Fast forward to 2009- NEW GIG

Has it really been since Sept 2009 since I've blogged? Oh my. Well, my life is still as nutty as ever. Since then Alec has turned 5, Chloe has turned 8, both Dean and I have added a year and we've celebrated the holidays and begun a new year. We recouped from Hurrican Ike last fall-- our fence is still falling over and we just discovered wind damage to our roof. State Farm will hopefully hook us up!

The CASA Christmas Home Tour was another success in Dec... it's the charity tour that I book and secure entertainment for that benefits Child Advocates of Fort Bend. The homes are exquisite (1-2 mi$) and it wipes me out for the month of December.

The family is great. The little one is quite the actress (2.5 yrs) and the others just joined cheerleading team and swim team respectively. They are both in the middle of softball and teeball, and I'm pulling my hair out over schedules and carpool. But if I wasn't multitasking, I wouldn't know myself.

The NEW GIG is this... I'm a BOOKING AGENT. No, I don't write books, sell books, or a bookie. I act as an 'agent' on behalf of talented musicians/artists. I represent, coordinate, market their musical talents in hopes of securing venues and festivals for them to perform. Pretty standard for the music business. Every great band has an agent, and I represent some pretty great bands. In this booking agent relationship I work directly with the management company of the following artists: Sheila Marshall, Drew Kennedy, and our little Christian artist- 14 years old and blind, Brooke Pernice. Sheila and Drew represent country music... Sheila is more country/rock-n-roll, and Drew is portrays Americana country at its finest. Brooke is Christian/country/inspirational.

www.sheilamarshallmusic.com or myspace.com/sheilamarshall

www.drewkennedymusic.com or myspace.com/drewkennedy

www.brookepernice.com

For my friends that don't understand why I or how I find myself as a booking agent in the music industry, then let me explain quickly... I worked for nearly 9 years in the music business for the largest concert promotion company, Clear Channel Entertainment/Live Nation. I know the nuts and bolts of the business, producing financial statements for nearly 300+ shows per year ranging from Stadium,Arena, Theater, Club tours. And after 10 years of buying talent for the neighborhood amphitheater, I have developed a passion for live music. As the opportunity came my way, I decided to dabble a bit on the artist management side. Booking is sales work. It's networking, and putting your artist out there as much as you personally can in hopes of getting them a great show and taking a % of their talent fee as your own service fee. Yes, another blackberry to keep up with and a list of calls each day as my artists aren't at the level where I can sit and wait by the phone. Get it? I can't tell you how many people are puzzled over my new gig.

So, if you have a friend that's a venue owner, run a festival, gala event chair, or need LIVE music, please give me a ring, I have just the band for you!

Cheers to all my Blogger friends. You can find me on facebook, and perhaps I'll twitter some too. There's always room on my plate to try something new.

Just a few moments to blog. Now, it's time to read a few before a hot bath and bed.

CB

Our first day of soccer practice...

 
 
 


Alec's first day of soccer practice! He was such a star! Sporting his new haircut and new shoes, it's almost as if he's a completely different kid that's all grown up. He has such passion for kicking that ball and apparently a competitive nature that we just weren't aware of until now.
It was an eye-opening experience for me--- learning how to put shin guards on and pull the socks over them. I'm so glad I got a lesson from the girls that I pick up from carpool on how to do it. I had to learn from a 10 year old that shin guards go UNDER the socks! Where's the rule book on this?
Dean is so very proud to have his little boy play soccer. Mr. B. wore a big smile today.

 

From a Girl Scout Leader

So, I heard from my darling friend Heather that Dairy Queen has a new Blizzard... the Girl Scout Thin Mint Blizzard... So, to satisfy my immediate curiosity, I buzzed by to grab a Blizzard Monday evening after my daughter's final swim meet, and to much disappointment, they had run out and would not have more until Wednesday 7/16. Soooo... until then, I did some research (I'm the queen of internet research-- cars, ebay, music, real estate)... here's what I found... of course this tribute really touches my heart as a Girl Scout Brownie Leader... GIRL SCOUTS ROCK! Check it out:

