[billmeis-blog]

How to stream videos to your Apple TV, for older macs.

My wife and I do not have cable. We haven’t had cable since we moved into our house 18 months ago.

As a sports fan, this sucks. As a family who budgets their finances tightly, it’s been a very powerful tool.

BUT.

You can still watch movies and TV shows on your fancy flat screen, as long as you have a Mac and an Apple TV.

For those of you with newer macs that support mirroring, you need not apply. But if you sport an older model mac like most of us do, here’s how.

1. Download Beamer 2. Drag your movie file (almost any filetype) into the beamer player 3. Watch the latest episode of Downton Abbey, no matter how you got the file. Wink.

[billmeis-blog]

Bill's Email Tip for Friday

Those of us in professions that could be categorized as "Professional Emailer" know the pains of slaying the email dragon on a daily basis.

Lines like, "hey did you get my email" and "2nd request" are common. Some of us even get voicemails about the emails we haven't responded to yet and my personal favorite, the copy and paste repeat email as if I missed it the first time.

I've been trying something over the past few months that has worked wonders in my arsenal of the war on email and I can't recommend it enough.

"Back to you soon!" That's it. A quick reply to ensure the other person isn't being ignored (unless you mean to ignore them) will at least buy you time and most likely save you follow up emails or even the dreadful "did you get my email" text / voicemail.

For you experts, I recommend using a Text Expander snippet to speed it up even more.

Give it a try!

[billmeis-blog]

Callsheet Post 15. Marc Schapiro: "You can always make that money back"

Marc is one of those industry friends where you can't really remember where and how you met them, he always seemed to be everywhere and he still is. Like many Callsheet guests, he personifies what it means to do things correctly. From black metal to bourbon, Marc is your expert. 

------------------------- Name: Marc Schapiro Twitter: @schapnomore Location: NYC

Your Current Role: Owner of Branch Marketing Collective, American GM of Northern Music Co, Co-Owner of Idle Hands Bar and Fools Gold (bar not label)

Your Previous Role(s): VP Label Operations at Ferret Music, Director Of Field Marketing at Roadrunner Records as well as stints at Artemis Records, Mute Records and some various freelance marketing gigs.

One phrase that best describes your work style: Making lists, finishing lists, chasing down those stopping me from completing my lists

Your mobile hardware: iPhone 5, iPad 2

Your computer: iMac from 2007 that I will throw out the window once I get a new one

Your 5 Go to Web/Mobile Apps and why.

iCal: As I mentioned above, I like making lists and use my calendar as my ultimate to-do list

Instagram: I use it to promote my music and bar business, plus it keeps me up to date on a more select group of people/businesses and what they are up to.

Foursquare: I really only check in to concerts and my own bar when in NYC, but I use it when I travel to keep a log of where I’ve been as well as see what places are recommended by my friends. You’ll be surprised how many of your friends have checked into places abroad, thus making it easy to pick a restaurant in a foreign location. They also have a Business App that lets me see who’s checked in to Idle Hands even if I’m not friends with them.

Google Drive: Since I work from home, it’s the easiest way to collaborate with people from all over the world. Documents, Spreadsheet and more. I’d say Dropbox comes in a close second, but that is more for sharing completed files.

Google Maps: I don’t know how I survived traveling (or even getting around NYC) before this came out.

What's your workspace setup like?

I work from home and basically spend 10-12 hours sitting in front of my computer desk with a printer and scanner (with files scattered around). My assistant, Winter, is usually on the desk with me. And yes, I’ve cleaned my keyboard since this picture was taken!

What's your best time-saving tip or trick?

As I mentioned before, making lists. Look at them before you finish the day and then again when you start your day. Will give you a good game plan in your head before you even tackle the new stuff in your inbox

What's your favorite to-do list manager?

iCal (for just me) and Google Calendar (for collaborating)

Which area of technology excites you most?

