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ABOUT XIFER AND HIS BRAINCOOKIES :::

Xifer Fortier is the resident production manager at Jay Siegan Presents and heads up the sound crew at the Red Devil. A fan of music, love and cocktails, he is enjoying spouting off about his experiences in the crazy world of local rock n roll. Tell him you love him, or let him know he should get lost at christopher@jaysieganpresents.com

This is sent to our friends in the music community... with love.

::: XIFER'S BRAINCOOKIES ARCHIVES :::

::: MORE INFO

Hey there, go ahead and forward this to your friends... or even better have them sign up for our mailing list (braincookies, show announcements and more) here.

Xifer doesnt book the shows at JSP (we would never allow that)... but you can always contact Sarah for such things.

The Red Devil's website is here.

August 26, 2003

Spent this past Sunday at the ViV wedding. Okay, so it was just ONE member of ViV getting wed. The day some myopic lunatic with a knack for self-torture decides to marry ALL 5 members of ViV is the day I become a marriage-counselor. Or a sniper. Or a shepherd. Something with job-security...

But, yeah, the lovely Kristy McCabe bravely took Matthew Ostrander (singer / guitarist/ songwriter / investment specialist) to be her own. Nice. All members of ViV were present at this small but festive throwdown in the Berkeley Hills. 2 were groomsman. Nearly all of the veteran staff of ViV and a Movie were present and accounted for. It was charming. I wept. So what's my point? Some unpaid warm and fuzzy advertising for ViV and a Movie? Not necessary. It's easily found elsewhere on this website.

Maybe I thought telling you about my weekend was enough to make this column interesting? Nope. But hey, my brother called on Saturday from the Worcester Centrum in Massachusettes, where it sounded like he was seeing Jeff Beck...weird (wired?)...anyway, no. And Nope again.

My point is that as I type I realize that there is a large percentage of the scene here for whom I don't need to explain what ViV and a Movie is, and that fact (personally disturbing though it may be) supports a rule of thumb I've often flown like a meat kite in life, in personal conversation, and in this column, to wit: Your band, is not unlike your family and should be treated thus. With this approach comes great rewards.

The same goes for promoters, venues, and any organization whose purpose it is to produce live music. Discuss. Please cite 5 sources used in this seminar and 2 from your own independent research. Please annotate sources in your bibliography.

Is it a maxim? Is it a postulate? It sounds touchy and feely and very very Jerry, I know. To me its a bit more like sex--y'know, never again with anyone I don't like. Its also quite practical. It makes sense (to my tainted grey matter anyway) that if the folks in a band or running a club or on a promo team enjoy each other enough to treat each other like a (charming but occasionally dysfunctional) family that the following things are more apt to happen:

-club and promotion folks enjoy putting on shows and walk around the venue with large smiles and occasionally funny remarks of questionable taste trailing out the sides of their mouths.

-band folks enjoy rehearsals, and then return home to their wives or girlfriends or roommates in a fine mood, reeking of corona and sweat, but ready for some laughs.

-bands enjoy roadtrips, which generally involve many HOURS with several PEOPLE in a very small VAN, and staying (occasionally) in not-so-luxurious HOTEL rooms.

-shows become better-attended since people start bringing their friends to this club where they saw a great band, and really enjoyed the way they were treated, ... like people were in a good mood or something.

-with said enjoyment going on, its great at the end of the night when the last band member and the last promoter are leaving and the venue is starting to smell of bleach, when someone says, "That was fun. Let's do it all again soon."

-with said enjoyment going on among band folks in particular (and maybe you can see where this is going), its hard for that infectiously slap-happy vibe not to translate to and project out from your SHOWS.

And that's my point. Maybe I'm overanalyzing...no, for certain, I am, but am I wrong? Crowds show up for good music, sure. I believe the other big secret of creating a succesful band, event, promo-identity or scene is an underlying but infectious air of revelry in how fortunate we are to be friends united toward the purpose of making music. I'm not saying anybody has to love everyone they meet or work with in the scene here. I'm saying, "Come on people now, shine on your brother, everybody get together and lets not wind up like Pink Floyd and the Police." Then and only then will we truly be making it happen.

