5 Words Every Creative Lives to Hear

It is five in the morning and, as usual, I can’t sleep, even being able to take a deep breath knowing Mental Sauna III: Christmas Inflections is basically done. There is a certain irony in the fact that creating relaxation music that helps so many others is the very reason I cannot sleep.  The biggest challenge to creating such an album, for me at least, is that it puts me in a relaxed state while creating it, when I need to be focused the most.  Working with it all day and night completely changes my sleep schedule.  Probably a good thing I live in a town that operates 24 hours a day. 

It’s only been 2 days since I heard those 5 magic words and I expect I will hear them again, in some form or other, sometime late next week on another project.  I’m already reflecting on the events – looking for things I could have done better and will do better on next time.  Looking at ways to be more efficient and cost effective.  Looking for better ways to promote.  Looking at who helped and who let me down and deciding who I would give a second chance to.  This project has been a roller coaster, to say the least.

There was a lot of good and some firsts as well.  This was the first time I played and recorded bass guitar on anything.  This was the first time I have done an entire album of covers.  In fact, I hardly do covers at all, but I have to admit, it was a lot of fun.  This was the first album I started and finished in Las Vegas.  This is the first time I really focused on taking care of myself during an entire production (usually, by week two, I start making excuses).  This is the first time I have really put serious thought and effort into promotion.  Most importantly, this is the first project I’ve gone into knowing I am making the right kind of music instead of just hoping people will “dig my vibe, man.”

The sun isn’t even up yet and I am already planning my day.  Most of it will be spent on promotion.  I have to clean the house and do a couple other things but mostly promotion.  Sadly, some things get put off during production and there is always that time where I have to catch everything up.  Today is that day.  I am so excited to get both of these projects out there but the album will be released first.  As soon as I hear the magic words on the second project, I will announce it.  The only reason I haven’t already done so is because this is something unique and I want to wait until I know I can present it as it is before I present it and have to change something.  It is coming soon, though (the release is scheduled for November 2^nd) – just waiting on those 5 magic words.

So today is a morning of reflection and a full day of work ahead but work I am perfectly happy to do.  With the feedback so far on both the music and the quality of the audio in both mix and mastering, it comes down to spreading the word.  So, I will ask that when you hear the album, please do leave a star rating on iTunes and, if you like, a review but the star rating takes two seconds to do and it really makes a huge difference in the way a project moves forward and sustains.  Thank you!!!!!

I can’t tell you all how much everyone’s support has meant.  Hearing those 5 words is a great feeling but the music doesn’t matter if no one is listening.  Still, being told, “Your project is in production!”  is pretty sweet!

Scott

Mental Sauna III: Christmas Inflections

Hi everyone,

I know it has been a while since my last blog, but I’ve had my head down, focused on completing a couple projects.  One of which, is the new Mental Sauna album.  The other I am hoping to announce in a week or so.  I’m just in the process of finalizing a few things before I do.

Mental Sauna III: Christmas Inflections is complete and being uploaded to the pressing company.  Disc Makers provided me a very generous pressing package.  CDBaby will be handling digital distribution.  Both of these companies have been fantastic to work with.  The artwork was done by Kelly at OutsideTheBox.Photo and I love the design and stunning color combination.  I can’t wait to see it all put together in the final package.

For years, I had considered doing a holiday themed album but I hadn’t connected it with Mental Sauna until a very dear friend of mine suggested it.  From that point on, I made list after list of all the songs I would want to work with and finally narrowed it to the list below.  The next challenge was to create the write feel and bridge the gap between these classic songs and Mental Sauna.  Once I had the right blend of tone, it was a matter of deciding how the arrangements would go, which took a bit of experimentation.  It was an intense couple months but I am very pleased with the final versions, after mixing and mastering.  One of the biggest challenges was creating the holiday feel when it was 113 degrees outside.

What I hadn’t considered, throughout the process, was how nostalgic I would get.  Growing up in Michigan, where I had a close extended family, Christmas Eve was always the same:  trying to pass the time, waiting for my dad to get off work so we could head to Grandma and Grandpa’s house (on my mother’s side), hoping we wouldn’t get stuck in the snow (and that also happened).  I would exercise, do stretches or just sit and listen to records.

