Bristol Recording & Voice Studios-169 Mass Ave Boston, MA 02115
www.bristolstudios.com 617-247-8689

INDEX

• Auditions & Events
     Featuring an Online Listing of Performance Opportunities!
• Bristol Success Story
     Hear What People are Saying About the Recording Workshop for Vocalists!
• Latest Studio News
     Featuring Mark Bennett, Tony Giuliano, George Walters-Sleyon, Tim Washburn and Mikey Kelly!
• Voice & Performances
     Featuring Jada, Christina McGhie, Angela Lynn Pettiway, Kelley Bolduc, and the Bristol Student Showcase!
• Random Notes from Producer Ric Poulin
     The Effects of Dairy Products on the Voice and "Dairy Sensitive" Individuals
• Interview of The Month
     With Bristol Recording Client and Voice Alumnist Jaime Guiod!
• National/International News
     Jada in Miami, American Idol Voting Scam and Europe Comes to America!
• Upcoming Workshops
     Performance Workshop Level 1 Coming Soon!
• Industry Tip of The Month
     "What's Wrong with American Idol?"
• Studio Specials and Reminders
     New Engineering Course Offering! Reason 2.5!
• Upcoming Concerts and Performances
     From Jada, The Camelia Latin Jazz Trio, Maggie Rose and More!
• Services
     A Complete List of Services Offered by Bristol Recording & Voice Studios!

BRISTOL SUCCESS STORY

This Success Story comes from vocalists who took part in the RECORDING WORKSHOP FOR VOCALISTS offered by Bristol Voice Studios.

"I had a great time today!! I've never recorded anything before, I'm really pleased with what I did and the knowledge I have received from the instructors. I feel that they were very helpful and it was a comfortable atmosphere to come and learn about recording. I hope that I can continue this work and retain a good hold of recording technique. Thank you!" - MS

"My Teacher was extremely informative. She showed me what to do and more importantly what not to do in a vocal recording setting and I had fun learning how to add background and underlying vocals. I learned that recording is not exactly easy and to now be able to easily punch out the lyrics is awesome! At least now when I record, I have knowledge about the process and I can understand exactly what the engineer is talking about." - BL

"I had a really great time! In the beginning I learned quite a few more technical terms than I knew before. I got some really helpful feedback and the instructor was easy to work with. I'm glad I got to try out my own song because I'll be more prepared for when I record the final mix. It was also very interesting and educational to work with the other vocalists." - AF

This month in Studio C, composer Mark Bennett of the Huntington Theater Company was working with Bristol engineer Matt Williamson on recording the underscore and transitional music for the Tennessee Williams play "Rose Tattoo," set to debut June 13th on Broadway in New York. In the studio, under the direction of Mark, Matt recorded violin performed by Yaeko Miranda, oboe performed by Benjamin Bolter, and trumpet performed by Matthew Ara, all from the New England Conservatory. The story of "Rose Tattoo" takes place in a old world Italian community on the Louisiana Bayou and the original accompaniment asked for in this play was simply guitar and a singer. Mark has drawn on elements from the play and expanded the instrumental selection to really represent the old world Italian culture with a hint of Louisiana blues. Mark, also a graduate of the New England Conservatory is a highly sought after composer on and off Broadway and has achieved many notable awards including a 1998 Obie award for Sustained Excellence in Sound Design, as well as a Bessie award for dance composition.
Mark has also been nominated for seven Drama Desk awards. Earlier this year, Mark's compositions could be heard in "Henry IV" starring Kevin Kline and Ethan Hawke presented at the Vivian Belmont Theater at the Lincoln Center in NY. When asked about his experiences working at Bristol Recording Studios, Mark said "The room sounded great! Everybody's been really supportive, friendly, and helpful on a project that's taken a little more time than we originally thought and (Bristol) has also been accommodating with gear". Here's what Matt had to say about working with such a notable composer, "It's been an absolute pleasure. Mark is the first theater composer I have worked with and he is a true professional. Working with Mark has been a great experience, he truly commanded the session and I appreciate the advice he has to offer and the experience he has shared with me."