Cloud technology. Having everything at your disposal no matter where you are.

Besides your cell phone and computer, what gadget can't you go without and why?

My cheap $10 Sony Wrap-around headphones. Earbuds don’t fit in my ears and the last thing I want to do is listen to sounds of NYC when venturing out.

What everyday thing are you better at than everybody else?

Networking. It’s what I’ve always done whether it’s being out at events, connecting people to each other or just making new contacts for myself. I love bringing people together that can mutually help each other.

What was the last book you read?

Catcher In The Rye…ok, maybe I’ve read a little more since then. I’m not a huge reader, but my friend Tom Acox wrote a book called “Got Junk” about spending the summer working for that company that is a great read. I’m also a good part of the way into “Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook: How To Tell Your Story In A Noisy Social World” by Gary Vaynerchuk.

Where do you get your industry news?

Twitter and Facebook. I follow hundreds of magazines and industry folks, so mostly get my news from those headlines.

What's your favorite podcast and why?

I actually don’t subscribe to any, though I have amazingly talented friends that run ones like Washed Up Emo (Tom Mullen), Going Off Track (Jonah Bayer), and Live From High Fidelity (Tom DeSavia). I promise I’ll start listening this week!

What advice would you give to someone who wants to do what you do?

Network. Network. Network. I spent years working at labels and making sure to be out all the time. Once I decided to start my own consulting business, I really didn’t have to pitch anyone, people recommended bands, labels and other companies to me. It takes time and work, but at the end of the day, it pays off.

What's the one activity you use to escape?

Urban Hiking. I put on my headphones, pick a direction, and wander New York City. Even after 18 years, I discover something new every time.

What's your sleep routine like?

It’s definitely gotten better recently. In bed between 11pm-2am and up between 7-8am. Because I own a bar and most of my music work is in the UK, I used to randomly wake up in the middle of the night a lot, but now that I leave my phone in the other room with the ringer off, I sleep a lot better.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Take a risk, you can always make that money back (in regards to trying new entrepreneurial ventures)

Are more a phone call person or email/text worker?

Email/Text. I like to have a “paper trail” as years ago I saved a label $60,000 by showing a year-old email where I didn’t approve a certain spend, so the retail account had to give us the refund.

What music app do you use to consume music the most?

I’d say Spotify, as I also use it as a player for my 70,000 songs in my iTunes library. It’s also great to follow all my A&R friends and see what they are listening to...you guys might want to make your account private

What does your phone home screen look like?

I'd love to see Rob Gross answer these questions.

---------------------- Inspired by the fine folks at LifeHacker and their How I Work blog series, the Callsheet series gives the spotlight to the people behind the scenes that keep the music business going. The managers, road dogs and 3am phone call takers who live and die making things happen. Callsheet gives you a chance to learn their secrets, tips and tricks that make their day easier.

[billmeis-blog]

Callsheet Post 14. Jamie Roberts: DO IT! Get it out of the way!

I've only known Jamie a short while, but we've run in the same circles for years. Other than superherohq I'm not sure who I have more mutual acquaintances with. Jamie is a true industry vet who is flat out dangerous at what she does!

Name: Jamie Roberts Twitter: @CrimeTimeTV (don’t use it as much as I should though) Location: Manhattan/Queens

Your Current Role: Head of Publicity at 10th Street Entertainment and Eleven Seven Music Group.

Your Previous Role(s): Various permutations of the same role at Roadrunner Records, Universal Records, Big Machine Media, The Enclave and more.

One phrase that best describes your work style: One word actually– TRIAGE. This job can be madness, being able to prioritize and get that to-do list taken care of with crises coming at you like dodge balls is the key.

Your mobile hardware: iPhone 5 with horrid battery life – I carry multiple portable chargers with me. I need an iPad badly.

Your computer: MacBook Pros – one at home and one at work (same exact computer – the only way I tell them apart is the screen background).

