The Music Of Achievement

If you wish to convert your best videos in the 3GPP2 format to WMV, then use the state of the art Need4 Video Converter.

This will afford them the opportunity to be played on a variety of sources, from your computer to cell phone, along with various mobile devices. They may also be played on video sharing files.

Convert 3GPP2 videos to WMV in no time.

If you want to convert the complete video clip or audio extract in one go, or individual segments at a time, Need4 Video has the skills to handle it.

Step 1. Launch

First of all you will need a video converter program, such as a Need4 Video Converter.

Download the required video conversion program.

Then follow the instructions below.

Add 3GPP2 Video To Converter

• To add video that you would like to convert, click the +Video button.
• Select 3GPP2 .in the Files of type field.
• Choose the right video file and click Open

You can check list of opened files to see that the selected file has been added.

Select Output Format

• Select General Video in the open Profile list.
• In the Presets list opened on the right,
• Choose an appropriate output format in the Presets list and click open.

Specify Folder to Save Video

• Enter the name of the converted video in the Save as field.
• Specify the folder where you want to store the converted videos in the Save to field,
• Highlight any extra options that you may need for saving video
• Overwrite existing files and check it to replace any existing video files with the same name with brand new ones.
• You can then review the folder with a ready file in the open output folder.

Select a Video Segment to Convert

• If you would like to convert a particular part of your video, then click the Edit button next to your video in the list.

• You can drag the left marker, in the opened window, to the opening of the video clip you want. The right marker is at the end.

Hit Convert to Save 3GPP2 Videos to WMV

• Open the List of opened files to check the added video file.

• Hit Convert 3GPP2 to convert it to WMV.

Need4 Video are always pioneering new advancements in video conversion software.

US singer Beyonce has postponed a planned concert in Malaysia following accusations by Islamic conservatives that the show would be immoral.

The Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party called for the show in Kuala Lumpur to be scrapped because it would promote “Western sexy performances.”

Organisers said the concert, which was due to be held on 25 October, would be postponed “to a future date”.

Beyonce previously called off a 2007 concert over the country’s dress code.

“The postponement is solely [the] decision of the artiste and has nothing to do with other external reasons,” organisers Marctensia said in a statement.

It added a statement from Beyonce’s management would be released later this week.

Last month, Marctensia addressed concerns the singer might wear inappropriate outfits, saying “all parties have come to an amicable understanding” about stage costumes.

After shelving her 2007 concert, Beyonce instead performed in Indonesia, where rules governing stage performances are more relaxed.

The Pussycat Dolls were fined for flouting decency laws in 2006

Female performers at Malaysian concerts are required by government rules to cover up from the shoulders to knees, with no cleavage showing.

Other female pop stars such as Avril Lavigne and Gwen Stefani have performed in Malaysia despite similar protest threats by conservative Muslims. Both singers wore clothes that revealed little skin.

I was listening to NPR the other day when they did a report on tipping in the restaurant industry. One they had a list of tips on how wait staff can increase their tips.

That got me brainstorming and surfing the net for other ideas to boost tips. That combined with lots of performances at Renaissance Festivals helped me to develop my own list of ways musicians can improve their tips.

1. Introduce yourself by name

Too often musicians forget to introduce themselves on stage. Make sure you tell the audience your band name, but to really boost your tips, you should also introduce yourselves individually. Let people know who you are as an individual and you’ll see greater tips.

2. Go out into the audience with a tip jar

You really can’t be passive when it comes to getting tips. You have to walk out into the audience with some visual reference that says “Tip Me!”, and they will tip you.

3. Meet your audience at their level

Take the time to talk to your audience members at their level. Holding a discussion from a stage puts a wall between you and them. So instead, go out into the audience and talk to them face to face. Kneel if they’re at a table, so you’re at eye level. And if you have ayour tip jar with you, you will you will not only gain a fan, but you will also improve your tips.

4. Make your appearance personal

We wear kilts to most of our gigs. A kilt adds a very personal touch It links us to a certain culture and makes people take notice. Course you don’t have to go that route, instead find some piece of clothing that reflects your personality and you will boost your tips.

