Conversations with.... part deux

Second verse, same as the first.  Original from Barry - black/normal.  Me - bold/red

Hi everybody,

Thanks so much for all the answers to my last post.

You know we love it.


"Fifteen Minutes” is really moving along.
Next week, we’re going to put background vocals on every song. That’ll be a fun couple of days. Then Michael and I will be pretty close to being finished.

It’s so ironic about mixing records. After spending months and months with the top musicians in the top studios with the top equipment, you wanna know where we listen to the final product,? In our cars!

YOU DO THAT TOO?  (I mean, listen to music in the car.)  That's the only place I can really enjoy music these days.  My "office" is wherever my laptop plugs in and it's not always possible to kick back with the iPod wherever I happen to be sitting.  So drive time is the only place I have an excuse to pop in something new/soothing/familiar/whateverI'minthemoodfor.

We mix the song, make a CD, and all of us run out to someone’s car, and play it in the car. And usually if there are any mistakes or imbalances they will come through loud and clear being played in your car.
Then we run back into the studio, make the fixes, make a CD, run back out of the car, listen to it and take notes and do the same thing over and over and over until the album is done.

So - do you just take spins around the driveway or actually take a serious ride?  Because the mood that the music brings out is much different at 70 MPH on the freeway than tooling around the neighborhood at a dead crawl.  Or even parked in the driveway.  You have to know what I'm talking about....

“The Talk” was a great opportunity to talk about the Manilow Music Project, and “Fifteen Minutes.”

That segment sounded really good too.  Gotta love AT&T Uverse & DVR.

You know, this Manilow Music Project is so moving to me. I thank you all so much for donating to the Manilow Fund for Health and Hope and for visiting with me during the platinum hours.

As fortunate as the kids and schools are to have your donations of instruments and accessories, they're equally fortunate to have a school board that is going to make the most of it.  I've been harping on this for a while on this blog because our local school board and system has crashed and burned in the past few years.  It kills me to say this but until the school boad pulls its head out of its collective ass, all the donations, fundraisers, and supporters aren't going to help.  Donations go to waste.  I'm glad you're not contributing instruments here, because they won't be cared for.  How pathetic is that??? 

All  of my eldest's preschool teachers (she's going on 5 - just for reference.  The TOLF from past posts) are warning me to get her into private school by any means necessary because she'll otherwise be lost in the shuffle in public school.  At least she'll get formal music as part of the regular curriculum, starting in kindergarten.  She's already learned some basics of reading music by playing on a bathtub toy xylophone.  So she's on the right track.

The point of that rant is it's obvious the students, teachers, and parents in the Las Vegas school district understand and appreciate what you've done.  I just wish everyone did.

The Platinum hours are turning out to be so interesting. I’m meeting such interesting people, characters, people with great senses of humor, couples that tell me that they’ve been with me for so many years, people quoting lyrics from songs that I thought no one even paid any attention to.

We reminisce about a concert here or a TV show there. It’s turned out to be my favorite Friday evening half-hour. And of course I double what ever we bring in on those Fridays and Yamaha and Hal Leonard send over brand-new instruments and music stands and sheet music and we give away brand-new musical instruments to kids that need them.

I've heard all kinds of stories from folks who got to visit with you during Platinums, both at the Paris and the Hilton.  You're braver than I am.  I have to meet new people all the time at work but your Platinum scenario sounds (from the outside) like it could be wonderful or it could be the worst kind of awkward for everyone.  If you can make that work every week, more power to ya! 

We did this in Las Vegas a few weeks ago and let me tell you that it was one of the most moving experiences I’ve ever had in my life. I thank you so much for being involved in this with me. I received box-loads of thank you notes from the kids, but listen to this letter that I received from a teacher:

Dear Mr. Manilow and the Manilow Music Project:

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your generosity. My students are so excited to have new instruments! When they walked in and saw all of the boxes the excitement was palpable! They opened those boxes with the joy of youth, it was like Christmas morning!

I was surprised to find music stands there too! Thank you so much, we have a big music program and stands are always needed.

Some of my beginning students had been playing on some very old flutes, when they tried their brand-new beautiful flutes they exclaimed, “it’s so easy to play now!” They sound great and I wish you could see the smiles on their faces.

Imagine my surprise to find two boxes this morning filled with sheet music! They were the exact method books we use as well as jazz ensemble books and pep band music. We are so excited to put all of this to good use.

We feel so blessed here at Brown Junior High School and cannot express our gratitude enough.

Sincerely,

Amy Sue Rich

Isn’t that something?

