MUSIC FOR ETHIOPIA

MUSIC FOR ETHIOPIA is working to make a difference in the lives of Ethiopians and financially aid the work of the Shannon family in Ethiopia. The music for ethiopia project hopes to raise awareness for their work in Ethiopia, raise support and make the vision for the Shannon family accessible to a wider audience.  All Proceeds will go to the work in Ethiopia.  The income will be divided up as 50% of the income to the Shannon Family and 50% to the Harvest Relief Project.  The Harvest Relief Project is working for peace in the everyday of lives of Ethiopians who face a cycle of poverty. Over 16% of Ethiopians live on less then $1 a day. Only about 65% of households meet the MINIMUM standard of the World Health Organization in consumed food per day.  Coffee is a major export of farmers in Ethiopia, and has been exploited by immoral importing techniques.  Support Music for Ethiopia and plant peace in the lives of Ethiopian farmers through the Harvest Relief Project which supplies for the needs of local farming families.

Find out more about the work of The Shannon’s in Ethiopia, visit www.theshannonfamily.com
Make a Pledge online to the Shannon’s work Through the Lancaster Vineyard Church visit here.
Find Ways to Pray & Partner with the Shannon’s visit here.

Learn about Ethiopia.

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Donate to the 'Music for Ethiopia' Project 

Sponsor the 'Music for Ethiopia' Project*

Pre-Order your 'Music for Ethiopia' CD ($5+$2 S&H)**

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*Sponsorship is $200 and includes a logo on all press materials, press releases and back of CD Jacket.

**CD Releases July 2010.  Pre-Orders will go out a few days early.  

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music for ethiopia is a project by jeff mclain and the north coast agency .

musicians and artists can get their song on this CD by emailing jeffreymclain@gmail.com

Loose Lips Sink Ships

I love fall.  Fall is full of beautiful foliage and temperature changes, but it is also hosts the spirit of change.  We have a lot of good things coming up that we need to still keep our lips bit about, but we will give you a teaser.

1.) Big things for one of our artists
2.) About To Announce A new band to sign to North Coast Agency
3.) About to Release two mini-tours of two very renown acts, one in time for a Christmas Bash in the North East!
4.) New Years Eve Party in Fredericksburg, VA
5.) Second Annual THE SKYLINE DISTRICT Showcase in Nashville during GMA in April.
6.) Hopefully a new website!

Artists Please Send your Demos to North Coast Agency / Po Box 7303 Fredericksburg, VA  22404 and we will give you a listen - we are expanding our roster!

Our 12 Commitments to Difference

1.) Partnership
We are trying to re-image how business is done in the music culture. We partner with our artists and their vision. We don't rule, dictate or live vicariously through our artists. We learn where they as a artist want to go, and we set the steps to get them there. We partner with them on every step, and help them out.

2.) The Respect Policy
We as agents have a lot of experiences in the music culture over the past ten years or so, as individuals. We have learned a lot form where we've been, and it has shaped where we are going. We also are grateful for our experiences, all of them; the good, the bad, the ugly. We are happy for the experiences that turned fruitful and the ones that didn't, they are all lessons learned. We will never bad mouth any prior agents, agencies, artists or companies we have worked with. We are here to plant life, rather then choke it out.

3.) On Percentages taken
The Beatles said, all you need is love. While that may have a hint of truth to it, you need money to survive. We understand that. We, at the North Coast Agency, negotiate the most reasonable percentages we can for our cut. We make it different for every artist, to make sure we are really aiding you and whatever level you are at. We also feel that if you decide to book your own event here and there, that you have the right to do that; without still paying a percentage to us. Percentages also depend on what services we contract with you, as we are all in house management, booking and artist development.

4.) Creativity Led
We don't like the hum drum, and our artists deserve proven marketing techniques that work, but not boring and worn out re-runs. Just as we demand our artists and musicians to be unique, creative, and on the edge; so is our advertising, marketing and visual explosion techniques for our artists.

5.) We Keep you in the know
When you fly in a airplane, you want to see where you are going. You want a ticket that tells you where you are going. Just because the pilot is sure of where he is going, doesn't mean you don't want lights in the aisle, windows to look outside and a ticket telling you where your destination is. We don't fly you blind. We keep all band members in touch, with what is going on. We set out the steps we are going to take to get you to the end goal (vision) you have as an artist.