Your 5 Go to Web/Mobile Apps and why.

Pocket (heard about it on this blog actually) - there is so much I find online that I want to read. It saves articles and lets me share them with co workers too.

Seamless - for those frequent days where I can't even leave my desk long enough to go out and get lunch.

Connected - it's a LinkedIn synced program that highlights work anniversaries, job changes and birthdays and eases your commentary on each. It keeps me current with people.

Google Drive - we use so many Google Docs, it's great to have access to them on the go.

Box - we also use box to share files internally and externally. If someone needs a photo, I can get them a download link while I'm on the bus headed home.

What's your workspace setup like?

I try to keep my desk as sparse as possible. Cluttered desks are distracting to me, so if you see my desk and it's messy its a BAD week for me.

What's your best time-saving tip or trick?

DO IT! Get it out of the way! I don't wait to do things – if you ask me for something it gets done immediately so I get it off my plate (again, Triage approach). Sometimes that works to my disadvantage though because then someone will come back with "wait – there is an addition to that list I sent you" and I will say "its out – it's done already!" and people will be shocked.

What's your favorite to-do list manager?

I don't really use one. I send myself emails with To-Do lists in them and I use my email in-box as one as well. I either delete or file away things I'm done with. Old fashioned, I suppose, but it works. Sometimes I even use a note-pad and a pen!

Which area of technology excites you most?

I have to say, I am excited about the possibility of in-app ordering at Starbucks. I am only half-kidding, apps are what excite me. I have one for nearly everything – and they make my work life portable and more manageable as a result.

Besides your cell phone and computer, what gadget can't you go without and why?

My Fitbit One – it reminds me to get up and move once in a while. It also tells me how I am sleeping, which I am endlessly fascinated with.

What everyday thing are you better at than everybody else?

I am a natural bad-cop. I have found, over the years, that it's a talent, to ride that line and not have everyone hate you for doing it. That’s not to say that there are not people that hate me – there are absolutely people that think I am a total bitch. Bottom line is that it's easy to be a jerk, but harder to be a jerk that people still want to do things for.

What was the last book you read?

The Dirt: Confessions of the World's Most Notorious Rock Band – funny enough. I had not read it and I figured that if I was going to work with Motley Crue, that I ought to know what I was getting myself into. :)

Prior to that I was reading books on Neurolinguistic Programming. I haven't yet found a text on the subject that doesn't nearly put me to sleep though. Its too bad because the basic concepts are fascinating.

Where do you get your industry news?

Hits, Billboard and I get a TON of news off Facebook from my very smart industry friends. :)

What's your favorite podcast and why?

Dig Me Out Podcast - its a weekly podcast that re-introduces 90s College/Alt/Indie Rock albums - Catherine Wheel, Superdrag, Sweet Water, Cibo Matto and more.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to do what you do?

Always have an eye on your work/life balance. It will be really out of whack the first few years you do this, but get it under control after that!

What's the one activity you use to escape?

Zumba / Dance Fusion classes – they changed my life for the better in so many ways!

What's your sleep routine like?

Bed by 11pm, whenever possible. I don't need to have that one more drink or catch that last song of the set, it's not going to enhance my tomorrow like proper amounts of sleep will. I am pretty strict about it.

iPhone gets turned OFF at 11pm too – and isn't back on til I wake up at 7:30am. Anyone who could have a truly URGENT matter (one that I consider urgent) has my home # (I don't really give it out – when it rings its usually some telemarketer or my mother).

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

"It's your job to get the opportunities - the 'real estate' in magazines, newspapers, etc - you can't get emotionally tied to whether the band wants to take advantage of said opportunity - that is beyond your control."

"You also can't take the writer's opinion of the band personally if the piece is negative." "Longevity in this job is contingent upon having perspective."

Are more a phonecall person or email/text worker?

I am a phone call person - there is no faster way to get an answer than to pick up the phone. Email is great for imparting lots of information and covering your ass though.

