Blockhead Radio

We're Going On the Road

noreply@blogger.com (Blockhead Radio) — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 17:20:00 +0000

In case you haven't heard, BHR is going on the road. You can find out all about it here. Starting November 28, 2009 we will be doing a show 'Prospecting for America' at noon ET every Saturday. We will be broadcasting live from around the U.S. We hope to meet the musicians, listeners, and artisans from Blockhead Radio.

Till next time..........later taters

Stone Coyotes Marathon Today

noreply@blogger.com (Blockhead Radio) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 11:13:00 +0000

Don't forget......at 1 pm ET today we will kick of The Stone Coyotes Marathon. We now have their entire library in rotation and we are gonna listen to it today.

Wordless Wednesday.......Artisan Style

noreply@blogger.com (Blockhead Radio) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:36:00 +0000

Elegant Peacock feather and Crystal Earrings by Feathered Friends Mementos

Artisans of Arizona

a couple great artisans from the directory and showcase

A Stone Coyotes Marathon

noreply@blogger.com (Blockhead Radio) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:35:00 +0000

Something really awesome happened this past week. I received and email from TSC. Barb asked me if I would like more of their music to play. TSC............anything you want to send. We had 8 and 9 in rotation and I was hoping for a couple more of their CD's.

The package arrived Saturday. It included the first 7 CD's by The Stone Coyotes. Yep, I got and did a dance. All the tracks are loaded and in rotation now.

This Friday, 10/16, we are gonna have a party. Starting at 1pm Et we are going to play all the tracks from the 9 CD's. That is right......gonna celebrate one of the best Indie bands out there by listening to all their recorded music. Join me in chat.

Top 10 You Said It We Played It Songs for October 12, 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Blockhead Radio) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:19:00 +0000

Here are the top 10 most requested songs from the Mid Day Madness request show last week.

1. These Four Walls by 7 Years Today
2. This Is My Life by 2 Sided Story
3. Place In France by Trey Green
4. Thunder on the Left by The Stone Coyotes
5. Hey Now Now by Chris Huff
6. Legs So Long It's Crazy by Della Valle
7. What If I'm Fine by Judd Starr
8. Freak by Underwhelmed
9. She Can Dance by Monk
10. Beautiful Dreamer by Citizens of Contrary Knowledge

Every week Monday through Friday we take your requests from 11 am to 1 pm ET for the Mid Day Madness. Top 10 is set by the number of requests for each song.

Sponsorship Advertising Special !

noreply@blogger.com (Huckleberry Arts) — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 14:31:00 +0000

This week if you purchase the annual BHR Sponsor Ad, you will receive a $15 Gift certificate to http://huckleberryarts.artfire.com Which can be used on any item up to a year in Huck's Shop!

The BHR Sponsor ad is a year ad on Every page of bhr, a commercial on the radio, and is also promoted on twitter,facebook, and many other social media venues. You also see the ads on BHR Blog and Huckleberry Arts Blogs !

Get your sponsor spot here http://blockheadradiolive.com/advertising

And we made it a little easier it is a $100 for the year sponsor BUT broke down to 4 payments of $25 a month! that is a little less than 28 cents a day!

Gift certificate will be emailed to you the same day you buy your 4 month subscription from Blockhead Radio, and can be used up to 1 year on any item at http://huckleberryarts.artfire.com !

Don't have a banner ad made up we will create one for you to use with purchase of sponsorship ad for free and yes you can use it elsewhere too!!!

New Music Monday

noreply@blogger.com (Blockhead Radio) — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 10:28:00 +0000

You've been hearing the music now meet the musicians

Groundsound
Jennings
HuDost
2am
7 Years Today

Swing by and read their bios, see some photos, watch a video, and check out the links. If you could retweet them and Digg 'em.

Happy Monday. Join me at 1pm ET and I play a sample of music from them.

and in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1

noreply@blogger.com (Blockhead Radio) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:13:00 +0000

Oh Crap We're Live.......................

As you know, we had to cut the live shows out not to long ago. Huck and I had to seek work outside the house. Well it all seems to be settling down into a schedule again. Whew. Now that we have a schedule worked out, I can go back to do what I love doing.

Starting Monday October 5, 2009 we will be back live on the air and in chat with the following shows.

Monday through Friday 9 am to 11 am ET the Morning BrewHaHa. Yep, all the all odd news, music, live guests, and antics you can handle.

