Arts & Entertainment Connexions

TheLiveLine.com – where fans and artists go to shoot the sh** (used with permission from Alternative Revolt Magazine)

One of the hardest working guys I know not only promotes several record companies and a number of artists but he also works for a very cool business, TheLiveLine.com. This company allows fans to call a number and listen to a recorded message left by an actual famous artist of their choice to see what the latest thing going on in their lives is. Not only that, but a fan can also receive a text by the artist of what they’re into or what they’re about to get into. To make it sweeter, sometimes the artist will answer the phone and talk to you if they’re super cool and not super busy. Want to know who some of these artists are? Scott Ian (Anthrax), Dez Fafara (DevilDriver), Burton C Bell (Fear Factory), Maria Brink (In This Moment), and many more.

Not only do they have an amazingly simple and effective idea for promoting businesses, their idea behind fan-to-artist mobile phone interaction is cool and unique which will probably be as important as society has made Twitter. Their press release sounds mighty inviting: “The website allows our talent to create AudioBlogs, and anyone can call them at a number we assign them for FREE. This itself is cool to be able to hear their actual voice, and interact with fans. Fans can even leave voice messages for the Artists, and you never know, the artist may just answer the phone and start talking to you! Every time an artist updates their AudioBlog, a text alert goes out.

Try it for yourself, and give Maria Brink a call for FREE: (877) 306-2742. Who is Maria Brink? The delicious singer of “In This Moment” who also was featured in Playboy.

TheLiveLine.com has an updated version which will go live very soon and you don’t want to miss out on this huge ordeal. You can see a glimpse now at http://www.theliveline.com

What interested me equally was a section they have called “Purgatory.” This is a cool concept where unknown artists get a chance to score a spot with the big boys on the site. Basically, an unknown artist tries to gain 1,000 fans. Until they do they stay in “purgatory” but once they get that number of fans they achieve a spot with the already-knowns. So, to get a bit more understanding here is an interview with someone who knows all about TheLiveLine.com, Scott Holmen.

THE INTERVIEW

Daniel/AR: The idea behind theliveline.com is very cool. It’s been tested for a couple years if my information is correct. What prompted the idea and how did it get moving so fast and successfully?

Scott/TheLiveLine: We were aware that the technology was available but mostly being applied to retail marketing. We approached our parent company with the idea of using their existing technology and applying it to the entertainment industry.

Daniel/AR: Tell me a typical scenario how a fan could benefit from joining.

Scott/TheLiveLine: In addition to getting updates from Artists IN THE ARTISTS’ OWN VOICE, fans on TheLiveLine have access to exclusive contests, promotions, alerts and access to our “Talent Family”.

Daniel/AR: What is the cost to join?

Scott/TheLiveLine: It is absolutely FREE to be a fan or an artist on TheLiveLine.

Daniel/AR: Tell me a typical scenario of how a business could benefit from this. Let’s say the name of the business was Envy Anna Jones or Eggshell White Castle.

Scott/TheLiveLine: The businesses that are coming alongside TheLiveLine see the value of several components that we produce. A business is able to access fans, via their mobile device, which is the most immediate and relevant way to reach their targeted demographic today. We are able to serve highly targeted text, voice and web communications on behalf of these businesses.

Daniel/AR: How would you compare this to Twitter which is what I thought of initially?

Scott/TheLiveLine: We are different than twitter in that we have incorporated an Audio component in TheLiveLine. On twitter, you can’t be too sure who is tweeting on behalf of an artist. Frequently, an administrator is generating the tweets. With TheLiveLine, you are HEARING your favorite artists voice SECONDS after they record their AudioBlog and are provided with a way to engage in 2-way communication with them.

Daniel/AR: When theliveline.com is complete what are all the great things one can expect from visiting it and being a member?

Scott/TheLiveLine: As we continue to build out TheLiveLine we expect to facilitate event based mobile experiences where we are at shows allowing fans to engage with the artists via picture 2 screen text to screen, voting, and providing mobile deals on merch, concessions, etc.
We will be able to provide fans and brands with highly relevant information that they will want based on some of the information that they request. For example, a metal fan will request and get information around metal music, metal merch, metal events, etc.

Daniel/AR: Your “purgatory” is a very cool idea. To what extent will theliveline.com go to make sure these artists get known?

Scott/TheLiveLine: We are huge proponents of the “up & comers”. We have already used our resources to book shows for some of these smaller bands. We truly believe that as Artists see a company in this “Dog Eat Dog” world that you so accurately describe come along side of them and help them with publicity, brand building, management, and bringing them into our network within the entertainment business they will reciprocate by providing TheLiveLine with new content, traffic and otherwise reciprocating. Scratching each others backs if you will.

Daniel/AR: Anything else you’d like to have everyone know?

Scott/TheLiveLine: We would love fan feedback on our TheLiveLine. We would love to know other bands that you would like to connect with through TheLiveLine. This site is meant to cater to the fans so I would hope that they would be generous in letting us know what they want. We will do everything we can to make this site the ultimate site for engaging with artists and gathering information about entertainment.