What music app do you use to consume music the most?

Spotify – I 'surf' the Related Artists to find new music I like.

What does your phone home screen look like?

My OCD will not allow numbers to be on any of the squares – I know, I'm nuts! That is the view from where I live of the Throgs Neck Bridge btw – Queens!

I'd love to see Jake Basden answer these questions.

[billmeis-blog]

Callsheet Post 13. Carl Schultz: Can we get rid of pennies?

I met carl by way of High On Fire, which is the best way to meet anyone. I quickly realized he's not only good at what he does but is a joy to be around. That's not the case with everyone in the music business. He's also one of few people that have hopped from the music biz into the food biz, and has done so successfully. I love seeing that happen. 

-----------

Name: Carl “Schultzcore” Schultz Twitter: @action_pr / @nomnompr Location: Austin, TX Your Current Role: Owner / Publicist at ACTION! PR and Nom Nom Public Relations

Your Previous Role(s): Director of Publicity & Marketing at Relapse Records (1996-2005)

One phrase that best describes your work style: Forward-thinking. Your mobile hardware: iPhone 5, iPad 2 Your computer: Dell XPS 8700 Your 5 Go to Web/Mobile Apps and why: 

- Phonegram. It’s an Instagram downloader that allows you to view multiple images in your stream at one time (as opposed to the single image view Instagram provides). Super-sleek app.

- Pocket. Pocket is great for collecting articles online that I don't have time to read but want to get to later. This is basically a link bookmark app. When you find something you want to view later, put it in your Pocket! Especially helpful in conjunction with twitter.

- Twitteriffic. The best twitter client in my opinion. Clean, easy on the eyes and full of great features.

- TuneIn Radio. I LOVE this app! TuneIn allows you to listen to live local and global radio from wherever you are. I have all of my favorite stations from every city I’ve ever lived in bookmarked and can listen to them with the touch of a button!

- Tumbletail. An awesome Tumblr client. The Phonegram of Tumblr apps. What's your workspace setup like?

Organized and full of pop culture knick knacks. And I’ve got a big picture window that looks out onto a tree filled with wind chimes and bird feeders. Anytime I need a breather, I stop working and stare out at the tree, which breathes with life. Also, I usually have a jar filled with some type of M&M’s. At the moment, I’m enjoying “Dark Mint”. What's your best time-saving tip or trick?

Do things right the first time! My father always said, “There’s never time to do anything right, but there’s always time to do it over again.” Think about it. What's your favorite to-do list manager? 

Remember the Milk.  Which area of technology excites you most?  

Cloud storage. I love being able to send files to a contact or client via a simple, shared link and I also dig the ability to stream and service music with web-based platforms. I don’t at all miss the racks of CDs and DVDs that used to take up so much space in the office and home. I haven’t yet unpacked the countless tubs of CDs that have been sitting in my garage since we moved to Austin, which was years ago. Sometimes I forget that they’re even out there.

Have you ever given thought to how much space DVDs take up with their twice-size cases? DVDs are the same size as CDs. Why does DVD packaging needs to be upsized to such a large degree? It’s ridiculous. I’ve sworn off purchasing DVDs (partially for this reason) and get by just fine with Apple TV, Hulu Plus, Roku and YouTube.  

Can we get rid of pennies too, while we’re at it? They’re worthless these days. Besides your cell phone and computer, what gadget can't you go without and why?

My SONY SRS-X2. It’s an ultra portable Bluetooth speaker that’s small but sounds BIG.

What everyday thing are you better at than everybody else?

Artist Development.  During my years at Relapse Records, I was in charge of both PR and Marketing, which gave me valuable insight as to how to properly present rising artists. The work I did with Mastodon on the “Remission” and “Leviathan” campaigns and the early Dillinger Escape Plan albums in particular helped develop my skill set. These days, with both ACTION! PR and Nom Nom PR, we place a strong focus on creative, wide reach marketing and image building in addition to public relations, which I feel sets us apart. The long-term goal is to build strong foundations for our clients so they can enjoy sustained careers. We’ve had a lot of success over the years. (Here’s. a. few.examples). What was the last book you read? 