My grandmother always put on an amazing spread for dinner.  Of all things, my favorite was the bowl of mixed nuts.  It was the only time of year I had them and I got to crack them myself, so double score!  After dinner, we would sit around singing Christmas Carols while my aunt played piano.  The really funny thing is that I couldn’t wait to finish singing so we could open presents.  Hey, in all fairness, I was a kid!  Once we returned home, we would all open one present and head to bed so we would get up early on Christmas morning. 

My brother and I would open the gifts on the stockings that hung on out bedroom doors while our parents woke up.  Then we would all sit in front of the tree and open gifts.  Sometimes we would head to my other Grandma and Grandpa’s house and my uncle would join us.  Then it was a matter of organizing all the new things I had gotten and integrate them into my world.

It was freezing cold every Christmas and the snow was always piled in the yard.  I was usually the one that kept the driveway clean.  I loved playing in the snow.  It was so quiet outside that time of year on our street.  I think that was my favorite part of it all.  That is probably the thing I miss most, living in the desert.  But, as time marches on and life evolves, old traditions become memories and new things are started.  This will be my first Christmas living in Las Vegas.  I’ve been here for Christmas before and the hotels do such a beautiful job decorating.  One of my favorite walks down the Strip is 4am on Christmas morning with a white chocolate mocha in hand from Starbucks, all bundled up against the cold December wind.  Then some phone calls and a relaxing night working in the studio.  Perfect!  Of course, there is Halloween first.  J

Here is the plan:  On October 10^th, there will be a pre-order available on iTunes.  If you purchase during the pre-order dates, one song should become immediately available to you.  The full release will be on October 20^th on iTunes, Apple Music, Amazon Music, CDBaby and a host of other places.  Physical CD’s will most likely be available on my website.

The album is a compilation of some of my favorite holiday melodies, arranged and recorded specifically for the Mental Sauna world.  This was quite an experiment and a challenge but I had a great time doing it.  There were two songs that didn’t make the cut. Perhaps I will finish those and release them one day.  Fourteen songs did make it on to the album.  There are samples of each on my website and they will remain there until the launch, when you’ll be able to preview them on iTunes.
http://www.scotthaskin.com/?page_id=660

Track List:

1  Deck the Halls

2  Away In A Manger

3  Jingle Bells

4  O, Come All Ye Faithful

5  Joy to the World

6  O, Little Town of Bethlehem

7  Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring

8  O, Holy Night

9  God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

10  The First Noel

11  Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

12  It Came Upon A Midnight Clear

13  We Three Kings

14  Silent Night

I am very excited to get this album out.  The last couple months have been filled with arranging and recording.  I also played bass guitar on this album, which is a first, and had guest Duduk player Eva Bukovinszky on Silent Night.  She played beautifully and her sound adds a great deal to this song.

I certainly hope you enjoy listening to the album as much as I did creating it.  Thanks to Deane, Eva, Kelly, Disc Makers, CDBaby and all my beta listeners.  I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it!

I will ask one thing:  When you listen to it, please rate the album on iTunes.  So much is affected even by the 5 star rating system these days. If you are on the album page, click on the tab for Ratings and Reviews and click how many start you honestly feel the album deserves.  If you would like to leave a review that would be fantastic but, please at least make sure you rate it.  Thank you in advance!  I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate that!

Also, if there is anyone you think would enjoy this album, or any of the Mental Sauna or other albums I have available, please pass along the information.  So far, Mental Sauna has helped many people relax and get sleep, even with insomnia or over-active brains. It has helped calm children and it has been used as a background for writing novels and screenplays.  I want to help as many people as possible to enjoy life more, even just one note at a time.

Enjoy the holiday and make beautiful memories that you’ll carry in your heart until the end of time.

Scott

Becoming An Indie Film Composer Book

Becoming an Indie Film Composer3^rd (and final) Edition

With a little time on my hands and a huge amount of career growth and experience behind me, I thought it was time to give my book one last overhaul.  As I began to make updates from my apartment outside Los Angeles, finishing in my new place just outside Las Vegas, I began to realize just how far I had come and how much things had changed since first writing the book.  I saw more and more that I had much more to share, so I carefully went through each chapter, updating as I went, and added new chapters as well.