6.) You're in the Network
Just as spiders weave webs, and catch all flying things into their web of entanglement, we long to develop a network (web) of resources for our artists here at the North Coast Agency. The music culture is a journey, and you meet a lot of people on it, a lot of resources that can come in handy as a artist, or a agency. We realize we are all on this journey. Instead of making connections to use and abuse, to rub shoulders with just to drop their names; we focus on how we can help each other out and develop a useful network of resources that we can all aid in. We are always busy developing a useful network of resources that we feel we can stamp our seal of approval on and share with our artists and other friends; this network can meet the ever growing needs of an artist, whatever they be and to whatever degree.

7.) Integrity Led
When your rock climbing, you want to know that the rope your hanging on has proven integrity. You want to know that the rope will keep you from falling face first into the canyon below. Well the same theory goes for artists and their relation to their agencies. You want to know that your agency is looking out for your interests, operating in your interests and representing your band with full integrity. We don't play industry games, or make shady agreements. We believe in doing all things with integrity as if a Holy Judge was sitting on our shoulders.

8.) We are Family
Everyone knows for a thing like this to work and to work successfully, you need to work as a family. At the North Coast Agency, we are committed to knowing you personally and for you to personally know us. This means, occasional calls that have nothing to do with business, and a friendly card or email here and there. Life's too short to commit to just making business partners.

9.) Target Driven
We don't limit ourselves to markets, genres and the such. We don't inhibit ourselves from growing outward based on our previous experience, knowledge or belief. We want to meet your needs, and accomplish your vision, through and through. You as a artist should have a collective vision for your band. We don't get caught up in genres such as “indie, mainstream, pop, Christian, etc”. So many times these things limit us to a audience, style of writing or genre. You as a band have something to say, say it as you want, no matter what it is. Express Yourself. Be who you are. We will plant it around and where it takes off, it does; and we will be sure to nurture it into full growth. It is about your final project, your vision, your goals. Leave the steps to us.

10.) The Ultimate Get-a-way
Every two years we plan the ultimate event, the North Coast Agency's Ultimate Get-a-way. We supply the event, the place, the food, and the entertainment as well as some workshops. All you have to do is show up! This event invites all of our artists, resources and full network out to play and learn together.

11.) From Start to Finish
We are committed to working with Venues and Promoters from Start to Finish. We believe in events that are a good experience for the the promoter, the venue, the audience and the band. We want it to be a great event and accomplish whatever expectations you have for it, as best as we can. We will help first time and veteran show promoters with ideas, promotional items, designs, and a help line. We are committed to making it easy.

12.) Its all Under One Roof
It has always been traditional in the music culture to have separate booking, management and development agencies. We think that works sometimes, but also sometimes it can be a big distraction to the band. More times then not, we find everyone agency has a different goal for the band, the agencies don't communicate fully with each other and then you have double booking, mis-communications and some band members leaning towards one agency more then the other. We believe in keeping it all under one roof, keeping the communication lines open, but letting the artists and musicians have a full say in everything. With out network we can do design, photography, management, booking, artist development and lots more. However, if you feel you don't need management but want booking, we do contract just part of our services out, but we make it known that if you want the full deal we can offer it. We also think its cheaper this way, as the artists don't have to split their percentages up between three organizations, leaving the artist with no income.

Our Golden Rules to Demo Submission

The North Coast Agency loves hearing new music. We love to be at the forefront of where musicians are taking their sound and where the music culture is headed.

Since we started we have emphasized the need for vision, compassion, commitment and dedication from both ourselves as an agency as well as the artists, musicians and resources we are responsible for. Our high standard of commitment demands that we see a high caliber of excellence when we look at the potential in bringing on new artists and resources under our agency.

Below is what we call, “Our Golden Rules to Demo Submission & Artist Auditions”. We encourage you to look through each “Golden Rule” and take note of the explanation of the requirement, so that you can better understand us as a organization and what we look for.

