Too many pianists seem to have forgotten that their instrument is classified as part of the percussion family. They spend so much energy and focus on the minute details, such as which note goes where, that they lose (or never get) the visceral connection with their instrument, the relaxed physicality that drummers have.

It’s no mystery why drummers tend to make the best jazz pianists. Listen to the great Cuban pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba. He was originally a drummer, and you can always hear it in his playing. To be able to spontaneously craft beautiful melodies on the piano while functioning also as a percussionist is just one of the many tightropes you must learn to walk as a musician.

In the following metaphor I have used absolutes to make appoint strongly. I’ve minimized the important of individual notes in favor of the larger elements of rhythm and shape. Certainly this is an injustice to a more complex truth. Undeniably, tension and release, occurring as one melody note moves to the next, is a vital and emotional part of music.

However, much of the emotional content in music is to be found in its larger elements: the rhythms and the contours of the line as opposed to the individual notes.

If you want to express your emotions freely, you need to be able to focus your attention on those elements. And you can only do that when the smaller, mechanical tasks have been “hard-wired” into your hands. For instance, shifting scales as the harmony changes is not a creative act. It is largely a bookkeeping issue that should be delegated to your hands - it should become automatic.

In order to thoroughly program your hands to handle the mechanical aspects of playing, you need to spend years focusing on them - working out note-choice, fingering, and technique minutiae. And you need to know theory: the task of analyzing a tune for scale-choice (another non-creative act) should feel automatic. But all of this disciplined detail work is a means to an end, and you’ll progress much more quickly if you have a clear image of that end.

Image an odd-looking keyboard with keys, just two touch-sensitive drumheads where the keys used to be.

The drumheads are digital and there is also a built-in computer that can instantly analyze chord to determine the most appropriate improvising scales. You simply insert a card that has a recording of your style of playing, so the computer can adjust its scale analysis to match your style.

Before you play, you insert the sheet music into the data slot. During your solo you tap rhythms on the right drumhead, shifting your right and left to indicate higher or lower pitch. While your right hand is busy tapping, you comp on the other drumhead with your left hand -again, just by tapping the rhythm you want. The computer selects one of your favorite voicings for each chord. Your only concern is the rhythm.

Playing this piano is almost as easy as playing a set of bongo drums. You can express your rhythmic impulses freely through the instrument without the usual complications of being in the right key, making transitions from scale to scale, or searching for the right voicing.

Do you want to buy this piano? Sorry, it hasn’t been invented yet!

The point of this metaphor is to get you to envision what being a pianist is like after you’ve learned all your theory, scales, voicings, and other structure thoroughly. It’s a way for you to imagine the physical, loose, big-movement, conductor-like, drummer-like way of being at the instrument. It’s to help you keep that end vision in mind so that you don’t end up boxing yourself in. And it’s to remind you that the piano is a percussion instrument.

Copyright 2006 RAW Productions

Ron Worthy is a Music Educator, Pianist and Songwriter. If you wish to learn more by joining his Private Monthly Online Membership and/or purchase his Piano “Tricks of the Trade” DVD, please go to: http://www.playpianotonight.com

The delicate sounds of a ballerina music box, inlaid music box, musical jewelry box, or music trinket box is loved by many a music box and antique collector. Some collectors and lovers of mechanical music may not realize the interesting history that is part of the world of music boxes and mechanical music. Let’s discover what that is.

Attempts to create mechanical music reproductions really began in the third century B.C. Plato had an idea for making a water clock that would sound the hours of the night on pipes. He felt this was needed since darkness made it impossible to read the face of a clock. No one knows whether or not the clock was made, but it did reveal that interest to produce music automatically occurred very early in history. Singing birds and organs, which were worked hydraulically likely, were developed from Plato’s clockwork idea.

After clocks were invented in AD 1000, more advances were made. Soon carillons of bells were made which played simple tunes on a barrel. Next came the barrel organ, which had air for the organ coming from bells driven by clockwork.

One of the most basic elements of mechanical music is how storage of the music is in a barrel or sheet, both of which rally make the memory of the instrument. The music was then set on the barrel with pegs and pins and on the actual sheet as perforation or projections. When rotated steadily and evenly against the levers, the levers then played an organ or carillon.