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. Where do you get your industry news? 

Austin Chronicle, A.V. Club, Eater, Pitchfork,SA Current, SPIN, The Obelisk, Ultimate Classic Rock and Zagat are a few of my go-to sites. Also my RSS feeds, which receive story summaries all day long. What's your favorite podcast and why? 

Retroist. The Retroist is a fun blog with a focus towards news and nostalgia pieces on anything and everything retro. It’s like a pop culture trip back in time! What advice would you give to someone who wants to do what you do?

Build your own database. I can’t overemphasize enough how doing so allows you to really “own” your lists. Do the research yourself. Enter each contact’s information one by one. Learn the names and the affiliations. Anyone can buy a database, but building a database is an invaluable task and one that will provide endless dividends. What's the one activity you use to escape?  

I play vintage video arcade games on my iCade! A few rounds of timeless classics like Donkey Kong, Galaga, Moon Patrol or Burger Time and I’m good to go. That, or a few minutes of Frisbee time in the backyard with our Boston Terrier, Scorpio! What's your sleep routine like?  

I’m the King of the Night Time World. A Midnight Mover. I try to get to bed by midnight (or so) during the week, but I really don’t need a ton of sleep and love the nighttime hours. Perhaps it’s the solitude of it all. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?  

You’re only as good as your last performance. 

Are more a phone call person or email/text worker?

A good phone conversation is becoming a lost art these days. It used to be that almost everything was done over the phone, which was great. These days, it seems that most everyone prefers email, so that’s usually the case, work-wise. But, I have no problem picking up the phone to catch up and chat. A good phone conversation can accomplish more than any sent message. In just the same way that a face to face hang or get-together can accomplish more than any phone call.  What music app do you use to consume music the most? 

It’s a 3-way tie between Pandora, SoundCloud and Spotify.

What does your phone home screen look like?

I'd love to see J Bennett answer these questions.

----------------------

Inspired by the fine folks at LifeHacker and their How I Work blog series, the Callsheet series gives the spotlight to the people behind the scenes that keep the music business going. The managers, road dogs and 3am phone call takers who live and die making things happen. Callsheet gives you a chance to learn their secrets, tips and tricks that make their day easier. 

[billmeis-blog]

Callsheet Post 12. Ben Umanov: READ! Double-check! Pay attention!

I met Ben right when I started at eOne, appropriately so. Ben is what he says he is, thorough. He mentions that each task gets the full time it requires, but so does each interaction and conversation he has. Like most successful people, he listens before he speaks. He genuinely takes in what the other person has to say first. He's also snarky and a Mets fan, which balances him out just fine. 

------------------------- Name: Ben Umanov Twitter: @vinceneilstein Location: Brooklyn, NY

Your Current Role: Co-Editor in Chief of and Partner in MetalSucks, Partner in Blast Beat Network, Manager of Rivers of Nihil (Metal Blade Records).

Your Previous Role(s): Web Project Manager at Atlantic Records, Label Manager at Wrong Records, Assistant at Erik Eger Entertainment, Booking Agent at Ashley Talent International.

One phrase that best describes your work style: Thorough; each task gets the full time it requires to be done well.

Your mobile hardware: iPhone 5S

Your computer: Mac Pro “Nehalem” (2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon)

Your 5 Go to Web/Mobile Apps and why.

1. NewsFire: It’s an old one, but it’s still the best RSS feed aggregator I’ve tried. Essential so I don’t have to keep checking the same websites multiple times daily for updates.

