Singers: Steps to Performing and Singing

October 28, 2008

How can you get yourself ready for a show as a singer or entertainer so that you can ensure you will have a good performance? Get yourself mentally and physically ready so that you will focus with confidence on a delivering a great performance. Rehearse your songs and their lyrics so that you have them memorized.
It doesn’t hurt to allow yourself a cheat sheet to help you remember words of a song for your upcoming performance on stage. You have to memorize those words of a song thoroughly, and ideally they should be locked in your mind. Keep drinking water to keep those vocal cords moist and ready to help you sing your best and fill you with self-assurance.

Learn to listen to yourself singing through recording yourself, decide what you need to to do to build your performance skills. If you have a recording of a band or orchestra in the background, try to practice so that you sound naturally comfortable with the background music. Pinpoint parts in the music that don’t sound right or natural, and keep practicing until you get it right.
Most outstanding singers have a special quality that singles them out to a crowd, such as movement or a special way of singing to keep a audience mesmerized. Discover that special something that you might have that could keep an audience listen to you. For example, if you have a special look, capitalize on it and look good for your performance.
Before going on stage, try to refrain from overusing your voice and don’t shout at all! Vocal cords are sensitive to overuse and abuse, and you certainly don’t want to add to the problem before an important performance. You can be a very good singer and maybe get away with a lot, but your voice is still sensitive to overuse.

If you have any common sense don’t even try to eat foods full of heavy spices or drink carbonated beverages before you go on stage, because you certainly don’t want the audience to hear a loud burp or see you with spicy food backing your throat. Eliminate alcohol before any performance as it gives a drying effect on your vocal cords, which is not good before a performance. You want to keep your throat hydrated with some tea with lemon and honey.
Many singers are very critical of themselves. No matter what type of positive talk or reviews performers might receive, a singer still might be overly critical of their latest performance.
Many of the top singers are extra sensitive about the quality of their voice as they do not want to spoil their vocal cords with bad habits such as smoking or illness.

In order to get noticed by others as a singer, start singing at weddings, parties, or even a karaoke bar where strangers listen to you sing. Another great place to get known as a singer is at your church, where people will know you because of your singing. Keep in mind that many well known singers gradually became noticed because of their participation in local plays, church performances, or theater productions.

Singing with Your Whole Self Singing with Your Whole Self

Hip Hop Style: Not Only for Celebrities

By: Justin Stewart

Whether you like Rocawear or Baby Phat, or any line in between, you can thank the celebrity hip hop Moguls for lending their name and expertise in hip hop style for creating such great brands with cutting edge styles and trends. The hip hop community is known for its explosive fashion. Some question the actual quality of such hip hop fashion trends such as the infamous M. C. Hammer parachute pants yet some hip hop styles never die out such as the great hip hop jewelry bling that out favorite celebrities adorn.



Just by watching a hip hop music video you will see the latest trends in hip hop style and hip hop jewelry such as the world's largest diamond pendant from Lil Jon's song and music video "Crunk Ain't Dead". Nevertheless your dreams of achieving current hip hop style does not have to die because you do not possess the millions of dollars necessary to purchase such jewelry like the world's largest diamond pendant.



There are a variety of hip hop style stores that sell hip hop jewelry including necklaces, bracelets, earrings, watches and rings among other great hip hop styles pieces. These hip hop style stores create jewelry pieces which mimic the jewelry that our hip hop idols adorn by creating these hip hop jewelry pieces with materials that are more affordable for our wallets. Instead of white gold, platinum and silver, these pieces come in stainless steel, silver toning and silver plating. Instead of megabucks bling bling, diamonds, the finest pieces of Austrian Zirconium is used.



Therefore you can maintain your hip hop style at a fraction of the cost. What Jay Z spends on his hip hop pendant necklaces and bracelets is what you will probably make in a lifetime. Now you can purchase a replica for under $20 in most cases. To complete your hip hop style wardrobe, you can shop at one of the many hip hop fashion lines whether it be from Phat Farm, baby Phat, Sean John, Appl Bottom Jeans, Makaveli, Shady Limited, Wu Wear, Rocawear, FUBU or G Unit Clothing to other hip hop style lines that are not necessarily associated with celebrity names such as Enyce, Timberland Boots, LRG, Ecko Girbaud and Akademiks.



