First LP

I am very pleased to let you all know that the Qwes Entertainment team is much closer to deciding on a release date for my first LP that will be entitled 'Isms and 'Ologies. Expect the release date to be sometime towards the end of this year. I'm soooo excited to see years of hard work starting to pay off. I wanted to take the time to thank you all for your continued support. I couldn't have done much of it without you!

Below is a prototype for the album cover.

Let me know what you think!

More info to come



much, much, much luv,

Qwes

PAY YOUR BAND WELL... 6 REASONS WHY

Intro

So you telling me you want me to stop what I'm doing at 5:00. Get dressed up and load up my $1500 keyboard, $400 amp, $100 microphone, $45 mic stand, $50 keyboard stand, 2 $25 cables, and that's just my stuff. Then I have to load up other band members' equipment worth thousands of dollars. Not to mention the equipment is HEAVY. We have to load up and unload TWICE that night. Drive out to your event to get there by 6:30 for sound check. Give a great couple hours of show at 8:00. Sacrifice my weekend. And you want to under pay me? Or WORSE do it for FREE???!!!

If you are a musician then you most likely already know what I'm talking about. But if you aren't, you may not know where we are coming from with this. So because I'm so understanding... I want to explain why it's absurd to ask for this free and under payed labor. I'm not talking about the artist promotional 15 minute performance with a DJ. I'm talking about playing a couple hours at your Frat party, your family reunion, your club... etc.

THIS is 6 reasons you should pay your BAND well!

1. EXPENSES

As previously stated, band expenses are high. The equipment is expensive. Worth thousands and thousands of dollars once you factor in maintenance. Every gig we play takes a toll on our equipment. Things get broken while playing and transporting. I must also mention here that SOUND EQUIPMENT is SEPARATE from BAND INSTRUMENTS. When you ask the band to bring sound you are asking for thousands of dollars more and more hard work and skill. Sound is a craft and trade in itself. People go to universities for four years to learn how to properly work it. Many bands have to pay a sound man if you don't have one. Plus there are traveling expenses. GAS PEPOLE!!! All the same reasons you don't ask your neighbor to mow your lawn with his brand new expensive lawn mower and not offer any compensation. The same reason why you don't show up to work for free.

2. Time

People tend to want the band for between an hour and a half to 3 hours. Factor in set up time, breaks between sets, sound check, loading and unloading, breaking down time, and driving then we have devoted a whole work day to your cause (and usually a weekend day). Anywhere between 5 to 10 hours! Let us also mention rehearsal time here especially if you want to hear a specific song(s).

3. Make or Break

Let's talk about the reason why you want this band. You most likely feel it will enhance your event. You're right! A band adds a special touch that a DJ or CD player can not. A great musician/vocalist/performer has studied their craft intensely for years. This is not just a hobby, it's a trade. This talent has the power to make or break your event. It is your job to get people there and the band's job to keep them there and coming back. We have seen how a bad band can have people running out of the building. So why not show a good band monetary appreciation. Who knows, they may actually want to come back and play again. BTW TIPS ARE WELCOME.

4. Bills, Bills, Bills

Wish it were all about the music folks but sorry. The men and women you want to sing and play all have bills to pay and families to support. That's all I need to say here.

5. We Don't Need an Hour to Promote

Before you tell the band leader, "This is really going to get your names out there! There's gonna be a lot of people there!" let me say this. If you are truly concerned about promoting the band, word of mouth works wonders. However, if you think your event is a great place to be promoted then we don't need to play for 2 to 3 hours for people to decide whether they like us. A 15 to 20 minute slot is good enough. So to you out there, please erase this element from your pitch to the band from now on.

6. You Get What You Pay For

Since when has this not been the case? My band and I give our performances 110% every time. No matter who is in the audience or the type of venue, we give it our all. We all are students of our craft. We leave most events sweating and out of breath. We love what we do and we know that we are always branding ourselves and developing a reputation because there is always at least one person in the audience who has never seen you before. There are good plumbers and bad plumbers. Good technicians and great technicians. Speaking up for anyone with a skill or trade, you should be rewarded for your talents, skill, and all the hard work you put into it. No one should devalue what you do because you do it well and you do something others cant.

MOVING FORWARD

Given all this information I would like to give you some tips if you are thinking of having a band at your next event.

• When working out a price with the band, be prepared with important information that is accurate regarding the event and venue such as: start and end time of event, time the band would need to be setup, type of event, demographic and preferred genre or types of music, relative size of venue, etc. then ask the band leader what his/her rates are.
• If your event has a set budget for entertainment or the band asks you to pitch them an offer, make an offer after considering ALL things. Time, travels, equipment, band's following etc. and compare that to your budget. If you only have enough money to buy a boom box then... buy a boom box.
• Be clear, open and honest. Musicians love what they do and you will find that they are willing to help you out more if you are honest. If you can't promise something for sure then don't promise it.
• Show your band that you are appreciative. If you can provide food, help with equipment and transportation, and make sure they are comfortable--it will go a long way.
• A Happy band makes a more successful event.