Not in the least bit surprised.  When teachers are given the freedom to do their jobs by their overlords in the local system, and they have the tools to do it, it's like they can watch the world unfold in front of their eyes as the kids learn.  Growing up I went to schools from 3rd grade through graduation with every possible music ensemble and opportunity to take some kind of music class.  Now I have to work harder to make sure MY kids have the same opportunities.  The teacher that wrote you that letter sounds like the teachers I had growing up and there's no doubt her kids will benefit just as much.

Okay.
Gotta go.
Oh, one more thing!
When we come back to the Paris in November, were going to be doing Christmas songs!
I know it’s early, but Christmas Is Just Around The Corner and I so love our Christmas arrangements and songs.
So if you’re in the Las Vegas area, come see us and celebrate an early Christmas.

Never too early to work in Christmas songs.  It's the one thing that gets people to perk up and not look at working through the year as a drudge.

All my best,

Ditto.

Barry

YBA

Feedback time!

Looks like Barry is venturing out onto the MMN.  Good for him, and good for everyone who can now follow up with his thoughts as they happen.  Since this is the Internet, it's going to get leaked.  I found it on the alt newsgroup.  (Thanks to whoever reposted - you know who you are.)  This post went public while I was still in the hospital so I'm just getting around to it now.

Here's the post.  My comments are bold and red.

Thanks


Posted by Barry Manilow on September 29, 2010 at 9:54pm in Manilow TV
Hi everyone

I wasn’t going to post so soon after the first post, but the beautiful responses and questions are encouraging enough to write again. And I’d like to answer a few questions that kept coming up in your posts.

First – Just because I said that the CD is “guitar driven” doesn’t mean I’M going to play the guitar!! I don’t even know how to hold the thing!

Didn't think so.  Yes, I remember the 3rd TV special.  ;-)  Really looking forward to this because there's been so much more guitar in more recent records than years back.  The redux of "Copa" on the 70s compilation, a big chunk of Mayflower ("Tito", especially) and a lot of the tracks on the 80s record.  There's no question you can do this guy, we just want to hear it.  We've been getting teasers up til now.

The guitar work on this CD will be done by some of the finest guitar players in L.A. So, no, it won’t be me playing the guitar.

One of the great things about delving back into Barry's music is discovering the talent that he's worked with.  He doesn't work with "just anybody".  (That unfortunate interlude on LOGO channel with "Nemesis" notwithstanding....)  I've discovered all kinds of great stuff that will never make the bland not-even-vanilla crap on the radio that has stretched my mind and given me new things to figure out.  Before my latest inpatient trip, I made sure to download the latest from Straight No Chaser, Culbertson's XII, and I'm waiting to see if Dave Koz' latest has made it to iTunes yet.  Just when you think your music discovery days are over, someone comes along with something new to reawaken you.  At least we can be sure that we're not going to be stuck with some three-chord wonder trying to fake his way through the songlist.

Thanks for all notes of encouragement about this new CD.

You know we're behind you when you're doing something new.  Just find a blog, newsgroup, or whatever.  We haven't gone anywhere.

One of the questions that kept popping up was about “Everything’s Gonna’ Be All Right”. As of now, it closes the entire CD. I mean, after taking our hero through this dramatic trip, I had to bring everyone back up with a song that says, “stick with it”. So, as of now, yes, it is scheduled to close the album.


It'll be a while before I get back to Vegas to hear this myself.  All of the comments I've heard start with "Wow!"  :::sigh:::

Ok, I have a question for all of you.

Hit it...

You know, we’re heading across the Pond in May to do shows at the fantastic ’02 Arena.


Not to mention a nice little Florida circuit.  So close and yet so far.  There will be a lot of happy people down there too.

We might record it – a DVD and/or a CD of the shows. Don’t lock me into that statement, please! You never know what will happen between now and then.


I thought you recorded everything?  I know, there's a difference between personal recordings and professionally taped stuff for release.  But consider this:  some of the best video was what you never intended to release in the first place.  Hence why the "First" DVD of "First & Farewell" is in my constant personal Top 10 list of videos.


But, IF we do, (or if we don’t!), I’d love to know what rare songs you’d like to hear us do. Songs that we haven’t done in a long time.   “If I Should Love Again”, “No Other Love”, “Some Kind Of Friend”.   Songs like that. What would you like to hear done live?


Oh geez, how many times do I have to say it???  You'd have to sop up half the room with a mop if you worked "If I Should Love Again" into your set list.  Especially since these gigs are "full blown orchestra" shows.  IISLA is one of those "if you've got it, flaunt it" numbers.  It would stop time.

Also heard that "Some Kind of Friend" is in the Vegas set, at least once in a while.  I don't believe in bootlegging so that is killing me.  Yes include that one.