                The biggest need for an update, and not surprisingly, was on the tech side.  When I first wrote the book, I had never even heard of a USB MIDI cable.  Probably because they didn’t exist.  Time for a major update but one I know will also be outdated again in a couple years, most likely.  Fortunately, that is for good reasons as products become more efficient and reliable and expansive, so I am okay with that.  Even still, in recent years, I have read books discussing the days of scoring to picture using actual film reels so I think it will be fine.

                The new chapters include stories from more recent experiences and more clearly defined patch and Cue lists.  There may be some difficulty in the way they appear from version to version and, to accommodate audio book listeners, I have decided to make them available on my website for free and you can get those right now at: http://www.scotthaskin.com/?page_id=165

                In addition to the book, I have also recorded an entire new audio book for three reasons.  1)  Because there is so much new information (it is nearly twice as long as the original) that listeners would be missing out on.  2)  I had many comments that stated they wished I had read it the first time.  3)  It comes out differently when you say it as opposed to writing it.  When writing, I think we can be honest but a little focused on how things sound which, at times, can be a bit unnatural.  When I recorded this, I used the book as a guideline more than reading it directly so it came out to be a different thing.  Both have the same basic information but each is a different experience.

                My experiences and perceptions of my time in Los Angeles are also included.  These are simply my own experiences and how they work with my personality.  100 people could be exactly where I was in the exact same circumstances and have 100 different results.  In any case, it is certainly an insight that you only get if you have been there.

                Overall, I hope this book continues to help anyone involved or interested in the world of film score composition.  It is really a very entry level book in many ways but not only entry level.  I had a bad review on Audible on the original audio book because the reader was expecting something more advanced.  I thought the title stated it pretty clearly but, for those who are looking for something more on how to navigate large studios and record orchestras, this is not the book for you.  You might want to read The Emerging Film Composer by Richard Bellis or a similar book.  There are a lot out there.

                Please feel free to spread the word and let anyone know about this book if you think they could benefit from it.  One of the greatest joys I have had in life in the letters I get from composers telling me what helped them feel not so alone or helped them in a process.  To make a difference in people’s lives is one of the greatest human experiences there is, in my opinion.

                If you have read the book, I would greatly appreciate a review on Amazon and, if you have listened to the new audio book, please leave me a review on iTunes, ACX or Audible.  As of today, the audio book it still in process at ACX, but will be available very soon.

                Currently, the book is available at Amazon (print version and Kindle) and CreateSpace.  I will have a PDF version available shortly for purchase through my website.

                Lastly, I want to thank everyone for all the encouragement and support.  To know that people believe in you and what you are doing is an amazing thing and makes me find ways to work even harder and bring more content out to you!

- SKH 7-21-15  

Budget Truck Rentals - Worst Service I've Ever Had!!!

Friends - DO NOT rent from Budget Truck Rentals. I have never had a more difficult moving experience and it was all due to the continued incompetence I dealt with at 3 different locations, including their office.

The truck I reserved was 2 hours late. There was no call to tell me the truck would not be there, though they knew I had reserved it. I had movers waiting at my place that I was paying to do nothing and their time was running out. When the truck finally arrived, it was missing a passenger wiper blade (how does that even happen?) and the hand truck I PAID for. I ended up having to load about 1/3 of my stuff myself because the movers were short on time due to the late arrival of the truck.it was missing a passenger wiper blade (how does that even happen?) and the hand truck I PAID for. I ended up having to load about 1/3 of my stuff myself because the movers were short on time due to the late arrival of the truck.it was missing a passenger wiper blade (how does that even happen?) and the hand truck I PAID for. I ended up having to load about 1/3 of my stuff myself because the movers were short on time due to the late arrival of the truck.

When I returned to put my car on the tow cart, which took another hour and a half because on a Saturday, there are only two people working at the Covina, CA location. One doesn't even answer the phone, and the other apparently does everything. Now, I am 3 1/2 hours late getting on the road. I know when I get to the drop off location, they will be closed so I call then and there is no answer, during business hours. I called customer service to see if anyone else is open later. They called the location and confirmed they would be closed but couldn't be bothered to find another solution.

At the drop off the next day, they don't tell you not to pull the truck in because they are scared of being liable for anything happening during unloading the car so I had to BACK OUT a 16 foot truck with a car carrier onto the street, where traffic is, to unload the car. They person they sent to help me, had no idea how to unhook it. 