2. Spotify: For streaming music on the go, and occasionally at home too.

3. MLB.com At Bat: To check Mets scores, duh!

4. Skype: I do the majority of my phone work through a regular NYC area code phone number I have through Skype. It costs a fraction of what a traditional land line would cost with unlimited US/Canada calling, and for international there’s always Skype-to-Skype, which is free. I can use my Skype line through the data plan on my mobile, too.

5. Instagram: My go-to time-waster whilst pinching one out on the can, riding the subway, waiting on a line, etc.

What's your workspace setup like?

I’m a chronic piler. My desk doesn’t get too messy unless I’m REALLY stressed and overworked, but I seem to make carefully curated piles of things instead — each one has a purpose, and I get to it methodically in due time. Which is not to say I don’t procrastinate.

The taxidermic bobcat on the right came via barter from a MetalSucks reader: it’s one of my most prized possessions!

The speakers are Audioengine A2’s. Gotta have quality speakers since I listen to music all day long. They’re a bit more mid-rangey than I’d prefer, but they have decent sonic clarity and more bass than you’d expect for speakers that size.

Lots of baseball stuff on my desk, because of course.

What's your best time-saving tip or trick?

We all struggle to stay on top of hoards of email, but this problem is multiplied exponentially when you’re getting 300 press releases and messages from unsigned bands every day. My tip for dealing with inbox clutter is to completely switch off all incoming mail when it comes time to plow through the inbox. This way you won’t have to resist the temptation when you hear that “ding” every time a new message comes in and you won’t get sidetracked — focus on the task at hand. I owe this tip to Monica Seide at Speakeasy PR!

What's your favorite to-do list manager?

I use alarms in iCal and the iPhone Reminders app to keep track of longterm projects or items in the future. For more trivial daily “to do” stuff, a good old pen and yellow legal pad.

Which area of technology excites you most?

The streaming revolution has already swept through our industry and changed the way everyone consumes music, so I’ve become more interested in that same concept as it applies to TV. Why can’t we choose which cable channels we want and only pay for those? It’s a rhetorical question, I know the answer — because the cable companies are being greedy, much like the record labels were before consumer demand won out — but it’s utterly ridiculous. Like a lot of folks, if I weren’t a sports fan I’d cut the chord today. Companies like Netflix, Hulu and even HBO have the right idea… so it’ll be interesting to see where it goes. I can’t imagine the current model will last for very much longer.

Besides your cell phone and computer, what gadget can't you go without and why?

Shure SE530 in-ear earphones. High-quality audio products are really important to me (see also: the above speakers) — I want to hear things the way they’re meant to be heard — and I do a lot of my listening on the run, so I go all-out when it comes to earphone purchases. These bad boys each have three sound-drivers for full range, and the sound-isolating feature is two-fold: 1) Prevents outside noise from getting in so you can hear music all the better (especially important on the subway), 2) Means you don’t have to turn the volume up nearly as loud, which is better for long-term hearing issues that can result from earphone use. I think the SE535 is the newer version in this product line.

What everyday thing are you better at than everybody else?

Making sure everything has been tended to and double-checking my work. Nothing drives me more crazy than people who send rushed email responses, i.e. when you ask three questions in an email and the recipient responds to only one of them (with zero punctuation and typos galore, naturally). READ! Double-check! Pay attention! Great communication is crucial to good business. Do not multitask — you think you’re good at it, but you aren’t. One thing at a time.

What was the last book you read?

Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami.

Where do you get your industry news?

Bob Lefsetz for “industry” stuff — he may be a cranky old man at times but he’s dead-on more often than not, and I really enjoy his writing style. For metal news, Metal Injection, Metal Insider, Lambgoat, The PRP, Blabbermouth, Heavy Blog is Heavy and No Clean Singing are probably my most frequently cited sources.

What's your favorite podcast and why?

Since I don’t commute I’m not much a podcast guy — it’s really hard to focus on words when you’re writing. So I’m gonna be a jerk and say The MetalSucks Podcast — it’s the only podcast I listen to! We hired Chuck and Godless because they were already professionals and have an excellent on-air rapport with one another, and they’ve totally delivered in both regards.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to do what you do?

