January 2012
1 post
Testaroni
And here is the test…
June 2011
1 post
What a Difference A Wall Makes
Growing up, I saw that the Dallas Symphony played outdoor concerts. Never in all my time in this city did I ever think of sitting in 95 degree heat to listen to pops music outside.
Then I had a kid.
The DSO played a parks concert right by my house. There was no way that I was missing this. The Little Man had yet to see a classical show, any show I think unless you count his preschool musical. I...
May 2011
2 posts
It's All About Magic. Magic and Numbers.
My husband is addicted to comedy podcasts. He recommends Comedy Death Ray, the Marc Maron WTF podcast and The Paul F. Tompkcast.
In discussing these, I learned about the Paul F. Tompkins 300. The details are here, but the gist of it is simple. If you gather 300 people together in your town, he’ll come and play. Audience directed, audience demanded, full house and guaranteed income.
Who...
I Spin
As I was looking for an American Airlines receipt this afternoon, I ran across this old email to my friends from when the Little Man was born. Seeing this now, I know that what I wrote is not what I meant.
I’m a publicist at heart, a salesperson by profession and a pleaser by nature, so this thing is spun within an inch of its life. Here’s the email again with the original text...
April 2011
1 post
Obsessed with Mormons
This morning I woke up to a little surprise. The #1 and #2 albums on the Soundscan Classical Traditional chart belonged to the Mormons.
#1 - Men of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir
#2 - Josh Wright
First of all, watch the Josh video. It’s DOUBLY difficult to watch.
I’m not really going to comment on the quality as it’s irrelevant.
The issue is that the Mormons are the epitome...
September 2010
1 post
4 tags
Pitch Me Pitch You
Found this amazing list of how to pitch your band to an indie rock label - http://blogscarymonsters.blogspot.com/2010/08/demos.html
Includes the following gems:
Be concise… yet make sure you give me lots of info
Be friendly and charming… but don’t suck up
Be confident… but do not, under any circumstances, be arrogant
Tell me why your band is going to sell...
July 2010
1 post
A Day In The Life
I’m a working mom, so it’s rare that I get a full day to spend with the Little Man that’s not a hectic weekend. He’s got strep throat, so the doctor told him that he had to stay home. He’s apparently on the mend, so he’s being just a normal little boy. I thought it would be fun to document my day as a stay-at-home mom, including my quest to not watch TV all day...
June 2010
2 posts
Didn't I Just Say This?
For real, Terry Teachout, stop taking my ideas…
So Terry took one side of my Of Two Minds debate. I hear him. I do. Which makes me look at the other side again.
I look back at my experience and see that there is a role in this community for a symphony. But, as Terry suggests, it’s the duty of the symphony to find out exactly what that role is and do it better than anything else.
A...
Better Living Through...
The tough parenting times are tough, and being an American, I feel like the answer to everything is a product. Looking at some of my challenges, I bring you the list of Coulda/Shoulda Be’s.
1. Time Out Tiger - a strap that tethers to the wall and secures your child with a chest harness that’s decorated like a tiger. Safely keeps your child in the designated time-out spot, but the...
April 2010
5 posts
Define "Business Model"
By now, I’m sure that most of you have read this article in the New Yorker about the publishing industry. If you haven’t, I highly suggest that you do (and know that it will take awhile).
First off, the funniest thing to me was this line - “there is a running joke that the second book published on the Gutenberg press was about the death of the publishing business.” Just...
I remember far too much of this stuff - http://bit.ly/9SDfGI #childofthe80s
We All Gotta Choose
One of my friends was past due in her pregnancy, so they had to induce. She was very much looking forward to a natural childbirth and had a support system and birth plan all laid out. She posted her induction plans on Facebook, and one of her friends said, “Remember that the end result is still a beautiful child. And this will introduce you to the kind of flexibility you’re going to...
You're Not Gonna Reach My Telephone
Poor Jay from the Dallas Symphony. He called my house soliciting for a subscription purchase. He had no idea what he was in for. I grilled this poor man for twenty minutes on his job and what he learned from calling people. (Props to Amanda Ameer for giving me the idea to grill him from her earlier blog post)
Please to enjoy:
J: Denise? This is Jay from the DSO returning your call. How was...