Monday through Friday 11 am to 1 pm ET the Mid Day Madness. This is your chance to request your favorite songs on BHR. You can join us in chat or send them to request@blockheadradio.com. We will be keeping track and every Monday posting the top 10 requested songs for the previous week.

From 1 pm to 1:30 pm ET. We will have to see what develops.

On Friday nights at 8 pm ET, join Huck in chat for her weekly scavenger hunt. The winner will be promoted on the front page of the website the following week.

As always, the music is going 24/7. We have been adding a lot on new musicians and have over 500 submissions that we are going through now.

We upgraded the server today back to 128k. I just love how it sounds. It was done on the back end so you will not see any changes........only hear them.

Have you checked out the Blockhead Radio toolbar yet? It has a quick launch button for the player and links to popular social media sites like Twitter, Plurk, Facebook, and MySpace. We left room on the toolbar so you can customize it with the toys you would like. It works on IE and Firefox. Download our free toolbar

It looks like the second channel will be easy/world/jazz. Once we have all the music in we will be launching that channel. It looks to happen toward the end of this month.

Huck and I are brain storming ideas on some contests. Chances to win CD's, T-shirts, and more.

We want to thank all of you for your continued support of Blockhead Radio and want to welcome the new listeners from Evony. Yep, thanks ClosetCreature.

Annual Sponsorship Payment Plan

noreply@blogger.com (Blockhead Radio) — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:01:00 +0000

Hi There,

We know how hard times are now. We dropped our annual sponsorship to $100.00 and made it even easier by taking 4 monthly payments at $25.00 a month.

What is it? An audio (commercial ad) in rotation on air and a banner in rotation on the website, blog, player, and chat room.

Sign up today and get all the information here.

Thanks

Mid Day Meltdown and Huck's Art Hunt

noreply@blogger.com (Blockhead Radio) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:19:00 +0000

Mid Day Meltdown

Join me in chat everyday from 11 am ET to 1 pm ET (-5 GMT) to request your favorite songs. Kick back with your friends and take a break.

Huck's Art Hunt

Join Huck every Thursday night at 8 pm ET and join in on her scavenger hunt. It's a lot of fun and the winner will be promoted on the front page of BHR for a week.

Hope to see ya there.

Meet the Showcase Artisans: Mama's Little Monkeys

noreply@blogger.com (Blockhead Radio) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:32:00 +0000

Artisan Biography for mamaslittlemonkeys

I have a fabric addiction along with a soap addiction and love to share my addictions with you! I am a SAHM to two boys, who loves to sew, craft, spend time online. I love to soap and try new crafts. I live in Southern Louisiana, and no I don't eat craw-fish! :) I have a variety of causes close to my heart, including, breastfeeding, Celiac Disease, sign language, Multiple Sclerosis, Autism and Sensory Processing Disorder! I love to try new things!

Check out Mama's Showcase

Meet the Musicians: Trey Green

noreply@blogger.com (Blockhead Radio) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:37:00 +0000

Effortlessly cool and eternally whimsical, Trey Green embodies a series of irresolvable contradictions. He likes it that way. The Boston-based, globetrotting artist is impossible to pin down in any way, shape or form. At one moment incisive, at one moment hilarious and at other moments spouting foul humor, his inexplicably has had him create an unforgettable debut self-titled CD, a work that worms itself into the mind of the listener. You may be moved, amused or even appalled, but in a world of shrug your shoulder artists, Trey Green stands alone.

Trey Green was born in Memphis, Tennessee, but he has lived all over the world. From the mountains of Aspen, Colorado to the Bahamas, from Hawaii to Bozeman, Montana, Trey´s travels have left a man comfortable in any environment, and more importantly, with an insight into humanity that most people never even ponder. People are regional, Trey points out. I´ve been to every state and over fifty countries, and everyone has a bias favoring where they´re from against other places. It´s hilarious, he says with a mischievous grin. But it does make me able to see life from a lot of different aspects, and I am able to use that in writing songs, he states. And most importantly, I get to see the awesome humor in every day life.

Trey grew up in a musical family and has been writing songs since childhood. A concert cellist in the first grade, he became a concert pianist by third grade and has since completely forgotten both instruments. But he still plays the American made Stratocaster that he saved up for and bought at the age of twelve, with which he immediately began writing songs. I never wanted to play other people´s songs, Trey says. I always wanted to write them. That´s one thing I´m serious about.