This booklet is designed to explain the high caliber of excellence that we look for when we look to bring on a new musician, and why.

We look forward to the possibly of working with new musicians and artists. Feel free to ask us any questions you have about any of the “Golden Rules” below by emailing us, info@northcoastagency.com.

We focus on coast to coast booking, management and development with innovation and integrity. We believe in creating community and bringing business to the approach of the community.

We want artists that have a vision, and know where they want to go. This is where the North Coast Agency comes in, we partner along side.

We want artists and musicians that are unique. We also want musicians and artists that are compassionate to the world and community around them. We work with a lot of social justice organizations and like to make that part of our mission for our agency and artists.

Most of all, the North Coast Agency is a family. When you are part of us, you are family and we take family very seriously. Just like a family we are always growing and looking to expand. We believe in nurturing musicianss and artists and working with musicians in all progresses of life. So read the guidelines below, and feel free to submit your demo today!

1.) Submit a Real Demo
You need to set yourself apart as a artist. We know its easy to log into myspace (or reverb nation, purevolume, etc) and listen to a musicians. It is also a easy and cheap method to "represent" yourself. However, honestly, we don't dig it. Everyday our myspace and email gets bombarded with dozens to hundreds of musicians wanting us to check them out. Maybe your musicians does have what it takes; but your going to get lost in the mix when you are getting us to check you out online on your website or a social networking site. Also, sometimes we just don't like to listen to music online, we want something physical we can hold in our hands, to know that your a real musicians. We want to be able to listen to it, when we want to listen to it. Listening online can get us caught in a bad day, or put us in a bad mood. Finally, when your musicians is online, your online just like all the rest, and you look like all the rest. Agencies want something that says, hey we are real, we are a musicians, and this is who we are. If you are aren't willing to get us something in our hands, no matter what the cost, most likely, you don't have what it takes to get something in the hands of your fans on a large scale. Show that you can handle the commitment to the dedication it takes to make it.

2.) Have Real Communication
One of the biggest errors a musicians can do in furthering their career, is bombarding a agency. Agencies do not want to log in to their email, have two emails from the musicians, three myspace messages and then sign on to AIM and find a member of the musicians messaging us; then by lunch break we are getting a phone call from the musicians asking what we think of their demo. Keep real communication a real important thing. Drop us a real letter, or a single email. Give us Real time to respond. Jumping all over every opportunity to get your demo in our hands, doesn't do anything but upset us and hurt your chances of coming on board. Let us initiate communication once you submitted the demo.

3.) Give us a Time to Listen
After you send us a demo, give us time to listen to it. We get busy. It may take a month or two to we get to listen to it. If you feel as if you must follow up to your demo submission, email us once and give us time to respond. No matter how good the musicians is, like I said before, over communication is enough to make us think your not for us. Just the same, if we have had your demo for a week; and you haven't heard anything doesn't mean we don't like it. It could be not what we are looking for at this time, maybe its not for us at all or maybe its just going to take us some more time to get back to you. Patience is a virtue when it comes to music.

4.) Know what you want, and Physically Portray it
When you submit your demo, show us the vision you have for a musicians. If you don't have a collective vision or goal for the musicians, your not in our sea. We aren't after musicians, who just simply “want to make it”. We want musicians that have a vision and goals and all the members of the group agree on the vision and goals. When we get your demo, when we see your myspace, your website and your musicians we want to see branding. We want to see confidence that you know who you are, and what your going for. We want to see a mark of excellence steady across the board.

5.) Be Unique
Be unique in getting our attention through your press kit. Show us your musicians, physically portray and represent your musician's image, goals and be unique about all of it. Don't try to look like someone else, sound like someone else or portray someone other musicians that you think we would like or that you sound like. We want to meet your musicians and the uniqueness that is there. We aren't looking for more goldfish to put in the backyard pond; we are looking for the fish that stands out, the pond is already overcrowded.

6.) Live Shows are a Must
If we like a musicians, the next step we take is going to see the musicians live, or having the musicians in house to perform for us. There is no skipping steps. We want to see who you are on your recording is who you are in real life, and that you can pull it off. We also don't look at musicians that don't play regularly. No shows? Means No North Coast Agency. We like dedication and commitment to playing live and playing regularly.

