Non-Linear Approach

For the non-linear project, I am going to use the template that you have offered us on the class website. I will have links, as directed, to my feature story on bands booking their first show, my audio story on the importance of social networking websites for local bands, my profile slideshow on Grant Menefee and his studio of drumming, two smaller articles, and a FAQ's page. I will also attempt to put Google Maps on my webpage that has directions from Towson University to local clubs and venues in the Baltimore/Metropolitan area that host live music on a nightly basis.

One of my smaller articles for the non-linear project will be based off of my blog post on the 8x10, and how it is a cornerstone for local bands and musicians in the Baltimore area. I will use some of the ideas and quotes that I had in my blog post, but I will add more information and details on how the 8x10 is one of the best local clubs for local bands in Baltimore.

My other small article is going to be on the Towson radio station WTMD. WTMD's station is in the basement of Towson University's Media Center, and they capture a unique eclectic sound with their playlists that is far different than your average radio stations nowadays that typically features hip-hop, country, and hard rock. WTMD also showcases a lot of Baltimore local bands through programs on their shows and concerts that they sponsor in the local area. I will try to talk to either someone that works at WTMD and helps with their events or a local band that has been featured on WTMD, such as The Cheaters or 3Fifths.

Profile Slideshow-Grant Menefee

My profile audio slideshow is going to be on Grant Menefee, owner of Grant Menefee's Studio of Drumming in Catonsville, MD.  Menefee is a renowned drum set and percussion player who has played all over the east coast for different bands, and has been teaching people of all ages how to play the drums out of his basement studio. 

 Menefee has owned his private drum studio for 25 years and keeps himself busy by teaching around 80 students per week.  My slideshow will take a closer look at his upbringing with music and how he got into teaching the drums for a living.

In a Local Band? Trying To Book Your First Show?

If you answered yes to either of these and want to find out how you would go about booking your first show, you should check out my feature story.  It includes great sources from three talented local musicians: Matt Lowe from The Three Tree Experience, Dan Schwartz from Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, and Kirk Kubicek from Back To Save The Universe.  On top of rocking out on daily basis, these three musicians also do a heavy amount of booking and networking for their local bands.  Here is a look at how they got their first big show:

http://tiger.towson.edu/~zwilso1/pages/feature.html

 

Why Are Myspace and Facebook Important for Local Bands?

My audio story focused on the importance of social networking websites for local bands.  In recent years, bands have had an easier time with networking and booking shows due to websites such as Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, and much more.  For my audio story, I talked mainly about Facebook and Myspace because those are the two websites that have helped my band out in a big way since we formed.  I talked to two great local musicians, Owen McCusker and Mike Guzman, and got their opinion on the two websites and how it has helped their band out.  For more information on these helpful resources and to find out how local bands book their shows, you should check out my audio story here: http://tiger.towson.edu/~zwilso1/audio/audiostory.wav

Baltimore Music Scene Vs. DC Music Scene

An article I recently read on www.citypaper.com coincides with my beat focusing on the Baltimore Music Scene.  The article, titled "Tale of Two Cities" talks about the hardships going on right now with the Washington D.C. music scene; and how many of the small venues and warehouses that have been serving D.C. local bands are either being bought out or ending their leases in these tough times.  The article goes on to explain how Baltimore is on the opposite side of the spectrum, and the music scene is striving with all of the underground clubs and the areas that are being built up that will host new bars and clubs/venues in coming years.  The article also talks about Baltimore being much cheaper than D.C., and the people in the area are much more enthusiastic about the music and the arts, so many D.C. local bands and musicians are heading North and playing their music in an array of Baltimore clubs and venues that are much different and more successful than those in D.C.

One quote that stuck out to me in the article was: "I think that [Baltimore] does attract more artists because they [can] do less and eke by here rather than what it takes to eke by in D.C."  This quote supports the idea that it is easier to live in Baltimore during these tough times.  Being in a local band can be tough and when you first start off and try to get your name out there, the money is not good, and if that is your only work it can be very tough to get by.  Everything is more expensive in Washington D.C. than Baltimore, and it is much tougher working with a local band in D.C. People are moving to Baltimore because it is more affordable on all accounts because it is not as big of a tourist attraction, and the affection for underground arts and music in Baltimore can match match any city in the country, regardless of the city's size.

