Performing musicians - Pyragraph

Do I Need a Booking Agent?

Joy Ike, Singer-Songwriter - Pyragraph
| Philadelphia, PA, US | | 0 Comments

Trust me, filling a ticketed show is hard work. Getting 30 people out to a gig on a Friday night in a large metropolitan city is like pulling teeth! That’s why bands split bills. If you’re at a place where you can fill the room, you probably could use a booking agent.

Read More
George Braque and Juan Gris - Pyragraph

What Does It Mean When Someone Says, ‘Your Work Reminds Me Of…’

| Davis, CA, US | | 0 Comments

Inevitably someone is going to compare your work to someone else’s. And when someone says, “This reminded me of your work” it’s hard to know what they mean.

Read More
Lilah Rose with Monica Demarco, photo by Peri Pakroo - Pyragraph

How Do I Know If I’m Ready for Management?

Joy Ike, Singer-Songwriter - Pyragraph
| Philadelphia, PA, US | | 3 Comments

If your inbox is overflowing with booking requests and media opportunities, and you simply cannot handle the workload on your own, you need a manager.

Read More
Dear Little Bobby - Pyragraph

Dear Little Bobby: Waste Not, Guilt Not

Avatar photo
| Albuquerque, NM, US | | 0 Comments

Far too often in this country we throw things away that would still be wanted by someone else. Everything from perfectly edible food which places like Whole Foods throw away because the bananas are “a little too yellow” to the unwanted pets that get thrown away by fools who get a dog without wanting the responsibility of its care.

Read More
Mona Lisa Resistere - Pyragraph

Dear Rich: Can I Be Sued for Modifying My Own Writing That I Donated to the Public Domain?

| | 0 Comments

I believe that a greatly modified public domain work would be a new work and therefore copyrightable, right? I couldn’t be sued for modifying my own writing, could I? What are my rights in this case?

Read More
Knowbility Board, 2010 - Pyragraph

Choosing Board Members to Maximize Your Nonprofit’s Effectiveness

| Albuquerque, NM, US | | 0 Comments

The very best prospects for your nonprofit’s board will be people who share a passion for, and commitment to, the nonprofit’s mission. No matter what name recognition or professional credentials particular people may have to offer, they will not be assets to your nonprofit’s board unless they care a lot about what you do.

Read More
Board meeting - Pyragraph

Want to Support the Arts? Start a Nonprofit!

| | 0 Comments

We artists and writers can’t afford to passively watch all the things we care about burn to the ground. Rather, we should be proactive in ensuring that the arts have a place to flourish and thrive in every town and community in the US.

Read More
Dear Little Bobby - Pyragraph

Dear Little Bobby: Tired of Being Teased

Avatar photo
| Albuquerque, NM, US | | 0 Comments

Nothing makes me temporarily forget about Donald Trump’s disgusting treatment of immigrants quite like a quick and amazing fuck. It does not mean that we are bad people because we stop calling our congressperson long enough to enjoy having sex with our partner.

Read More
The Cisco Kid Public Domain Shootout - Pyragraph

Dear Rich: Pancho’s Copyright Status, and Contract Questions

| | 0 Comments

Beware that the Cisco Kid’s sidekick Pancho’s copyright status is not as clear. Pancho did not appear in the O Henry story and was reportedly inspired by Don Quixote’s sidekick, Pancho Sanza. His first appearance was in the 1945 film, The Cisco Kid Returns (not to be confused with the 1939 film, Return of the Cisco Kid).

Read More
Image by Annie Mok, distributed under the CC-BY-NC-ND creative commons license.

Mental Health Care Is a Human Right (and Artists Are Humans)

Avatar photo
| | 1 Comment

Guest Blogger Katie Alice Greer: “OK Sadness means the machine in my head is working just fine and Not OK Sadness means, just like a runny nose, upset stomach, or a hacking cough, that I am currently sick. Plenty of factors both genetic and environmental mean I’ll always need to keep an eye on how things are going in my head.”

Read More
Dear Little Bobby - Pyragraph

Dear Little Bobby: My Head Is Going To Explode

Avatar photo
| Albuquerque, NM, US | | 0 Comments

You have probably heard it said that we “can’t fix stupid,” but I do not agree. Quality education can fix stupid. But what we cannot fix is someone who chooses to be ignorant and to stay ignorant. You can only explain the difference between socialism and fascism so many times before you are just wasting your breath.

Read More
Family history bible - Pyragraph

Dear Rich: Can We Use Ancestry and DNA Information in Book?

| | 0 Comments

I’m helping two authors with a manuscript about their experiences researching their ancestors who were slaves. I am unclear about the legal rights associated with certain material including: 1) publication of information found in public records, 2) publication of information from church records, historical society records, family bibles, etc.

Read More
Right of publicity meme - Pyragraph

Dear Rich: I Was In a Music Video But Never Paid

| | 0 Comments

Congratulations on being viewed by more people than the combined population of South Dakota, Delaware and Montana. Although your numbers pale when compared to Grumpy Cat or OMG Cat, you do have something in common with those feline YouTube stars: You’re not likely to see a paycheck. Here’s why.

Read More
Peri Pakroo speaking - Pyragraph

How to Talk to a Crowd: Public Speaking Tips Lessons I've learned through fumbles and fuck-ups

| Albuquerque, NM, US | | 0 Comments

The most important detail for you to be clear about is who is in the audience. How much did they pay to get into the event? Say, for an art competition, who are the participants: adults from a local correctional facility or high school students? You’ll want to cater your talk to their perspective.

Read More
Will Work for Gold - Pyragraph

Trump, the HR Department and a New Hope for the Inexperienced

Avatar photo
| Albuquerque, NM, US | | 0 Comments

Now, because of one man, there is hope for me and others like me throughout the country yearning to work jobs they have previously found themselves barred from simply because they have no experience. Who is this Chuck Yeager; this Jackie Robinson; this Harvey Milk of the inexperienced?

Read More
Dear Little Bobby - Pyragraph

Dear Little Bobby: Compassion for Fascists?

Avatar photo
| Albuquerque, NM, US | | 0 Comments

I get very upset thinking about our president and how he mistreats people. This whole disgusting administration makes me angry. I’ve been told that I should have compassion for him, but how is it possible to have compassion for this fascist?

Read More