1. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you’re worth.

Just because you want the gig doesn’t mean you have to beg for it. If you’ve got experience performing, and you regularly draw a crowd, your venue stands to benefit as much-if not more-than you do from the show. So don’t let them tell you that you’re not worth paying as much as a “bigger name”. It is also a good idea to go in and tell them exactly what you’re doing to generate a buzz about the show. If they can see that you’re working to get a crowd in, they’ll be a lot more willing to pay you a good rate.

2. Don’t run up a huge bar tab.

Take a lesson from the Blues Brothers. If you’re buying your own drinks at the show, it’s going to eat in to your bottom line. You don’t want to end up owing them money for playing a show. A couple beers to keep you loose isn’t a big deal, but when you start buying round after round of top shelf drinks you’re going to rack up quite a bill. Not to mention that it’s going to affect your performance. You might not think it’s a problem…but then, neither does Amy Winehouse. Stay on top of your game while you’re on stage. There’s plenty of time to party after the show.

3. Sell T-shirts, bumper stickers and CDs at the show.

A small investment in your own marketing merchandise can help generate income. Make sure whatever you’re selling is cool in design and functionality. You can’t go wrong with T-shirts, as long as they don’t look cheesy. Don’t try to sell them for $40 each. You’re not Pink Floyd (yet). The kids that are going to your show aren’t loaded, but they’ll gladly buy and wear your shirt around if it’s affordable and looks good. That’s free advertising. Stickers and other inexpensive items can also bring in some extra money. Remember, you’re not trying to get rich off this stuff-just clear a little profit and get your name out there.

4. The Tip Jar

It never hurts to set it out there. And even if you only get a few bucks, it’s a few bucks more than you had before. Make sure that you sincerely thank the audience for their tips before you close the show.

5. Generate a buzz to ensure a big crowd.

If you’re getting part of the cover, you want to do everything in your power to get people in the door. That means going out and hitting the streets for weeks before the show, printing flyers and cards, asking friends and family to spread the word, and using your contacts to get people to the show. Even if there’s no cover, the more people at your show, the more opportunity you have to sell your CD’s and T-shirts and get tips. Don’t leave it to chance-work hard to get people to the show and it’ll pay off in more ways than one.

6. Make sure your venue will attract people who will like your music.

If you’re an acoustic singer/songwriter, don’t try to play at a club that is known for head banging. It sounds simple enough, but there’s something to be said for playing up to the regulars that are used to going to the venue where you’re playing. Go to a few shows at the same venue beforehand and hang out. See who’s there and talk to some people about your upcoming show. People that are already at the venue are more likely to come back than people who’ve never been there before-even if they know who you are.

7. Look for different types of venues-not just the same old bar scene.

There are lots of places you can play to earn a few bucks. Big corporations often throw parties a couple times a year to celebrate holidays or sales performance. Schools have festivals and events. There are endless places where you can attract a crowd and sell your CD’s. Think outside the box!

8. Make sure you have a website and blog-and a mailing list to remind people where they can see you!

This is such an important piece of getting recognition and money. Make sure people know how to find you online. Every piece of advertising or marketing you do should have your website address on it. Keep your site updated regularly and post information about upcoming shows. When your shows are over be sure to immediately post pictures and videos. Respond to inquiries from fans, prospective venues, and press. You can also sell MP3’s of your songs or the entire CD on your website to generate income. There are literally endless possibilities, and with today’s web tools, it is easier and easier for anyone to create and manage their own website. Most importantly, once you’re on the web, people from all over the world can find you and hear your music. Think big, and make yourself available to an unlimited fan base.

9. Treat your booking professionally.

Make sure you keep track of phone numbers, dates, and venue contacts. This is going to ensure repeat bookings. Until you make it big and have yourself a real business manager, you’re going to have to keep things organized. Some people are naturally good at this, and some people, well…aren’t. Bare minimum, get a big calendar and scribble phone numbers and important dates and times on it to keep track. The more you treat your band like a business, the more money you’re going to make.

10. Stick around after the show and work the room.

Don’t just pack your stuff and high tail it out of the club when you’re done playing. Unless it’s closing time, spend a while chilling out with the crowd and talking to people. When you’ve finished your show, you’ve got a little bit of ’star quality’ that comes from having been the center of attention for the duration of the show. When you take the time to walk around and thank people for coming, introduce yourself to people and tell them your CD is for sale, or hand them your card with your website on it, you are doing yourself an invaluable service. Try this for three shows in a row, and I guarantee you’re going to see huge results.

