A good day w/alot of progress. Denise help set up more organization w/the sales team. Kelly the intern from the AUS video shoot came in to help today. She has strong administrative skills and was helpful. She may come back next week.

Our other interns continued creating a database of  the top 400 urban  and pop radio station program directors to send  the “Are You Sleeping?” song. Hopefully we will send out next week. If we get 10% of the dj’s to play the song we’ll be OK.

I met w/a local printer who is interested in being another  printing partner for the DR project. I’ll get an answer next week on the extent of their support.

Today  I had a phone conference discussed w/the Bushnell Performing Arts  Cenetr regarding the AUS music video premiere. Everything is falling into place nicely.

Jeff, the video editor of the AUS music  video came into Young! Studios tonight to show the 2nd edit of the video. Things need some rea-arranging but it’s coming out excellent.  I think we’re a few weeks away from having a final draft. It’s alot of hours but it will be worth the time.

A good day. Denise started to put some structure into the sales program. We’ve set it up before but I see a strong implementaion plan.

We have 2 new performing artists joining or Young! Record division. The are hungry and real good at selling their product. I was happy because they also are promoting the DR project on the streets. Our success will be in building a big buzz on the project.

A long day. I started out this morning at a meeting trying to secure some new contract work for Young! Studios. Later in the day we met w/Jeff the editor for the AUS music video to discuss the video and assist w/the editing. We had to make some sequence changes. Things are coming along slowly but I believe we have something special. When were done I think people will really be inspired to follow through with their dreams.

To get maximum distribution for the song you need a record company label behind you. So we are building Young! Record until we can connect w/a larger compnay. I’m a firm believer of if you don’t have something make your own until what you need shows up. Yesterday we secured the name youngrecords.biz (youngstudios.com was not available). We put the logo up for now until we get content for it.

This week You Tube is already up. We are using the AUS music video trailer. I think this episode will get alot of hits. It will also be a great entry to promote the November 28th world premiere at the Bushnell.

Myself ,my daughter Paige and Kyle were in the office today trying to work on the DRP. My main focus was getting the word out on the AUS song and video. I truly believe this song will create a great buzz for the overall project. My mission also was to move books. I secured the book to be sold at Kandy Korner in Hartford. This week we will focus on more stores. Being in stores will help visibilty and create revenue.

Jeff the editor sent a real rough cut of the video. I happy w/what I see but it will take more work to get it to where we want it. The good thing is we have the premiere in late November to get it right. Jeff is a talented guy.

A good day. We were able to get some HAFI and YS work done. Denise set up “Are You Sleeping?”sponsorship pkgs. in folders that looked really good. Our new intern Erica was able to secure an ad for the souvenir booklet today. 

We are starting to make strives in our sales and marketing efforts. this is a good thing.

I met w/the director of CT’s film commission today to discuss the DR movie getting certification to sell tax credits. Vanessa and I filled out application today and submitted the paperwork.

Another busy day. i was able to knock some HAFI and Y!S work out. I also concentrated in the DR Sales Program emailing sponsorship packages out to potential funders.

A couple performers came in offering support for the project. Kyle was able to post the new DR music video “Are You Sleeping?” on our You Tube channel.

Another young lady who manages a local magazine and it’s website will feature the project in her magazine.

We need to get distribution for song. We’ve been racking our brains to see who we know that can get distribution for the song. This distribution will lead people to the DR Book and Movie project. Kyle has a friend in LA who works for a music management firm. I will try to reach an old contact who helped me out in the early 90’s…Maurice Starr–creator and manager of such big groups like “New Edition” and “New Kids on the Block” and others. He’s a brilliant musician and businessman–he can  give us direction. Last time I heard he was in Atlanta. I’ll find him.

A busy day in the office. Alot of people are calling to join the DR project. I would say we average 5 people a day who want to get involved. The key is organizing and utilizing this support effectively.  We have to step our sales and marketing efforts.  The project is at a crossroad and to succeed our sales and marketing plan/efforts has to be tight and effective.

Kyle and I got in about 3:00am editing a promotional piece w/the editor Jeff. He did a good job. The meeting at the  BET network in NYC went well. Kyle and I met w/Earl a Producer on the hit show 106 and Park. He was impressed w/the work and will be emailing us submission forms for the video. Also he has agreed to be a special guest at our World Premiere Screening at the Bushnell Performing Arts Center on November 28th. Today was a home run!

We have to do something special for Akeem our intern. He made the connection w/BET. You never know where your breaks will come from.

9:12pm – Kyle and I are out in Plainville, CT meeting and editing video w/Jeff the Editor of the film. I decided to do the blog before it gets too late. We’ll be done importing footage until late. Also we are trying to put a 30 second spot for our meeting at BET tomorrow.  I like Jeff he likes to work. He’s young w/a lot of fresh ideas. Plus he’s got alot of editing toys. I think he’ll work out well.

Today Denise and the team were working on sponsorship strategies. I think our focus is on point. The key is simplifying so we can multi-task effectively.

Re-worked new storyboards for video. The music editor had to rescehedule until tomorrow night. I worked on list to present DR marketing and sales pitchs. This will be a big week w/alot of hustling. We have to step up our game on sales. Without the money you can’t make things happen to the fullest potential.