Just start doing it. Between me and Matt (MetalSucks co-founder), the grand total of journalism degrees and published pieces when we started the site was zero. If you suck at the beginning, then so be it — you’ll get better through the process of doing it. But the only way to succeed is to try (lol Yoda). Same goes for Blast Beat Network — we had zero experience with advertising — and my managements clients: just start doing it, no formal education or special prep necessary. Also very important: good communication (see above).

What's the one activity you use to escape?

I play baseball. Not softball, real manly-man baseball, with objects that aren’t the size of grapefruits and none of that pansy-ass aluminum bat crap. Given, we’re a bunch of olds most of whom never played beyond high school, so the caliber of play isn’t exactly Major League-level. But it’s the thing I most look forward to as each week draws to a close; it’s just the best. When you’re out there on the field or you step into the batter’s box nothing else matters but the task at hand, and what on earth is better than baseball? Nothing. We play every weekend in Brooklyn from the start of April until it’s so cold outside that the sting of the bat on an inside jam shot is just too much to bear.

What's your sleep routine like?

I’ve never been a good sleeper. I wake up multiple times per night no matter what, usually once every hour and half or two hours, even if just to roll over, find a new position or flip the pillow over to the cold side. I’ve become used to it by now. Usually I try and get 8 or 9 hours, but I can get by on 6 or 7.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

If you want something, be there all the time. This advice was given to me in the context of trying to sign a particular band when I worked at a booking agency — be present at all their shows, be friendly, talk to the guys. But it could really be applied to pretty much anything. Basically, be a go-getter (although I hate that term).

Are you more a phone call person or email/text worker?

I tend to do most of my work on email, although I sometimes catch myself getting sucked into the whirlpool of back-and-forth when a simple phone call would make things go a lot faster. For my management clients I do a lot more phone work - it’s just easier when you’ve got to communicate points that aren’t simple.

Tangentially related, what’s up with the current business culture in which you have to ask someone if they’re currently free for a call, or set up a time? This was never a thing until maybe 3-4 years ago. If you feel the need to talk to someone on the phone just pick it up and dial like an adult — if the person’s busy they won’t answer, simple as that.

What music app do you use to consume music the most?

It’s a toss up between Spotify and iTunes. The promos I receive for MetalSucks are of course not available on Spotify before release, so I’m still tied to iTunes more than I’d like to be.

What does your phone home screen look like?

I'd love to see Finn McKenty answer these questions.

----------------------

Inspired by the fine folks at LifeHacker and their How I Work blog series, the Callsheet series gives the spotlight to the people behind the scenes that keep the music business going. The managers, road dogs and 3am phone call takers who live and die making things happen. Callsheet gives you a chance to learn their secrets, tips and tricks that make their day easier. 

[billmeis-blog]

Callsheet Post 11. Joanna Noyes: Basecamp. Beyonce. Britney.

Joanna is the Callsheet guest I've known the longest. The fact that we both ended up in the same business is crazy now that I think about it. Joanna never made a big deal of her successes. She carries her stealthy workflow like most of us should. Behind the scenes and highly effective. 

------------------------- Name: Joanna Noyes Twitter: @josaysno Location: Queens, NY

Your Current Role: Director of Interactive Marketing & Audience Development at The Orchard.

Your Previous Role(s): Managing Partner of Zero To Sixty Group, Senior Director / Co-Founder of For The Win! Media

One phrase that best describes your work style: DIY

Your mobile hardware: iPhone 5S

Your computer: Macbook Pro (work), Macbook Air (home)

Your 5 Go to Web/Mobile Apps and why.

Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, What's App, and Uber. Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter - I personally interact with people on these networks, but I also keep track of what content clients are releasing and how they are interacting with their fans.