If you're going for upbeat numbers - how about "Riders to the Stars", "Beautiful Music", "Let's Hang On, and "It's a Long Way Up"

And if we're talking about really rare, I'd give a whole lot to hear "Let Me Go" and "I Was A Fool to Let You Go".  Call me crazy, I'm just partial to anything with a blues progression in it.  Go figure.

And, if I were to do a duet with someone, who would you like to see?   Elaine Paige? (our duet came out GREAT!). Lulu? Shirley Bassey? John Barrowman? Lorna Luft?  Anyone else you guys can think of?

Dude you are so missing the obvious...  Susan Boyle would put asses in seats in a heartbeat.

I'm going to assume that the duet thing is something the Brit fans look forward to, so I'm not going to knock it.  IMHO, you don't need a duet.  But if that's the direction you want to go in, you've already answered your own question above.  If Elaine Paige did that well, it would be successful again.  I have a hard time imagining duets so I can't help with some of your suggestions. Except two:  if you're going to team up w/ your buddy Lorna, you could have a shitload of fun with "Me and My Shadow".  I dunno about Barrowman.  I mean I love the guy - I have my DVR set to record "Torchwood" all the time.  And I about peed myself when I saw him do "Springtime for Hitler."  But from the video I saw of the Proms last time you were there, something about that duet just didn't work for me.  Can't put my finger on it.  Don't shoot me for that, it's just one girl's opinion.

But I'll bet Boyle would be a really popular choice.

I’ll post when I get a minute.

Same here.  Minutes are hard to come by in my house these days.  Lots of thoughts rattling around, not enough hours in the day to put them down.

Later…

Barry

YBA
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I am really looking forward to the next post.  This was the most fun I've had in a while!

The Talk is Cheap

From CBS.com (http://www.cbs.com/daytime/the_talk/ )

Barry Manilow is scheduled to appear Live on The Talk


CBS, Monday, November 1, 2010

(11am, CBS Studio, Studio City, CA)
Attention Barry fans: To be in the audience, please contact jeff.cook@cbs.com (Audience Coordinator, The Talk) directly for VIP tickets.

Check your local listings.  In the ATL, it is on at 2 PM.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
OK, folks, a new show on a new network that has a very similar format to a certain other show on another network that has had Barry on numerous times but the last time didn't go so well.  In other words, the situation couldn't have been fucked up worse than if everyone tried their best at it.

So here are some suggestions for ground rules.  Make yourselves very happy and consider them.
1)  With this many people and the obvious format of the show, opinions and ideas are going to be exchanged.  Some may be different from yours.
2)  Get over #1.  You will not melt like the Wicked Witch of the West in water if you share space with someone who has a different POV on a topic than you.
3)  Set your priorities.  If you want to fight, then fight.  Be ready for some negative fallout.  If you want to be loved as a wonderful human being, be a warm fuzzy wonderful human being. 
4)  If you get pinned down on a topic that makes you uncomfortable, it is possible to be both tactful and straightforward.  To get out of it altogether, a good stock response is "I'm really not comfortable talking about that topic.  Let's move on to something else."  Then zip your lip.  The other option is to just give your opinion, making it very clear that this is your POV and others are entitled to theirs.

Really simple, right?  I think so too.  Why?  Because these are more elaborate versions of the rules TOLF is learning in pre-K.  All based on the Golden Rule itself.

Now - have a great time in your slot on a new show!  Break a leg!

Altered Reality

Psst. Hey you. Yeah, YOU. Wanna be on TV? We can make you famous! Everyone will see you. Will they think you're cool? Uh.... sure! Why not? We're doing a show about Barry Manilow fans so let us film you and you'll have a great time. Honest!

It's that time again. Another production company developing a "reality show" is casting. Details here: http://www.realitywanted.com/call/8864-casting-barry-manilow-fans

The alt newsgroup had a discussion on this. According to one of the posts, Garry Kief commented on this at the ManilowUK Ning site.

Fans On TV
Posted by Garry Kief on September 1, 2010 at 6:25pm

I've heard rumors again of fans being contacted to be on TV. This has
happened in the past....when TV companies have gone directly to
fans....and all have promised to be respectful etc. Unfortunately, it
has never worked. I've talked to countless fans in tears about how
they were portrayed on camera, how the program was edited, and how
they had been been manipulated to look like idiots. Even though we
always ask production companies to first contact us and explain their
real intentions....they never do. I'd encourage everyone to be very
cautious before they consider getting involved.

Looks like it's more than just a rumor this time.

Here's my comments, also from the alt newsgroup:

Garry basically took the words right out of my mouth.