Hip hop style has existed since hip hop was created in the early 80s. It is rather fascinating to see how far hip hop style has transformed in the last 30 years. From Adidas tracksuits, Doc Marten shoes and Leather Bomber Jackets to the clean cut, elegant and sexy fitting clothing trends such as polo shirts, tight fit vintage jeans, sports coats and cufflinks.



Some even believe that there is a reemergence of some 80s styles such as the oversized sun glasses and that fashion is being split between the clean cut and trendy hip hop such as Kayne West styles as opposed to baggy fitting, early 90 rapper styles such as Ja Rule.



Regardless of the hip hop style and its divergence, hip hop jewelry bling is a necessary component in hip hop style.

Author Resource:-> For information on selling any out of style jewelry, please Cash4MyBling.com.

Article From Free Find Article Directory - Find Thousands of Articles

Top R&b/hip-hop Singles 1942-2004 The only complete history of Billboard''s Hot RandB/Hip-Hop Singles chart, this book by Joel Whitburn is a mammoth monument to one of America''s most beloved music styles...

Get your 15 minutes of Fame

Get Your 15 Minutes of Fame! Work Those Security Cameras

By: Nahshon Roberts

The security cameras at the local bank, at the street intersection, at the casino, at the school grounds, at the modeling agency, and at the mall can be your most valuable friend in the search for fame. Never mind if your kind of fame is a flash in the pan, at least you had a taste of fame. Or of infamy, if that is what you want. Most people have neither of those and continue living their humdrum lives.

Be the Hero or be the Villain

Remember the security cameras at your neighborhood bank? You can actually use those cameras and their operators as instant camera crew in your very own reality show; you save on capital and personnel costs at the same time!

If you want to become the hero, you should:

• Walk in on a bank heist, preferably a few minutes before it starts. To do this, you must be connected to shady characters of the underworld who can tell you what bank will be hit next by the likes of Bonnie and Clyde.




• Look for the security cameras and be sure that these capture your heroics in your best angle. Therefore, never tackle bank robbers when they have fired off the surveillance cameras. Wait when television cameras are in full view before doing the karate chops and making yourself a human shield.

If you want to become the villain and get away with the money, you must:

• Plan the bank heist carefully so as to ensure that your misdeed will be the talk of federal investigators for years and years to come.




• Hire the best plastic surgeon in town to alter your physical appearance so completely that even if you made faces at the security cameras, you will have disappeared from the face of the earth for all intents and purposes.




• Go abroad, preferably a country with no extradition treaty with the United States. And keep a low profile please. You had your 15 minutes of fame already.

Be the Epitome of Grace or Be the King of Clowns

Remember the security cameras at the modeling agency you have been applying to and yet your application keeps getting to the back burner for reasons unknown to you? Well, you can reverse that by:

• Sashaying up and down those surveillance cameras. In due time, security personnel and the talent scouts will take notice of you. Pray that they will notice how graceful you walk, not how crazy you look parading for no apparent reason.




• Appealing to the head of the agency, who you will never meet without drastic measures, in front of the surveillance cameras. At the very least, you will have practice emoting and miming in front of lots of people and cameras, which could be good for your acting career!

If you have security cameras at home and you are prone to funny mishaps, harness the power of the Youtube to become famous! You should:

• Strategically place the cameras in places where you are historically the clumsiest the pool, the kitchen, or the garage. Stay away from the light, er, the bedroom though.




• Post as many of your videos as you can. One of them is bound to get 7 million hits in four months and you will be famous! At least among Netizens; this is a good enough gauge of fame.

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how you become famous with security cameras as accomplices. Those and a lot of guts!

