Week 3 Optimizing the Website

OK,here I am at Week 3 with Ariel's contest,and now I hit the first real roadblock. Optimizing my website requires me relying on someone to update my site. I don't know HTML programming on the level that I can redo my own site...so..I have to wait until my designer can make the changes Ariel suggested.Ironically,I was talking to him just a few weeks ago about making the site more interactive. So with that said,I wanted to stick to my ritual of writing the next blog for this contest every Monday for each week...so regardless of the fact that my web-designer hasn't made the changes I requested yet,I'm still blogging' ya. I will obviously intertwine the results of my progress with week 3 next week as well....so until then,I wish you...

peace.luv.music.
fiZ

Ariel's Contest WEEK 2 "The Pitch"

So in Ariel's book she mentions how important it is for an artist to have a pitch so people have an idea of what the artist sounds like or at the very least what style their music is. I find it a little challenging to use this approach because my style is fairly diverse.Writing music on the guitar & piano has giving me the ability to be flexible in my songwriting approach,and like my # 1 heroes 'The Beatles',there's allot more going on then just basic Pop/Rock...but be it as it may...Here I am,writing this blog,and the next phase of this contest is to come up with a 'Pitch'...well being I've had people say I sound a little like Rod Stewart(one of my favorite singers),Goo Goo Dolls,Beatles,ect....my 1st pitch was

'If the Goo Goo Dolls were writing with Rod Stewart while he was hanging out with Elton John it might sound like fiZ'.

But I wasn't sold on my own pitch...and truth be told ,for those that really know me,know my songwriting is more similar to Lennon & McCartney's then anyone else's...The difference between me and other Artists/Bands,is some bands blatantly rip The Beatles off to the point of down right plagiarism ,where I have integrated their song writing techniques with my own,for a style that is perhaps a little more modern sounding.

So what's an artist to do?...Well , I came up with the idea of 'The fiZ Pitch Contest'. I emailed all my fiZ fanZ and told them the one that came up with the best pitch would win my new CD. I got some wonderful responses...here's a few...


'Imagine the 5th Beatle,Creating & Rockin' in today's contemporary style'.-

“fiZ is a singer songwriter who gets right to your heart and lifts your spirits.”-

"Today's Rod Stewart" A new feel on an old style.


I think I was hesitant to use The Beatles in my pitch because so many bands probably do...and rightfully so, being their one of the most influential bands of all time.

They are a huge part of my life...it's no mistake that Sir Paul McCartney's former drummer from 'Wings',"Steve Holley" is playing on my CD...Not only that, but Paul gave Steve allot of the percussive instruments they used on The Beatles albums as a gift because he's not only a great drummer but a brilliant percussionist...so when you hear the 'the triangle' used in 'Sending a Line' or the tambourine in 'No Words,...those are the same instruments that were used on The Beatles albums...to me that's HUGE...Have you ever seen a Priest walk around shaking that stick filled with Holy Water?....Well that's what it was like for me when Steve Holley was using The Beatles old percussive instruments on my songs.

Anyway,let's get back to the topic here...'The Pitch'...OK...so I decided on getting the fiZ fanZ involved and seeing what they came up with.You read a few...I think the first one wins...so..I'm going with

'Imagine the 5th Beatle,Creating & Rockin' in today's contemporary style'.-

ok...it's on to week three for me...Happy HolidayZ...until next blog...I wish you...

peace.luv.music.
fiZ
www.fiZband.com

Week One with Ariel's Book- Goal Setting

So I'm reading Week 1:Getting Mentally Prepared...it makes sense that Ariel starts her book this way, knowing what a big fan I am of things like The Secret, Law of Attraction ,Positive thinking,ect ect....So of course there is a big emphasis on goals...hmmm...very interesting indeed...She mentions writing down five successes everyday, something she learned from T.Harv Eker...I've been to his seminar...he's big on knowing people's blueprint for money mindset....I wonder if it's trickier for artists to get in this kind of goal setting/business mindset then it is for people that are more business oriented,like Ariel...she obviously has used this technique quite effectively...where I honestly have not been as diligent with effectively writing daily goals...Although I shouldn’t be too hard on myself, because as I near the end of this year ,I can look back and see that in 2009...

1. I released an AMAZING CD with some of Rock n Roll's greatest musicians playing with me on it, like Steve Holly from McCartney's old band "Wings’, Paul Errico,"Steve Forbet's keyboardist, Produced by super genius Bob Stander.

2. My Organization "Notes for Life" put together an incredible; one of a kind concert called "Music and Mediums" and raised $10,000 for "The Golden Fund for Autism".

3. Channel 12 News did a segment on me for their show "People Making a Difference”, for my performances for Physically Challenged Children.

4. I was able to make it through another year as a full-time musician while simultaneously continuing to do charity performances for Physically Challenged Children.

5. I wrote a bunch of new songs for the next CD,(to be released in 2010...God Willing)

as well as a number of other accomplishments.....so why does a Singer/Songwriter that has a big vision AND goal board in front of him right now feel a little hmm....unfocused? All I know is...I NEED A TEAM!...that is one of my biggest goals...The Beatles needed Brian ,...Elvis needed the Colonel (Except at the end)...and so on...I bet my blueprint is flashing right now...cry baby!...I dunno...I'm workin' it,I'm workin' it!

Ariel's Blogging Contest

I'm looking forward to reading Ariel's book "Music Success in 9 Weeks"...and perhaps I can win the contest too...Either way I win more knowledge...it's all good.