Thanks For Reading

and for more always go to

www.MrQwes.com

OTHER NOTES and FUN FACTS
-A full polished band can cost anywhere between $1,000-$9,000 depending on the event, band size, and required equipment.
-A small Jazz combo may charge $500 and up (without sound)
-Most national touring acts can cost anywhere between $9,000 to $50,000 or more

Definition of Musicianship and Performer: Back to Basics

One of the great joys of being a student of music is listening to music from all over the world and making connections. There is an unbelievable wealth of talent out there of ALL kinds! I love watching and listening to other musicians and performers. I feel I'm in a lecture hall and the artist is allowing me to tap into their realm and acquire some new knowledge about my craft.

Though i am grateful for these opportunities to expand myself and learn, lately I have been noticing a trend, especially in younger musicians/vocalists. There you are listening to a performance and there so much styling from the performer that you can't recognize and appreciate the song sometimes.

Music is not all about funny sounding chord progressions, flashy rhythms, vocal runs and melismas, and crazy lines.

IN FACT, I have found that these things go over the heads of most your audiences. I have seen it over and over. A band adds some crazy line randomly in a singer is singing and five musicians in the crowd lose their mind while everyone else stares confused.

OVERALL,  I have come to find that 90% of your audience prefers a nice clean performance and for you to simply play or sing the DOG-ON song! This is a lesson I learned as a young musician and vocalist.

REMEMBER. As it concerns music and performance: less is more, play straight until you are given a solo, heaven is in the pocket, choose a line and stay with it, do not attempt something on stage that you haven't mastered in practice, and most of all.... A nice and clean straight performance will beat a messy fancy one ANYDAY

LIVE LOVE and LAUGH

Q

P.S. I do love the fancy stuff... but I find that these things are much more effective when used meaningfully and thoughtfully

Poll: Bring Mr. Qwes to your City! Where do you want Qwes to come perform?

Take the Poll: Bring Mr. Qwes to your City! Where do you want Qwes to come perform?

We know who we are: Late nights, Early mornings

They say I have "the hunger"...

I know it's true.

I can feel it!

The steady dance of the insomniac

all lead by the chorus of a dream.

I KNOW who I am. And who I should be.

If we fail to awake before the sun fully shines,

we know the worm has been snatched from us.

Because WE know who we are and who we should be.

There is a work out plan,

there is a song to be written and rehearsed,

there is a network to be had and maintained.

And if we lay our head before the moon fully glows,

we have failed ourselves again.

Late studio sessions.

Hand shakes...

Business deals made in the wee hours of the night.

New marriages. Partnerships.

But if we prematurely slumber....

An opportunity was missed,

something was missed.

So it only seems befitting to remain sleepless.

In constant motion.

Because WE KNOW who we are!

We are chasers of a dream.

Much like the sun chasing the moon

as the moon does the same.

However they never truly meet...

they only get in ones' way.

We chase that special moment the same.

And we keep chasing.


WE KNOW WHO WE ARE.

You know who you are.



Good morning. Good evening. Good night.



your fellow hustler ;-),


Qwes

Songwriter Journeys

Another day... list of beats...
naked pages... Bare music...
blank canvas... nameless...
and it's just us here.

Another hour... another note...
Are these the right words... what sounds better...
the fight between what sounds best.... and what makes the most sense...
senseless... speechless...
and it's just us here

sing?... or rap?...
maybe both...
timeless... fad...
today's music... tomorrow's music... yesterday's...
Let's just say it's old skool...
while it's just us here.

It will sell... It won't sell...
have we sold out?... Are we selling in?...
sell, sell, sell... demographics???
sell sex?... sell music?...
sell me?... sell her?...
love... dance... think...
love... dance... think...
BREATH...
okay...
will they love it... or hate it?...
will they hate it?..

in worst case...

just put Lil Wayne on it

they'll love it

but it's just us here.


Q

Welcome

THANK YOU for stopping by or finding any interest in what I have to say. This blog will be a place of intimacy for me. Not in a Madonna commercial type way, but a place where I will let down my guard and share experiences, ideas, and art that is personal to me. A place where I will write about my journey as well as the journey of others. Release new music and news about Mr. Qwes. As well as introduce and promote the artistry and creative productivity of others. A diary or jounal of sorts. Your comments and insight are always welcome. This blog is my VOICE!!! Thank you for taking the time to listen!

PEACE + LUV

Mr. Qwes

2011 already???

I am very excited about 2011. The word of the year for me is EXPANSION. That's what I pray for you. I don't mean just money wise (although I'll take that too lol) but in my music, my outlook, perspective, understanding, knowledge, artistry, business, my message...... I could go on and on. I will be working with some very talented producers and artists of all kinds. I'm rehearsing for shows and getting a lot of prep work in!! I thank you for sticking with me over the couple of years I've been "mooooving". So love and be loved and as always let me know what YOU THINK.

Much Luv,

Q