Author Resource:-> Visit http://Video-Surveillance-Guide.com now and see how a CCTV camera (http://www.video-surveillance-guide.com) and a CCTV (http://www.video-surveillance-guide.com) can help you improve your life. With security cameras (http://www.video-surveillance-guide.com/surveillance-cameras.htm), you secure your fu

Article From Freebie Articles

Celebrities and Rhinoplasty - Stars Who Have Had a Nose Job

In the movie Spaceballs, there's a joke involving Princess Vespa's old nose and why she got a nose job. "Where did you get that?" Princess Vespa asks in a huff. While most cases aren't as drastic as Princess Vespa's, a number of celebrities have had a nose job in order to alter the appearance of their nose.

The reasons for getting a nose job are varies from celebrity to celebrity, but in general, the reason a celebrity will undergo cosmetic nose surgery is to improve their appearance (at least in their own estimation). In some cases, as we'll see in one case in particular, this change in appearance may not always be for the best.

Looking at various photos taken in 1998, 2001, and 2004, party girl socialite Paris Hilton has had a few nose jobs on top of other work done. One of the most noticeable nose jobs in recent years was Ashlee Simpsons's. Her rhinoplasty took place in May 2006 as confirmed by her father. Pop star Britney Spears has also undergone rhinoplasty which is noticeable when comparing photos of her throughout her career.Halle Berry, recently named Esquire magazine's "Sexiest Woman Alive", looks to have also gone under the knife for a nose job. Berry apparently denies having any work done, though the change is noticeable when comparing older photos with current photos side by side.

The one notable case where a nose job for a celebrity was a bad idea is Jennier Grey, best known for the lead role in Dirty Dancing and as the sister in Ferris Beuller's Day Off. Her nose, which was not bad by any means to begin with, gave her a unique look and made her face instantly recognizable. After she got a nose job in the early 1990s, no one recognized her. According to news stories, even some of her friends didn't recognize her when they ran into each other.

In the same news story, Grey said, "I went in the operating theatre a celebrity--and come out anonymous. It was like being in a witness protection program or being invisible." She added, "I'll always be this once-famous actress nobody recognizes because of a nose job."

About the author:
It is important to research the education and experience of the cosmetic surgeon you choose to perform your facelift, breast augmentation, or other plastic surgery procedure. Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

Do Celebrities Regret Plastic Surgery?

What do celebrities such as Kathy Griffin, David Gest, Kenny Rogers, Jill Saward and others regret?

Do other celebrities such as Priscilla Presley, Cher, Joan Rivers and Melanie Griffith have the same regrets?

Are Michael Jackson, his sisters Janet and LaToya and Jackie Stallone related or do they, too, harbor regrets?

What do these celebrities have in common that causes them angst? Why, plastic surgery, of course!

Do you find it interesting that celebrities who can afford the very best surgeons and care often find themselves the butt of cruel jokes regarding their choices of using surgery and injections that were supposed to make them look younger?

Living in the limelight can certainly have its advantages and perks but there is a downside to living life on the red carpet and that is most likely why celebrities subject themselves to constant scrutiny that results in multiple procedures.From nose jobs to breast implants, brow lifts to face lifts, cheek and chin implants, to eye lifts and regular use of Botox and fillers, the celebrity population keeps the plastic surgery business alive on both coasts.

John Q. Public loves celebrities and some even want to emulate them. Just peruse any woman's magazine and you will find knock-off clothing suggestions from shoes, jewelry, sweaters, tops, slacks to coats coaxing the reader to look like a celebrity. Buying knock-off clothing and accessories to emulate a celebrity is just one step from wanting Jennifer Anniston's nose or Madonna's new cheek implants.

Aging with style and grace has been compromised with the advent of injections that plump and paralyze; add cutting perfectly healthy tissue, a very generous and sustained publicity blast that has kept these modalities forever in our psyche, and voila - faces are being cut, sutured, injected and altered at an alarming rate.