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They really are such a fun way of changing your persona. Fancy dress parties are popular all year round in both Scotland and England and with so many different colours, styles and themes all you require is your imagination.

Some of the most popular wigs are some great bride of Frankenstein wigs which stand very tall on the head. Fancy dress costumes from the 60s vintage plus 70s retro clothing and wigs are still very popular. Older classics like the Bishops and other clergy wear fancy dress, judges wear wigs etc are still popular at parties. Fancy dress wigs have the power to transform the mundane into something attractive, or, if you wish, they can do just.

Why people still buy wigs?

Wigs for fashion, wigs for parties, fantasy wigs, wigs for hair loss or simply wigs for a great change of style - instantly! Wigs for parties, parades, shows, theatrical performances, plays, Halloween, Christmas and all occasions and they do not need to cost a fortune and for these reasons are why wigs are still so popular today.

If you’re going to a fancy dress party or just feel like a change in your appearance then a wig is the best option, have fun in a wig, While you can always hire or buy costumes from most fancy dress stores, why not use a bit of imagination and create a look yourself?

Costume wigs are a quick and easy way to transform an everyday hair style their purpose is short-term wear for disguises, parties, and special events. A great selection of fancy dress costumes & wigs, whether it’s for bedroom fun, or parties such as halloween, Christmas or new year.

For younger clubbers the current trends are the our afro wigs, red party wigs, afro wigs, 70’s wigs, bob wigs, flick wigs, beehive wigs, mullet wigs, Cher & Abba wigs and dressing up wigs. TV, Movies & Cartoon Wigs to name a few.

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If you’ve heard “Rehab,” or her other hits, you’d know her voice in an instant. And if you’ve ever seen the singer, I guarantee you’ll never forget her. Covered in tattoos, with heavy eye-makeup and her trademark beehive hairdo, Winehouse is impossible to miss.

Sadly, her enormous critical acclaim and six Grammy nominations have been overshadowed by her public self-destruction and reckless drug and alcohol abuse. She’s a favorite target of the tabloids and is right up there with Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan when it comes to personal train wrecks. She’s been described by People as “a perfect storm of sex kitten, raw talent and poor impulse control.” Amy Winehouse makes Janis Joplin look like a saint. Let’s just hope she doesn’t share Joplin’s fate.

What’s any of this got to do with marketing, you ask? Consider the fact that in the cutthroat music industry, the chances of stardom are one in a gazillion. And when someone bursts on to the music scene like Amy Winehouse, you have to sit up and take notice. Her unique, soulful singing style, her distinctive looks and, yes, even her wacky behavior, create a remarkable brand identity. In “Sethspeak,” Winehouse is a purple cow in a huge herd of me-too musical cattle.

Sure, she’s immensely talented, but so are thousands of other performers. What makes Amy Winehouse stand out is that she’s so… Amy Winehouse! She’s carved out an unforgettable image and an unmistakable identity. Unfortunately, her personal turmoil is now part of that image but, if it doesn’t kill her, it definitely keeps her in the news.

Minus the drama, marketers should learn from Amy Winehouse. Please don’t run out and get a beehive wig just yet. But you do need to develop a brand. You need to be distinctive. And you need to determine your personal brand. Does Amy Winehouse stand out in a crowd? There’s little doubt about that. But do you? If not, what can you do to grab your share of the spotlight? (Preferably, without breaking any laws!) What can you do to make sure that you’re not singing the same tune as your competitors? Give it some thought, then take action on your own branding efforts!

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Who are these new faces in the music scene? Well, most of them seem to come from the rainy Britain. We all heard (the probably evergreen) Grace Kelly song from new artist Mika. We all heard Lily Allen’s Smile and Rehab from Amy Winehouse.

Well, all these artists seem to promise the top music hits for this summer, so you can count on Mika’s Love Today, on Lily’s Alfie and on Amy’s Back to Black to make it to the top of the charts. Somehow, these artists approach the classiest pop and jazz, which might be surprising, considering today’s R&B must-have trends, but they seem to gain more and more fans. After all, pop music makes the best summer hits.

OK, now let’s think and predict: which artists that we know and love will manage to offer us those hot and spicy summer hits? But in order to establish that, let’s take a look at what the guru says, meaning the Billboard singles chart.