Trey has a life-long love affair with the ocean he surfs, spear-fishes, and works in ocean conservation. It was in Fiji where he discovered his own unique appeal. He remembers, I was on Tavi surfing and hanging out with a crew of surfers and the tribe. I´m sitting there with about twenty Fijian women singing this incredible harmony, they ask me to play a song, so I played My Girlfriend. People lit up three people came up to me afterwards and told me I could get on the radio with it. One guy even offered to pay to record it, and for the first time I realized that the songs I was making up in my head could actually reach other people. So I started to go for it.

Indeed, My Girlfriend, a hilarious and irrepressibly catchy tale of a sexually and chemically out-of-control girlfriend, was the breakthrough for Trey. Recording it and then sending it out to a few friends as a Christmas gift/joke, he found the song had appeal beyond what he ever imagined. I went to see a friend´s band play in New York and they asked me to get up on stage and sing My Girlfriend. So I got up and sang it and all the girls in front knew the lyrics! I had no idea the song had spread virally to hundreds of people.

In April of 2008, Trey released his self-title debut CD, a winning collection of songs that, while infused with his unique and uproarious sense of humor, also displays a natural and diverse sense of melody and arrangements. Filled with driving and propulsive rock songs, only Trey would write something as affecting as "Tavarua," a moving ode to his surf spot in Fiji, a place he calls heaven on earth, and put it on an album with the wry and hilarious My Fantastic Ass.

For Trey, the experience of recording was an illuminating one. He recounts, I had never recorded in a studio before and walked in with the songs in my head. I didn't know the musicians and just played them everything from scratch. It was the coolest experience of my life to see what we came up with. I never sang as hard before a lot more came out.

Trey shot a hilarious video for My Girlfriend, which can be seen on MySpace and YouTube, but he´s already preparing for the next chapter of the Trey Green story. I´m starting to write songs for the second album, and I´m conceiving of what the ultimate Trey Green show is all over the place, with funny songs, loud songs, sad songs, maybe even skits. I want it to be a complete experience. Whatever I do, people should know that an experience with Trey Green will always be serious fun.

Click Here for all of Trey's links, a video, and more.

They Said What Freak by Underwhelmed Lyrics

noreply@blogger.com (Blockhead Radio) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:26:00 +0000

Freak

Written by: Underwhelmed/Hazeart

Is anyone out there
anyone out there listening
just yell if you hear me
anyone out there
anyone out there listening
do i have to scream it

are you a mess like me are you a freak like me…well

are you a freak like me (dont think you know)
are you a mess like me (i think you know)

running away from
running away from everything
dont think i can take it
dont know if i can
dont know if i can stay awake
but i think i can make it

are you a mess like me
are you asleep like me ..well

are you a freak like me (dont think you know)
are you a mess like me (i think you know)

all this talking gets us no where….
whats the difference, all this waiting
always thinking….always waiting
whats the difference if everything’s the same

is anyone out there
anyone out there listening…..are you listening

are you a freak like me (dont think you know)
are you a mess like me (i think you know)

are you a freak like me (dont think you know)

are you a mess like me (i think you know)

Learn about Underwhelmed and Listen to them on BHR

Inside the Directory Simply Smiss

noreply@blogger.com (Blockhead Radio) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:23:00 +0000

Those That Help Us Rock...LaDeDa Creations

noreply@blogger.com (Blockhead Radio) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:02:00 +0000

My name is Laura, I'm 38 and have recently fell in love again with making jewelry and other clay and wire crafts.

My husband Tony and I own a day spa in Catoosa, Ok. named Laura's Garden Spa. I sell my crafts there but wanted to branch out more.

If you are ever traveling historic route 66 be sure to stop in and see us. Or you can visit our website laurasgardenspa.com

Hippie Hemp and Ceramic Beaded Choker

click here to view listing or visit La's Artfire shop

Meet the Showcase Artisans: Popnicute

noreply@blogger.com (Blockhead Radio) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 19:13:00 +0000

Popnicute (pop\knee\cute) is created by Kharisma (Kay) Ryantori Sommers. Popnicute provides unique, highly imaginative handcrafted jewelry for eclectic individuals like you. If you dare to be different, you will like Popnicute's jewelry designs. Made of Sterling Silver and Copper along with semi precious gemstones, Popnicute serves the best craftsmanship. Wire wrapped to the best, intricate details, they are surely made to last. Custom orders are always welcomed at Popnicute. By buying handmade, you're guaranteed to get the best customer service. Popnicute's handcrafted jewelry are perfect for every occasion and will make perfect gifts for your loved ones.

