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Halloween 2010, Washington Heights, NYC

Posted in A Day in the Life, Band Halloween, Celebrities | 2 Comments »

Happy Halloween, Everybody!

The other day I took a peek at my recent blog posts, and found them a bit boring. While I love my WIBO entrepreneurial course, as well as the Music Success in Nine Weeks course that I’m co-teaching with Ariel Hyatt (we’re writing a book and going to LA together this week!), my blog posts were missing something, so today I’m switchin’ it up!

This is my second Halloween in my neighborhood of Washington Heights. The thing that struck me the most last year was how family-oriented my new neighborhood is. Moms and Dads are out in full effect to go trick or treating with their kids. The local stores, delis, and bodegas had candy ready, and I just had to capture this on video. Enjoy!

The song, “What Are You Going to Be for Halloween” is by Matthew Gray Gubler (also known as Criminal Minds’ character, Dr. Spencer Reid). To purchase, click “What Are You Going to Be for Halloween” by Matthew Gray Gubler on iTunes

No Virginia, Halloween is Not Evil

Posted in A Day in the Life, Band Halloween | No Comments »

A couple of years ago around this time, I spent some time at Yahoo! Answers, answering all kind of questions. In addition to the ever-popular “What should I be for Halloween?”, someone asked the question “Is Halloween evil?” No way could I ignore a question like that!! Since my answer was quite long (I did give it some thought. I even provided Wikipedia links!) I figured someone might find it interesting here too. So I’m republishing it this year for your reading pleasure.

Remember always, your mileage may vary! 😉
trick-or-treat
No Virginia, Halloween is not Evil

Halloween is not evil.

Since the dawn of time, humans have always celebrated holidays to mark special days, and the passing of seasons. Originally known as the Celtic holiday Samhain, Halloween was originally known as a special day that celebrated the end of the harvest. Children celebrated by dressing up in “spooky” disguises, just like they do now.

Before Christianity came into being, women were understood to produce life, and it is believed that humans, also known as pagans, worshipped a Mother Nature/Goddess. It is also believed that these nature lovers were mostly peaceful folk.

When Jesus “the Christ” (which means “the Anointed”) lived, his power for love, forgiveness, and healing changed people, and the world forever. Long after His death, his devoted followers passionately spread his teachings throughout the world.

Pre-Christian practices were then named evil, in order to discourage followers. Before Christianity expanded, Friday the 13th and black cats were considered very lucky. After Christianity was established, pagan beliefs were then said to be evil, or the work of the devil.

Pre-Christian holidays such as Samhain were too popular to destroy, so they were “baptized” with a new Christian name and story. Samhain became “Halloween”, which is celebrated every October 31st. As Samhain (now Halloween) was the day believed to hold the veil between the living and the dead, to be safe, November 1st became “All Saint’s Day”.

Unfortunately, some of Christianity’s strongest champions employed ruthless methods to convert non-Christians into believers. In addition to physical methods such as torture, pro-Christianity propaganda was also employed.

After a few hundred years, no one even remembers why the name changed. But whatever you want to call Halloween, kids (and bands!) love it as a day to dress up in costumes, and try on another persona. So no, Halloween is not evil.

But in my humble opinion, Mother Nature should have fired her publicist!

Source(s):
Wikipedia: Venus of Willendorf
Women in Prehistory
Wikipedia: Venus Figurines
Wikipedia: Halloween
Wikipedia: Spanish Inquisition
Wikipedia: All Saints Day

Michael Jackson Mask

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Michael Jackson mask
Michael Jackson Mask

The Michael Jackson mask is here, just in time for Halloween. You know you want it.

Click on SpiritHalloween’s button below, and get 20% off 1 item in your order by 10/31/09!

Bernie Madoff Mask

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Bernard Madoff mask
Bernie Madoff mask

Bernie Madoff is said to be the most hated man in America. In other words, it’s time to poke some fun for Halloween!

Click Mr Ponzi Bernie Madoff Costume Mask for more info

Dave Matthew’s Band Halloween Photo!

Posted in Band Halloween | 2 Comments »

Yes, this is Dave Matthew for band Halloween! Creepy, huh??

After a month of begging and pleading for musicians in Halloween costumes, Dave Matthews sends me the MONEY SHOT for Day 31 of the “31 Days of Band Halloween”. Woo hoo!!!

dmbhalloween
Dave Matthews for Band Halloween 2008

If you’re a band reading this after Halloween, I’ll be accepting band Halloween photos until Election Day in the US (November 4th).