And who else is making it happen 'round here? Well, lessee...Ever been to the Xenodrome on Potrero? WOW!! Xeno is a dance collective that built their own venue from the inside out. Music, dance, multimedia, visual art, and fashion all under one roof?!! You must see to believe.
xenodrome.com

Ever wonder why Mystery Machine Productions puts on such successful and well-attended shows? Mostly because Allan Scott and his posse are really smart and surgical about WHO to put WHERE and WHEN. It's all in the timing, baby. But its also because he's casual, and fair, and does his best to respect HIS staff, VENUE staff, and the BANDS that play for him. He brings a family like vibe to every show, and the folks who go to MMP events can be assured wether they're familiar with the band or not that the band and the vibe will be good.
mysterymachineproductions.com

There's the SF Junkshow--a series of shows at the Canvass Cafe on Lincoln on alternate Fridays. These freaks actually put together a CD-compilation to promote the series and gave 50 or so discs to each band to give away. I mean, WHO DOES THAT??!! Mike Cox of 5 Year Space Effort gathered a buncha promo-talent, 10 or so of his personal favorite bands, worked it out with the venue, put together amazing promo materials, and started a concert series.
www.sfjunkshow.com

[Note: Last night, Griddle got together not to rehearse, but to listen to some tracks from the new disc in progress, and to eat organic buffalo burgers. Yum. 5YSE shares their stage with Griddle this upcoming Friday at SF Junkshow.]

If you've missed the 8 or so Variety Pack shows that have gone on since summer entered with a roar, don't miss any more. The folks from Clevergirl (Karen and Rosie) have been putting on the San Francisco good-vibe event of the century. It's most often at the El Rio, but track down their web-quarters for more details.
www.nevertooclever.com

I'd like it very much, please, if folks reading this could hip me to other family-like alliances going on among bands, venues, promoters or combinations thereof here in Babylon by the Bay. The ones I know are the ones I run into or have the pleasure of working with. Maybe I'll do some investigating and put more of you in touch with more of you. Alliances galore...like a little musical Green Party. No...that's not it...hmmm...that line showed such promise too...looked good from the road...

Oh, and then there's Jay-Siegan-gets-his-head-out-of-his-ass-long- enough-to-Present. THAT place is a total disaster. I don't like Jay, Jay hates Pat, Pat doesn't like Sarah's attitude, Sarah hates Irene's hair and thinks its dumb that she wants a Labradoodle for the office, Irene thinks Jordan smells, Jordan DOES smell (less like a Labradoodle, more like a Schnauzer) and he can't stand being around Lois, who thinks Melany is a jackass. And Melany hates me. None of us likes each other. Nobody is invited to anyone's wedding. And nobody can use Bowman's drums. We'll try and work it out by this time next week. We promise.

XO,

x
christopher@jaysieganpresents.com

ABOUT XIFER AND HIS BRAINCOOKIES ::: Xifer Fortier is the resident production manager at Jay Siegan Presents and heads up the sound crew at the Red Devil. A fan of music, love and cocktails, he is enjoying spouting off about his experiences in the crazy world of local rock n roll. Tell him you love him, or let him know he should get lost at christopher@jaysieganpresents.com This is sent to our friends in the music community... with love.	::: XIFER'S BRAINCOOKIES ARCHIVES ::: Aug 22, 2003 \| here Aug 14, 2003 \| here Aug 6, 2003 \| here July 30, 2003 \| here July 23, 2003 \| here July 16, 2003 \| here	::: MORE INFO Hey there, go ahead and forward this to your friends... or even better have them sign up for our mailing list (braincookies, show announcements and more) here. Xifer doesnt book the shows at JSP (we would never allow that)... but you can always contact Sarah for such things. The Red Devil's website is here.