Click Here To See Her Showcase

Meet the Musicians: Chrissy Coughlin

noreply@blogger.com (Blockhead Radio) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:57:00 +0000

Chrissy's seasoned voice coupled with her warm personality are an unstoppable combination. She calls to mind Sheryl Crow and Natalie Merchant with tinges of Rickie Lee Jones and Lucinda Williams.

And 2008 has been a good year for this New York City based singer-songwriter. The winter was full of excitement moving to and 'officially' becoming a 'New Yorker', the spring delight of releasing her new CD, Look Ahead, and the summer and fall have been chock full of performances to support her new release.

Raised in numerous places including Detroit, Kansas City, and Washington DC, Chrissy is no stranger to moving around and making things work for her. Her ease with meeting people from all different walks of life through her travels throughout the country and the world has afforded her the ability to translate those experiences into intensely thoughtful songs.

Chrissy didn't start off a singer-songwriter. In fact, it was only after a post college career in the environmental field, when she allowed herself the time to sit down and to develop her craft. Music has always been in her blood as an accomplished flutist and singer but songwriting was new. And she was more than ready for the challenge.

Living in DC, working an intense job, playing out at night, and performing songs from her debut CD, You Never Know, confirmed everything Chrissy was feeling up to this point that it was the right time to dedicate all her attention and efforts to music full time.

Chrissy quit her job, packed her bags and moved to the cozy woods of New Hampshire. Living in a beautiful and tranquil environment she enlisted the help from some of Boston's best musicians to record and create Look Ahead. And it has paid off.

Look Ahead is full of songs deeply rich in wisdom, perception, longing, and sophistication. The songs evoke strong emotions in the listener as Chrissy beautifully describes feelings that make you grin one minute and cry the next. Her song, Back to You, a classic rock song, pleading to return to her lover as well as her hauntingly angelic ballad, Wait for You, that delicately balances patience and interpersonal strength, are two perfect examples.

With the release of Look Ahead, Chrissy has entered a new level in the music world.

And there's no (turning or looking) back.

Click Here to get all of Chrissy's links, watch a video, and more

Those That Help Us Rock...Catinalife

noreply@blogger.com (Blockhead Radio) — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 13:08:00 +0000

Artisan Biography for catinalife

I have always loved the gemstones, I am a true beadaholic/rock fossil hound, BA/RFH and have collected a vast amount of gemstone and glass. Making gemstone jewelry has become a real passion of mine. I take great pride in making a piece that is worn and well liked, I want my jewelry to be enjoyed for many years to come. I am always trying new design ideas. Nothing fancy just simple everyday jewelry that is fashionable, affordable, and unique. That is what I love to create and share.

visit catinalife

Just Want To Clear The Air

noreply@blogger.com (Blockhead Radio) — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 12:59:00 +0000

This past week we made a format change to Blockhead Radio. It was done because a situation dictated it. We urged all the host to continue with their podcast and we would help them. We offered to one of the host to send us their podcast, we would host is on our server, send them the code for their blog, put a link to it on the front page of the website, and that they could use BHR chat to answer questions. We would do this for any host at no cost.

So it came as a great shock to me when I was called an @#%hole and told to suck somebodies #$ck in the comments of this blog post and the facts got skewed in this one. So I thought I would just clear the air.

Going 24/7 music has been on the board for some time now. This week something happened that forced me to do it. Yes it was quick, but the situation forced me into it.

The main point to be made is the fact that all hosts approached me about doing a show/podcast. They presented a concept and the show was approved or disapproved. Then a time slot was chosen and on with the show. If we would have followed industry trends we would have charged each host for bandwidth, but we didn't. No show that ever aired on BHR paid to do so.

Each host was told to use their show for promotion of their shops, blogs, sites, etc. We did offer a bounty to knock the top show out of it's slot. It was a $100.00 and was never accomplished. The only requirements that we put on the host was to promote their show online and to do a follow up blog post here. That was all.

Blockhead Radio has never laid claim to any shows with the exceptions of ones we created and produced. So I have no idea what this was about.