Do the procedures really help men and women to look younger and healthier? Do the risks outweigh the outcome? Donda West and her untimely death easily comes to mind when you consider risks and benefits. Like Ms. West, many men and women in her age group have hidden health challenges that may not be uncovered until it is too late. Choosing a well qualified surgeon is paramount; disclosing all medications, vitamin usage, previous health concerns and procedures will assist your health provider to determine your eligibility for plastic surgery. Choose a surgeon in good standing with the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Plastic surgery is not a walk in the park. Every surgery has its risks and dangers. Surviving a surgery then contracting MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is highly possible. This makes recovery especially difficult because eighty percent of facelift surgery infections are MRSA "Superbugs" according to a study conducted by researchers from the Lennox Hill-Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital and published in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery.

Other risks of cutting and suturing are that the results may not be what you anticipated. The skin surrounding the incision may not heal or act like your skin did previous to the procedure. Once healthy skin is cut, it is never the same. There is usually a loss of sensation (think Joan Rivers in the Geico commercial when she laments that she cannot feel her face) because the blood supply to the area has been diminished. Injections that plump and paralyze do not always produce the desired results either. Too many visits with the syringe and you can begin to look freakish as taut and shiny are not synonymous with beauty and youth on a face that is trying to disguise old, wrinkled and droopy.

So what's the healthy solution for creating a younger looking face so the user doesn't have to suffer from invasive injections or risky surgeries?

The healthy solution is facial exercises. That's right, just as exercise works to trim, slim and tighten your waist, tummy, hips, thighs, torso and arms, facial exercises will address each slack, droopy facial feature and begin to systematically from the inside out tighten, tone and lift the areas that make you look old, tired and even lop-sided.Facial exercises are more reliable than surgical procedures and injections because they can return your face to the look you enjoyed years ago. Your friends and family will easily recognize you as you present a fresh, pretty face for the world to see.
http://www.rejenuve.com/FacialMagicSL.htm


About the author:
Cynthia Rowland is widely recognized as an expert in all natural facial fitness. She has appeared on The View, NBC 4, Fit TV, HGTV and other popular shows. This author, speaker and television personality is leading the crusade to keep men and women looking vibrantly younger through natural techniques without spending their children's inheritance.

Discover how to look younger with Cynthia’s free report Facial Exercise the Evidence Doesn’t Lie http://tinyurl.com/43e462 Article Source: http://www.Free-Articles-Zone.com

The Beatles, Let it Be poster

The Beatles : Let It Be Poster The Beatles' Let It Be Poster 24" X 36"

Andy Griffith Show Trivis Game

Andy Griffith Show Trivia Game Andy Griffith Show Trivia Game Today, more than ever, fans reminisce about the sleepy little town of Mayberry and its residents. We have all been entertained with their gentle humor and good old-fashioned lessons on morals and values. Now you can laugh at the memories of their antics as you race around the coloful game board with your trivia knowledge of America's most popular fictional town and its zany characters.

U2's sweeping sound has been recognized all over the world

U2 was founded in 1976 and features Bono (Paul David Hewson) on vocals, The Edge (David Howell Evans) on lead guitar, keyboards, and background vocals, Adam Clayton on bass guitar, and Larry Mullen, Jr. on drums and background vocals. The band found popularity in the mid 1980’s and is still wildly popular today.
They have sold about 50.5 million albums in the United States alone, and approximately 170 million across the globe. Six of U2 albums were #1 in the U.S., and the band has won more Grammy Awards than any living or past recording artists, with 22 under their belt. In its April 2004 issue, Rolling Stone magazine, named U2 in its 50 “greatest rock & roll artists of all time” and in the following year, the band was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility. Arguably, one of the most successful bands of all time, the band continues to top music charts and sell out stadiums and arenas all around the globe. U2 was initially formed in Dublin, Ireland in the fall of 1976.

Mullen, Jr., posted a notice on his secondary school’s bulletin board seeking musicians to form a new band. Seven boys would attend the band’s first ever practice, but only Mullen, Jr., Clayton, Evans, and Hewson would be left by the time the band was performing at a talent show in Limerick, Ireland on March 17, 1978. The band won the top prize at the top show and impressed Jackie Hayden, one of the judges for the show, who also worked for CBS Records. Hayden would provide the band with studio time to record their first demo. Before releasing their first single, the band went through multiple band names, starting with The Larry Mullen Band, then changed it to Feedback, and then to The Hype, and then finally settled on U2. Under the CBS label, U2 would release their first two singles in the Irish market.

