Harrison.
4. The bloodstained glasses he wore on the last day of his life.

And the capper, the bag containing the clothing he wore December 8, 1980 when he died. His widow, Yoko Ono, chose to display the bag, given to her from St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital, as a message about gun violence. It was hard to see it and not get choked up.

LennonNYC