Original Post By: MR Bulk Date: 7/30/2008 1:34:31 AM   (Updated: 7/30/2008 1:35:29 AM) Well I'm all checked in here at the Kauai Hilton where the Fest is to be held over the next four days, but whatta nightmare first afternoon - The room is basically ground floor (the roof of the lobby is just a hop over my room's lanai railing, anyone can get to me) and the sliding glass door was off its tracks and would not latch! So I was pushing and pulling, trying to get it back and to latch, and finally CUT MY FRETTING HAND on the sharp edge of the door's handle!!! So I'm on the phone to the Front Desk and they send a "medic" type guy who gives me some bandaids and some antibacterial ointment along with an "accident report" which I am to fill out. You betcha I will be filling that puppy out. Then two maintenance guys show up, re-track the door and slather on some WD-40 into the tracks and it now slides okay and latches. Tomorrow is the first day of the event with the bright-and-early-birds getting better chances of signing up with the one-on-one industry pro of their choice, you bet I will be up at the crack of dawn! More after tomorrow... Posted By: Craig Date: 7/30/2008 2:02:05 AM What a bummer with your hand! Cali and I will be in Kauai from Aug 5 - 15th. Please let me know what the weather is like. Mahalo, Craig Posted By: hoaryhead Date: 7/30/2008 2:39:04 AM Wow, people will think you're a really committed player when you start to play and that wound opens up. Posted By: John Pak Date: 7/30/2008 2:50:47 AM Charlie, hope that cut doesn't interfere with your playing! Posted By: Diesel Date: 7/30/2008 8:58:27 AM Super glue. I cut myself pretty regularly (I'm clumsy - explains my musical abilities...) and I have found that super glue will hold the pieces together better than a band-aid. (This information regarding what I do is not medical advice. Please see a trained medical professional before undertaking any stupid home remedies.) Posted By: singndance Date: 7/30/2008 10:41:27 AM What an opener! Sorry about the cut Mr. B. Glue, tape whatever it takes. Hope you see people that will help put your uking and singing out to the world. You deserve it. (And then I can brag to everyone as you're played repeatedly over the radio - Oh he's an ukulele friend of mine - basking in your reflected glory.) Posted By: Grandpa Jim Date: 7/30/2008 7:00:45 PM   (Updated: 7/30/2008 7:05:13 PM) "...an "accident report" which I am to fill out. You betcha I will be filling that puppy out." I'll bet you will! And I bet you know how! My best wishes to you for tomorrow. You are talented, you are prepared and you have a goal. I believe you will make it. And, like singndance, I want to know a famous guy too! Someday, that hand cut story will be part of the anecdote you will tell about the week-end you made your big breakthrough. Jim Posted By: Tulip Date: 7/31/2008 11:56:14 AM I heard about using superglue to close a wound too. Someone who was a doctor in France but decided not to go back to school to obtain his license here in the U.S. told me to use superglue to close a cut. Posted By: MR Bulk Date: 7/31/2008 12:20:13 PM Thanks for the well wishes, guys! Well, today's the day, the day they announce the five finalists in the songwriting contest. We'll see, keep yer fingers crossed for me and I'll let you all know when I hear something...*GULP* Posted By: MR Bulk Date: 7/31/2008 12:38:04 PM By the way one bright spot that has occurred for me was when I was assigned to David Pack's group the first day yesterday (all 150 songwriters attending the event are split into ten groups of fifteen writers each and assigned to sit in a seminar and song evaluation session by top industry professionals, mine was with him), and after listening to a couple of my songs, "Where've you Been Hiding At" and "Losing Night by Night" he actually gave me a major Nashville producer's Personal Cellphone Number(!!!) and told me to call the guy using Mr. Pack's name as a referral so I could submit my songs! Already widely known as the lead singer and writer of the group Ambrosia's numerous million-seller hits, here are David's other credentials: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Pack http://www.davidpack.com/ Here goes nothin'! Posted By: Diesel Date: 7/31/2008 6:14:36 PM Here goes sumfin' I think! Good on you and best of luck! Posted By: Grandpa Jim Date: 7/31/2008 9:05:25 PM I read the links. David Pack is some hi-powered dude! Getting that introduction from him can't hurt a bit. One of the toughest things about breaking into any of the arts is getting someone like that to notice your work. Best of Luck, Jim Posted By: Pat LaFleur Date: 7/31/2008 9:27:19 PM All aboard for Nashville! Charlie will soon be there. We're all sending good vibes your way. Posted By: Craig Date: 8/1/2008 9:46:42 AM How did it go Charlie? Posted By: singndance Date: 8/1/2008 10:13:55 AM Wow, wow, how terrific!!! Such fun, such potential fabulousness!! I am ready to break out my bragging credentials. Posted By: NinaC Date: 8/1/2008 11:59:28 AM That is fabulous! You know he never would have done that without thinking what you had was great. See!? I love your original songs and I'm so glad you're getting this opportunity. I hope something great comes of this, I really do. Keep us posted! I'm sorry about your hand, hope it heals very quickly so you can still play. Posted By: Diane1020 Date: 8/1/2008 12:29:46 PM Good luck Charlie. More people should be hearing your beautiful voice. From your number one fan (Hope you didn't see the movie, "Misery") Posted By: MR Bulk Date: 8/1/2008 2:00:50 PM Whoops, I did not win a thing. Turns out a couple of the five finalists were actually volunteer staff members for the event (and the mailed-in song entries were screened, and five finalists chosen, by staff) although the other two finalists were a young dude who was tied for first place last year and the other was a gal who used to live on Oahu but after attending