After that, stay tuned for next month’s focus at Rock Star Life Lessons: “The Recession Proof Musician”. I don’t know about you, but I refuse to participate in the so-called recession. That’s my choice and I’m sticking to it!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Band Halloween PSA Video for Twitter

Yes, it’s almost Halloween, but let’s talk about viral videos for a moment. Singer/songwriter Josh Charles got decked out early in his Tom Burgundy (Anchorman Ron Burgundy’s brother) Halloween costume, and created a video clip. As soon as he was done, he sent the links to all his peeps on Twitter.

I had to marvel of the speed of it all. From the idea, to the execution, to the video being uploaded to YouTube, Josh saw an opportunity and went for it. I believe that it took longer for Josh to stand in line to getinside the costume store than it did for him to make this video. And it won’t take long for this video to make it’s way around the world.

You gotta love that! Josh’s video reminds me of one of my favorite sayings: The universe rewards action!

Josh recently performed during this years CMJ Festival, and his style has been described as “Dr John’s piano playing meets Van Morrison’s vocals”. Learn more about Josh at Josh Charles Music

Last Minute Halloween Costume Ideas for Your Halloween Gig!!!

Okay, we’re at crunch time now. Halloween is THIS Friday, two days from now. Do you have a costume yet for your band Halloween show? For you slackers out there, here’s a helpful video “Ten Last-Minute Halloween Costumes” from Metacafe.com


Ten Last-Minute Halloween CostumesClick here for this week’s top video clips

Day 22 of the 31 Days of Band Halloween: More DIY Costumes!

The Threadbanger DIY Fashion site has been featuring “Halloweeny Wednesday” videos featuring some cool DIY Halloween costumes for those of you who want a creative costume, and prefer to make it yourself.


Best DIY Halloween Costumes on Youtube!

Band Halloween Video: Kina Grannis Cover of Rihanna’s Disturbia

I’m quite happy about today’s Band Halloween post because I get to multitask: A) I get to feature a Halloween-type musical video, and B) I get to share some music marketing tips!

Day 21 of “The 31 Days of Band Halloween” features a video by singer/songwriter Kina Grannis, in which she performs a cover of Rihanna’s latest single “Disturbia”. Kina Grannis has been on my radar since August, and I’ve been waiting for the right time to share, and just in time for “Band Halloween”, she records a verson of Rihanna’s “Disturbia”. In the spirit of full transparency, Kina’s video is not exactly scary, but I will add that there are candles, as well as a “scary” doll featured. But hey, we’re talking band Halloween here, and it’s close enough for me!

Kina Grannis is a Web 2.0 musician, without a doubt, and I’ll tell you why. When I took Ed Dale’s Thirty Day Challenge for internet marketing in August, one of the Challenger teams favorited a video of Kina singing a song she wrote called Gotta Digg while we were learning how to bookmark websites. The song was cute, and she even had her sisters singing backup with her. My first thought was how clever (not to mention viral) it was to write a song about an online bookmarking site. My second thought was that I had to find out more about this singer.

So glad I checked, because Kina’s Digg song barely scratches the surface of what she is about.

Miz Grannis releases a new video each week to YouTube and her blog at KinaGrannis.com. Each video is a song of her own, or a cover, or maybe even a guitar tutorial. At the end of her videos, she talks to her fans, and if she’s received any fan gifts since last week’s video, she’ll give a little “show and tell” at the end, along with personal thank yous. Her idea of combining performing with videoblogging is GENIUS, I must say.

Her dedication to the goal of posting a new video each week has been parlayed into an appearance on the Super Bowl, sold-out shows, and even a record deal. Oh, and I cannot forget the dedication she inspires in her tireless street team. Kina’s street team puts in the time for her, and even created a birthday video for Kina (This page also features other birthday dedication videos from Kina’s fans too).

On one hand, what she has done with her music career is amazing. On the other hand, it’s not impossible, and can be replicated by other musicians willing to put in the dedication.

You can’t buy this kind of fan love. You earn it by showing up regularly and performing.

I dare you. Try it!


Kina Grannis – Disturbia (cover of Rihanna tune)

Band Halloween with Balthrop, Alabama

Check out these cool zombie photos from the band named Balthrop, Alabama. These shots were taken at the Knitting Factory in NYC for Halloween 2006. Photos taken by Mo Shoshin.

Balthrop, Alabama Zombies

Balthrop Alabama Zombies 2

The band Balthrop, Alabama was formed in early 2006 in Brooklyn, New York by Alabama-born songwriter-siblings Pascal and Lauren Balthrop and eight or nine of their musically-inclined neighbors. They get together every so often to sing songs about dead people in love.

What a creative band this is!! You just have to check out the Balthrop, Alabama website. See the rest of the band Halloween photos for Balthrop, Alabama on Flickr Check out the Balthrop, Alabama blog too!