Owner/Producer Ric Poulin with Tony in Studio B		Singer/songwriter Tony Giuliano was recently in Studio B working with Studio Owner/Producer Ric Poulin. Tony is in the process of completing his first demo featuring original acoustic rock songs. Tony first came to Bristol Recording & Voice Studios through the "Careers in Music" workshop where he met Ric Poulin for the first time. Ric listened to a tape of a few originals Tony had made, and recognized Tony's talent for songwriting. Tony knew his voice would need some improvement to really get a 'pro' sound before any demo work could be done. He started voice lessons with Bristol Vocal Coach Brent Barlow, under Ric's direction, to work on his original songs. "Once I started catching on, the vocals basically outgrew my material and led to a whole new level of songwriting." Then Tony took the Songwriting Workshop offered by Bristol. "The Songwriting Workshop enhanced my skills, as I took Ric's method of songwriting and blended that with my own style, I starting writing tunes more frequently and of better quality than ever."
Tony recently completed recording his original song "All I Know" with Ric and that song was a direct result of the Songwriting Workshop. "All I Know" was a song that Tony wrote to express the simple confidence of a man who loves a woman, and all he knows is that someday she'll come back home. Tony is now on to the next step in the workshop, setting up his own website and learning to shop the tune. "As soon as I learned to play two chords I wrote a song and since then, my passion for songwriting just continued to grow and is still growing. My main inspiration and influence has always been the Beatles, especially the later stuff when their songwriting really flourished. I guess I just loved the character and charm of the way they brought us an idea or a story and blended it with really catchy melodies. I try to make my songs pretty representative of my character and personality and as 'me' as possible. I want people listening to get a feeling or inspiration from it as naturally as possible, as if we were in a conversation." Tony recently performed his original song, "And She Said" at the Bristol Voice Student Showcase.

Recording client George Walters-Sleyon has completed his recording project here at Bristol. Entitled "Hold On, You Will Survive", his CD has been produced for the sole purpose of raising funds for schools and orphanages in Liberia. George worked with Bristol Producer Chris Billias on recording, mixing and mastering this project. To George, this an album of conscience and as a musician it is his goal to raise awareness of the plight of women, children and the less fortunate who have born the brunt of recent turmoil in the area. "Hold On, You Will Survive" is currently available for purchase online at www.cdbaby.com and at www.sonicbids.com. George recently performed music from this CD in Baltimore, MD and in Massachusetts at Gordon College. "Hold On, You Will Survive" will soon be available online at www.amazon.com, and at Boston area Virgin Megastores. George recently graduated from Boston University's School of Theology with a Master's Degree in Divinity and Social Ethics. If anyone is interested in contacting George regarding this truly humanitarian project, he can be reached at 617-566-8413 or by email at gmahb@bu.edu.

Recently, voice over talent Mikey Kelly was working with Senior Producer Chris Billias on recording voice for a Dr. Pepper commercial. Mikey is a graduate of Emerson College where he studied television production. Currently he works in L.A. doing voiceover work. Mikey has contributed to many projects including hit video games: Tony Hawk: Underground, Wratchet and Clank, and Full Spectrum Warrior. Mikey has also lent his voice to the Scooby Doo animated movies and to the new WB show; Balloonantics. Mikey is so sought after for his voice over skills that when he was vacationing in Massachusetts with his wife, he was called from his offices in L.A. and told to come in to Bristol Recording Studios to make the Dr. Pepper recording. When asked about his experiences working in the facilities at Bristol and with our staff, Mikey said "It was great, it was a lot of fun. Chris and everybody here are cool!"

INTERVIEW OF THE MONTH:

This month's interview is with Bristol recording artist and Bristol Voice alumni, Jaime Guiod. Currently, Jaime is in the studio recording an original three song demo with veteran producer and studio owner Ric Poulin. Jamie also recently performed her original song "She Still Smiles" at the Bristol Voice Student Showcase. Jaime's music has been featured on the Mix 2 album released by Mona Lisa Records. Want to see this songstress in action? See Jaime perform as she hosts a weekly karaoke night, each Wednesday at T's Pub at 973 Commercial Ave (next to the Paradise). Bristol: When did you first get into music? Jaime: I've been singing since I was about 7 years old and writing lyrics since I was about 11 years old, and I always knew music was the only thing I wanted to do with my life. Also, I grew up in a musical family so I was always surrounded by it. Bristol: What brought you to Bristol Recording & Voice Studios?

Jaime: In 1996, when I was 19 years old, I decided it was time to strengthen my voice, so I found Bristol Studios through an ad, and made an appointment for a consultation. I wasn't sure what to expect, but after that consultation I decided to start taking voice lessons. I told myself I'd stick with it if Bristol really helped make a difference and 3 years later I was still taking voice lessons.

Bristol: What other services did you take advantage of while you were studying at Bristol Voice Studios?