7.) Respect Policy
If we don't like your musicians, then we don't. We don't have time to email everyone back and tell them what we like and don't like about them, we wish we could. If we don't like your musicians, don't take it personally, your just not for us. We don't go trashing artists that send us bad demos, so if don't take you for whatever reason, don't go trashing us. This is our respect policy. Do unto others, as you would want done onto you in your career. If you have a problem with how we handled your musicians demo submission or anything, write us a email, we would be glad to address it.

8.) Conference Calls
After we see your musician's demo, and see your musicians live, we are going to want to sit down and have a conference call with ALL musicians members. We want to feel you out some more, ask you some questions, see your direction and goals, and just get to know you.

9.) Signing to the North Coast Agency
If after all these things, the North Coast Agency is interested in bringing you on board, we will present you with a contract to look over with your fellow musicians members and a lawyer. Ask any questions you want at this point to make sure you understand it fully. Once you sign the contract, it will be a legal law abiding contract between both our agency and your party. This process is unique with every musicians, and so is the contract and the time involved. Rome wasn't built in a day, and patience is the key.

DEMO SUBMISSION CHEAT SHEET
So if you REALLY think you have what it takes; and you would love for us to listen to your music. Set yourself apart, but remember;

• (1)Submit a Demo in MAIL to us with a placed together press kit with excellence from the press kit to the packaging. Make us want to listen to your CD.
  
  
• (2)Give us time to listen to it. Keep REAL and RESONABLE communication with us. Don't bombard us. Let us get back to you.
  
  
• (3)Be Unique in getting our attention and portraying your musicians image and vision. Make us see what your musicians wants and what they are doing, be unique. Don't be another Goldfish in the pond.
  
  
• (4)Make us believe in you. Make us feel your passion, your dynamic. Let us see what you bring to the table.
  
  
• (5)Respect our decisions and steps to become a NCA artist, and we will respect you. If we don't like your musicians, don't take it personal. We won't trash anyone or pass your demo around. We know what we want and we go after it, sometimes it's not bad, it's just not what we want; so please if we don't like you don't talk bad about us, everyone has their thing.
  
  
• (6)Have a real vision for the musicians, and be willing to be patient in obtaining that. Good things take a Good amount of time. Rome wasn't built in a day. Don't focus on being rock stars, but focus on your vision.

So you want us to hear your music? Make us want to!

North Coast Agency

PO BOX 7303

FREDERICKSBURG, VA  22404

Curt Mangan Strings, Quality & Affordable

Just Recently the North Coast Agency worked out a sponsorship packaged with Curt Mangan Strings for our artist, Barren Cross.  We here at the North Coast Agency are excited by independent companies that are making quality products and refusing to become corporate and keep some grassroots feel in the shadow of the overly marketed giants of the music industry.  With our love for the independent businesses, we knew we had to get a few of these products in our own office to "get a feel" for the product.

North Coast Agency friend & unofficial board member and bass player, Jon Campbell, recently tried out some of these strings and gave them a review.

Traditionally, I use D'Addario, Ernie Ball and GHS strings with Ernie Ball being my least favorite. However just a little after Christmas, I got the Curt Mangan Nickel Wound Bass Strings in the mail.  I put the strings on last night and overstrung them so they would work in a little bit for this morning. This morning they are still going out of tune fairly quickly but I'm getting a feel for them. I use nickel wound strings because I like the gritty texture for finger slides and such and I just can't get used to the feel of smooth wound strings.


Curt Mangan Nickel Wound Bass Strings. I instantly liked the strings and the change of feel and initiation of each note played. I can honestly say I'm as pleased with the strings as I've been with any new strings in the past (D'Addario's being my favorite) Each note is crisp and tight. There can be an abundance of the dry, metallic finger noise (depending of course on your bass and preferences) which I love. All around good strings and I hope to find that they age well like a fine wine.

So far our feelings are Curt Mangan strings are producing quality products and giving a bit more of a bang for the buck in the shadow of the giant.  Keep it up guys.  Everyone check out www.curtmangan.com and find a salesman in your area!

More Reviews Coming Soon...