Also have a new Bangkok 101 Magazine music column which will appear in the June edition. June 18, if anyone is interested there is a free Music Day at Alliance française de Bangkok featuring live music performances, workshops, film, and a seminar on the digitalization of music and its impact on music business - a panel of professionals plus a slightly blig, deaf and disheveled rock philosopher will be fielding questions from the general public and discussing the challenges and opportunities presented in the digital age - it will be simultaneously translated and it's free entry to public. Sponsored by French Embassy I home that means there will be a downpour of baguettes, wine, cheese and filet mignon. I'll settle for a hot dog.
I have started a new blog with a friend called Thai Adventures - it's somewhat hideous but there are posts on it on Thai Tourism, Events, Nightlife, Flights, Food and the cash flow model is affiliate marketing - not perfect and there is no cash flowing at the moment but it's kinda fun.
As for the new rock philosophy site, I see it as a giant step beyond what currently exists on my weebly blog and I want to start blogging on more diverse topics like entrepreneurship, design, technology, food, creativity, personal development, photography, philosophy, current events and would encourage submissions from contributors. Probably will be an admin login for frequent contributors and trying to figure out how to pay contributors.
The Rock Philosopher at this time needs to focus on two major things: private clients for writing, photography or public relations/ publicity the proceeds of which can be used to fund operations for the non for profit community side of the organization (supporting local music and arts with media coverage and acting as de facto press officer/ publicist for community.) As publications continue to lose advertising revenue and seek new business models, so must I find a sustainable way to keep the rock philosophy operations costs funded.
With that I'd love to thank all the sponsors and clients we've had over our short history over the last three years. This life is not for the faint-hearted but it has been made easier by all of you who bought me beer, food, gave me money, a place to sleep; hired me to shoot or bought my photos; hired me as a writer, publicist or PR. Countless people make up this great community and countless people have made a contribution in some way or another to my efforts.
Before I go, I would like to encourage every struggling artist and musician, every creative out there to not give up hope. Technology has allowed us to connect with one another like never before, but do not be misled thinking that numbers are the only thing that matters. Use technology to foster human connections with real people - that's the way to do business and that's the way to make a community great and the world a better place. it's about the people.
Our efforts to promote Bangkok local music have not gone unnoticed. While perhaps you thought you were ignored, the world did not care, editors didn't care, a major music platform will publish a feature on Bangkok music sometime next month - they contacted me for photos but I sense my hyper-stylized personal memories of bands you see regularly appearing in my blog were not what they were looking for. No matter. That's how I know awareness is growing exponentially - larger organizations begin to create their own narrative of Bangkok music. (And I still have my own blogs anyway.)
I could finish with something profound like "We are standing here on a field of victory" or "We're on the brink of something awesome" but the truth is every day presents with it great challenges and great opportunities if we are really living it and these opportunities are largely of our own creation.
My time is increasingly limited. There are many places I'd like to go and visit, photos to be taken, interviews to be conducted and stories to be written. And there are many people I wish I saw more often. Life is busy and the other day I conceived the idea to write a book!
Ok, now I must go back to writing that music column. DC the RP
(A link to new site is here.)