Jaime: I also took a recording workshop and 2 performance workshops. I actually went into the first performance workshop with hesitation thinking I already knew what to do on stage. After it was finished, I was so glad I went through it. It gave me more confidence than I ever had before. I was already a singer, but the workshop taught me how to be a performer.

Bristol: After you had this new-found confidence, what did decide to do with your career?

Jaime: Not long after the second performance workshop ended, I felt ready and decided it was time to put everything I had learned at Bristol to good use and started auditioning for bands. I first worked with a guitarist on a duo project and eventually started playing with full bands. I have worked with many musicians in both cover and original bands over the past 7 years, and played out in and around the Boston area at such venues as The Bell in Hand, Copperfield's, and Great Scott.

Bristol: How did you end up hosting karaoke night at T's Pub?

Jaime: In 2000 I lived on Comm Ave. and used to go over to T's Pub to sing karaoke all the time. One night, I was asked to be a host. Of course I said "yes," right away and felt proud that someone thought I had enough talent to entertain a crowd every week. And I still currently work there every Wednesday night.

Bristol: What made you decide to pursue recording?

Jaime: I haven't been in a band since last year, and things have been pretty frustrating lately. It's been tough for me to find the right musicians who not only have the talent, but the drive and determination to succeed in music. So one of my mottos is that if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself. I decided one of things I really needed was a demo.

Bristol: What made you come back to Bristol Recording Studios?

Jaime: I put an ad out on Craig's List asking for any help or suggestions. I eventually got an email from Bristol Studios saying Ric was having some consultations, and I should come in and talk with him. How could I ever have forgotten about Bristol Studios in the first place? Needless to say, I met with Ric, neither of us knowing what would come out of it, but we had an interesting conversation. We both agreed I did need a really great demo and a professional package that I could use to promote myself.

Bristol: How is that project coming along?

Jaime: We're just finishing up with the first song and we'll record 2 more after. They will all be my own original songs. The songs are pop/rock, and will be along the lines of Alanis, Michelle Branch, Avril. After the demo is recorded, it's onto getting a website created and getting pictures done. And then, who knows where it will progress from there. But I know that my dedication will never allow me to give up pursuing my dream of singing.

Bristol: What would you say to today's aspiring artist?

Jaime: "You should never give up whatever your passion in life is, no matter what anyone says. Everything takes time and hard work, and you have to be willing to make the effort. And if others don't believe in you, never stop believing in yourself. Bristol Studios taught me so much and without them, I know I wouldn't be where I am today."

Bristol: Thank you Jaime!

See Boston's hottest pop/r&b sensation, Jada, featured by Universal Audio! http://www.uaudio.com/webzine/may/text/content1.html#Anchor-14210
"REMIX Roundup - Remix Hotel, Miami and the arrival of Jada!"

Universal Audio attended its first Remix Hotel event during the Winter Music Conference in Miami to show the new UAD-1 Studio Pak to the Remix/DJ crowd. With the killer location and coincidence with the Winter Music Conference, the event attracted a large number of DJ's, producers and remixers who dropped by to check out the latest gear from the exhibitors including: UA, Pioneer, Yamaha, Mackie & Korg. Hot all-girl Boston band "Jada" dropped by the UA booth and the lovely Jacyn, Lauren, Elle and Ashley treated us to an impromptu a cappella performance of one of their new tracks. These ladies can REALLY sing, and they are holding a remix competition, so put your UAD-1 to good use and visit their site! UA's own Will Shanks can be seen in
this shot with the girls!" For more pictures from the Remix Hotel go to http://www.uaudio.com/company/gallery/remix04.html.

"FTC Bust "American Idol" Voting Scam"
By: Mi2N (http://musicdish.com/mag/?cat_nb=1) 2004-04-24

On behalf of the Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a complaint and consent order against several Utah-based defendants settling Commission charges that they deceived approximately 25,000 consumers who were trying to call the popular television show "American Idol" to vote for their favorite performer during the 2002 and 2003 seasons. According to the FTC's complaint, the defendants took advantage of callers who inadvertently misdialed the "American Idol" phone numbers by buying numbers that were very close to - but not the same as - the correct numbers (i.e., an 800 prefix instead of the 866 prefix or a switch in two of the digits (1-866-463-5701 instead of 1-866-436-5701) and that routed the callers to the defendants' own toll-free lines. The callers were then allegedly led to believe that they had to call a 900 number to place their vote, and that they had to pay a fee ranging from $1.99 to $2.97 per call.