August 26, 2003 Spent this past Sunday at the ViV wedding. Okay, so it was just ONE member of ViV getting wed. The day some myopic lunatic with a knack for self-torture decides to marry ALL 5 members of ViV is the day I become a marriage-counselor. Or a sniper. Or a shepherd. Something with job-security... But, yeah, the lovely Kristy McCabe bravely took Matthew Ostrander (singer / guitarist/ songwriter / investment specialist) to be her own. Nice. All members of ViV were present at this small but festive throwdown in the Berkeley Hills. 2 were groomsman. Nearly all of the veteran staff of ViV and a Movie were present and accounted for. It was charming. I wept. So what's my point? Some unpaid warm and fuzzy advertising for ViV and a Movie? Not necessary. It's easily found elsewhere on this website. Maybe I thought telling you about my weekend was enough to make this column interesting? Nope. But hey, my brother called on Saturday from the Worcester Centrum in Massachusettes, where it sounded like he was seeing Jeff Beck...weird (wired?)...anyway, no. And Nope again. My point is that as I type I realize that there is a large percentage of the scene here for whom I don't need to explain what ViV and a Movie is, and that fact (personally disturbing though it may be) supports a rule of thumb I've often flown like a meat kite in life, in personal conversation, and in this column, to wit: Your band, is not unlike your family and should be treated thus. With this approach comes great rewards. The same goes for promoters, venues, and any organization whose purpose it is to produce live music. Discuss. Please cite 5 sources used in this seminar and 2 from your own independent research. Please annotate sources in your bibliography. Is it a maxim? Is it a postulate? It sounds touchy and feely and very very Jerry, I know. To me its a bit more like sex--y'know, never again with anyone I don't like. Its also quite practical. It makes sense (to my tainted grey matter anyway) that if the folks in a band or running a club or on a promo team enjoy each other enough to treat each other like a (charming but occasionally dysfunctional) family that the following things are more apt to happen: -club and promotion folks enjoy putting on shows and walk around the venue with large smiles and occasionally funny remarks of questionable taste trailing out the sides of their mouths.	-band folks enjoy rehearsals, and then return home to their wives or girlfriends or roommates in a fine mood, reeking of corona and sweat, but ready for some laughs. -bands enjoy roadtrips, which generally involve many HOURS with several PEOPLE in a very small VAN, and staying (occasionally) in not-so-luxurious HOTEL rooms. -shows become better-attended since people start bringing their friends to this club where they saw a great band, and really enjoyed the way they were treated, ... like people were in a good mood or something. -with said enjoyment going on, its great at the end of the night when the last band member and the last promoter are leaving and the venue is starting to smell of bleach, when someone says, "That was fun. Let's do it all again soon." -with said enjoyment going on among band folks in particular (and maybe you can see where this is going), its hard for that infectiously slap-happy vibe not to translate to and project out from your SHOWS. And that's my point. Maybe I'm overanalyzing...no, for certain, I am, but am I wrong? Crowds show up for good music, sure. I believe the other big secret of creating a succesful band, event, promo-identity or scene is an underlying but infectious air of revelry in how fortunate we are to be friends united toward the purpose of making music. I'm not saying anybody has to love everyone they meet or work with in the scene here. I'm saying, "Come on people now, shine on your brother, everybody get together and lets not wind up like Pink Floyd and the Police." Then and only then will we truly be making it happen. And who else is making it happen 'round here? Well, lessee...Ever been to the Xenodrome on Potrero? WOW!! Xeno is a dance collective that built their own venue from the inside out. Music, dance, multimedia, visual art, and fashion all under one roof?!! You must see to believe. xenodrome.com Ever wonder why Mystery Machine Productions puts on such successful and well-attended shows? Mostly because Allan Scott and his posse are really smart and surgical about WHO to put WHERE and WHEN. It's all in the timing, baby. But its also because he's casual, and fair, and does his best to respect HIS staff, VENUE staff, and the BANDS that play for him. He brings a family like vibe to every show, and the folks who go to MMP events can be assured wether they're familiar with the band or not that the band and the vibe will be good. mysterymachineproductions.com	There's the SF Junkshow--a series of shows at the Canvass Cafe on Lincoln on alternate Fridays. These freaks actually put together a CD-compilation to promote the series and gave 50 or so discs to each band to give away. I mean, WHO DOES THAT??!! Mike Cox of 5 Year Space Effort gathered a buncha promo-talent, 10 or so of his personal favorite bands, worked it out with the venue, put together amazing promo materials, and started a concert series. www.sfjunkshow.com [Note: Last night, Griddle got together not to rehearse, but to listen to some tracks from the new disc in progress, and to eat organic buffalo burgers. Yum. 5YSE shares their stage with Griddle this upcoming Friday at SF Junkshow.] If you've missed the 8 or so Variety Pack shows that have gone on since summer entered with a roar, don't miss any more. The folks from Clevergirl (Karen and Rosie) have been putting on the San Francisco good-vibe event of the century. It's most often at the El Rio, but track down their web-quarters for more details. www.nevertooclever.com I'd like it very much, please, if folks reading this could hip me to other family-like alliances going on among bands, venues, promoters or combinations thereof here in Babylon by the Bay. The ones I know are the ones I run into or have the pleasure of working with. Maybe I'll do some investigating and put more of you in touch with more of you. Alliances galore...like a little musical Green Party. No...that's not it...hmmm...that line showed such promise too...looked good from the road... Oh, and then there's Jay-Siegan-gets-his-head-out-of-his-ass-long- enough-to-Present. THAT place is a total disaster. I don't like Jay, Jay hates Pat, Pat doesn't like Sarah's attitude, Sarah hates Irene's hair and thinks its dumb that she wants a Labradoodle for the office, Irene thinks Jordan smells, Jordan DOES smell (less like a Labradoodle, more like a Schnauzer) and he can't stand being around Lois, who thinks Melany is a jackass. And Melany hates me. None of us likes each other. Nobody is invited to anyone's wedding. And nobody can use Bowman's drums. We'll try and work it out by this time next week. We promise. XO, x christopher@jaysieganpresents.com