Neither singles generated much attention from audiences and critics. In March of 1980, U2 signed with Island Records and released their first international single “11 O’ Clock Tick Tock,” and their first album, Boy. The album included their first hit single, “I Will Follow.” The album, along with the band’s first tour outside of Ireland and the U.K., were well received amongst music critics and their fans. In the following year, U2 released October, an album that exhibited strong spiritual, Christian overtones.

In 1983, U2 released their third album, War, which included the band’s first international hit single, “New Year’s Day”. The song would peak at the #10 position on UK charts and climb just under the top 50 on US music charts. MTV placed the “New Year’s Day” music video into heavy rotation, which helped introduce mainstream America to U2. From that point on, performing at sold-out concerts in Europe and the U.S. was nothing out of the norm. In 1984, U2 released The Unforgettable Fire, which included hit single, “Pride (In the Name of Love).”

The album contained a new sound from the band that was more atmospheric, effects-driven, and symphonic. The single, about civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr., would penetrate the U.S. Top 40 and U.K. Top 5. The album also included “Bad,” a song that would go on to become a fan favorite, particular at live concerts. In 1987, the band released The Joshua Tree, which would debut at #1 on UK charts and also peak at #1 on U.S. charts. The album, which included hit single “Where the Streets Have No Name” and #1 hit singles “With or Without You,” and “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” would go on to win the coveted Grammy Award for Album of the Year. The album to date, has sold an estimated 25 million copies.

Later that year, U2 was featured on the cover of Time magazine, with the headline reading, “Rock’s Hottest Ticket”. The band’s Joshua Tree Tour was a commercial success, as the band consistently played in front of sold out arenas and stadiums. In 1988, U2 released a double album entitled Rattle and Hum. The album, which featured tracks performed with Bob Dylan and B.B. King was well received by fans, but with lukewarm reviews from music critics. In the following year, U2 announced they would take some time off from touring. In 1991, the band reentered the music scene with the release of Achtung Baby, which included smash hit single, “One”.

The album was well received by both fans and critics. To date, it has sold over 17 million copies. In 1993, U2 released Zooropa, an album that infused techno style and electronic effects to U2’s traditional alternative guitar rock sound. The album, which included tracks, “Zooropa,” “Stay (Faraway, So Close!)” and “The Wanderer,” featuring country and rock legend, Johnny Cash, expanded the band’s reach and sustained their popularity going into the 90s and beyond. In 1997, the band released Pop, an album that would debut at #1 in 28 countries. The album was also noted for mixing elements of popular 90s techno with traditional US alternative guitar rock.

Critics were mixed on the album, which despite being an early commercial success, has lifetime sales that are among the lowest in U2’s catalogue. On September 20, 2007, U2 would set a new European record at that time for the largest attendance at a concert for a single band, thanks to the 150,000 Italians that went to see them at the “Campovolo” in Reggio Emilia. In 1999, U2 released All That You Can’t Leave Behind, which included several hit singles, such as:
“Beautiful Day,” “Stuck in a Moment You Can’t Get Out of” and “Elevation”. In 2001, the band would highlight the halftime show of Super Bowl XXXVI, set in New Orleans, Louisiana. In November 2004, U2 released How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, which would debut at #1 in 32 countries.

The album, featuring hit singles “Vertigo” and “Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own” would sell an estimated 840,000 copies in the U.S. in its first week, a record for the band.

U2 would go on to make a huge splash at the 2005-2006 Grammy Awards, taking home five Grammy’s including: Album of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, Best Rock Song, and Best Rock Album. U2 is also well-known for their active participation in the cause for human rights, particularly in Africa. Most recently they have been encouraging fans and the general public to take part in the ONE campaign, even taking time during their concerts to talk about the cause. Frontman Bono was named as one of TIME magazine’s Persons of the Year in December of 2005 for his participation in worldwide humanitarian efforts. Their most recent album, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, has sparked a hugely popular worldwide tour. Recent singles include “One” with Mary J. Blige, “All Because of You,” “City of Blinding Lights,” and “Vertigo.”
U2 has gone on record to intimate a new album to be released in late 2006 or in 2007.

