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| I got to thinking, what does it take to be a "band" in today's society? I was watching MTV the other day (something that I really havn't done since finishing undergrad at college), and took notes on what I observed.
Let's have a look a several bands. These pictures have the typical "Band" look to them...
Instruments
In today's band, if you have a flute, drum, and tamborine, then you've got a band. Thanks to the digital revolution, all you need is some digital recording software (like Garage Band), and you're set. No need to learn how to play those instruments. Most bands rely on their image and antics to sell records. You can spend more time letting the computer tell you what's best.
The Name
Naming a band is perhaps the important thing you can do for your band. It's the only thing fans are allowed to take home and share with their friends, without violating copyright laws. But you don't want just any name.... wait... yes you do! I'll be frank, most of the names of bands are very stupid. They always are. They always will be. Just like the lyrics of your song, people will never really pay attention to what words you say. You can literally pick random words from a dictionary, and use that as your title.
I found a really cool site that helps you do this. Here's a small list of names it generated:
Lassie Plaque
Tuesday Punk
Leftover Highlight
Jazz Of The Optic Leader
Afro Special
Driving Tender And The Elusive Apacolypse
Prickly Hallucination
My personal pick is Tuesday Punk. It's slightly edgy and easy to spell. But it's still lacking something... we need a number.
All the best bands have a number in their name somewhere: Blink 184, Matchbox twenty, Maroon 5, 98 Degrees, etc... Just like the randomness of your name, pick a random number and throw it in there: Tuesday Punk 9....Oh yeah, that's good.
The Look
Your band's style comes from the fact that they are not conforming by any of the previously set standards. The band needs to be raw, buy not "hey look at that homeless guy" kinda grungy. The majority of your day should be spent finding clothes that matches your band's style.
You wont find any decent clothes at your local mall. Right now, the only style to keep in mind is "out of style." Go to your community thrift store (like Salvation Army or Goodwill) and find some dress shirts and pants that barely fit you. Nothing really has to match, actually, it seems that the more it doesn't match, the better off you are.
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The Hair
Your band will need to stop washing their hair for a few weeks prior to preforming. All the sweat you generate will probably be enough to clean it anyway. Also, try to avoid cutting your hair for months at a time. But avoid the "Big Hair" style popular in the 80's.
If you can grow a beard, then only shave on Sundays.
Publicity
Your band needs to get some publicity. This can be easily accomplished with a website, Facebook, or MySpace page. But first we ned some pictures...
Get your band all dresesd up in their little indie-rocker clothes. Leave the instruments at home. Some of the best places to take pictures are: railroad tracks, industrial parks, back allies, or grassy fields. Try to make it look like you're just a "bunch of friends" hanging out that "happen" to play in a band.
Things to remember
Your band's career will probably only last a few years. You will need to develop it as much as possible before another rival band comes an steals your thunder. Things like college, education, and a real career will only hinder your band's development. I suggest starting your band early in high school, and continue once you've graduated. You can call it quits once you realize all your friends have their college degrees.
And there you have it! You now have a wonderful band. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial 
Rock on party people!
--Ben
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| In honor of America's greatest pitchman, Billy Mays, I've designed a memorial tshirt. You can find it, and many others, at my CafePress store.
 
Let me know what you think!
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| This semester I am taking a class called, "Special Projet in Figurative Painting". Basically, it's a class that I can do whatever I want -- as long as I give clear course goals and it has something to do with figurative painting. Below is my proposal for the class: Description:
This course will focus on the methods of developing a portrait painting using professional computer software as a means of preliminary study tools and techniques.
Rationale:
Figurative painting requires preliminary study of the model before a final rendering can be completed. Much of the study process can be done with the aid of digital technologies. This course will provide the student with an emphasis in exploring digital techniques of studying the human figure for the purpose of rendering in oil or acrylic. Utilizing digital photography the student will show how professional computer software is able to aid an artist in understanding the elements of art found in a potential subject.
This course is to be a means of furthering the student’s abilities as a professional artist. It is not the intent of these methods to equip students with a means of academic dishonesty, plagiarism, or lethargic artistic behavior. The methods demonstrated are practical, professional, methodical, and validate an approach to art making which does not violate the Academic Integrity policy found within the MC Art Department’s course requirements.
Objectives:
Upon completion of this course the student will :
A. Produce digital photographs of a high enough quality to produce a painting from.
B. Produce a composition of photographed elements using the tools of Adobe Photoshop
C. Produce value studies of a composition using Adobe Photoshop
D. Produce shape studies of a composition using Adobe Illustrator
E. Produce color studies of a composition using Adobe Photoshop
F. Produce a proportion study of a composition using Adobe Illustrator
G. Demonstrate methods of transferring a proportion study onto a canvas.
H. Produce a final painting using the methods demonstrated above (A-G)
Detailed description:
During the time spent in this course, the student will use methods of developing portrait painting studies via the use of a digital camera and two computer softwares (Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator). Each software has the ability to aid the student in creating a compositional study which can be applied to the final painted product. From these studies, a final product will be to complete an oil portrait painting using the digital studes created.
End Product to be Evaluated:
1. A manual detailing the procedures used accomplish each of the objectives using the appropriate software or devices. (See Objectives A-G)
2. A portrait painting created using the digital study methods described within the manual. | | |
| I've had my personal computer since I was a senior in high school. It's a G4 Apple Mac; and I've taken pretty good care of it.
Yesterday, for the first time ever, I did a thorough cleaning of my keyboard. After removing the keys I was quite surprised at the amount of hair, crumbs, dust, and debris found within. If you've never done something like this, then the below picture should be reason enough to give yours a try...
Judging by the amount of debris, you can tell which keys my hands spend the most time on.
I took the hose from the vacuum cleaner and sucked up most of everything. Then, with a moist towel, wiped down as much as possible. Finally, I used some Q-tips to do a thorough scrubbing around each button.
Now my board is as good as the day I got it!
I can actually feel a difference in the keys when they are pressed.
Y'all be good now,
--Ben
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