2nd Annual KC Cassi Honors Date is Announced!

IT'S OFFICIAL!

SECOND ANNUAL KC CASSI HONORS 

IS SET FOR 

NOVEMBER 8, 2014 | 7 PM - $5 @ DOOR

TROUSER MOUSE BAR & GRILL

BLUE SPRINGS, MO 64014

I am really looking forward to the second year of the KC Cassi Honors for multiple reasons! I've got some pretty killer swag to offer the performing bands thanks to my recent partnership with Chapman Recording Studio! The door/cover will stay at $5 just like last year and just as it will be in 2015! 

All of the bands/acts have been booked for this Honors show and I want to thank EVERYONE who showed interest and submitted music. I will be announcing details about the show every week starting June 1, 2014! 

REMEMBER

The KC Cassi Honors show is, and always will be, a multi-genre show. While I appreciate other people's friends support of their band, I want to see everyone stay out for the other acts. Last year was a success and the house stayed packed up until the last act, David Hasselhoff on Acid, which was the best one of the night in my opinion! To make sure I keep your attention this year I will be giving out door prizes, random trivia prizes and there may even be an on the spot showdown of musicians for a big prize :) 

Over 300 of you drove to Blue Springs for the first Honors show last November and I was and still am humbled and grateful for all of that support! I will be having this year's show at the Trouser Mouse in Blue Springs again and hope to see you all rally for the KC Music Community yet again! 

COOL STUFF

Thanks to the sponsors and partners below we will be offering some cool perks, unique opportunities and lots of media coverage! Check them out and support those who support all you hard working musicians and industry workers/volunteers! 

www.idowhatiwantradio.com

www.itipmusic.com

  

www.chapmanrecording.com

I am still looking for some musicians to really WOW me this year for the potential winners so if you think you know someone who deserves to be honored, let me know! Check out last year's winners here:

http://kccassi.com/honors.html

The Process of Reviewing an Album

For some odd reason, I get this question a lot: How do you go about reviewing your albums? Steps I thought were simply natural were in fact a unique way to really listen to an album. I almost always listen to an album/EP 3 whole times before writing up the review. The first time, I will listen on my phone with my ear buds. Next, I will listen through my laptop/computer and those speaker. Lastly, I will listen to the album either in my car or in my home stereo. 

I feel the need to hear how it sounds in numerous settings so the overall sound or feel of the album really comes through. What may sound a little weak in the ear buds may rattle your whole body in the car or at home. I usually make notes throughout the listens that way when it is time to write it out, I can remember key things about the tracks I wanted to mention. Also,every review I ever post on www.kccassi.com was hand written first. The feeling of the pen to the paper and feeling every stroke of the words you are writing, is just something that no technology could ever replace. 

If I ever just really do not find the album appealing I will send my review to the artist/band prior to posting it for public view. After all, I am all about being honest but I also was raised with respectful and support the dreamers and musicians. Just because KC Cassi doesn't like it, doesn't mean the rest of the world will!

Tip for Reviewers: Be descriptive with your words. After all, the readers are looking to you to describe them the album and tell them whether they should get it or not. Imagine explaining a concert to a blind person, something like that! Hahah

Tips for Bands/Musicians Seeking Reviews: Remember that a reviewer is just one opinion, who is listening and judging your album for free out of the sheer love of hearing new music. Never let negative reviews get you down, just use it as a motivational tool instead. Do not request the review if you are not prepared to hear an honest opinion.

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www.kccassi.com

Picking the right Venues to Perform at | How to easily join the Bermuda Triangle of Bands in KC

One thing I see more often than anything when I log into Facebook, are event invites. I share these, go to these and make them available to the website viewers as well. However, bands out there need to decide the direction of their music and business ahead of time. Simply put, are you a HOBBY BAND or an ACTIVE BAND?

A hobby band is just that, a hobby. Most of these bands are full of members with full time jobs, families, mortgages and real life going on. They play for the love of playing and don't have many sights on "making it". However, most of them would jump on the wagon if the opportunity was good enough.

An active band is the group motivated to make it out of Kansas City and onto a label to ultimately be financially stable off of their music. These guys should be motivated, innovative and expect to put in their time before simply  "making it".

For the hobby bands, performing at the same venue weekly and being predictable is just more ideal. However, nothing drives me more crazy than to see a band that makes it public they are trying to "make it" playing local shows 5 times a month and most of them at the same venue. There is a plethora of bands here in Kansas City, of all genres, and it can be easy to get lost in the mix.

If you are just starting out, play wherever you can to get your name out there. Once you have a fan base and people known your name locally, then recognize that you have something there and play off that. Limit your local shows to one every 4-6 weeks so your local fans will get excited to see you. When you are so readily available people say "Oh well I will see them another time, they are always here" and that is when you slip into the abyss.

Choose the right local venues to perform at too! Recognize the venues sound, capacity and distance from most of your local fans. There are multiple venues in Kansas City to help your band on stage at, but I would definitely say these are my top 5 in KC period:

1.THE BRICK   MCGEE ST KC MO   WWW.BRICKKCMO.COM

I would definitely say The Brick has some of the best sound in Midtown. Smaller venue but the caliber of bands that perform there was also a selling point for me too. I have never once seen a bad show at this venue!

2.CZAR BAR   BROADWAY  KCMO   WWW.CZARKC.COM

Czar Bar is another venue that has higher caliber acts and if you are a beer lover, the tap choices will keep you there until 3AM. 

3.THE RIOT ROOM   BROADWAY  KCMO   WWWW.THERIOTROOM.COM

Even though when it is packed you will wait 40 minutes for a drink, the shows have really been improving here over the last year. Better sound and bigger variety of music has gotten me to pay the door to over 6 shows so far in 2014.

4.THE GRENADA     MASSACHUSETTS  LAWRENCE KS  WWW.THEGRANADA.COM

While Lawrence is a drive for a few of us, it really is one of the best mid sized venues in the area. The sound is good, the stage is nice and roomy and the staggering audience floor is great for all types of shows. Two working bars never hurts either. 

5.UPTOWN ARTS BAR    BROADWAY  KC MO    WWW.UPTOWNARTSBAR.COM

I really like going to this venue because of the love and support it shows to the local music scene. There is also such a mix of genres here and sometimes even spoken word/poetry so it appeals to my diversity love. 

Just remember to not over saturate yourself, your band or your sound too much. You want people to get excited to see you so give them something excited to talk about. Only jam and cover bands should be the ones gigging without an upward direction. I myself am a single mother so I know the struggle of children with the music scene. However, if you want a dream bad enough you should work your hardest at getting it!

Check out the latest music reviews at www.kccassi.com

Next Article: Too Old For Music? What's the truth about "aging out" in the Music Industry?!