Deron 5L Newsletter - March 2005

Recently I came to the realization that..when I write this newletter I often decide at the beginning, what mood I will present. Most often it's enthusiastic, and exciting, sometimes it has a serious tone. It's funny, because it seems that is what I also do each morning. What I'm saying is that how I feel is usually pre-determined by what I choose to "be". So, let me start off right here.. I'll be "free".. free to speak my mind, free to express myself, free to write this newletter however I want..

Wow, I have no idea what to write now..Hmm.

I guess I will mention that I bumped into two members of a band I used to be part of back in college.. The drummer Matt and bass player Mark were hanging out at Now & Zen Cafe for open mic on a Thursday when I was there. Matt also bumped into the lead guitarist too (John), while in Lansing earlier that same afternoon. This was a crazy coincidence since Matt lives in Macomb Twp., and John lives in Grand Rapids.. I talked with John on the phone that evening from Now & Zen. So, after many many years, all 4 of us were suddenly in touch. It was nice to get an update on everyone, and get to hang out for a bit. I'm sure I'll be seeing Mark and Matt a bit more often since they both live nearby, and go to the same open mic as I do :) Oh, by the way, our band was called "Lady Elain" and we played all around Kalamazoo and Grand Rapids in 1996 - 1997. Fun times!

This past Sunday I got to assist in the filming of a music video for Eric Deluca. Last year I started a small company called IndieWatch Productions, in partnership with BobVision Productions. This recent video was sooooo much fun to be a part of. There were many different scenes filmed indoors, and outdoors.. from a trailer.. to a coffee house.. to a park by a river.. to a scene by a mailbox.. plus some more indoor scenes. The actress in this video actually cried on que. Holy Guacamoli!? How do you do that. I'll tell you what!! Next month, when it's completed I'll let you see it ;)

The music for my CD coming out is coming along. Jim has been busting his butt on the bass tracks, plus mixdown and production. Desi has been in the studio every weekend, and recording multiple lead guitar tracks on each song. I got a preview of a few of the songs that are close to being done. Still, I'm probably going to re-do vocals on most of the songs.

In Mid-February, I got to play a duo gig with S.G. Wood. As mentioned many times before, he is practically a mentor to me. We played for a few hundred people at Hamlin Pub in Lake Orion. There were people even dancing in front of the stage as we played great songs from the Beatles, Van Morrison and more. We called ourselves the "Cab Drivers" that night, just to give ourselves a fun name. Hopefully we will get to play again as a duo in the near future.

This Month's Lesson: It's not too late to change your attitude. A few Thursday's ago I was dissapointed while playing a gig, since most of the people were not paying attention. This was in a nice lounge, and people were just talking a-lot, not clapping. On my last break I spent a few moments alone..and decided to change my attitude. Then I applied something I learned at a seminar at Landmark Education. I said "I am creating the possibility of being enthusiastic, and fun", and I prayed about this for a few seconds. Then I went back to play my last set. After finishing the gig an hour later, I felt pretty good. Then this guy walked up and said that he really liked how I performed. He said "I'm the manager of Champps in Shelby Twp.". Then he said he wanted to have live music there, even though they don't currently have live music there. He told me that he was interested in hiring me for a weekly gig! That following Saturday we met up and talked for a while. I'm now booked to play at Champps every Tuesday.. I'm glad I changed my attitude that night!

Besides this new Tuesday night gig at Champps, I'm also playing at Hatchy's this Thursday where I'll also be hosting open mic that night too! Musicians are welcome to come out and bring an instrument. Visit http://www.calendar.deron5l.com for more info. and also to check out the full list of shows. Hope to see you soon.

To everyone who came to see me last month at Raven Coffeehouse, thank you so much! It was really nice to see you there.

Remember the Survey from last month! Well, below are the responses. Here's the deal.. One of these answers below is fake. The rest are real. If you can guess the fake one you get free admission to my CD release party this summer.. and my up and coming CD for free. Just hit reply and take a guess!

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SURVEY SAYS: Where are you reading my newsletter from?

"I am at home in my office with my coffee reading this!!
See you at the Raven on Saturday!" - Erin

"I just finished reading your newsletter at the Farmington Library in downtown Farmington. It's Wednesday at about 3:15 p.m.. I really enjoyed this newsletter! It has contributed to inspiring me to continue in my recent endevors. I am in the process of building a new business, and I can't wait to tell you all about it." - Nancy

"From my home CPU" - Jamie

"Hey its Gina and im at work listening to the preview of your new upcoming cd. and im really enjoying it. its about 3 oclock and we are very slow at work but i think i just got a table. hear from you soon. peace" - Gennie

"Read your newsletter at home at night" - Rebecca

"Right now I'm just chillin at a coffee house on my laptop. I'm in between classes at WSU..liked your newsletter!" - Don

"I am at my parents house writing back in between running to stores and the bank and appointments in my busy day" - Jeanne Ann

"At work, downtown Detroit...." - Christina

"Well, i'm reading this in my brother's room. my toes and my nose are freezing. I'm in my p.j's and I'm just thinking of how fasinating you are. You have so much motivation, and i love it!!!" - Sarah Jane

"At Home" - Hibby

"Hey Terrence! I'm reading your newsletter from a computer in my college's computer lab! Happy surveying! :)" - LB

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Stay tuned for a list of the winner(s) next month!

Many people like to ask me how many subscribers I have for this newsletter. Well to I have collected thousands of email addresses from over 2000 people I've met personally at shows, but out of those only about 420 are on my list..since I switched to a more professional company to handle my newsletters. The company required that everyone re-join this newsletter, and unfortunately many did not re-join. BUT it's not about quantity. I'd rather have 10 people who actually read this, than 100 people who we're subscribed but did not read it. Know what I'm sayin! So..thank you for reading my friend!

Do you have something to say? Say it in my guestbook at http://www.guestbook.deron5l.com

Thanks!

Terrance (Deron 5L)
http://www.deron5l.com

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