The Social Freelancer: Media, Music, TV & Film

It’s happening! Thursday May 10: The TXMPA Black and White 2012 Denim and Diamonds All Industry PARTY. Why is this exciting? Because The Texas Motion Picture Alliance has done in a few short years something the production business in Texas has needed for a LONG time: They’ve built an enthusiasm for television and film production in the state AND a REAL voice in Austin at the state legislature. All the Party details>> READ ON>> Read more…

Is your head spinning trying to make an impact for your small business through social media?
Join the club.

On the bright side, prior to this “revolution”, advertising your business even through local radio, TV or print campaigns was an expensive proposition. Now, you have the ability to spread your word for free across the Internet. It’s working for big business, and it can work for small ones, but going it alone makes it tough.
In this video, I try to put it in perspective. My suggestion? Build your own team and help each other. It costs nothing but time, and if you are not working enough (which is the case for many freelancers these days), time is something you have to work with.
Check out this short video for an example of my suggestion>> Read more…

For all you trumpet aficionados out there…
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Last year I had an idea to produce some videos describing my experiences with social media. I did so with the help of some fine friends (watch video #4 to see who they are) and began posting this site:
The Social Freelancer ™.
Since then I have been gratified by the response to these posts. I have also had requests to put multiple videos in one post. So here you go!

Trace says "thanks for tuning in!"

Top 20 Signs you’ve been in television (or film production) business too long…

20. Your dining room is set up for 3-point lighting.
19. Your date says to pick her up in 45 minutes and you wonder if she meant drop-frame or non-drop-frame
18. You replaced your trusty hemostat with a lavaliere clip.
17. Your family videos are preceded by :30 bars and tone.
16. You run into a guy who says he’s gonna shoot the Governor and you remind him to get some good B-roll.
15. The photography on the 6:00 news makes you laugh.
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Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown was born April 18, 1924 in Vinton, Louisiana and died September 10, 2005 in Orange, Texas. While known primarily as a “bluesman”, he hated such titles. He was a master musician who defied being pigeonholed in any genre. His live shows ranged the gamut of American music. Jazz, rock, blues, cajun and bluegrass came soaring out of this man, who kept grinning through it all.

“I play American and World music, Texas style.”
- Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown

>>READ ON >> Check out four videos from Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown >> Read more…

Guitars & horns wailin' at final DFW Blues Society Jam at Pearl - Photo by Tracy Ready

Goodbye to Pearl, a great blues club in Dallas, Texas whose owners have shut the doors after four years of providing top notch blues and jazz acts a great venue to play downtown. Victims of an economy in which many can’t afford to drive downtown, pay for parking and attend shows, the closing of Pearl is a tragic loss to the musical soul of Dallas.

>READ ON > See 2 videos from Miss Marcy & her Texas Sugardaddys >>
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Larry Carlton is simply an amazing guitarist whose work I first became aware of in the 70′s as the guy who played great solos on some of Steely Dan’s early recordings. He’s a “musician’s musician”, able to play with fluidity and grace in a wide variety of styles and formats. I’m particularly partial to his more electric jazz, rock and blues fusion bands but he’s also made his name in “smooth jazz” as an acoustic player. My favorites are ones like this.. NIGHT SWEATS.
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Welcome Back, Pluto!

Welcome Back, Pluto is an educational DVD written and produced to teach children and parents how to preserve good relationships in situations that threaten to undermine love and respect.
What’s it all about? Check out this promotional video for the DVD release:

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Technology is so cool. I never would have dreamed of this growing up. Now you can rent or buy films and have them streamed on demand. Take that US Postal Service! Here are a few of my recommendations, available on Amazon. Hope you enjoy exploring this digital realm…

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Divorce can be devastating to families, with ripple effects upon the lives of parents and children.

Children often suffer long term feelings of depression and anxiety when their parents split. The children feel torn between fighting parents and will often reject a parent outright and refuse to see them, or act rude or misbehave while they are with that parent. The phenomenon is called “Alienation”. Even when parents are really trying to get along after a divorce, they will sometimes revert to sending negative messages to the child about their other parent. Bad Mouthing, brain washing, whatever you like to call it, it is devastating to children.

“Divorce Poison: How to Protect Your Family from Bad Mouthing and Brain Washing” by Dr. Richard A. Warshak, now in it’s 20th pressing, is a well written and informative resource for parents who are divorced or are going through a divorce. Psychologist Dr. Warshak is a world renowned expert on the subject of alienated children. In this video, Freelance Media Professional Tracy Ready interviews Dr. Warshak about “Divorce Poison”.
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The multi-talented Shawn Sahm has reformed the Tex-Mex supergroup Texas Tornados with original members Augie Meyers and Flaco Jimenez. The band is getting rave reviews for it’s recent performances at Austin’s South By Southwest music festival. A decade after the passing of his famous father, Texas music icon Doug Sahm, Shawn is forging a new path for the group, which also lost original member Freddy Fender in 2006.

Shawn, Augie and Flaco are returning to the charts with “Esta Bueno” a CD bursting with enthusiasm, capturing the best of what the Texas Tornados were in their 1990′s Grammy Award winning heyday combined with a fresh feel for the future that is winning new fans worldwide.

In 2009, I sat down for an in-depth interview with Shawn for the upcoming film: South Texas Soul: The San Antonio Sound. Here are a few excerpts with Shawn discussing his life as Doug’s son, the Augie Meyers – Doug Sahm dynamic and, of course, the music that has made it all click.

Special thanks to Cheryl and Shawn for their hospitality down in “Groover’s Paradise”, to Jason Meyers for running camera and sound during the interview and to Jeff Mack for editing this piece.

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