It's been a while since I sat down in front of this screen thinking about letting everyone in a little piece of what goes on in my head.  I've gotta say, this little business of mine has really come into its own and I couldn't be more grateful.  As a matter of fact, I am going to start off with that...

This business is tough.  It's oversaturated, overpopulated, and most believe they are entitled.  What I love about the Mindz-I family, this couldn't be further from the truth.  Event after event from the planning stages to the after event "dinerpaloozas" lol our artists show up to support each other in the most incredible ways and THAT is what makes for a successful family/business.  WE do this because WE LOVE TO DO IT.  It's not about the $$$ (breathe Hall) but it's about the grind.  It's about LOVE for good music, great music, REAL MUSIC, and REAL FANS...  It's why we choose to "Make Noise" and it's why every noise we make sounds so damn good.  We are REAL, we tell you how it is and if "you don't like what I have to fu*king say, then turn around and walk your ass the fu*k away".  Our peers recognize it, our fans respect it and we ARE changing the industry... OUR GAME OUR RULES...

So thank you to my family, partner (love you Hall face), our artists, our staff, our affiliates and most importantly every single person out there who LOVES REAL MUSIC...  without you... NONE OF WHAT WE DO GETS HEARD...

So what's been happening?  Wow, I definitely do NOT have enough time to get into all of that, but here's a quick rundown of of what's what with our artists...

Solistic - Released their EP REACH to a packed house at the Acoustic Cafe.  New tunes are already in the works and with a little bit of luck, the full length CD will be out in early 2012!  My Solistic boyz never stop working, never stop trying to achieve perfection, simply put, they just never stop.  I cannot even begin to tell you how nice it is to open my email every day and see a request for THEM to play a venue.  They have made a name for themselves and they have damn well earned it!

She Eats Planets - Well, after what we thought was “THE” line-up we are back on the hunt for a drummer.  Amazing thing is... this band just keeps getting better and better as the months go on.  Movie producers looking for them to be a part of soundtracks?  Yeah, they got that.  Thing about She Eats Planets… What doesn’t kill them only makes them stronger…

Ocecmic – It’s not often that this manager says… GET IT TOGETHER and give me something that’s going to make heads spin, but I did and they are!  Taking a break from the circuit to find a sound that is all their own and create new music that will no doubt set a new standard, the Ocecmic boys are hard at work and this manager would have it no other way! 

dUECE bUG – Two words… FULL BLAST…  It’s the only speed this guy knows and he’s DAMN good at handling it.  Two music videos in and another EP set to drop November 25^th, there is no stopping his movement.  With events booked every weekend, downtime is a word that is just not a part of the daily vocab.  He’s opened for KRS ONE, EPMD, ROYCE -à and that’s just the past couple of months.  Winner of Best Hip Hop artist in Hartford -à ABSOLUTELY!  Big things on the horizon… and that my friends is fact…

Prism – See Thru Soul has a new singer and a new name and they are just about ready to get back into the scene with a KICK ASS new/old sound.  Respect?  They’ve earned mine.  They went through 13 singers before they found the one that FIT.  They did not settle.  They did not let their desire to get out there and play force them into a situation born of impatience and the end result is BRILLIANT.  Stay tuned ‘cause they WILL be coming to a venue near you soon…

BFUNKD – Beth Styles and the Solistic Boyz have been working hard on some amazing new material and along with the addition of two phenomenal singers, and of course the talents of Ms Fonda Feingold, they are setting up a crazy rehearsal schedule in preparation for their debut gig at The Fez on Summer Street in Stamford in November.  It’s not often that someone can make you feel good with a smile, but this band does just that and then makes you remember WHY music is the universal language, the universal healer.  BFUNKD is band with a very basic message… Spread a little happiness, enlighten a few minds, and love everyone because everyone deserves to be loved.

The Bittersweet Vine – These guys just continue to blow my mind every chance they get.  First, I don’t know that there is anyone on the planet that supports the local music scene as much as Evan and trust me, everyone knows it.  Talent?  OH my aliens lol, this boy can do it all and with the amazing musicians he has behind him, there is NOTHING this guy, this band CANNOT do.  Up next…  “UNPLUGGED Nirvana Live in NY” tribute night at Two Boots of Bridgeport… Like I said, NOTHING he cannot do.

There are a few other things on the horizon with regard to additions to the Mindz-I Roster… so stay tuned.  I am always out and about looking for new talent, old talent, talent in general.  I can honestly say that we represent some of THE best talent in CT and you know what… That’s a great thing to be able to say.

I could go on about the amazing relationships we have formed with our venues, but you already know that from the amount of shows we book.  I could go on about the direction we are headed, but you already have an idea because you know damn well this girl has no intention of stopping until REAL MUSIC becomes mainstream once again.  I could go on about how much I love my job and the people I have the pleasure of working with every day, but I think I already did that…

So, all that is left to be said is this…

“IT HAS TO START SOMEWHERE…  IT HAS TO START SOMETIME… WHAT BETTER PLACE THAN HERE… WHAT BETTER TIME THAN NOW???  ALL HELL CAN’T STOP US NOW!!!”

~ Maria ~

While sitting here at my desk this afternoon contemplating what I should pack for B.O.M.B. Fest this weekend, it occurred to me that this weekend officially kicks off the summer, for you, for me, for Mindz-I.  Huge Festival in Hartford featuring Weezer, Coheed & Cambria, Snoop, and a ton of CT original arts including Solistic's own John Stavola aka Stavvs aka Face aka Dr. Groove performing with The Backyard Committee...  Damn fine way to start it off!

These days there doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day for everything that needs to get done.  The Love, dUECE bUG CD Release Party is just a couple of weeks away and FuzeOnFest 2011 FEATURING KRS-ONE is RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER!  We have Solistic, The Bittersweet Vine and Ocecmic getting ready to drop EP's and music video plans in the works for She Eats Planets.  See Thru Soul and BFUNKD will be making their return to the scene after some line-up changes and all the cover bands we represent and adore are out there bringing you the songs you LOVE to ROCK OUT to on a warm summer's night!  The Mindz-I Calendar is filled with events for this summer including the very anticipated Full Blast Movement 3 Featuring Apathy and an NEW ~ ALL AGES BATTLE OF THE BANDS SERIES at The Steve Hine Academy in Milford.

For all the blood, sweat and tears, there are also an equal amount of perks, one of which is that I get to listen to tracks long before anyone else ever does.  This morning I had a "pancakes" (breakfast meeting) with an artist and after discussing things to come and ironing out some details of things already in the books, I left with CD in hand.  As I sat in ridiculous traffic on the way back, I couldn't help but be amazed by the diversity of this artist and by his growth over the past year.  Then I hit the thank you track, and I couldn't help but be awed by his absolute humbleness.  One of the best feelings in the world, for me anyway, is knowing that I helped someone, in a big way or a small way, doesn't matter.  The BEST part of my job is that fact that I get to help make people's dreams come true everyday and they, in turn, mine.  Mindz-I is a lot more than events and parties... we are making dreams come true and bringing people together using the only true universal language... MUSIC...

So, here's to kicking off SUMMER 2011 with a BOMB and FULL BLASTIN', SOLTASTIN', OCECSMASHIN', PLANET EATIN', VINE DRINKIN', BFUNKIFIED, SOUL SEEIN', BC CONNECTIN' our way through the rest of it!

Be safe...

Much <3

~ m ~

As I sit here this morning drinking my coffee staring at News Feeds and Entertainment Blogs, I cannot help but think... THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING...

Last night our artist dUECE bUG performed in front of a PACKED house at Toads.  Alongside him, Chuck Nickels (ITZ URBOI) CyMatics and B Eazy (BC CONNECT) and DJ Mo Niklz.  The Full Blast Movement was on the stage and in the house and the energy was simply explosive.  It was also quite surreal.

As a Business Manager, my life is filled with meetings, conference calls and contracts.  Believe it or not, it's not as easy or glamorous as it seems.  The countless hours put in to make sure every event we kick off is successful can be exhausting.  Not to mention the fact that there never seems to be enough hours in a day.  Let me tell you this, the moment I stepped up onto that stage last night to film the set I knew, beyond a doubt, that EVERY SINGLE MINUTE spent agonizing over every little detail is well worth it.  This is what I was meant to do and THIS IS REALLY HAPPENING and Mindz-I has "arrived".

Thing is, every great business person knows that you cannot do it alone.  Without people alongside you, grinding with you, sharing your passion and vision, success is unattainable.  So today, I am shouting out to the ENTIRE Mindz-I family because without you, NONE OF THIS is possible.  Together as a team, WE are making noise.  Together as a family WE are making history.  Names need not apply as you know who you are.

Simply stated...

MINDZ-I ENTERTAINMENT... MAKE NOISE

~ m ~

If you would have told me a couple of years ago that I would be leaving my "cushy" Senior Consultant position at a large Marketing Firm to launch my own business I would have told you that you were crazy.  If you told me that it would be in the music business I would have said "now you're really crazy".

Today, Mindz-I is growing at a rapid pace and here I am writing a daily blog for my Entertainment Company.  Funny how things work out.

Before I even get started with the goings on at Mindz-I, I want to take the time to thank the people who have helped us turn this dream into a reality.

To our families as a whole who have suffered through our insanity getting this off the ground... We love you more than you can even imagine.  We have arrived and we are MAKING NOISE...  Beautiful NOISE.

Brian, Phillip, Justin & Kirstyn... Everything I do, I do it for you.

Gram... The "old soul" in me is thanks to you.  Thank you for always being there and supporting me even when you thought I was making a bad decision.  I knew you were always there. "Thank God for Grandma".

Janet... When everyone said I "couldn't" - you said, "Go For It Kiddo and Good Luck".  No matter where my life's "adventures" have taken me, you have always been there, through the good, the bad and the ugly - with a kind word, a shoulder to "cry" on, or a good smack upside the head to bring me back to reality.  Don't know what I would EVER do without you.

Mom & Dad... The sacrifices you made for us will never be forgotten.  Dad, the business person I am today is because of you, I learned from the best.  Mom, thank you, for everything - 'nuf said.

Loren... <3 could not have done any of this without you.

Tony...  Your check is in the mail!  You may be my lil' bro, but your influence on this lil' project of mine was huge... My castle, your bowling alley - eta - COMING SOON - lol...

Hall...  Look at our baby...  DAMN PROUD...  DAMN FINE WORK PARTNER...

The Mindz-I Staff... HAHAHAHA Man o' Man... What can I say to you guys and girls other than "welcome to the insanity" and everyone's job should be as fun as ours!

Chrissy... Never once did you doubt me.  Never once and for that (among many other things) I am forever grateful.

Dan & Julie & The BigBar Radio Family...  You welcomed us with open arms, helped spread the word, and I will never forget it.  Thank you all and get ready for a CRAZY summer!

ESCO... I may be the "Baby Momma Raiser" but you my friend are the "Man Behind the Curtain".

To All of our Artists... FAMILY is all I can say.  You guys and girls are amazing and we are so honored to have you as a part of our family.  All good things going forward... ALL GOOD THINGS.

To all of our friends who have been there spreading the word and scouting for us... We love you and the party is just getting started!

Now that's done... Let's get started shall we?

April is going to be an insane month for Mindz-I.  We have a bunch of great charity events coming up as well as some kick ass showcases and music video shoots among many other things.  Check out the home page for a listing of April's Events and we hope to see you at a bunch of them!

In May we kick off our Summer Concert Series at Gippers - that is going to be one hell of an event every month.  Stay tuned for details.

This Summer, Mindz-I is taking over CT, showcasing our original artists, bringing in headlining acts (time waits for no woman) and setting up mini tours.  Don't take your eyes off this train my friends, cause you never know what our next stop is going to be.

Well, this girl needs to go get some work done...  Until tomorrow...MAKE NOISE!!!