This quote is probably the one that left me shaking my head the most. "along with the subsequent statements made by Rod that by ridding itself of artisan shows, BHR would be a far better station certainly did not reflect that philosophy and indeed it showed a genuine lack of regard for the hosts" First off, all shows were canceled and what I actually said was "by going to a 24/7 music format we would draw another base of listeners and that would help increase the exposure to the artisans through the showcase and directory."

Many times a show didn't air cause life happened. Family first I always said, no worries.

In the end I am responsible to the advertisers, the listeners, paying the cost to operate the station, and to my family. This week I had to put my family first. If I am an !@#hole for doing that, so be it.

CD Release Party: The Stray Crows "Flyin' Blind"

noreply@blogger.com (Blockhead Radio) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 15:35:00 +0000

Join us as we welcome Mike Burnes from The Stray Crows tonight a 8 p.m. eastern time. Find out who The Stray Crows are and listen to the debut of their latest CD 'Flyin' Blind'. Gonna be a party, so be there.

Meet the Showcase Artisans: My Magic Me

noreply@blogger.com (Blockhead Radio) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 12:02:00 +0000

At My Magic Me Studios we understand that gift giving on those special occasions can become increasingly difficult as the years pass. Why buy another jewelery box, another sweater, another gift certificate, when you can give the unique gift of a photo manipulation. The ultimate keepsake that will be treasured for years to come. Below you will find just a few of the styles we can morph your family photo into, so browse about. Welcome to My Magic Me Studios, where fantasy is just one photo away.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SHOWCASE

Meet the Musicians: Jason Harrod

noreply@blogger.com (Blockhead Radio) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:54:00 +0000

Jason Harrod draws from the best traditions of American music to create a sound all his own. His songs about lost love, found joys, and spiritual longing have garnered him a loyal following across the country.

Harrod?s latest release, Bright As You, finds him backed by a crack group of musicians featuring Phil Madeira (Emmylou Harris, Buddy Miller, Al Green, Mavis Staples). The songs, sung in a rich, brooding tenor and underscored by inventive guitar work, range from the Beatle-esque "Bright As You" to the blues-infused Night, Fall On Me,?to the dark, ambient lament Messed Up Everywhere Blues, which will appear in the upcoming film "The Wager," starring Randy Travis.

After releasing 3 albums to critical acclaim as half of the folk-pop duo Harrod and Funck, Jason ventured out on his own. In 2000, he won first place in the bluegrass category of MerleFest?s Chris Austin Songwriting competition, an honor held by Grammy Nominees Tift Merrit and Gillian Welch. He followed that up with a first place win in the 2001 North Carolina Songwriters Co-op contest and in 2002 appeared on the Legendary Arthur Smiths Carolina Calling television show along with Alison Krauss and Union Station. In 2005, Jason performed at the International Bluegrass Music Association's (IMBA) annual gathering as part of an emerging artist showcase.

Living in Skin, Jason´s acoustic-based first album, features the award-winning songs When I Get Home and Carolina, the latter of which was included on WUNCs compilation CD, Best of Back Porch Music.

You can find Jason at his website, on Myspace, Facebook, and hear his music on BHR.

New Advertising Rates and Limited Spots

noreply@blogger.com (Blockhead Radio) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 13:17:00 +0000

Starting September 1, 2009 the banner/audio spots will be $50.00 per month. If you are a current subscriber at $21.00 per month you will keep that rate as long as you hold the subscription. We have reduced the number of spots available to 24 to fit with the current player and chat. There are two spots that will have 12 paid ads spots and 2 for cross promotion. The banner ads still will rotate every 15 seconds. There are currently 12 paid spots available. If you subscribe before the end of the month you will be locked at the $21.00 per month rate.

Thanks

Outside the Frame, August 5 show recap

noreply@blogger.com (Paint and Pen) — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 01:27:00 +0000

On Wednesday’s episode of Outside the Frame we discussed Artist Representatives and Agents: What should you look for in a rep, what you can expect from your rep and what they expect from you. We began by discussing terminology, Artist Representative or Agent … which one? Both terms are interchangeable. Although, agents do tend to be more readily associated with the publishing, entertainment, and sports worlds whereas representatives tend to be more readily associated with fine art. Representatives and Agents perform the same types of jobs it’s just that some prefer to be called “Artist Representatives” while others prefer the term “Agent”. No matter the title used, the important thing is to find the rep or agent that handles your particular industry or market.
Oh and a word of caution, don’t be confused by the term “Artist Agent” especially if you are conducting your search via the Internet as this term is used widely by agents representing singers and musicians in the music industry.

