A Word About Trademarks and Stuff
because we own the name now, I've had to sort of clear the shelf in every possible place we might
promote or sell or play. "Reciprocal" was lost in a mire of Slapdashes...Most uncomfortable was the fact that when
we were looked up, usually people were taken to the "Heavy Metal" section, and given a list that began with the
title "Kill Yourself."
This didn't
really help us. At the time, we were sort of helpless except to complain, and with only a Service Mark to our name, it was
ineffective.
This time, over the course of "making
our presence known," I actually incurred a lot of resistance and "Don't be a dick" comments from other
bands, some from outside the US, and overly defensive "WE DIDN'T MESS WITH YOU" comments from vendors and sites...even
though the vendors carried us and other Slapdashes simultaneously.
Word to the wise: Even if you acquire legal exclusive rights to something, just be straightforward in your method
of declaring and enforcing it. If Someone calls you names or just acts in a pseudo-defiant manner, that's their bag, not
yours.
Even the best of intentions can be misinterpreted.
Consistency is the thing that tells the malicious apart from the people just doing business.
A Word About DAE and Stuff
In my younger, more naive years, I actually believed that "GUITAR CENTER"'s green tag sales were
genuine sales. I also believed that equipment was equipment, and playing any ol' guitar was good enough. Mike Rutherford
of Genesis believes that to this day (the second point, not the first).
Pro Tools can be your greatest asset or your worst nightmare, or both. I've been fortunate enough
to know people who work in studio for a living. Without their helpful hints I'd be staring at the set-up screen wondering
what a "session" was, and why everything was gray.
There's a definite learning curve to it, and unfortunately, no matter how bright one may be, the rate of real
growth is probably uniform for everyone. My first mixes of the new songs were BLUDGEONED with bass and low end. Muddy musical
miasma not fit for human consumption....or listening for that matter.
With a great stroke of luck, Scott Peets was able to give me the basic stepping stones that allowed me to hear what
I was doing wrong and find fixes. Tony Valenziano tried to help me with saving finished mixes, but by the time he got back
to me,I'd read the PDF on it and found it myself. David Guerrero was able to hear what I was TRYING to do via the
mixes I showed him, and set me on a path to getting there, or closer to there, somewhat quickly.
Surrounding yourself with knowledgeable supportive people is key if you want to learn. Tenacity only
goes so far.
Before you buy your own brand of Pandora's
Box, make sure you have some friends who use the same pois- I mean, toolkit - and dive on in. Don't expect to sleep regularly
ever again, though!