When I get inside, I am waiting for the hand truck refund, which they can't do because it is out of state, the two people behind the counter are complaining about other customers right in front of me. Very professional. To get my hand truck refund, they told me I need to call the corporate office customer service back.

I called Customer Service and reached someone that I had to tell 4 TIMES I wanted to speak to a manager. 

When he finally transferred me, I let the phone ring 20 times and got no answer. I called back. Got another person that I had to tell 3 times I wanted to speak to a manager. Again I was transferred and the phone rang 20 times with no answer.

Is this an acceptable service level in 2015? Everything was lined up and timed perfectly until Budget fell short and fell short again and then you can't even reach them to take responsibility or even get the refund for the hand truck I never received.

So, my friends and all the musicians I know that perform and travel and rent trucks, I suggest you rent them from someone that is not Budget Truck Rental.When I returned to put my car on the tow cart, that took another hour and a half because on a Saturday, there are only two people working at the Covina, CA location. One doesn't even answer the phone, and the other apparently does everything. Now, I am 3 1/2 hours late getting on the road. I know when I get to the drop off location, they will be closed so I call then and there is no answer, during business hours. I called customer service to see if anyone else is open later. They called the location and confirmed they would be closed but couldn't be bothered to find another solution.

When I returned to put my car on the tow cart, that took another hour and a half because on a Saturday, there are only two people working at the Covina, CA location. One doesn't even answer the phone, and the other apparently does everything. Now, I am 3 1/2 hours late getting on the road. I know when I get to the drop off location, they will be closed so I call then and there is no answer, during business hours. I called customer service to see if anyone else is open later. They called the location and confirmed they would be closed but couldn't be bothered to find another solution.

At the drop off the next day, they don't tell you not to pull the truck in because they are scared of being liable for anything happening during unloading the car so I had to BACK OUT a 16 foot truck with a car carrier onto the street, where traffic is, to unload the car. They person they sent to help me, had no idea how to unhook it. When I get inside, I am waiting for the hand truck refund, which they can't do because it is out of state, the two people behind the counter are complaining about other customers right in front of me. Very professional. To get my hand truck refund, they told me I need to call the corporate office customer service back.

I called Customer Service and reached someone that I had to tell 4 TIMES I wanted to speak to a manager. When he finally transferred me, I let the phone ring 20 times and got no answer. I called back. Got another person that I had to tell 3 times I wanted to speak to a manager. Again I was transferred and the phone rang 20 times with no answer.

Is this an acceptable service level in 2015? Everything was lined up and timed perfectly until Budget fell short and fell short again and then you can't even reach them to take responsibility or even get the refund for the hand truck I never received.

So, my friends and all the musicians I know that perform and travel and rent trucks, I suggest you rent them from someone that is not Budget Truck Rental.

load about 1/3 of my stuff myself because the movers were short on time due to the late arrival of the truck.When I returned to put my car on the tow cart, that took another hour and a half because on a Saturday, there are only two people working at the Covina, CA location. One doesn't even answer the phone, and the other apparently does everything. Now, I am 3 1/2 hours late getting on the road. I know when I get to the drop off location, they will be closed so I call then and there is no answer, during business hours. I called customer service to see if anyone else is open later. They called the location and confirmed they would be closed but couldn't be bothered to find another solution.

Rebel Creative - Move About The World

2015 has seen the launch of Rebel Creative, a new podcast by Deane Ogden (www.deaneogden.com) and I (www.scotthaskin.com) Currently, the last statistics I have seen show us with over 16,000 people on the mailing list and #16 in business podcasts on iTunes. This means a great deal to Deane and I.

What is it all about?
If you own a creative business such as being a musician, an actor, an author, an editor, a painter... anything company where your job is to be creative, this podcast is for you! We cover all kinds of business related topics designed for you to spend more time working on your creative side and less time working on the business side, allowing you more time to do the part that caused you to want to get into it to begin with.

The best part?  It is free!  Actually, that isn't quite true. It is an investment in your time. Most episodes are under 20 minutes long and you can listen through iTunes or on your internet ready device through the website.

What do we ask in return?
A couple things.

First, this podcast is interactive. You ask the question and we answer it. For that to happy, you have to ask the question. Follow the link to the website below and hit the orange button at the bottom to send in your question. Too shy to call? That's ok, you can also email me your question at scott@scotthaskin.com however, people seem to identify more with the subject when they can hear a person attached.