"A European Music Office In New York City" By: Mi2N 2004-04-24

The European Music Office, in conjunction with many European music promotion organizations, has initiated a project designed to "pre-figure" a future European Music office based in NYC, with the support of the European Union. Objectives of the action aim at widening the knowledge of the European cultural operators in the US market and creating an information contact point facilitating the development of European music in the US. This will be accomplished through an on-going study of the market and an aggregated database of key US contacts in various fields of music and related media businesses. The office will perform services for the immediate priorities of the participating promotion organizations. This office eventually will propose its services to all the national music promotion organizations based in Europe, with constituents including record labels, publishers, organizations, managers and most other music related businesses. This project will be directed in the US by Robert Singerman, a 25 year veteran in developing US and international artists and companies, in association with the European Music Office and the many organizations. Robert Singerman, using the services of MiriamLockshin and other internationally known experts in the US music business, will identify and establish a pool of consultants to be available for consultancy work for European Music professionals, upon requests of the European national music promotion organizations.

PERFORMANCE WORKSHOP LEVEL ONE IS STARTING SOON!
MAKE YOURS A PERFORMANCE TO REMEMBER!! If you're serious about succeeding as a performer on a local or national level or just want to finally get up there on stage for fun, and feel that you need improvement in ANY of the following areas, then this workshop is a MUST for you!!
 •Being comfortable and confident on stage.
 •Handling nervousness and overcoming stage fright
 •Being comfortable talking to audiences (and what to say to them)
 •How to put emotion into a performance
 •How to achieve star presence and star quality on stage
 •Physical movement including gesturing in songs
 •Stage manners
If you are interested in signing up or learning more about this phenomenal workshop then call Amie at 617-247-8689 today!

"When I first started this workshop, I could not function on stage. I could not see, breathe or sing, let alone move around and dance! Now I can get up on stage and instead of feeling afraid, I feel excited and pumped up! There is a huge difference in how I feel and look on stage. Even if I weren't trying to perform, this workshop is great for just learning how to communicate with people. What I learned here I can take into my personal and professional life!" -SW

GET THE TRAINING YOU NEED TO BECOME A RECORDING ENGINEER! Bristol Recording Studios offers: Small class sizes! Hands-on training! The most current and innovative audio and production techniques! Real life recording scenarios! We are currently accepting registrations for all engineering courses. These courses are led by experienced, talented industry professionals and they are specifically designed to help you succeed in today's recording industry. Call Craig today at 617-247-8689 for more course information and don't forget to ask about package discounts. As of now, we currently offer the following courses:
Basic Courses:
Audio Engineering I
Audio Engineering II
ProTools I
ProTools II
Advanced Courses:
ProTools III
MIDI
Digital Performer
Audio Production I
Audio Production II
NEW COURSE JUST ADDED! Reason 2.5

"Bristol Studios has been a wonderful experience for me. As a performer, I wanted to know the behind the scenes of engineering and production. The staff at Bristol has given me that dream and opportunity to succeed in the music business. With their training, I have boosted my ability as a musician and now as an engineer and producer. Thanks to all at Bristol Studios!" - BG

Specific tutorials designed to fit your individual educational needs are also available. Call for details. If you would like more information on any of these courses or if you'd like to register for our program, please contact Craig at 617-247-8689.

ATTENTION SINGERS! YOU SHOULD BE RECORDING! Sign up for the RECORDING WORKSHOP FOR VOCALISTS and you can...
LEARN IT! Learn the ins and outs of the recording process. Bristol Voice Studio has been successfully training singers how to correctly produce the great tone qualities currently in use by the top singers today. But how do you get these onto a recording and make it sound like a record? Find out once and for all in this unique workshop.
SING IT! Discover how to produce a record quality vocal performance. Vocalists who can get a great sound in a studio are very valuable and sought after by producers, songwriters, advertising agencies and record labels. Learn the tools of the trade and get a chance to practice them in the studio.
RECORD IT! CREATE A DEMO TAPE! Take the mystery and fear out of the studio environment and the recording process. Let our experienced engineers and vocal coaches guide you through the recording process and capture your performance to create that all important great sounding vocal demo tape.

For more information on the Recording Workshop for Vocalists presented by Bristol Voice Studios, please contact Amie at 617-247-8689.