Um, also known as The Village People - The Early... →
March 2010
2 posts
The Train Has Left the Station
Let’s face it. When you become a parent, all things elimination are no longer taboo. So with that, I bring you Adventures in Potty Training.
Here are the latest techniques, and how they have actually come to fruition in our house.
1 - Have your child make a favorite stuffed animal use the potty.
This has resulted in LM taking Elmo to the bathroom, sitting him down on the toilet, and...
4 tags
Of Two Minds
I’m arguing with myself. I recently went to see Caroline Goulding (thanks Rebecca) at the Dallas Symphony. I found myself on two sides of a very big fence. One - major metropolitan cities do not need symphony orchestras just ‘cause. Two - major metropolitan cities do need symphony orchestras just ‘cause.
Because I can’t decide - I’m writing two parts.
Part One - If...
February 2010
15 posts
You know...for kids!
Saw this today. So, museum attendance is up, but revenue is down.
Want to know why this doesn’t surprise me? Because I have a child.
My local museum has a late night event once a month. It’s incredibly attractive to me because it means a family night out and one less day that week that I have to watch Pixar’s Cars reenacted on my living room floor.
When we go to the museum,...
Streaming Hoosiers
Background: After undergrad, I convinced Indiana University that they should accept me into their performance masters program. I started graduate school there in flute performance and was soon miserable.
I also took a job in the ticket office at their performing arts center. This is the building where they stage their full-scale operas and their huge ballet productions (did I mention this was a...
I'm Not Saying Anything, I'm Just Marketing
Facebook ads gave me this zinger as a served ad yesterday.
“Old Spice is not saying this body wash will make your man smell into a romantic millionaire jet fighter pilot, but we are insinuating it.”
Brilliant! The ad was accompanied by a picture of a buff man getting out of the shower. And for that, we thank you.
Imagine how crazy I could get with this! Legal implications be...
Want your emails/posts/etc. read? Perhaps try this - http://www.shadyurl.com #madeyoulook
4 tags
Fool Me Once...
A joke I heard once - a man was dying, and he got a glimpse at heaven and hell. Heaven was a lovely place with harps and clouds and angels and satisfied people all floating about. He visited hell and saw people lounging around, sipping cocktails, having the time of their lives all bustling about laughing, singing, etc. “Hmmm…,” he said. “I don’t understand why...
You know why this album cracks me up - it’s Volume ONE! http://bit.ly/bFnnvs
5 tags
Steph's Enchilada Stack
My sister cooks exactly the opposite of me. She dumps, pours and sprinkles without any care of measurements. So the recipe of “tortillas, chicken, cheese, sauce” is not one that I had much confidence in. Turns out that it’s super easy, involves things that are already prepped, and takes no time.
Steph’s Enchilada Stack (or Tortillaschickencheesesaucerepeat):
(Toddler...
I think I just found the art for my media room - http://bit.ly/9ApKOb
Holy potty training! Huggies has trademarked “Big Kid”. Do I need to pay a royalty every time I talk to my son?
According to my local Bach society, the 13th is Monteverdi Saturday. And me without my madrigals…
What the disco happened here?
Mika duets with Dani DeNiese on the UK’s inane Popstar to Operastar show. No - it’s not opera if you just sing your song slower and without the disco beat. Know what it is? A different version of your song. Enjoy it on Perez.
Best line in a press release - Constructed as meticulously as a Mozart symphony or a Steely Dan album…
Amateur musicians rejoice! →
Anne Midgette — though I don’t always agree with her blog posts, I did enjoy this story on Marin Alsop’s “Rusty Musician” series. If you’re over 25 and can read music, you can have a chance to play with the BSO. Tickets to the show are $10 - just cheap enough that friends can come see you play.
Just saying - how many of these audience members are going to turn...
New Music Nisey
It’s about time to look at some new music that either frustrates the heck out of me or makes me happy. Let’s start with the frustration, shall we?
1. Mr. Jason Derulo, I humbly ask you to please learn that the word “roof” does not rhyme with the word “truth”. It’s making me nuts, and your song is on constantly. Troofully yours, Denise
Whatcha Say -...
Toddler Music Musings
LM: What song is that Mommy?