Second, feel free to get involved in the Facebook discussion group. The magic really blossoms there with different listeners adding their take and expanding the topic beyond the show itself.

Third, spread the word! Chances are that you, being a creative business owner, know other creative business owners that can benefit as well.

Fourth, and finally, please leave us iTunes ratings. This helps keep us in the top of the category which, reaches more people so we can do our best to make their lives easier, which is the goal.

Thanks to all who have listened, rated, shared and written to us personally to tell us how the show has helped them. That's why we decided to do it in the first place. Knowing that the dream is coming true is the biggest payoff we could have.
Check it out:
www.rebelcreative.net
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/rebel-creative/id969860192?mt=2

Rebels, you may move about the world.

Axiom by Rainy Kaye!!

Today is the release day for AXIOM by USA Today Bestselling Author, Rainy Kaye. AXIOM is a 15,000 word companion novella for readers of the SUMMONED series, following Dimitri's descent into the genie bond. In celebration, SUMMONED is also on sale for 99 cents.



Fifteen year old Dimitri's life changes when his father is murdered, causing him to inherit a family curse. Now he's left at the mercy of rules he doesn't understand and the sinister side of people he thought he knew. Forced to commit crimes that increase in severity, Dimitri struggles to find his place in a world where he doesn't exist.

Find it on Amazon.



Twenty-three year old Dimitri has to do what he is told—literally. Controlled by a paranormal bond, he is forced to use his wits to fulfill unlimited deadly wishes made by multimillionaire Karl Walker. Dimitri has no idea how his family line became trapped in the genie bond. He just knows resisting has never ended well. When he meets Syd—assertive, sexy, intelligent Syd—he becomes determined to make her his own. Except Karl has ensured Dimitri can’t tell anyone about the bond, and Syd isn’t the type to tolerate secrets. Then Karl starts sending him away on back-to-back wishes. Unable to balance love and lies, Dimitri sets out to uncover Karl’s ultimate plan and put it to an end. But doing so forces him to confront the one wish he never saw coming—the wish that will destroy him. A dark twist on genie folklore, SUMMONED follows a reluctant criminal as he unravels the mystery of the paranormal bond controlling him. SUMMONED is represented by Rossano Trentin of TZLA.

Find it on Amazon.



Rainy Kaye is an aspiring overlord. In the mean time, she blogs at RainyoftheDark and writes paranormal novels from her lair somewhere in Phoenix, Arizona. She is represented by Rossano Trentin of TZLA. Someone told her she's a USA Today Bestselling author. She thought there would be cake.



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Is The Fear Of Clowns Really Human Nature?

Clowns were supposed to entertain us.  So why do so many people fear them or freak out at the very mention of them?  In honor of the coming National Clown Week (August 1^st-7^th), I will attempt to explain this.

As a child, I remember watching Bozo the Clown on television.  I was never scared of his grease painted face but I was not very interested, either.  I prefer the clown doll in Poltergeist or Tim Curry’s role as Pennywise in Stephen King’s IT.  Even those clowns never scared me, though the one in Poltergeist did creep me out a bit.  Then there were the hobo clowns that just made me sad with their checkered cloth bag on a stick and defeated eyes.  Of course, we don’t see them around anymore, do we?

As so many friends and people I have met have told me they are just terrified of them, to the point of shivers and shakes, I wondered why.  I may have an answer.

When it comes down to it, I think everyone knows how fake the illusion of happiness is on that painted smile.  Even if the clown is playing happy, I think our internal sensors tell us if that person is truly happy or just acting.  I believe we can see past the grease paint and get more of a sense of the real person.  Isn't the smile usually painted over straight lips?

Our natural defense mechanisms go into alert when we are shown one thing and feel another about a person.  It is what protects us against predators, especially skilled ones.  The real trick is to listen to our intuition and not give in to shiny objects and promises we don’t feel are real.

By the title, you didn’t think this would be so deep, did you?

Still, there are plenty of people who match the smile they smear on themselves when they entertain.  People who are truly passionate about bringing joy to others.  I say we embrace these people and enjoy their work.  Of course, when that little bell rings in your head… listen.  That goes not just for clowns, but for all life.

Thanks for reading.