5. Recommend your favorite CD

If you have multiple CDs, your audience will always ask for your favorite. Tell them what it is. If you only have one, you can do the same by recommending other artists that you like. That adds a two-fold advantage of helping your audience find music they like and helping your fellow musicians.

6. Smile

A bright, confident smile will bring fans back again and again with lots o’big tips.

7. Involve your audience in the music with a joke or game

Next time you’re up on stage, see what happens when you joke around with the audience. Your personality will glow all the more and so will your tips.

8. Chat with fans by name

Music fans love nothing more than to be recognized by the bands they love. So do your best to remember their names. They will feel that much more attached to your music and feel like your friend. And these friends will tip you better for the courtesy.

9. Touch your audience

When you’re out socializing with your audience, touch them (in a non-sexual way). Whether you shake their hand, pat them on the shoulder or back, or just brush against them, wait staff find that that even that will boost their tips 50%. And it will yours too.

10. Use tip jars with the VISA/Mastercard Logo

According to studies done in restaurants, just seeing those logos is enough to encourage customers to tip more. I know it sounds crazy, but give it a try. You may be pleasantly surprised with the results.

11. Give your audience something in return for their tip

People love feeling like they’re getting their money’s worth. And many people don’t realize you should tip bands. So give something in return. It could be something as big as a sticker or magnet, or as simple as a business card that might include a $1 off your CDs. Or hey what about feeding their sweet tooth with a piece of candy. Whatever the case, that little gift will mean big tipping results.

12. Draw a picture

On a similar note, if you give them a business card, draw or make a comment on it. That piece will be more valuable to them and will result in bigger tips.

13. Make tipping a part of the show

Why wait until the end of the set to ask for tips. Sing a song about tipping, or get your audience involved in the tipping process by shouting something. Or offer a prize to the first tipper. But integrate it into your show and it won’t seem like you’re just begging for money, rather you’re making it fun to tip.

14. Thank your audience

No gig would be complete without an audience. So thank them for taking the time to watch you perform. They will feel the personal touch and respond when you ask for money.

15. Bonus Tipping Suggestion:

If the change is five dollars, never return a five-dollar bill. Always give back five ones. This allows the customer to tip you with some of the dollar bills you returned. You will rarely get a $5 tip and returning a $5 bill will turn off tippers. In general, it’s good to return all ones if the change is less than $8. You want the customer to have at least two ones so they can give it back as the tip.

Bard Marc Gunn of the Brobdingnagian Bards has helped 1000’s of musicians make money with their musical groups through the Bards Crier Music Marketing and Promotion Ezine and the Texas Musicians’ Texas Music Biz Tips. Now you can get personal advice by visiting http://www.bardscrier.com for FREE “how-to” music marketing assistance.

No time to visit the site? Subscribe to the BardsCrier.com distributed weekly for Free. Just email subscribe@bardscrier.com

If you’re looking for a way to quickly play the piano you’re going to love this. Listen… most of you already know that the quickest way to play the piano is by learning chords.

But what most of you don’t know is what kind of chord to start out with. There are triads, seventh chords, diminished chords and thousands more. There are closed position chords and then there is something called the open position chord, and with it, you’ll be able to create your own music in less than an hour!

Look.. the reason why so many people have problems with the piano is they give up out of sheer boredom! They sense that it will take months if not years to create something that sounds like music on it. So they give up.

By starting out with open position chords, you’ll immediately sound like a pro! Why? It all has to do with the way the chord is structured. First, it’s a modern sounding seventh chord. All this means is the seventh note of the scale is used to along with regular triad notes to give it a more contemporary sound. Jazz musicians use it all the time.

Second, it covers more than 2 octaves of the keyboard giving you a very nice “open” sound. If you love contemporary stylings, you’ll be playing them in no time with it.

And last but not least, you use both hands right away to create with! In fact, the chord is so wide open that you can literally create music without moving your hands around at all.

If you love the idea of playing piano but don’t want to start with boring triads or note reading, you’re going to love learning to play the open position chord!

Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music’s online piano lessons. He has been helping students learn how to play piano in the New Age style for over 14 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Stop by now at http://www.quiescencemusic.com/piano_lessons.html for a FREE piano lesson!