these things a couple of times she was encouraged to actually move to Nashville (this year makes her fourth KMF attended), so anyway last night there was a "song-off" with the writers having to perform theirs live on stage in front of the pro judges made up of the famous guys I spoke about earlier. So then I play another song, and this time Dave (Mr. Pack calls me "Charlie" and I call him "Dave" now, sheesh) asks if he might write something directly on my lyric sheet. Thinking it might be a valuable critique, of course I say yes. Instead he scribbles down his personal e-mail and cell phone number, asking me to contact him after the 9th when he gets home (he's here with his kids and wants to actually have a real vacation after his obligations for the event are over on Sunday). So, no success on the "contest" phase, with some factors over which I woul dhave nad no control anyway, but some seemingly real opportunity in the way of valuable contacts. Jason Blume (yes look him up, even more credential'd than Dave) offered to critique a song or two of mine by sending them to him after the event, so I can hopefully repair any pitfalls (only in his "humble opinion" as he told me) with the song before I spend any money on a pro demo. They're big on submitting songs done with a quality demo, saying it is the only way to get a foot in the door when producers and A&R managers have to wade through literally thousands of CD submissions weekly. Supposedly they listen an average of twenty seconds to see if it catches their attention before they throw it onto the reject pile and stick in the next CD. Another interesting concept that dawned on me - today there are so many really good songwriters everywhere that record companies and artists can get them from anywhere, especially with the internet and MySpace and YouTube, etc., so why would they be interested in one from you? Apparently here's the deal - when you buy something, would you rather it be from someone unknown to you, who might sue you for some weird breach of contract down the road, or be bipolar, or a celebrity-stalker, or untrustworthy, etc., or a (as an example) songwriting show attendee whom you have met and interacted with over the course of several days, etc.? Makes sense to me, and that is why, for a hundred bucks (total registration cost of this event) no one here could have even fabricated a better situation in their wildest dreams. As an aside, an R&B singer dude by the name of Damon who I befriended here, is going to be sent a tape of music backing tracks for Mr. Blume's newest song - not yet cut nor taken nor pitched nor even shown to the public, freshly written(!) - with the intent of allowing Damon to sing onto one of the empty tracks (Damon's day job as a recording studio engineer allows him to be in this unique position of receiving this equipment-specific tape) both for Mr. Blume's demo recording staff's analysis as well as general exposure (sometimes a record company, while listening to a demo submission, will ask for the singer's information while rejecting the song!) but this is only what I know to have happened among my (very limited) circle of acquaintances here, meaning there is likely much more contact and networking going on everywhere else. Okay, sign ups for one-on-one meetings with the pro guys are opening now, gotta go get in line. See ya, and thanks for vicariously sharing this cool experience with me. Posted By: Craig Date: 8/1/2008 2:19:58 PM Good for you Charlie, having the huevos rancheros to pitch your stuff! You also seem to be having a great time! Posted By: Tulip Date: 8/1/2008 3:10:40 PM Congratulations, Charlie! Posted By: singndance Date: 8/1/2008 8:40:21 PM Even if you didn't "win", Charlie, you won the bigger contest of actually doing things with your music, reaching out to people who can move your songs forward. You won our hearts with your songs and our pride in your work and your great attitude. I'm already bragging what a great singer and uke player I know Posted By: Craig Date: 8/1/2008 10:16:10 PM Too bad you can't stay in Kauai for a few more days. My wife and I would enjoy meeting you! I know, one has that day-job thing..;) Posted By: yodelinglee Date: 8/1/2008 11:03:28 PM hang in there, my friend, sounds like the contacts you have made are good. You have a great talent. Posted By: Kalihi Boy in TN Date: 8/2/2008 11:16:16 AM Aloha Charlie, I might be seeing you in TN sooner that expected huh? Good luck to you. Harry Posted By: looney tunes Date: 8/2/2008 10:04:10 PM Hey Charlie, That's sounds like a hoot of a time, way to go. Loon Posted By: fifthnote Date: 8/2/2008 11:29:26 PM   (Updated: 8/2/2008 11:30:49 PM) Mr. B, I've been following the songs you post since signning up in this forum. Always enjoyed them. The talent definitely shows in the songs. I'm very excited for you and wish you all the success in breaking new ground. Sorry about the hand though, hope its healing well. Posted By: old smelly bob Date: 8/4/2008 7:14:39 PM Chas, get famous soon so i can stalk you... film at 11...... Posted By: MR Bulk Date: 8/5/2008 5:12:33 AM Got back late yesterday and had to report to work already last night, so right now is really the very first "wide awake" state of mind I am having - although I am yet again at work! I am so humbled by your kind comments and statements of support, thanks very much. I was inspired enough by the whole song fest experience that I actually completed a totally new song, bit by bit, built up over the last four days, being sure I implemented some of the methods and techniques shared with us by the greats. Right now I feel unbelievable, invincible. Surely in the light of day later on, clearheaded with enough sleep, this new song will not be as great as I feel it is right now while it basks in the glory of new creation, but ya never know... Dang, they're calling me on the radio - back to work for now... Thanks again!

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