Me: TikTok
LM: TikTok
Me: By Kesha
LM: Ketchup!!!
Me: Not ketchup! Kesha!
LM: Ketchup!!! (very big laugh)
[a few more bars play]
LM: No like TikTok
My thoughts exactly, Little Man!!!
And during the Lady Gaga/Elton John performance at the Grammys:
LM: It's scary!
Me: No, honey, it's Lady Gaga. She's just singing.
LM: Turn off the TV! No no like Lady Gaga!
Sad, but I wasn't so fond of the performance myself.
January 2010
29 posts
The Little Man’s Big Boy Room is now painted. He’s just about ready to move across the hall. A FEW FEET across the hall, but I’m still a little sad.
Pre-Super Bowl Musings, or Why I Heart the Colts
Let’s get this straight first. I don’t love football. I still can’t follow formations or watch specific players. I don’t understand what makes a good quarterback, and I don’t know a tight end from a wide receiver. That doesn’t mean that I don’t watch the games and enjoy them.
I grew up in Texas where football is a religion. If you doubt me, watch Friday...
Music subscription - http://tinyurl.com/yenv8qq
Holy breakfast casserole
So, um, there’s nothing healthy about this, there’s nothing nutritional, there’s not a good reason to make or eat this. The only reason is that it’s GOOOOD! So fire up the Vytorin — I bring you Breakfast Casserole.
Bon Appetit, November 1997
1 pound bulk breakfast sausage 2 tablespoons all purpose flour 1 1/2 cups milk (do not use low-fat or nonfat)...
Best new word - rightclickability.
Trogdor the Burninator
I have yet to decide and form any opinions - for now, I’m curious and like the artwork.
Shawt Week
This week! How a four-day work-week could be this long I don’t know, but for those keeping score at home, I’d like to share some bizarre things that crossed my path (or my mind) this week.
1. The rise of Ke$ha has subjected me to near-constant hearings of Flo Rida’s not-very-good-follow-up-to-Low “Right Round”. Thank$
2. After countless emails back and forth...
50 Great Voices on NPR
This is where my geekdom shines through. Last year NPR asked for submissions for their 2010 program called “50 Great Voices”. Throughout this year they will profile singers who have distinctive styles, sounds, impacts on music.
Have you seen this list?! Go here to see the interactive map.
This is why I love music. Lauryn Hill sits next to Maria Callas. Notorious B.I.G. is next to...
D€ni$€
For real, I think I’m obsessed with Ke$ha.
1. It pains me to see the dollar sign in her name. It also pains me that one must type the dollar sign to find her on search. Try it - I’m right.
2. I’m fascinated by radio hits that just blow up. I remember seeing this as the #1 song on iTunes, listening to it, and then vomiting. Now I know all the words.
3. She seems to wear...
Spotify Classical →
Just saying - interesting.
Why do so many boy-sung songs include the theme “I cheated on you, but I’ll never do it again, so take me back”? Just wondering.
Get this song out of my head
Not too long ago, my husband was wandering around the house singing “Build Me Up Buttercup”. He asked me if I ever had an earworm - those songs that just get stuck in your head on a loop. This was the first time I had ever heard that word.
But it won’t be the last. The wonderful Danny Felsenfeld is putting together something called The Earworm Project. He’s soliciting both...
Currently watching two of Little Man’s obsessions at the same time - Cars and the Fireflies video. He’s a little overwhelmed, and so am I.
Flipper Babies
Due to my insomnia the other night, I watched two episodes of “Little Miss Perfect” on WE. The premiere included a baby denture called a flipper. I was crying/laughing at this, and I didn’t think that anyone but me cared. And here is where I praise Jezebel for watching the same TV as me. Go see for yourself.
I have to give WE credit for this show. It sits back and pretty much...
2010 is the year that digital sales will surpass... →
I don’t want to spend $700 to find out exactly how they figured this out, but I am interested to know.
Good for Kiddies' Ears →
Pretty cool, and saves little folks’ ears. They can design them themselves, too!
“Performers aren’t audacious enough today,” Mr. Boulez also told me. “They think...”
– Pierre Boulez in The New York Times http://bit.ly/5Af3Dw
iPhone piano keyboard →
Only two octaves, but still. Now for violin? Flute? :-)