What Can I Expect From a Rep or Agent?
First, it is important to note that the Representative or Agent works for the artist. Without the Artist’s talent to sell, the Rep or Agent would not exist. On the flip side, though, the artist can sell their own works for themselves without the aid of a Rep or Agent. The rep or agent promotes the talent of a group of artists (also known as a “stable”). The rep will maintain a portfolio of the artists’ work to facilitate sales calls and/or to secure assignments for the artist/illustrator/photographer. Additionally, a rep will negotiate fees and contracts for the artist, bill clients for completed work, collect monies due the artist, and follow up on competed assignments to get samples of published work from the client in order to update artists’ portfolios. In most cases, the agent will bill the clients for work the artist has produced and will typically be writing checks to the artist. However, it is the artist who pays the rep in usually in the form of a commission which is typically anywhere from 25% to as high as 50% -- depending upon the reputation of the rep as well as the industry or market. Artist-Agent relationships are governed by contracts that work well for the parties involved. Therefore, there is no “generic” Artist-Agent contract to suit all artists’ needs but there is a certain standard of professional practices. Be sure that any contract you sign with your Representative or Agent specifies clearly what each party is responsible for in regards to advertising, promotion, portfolio samples and maintenance, as well as, ownership of samples, proportion of expenses split between artist and agent and in what percentage the profits are split.

The agent’s office expenses such as rent, phone, fax, computer and messenger services are usually considered part of the agent’s overhead and are not shared by the artist. Although, an agent may charge their artists a set rate or fee in order to have the artists’ work appear on the agent’s website. Promotion costs in the form of direct mailing efforts or directory advertisements are usually split between the artist (75%) and the agent (25%). The artist’s studio, materials, and framing supplies, as well as, office expenses are considered part of the artist’s overhead and are not shared by the agent. Any agent who wants payment up front for any of these costs is not acting professionally. Once you’ve signed with the rep or agent, likely you will need to pay for portfolio maintenance and/or promotional expenses right away in the manner that I stated earlier i.e. the 75%/25% artist-agent split. The artist should receive copies of all receipts for any and all expenditures that the agent incurs on the artist’s behalf. Make sure you have this statement in the contract.

What Should I Look for in a Rep?
The Artist-Agent relationship is much like a marriage and finding the right rep is much like finding Mr. or Ms. Right. You should sit down and make a list of the qualities you are looking for in order to find your “perfect” rep. Here are some areas to consider.
Market: Make sure the rep you approach works within the market to which you wish to sell your works. For instance, a fine art rep will not do you any good if you’re work is intended for the children’s book market nor will an agent who works primarily with major advertising.
Style: Make sure that the rep you approach handles material in your style. If you work in fashion illustration, you would not likely want a rep who deals mainly with cartoons. Your work should fit comfortably in the rep’s stable but not duplicate any current artist’s style as they will get the work, because they are a known quantity for the agent, and you will not.
Number of Artists: Unless there is more than one principle rep within the agency, stay away from reps who handle more than 15 - 20 artists. Usually what happens when you get with an agent with a large stable, the big-name artists get all the choice assignments while the lesser-name artists get the other jobs, if they get any at all.
Agent Accessibility: Does the agent try to answer my questions or ignore my concerns? Are her/his answers vague? Did the agent provide artist references? If I have a problem, can I get in touch with the agent? Be sure to ask for artists references and check them out . . . are they getting steady work through the agent, have they had trouble reaching their agent at key moments, or have they had any trouble getting their payments. When given the opportunity, I ask the agent permission to contact his oldest and his newest artists and/or the biggest name artist in his stable and the least known name in his stable. This will usually give you the clearest picture of how the agent can handle your career over several years and at various stages.
Agent Trust: Never sign with an agent you don’t trust. No matter how good the contract, how big the rep is, or how much they want to represent you; you will never feel truly comfortable with the rep if you do not trust her/him fully.

