L O O K I N G FOR HELP? N o t h i n g will replace y o u r o w n hard w o r k . But there are lots of people o u t there t o offer advice: · Irwin O o s t i n d i e , Under the Volcano W e e k l y Sunday meetings. info line: (604) 252-5184. · Jim R o t a , W o r l d R e c o r d s (Internet r e c o r d label, search engine, marketing t o o l , online b o o k i n g agent, industry database, etc.: w w w . w o r l d r e c o r d s . c o m . Fantastic r e s o u r c e . · David Jewer and D o n Bregg, Pacific N o r t h Studios Ltd: (604) 990-9146 985-4268 987-7383 916-7744 980-9855 904-5657 · · · · · C r o s s t o w n Studio: (604) Baker Street Studio: (604) H o k e N i s s e n , Studio 55: (604) B o b D'Eith, Spark Music Inc: (604) U m e e d a Switlo, e.space management: (604) T h e r e are also countless lists available through the Pacific Music Industry A s s o c i a t i o n , the Canadian Music Industry A s s o c i a t i o n , S O C A N , and F A C T O R that together will list almost every manager, e n t e r t a i n m e n t lawyer, professional songwriter, and o t h e r musical resource in the country. promoter, presentation of material: Don't forget about individual quests f o r s t a r d o m . It i s a v e h i c l e w h e r e b y y o u t h c a n f i n d a collective voice and t h e c o m m u n i t y can i n c r e a s e its e c o n o m i c and social power. Irwin O o s t i n d i e organizes t h e U n d e r the V o l c a n o Festival, t h e K o o t e n a y M o v i n g Pictures Festival, a n d t h e M a y w o r k s Festival o f A r t W o r k i n g Life."Kids need to hear themselves," Irwin says,"and hear other good bands--live--in order to r e i n f o r c e and d e v e l o p skills." But a r e there enough venues t o provide local talent w i t h that kind o f reinforcement? A c c o r d i n g t o D o n Bregg, there a r e n o t . "I c a n c o u n t t h e n u m b e r o f live v e n u e s in N o r t h V a n c o u v e r o n o n e h a n d , " h e says. " [ A n d ] that's just not enough." It's a b i t o f a p r o b l e m f o r w h i c h U m e e d a Switlo sees a solution."It's a z o n i n g issue," she points out. " T h e r e should be m o r e venues licensed f o r live m u s i c . T h a t way, a r t i s t s c a n improve and s h o w c a s e their talent and In t h e i n t e r e s t o f b r e v i t y , I've drastically simplified m y discussion of the subject f o r this article. O n y o u r o w n trip, you'll also have t o deal w i t h shifty eyes a n d u n c e r t a i n motives, about your graphics! " M a n y musicians," h e says, " a r e e x c i t e d about recording, then they don't put enough time into graphic design, w h e n that's one of t h e m o s t important areas." Take t h e time and m a k e y o u r project with insecurity, e m b a r r a s s m e n t , brick walls that s e e m t o n e v e r e n d , and all t h o s e o t h e r fine things that g o along w i t h f o r g i n g y o u r o w n p a t h in t h e world. Hell, sometimes the music business makes D o r o t h y ' s adventures in O z s e e m l i k e a q u i e t e v e n i n g i n a n isolation tank. But t h e m o r e y o u practise y o u r craft and love w h a t y o u do, t h e f e w e r c h a n c e s you'll have o f b e i n g t r a u m a t i z e d o n t h e way. Finally, r e m e m b e r t h a t y o u ' r e dealing with people, and they form l o o k l i k e it d e s e r v e s t h e a t t e n t i o n you're asking for. U m e e d a Switlo, o w n e r of C B O ticketing agency and e.space management, and a m e m b e r of t h e N o r t h S h o r e A r t s C o m m i s s i o n , is a t y p i c a l example of w h o will be o n t h e receiving end of y o u r tapes and C D s . She receives hundreds of submissions each m o n t h , f r o m industry and u n k n o w n talent alike, asking f o r thoughts, c o m m e n t s , and representat i o n . S h e is h a p p y t o o f f e r h e r e a r s , but gives any s o n g o n l y t e n s e c o n d s t o take effect. " T h e s o n g m u s t have i m m e d i a t e i m p a c t , " she says. "Emotional, physical...something. " O t h e r w i s e , it's h e a d i n g s t r a i g h t t o t h e t r a s h . K e e p t h a t in m i n d w h e n c h o o s ing t h e s o n g s y o u ' l l b e s e n d i n g o u t . W e should also r e m e m b e r that a h e a l t h y l o c a l m u s i c s c e n e is n o t j u s t s t r o n g i m p r e s s i o n s t h a t will i m p a c t o n y o u r career. W h e t h e r o r n o t t h o s e i m p r e s s i o n s a r e p o s i t i v e is u l t i mately up t o you and h o w well y o u do what you do. Ronan Reinart is a singer, songwriter, in and s o m e of the millions of dollars N o r t h S h o r e r e s i d e n t s s p e n d o n live e n t e r t a i n m e n t e a c h y e a r c a n stay in multi-instrumentalist guitar), Spike. and a member (specializing of the band