So we are home from a quick trip to Utah. I think that I'm just about recovered from the stress of it all. We went out there for a seminar on the subject of "Breaking into the LDS Music Industry" at the Salt palace. This is a topic that I have been thinking about for a while now, but obviously had no idea where to start. Thankfully, I received a whole boatload of information. Things like:

• the differences between A record label artist, and independant artist, and studio vocalist. Where you fit, and what you need to do to get there.
• How much it cost to produce and album (would you believe anywhere between 25-50 thousand, sometimes more?)
• What makes an intriguing singer, with a lot of critiques.
• Balancing home and family life with a singing career.
• Creating a Demo that gets the deal
• Ways to get your foot in the door

It was an eye opener, to say the least. The LDS market is twice as hard to make a profit as the normal music industry. It's just not as big, and and harder to get your name out there. But it is possible. All in all a fun night. It was put on by Jenny Phillips and Tyler Castleton, with performances by Hilary Weeks, Peter Brienholt, and Mercy River. The second part of the whole event was the chance to compete for a single on Jenny Phillips annual youth CD. There was a song sent out to those who signed up so we could practice, then we had a slotted time in a real live studio. It was a fun experience, I was a little nervous, and I think that I did the best that I could. I received some good feedback, but I'm really not expecting too much. This is just a stepping stone for me. How they could pick one finalist out of 160 participants, is beyond me. Seems like a daunting task. But they post the results the 14th of July. Thanks to all my family who listened to me rehearse relentlessly and for all their feedback, so I could make it my own. But in the end they wanted a straight recording with no variances. I figure it's their song, better give them what they want. I'm hoping to post the song as soon as it is turned into a MP3. Hopefully I can figure that out. I'll post the other events of the week too.