Am I Ready for a Rep?
It’s important to know whether or not you are ready for a rep before you start your search. Know exactly what you want from a rep. Ask yourself, what can a rep do for me that I cannot or am not doing for myself already? A rep will not define your style for you. A rep wants to see that you have developed a style suitable for the market(s) you intend to reach. Very few reps will take on emerging artists and are not in the business of training artists. Reps look for artists who have been in business a minimum of five (5) years and/or show a modicum of success at selling their own work. If you’re thinking about avoiding the business of selling art altogether by getting a rep, think again. The time to look for a rep is when you already have an established client base that your rep can build on by finding you new clients, new markets, and re-uses for your existing work.
Reps tend to go through cycles of taking on talent. They’ll tend to take on new talent in one period, and spend a year or possibly more developing them. Promoting talent is a very big part of their work. Any artist who is serious about wanting to sell their work would follow their lead. Artists who consistently send out promotional material to reps have a better chance of crossing the period when reps take on talent. Reps may keep images on file for years before they decide they want to approach an artist.

Where Can I Find a Rep?
There are several places to look. You can search through directories such as American Showcase, Creative Black Book, Creative Illustration, and RSVP. They all have a section for artist representatives with examples of the works by artists in their stables. You can look through these samples and see if your work would be a good fit. Communication Arts Magazine and other publications also feature advertisements by reps. Look through the publications to get a feel for which agencies handle the type of work you create and the type of markets you wish to approach. The Artist’s & Graphic Designer’s Market (AGDM) and Children’s Writer’s & Illustrator’s Market (CWIM) have listings for Art Reps which includes contact information, terms, guidelines for first contact, and tips for artists; although, the information provided is mainly text and not pictures. Another good way to find a rep is to ask for recommendations from art directors, clients, and other artists. And, of course, in age of the “information highway”, you can do a search on the Internet. Many reps have a website to showcase the work of their artists and to provide contact information for artists seeking representation. In my opinion, the best place to find a rep is to contact the Society of Photographers and Artists Representatives (SPAR), an organization for professional representatives whose members are required to maintain certain standards and follow a code of ethics. You can contact SPAR by mail at 60 E. 42nd Street, Suite 1166; New York, NY 10165 or by phone at (212) 779-7464. Bare in mind that this is a highly competitive business and it will take time – sometimes even years, to become the type of established art professional that art reps are seeking. Three things that can help you are: funds for promotions, patience, and a thick skin.

A Look at Sample Artist-Agent Agreements:
There are subtle differences between the Artist-Agent Agreement for the Fine Artist and the Artist-Agent Agreement for the Illustrator. Mainly in regards to the handling of samples; with the fine artist, oftentimes the samples are in the form of actual original artwork, whereas with the illustrator the samples are usually in the form of transparencies or other reproductions. Also for the illustrator, you will need to include a clause regarding promotional fees and/or specify the percentage required of each party. For this reason, I am providing a sample Artist-Agent Agreement for both the fine artist and illustrator. The first sample is the actual Agreement I signed with a fine artist representative back in 1998, however, I am no longer with this particular agent. I have not included the agent’s full name or address on the sample contract. The second sample Agreement is for illustration, again I have not included the agent’s full name or address. You can find these agreements as PDF files with notes on my My Website in the column on the left under Episode 12 Worksheets.

Over the years, I have had several reps and have yet to find Mr./Ms. Right. The adage that you will not find anyone as invested in selling your art as you are is true. Sadly, most of the reps that I had did far less for me than I did for myself and garnered a happy percentage of my income in the bargain. There are times when I wistfully wish that I had someone dedicated to the business side of things so that I could just simply create art then I realize … I’d miss it. Besides, I wouldn’t have as much material for my show and articles. Tune in to Outside the Frame next week when will discuss Exposure: Do You Feel a Draft?

Save 40c on Tough Times

noreply@blogger.com (Carey Lynn) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:11:00 +0000

Are coupons worth the trouble?

Wildwood and Skyline took a long look at coupons and came up with some basic tips: stay organized with shopping lists and coupon wallets, find coupons in print form from newspaper and mailer packets, explore online sources for manufacturer coupons, and avoid offers for products that aren't on your regular shopping list.

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Wildwood was able to get in a few coupon jokes, and Skyline told of a strange but wonderful story of a sample table for beer! Our chat room offered up some great tips on coupons, too: keep your coupons in the same order as your grocery store to save time and frustration.

So, whether you say coo-pons or que-pons, you are in the checkout line to SAVE:)

Do you have some baking soda in that cart? Then you probably have some amazing tips to send TOUGH TIMES! Try our tips@blockheadradio.com and we'll get your tips on our next show...

The Magic of Baking Soda
on Tuesday August 11th at 11:30 eastern time.