In 1502, the first mechanical music was made in the form of a barrel organ. The most famous one was the organ made in Salzburg for L. Von Keutschach. It had 350 pipes from which music from a barrel was played. The organ only had one tune for centuries until Leopole Mozart composed 11 more in 1753. Now, only 9 tunes survive on the original barrel. Announced with a grand and might chord, the locals have nicknamed it the “Salzburg Bull”.

It is fascinating that mechanical music has been around for so many centuries. It puts a unique perspective on the history of collectibles such as music boxes, antique music boxes, ballerina music boxes, inlaid music boxes, musical jewelry boxes, and music trinket boxes.

Copyright 2006 Monique Hawkins

Monique Hawkins is the owner of Monique’s Music Box. Located at http://www.My-Music-Box.com is a music box gift store specializing in products such as inlaid music boxes, wooden keepsake boxes, ballerina music boxes for ballerina rooms décor, and musical jewelry boxes. The company also provides interesting information for music lovers of all ages.

Fan support for musicians is a two way street. You make the music, release the CDs, and play the shows. You need fans to show up at the gigs, buy the CDs, or spread the buzz about you or you don’t have an audience. When these two elements are out of balance, your musical endeavors can get sidelined.

That’s why it’s so important to always embrace the positive, well-meaning encouragement you receive from your fans. If I could sum up what fans want most of all from an artist, it’s not only to be reached through your work, but to also be able to reach back in return. It’s a great privilege for fans to give back something positive that the artists bring to us.

Here are three ways to keep that fan loyalty working for you:

1. Accept your performance compliments graciously. Maybe you had an off night. Maybe you didn’t feel you were in the pocket as often as you expected to be. If people come up to you and tell you they thought you were great, that is exactly what it means to them. They are there to be an encouragement for you. Even though you didn’t think you reached anyone, they felt you got through to them. So, don’t beat yourself up or diffuse it by saying how lousy you thought you were. Remember, the hearts’ desire of the fan is to reach you, too. Say thank you and show your appreciation.

Modesty is always an admirable trait–but don’t take it to the extreme. The fans who have spent the better part of a year or so communicating to you why they think you’re the best singer are going to feel badly if you say in an interview that you don’t have much confidence in your vocal abilities or your performance. That tells the fans they have not been successful in getting the message through to you. That can be very disappointing to fans and make them wonder, well, what’s the point of saying anything at all. And there you go, letting encouragement slip through your fingers.

2. Acknowledge your fan base. You can show some love to the fans by doing something to demonstrate that you are connecting with them. Think about a regular communication vehicle above and beyond, such as an email or online newsletter where you make direct communication with fans. If you have a message board on your website, try dropping in now and then just to say hi and let folks know you’re hearing them.

Here’s one “be aware” in this area, though. If you are one of those with a broad or growing popularity base, you have the challenge of keeping a lot of people who want to be noticed by you happy. It’s nice to recognize deserving fans on your websites and other communications. But if you mention the same people too often, it might create the impression of favoritism, which could possibly cause jealousy and hurt feelings among fans. If you do something for one, others might want it as well. So be sure it’s as much as you can handle. You would be surprised how many fans do know each other and compare notes!

Besides those fans that are particularly visible or diligently make themselves known, there can be others giving solid support for you behind the scenes. You probably are unaware of them because they may be a little more on the shy side, haven’t had the contact opportunities others have or just can’t seem to stick out enough for you to take notice. But that’s not to say they don’t want to hear they are appreciated. So do give credit to those who are due–doing that privately is nice, too. But, be sure you give ALL of your fans those “virtual group hugs” from time to time!

3. Keep communications current. If you have a website, keep it regularly updated. If you don’t show enough commitment to keep your information up to speed on gigs, recordings, features and all, people will stop coming by after a while. After all, how can fans encourage you when they don’t know where, when and how?

With all of the options that exist for communication between artists and fans, when it’s done in a positive, uplifting manner it’s a win-win situation for your career and for the people who are out there waiting to enjoy your gifts!

