BARCODES, BUSINESS AND BEARDS

April 2013 - what a mad month.

It's been so bonkers in April that it's taken me till May to get around to telling you all about it. It still seems that the learning curve is getting steeper as my album is getting nearer completion. The month started with registering my 'product' to get ISRC tunecodes that involves all manner of administrative detail that I wont bore you with including obtaining barcodes for your product. "Barcodes?....where to I buy a barcode from?"

So this was the start, more research, more knowledge gained.

Finding the right colour in a pit of balls

I was then off to collect my artwork and paintings from Sheree Murphy who had lovingly produced amazing photo-art and images for my album and book.

As I started finalising the compilation of information for printing I realised there is so much I needed to put in it inevitably taking much more work than anticipated.

Then came a personal sledge-hammer with the passing of my loving Aunt throwing my mind into all sorts of emotional chaos where I found it extremely difficult to concentrate on anything but the wonderful memories of a 40 year relationship that is no more. RIP Auntie Bron.

I was then off to play at the National Botanical Gardens at an event co-ordinated by Cheryl Beer.

This was a pirate Storytelling event that I wrote a couple of Shantys for and got everyone joining in with a rhythm-dance section and sent everyone off to the next venue with a rendition of "over the Irish sea".
A truly magical day co-ordinated by event director Cheryl Beer. Big hugs Chez.

The following week was a little more hectic. Over to Rich Thair Monday to compile the Schizophrenic album backing tracks for me to start to use when playing live. It was great to have a catch up and chat business, swapping storys of "you wouldn't believe this" orientated conversation usually ending up with resounding laughter. - lifes a funny old ride.

           

 


Then it was off to see the guys at Mike Clarke Printing to sort out how on earth I was going to pull this book, DVD, CD thing off.
I knew what I wanted them to do but they were still not sure whether I knew what I was on about. he.he.

After an hour of brain storming we understood each other and were on a mission to make the product top drawer.

On the tuesday I had a meeting, also known as a sit and chat in the cafe (I'm not sure why this is classed as work by high business), with Melanie from TTCW. It was the great news that I was successful in obtaining funding to put on a series of mental health awareness events around the country, to my delight.

                    

This means that the Schizophrenic show will hopefully be hitting a town near you soon.

And then back to the printers. Decisions on size, shape, obtaining templates, gathering all sorts of content together and getting it all to fit in one package. QR codes, pics and fonts to choose, disc fixings and print quality was my homework for the month. I'm determined to gain as much information from this as possible, even if most of it will be filed in the self-storage unit in my mind.

Discs came back from BCS so halfway there. DVD's and CD's galore at my house.

Off to Cosmic Puffin fest in May, gigs at Ferryside, London, Swansea. Busy month. Dont' forget to click on all the links on this blog and Big hugs, get in touch. 

All content owned and provided by Dai Sharkey.