About the Author
Freelance writter, covering the music industry Source: ArticleTrader.com

How Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy's Son Recovered From Autism

In this CNN op-ed piece, actors Jim Carrey and Jenny McCarthy reflect on their son’s recovery from autism in light of the recent federal court decision which conceded that vaccines could have contributed to another child’s autistic condition.
Carrey and McCarthy’s son, Evan, has been healed thanks to breakthroughs that may not be scientifically proven, but have definitely helped, such as a gluten-free, casein-free diet, vitamin supplementation, detox of metals, and anti-fungals for the yeast overgrowths that plagued his intestines. Once his neurological function was recovered through these medical treatments, speech therapy and applied behavior analysis helped him learn the skills he could not learn while he was frozen in autism.
When Evan was re-evaluated after these treatments, state workers were amazed by his improvement. But although Evan is now 5, not a single member of the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics, or any other health authority has asked to evaluate and understand how Evan recovered from autism. Instead, they simply posit that he was misdiagnosed and never had autism to begin with.
Carrey and McCarthy believe that autism is an environmental illness, and that while vaccines are not the only environmental trigger, they do play a major role. Even if the CDC is not convinced of a link between vaccines and autism, changing the vaccine schedule should be seriously considered as a precautionary measure.
Sources:
CNN April 3, 2008

from Nutronix

Celebrities Provide The Third Answer: Fame With Power

The usual cynic's choice is to ask, what would you rather have, fame without power or power without fame? Yet even a cursory look at contemporary society reveals that celebrities have managed to devise a third choice: fame with power.
There is no shortage of for instances. Take Ronald Regan, who went from fame in Hollywood to power in Washington. Or Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has so far gone from fame in Hollywood to power in Sacramento, with his eyes on DC, if his advocates can only get the constitution amended so that a born Austrian can run like a born American. Given the proportion of immigrants who now inhabit the land, the likelihood of Presidential power for the Terminator is hardly out of the question.
Of course, there are also lesser and more numerous instances of the celebrity's ability to combine fame with power. How about Mel Gibson, arrested for DWI and a month later we noticed that the arresting officer was being investigated?
Or Barbra Streisand telling a fan to shut up with a word that is not usually accepted in public discourse and then blithely continuing her tour. What if a relatively powerless person like a Senator, say, John Kerry had said the 'F" word, as in getting "stuck in f-ing Iraq?" The man would have been sent beyond temporary oblivion and been made to resign from the Senate.
Finally, we have Paul McCartney, who, though embroiled in a divorce where his bride is accusing him of abuse, was able to attend the premier of a new classical piece he managed to compose at The Albert Hall.
The time has obviously come when cynics should adjust their choices.
It seems that the only people who are in a real pickle are the ones in the unnamed group - those without fame or power. Well, that seems to include most of us. But what would all the celebrities do without us to play to? No audience, no performance.
So we come full circle, not as cynics but as optimists. Sure, there are the secretive few who have power without fame. But most people, who seem on the surface to be distinguished by neither fame nor power, may actually possess the most power, at least, over that uniquely famous and powerful group we refer to as celebrities.

About the Author
Tom Attea, humorist and creator of NewsLaugh.com, has had six shows produced Off-Broadway. Critics have called his writing "delightfully funny," "witty," with "good, genuine laughs" and "great humor and ebullience."

The 5 Biggest Mistakes Made by First Time Filmmakers

Is putting the audience to sleep a mistake...or a blessing? Award-winning filmmaker sets new screenwriters and directors straight.

1. Contrary to current belief, keeping the audience awake is the biggest mistake a first time filmmaker can make. If viewers are asleep, they will never notice your other mistakes.

