Work Space

Bird is the Worm has a Tumblr site.  It’s titled Work Space.  The purpose is to present the areas where the artist is developing creative ideas and where the inspiration for those ideas is born.

The photos don’t need to be professionally done.  I’m looking for shots that set the mood of the work space, a shot that allows readers to transport themselves into the scene… no different than cool photos on amateur travel blogs.

Take a look at what is up there already.  Some are closer to my goal than others.  I love the very first one posted, of AJ Nash’s home studio… not only do you get the piano and open books, but you get an actual view of the world just outside his window.  That photo sets an entire scene, a tiny corner of the world where music is being created.  I’m also open to exterior shots of your work space building.  The most recent submission (seen in the image above) is a good example.

Mostly, it just needs to be a cool photo that brings the reader into the scene.  The niftier the photo, the more willing I am to make exceptions for its inclusion.

The qualities I like to see are, yes, those windows, but also those items which really have nothing to do with the music itself… shelves of books and cds, photos and artwork on walls and shelves, coffee mugs and weird lamps and odd items meant to bring good luck.  All of that stuff mixed in with the instruments and notebooks and the musician tools of the trade.

Here is what each submission should include:

• No less than two photos of the work space
• A link to a Soundcloud or Bandcamp page that has a track from your latest release (if you have no actual proper album, then something from a live performance or a track you recorded in your home studio… music that gives the reader a good idea of how you sound today.)  If you don’t have a Soundcloud page, then you may simply email me an mp3 file from your latest album, which I will upload to the Tumblr site for you (it will be streamable only, not downloadable, and, obviously, you retain all rights to your music).
• A brief note on the work space.  For instance, something like “Home studio in the Lakeview neighborhood of Chicago” or “practice room in Brooklyn apartment,” etc.  I’m not looking for postal addresses or GPS coordinates, but I’d like it to be less vague than “NYC studio” or “Where I practice in Portland.”

Here is what the photos should not be:

• Gear shots
• In performance shots (no musicians should appear in the photos)

So, what do you actually get out of having your stuff up on my Tumblr site?  Well, admittedly, not a lot.  As far as I can tell, the Work Space Tumblr isn’t getting a lot of traffic, though if I can get more people to participate with some regularity, that will definitely change.  Other things:

• Each post will include your work space photo(s), accompanied by a streamable track from your latest album (or other; see above), a brief synopsis (from me) about the music, and some links to your artist site and a retail site.
• A post on Bird is the Worm (which does get lots of traffic) about your Work Space submission, and a link to it.
• Various social media.  I’ll post about it on Twitter and Facebook, perhaps a couple of various music forums.
• It’s one additional place where people can happen upon your music, but presented in a format different than most music sites.

Yes, the whole concept is kind of obscure, but in my opinion, it’s the kind of thing that people can get into, and if Work Space does suddenly go crazy with traffic, it’s would be a good spot for an artist to have a photo, music, and links associated with it.  And considering that it requires very little time involvement on the artist’s part, there isn’t much downside.

If you have questions, feel free to post below in the Comments section or email me, if you prefer going that route.  Here, again, is a LINK to the Work Space site.

Cheers.

As mentioned previously, I’ve begun a Bird is the Worm Tumblr page, which I’ve been referring to as Work Space. It will be a series of photos of artist work spaces… the places where the creative process takes shape and form. It will also usually include some embedded audio of the artist’s latest project and some various linking to other sites.

New post is from NYC composer and clarinetist Jeremiah Cymerman…

http://birdistheworm.tumblr.com/

Cymerman’s latest album, Purification/Dissolution, can be heard (and purchased) on his bandcamp page.

Enjoy!

And remember, feel free to contact me if you’d be interested in participating in the Work Space series. It’s a simple way to get a little extra promotional bump. All you have to do is provide a couple cool photos of your work space. No artists should appear in the photo… just instruments and tools of the trade, a view out the window of strands of holiday lights or good luck pieces… just give the viewer a couple decent glimpses into what you see when you sit down to create. Photos don’t have to be professionally done or anything… they just should look inviting and cool and/or pretty to look at.

Cheers.

As mentioned previously, I’ve begun a Bird is the Worm Tumblr page, which I’ve been referring to as Work Space.  It will be a series of photos of artist work spaces… the places where the creative process takes shape and form.  It will also usually include some embedded audio of the artist’s latest project and some various linking to other sites.

New post is from NYC drummer Deric Dickens…

http://birdistheworm.tumblr.com/

Dickens’ latest album, Speed Date, was reviewed on Bird is the Worm.  Here’s a link to read it.

Enjoy!

And remember, feel free to contact me if you’d be interested in participating in the Work Space series.  It’s a simple way to get a little extra promotional bump.  All you have to do is provide a couple cool photos of your work space.  No artists should appear in the photo… just instruments and tools of the trade, a view out the window of strands of holiday lights or good luck pieces… just give the viewer a couple decent glimpses into what you see when you sit down to create.  Photos don’t have to be professionally done or anything… they just should look inviting and cool and/or pretty to look at.

Cheers.

So, I’ve got a Tumblr account now.  You can find it HERE.  You can also access it from any page, on the right hand side of the screen, in the menu titled “Me me me me me.”

I’m officially referring to my Tumblr site as Work Space.  For the time being, the only thing I’m going to post on it are photos of artist creative work spaces.  Along with a photo (or two) of each, I’ll also post an audio clip from their latest album or performance, and a few links as well, like to the artist’s site and a retail site to purchase the album.

It’ll be clean and simple and, hopefully, fun and curious.

It doesn’t necessarily need to just be jazz musicians.  Other types of artists may submit.

If you’d like to run a photo or two by me, either email me (my email is found on the About Me page) or send me a message at my Twitter account, and I’ll give it consideration.

The photos need not be professionally done.  It just needs to have character.  For instance, not all photos of locations on travel blogs look professional, but the best ones almost act as a portal to the place, make you feel like you’re there, or at least make you want to be there.  Anyways, take a look at what’s already posted.  You should get a sense of things.

I currently have work space photos posted for Leeds saxophonist AJ Nash and NYC guitarist Josh Maxey.

Cheers.

-Dave