Daniel/AR: Even though this isn’t an artist interview I’ll throw you a famous question curve ball just the same. If theliveline.com dominated all businesses and could change the way people paid for services what would the change be, would Bill Gates care at all and would it affect the afterlife in any way?

Wow. That is a big question!

1. Ultimately , payment for services would be made by brands that see the tremendous return on getting targeted, relevant information in front of fans on TheLiveLine. This way, fans are only present with information/advertising that they would want to see and advertisers see a high rate of return on their advertising dollars because of this.

2. I hope that Bill Gates would care. If TheLiveLine is “dominating all businesses” we would likely come up on his radar in a meaningful way.

3. As to the afterlife, one can only hope that energy put forth in this life affects the afterlife but I am hardly in a position to speak to these mysteries with any definitive conviction. For now I’ll just trust that if we “do good then good will follow us”.

Daniel/AR: Thank you very much for talking a bit about this amazing concept. Being one for the major and not-so-major artists together in one place is worth telling people about. I wish you all the best.

Daniel C. Morrison aka: The Hit Man

Hello everyone. I am happy to announce a promotional dream come true for artists of all genres. In light of the recent news about Ear Xtacy potentially being erased from Louisville I decided to go ahead and announce something I am introducing to artists of all genres. It’s a sad truth that local artists get little exposure and I think like most others do: it’s got to change! So artists of all genres, listen up closely.

Thanks to a supporting cast by Shout! Radio Services and Daniels Doorstep I have an opportunity to give you exposure unlike any other. It’s a package that consists of a high definition video posted on YouTube for your portfolio, an interview like you see me post on this site (which will be posted on as many sites as I can including DanielDoorstep.com, this site, and Louisville Mojo), the opportunity for you to sell your merchandise to the public, and at times mention on local public broadcasting stations, and sometimes being aired live on Acoustic Alternative radio (for musicians). There is a lot more to it than that and you can find information here at AllForOnePromotions.com.

I’m also using my html coding experience to come up with a list of artists in the Louisville area. I have realized that I cannot search one spot and find all the artists that exist in this city. So anyone who is in a band, who paints, who is a comedian, etc. send me your name and what you do and a link so I can get a public directory for this city.

I hope to be able to start one of these conventions really soon but I need the cities support. I am going this alone as far as paying for the initial costs, doing the recruiting, doing the physical work and most of the advertising and it’s very difficult but my passion and desire to be a good samaritan and help others drives me forward. Hopefully, this will work. I have seen no one go to this extent. I can’t thank Shout Radio enough for their support. Here’s to everyone who has an art and skill to make the world a better place!

Sincerely,
Daniel C. Morrison
aka The Hit Man

Hello everyone. I hope the holiday season did you well and your new year started off right. If it didn’t, I hope you were able to sleep through it, ha! I wanted to take a moment to let everyone know that the reason the content has not been added regularly has nothing to do with the holidays. I have sprained and fractured my left ankle, caught 2 nasty computer viruses where I had to wipe all computers and my external hard drive and also fought a 17 day nasty cold/flu. Please, no violins.
I’ll have you know that I will be adding content again shortly but I am also excited to announce a project I am going to start backed with support by Shout! Radio Services, AcousticAlternative.com and a trio of good samaritans. It is going to be an arts and entertainment convention focusing on artists of all genres all over the nation, starting first in Louisville, KY. Not only will this allow artists to showcase their talent it will also aid them in a successful resume with promotional opportunities next to impossible to find in one place.
Stay tuned for more information on this. I’m just awaiting the final website design. This is a real deal, not some fly by night idea. I’ll stake my entire reputation on it. In fact, it’s coming together so nicely that I am positive God has a hand in it! So happy 2010 everyone and remember, together we and 2010 can accomplish anything!

One for all,

Daniel C. Morrison
aka The Hit Man

Ladies and gentlemen, boils and ghouls, this week’s PARANORMAL SPOTLIGHT introduces you to Andy Chappell’s team, EMERALD VALLEY PARANORMAL in the great Junction City, Oregon. Go Ducks indeed!

Without adding a bunch of mumbo jumbo this time I’ll get straight to what

EMERALD VALLEY PARANORMAL wants you to know via the very fine, Darc…

“My sister, Heather and I were raised to see this world around us with an open mind. Heather, myself and my parents are regularly visited by my deceased grandparents, among others. I can not speak for the rest of our family because to be honest… we just don’t talk about it. Not because it is weird or frightening, but because it happens all the time. It is common place. We may say, “oh grandma stopped by today to say hi.” Or “Grandpa shuffled through.” I know in my house we have the spirits of two of our cats that still climb up on the bed with me on occasion. Is this the reason for our “interest?” No, not really. My parents have had encounters with the paranormal since they themselves were small. Their families (aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.) were also interested in the “paranormal”. A great grandmother used to read tea leaves and Tarrot. I have relatives who can see the departed and communicate with them. So, with our family it is more of a way of life than an “interest”.