2. Waiting to get famous till after your movie is made is another error common among those new to the medium. Why do people pay to see and hear Jessica Simpson (this goes double for Ashlee)? Because they're already famous. While having people actually see your work is not advisable, you still want them to buy tickets or DVDs, and they are more likely to do that if they feel they already know you. Consider inviting hundreds to your wedding, then escape just before The Big Day and make up a story about being kidnapped.

3. Almost as devastating to your new career as the first two mistakes is not knowing when you're done putting your film together. While having a feature to your credit can be a career maker, don't spend the rest of your life perfecting it. Remember, the audience will not be awake and so will not be as critical as you are.

4. Most new filmmakers try to get their movie seen. Big mistake. Smart new filmmakers try to get their movie heard of. Hollywood big shots who hear of your movie may well sign you to a three picture deal. Hollywood big shots who actually see your movie are more likely pass in favor of an American Idol loser who says he had sex with Paula Abdul.

5. Expecting to make your money back on your first film is the least of the five biggest mistakes new filmmakers make because you're not going to max out ten credit cards just because you read that Robert Townsend did it and his movie made millions...are you? I mean...are you?
Unlike advice by filmmaking gurus, which has to be padded to fill 200 pages and make claims that help sell books, this no-nonsense list by award-winning filmmaker and 1,052,569th top

Amazon.com contributor Sondra Lowell can be trusted. Sondra's first film, WebcamMurder.com, is the first officially sanctioned digital feature in the Film Sleepy genre, the category that puts the audience to sleep.
To learn more about how to avoid first time filmmaker traps, visit Sondra's guide, So You'd Like to Avoid the Five Biggest Mistakes Made by First Time Filmmakers.
For specifics on how to get heard of, don't miss So You'd Like to Get Famous on Amazon.com.
If this list has made you think twice about pursuing a filmmaking career and you're looking into something more stable, read the definitive guide to careers in tap dancing newscasting, So You'd Like to Tap Dance the News.

About the author: Sondra Lowell is an award-winning filmmaker and the foremost authority on the Film Sleepy genre. To learn more about Film Sleepy and Sondra's ground-breaking movie, WebcamMurder.com, visit her blog at http://WebcamMurder.blogspot.com.

Oscar Nomination

The first awards were presented at a private dinner in Hollywood, with an audience of less than 250 people. Since the first year the awards have been publicly broadcasted, at first by radio then by TV after 1953. During the first decade the results were given to newspapers for publication at 11 p.m. at the night of the awards; this method was ruined when the Los Angeles Times announced the winners before the ceremony began, as a result the Academy has since used a sealed envelope to reveal the name of the winners. Today, according to Rules 2 and 3 of the official Academy Awards Rules, a film must open in the previous calendar year, from midnight at the start of January 1 to midnight at the end of December 31, in Los Angeles County, California, to qualify. Rule 2 states that a film must be "feature-length", defined as a minimum of 40 minutes, except for short subject awards and it must exist either on a 35 mm or 70 mm film print or in 24 frame/s or 48 frame/s progressive scan digital cinema format with native resolution not less than 1280x720. As of the 79th Academy Awards, 847 members (past and present) of the Screen Actors Guild have been nominated for an Oscar.

Oscar nomination alone can increase the popularity of the movie, the artists and the related products such as Oscar Movie Posters or Oscar Winning Movie Posters. The major awards are presented at a live televised ceremony, most commonly in February or March following the relevant calendar year, and six weeks after the announcement of the nominees. This is an elaborate extravaganza, with the invited guests walking up the red carpet in the creations of the most prominent fashion designers of the day. Black tie dress is the most common outfit for men, although fashion may dictate not wearing a bow-tie, and musical performers typically do not adhere to this.

(The artists who recorded the nominees for Best Original Song quite often perform those songs live at the awards ceremony, and the fact that they are performing is often used to promote the television broadcast.) The Academy has for several years claimed that the award show has a billion viewers internationally, but this has so far not been confirmed by any independent sources. Neither has the Academy explained how it has reached this figure.