Wendy Vickers is a writer, encourager, life coach, speaker and author of two audiobooks: “Treasures In the Tip Jar: the Art of Awesome Fan Support” (from which this article is taken) and “Out of the Jar…And Into the World.” Wendy offers resources, encouragement and support for musicians at her websites http://wendyv.com and http://embraceencouragement.com

Looks like Microsoft Great Plains becomes more and more popular, partly because of Microsoft muscles behind it. Now it is targeted to the whole spectrum of horizontal and vertical market clientele. Small companies use Small Business Manager (which is based on the same technology - Great Plains Dexterity dictionary and runtime), Great Plains Standard on MSDE is for small to midsize clients, and then Great Plains serves the rest of the market up to big corporations.

If you are developer who is asked: how do we customize Great Plains with its native programming language - Great Plains Dexterity - read this and you will have the clues on where to look further.

The history of the Dexterity. Great Plains Dexterity - is proprietary programming language and technology, designed back to earlier 1990th with the goal to build platform independent graphical accounting package - Great Plains Dynamics. Dexterity itself is written in C (following popular those days hope - that C will provide platform independence). You can install Dexterity from Great Plains 7.5 CD #2. Obviously it requires a lot of learning / training, but it allows your custom piece be seamlessly integrated with Great Plains interface.

Native Dexterity Cursors. Dexterity was designed as platform independent programming language and so if you want your code to be operable on all currently supported databases - you use Dexterity ranges and loops to manipulate the records

Great Plains Dexterity with SQL Stored Procs Nowadays, most of Great Plains installations are moved to SQL Server - so you can use Dexterity for custom forms drawing only and make the buttons run SQL stored procedures.

COM Objects calls. Beginning with version 7.0 Dexterity supports COM objects - you register them as libraries in Dexterity. Refer the manual. This technique allows you to call such nice things as web services across the internet.

Dexterity Forms - if you like VBA and are comfortable to do all the business logic in VBA - you can use Dexterity as new forms creator/editor. This is OK - but you have to purchase VBA/Modifier and Customization Site Enabler from MBS.

Some restrictions. Great Plains is actually integration of multiple dictionaries: DYNAMICS.DIC, ADVSECUR.DIC, EXP1493.DIC, etc. In your Dexterity customization you can deal with one dictionary - DYNAMICS.DIC. If you need cross dictionaries customization - consider using SQL Stored Procs for crossing dictionary borders and pulling data/making changes in the other dictionary..

Happy customizing! if you want us to do the job - give us a call.

About The Author

Andrew Karasev is Chief Technology Officer in Alba Spectrum Technologies - USA nationwide Great Plains, Microsoft CRM customization company, based in Chicago, California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, New York and having locations in multiple states and internationally www.albaspectrum.com, he is Dexterity, SQL, C#.Net, Crystal Reports and Microsoft CRM SDK developer.

akarasev@albaspectrum.com

1-866-528-0577! help@albaspectrum.com

Fun Works: Creating Places Where People Love to Work
by Leslie Yerkes

Books on this subject have been around for decades. I have many of them on my own bookshelves and have seldom referred to any of them in the spirit of research, study or bench marking. I’m afraid you’d hear similar remarks from the average CEO, manager, leader, supervisor, HR specialist, etc. However, the business world and its challenges are changing, and I think it’s time we revisit this subject of having fun at work. What better time to do so as experts all agree that we are rapidly approaching an era of difficulty in attracting and retaining talent at a time when potential employees have so many choices.

Another interesting trend has emerged recently as more and more organizations are seriously pursuing the status of “Employer of Choice.” I can attest to the fact that this pursuit is not grounded in a sudden concern for the welfare of employees at every level. I see growing evidence that wise leaders and organizations everywhere are realizing the importance of creating a culture or environment that encourages employees to enjoy their daily routines, look forward to coming to work, manifest more creativity, and, therefore, enhance productivity. The bottom line for the organization, of course, is progress, growth, profitability, and longevity. If it’s that easy, why doesn’t every business simply create this unique, obviously productive culture? The operative word here is “unique.” By the way, it’s also not that easy. However, one of the key ingredients in creating and sustaining this desirable environment is undeniably simplistic. Allow your people, at every level, to have fun at work! What a radical conceptthat fun and work are not mutually exclusive!

I mentioned earlier that there have been many books published on this subject. However, the majority of them contain excessive “fluff” and are little more than a collection of stories that illustrate random examples where others have brought fun into the workplace. I suggest you’ll find this book much different.