Well, no major surprises, since the chart presents, in top five, Akon, Nelly Furtado and Timberland, Gwen, Fergie with Ludacris and Avril - they are so famous they don’t even need their second names. So you’d better bet that you’ll be dancing on their rhythms all summer long, regardless if those rhythms belong to the songs we already know, as in The Sweet Escape or Glamorous or to their new releases, such as Gwen’ 4 in the Morning, Fergie’s Big Girls Don’t Cry or Justin’s Summer Love.

Well, we might be a little more general and say that whatever Beyonce, Diddy, Shakira, Pussycat Dolls, Justin or Nelly Furtado (just to name a few) release, it will be definitely part of the top 10 summer hits for 2007. Quite a predictable fact, considering the general music trends that innovatively combine R&B with dance and the fact that all these artists have dominated the music charts in the past years.

Oh, and one more thing: if Britney manages to make that super expected and spectacular come back before the hot months, no wonder if all we are going to hear this summer will be a reinvention of Oops, I Did It Again.

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Back to Black is a refreshing album by a truly talented songwriter with a good ear for melody. This makes this album an essential purchase. Almost all the tracks are good enough to stand on its own as a single. The title track is a broken-hearted anthem. ‘Love is a Losing Game’ and ‘Wake Up Alone’ are similarly passionate. The lyrics are incredible ‘Back to Black’ is a masterpiece that everyone should have in their collection. The album perfectly demonstrates why she’s one of the most successful female artists in the UK today. The album literally grabs your attention right from the start with Rehab and won’t let go until the very last note of the very last song. You will not be disappointed with even a single track.

While this entire album is outstanding some of the good tracks include “You Know I’m No Good”, “Love Is A Losing Game” and “He Can Only Hold Her”.

“Rehab”, the must-hear song that opens the second album from British soul singer Amy Winehouse comes with a banging beat.

Amy’s voice is strong and powerful and at the same time emotional and fragile. She comes across as a tough singer and manages to come up with a sound and feel that’s timeless and classic as well as fresh and contemporary. Amy Winehouse is definitely a major vocal talent and also nearly super heroically self-destructive. You’d be blown away by Amy’s voice and performance. Every song on this album is a gem. Amy has sung in different styles. The album is highly recommended for Amy’s fans.

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Only last weekend, the wife’s vertiginous nature led to a particularly bad smash. Betty was seriously shaken up, but luckily, a Scientologist was quickly on the scene.

The incident would never have occurred if we lived in Saudi Arabia, as women are forbidden from driving by law. They must really respect their women to go to such lengths to keep them safe.

The Saudi ladies have many other social advantages. When Manchester United played their controversial testimonial in Riyadh, the women were all banned from the stadium; presumably to protect them from the shock of viewing Rooney and Tevez. I can’t take my eyes off the 7/1 for a Tottenham win over a jetlagged United side.

While the Saudi women lead a life of luxury, the men are treated incredibly shabbily. Islamic law allows the males to marry up to four wives: so you can understand why a minority go apocalyptic. I’d consider destroying the West if I had to watch Eastenders four times a week.

It’s not all doom and gloom for the men, as multiple weddings equate to multiple stag nights. It’s a little bit different over there though: it takes the stripper 25 minutes to whip out her elbows. There won’t be a Stag party when Mansfield face Middlesbrough, Southgate’s men will knock them out at a fundamentally sound 4/9.

Amy Winehouse can only look on in jealousy at the freedoms offered to the women of the Middle East. Amy can’t even water her plants without being harassed by the man, although she has been overdoing it with the hosepipe lately. I’ll be having the craic with the 5/6 for a Derby win over Preston.

The footballing world has changed dramatically since Kevin Keegan last flexed his managerial muscle. The game is now awash with American cowboys, and in a sign of solidarity with our friendly-firing brothers, Joey Barton now walks like John Wayne. I won’t be backing Arsenal at 2/5 against Newcastle. The hell I won’t.

Liverpool v Havant & Waterlooville is what the FA Cup is all about: it’s a bunch of nobodies getting spanked by a decent team. Bookies are as short as 1/100 about a Liverpool win, I’ll play on the Reds -2.5 goals at a more punter friendly 1/2.

Wigan looked to have completed a canny piece of business with the signing of Wilson Palacios. The Honduran is nicknamed ‘Harry Potter’, a moniker earned when his brother disappeared. 8/15 for a Chelsea win over Wigan will be vanishing soon.

