A Great Recession Christmas

I was let go almost two years ago. Unemployment is so high right now for our nation - they may say we are out of the recession, but if you can't find a job that doesn't help. I wrote this song "Great Recession Christmas" to capture the mood of these times. Please give it a listen, and I would be extremely grateful if you would buy this and share it with your friends. Happy Holidays to all!

Buy it here:

http://www.reverbnation.com/store/index/artist_1017694

My Muscial Goals for 2012

I have quite a few songs under my belt now, a CD, and I am in the process of learning lots of covers. Recently a bought a small PA system. Now I'd like to start playing out enough so that I can attract fans and also network with more musicians. I plan to approach some nearby taverns and bars and ask them if I could run an open mic on slow nights. I plan to do mostly covers, but I will also mix in some of my best original songs. I would not ask to be paid for this, but I would have a jar for tips and I'd bring CD's to sell as well. When I am more comfortable with the whole process of setting up the PA and performing for a couple of hours, I want to seek out paying gigs.

It seems that this is the only way to get music professionals interested in you these days, at least that is what I think I have learned through my limited experience. I don't think there are a whole lot of open mics in Smyrna, GA, so maybe there is room for me.

I wish all of you at there a healthy and prosperous 2012.

Hilltop Records - Probably Not Legit

A few days ago, out of the blue, I received a letter from Hilltop Records, an independent record label in Hollywood. The letter requested that I send my best songs to Hilltop Records and then they would give them a listen and possibly include them on a compilation album. Hilltop Records would pay me royalties on any recordings sold. Well, I was considering sending them a CD, but then I googled Hilltop Records and found several posts that revealed that most likely Hilltop Records scams songwriters.

According to what I found online, after you send them your music, they follow-up requesting that you send $450 to have your song published and recorded in a studio. And that is how they most likely scam songwriters. You get a demo for $450, but will it ever be put on this supposed compilation CD? Very doubtful. Will you receive a penny of royalties? Again, highly doubtful.

The advice of people who have been around the block a time or two is to never deal with a company that asks you to pay money first upfront - and you shouldn't do it with some company that is contacting practically everyone who submits a copyright. It is obvious that they can collect a lot of money with no hard commitment to ever put your music on any album. Why should they worry about selling anything once they have bilked you out of $450?

For a more in-depth article regarding Hilltop Records, visit http://www.ripoffreport.com/recording-studio-record-producers/hilltop-records/hilltop-records-ripoff-approac-dp46f.htm. According to the article, another company, Amerecord, has a similar M.O. to scam songwriters.