Let’s begin with the author. Leslie Yerkes brings much to the table as a savvy management consultant. She co-authored the best-selling 301 Ways to Have Fun at Work. She then toured the country conversing with people and giving speeches on her book. She’s researched companies who are known for their successful integration of fun and work. She then visited each one of them and talked face-to-face with as many of the founders and current staff as was possible. She took photos and collected visual memories that lead to the stories in this book. She not only knows what she’s talking aboutshe believes it wholeheartedly!
In this guidebook, Leslie shares 11 Principles of Fun/Work Fusion that she discovered in her research studies:

1. Give Permission to Perform
2. Challenge Your Bias
3. Capitalize on the Spontaneous
4. Trust the Process
5. Value a Diversity of Fun Styles
6. Expand the Boundaries
7. Be Authentic
8. Be Choiceful
9. Hire Good People and Get out of Their Way
10. Embrace Expansive Thinking and Risk Taking
11. Celebrate

She provides the “Why” as well as the “How” and not just the “What” of each of these principles.

After an introductory overview, Leslie devotes a chapter to each principle. While the principles are important, of even greater importance is the case study approach validating how a particular companya different company for each principleapplies the principle. These companies include Pike Place Fish Market, Southwest Airlines, Harvard University Dining Services, Employease, and six other organizations that share their insights with us. At the end of each chapter, a “heart key” shares thoughts designed to increase the reader’s ability to apply the principle.

An additional feature, “Another Voice,” closes each chapter with a comment from an author, manager or business owner to further illuminate the principle. Leslie also provides other resources which include comments from over 30 authors, speakers, and businesspeople as well as an inventory you can use to benchmark how much fun is present in your organization’s work environment.
Leaders and managers of all organizations should include this book in their corporate library. It will certainly be an invaluable resource.

More than 100 business book reviews written by Harry K. Jones are available at http://www.AchieveMax.com/books/.

Reprint Information

Your organization may reprint this article for your newsletter, online publication, or mailing list. We ask that you print the:

• article in its entirety;
• byline of the writer;
• information about the writer, which is available at the end of each article; and
• contact information, including our toll-free phone number in the U.S. (800-886-2MAX) and link to our website - www.AchieveMax.com.

We would appreciate a tear sheet or electronic copy of the articles you reprint.

Harry K. Jones is a professional speaker and consultant for AchieveMax^®, Inc., a firm specializing in custom-designed keynote presentations, seminars, and consulting services. Harry has made presentations ranging from leadership to employee retention and time management to stress management for a number of industries, including education, financial, government, healthcare, hospitality, and manufacturing. He can be reached at 800-886-2MAX or by visiting http://www.AchieveMax.com.

Stealth as in Spying. But Knowing What your Top Competitors are Doing and how they are doing it you can greatly improve your very own search Engine Rankings.

Step 1 Do A Google Search

The First Step is to do a Google Search and Identify your top 5 or 10 Competitors for your Keyword or Phrase on Google.

Step 2 View Web Page

Click on the Web Page of your top Competitor. Look over the page. See the general layout. Look over the use of Font Styles, Bolding, Colors,Header Tags

Step 3 View Page Source

Do a right click view page source, in Steps 4 and 5 we will use the information from the web page source code.

Step 4 Description Meta Tag

Look over the Description Meta Tag. How many times is the keyword or phrase used in the meta tag? Does the Text of the description meta tag appear in the text of the web page anywhere?

Step 5 Title Meta Tag

Look at the Title Meta Tag. How many times is the keyword or phrase used in the meta tag? Does the text in the Title meta tag appear in the text of the web page anywhere?

Step 6 Keyword Density

See how often the Keyword or phrase is used on the Page.
http://www.ranks.nl/tools/spider.html

Step 7 Link Partners

If you want to see who links to you in the Google search box type in link: followed by your domain. As an example if you want to see who links to the greatest baseball team in the world the New York Yankees type in.
— link:yankees.com

About The Author:
Mike Makler has been Marketing Online Since 2001 When he Built
an Organization of over 100,000 Members

Get Mike’s Newsletter:
http://ewguru.com/newsletter

More Articles by Mike:
http://ewguru.com/tips

Permission Based E_Mail Marketing Methods
http://ewguru.com/hbiz/amazingoffer.html

Copyright © 2005-2006 Mike Makler the Coolest Guy in the Universe

Children can benefit from piano lessons and learn to play well if they focus on the basics. Here are three practice tips to make sure your beginning piano student gets off to a great start and goes on to achieve their musical dreams.