INDUSTRY TIP OF THE MONTH

"What's Wrong with American Idol?"
Four Music Business Experts Say the Popular Talent Show Is Misleading Tens of Thousands of Aspiring Musicians ... and the Public at Large.
by Bob Baker - The Buzz Factor, Posted March 2004 (www.musicbizacademy.com/articles/bb_americanidol.htm)

"American Idol" is no doubt one of the most popular TV shows of recent years, drawing millions of viewers every week. But, according to four music business experts, the program is doing a disservice to aspiring musicians and distorting perceptions of how the music industry really works. "The show may be fun to watch, but it's the last place I'd recommend anyone go to learn how to succeed with a music career," says Bob Baker, author of "Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook" and "Unleash the Artist Within." Baker compared notes with three other music business pros: Derek Sivers, Peter Spellman and Danica Mathes. All four agreed the show has created widespread misconceptions about what it takes to succeed as a musical artist in the modern world. They have identified five myths perpetuated by American Idol and are on a mission to set the record straight.

Myth #1
Industry talent scouts actively look for singers and musicians to develop.

"Shows like 'American Idol' lead viewers to believe that there are hundreds of people like Simon, Paula and Randy out there searching for talent they can mold into the next big pop star. That's an Old World view that simply doesn't reflect reality these days," Baker says. Danica Mathes, a St. Louis, MO-based entertainment attorney, who has worked with artists such as Nelly and Anthony Cosmo (of the band Boston), admits that record companies employ A&R people whose job it is to sign and nurture new artists. "But as major labels consolidate, cut staffs and get nervous about the bottom line, they no longer have the time or money to develop new acts," she says. "Instead, they look for artists who are already developing themselves, attracting fans and selling CDs on their own. "It's easy to forget that in the music business, like any other business, a record company's investment and risk on a newly signed act can mean the end of several careers -- not just the artist's -- if it doesn't work. So a label is much more likely to invest in someone who has a proven track record."

Myth #2
Most aspiring musicians lack talent and are delusional, struggling and starving.

The "American Idol" auditions, in particular, create this illusion. "That's a huge misconception," says Derek Sivers, founder and president of Portland, OR-based CD Baby, a web site that in 2003 sold $4.6 million worth of CDs (more than 400,000 units) by unsigned acts. "I'm blown away by the tremendous amount of quality music being produced outside the mainstream," he says. "Many amazing musicians have decided they're happier selling 10,000 CDs on their own and making a hundred thousand dollars, than selling a million CDs and being broke on a major label. That's the reality of today's music business."

Myth #3
You need the approval of industry insiders to make it in music.

Another misguided notion is that getting an industry big shot's approval will make or break your career. "Sorry, you don't need Simon's or anyone else's permission to be worthy of a career in music," Baker says. "If you wait for someone to give you the green light to create and perform music, you may wait a long time. Artists should use their inner conviction and the response they get from fans to fuel their progress." "Every major label in the U.K. passed on both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones in their day," says Peter Spellman, Director of Career Development at Berklee College of Music in Boston, and author of "Indie Power" and "The Self-Promoting Musician." "That gives you a sense of what label gatekeepers know about an artist's potential. Who knows what talent they're passing on today?"

Myth #4
Landing a major recording contract is the ultimate sign of success.

"While major label deals have a purpose in the industry for some musicians, I definitely preach the independent gospel," Mathes says. "I've heard countless stories of bands that got signed and never went anywhere, or bands that had record deals and ended up falling far short of their expectations. Unfortunately, Kelly Clarkson, Clay Aiken and Ruben Studdard are the exceptions, not the rule" According to Mathes, only about one in 30 signed acts reach significant enough sales levels to warrant a second CD release, which means nearly 97% of artists with recording contracts fail. "Getting signed often means the kiss of death," she says. "Yet, I talk to aspiring artists every day who still believe they need a major label deal. The smartest musicians understand that there are other options that give them much more control over their careers, and they aren't afraid to put their all into making it happen. Artists who realize success does not happen when you get signed to a major label are the ones who will make it in this industry."

Myth #5
Without widespread nationwide exposure, you're doomed to failure.

Most musicians would love to get the high-impact TV exposure that "American Idol" finalists receive. But nationwide media coverage is not a requirement for ultimate success in music. "When most people think of successful artists, they mainly think of who they've heard on the radio or seen on MTV," Baker explains. "However, there are thousands of lesser-known artists who actively write, record and perform great music under the radar. And, contrary to popular belief, many of them make decent money, have large armies of devoted fans and are quietly, but steadily, building careers." Baker adds, "It's misguided for artists to think they need the massive exposure and approval of music industry honchos a la 'American Idol' in order to succeed. The musicians with the best odds of success take their careers into their own hands, promote themselves relentlessly and create their own lucky breaks."