Dairy Queen® Shows Appreciation for Girl Scouts Nationwide In July
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Minneapolis, Minn. — This summer, Dairy Queen® is giving new meaning to the term "going green." From July 7 through 13, participating Dairy Queen and DQ Grill & Chill® locations will salute the 3.6 million Girl Scouts in the U.S. for their community service and display of leadership during Girl Scout Appreciation Week, hosted by Dairy Queen locations nationwide.
During the week, local Girl Scouts will have the opportunity to develop their business and leadership skills at Dairy Queen locations by taking behind-the-scenes tours, receiving tips from Dairy Queen professionals about how to run a successful business and learning about the product development process, including how to make a Blizzard. Girl Scout councils also will encourage both girls and adults to register and re-register as Girl Scout members this week. Dairy Queen's Girl Scout Appreciation Week comes during the month when Dairy Queen debuts the Girl Scouts Thin Mint Cookie Blizzard®, the result of a licensing agreement between Dairy Queen and Girl Scouts of the USA.
"It's a month-long celebration of Girl Scouts in July at Dairy Queen," said Michael Keller, chief brand officer for International Dairy Queen, Inc. "We invite all local communities to join us as we recognize the accomplishments of this pre-eminent leadership development organization for girls."
Lisa Ling, Katie Couric, Abigail Breslin and Reese Witherspoon are some of the most recognizable Girl Scouts, but there are many more who have had an impact nationally and internationally. Sixty-nine percent of the women serving in the United States Senate, 65 percent of the women in the House of Representatives and nearly 80 percent of all women business owners and executives are Girl Scout alumnae.
"Our partnership with Dairy Queen enables us to reach the public in new and unexpected places," said Laurel Richie, Chief Marketing Officer, Girl Scouts of the USA. "We hope the Girl Scouts Thin Mint Cookie Blizzard whets people's appetites so they remember to support the Girl Scout Cookie Program and all the business and financial literacy skills girls learn from participating in this annual leadership activity."
Thin Mints are the best-selling Girl Scout cookie ever, while the Blizzard is Dairy Queen's signature treat with billions sold since 1985. This is the first time Girl Scouts of the USA and Dairy Queen have come together to create a one-of-a-kind Blizzard flavor. The Girl Scouts Thin Mint Cookie Blizzard is made with Girl Scout Thin Mint cookie pieces, creamy DQ® soft serve and a Crème de Menthe topping.
For more information about Dairy Queen's Girl Scout Appreciation Week, or to locate the nearest Dairy Queen, visit www.dq.com. For more information about Girl Scouts, please call 1-800-GSUSA 4U or visit www.girlscouts.org.
About IDQInternational Dairy Queen (IDQ), headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., develops licenses and services a system of more than 5,600 Dairy Queen® stores in the United States, Canada and foreign countries, offering dairy desserts, hamburgers, hot dogs and beverages. IDQ is part of the Berkshire Hathaway family, a company owned by Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. For more information, visit www.dq.com.
About Girl ScoutsFounded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls with 3.6 million girl and adult members worldwide. Girl Scouting is the leading authority on girls' healthy development, and builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. The organization serves girls from every corner of the United States and its territories. Girls Scouts of the USA also serves American girls and their classmates attending American or international schools overseas in 90 countries. For more information on how to join, volunteer, reconnect or donate to Girl Scouts, call (800) GSUSA 4 U (800-478-7248) or visit www.girlscouts.org.June 20, 2008

A Rockin' Photography Website...check it out...

www.thepioneerwoman.com
Thanks to my dear friend Erika, I have discovered tonight that embedded in her blog the most amazing and comical photography website written for people just like me with nice digital SLRs and only the photography skills from highschool photography & yearbook class. Nearly 20 years ago I could shoot manually in black and white film, independently develop my own negatives, and print and develop my own beautiful shots for the Bryan High Yearbook! Back then, I could navigate the control knobs for apeture and shutter speeds but now (there wasn't even an auto setting available on my Minolta SLR!), and after bringing 3 kids into this crazy world and keeping up with them daily, I've lost most of my photography knowledge and have been anxiously waiting to gain it all back! So, to my delight, I've been introduced to this fab website by Erika (kudos girl!-- the top blogger I know!) --and I just got kicked out of the bedroom for being on the laptop reading and keeping my husband away from deep sleep-- it is 1:30 am...
All while I've been soaking up all that I've discovered at www.thepioneerwoman.com and the generous help that she has to lend out there! Go take a look at her amazing pictures and funny commentary. So, for all my digital SLR friends out there that would love to know just a little more about their high end camera, this one's for YOU!! I hope to start feeling more comfortable shooting on manual again on my Canon 30D. Oh thank you Erika for this one... I owe you!
Now, I can tell you that I am putting Adobe Photoshop on my birthday and Christmas wishlists RIGHT now! I'll start loading up my piggy bank for this software... because the pricetag will cetainly break it, but oh the pictures I will take!
Good nite my friends.
Cheri

For Sale By Owner

Check my posting soon because I'll have my home for sale in just a few days and will have a blogspot to help me market my home. As many of my friends know, I've decided to venture into this sale without the use of a realtor. I do respect the real estate professionals out there, but I am determined to complete the sale of my home without the use of one. With an accounting degree, 10 years work experience, and misc sales experience, how hard can it be to sell my home without all the crazy realtor fees?!! After hours of real estate research on the internet and reading my sale by owner books, this transaction just can't be that difficult. It's all about marketing and showcasing the home and I can certainly find alternate ways of internet marketing with MLS. Wish me luck and I will be showing my home on a blog soon, so check back! Any suggestions welcome!!

Booking Bands is tiring

I had such great intentions of keeping up with my blogging and realize that I've done a poor job... I guess that's because spring break came and went by in March and here we are admist tee-ball and softball season! Never would I have imagined being at the ballfields with the 7 and 4 year old on Saturdays.

Today I realized I needed to wrap up the volunteer responsibilities I have as neighborhood entertainment coordinator to meet my newsletter deadlines approaching. Sounds impressive eh? I think this is the 7th year I've booked band for our amphitheater and I still love every minute of it!! I admit that I am extremely exhausted and my head is still spinning from talking to agents and lead vocalists trying to knock out budgets, sound requirements, and schedules today. I've developed a higher appreciation for musicians out there that absolutely love the business they are in and the determination they have to be the next big thing. My hats go off to all you singer/songwriters!! Looks like Sienna will be enjoying a great alt-rock band this season and as well as two incredible Texas music artists on May 25th... and one of my favorite variety/rock bands on July 4th. While I'm at it, let me give you a sneak peek at the schedule- assuming I get all their contracts and offers off my desk tonight!

May 10th- Versecity www.myspace.com/versecity

May 25th- Mike Mancy & Granger Smith

www.myspace.com/mikemancy www.myspace.com/grangersmith

July 4th- BC& The Crisis

www.myspace.com/thecrisis

I can't believe that the best way for me to share with my friends the upcoming series is to send their myspace link. That myspace sure has opened doors and saved money for some of the best bands. I love it! Let's hear it again for the great musicians out there- you guys truly rock!

For my blogging friends out there-- come on down and enjoy a free concert in the Houston suburbs! And, if you have a band... I'm always looking for new talent.

Peace,

Cheri