What could've been Artist Ko

In the early days of Cebu's music scene, particularly the post-Local Ground era, a group of artists and musicians attempted to put together an organization.  I remember several meetings held for this purpose.  We did a couple of bayanihan-based concert projects held in Zapatera elementary school, Sikatuna st.

The org was initially called Indie Culture but sadly didn't flourish.  Yet the name and the idea inspired me to set up a small record label.

Right click the image doc below, select 'copy image location' and view it in another window or tab to read the content.    I was part of this group (my name's on the doc below).  Looking back, this is an Artist Ko prototype.

Thanks to good friend Julius Uy for this saving this piece of history.

Artist KO is finally legal... really

Ok I must admit that this had been overhyped too much too often.  But after a very long stretch of publicities, Artist KO has finally come to its fruition earning its mark from and by the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) as a certified cooperative.

Whew!

Patience can be utterly frustrating but then again, anything that is difficult to achieve they say will always pay off.  So ladies and gentlemen... here it is.  The Artist KO certificate.  So yes now we are absolutely legal.

Artist KO has an online team

Late A.M. June 1, 2010 my inbox received an important update.  It was from Artist KO's Vice Chairman Cattski Espina addressed to the Board of Directors informing that an online team is in place.

The initiative as explained, is to develop the coop's blog, complete with member profiles, updates on activities, all to set social media presence.


taken from my mobile phone

Last Friday, I had the chance to sit and talk with the team - Manna Alcaraz, Prince Gilig and Clarence Mongado (Jen Vega wasn't available).  I'm so glad this is happening.

Art is...

How many times have we heard people say, "I'm not an artist" or "I don't know anything about art" or "I love art but art doesn't love me" or maybe just about anything to that effect.

Because art to many people is more often associated with aesthetics.  Not so much about passion and skills but more on visuals and graphics.  Sadly it's just a fraction of it.

The good news however is that art is just about anything and everything you do and see around you.

Wikipedia explains:

Art is the process or product of deliberately arranging elements in a way to affect the senses or emotions. It encompasses a diverse range of human activities, creations, and modes of expression, including music, literature, film, sculpture, and paintings.

Highlight on including music, literature, film, sculpture, and paintings.

I think art is the result of the ideas and passion done simply because of the love for doing something you care for.  I believe each of us has a thing or two or even more of those.  And I mean anything.

So if you love coffee, your art would probably be in making different types of coffee from flavors to colors to design and even to the way it is sipped and savored.  If you love sex your art might be to spice up your personal Kamasutra.  If you love ideas, you're probably an entrepreneur.  If you are a lawyer, your art could be in redesigning contracts to best fit the commoner.  Writers coin new words.  Bloggers blog to put life on uninteresting stories and make them interesting

And so...

We are all artists.

And therefore I don't believe artists are only for the skilled or the chosen few.  I believe we all have something we are passionate about.  We just don't see it or acknowledge it or refuse to believe it's right under our noses.

Art to me is more than just aesthetics and tangibility.

Matahum Nga Artist KO

It's a hectic time.  Whether it's a good thing or a bad one, all I care about is the growing friendship and community between creative individuals, business related or otherwise, and more importantly the fun ride.  Despite the hitches, I love every minute of it.

Yes I've been busy and almost half of it was (is) spent on Artist KO.  Here's an AVP of what has partially transpired during my blogging absence.

Artists are kids

After the Kismet launch, I found myself committed in an interesting talk with three attractive and beautiful ladies about how it's like to be in a relationship with an artist?  I enjoyed this.

And so we went on, I somewhat disagreed on a few opinions, acquiesced on some.  It's interesting to note how the ladies' view artists - that while they're not boring people, they easily get bored.  Hmmm... everybody does.

Artists are generally playful.  It's what they are.  Creativity requires no restrictions and boredom is an ailment when obstructions come.

In my opinion, it is important to accept them that way.  Boredom shouldn't be an excuse.  They are artists and in any situation one must "play" with them to keep the spark going.  Teach them to "play" with you too.

I'm not sure if I'm saying this right but artists are kids.  Not afraid to explore possibilities.  Always curious.  The downside is that most of them are unmindful of responsibilities and commitment.  Most of them have misplaced pride.

But between an artist and other professionals (lawyers, accountants, etc. which are trained skeptics in schools), I'd choose the former.  Because creative people are far more fun than skeptics.

An ocean of new opportunities - it can only grow

It's been a while since my last blog. There's so much to do in so little time.

Time. Yes.

There's not much of it and just like everything else, we can only do so much. There is so much patience required. There needs a great deal of love and understanding. And I think the best good news is that things had picked up again.

No details yet but...

Perspectives and mindset in the music scene are slowly realigned. Much less pretense. More substantial music to listen, sing and experience live. More new and better artists and bands. I felt this. It's overwhelming and powerfully promising.

Part of this realignment are newly conceived business ideas and opportunities embraced in a Cooperative I had initially proposed to the proprietors of The Outpost with the help a few trusted friends in the local music community, musician lawyers, and other friends in the creative sector.

The music scene is healthy. It just needs to keep a maintenance program to sustain and grow.

Think BIG, start small : POP goes 3

Neil Quisaba would share his vision over sticks of cigarettes down the driveway in the previous building where we used to work together.

Describing his dream - an exhibit for the benefit of his fellow vector artists' and their finest works, he would name his brainchild Perfect On Paper. The name was later shortened to P.O.P., perhaps to imply modern yet simple and popularly accepted visual ideas.

That was three years ago and I must admit I still feel guilty that I only went days late, missing its debut at Turtle's Nest. And so I didn't get the experience right. I missed its 2nd run last year too.

Not this year. I just cannot fail my promise to good friend Neil anymore.

And so, three years after P.O.P.'s conception (and a year of my quit-smoking-plight) I came to rediscover how much I've missed in the past P.O.P.(s). Neil, congratulations! I've always had so much faith in your undertakings. You've come a long way and will still go where your heart will take you.

To Tschai, I love the journals and postcards. To the artists, congratulations. You all did a really great job.

Cheers ninyo tanan!

I.P. Talk With Meg Eteve

I.P. stands for intellectual property. Meg Eteve is the Executive Director for Creative Cebu's pilot project Tubod Fest slated in March 2009. It was a Bathalad evening at Turtle's Nest last night and I was there to finalize the arrangement for Midweek Sessions' Stripped this Feb. 4 with the local poets.

What transpired in the first hour was an interesting talk with Meg on I.P. - about what Cebu's artists need, already have, and should improve or aim for. In synopsis, below is the outline:

What Cebu has:
1. Artists/Musicians
2. Songwriters
3. Event Producers

What we don’t have:
1. Music publishers
2. Performance Royalty Organizations (FILSCAP)
3. Regular airplay
4. Media venues
5. Record companies
6. Entertainment lawyers
7. Documentation

Of course the conversation didn't exactly go this way... duh

I hope artists/musicians/songwriters would take some time to consider joining Creative Cebu. I for one am strongly for it as I see this as a really good opportunity to "repackage" our perspective. Do drop by the music sector forum and tell us what you have in mind.

Profit Is Good

Money is not evil. Money only makes you more of who you really are...

So why is it that most artists think of making money as a major setback to their plans. Making profit is not bad. No it's bad at all. There is nothing wrong with being financially successful. In fact, in the book of the good news of God numerous parables about investments and profit making were narrated.

What's wrong with it really?

Nothing. Nothing at all.

Everytime I am confronted with issues of an artist's aversion to profit making (and other related concerns), I remind myself:

Walt Disney died with Mickey Mouse by his side.