"Reality" shows (I prefer the term "unscrpited" to reality) are not
altruistic endeavors out to glorify their subjects for their benefit.
They're going to exploit you to make money. Period. If you sign on
for this and understand what you are dealing with (perhaps by watching
a few reality shows to get the hang of their goals) then knock
yourself out. There are a few people who figured out how to
"manipulate the manipulator" - like Dr. Will on "Big Brother" - and
were comfortable enough with themselves and the scenario to use it to
their advantage. If you think the production company is going to make
you look like the hero of your own story, get the Kleenex ready.

If you go on one of these shows (not just one about Barry's fans but
ANY reality show) I would heed the insight I heard about from a
production crew member. (I think it was aired on the old now-defunct
Fox Reality channel but I'm not sure so if I need to attribute this
later, I will.) "Reality shows depict you as you are, even if they
are edited. With editing, ou can make a good person better. You can
make a bad person worse. But you can't turn one into the other."

Whatever you say or do on camera is going to be amplified. Start with
a factor of 10, just to be safe. What you think is "funny" or "just
being silly" is going to be used to make you appear to be an idiot.
And you're never going to control the court of public opinion. It is
very hard to stay classy 24/7. Composing yourself with a camera in
your face all the time is even worse. Not many people can do it; even
the best people in the world.

When I watch these shows (I admit it, it's my guilty pleasure.
"Amazing Race", "Survivor", "Big Brother", and my favorite of all -
"My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiancee". I even watch "The Real Housewives of
Atlanta" but you couldn't pay me to patronize the establishments that
they do after they've been there and I wouldn't spend time with these
people, even at gunpoint.) Where was I? Right - when I watch these
shows, I have to wonder about their judgement most of the time. As
in, if I was in a position to hire one of these "reality show divas"
for a job, would I? Probably not - because if their judgment is so
poor that they allow themselves not only to be sold on the idea of
being a "star" on a reality show, but then fly off the handle and
behave like a fool as well, what kind of employee would they be? Not
one that I would want to manage.

Anywho - long story short, this is advice from Garry that I would
take. If they don't have the integrity or the balls to approach
Stiletto with a pitch for a reality show about the fans of their top
client, you can't expect them to treat the cast that well either.

Be careful out there, folks.  Don't be taken advantage of.

NOT Waiting for Superman in Nevada

The Manilow Music Project kicked off a major donation today in Clark County, NV.

In my little corner of paradise, parents and taxpayers are on the warpath with those in charge of the public schools.  Once the RICO indictments rolled out (I blogged on that some time ago) a deluge of news stories hit the fan regarding nepotism, misspending, race-based political manipulation of an order not seen but prior to the Civil Rights era, and forms of incompetence too numerous to count.  A member of the school board actually threatened to hit a TV reporter.  To her face.  On camera.  In front of the television crew.  And she got away with it, only to receive a hollow written reprimand a month later.  No real consequences.

Then there's the story about a teacher in a local elementary school who built up an orchestra program with his bare hands and own blood, sweat, and tears.  The principal allegedly engaged in a dick-measuring contest with the teacher, felt that he fell short, then fired him.  Bye-bye innovative music program.

While this is going on, the film Waiting for Superman was released.  The documentary is one person's POV on public school systems in trouble around the US and explores his idea of a solution.  There's been plenty of arguing back and forth regarding the merits and drawbacks of the points presented.  Parents are glomming on to the flic because they are just so frustrated they need someone - ANYONE - to say "Yes, I see what you see, and I have an answer."

The filmmaker gave an interview that cut right to the heart of the problem.  (Paraphrasing)  "Superman" isn't coming to save you, your schools, your community or your children.  You're going to have to do it yourself.

That's the point where I connect the dots with the MMP.  Barry isn't Superman, and a donation of instruments to music classes isn't going to magically solve all issues in public schools so that parents and elected officials can kick back in their Barcaloungers and think "Whew!  Glad that's over!  Where's the remote?".   Barry is a local businessman who works in the area and is in a position to jump-start interest in public education.  He can work out a deal with manufacturers and get kids the tools they need to engage and broaden their minds through music.  Kids may find a career path they hadn't considered.  Or realize they can do anything they choose to do.  Or just enjoy school more so they get better grades.  The positive fallout is potentially endless.

But only if parents and the community take the next step.  Get on top of the school boards and make sure that a variety of music classes are scheduled in the school.  Make sure that qualified teachers are available.  Make sure that funding is available for the same.  Get your physical plant up to snuff so that instruments and other equipment can be stored safely.  Ensure that rehearsal rooms, band rooms, and an auditorium are available so rehearsals and recitals can be their own reward.  There's so much that goes into a music program, that instruments are only the start.  Don't get so comfy in that warm and fuzzy glow of today that you forget that the work BEGINS tomorrow.  Then Barry's (and his fans') fundraising will do the most good.

Photos courtesy of TPTB on Twitter: