Today I’m working my ass off. Pumping out four new proposals before midnight and catching up on a ridiculous amount of work. Harnessing a new level of productivity.  And so in my journal of “to do lists” i assigned myself a quick blog post.

To Do: list current projects in a blog post.
To Do: pimp self out on blog for speaking engagements
To Do: write a real microblog – something longer than 140 characters but shorter than a Mashable post

So here it is.
My narcissistic microblogpost: what i’m working on, some clients, speaking engagements etc…in no particular order b/c they are all badass.

•  SxSW Insider’s Guide (community for SxSW attendees past and present)
•  Ariel Publicity, Cyber PR: Ariel and I are continuing to rock the world of indie promotion, and we are continuing to blow you away
•  Luce (alt/ indie rock band from the Bay Area)
•  Opus Music Ventures (Awesome innovative label out of Berekeley CA)
•  Preparing for SxSWi Panel: How To Stay Inspired Year Round
•  Writing book (OMG!)
•  Dr. Steel is the best Steampunk you’ve ever heard. I am a Toy Soldier.
•  something stealth1
•  something stealth2
•  reapandsow is the greatest boutique music distributor in the world.

conferences/ lectures

• Stanford University February, 2009
• Noise Pop Industry Noise February 2009
• SxSW interactive March 2009

If you have any questions about any of these projects, or speaking engagements please contact me at coreydenis[at]gmail[dot]com.
::end self pimping session::

If a music service requires your participation, it is considered  to be “Interactive.” The cost of using copyrighted material to develop  an interactive product is different (higher) than developing a non-interactive product.
BUT…There’s no stipulation in any IP law or digital millenium copyright act for the reality of technology such that a user may actually interact with a product versus directly with the music (aka on demand.)  There’s no clause for a case where the music is not interactive (internet radio) but interaction with the product enhances the listening experience.  There’s no clause for the human and product transaction. Only the human-music interaction is covered. Which means the product is, according to the law, operating illegally if paying fees as “non interactive” when it has (even if unfairly) been determined to be interactive.

Unfortunately for everyone involved, there’s no verbage, no legalese, no written word to address any music product with this type of user experience.  Interaction with a product is not on-demand music.  The experience is enhanced by interacting with the product. How can policy measure the value of experience?

IDEA: Interactive though it may be, interaction with a product to enhance the experience of art is a different level of interactivity.

Perhaps the conflicts and legal battles within the music industry (roaring as i type) will seek to adjust according to progress and user experience.

Til then, there’s Rusty Hodge at SxSW 2009: Rewriting the DMCA
see you there.

1.  creative outlet; expression
2. share music, literature, movies, tv, entertainment that i enjoy
3. in retrospect it feels like a published photo album, logging a snapshot of writing over time
4. it’s scary
5. sense of community with other bloggers
6. my friend christopher may made me do it
7. i learn from my blog (ex: using certain languages for design)
8. exercises writing skills or lack thereof
9. data. i love data.
10. pure and total enjoyment

i’ve made a complete decision.
I’d rather be whole than good.

The locked twitter account makes it less meaningful to me. I don’t need it for SEO, I don’t want it for SEO, and if I don’t want you to see me, you can’t. Though admittedly, I’ve “accepted” all applicants. The nature of my tweets hasn’t changed.  While it’s only been ten days, there has been no direct effect on my personal career….other than one thing: the ability to share links outside of the twitter network and the fun/ functionality of participating in memes.  Which, frankly, is an asset to anyone who wants to help drum up attention for another piece of information online.

one major observation: if sharing is caring then social network privacy is a conundrum. limitation of information sharing can reduce the information to nonexistent – where it could otherwise exist as an available form of data in the great big library in the sky. Removing the elements of open web community requires strategic acknowledgement that shared information only becomes available to a 1 or 2 way subscription model.  The goal of information sharing dictates the value of an open channel.

I’m glad i don’t need this to survive professionally (so far), though most of my opportunities require me to prove my social network prowess (so the results remain to be seen).  Ten days in, i don’t really notice the absence of social networks as part of my daily routine, though i’ve been signed in as other artists and labels, creating profiles all week long. I have noticed there are specific benefits to my career for being good at using them. If i had not used facebook for events these last 10 days, and did not use the button in my toolbar to share links on facebook,  i would not have noticed the new “like” commentary feature in the platform.  Emotion: Satisfaction

Today report:
Twitter was fun (emotion: happy)  today thanks to 1234567890 day and the subsequent discovery that so many of my friends have passion for the unix operating system.  In the last 3 days 4 different friends have noted “i miss your tweets” and 2 different friends instant messaged me to ask why my feed was private.

“What’s the matter? got a stalker?”
“yes, more than one over the last few years….but that’s not why i did it. I just wanted to see how i’d feel.”

we’re still humans right?  I’m feeling pretty good today (emotion: positively happy).  Have a great weekend, internets.

- tweeted 4 times during grammys, felt joyful and fun.
- found new bio photo for panels & speaking opps & was tempted to put it up as my twitter photo, facebook, all branding outlets…but didn’t.
- feeling happiness over new relationship with blog. blogged more than usual.
- logged into facebook for events after an email prompt, found that i’d been tagged in a photo from BAGeL Radio’s awesome bday party. felt happiness, the photo won’t offend anyone, i left the tag up and revelled in the memory (GREAT SHOW OMG)

Bizarre Real-Life Situation: Creepiest Power Outage (EVER)

While finishing Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, the power in my house went out. I’m afraid of the dark, and was alone in a 3 story home.  Fear of darkness started about 6 months ago at the ripe young age of 35. So, i did the only logical thing: i lit a comical number of tealights, so that my room was bright enough to…..continue reading The Road.  (oh hai masochist!)  …..and I finished it in the dark. I can’t think of a better way to confront fear of darkness.  And here i am, telling the story from the light.  Yes, today I am that much stronger. I relied on my iPhone and laptop batteries, both which lasted the full 150 minute power outage.  Hello strength, goodbye nightlight?  ::one day at a time::

More Ongoing Observations:

a few great conversations with friends around the theme “it’s all fun until someone gets hurt” – general consensus seems to be that more individuals within the SF social network bubble are suffering lately. It is a combination of overstimulation, economic fear (and envy), and relationships which are hardly perfect and more often flawed in ways that can’t be sorted out in a digital platform.

some random thoughts and actions:

really deciding that i want no part of the “hurt” – when it does or does not involve me.  Made vow to not post pictures in facebook which could hurt another person, with or without privacy settings. Noticed my friend changed a relationship status, and felt sad for him/her. quickly logged out and instead made human contact with that same friend.  I will never understand the comments on relationship “news” on facebook even if they are good positive comments for a relationship “announcement.”  It seems like an excessive part of the platform designed for eventual pain. As i said, married/ not married is fairly concrete, but everything else in between is nothing less than an ongoing mystery of complication. Sometimes (and often) wonderful, but all part of a journey which might be better left out of social networks and within the walls of the relationships themselves.  Didn’t we outgrow it in college, or do some kids still want a lavalier? I’ve seen both sides, and decided to keep it simple and therefore personal.  but still, i’m one day at a timing. what do i know. not much….and that’s all i do know.