Before I tell you what they are, however, here is a warning. Don’t let these simple ideas fool you - they’re also very important. In fact the simplicity of playing piano is often what confuses beginning piano students. That’s because most of what students need to know are not complex ideas. In fact they’re so simple students and parents often don’t appreciate them.

In our complex, modern world we tend to assume that if something doesn’t flash at us it isn’t worthy of our attention. Most of what kids need to know and do to achieve their piano goals are very simple ideas - that need to be taken seriously. Here are some thoughts you can share with your child in piano to help them gain perspective.

What are some very simple things that are also very important? Can you think of any? Here are some ideas to get you started - sunshine, water, a smile, trees, and your name. Having a name, for example, is a very simple idea. But just imagine what it would be like if you didn’t have one? Above the Artic Circle it is basically dark for six months of the year and light for six months. How does this affect the lives of folks who live in these regions? It makes life more challenging for sure. Such simple things as a warm meal, a glass of water, the sun shining through the trees, a friendly smile, are basic values necessary for a happy life. So why don’t we appreciate the simple things more? Because too often we take them for granted, and it’s dangerous! So don’t let your child in piano fall into this trap. Help them pay attention to the simple things that will create the foundation of their piano success.

Here are three simple practice tips to share with your beginning piano student to get them on the road to genuine and satisfying achievement.

1. Keep your eyes on the music.

Keeping their eyes on the music and not looking down at their hands helps students create a keyboard in their imaginations. This is so valuable. I really can’t stress this enough. Of course sometimes students will need to look at their hands. But not to learn the basic five-finger hand positions. Once students have their hands in place, they need to keep their eyes completely on the music. If a student doesn’t know, for example, what finger E is under without looking down at their hands, they really aren’t learning theier hand position, or the keyboard.

2. Sing the note names as you play them.

Singing the note names as they are played is the best way to learn to read notes well. This simple act and reinforces learning. If you’re child can’t name the notes as they play them, then they don’t know the names of the notes. Instead, they are just remembering what keys to play. Don’t misunderstand me though. Remembering a tune by listening is wonderful! Just not at the expense of learning to read music. Singing the note names allows both knowledge and listening to reinforce each other.

3. Keep a rounded hand position over the keys.

Keeping a rounded hand position is important. Let me explain why. If the hands are not rounded students aren’t using the right muscles to play. Instead of stretching each finger down to the keys from knuckle at the top of the hand they will be pushing the whole hand down into the keys to play the notes. This just doesn’t allow the fingers to work independently as it puts a lot of strain on the wrists. When the hands are rounded over the keyboard, the fingers can easily stretch down to the keys and the wrist is flexible.

For great home piano activities parents can use to help children ages 5 to 11 develop their musical talent, visit Piano Adventure Bears Music Education Resources You’ll find a treasure box filled with piano resources to create an exciting musical adventure for your child - right in your own home! Visit their website and subscribe to their f’ree internet newsletter so you can download f’ree piano sheet music and mp3s of original piano compositions.

These exciting stories, games, piano lessons, and inspirational gifts feature the Piano Adventure Bears, Mrs. Treble Beary and her new piano student, Albeart Littlebud. Young students follow along with Albeart to learn what piano lessons are all about in a fun way that kids readily understand appreciate. Click here to visit PianoAdventureBears.com For a wealth of information about piano lessons, visit tallypiano.com

With the sterling fetching a little less than the Euro at currency exchanges, you would guess there would be many real bargains to be found in ski resorts this winter as skiers rest back home to fight the recession. Initial numbers merely announced point to the fact that skiing areas are 82 percent full over the Xmas period. 11 percent higher than the same period a year ago.

One will have more chance in January that presently shows a 35 percent booking rate. The signs of a downturn is during the important school vacation month which has 67 percent bookings, 2 % lower than last ski season. Information desks in the skiing resorts of Les Arcs, Gourette, Les Grands Montets and Super Besse have noted good reservations during November boosted by the heavy early winter snow. Risoul has better demand compared to a year ago, whilst Auron enjoyed a first-class Christmas as did Alps Chamonix.