Mark Hughes is definitely a kind-hearted soul. He went face to face with Gareth Southgate last week, and he resisted the urge to laugh. I’ll be smiling like a trout enthusiast around Leslie Ash when Aston Villa see off Blackburn at even money in the only Premier League fixture of the weekend.

Frankly, I was quite disturbed by the news that Leslie Ash pocketed £5m after contracting a bug while in hospital. It’s not like Lee Chapman needs the money, he already owns a mobile exercise unit.

The controversial payout has led me to consider moving to the utopia that is Saudi Arabia. Naturally, this would lead to a conversion to Islam, which will conflict with my liberal beliefs. The wife would have to wear a veil though, so it’s swings and roundabouts. Aston Villa, Arsenal, Portsmouth, Southampton and Watford form a 10/1 weekend accer that will pay for the necessary amount of tarpaulin.

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Topping off that list is Sarah Jessica Parker, followed by singer Amy Winehouse. Sarah Oh landed third place while Madonna grabbed fourth and Britney Spears made it into the fifth.

Maxim says that the reason behind Oh’s place on the list, was that “The only thing worse than a show about doctors is a show about sappy chick doctors we’re forced to watch or else our girlfriends won’t have sex with us. We’re holding Dr. McSkinny, with her cold bedside manner and boyish figure, personally responsible.”

Ouch, indeed. Parker landed the top spot for being least sexy woman in a group of very unsexy women” while Amy Winehouse seemed to scare everyone away with her pale skin and ratty hair. Madonna was given a spot for “self-righteous bellyaching and rapid postnuptial deterioration” and we all know why Britney Spears is on the list. If you don’t, Maxim spelled it out for you–she has a weight problem, trashy ex-husbands and a failed attempt at getting back at her career.

So why is Sandra Oh on the list? They say it’s her portrayal of Dr. Cristina Yang on Grey’s Anatomy that has placed her there. But then again, when did Dr. Yang care about what she looked like? She works hard to get what she wants and to climb up the professional ladder. Anything outside of that, she doesn’t care much about.

For more resources about Grey’s Anatomy or for the full story of Grey’s Anatomy Star Deemed Unsexy please review http://www.buddytv.com

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This clause means that one cannot just take out speculative policies on someone they predict will die. Incredibly this is how life insurance began its life. In Victorian England people would take out policies on other people’s lives. They would publish news of deaths in the newspaper and speculators would receive a payout. This practice was later banned as it provided a motive for murder. Shame I say. It sounds like a fun gamble and I can think of a few celebrities that would be worth a punt.

Especially after hearing that TVs Ant and Dec have insured each other’s lives for a reported 2million pounds. Probably not the best punt as I imagine they are the cleanest living people on this planet. Perhaps Amy Winehouse or Pete Doherty would be a safer bet. Their reported drug abuse seems to suggest that they are destined to die young and would probably be insurable for far more. So here is my list of celebrities that I would take a punt on presuming the estui qui vit or ‘insurable interest’ clause did not exist.

Cliff Richard

I am convinced Cliff was pickled 30 years ago and is propped up by a team of record industry bigwigs. Technically he is already dead but no-one has allowed a doctor near him to verify it. As soon as they do you could be in for a massive payout because he is worth a lot of money.

Amy Winehouse

I fancy the reports that she is taking inhuman quantities of illegal substances are exaggerated. Nevertheless she is probably worth an outside punt and her youth would probably mean a larger payout.

The Queen

She can’t live forever can she? Although the Queen mum had an incredible run into old age I predict things will be less easy for the Queen; especially with the power hungry Duchess of Cornwall looking over her shoulder. Regicide? You don’t hear that often these days. The value of this policy would be innumerable.

Britney Spears

A long shot but well worth considering. After all it seems she will do anything for a bit of publicity. I would not put death beyond her marketing team. Add to this that she is probably worth billions she could be an excellent investment.

Hugh Hefner

Another one that I think is being propped up by a team of medical professionals. It’s about time that one of those bunny girls finished him off and with a potential payout of millions I wouldn’t be surprised if they did. Well worth a gamble.

Osama Bin Laden

They’ve got to catch him soon haven’t they? When they do I’m sure they will find a way of manipulating local laws so that he ends up being executed. A great bet if you think they can find him.

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