I really enjoyed this article and it was a topic I have not thought about until I skimmed the site, but it does make a lot of sense.  The article could of focused on the comparisons of the mainstream clubs in both of the cities.  It really focused on the underground music and arts and the clubs and venues that host it night in and night out, but I would of added to the article by talking about some of the bigger and popular clubs that both cities host.  It would have added another spin to the story, but overall I thought it was a great story and it was nice hearing positive feedback on Baltimore's growing music scene, whether underground or mainstream.

Check out this article at:  http://www.citypaper.com/special/story.asp?id=16003

Broadcast Style Leads

The first lead comes from a story titled "Two Teens Who Drowned off APG Over Weekend Identified" published by the Baltimore Sun. 

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_county/bal-drownings0608,0,2081453.story

"Two Baltimore County teenagers drowned Saturday while on a Gunpowder River boating trip to celebrate a friend's graduation, authorities said."

Authorities have reported that two Baltimore County teenagers drowned Saturday on a Gunpowder River boating trip to celebrate a friend's graduation.

The second lead comes from a story titled "Essex Teen charged with DWI after striking man in Ocean City" published by the Baltimore Sun.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_county/bal-dwi0608,0,3919834.story

"OCEAN CITY - Ocean City police have charged a Baltimore County teen with drunken driving after his car hit a 44-year-old man trying to cross the street, WBOC-TV reported today."

WBOC-TV reported that Ocean City police have charged a Baltimore County teen with drunken driving after his car hit a pedestrian crossing the street.

The third lead comes from a story titled "2 Pa. Troopers Shot an Wounded" published by The New York Times. 

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/06/07/us/AP-US-Troopers-Shot.html?ref=us

"TOBYHANNA, Pa. (AP) -- Two Pennsylvania state police troopers were shot and seriously wounded Sunday night following a high-speed chase in the Pocono Mountains. The suspect was shot and killed, authorities said."

Authorities said that the man who shot and wounded two Pennsylvania state troopers following a high-speed chase in the Pocono Mountains was shot and killed.

The 8x10-A Cornerstone for Baltimore Local Music

On the corner of Cross Street in the heart of Federal Hill, Baltimore there is a small purple building, and if you happen to walk past that building you are are guaranteed to hear music that you might not have heard before, but in no time you will dancing and grooving outside.

This special place is The 8x10, a small local venue that has been bringing in great local and national acts for many years.  The 8x10 has an organic feel and they stay true to their roots by bringing in as many new local and regional jam bands they can find.  The 8x10 is one of the best venues in the Baltimore/Metropolitan area in bringing in new and local bands, so they can get a chance to play on a a stage and get their music out to new people, and hope to get a chance to come back and play again.

"The 8x10 is our favorite place to play, and we hype up every show we have there like it is our last," said Mike Guzman, 20-year-old rhythm guitarist for Vespertine Movement. "The 8x10 was the first actual stage we played on, and the vibe that goes on throughout the club makes us feel so much more comfortable when we play."

The 8x10 offers a couple of ways for new local bands to play their stage and get some good experience.  Every Monday night, the 8x10 hosts an open mic night, where different bands and solo musicians get to come out and play a short set in front of the people who come that evening.   The 8x10 also hosts "5 Bands for 5 Bucks" every Tuesday night, and this gives new local bands a chance to play a longer set in front of a much larger audience. If the owners and workers at the club like a local band, they will be asked to come back more and play bigger shows every time.

 The owners of the club do a great a job of seeing what Baltimore local bands have to offer, and they give everybody a chance to show their passion for music. The 8x10 is a staple in the Baltimore area for local musicians and any band that plays there constantly calls it home.

You can find out more about the 8x10 and see what bands are playing at: http://www.the8x10.com/index_content.html