But there is strong requirement for larger chalets, 6 to 12 places, as folk group together to save. Early evidence highlights that do it yourself snowboarding breaks are doing well, evidence perhaps that earnest skiers are not going to sacrifice their ski break. Bookings from package holidays are down on last year.

The DJ industry is very competitive. There are many DJ’s who are making huge amounts of money and then there are other DJ’s who are struggling to find any gigs at all.

If there are some DJ’s who are thriving with their business and you are not, there is something you can do to change that completely around where you become booked with as many gigs as you can handle.

To do this, you have to understand how to use a concept and differentiate yourself from the other DJ’s.

So I need to ask you this question.

How different are you from any other DJ?

Do you provide services or products that another DJ doesn’t? Do you provide better quality? Do you have the cheapest rates? Do you offer follow up services? Do you offer advice? Do you offer more solutions?

What do you offer your customer’s that is different from your competitors?

This is the million-dollar question you need to be asking yourself.

A lot of dj’s don’t have any idea how they are different from their competitors. The answer is usually - ‘we offer great service and excellent sound quality’ or ‘we offer the best range of music’. This is not being different from your competitor’s as this would be exactly the same answer they would say.

The problem is you look the same as everyone else.

If you look the same as your competitors, how does your customer know whom to choose? They just choose whoever don’t they?

I will put it simple. Pretend all of your competitors and yourself were in a room and a customer opens the door and has to choose only one of you. Your competitors and yourself scream out - ‘pick me, pick me’. The funny thing is you don’t get picked because the customer didn’t even see you. You all ‘looked’ the same.

To overcome this, you need to be unique. Stand out from the crowd and be different. Be different means you are going to get noticed. But you have to go a lot further than that.
You have to develop a Unique Selling Proposition (USP).

A USP is some area of your business that offers a solution to your customer’s problems. A USP is the reason why a customer does business with you. It determines whether they choose you or not. Not only that it allows you to charge above your competitors without losing any customers. This way, you don’t get bogged down in a price war and lose profits.

There are several areas that could be a USP for a business:

Price

At Electric DJ Services, we offer the lowest price. Guaranteed.

At Joe’s DJ World, we offer the cheapest prices. If you find it cheaper somewhere else, we will match it and give 5% off our price

Service

At ‘Dj Sound’, we are open longer than any other DJ from 8.00am to 11.00p everyday

At ‘hillside sound quality’ we understand that sometimes your guests at parties want to hear certain tracks. Well have nearly all tracks available and we will play upon request. And if we don’t have it available you get an extra hr of our playing time.

Value

When you book us for any children’s party, you get a free dance video thrown in for each child to take home.

Our business services provide the best sound quality there is. If you find that our sound quality isn’t the best you heard, you don’t pay. We stand behind our equipment 100%

Exclusivity

At ‘Big Bens’ DJ services, we only use a special sound system that there is only three other companies are using in the world.

At Electric DJ’s, we have the largest range of music tracks available anywhere.

By having any of these areas (you may have a niche one) allows for customer to choose someone who is providing the benefit and solution that they are after.

How do you choose an USP?

That comes down to understanding your customers. What are their needs, wants and desires? What questions do your customers ask themselves before they buy? For example:

Why should I choose this business?
What are they going to do for me?
What promises will they make for me?
What exceptions will be granted for me?
How much value are they going to add to my life?
What cost is it?
What support systems are in place?
How convenient is it to use this business?
Will I suffer any consequences from going to this business?
How much pleasure will I receive from doing business here?

And so on.

Find out what your customers wants. ASK THEM.

The easiest way to develop your USP is to find out what is your customer’s problems are in dealing with your competitors and solve that problem.

Here’s how Jay Abraham describes how to put it into practice.

You know how…

Well, what we do…

You know how you have to wait in a line for over 20mins in banks to be served. Well, what we do is if anyone has been waiting in line for more than 10mins in our bank, we credit your account $10.

You know how most mechanics need your car overnight to fix and leave you stranded without a car. Well, what we do is supply you with a car to use overnight so you wont be inconvenienced.

