Render

NEW Website Packages WITH referral incentives :)

RECEIVE 10% Cash or 15% Credit towards our services as a REFERRAL INCENTIVE!

**This means if you refer a friend to our services and they purchase a package you get 10% of that money in CASH!

There's a rumor that there might be a sneak peak of the newest member to the Chapul flavor lineup! Keep on the lookout!

Samba Fogo presentation of Espirito de Fogo was a highlight in Salt Lake this month! Incredible music, dancing, martial arts, and fire dancing. Check out their review in slugmag...

Please tell us about yourself and what people, influences, events or desires led you to your profession.


I like to think of myself as a Genre-Jumping Retromancer. I feel that singing and writing are very much in my DNA, as my father was an opera singer; and I am related to the English Romantic-Poet, Percy Shelley on my mother’s side of the family. I knew that I wanted to make music when I heard Muddy Waters singing “Mannish Boy” on the radio when I was about 9 years old.

How would you describe the job of a singer/songwriter? Can you tell us what a typical day or week is like?

As a solo artist, I feel a bit like a Jack of all trades. One day I might be working on the music, another day lyrics. Recently I have been spending a lot of time promoting my album on music websites and via social networking etc. I also make my own videos and run my own website. Then - of course – there are vocal exercises; guitar practice... I guess I would describe the job as varied!

What are the most enjoyable and least enjoyable aspects of your work? Why?

Most enjoyable is when an idea hits you like a bolt from the blue, it is a buzz like nothing else. Least enjoyable is Writer’s Block - the other side of the same coin - because it makes you think that you’ll never have an idea again for as long as you live!

What is the most common misconception that people have about your line of work?

That it makes you popular with women!

Which famous musicians do you admire? Why?

Bob Dylan, Neil Young, David Bowie and Prince. I love the way they reinvent themselves, and only make the music that they want to make, without caring what other people think.

How do you handle mistakes during a performance?

I keep calm and carry on!

Do you get nervous before a performance?

Always! I read somewhere that Bruce Springsteen gets all the symptoms of Stage Fright -increased heart-rate, sweaty palms etc – but to him these are signs that he is pumped up and ready for action. So I guess it’s a perception thing.

How do you balance your music with other obligations?

I have taken that time-honoured advice and did not give up my day job! The hours are kind to me and I don’t have a wife and kids, so I am left with.

How open is your field? Are there good opportunities for determined newcomers?

The Internet Explosion has made it easier than ever to get your music out there, but just because you’ve put it out there, it doesn’t mean people are going to buy it, download it or even listen to it. It certainly isn’t a shortcut and there is no guarantee of success. There is a lot of hard work and patience involved.

How would a young person with aspirations to become a singer/songwriter best prepare himself/herself? (School subjects to master, physical skills, social skills, attitudes, character traits, suggested reading, grooming, etc.)

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to succeed, music’s meant to be fun! The minute you stop enjoying it, you might as well quit.

What do you believe are the keys to enjoying work?

Obviously it helps if you are doing something you love. Working with somebody you really get on well with is also very important. I have been best friends with my Producer/Sound Engineer since we were in primary school, so making my album was a lot of fun!

What is the most important or significant thing that you have accomplished in your work to date? What do you hope to accomplish?

In my musical life it has to be writing and recording the album. I'd not done any writing for a long time - and never on my own – so it was a big challenge for me, but one which I relished. In the future I’d like to build up a loyal Fan Base, put together a band so that I can get on the road and perform my songs to live audiences, and I’d love to record a second album.

Do you have any additional thoughts that you would like to share with young people trying to decide on a career choice? For example, if you could turn the clock back, is there anything that you would do differently or any skills that you would have worked on harder? Are there any “Lessons Learned” that you would like to share with young people preparing themselves for a profession?

Genre: Rock/Pop/Soul  Craving Rock Music with Soul?  Check out the album “Stranger” by Michael J.. Joseph.  Well worth a listen!  Genre-Jumping Retromancer with a Smooth Bluesy Voice.

Below are some of the lessons I believe every entrepreneur -- young and old -- can take away from Shark Tank:

1. Be passionate. Whether you are pitching to investors, talking to customers or riding the elevator with some moneyed stranger, the passion for your company should be evident. To become successful you better love what you’re doing. Otherwise, it won’t keep you going when times get tough -- and you can forget landing funding too.

2. Have hustle. A consistent characteristic in every entrepreneur is the ability to execute. Whether you’re building a product or going after new customers, prove that you can get things done. Don’t approach investors or enter any shark tank until you have shown a knack for creating value and the willingness to go the extra mile.

3. Create a strong team. I’m not saying that solo-founder companies can’t be successful, but I guarantee investors will always prefer a cohesive team consisting of hard-working individuals with complementary skills. If you simply can't find the right co-founder, then surround yourself with mentors and create an advisory board of knowledgeable and reliable business professionals.

4. Know your pitch. No matter if you’re on Shark Tank, at a cocktail party or sitting in the airport, you never know who you might run into and whether they might become an asset to your business. Always be able to explain what your company does in less than three minutes and confidently answer any questions. For an optimal and memorable pitch, explain the problems you want to solve, how you’re going to solve them, why your team is the best option for solving them and the value you’re bringing to the market.

5. Make your product a must-have. If you think about the most successful companies, many of them created products and services that people "needed to have." Every entrepreneur should aim for this. On Shark Tank, it's a frequent sticking point because unless you're Apple, it's extremely hard to build a big business based on something that’s only "nice to have."

6. Have many plans. I’ve never been a huge advocate for creating massive business plans because once you get started, things will inevitably change -- rendering your fancy 50-page business plan a useless stack of papers. However, I do recommend crafting an executive summary, business outline, market analysis, financial projections, investor presentation and a marketing plan. On Shark Tank, I’ve never seen an entrepreneur whip out a business plan, but you can usually tell who came prepared.

7. Think big. One reason why Internet companies have exploded in the last few years is, they have easier models to scale than other businesses. Leveraging the internet and mobile devices not only requires less capital, but also the ability to reach billions of potential customers in an instant. If you’re building a more traditional business, be mindful of the additional fixed and variable expenses, how your cost structure will manage scaling up and the ability to keep operating margins strong and profitable.

INCREDIBLE SHOW by Mason Aeschbacher, who created an original sound score complimented by choreography! This original work was performed by a group of seven dancers, accompanied by small orchestra of musicians, featuring trumpet, trombone, bass trombone, saxophone, clarinet, guitar, bass guitar, drumset, piano, and various percussion instruments. Hats off to you Mason!!

Great show by Dirty Minds at the Hard Rock Cafe in Hollywood. Check out this screen shot of all the angles we captured!! Video coming SOON!