My husband, Andy, was raised the same. He has lived in two very haunted houses so far. Between him and his family and his friends Andy has accumulated possible haunted locations spanning 6 generations in our local area. Some have been debunked already but we are still working on others. He has had numerous UFO sightings himself as well as with others. He is not only interested in ghostly happenings but he is also interested in what is going on in our skies.

The three of us have ran around for what seems like forever chasing down stories our friends told us, about this place or the other. Over the years have come life changes such as kids, new jobs, school. We would end up too busy in our personal lives to run around visiting “friends” but we always come back. This is a life long commitment whether we are investigating every weekend or three times a year. We are always out there. We started out with us and a notepad then discovered pictures. We haven’t ever caught anything you could call paranormal until this last year. We formed EVP
to be able to help others. So they would know they could call us and count on us. We do not claim to have all the answers but we will find the answer for you. We are down to earth and easy to talk to.

We have a different take on the world of the paranormal. To us there is nothing abnormal about feeling a cold spot in the middle of a room or to hear something moving around the house or have that feeling like you are not alone in a room when you are at. This is the way it has ALWAYS been. We didn’t have just one experience that got us hooked. We aren’t out looking for our first experience. We aren’t out to prove anything. There is no having to prove anything. We know they are there. We know that death isn’t the end. It is when you are to this point, where the guessing is all done and the strong belief is there, that you can start asking the more important questions. Why?

We, as a group, are far more relaxed. We are not in a race. We use equipment we feel comfortable with using. We try to keep our equipment simple but do have dreams about using a few things. We try to stay consistent. We do not have “protocols”because when things heat up on an investigation most of those fly out the window anyway. We also believe in full disclosure. If we are finding “dust particles” we put them up. Not to show as “orbs” but to show what was caught; paranormal or not. We do not disclose all locations mainly because we already have a problem with folks destroying our historical sites in our State. We do not want to add to the problem by putting out the name. Now if you are a legit investigative team and want to go to that specific location you can contact us and we will tell you everything. Location, activity, hot spots on location…the whole nine yards. We will even share what evidence we have caught so far. We feel that teams who are territorial about locations have no place in the field of the paranormal.
How are you to be believed in what you are finding if others have not gone and experienced the same or better? Maybe they will not find anything and that is great too. Maybe all you are finding isn’t what you thought. That is one of the major reasons we joined a unique forum by the name of International Paranormal Investigators and have been named the IPI Representative for Oregon. We do believe in helping out your fellow investigators while trying to educate the public. IPI is a place for all to come together to share, learn, grow and make lots of new friends who feel the same as you do.

I guess you could say in the end, that we are all just regular folks. We are raising kids, working hard, and in our spare time we visit folks others think are long gone. However, we know not all are. We visit with them and try to help them if we can. Some enjoy you visiting while others want no part of you being there.

EVP plans on being around for the long run. We may not be on TV (actually we don’t want to be), nor will be featured in tons of articles as some groups but we will quietly be in the background helping people as well as other groups out who need it.”

Sorry guys, but you got into an article anyway

This team might be a small, close knit team but their fingers are very long. Actually, they’re reach is very long (I haven’t seen their fingers.) You can check out any one of these sites to get more info on this wonderful team.

http://www.emeraldvalleyparanormal.com
http://www.myspace.com/emeraldvalleyparanormaljc
http://www.myspace.com/ipi_oregon

Remember, when you visit let them know that Daniel sent ya!

This article is taken from Daniel C. Morrison’s website, DanielsDoorstep.com from his Paranormal section. With Halloween just around the corner this seemed like a perfect fit.

I am delighted to bring you the third investigation I’ve ever been on that I am allowed to share with the public…

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I must tell everyone about a team that has experiences unlike any I’ve heard to date. GAPS. Not only do their tales explode but Olivia has some profound insight that leads me to believe she is a very old, wise soul!

Let me start off by giving you a bit about GAPS such as what the heck it stands for. Some might see GAPS and think it stands for Gilligan Also Played Skipper. Others might think it stands for Good Aliens Prefer Smurfs. However, I have not met anyone who would have thought that. What GAPS truly stands for is Ghostly Appalachian Paranormal Society. Hope you’re not disappointed that it didn’t mean something more like Give Animals Plenty of Sugar.

Now, ripped straight from their website, SeekIntoTheUnknown.webs.com, here is who they are…

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Ghost Buster Investigations
is headed by husband Wade and wife,Sharon who served 30 years in law enforcement where she saw a lot of things that she, nor anyone else could explain or identify. Luckily for us, and the spirit world, her encounters prompted her interest into the supernatural side of life. The other three members are Kevin, Kristine and TT. Now, look down your shirt and spell TT. HAHAHA I love that joke. Back to the team.

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