You know how most personal trainers charge you and if you don’t get to your desire weight, they charge you more sessions. Well, what we do is if you don’t reach your desired weight within a given period, you don’t pay any money until you reach your desired weight.

Now your turn. Grab a piece of paper and write a few responses.

You now how…….

Well what we do is……

It’s that easy. Find a problem that your customer’s are experiencing with a competitor and solve it. You have then developed your USP.

You must therefore investigate what your competitors are doing. For instance:

You must know how they are treating their customers.
What they are offering them?
What their prices are?
What extra benefits do their customers get?
What support and advice do they get?
Where are they letting their customers down?

By knowing these answers is very powerful. It allows you the feedback on how to develop your business and not fall in the trap that your competitors are setting for themselves.

You must do the opposite to what they are doing. Offer more solutions than your competitor is the key. Offer more value. Offer more convenience. Offer more advice. Offer more.

Now you can understand that when most DJ’s say our USP is that we offer better quality and service, this doesn’t stand up because that is what your competitor is also offering. You must fine a problem in the quality or service and solve that area.

If you don’t do this, you will become a business of ‘pick me, pick me’.

When someone goes to the Yellow Pages, they are looking for a solution aren’t they? They are trying to find someone to provide that solution.

This is what a customer’s says - ” I want…and who can provide that for me?”

What does your yellow pages or advertising say? Does it tell your customers you have a solution to their problem? Or does it just describe the features?

You must advertise your USP everywhere

In every little bit of your marketing, you must state your USP.

It is no use having a killer USP that will bring an unlimited amount of customers if nobody knows about it.

It must be in your sales letters, headlines, when you answer the phones (if applicable), your ads, your yellow pages ad, your brochure etc…

Everyone must know what it is.

How about having this as your headline:

The average mark up for a DJ is 70%. Our mark up is 40%. You save 30% off the industry rates every time you book through us
(USP: Price)

Or

Most DJ’s don’t take request. Well with any of our DJ’s they take all requests no matter how old the song is.
(USP: Service)

Everyone knows what you are on about.

Owen Nicholson has been showing DJ’s all over the world how to increase their gigs and profits. For a free report on ‘Advertising Mistakes that DJ’s Make’, go to
http://www.disc-jockey-profits.com

Reality Checked - Life through Death, is a moving saga
about finding meaning in a world of suffering and pointless
hate based on the color of skin. Former school teacher and
Theologist, Victor Waller has incorporated many of life’s
issues through the lives of his characters who were forced
to make decisions in hopeless situations. Racism, revenge
and hate are rampant in this book. Domestic abuse and the
dangers hidden within our society’s foster care system are
also addressed.

There is only one main character - Catherine Brown - along
with a host of supporting characters. Catherine grows up
under the terrible threat of racism - which many use simply
as an excuse to harm another human. In fact, her father and
uncle were orphaned at a very young age through a racist
attack. The fairy-tale romance of her parents slid away as
fears of her father’s suspected infidelity enforces her
mother’s accusations that she is being poisoned. Never
really knowing the truth, Catherine stumbles through her
youth and into adulthood.

Unfortunately, a disturbed individual brutally murders her
family and Catherine is dragged away by the police and
incarcerated for many years. She survived the harsh
environment through the friendship of her cellmate - and
their hunger for revenge.

As an old woman, Catherine is only free from the bars of her
prison. Her body is now her jailer - it is discovered that she
inherited her mother’s mysterious illness. Thinking she had
no family remaining alive, Catherine is surprised when she
is invited to a family reunion. This reunion proves to be one
of Catherine’s greatest challenges. As she seeks to repair
the family discord, she is contacted by a person from the
past and her chance for revenge is handed to her on a
silver platter.

Victor Waller has created an important and meaningful story
in Reality Checked. In fact, the work is well titled. The novel
provokes the reader to question their own choices in life -
and possibly, to release some of the pessimistic inner
voices which influence their decisions.

I give this 377 page novel the highest of ratings with no
hesitation, what-so-ever.

ISBN#: 0976498103
Author: Victor Waller
Publisher: Turn Key Press

~ Lillian Brummet - Book Reviewer - Co-author of the book Trash Talk, a guide for anyone concerned about his or her impact on the environment Author of Towards Understanding, a collection of poetry.
http://www.sunshinecable.com/~drumit