What's App I use a lot when my husband, who tours for a living, is out of the country. Finally Uber, I go to a lot of shows and it isn't always easy getting a cab back to Queens. Uber is a lifesaver.

What's your workspace setup like? 

Full of office motivation (as pictured), and two screens for multitasking.

What's your best time-saving tip or trick?

Try to do it right the first time.

What's your favorite to-do list manager?

I use Basecamp and/or Evernote depending on the project.

Which area of technology excites you most?

THE INTERNET. Ok, that is broad. I enjoy seeing interactive and experiential campaigns that take on the traditional idea that a piece of content is released, receives attention for a day, and you move on. Interactive videos, experiential pages that unlock content, interact with the user, etc.

Besides your cell phone and computer, what gadget can't you go without and why?

I can go without any gadget besides my iPhone.

What everyday thing are you better at than everybody else?

Eating ice cream.

What was the last book you read?

Gone Girl.

Where do you get your industry news?

Usually I check Mashable, TubeFilter, Hypebot, Music Ally, Billboard, TechCrunch, etc.

What's your favorite podcast and why?

I don't listen to podcasts.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to do what you do?

Don't take no for an answer. I don't mean your boss tells you no, you don't listen and then get fired. I mean if someone tells you that you cannot do what you want to in life don't let that be a deterrent. Let it be your motivation and prove them wrong. Also, work your buns off and always try your best. Don't be afraid to fail because you will have learned something you didn't know before trying in the first place.

What's the one activity you use to escape?

Hanging out with my dog (@georgethefrenchbully on Instagram) usually at the park.

What's your sleep routine like?

Not the best. I wake up throughout the night, don't always go to bed when I should, and check my email as soon as I wake up with one eye open.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Fake it till you make it. Here is a great video about that.

Are more a phone call person or email/text worker?

Email/text but I do many phone calls a day. That's life.

What music app do you use to consume music the most?

Rdio.

What does your phone home screen look like?

I'd love to see Rian Rochford answer these questions.

---------------------- Inspired by the fine folks at LifeHacker and their How I Work blog series, the Callsheet series gives the spotlight to the people behind the scenes that keep the music business going. The managers, road dogs and 3am phone call takers who live and die making things happen. Callsheet gives you a chance to learn their secrets, tips and tricks that make their day easier.

[billmeis-blog]

Callsheet Post 10. Katy Irizarry: Barbie + Black Metal

Katy is the first Callsheet guest that I haven't known more than at least a year. But that doesn't mean she kicks any less ass. Katy is one of the best examples of a music biz warrior and what it means to hustle on a daily basis. Anyone looking to break into their dream job, follow this woman's lead. 

Name: Katy Irizarry

Twitter: @mercyfulkate

Location: Staten Island, NY

Your Current Role: Executive Assistant @ Eagle Rock Entertainment and Associate Producer for Trunknation at Sirius XM (Live Monday nights on Sirius XM’s Hairnation, Channel 39, from 6-10PM EST)

Your Previous Role(s): Associate Producer/Board Op at Sirius XM, Promoter at Skateboard Marketing, Intern/Contributing writer at Metal Edge Magazine. I also used to be an EMT, oddly enough.

One phrase that best describes your work style: Hustle Hard! And teamwork makes the dream work.

Your mobile hardware: Samsung Galaxy S3. I do not enjoy it.

Your computer: Some kind of Dell. Soon to be jumping on the Mac bandwagon though.

Your 5 Go to Web/Mobile Apps and why.

1- Spotify because I love how easily accessible music is when I’m on the go.

2- Instagram because I do, in fact, love looking at pictures of food.

3- Pinterest because I craft and do makeup so it’s a great medium for creative inspiration.

4- NY Rangers mobile app because I can’t watch every game live so it’s a great way to stay updated during the season.

5- Reddit is Fun because Reddit really is fun.

What's your workspace setup like? It’s actually kind of a mess because I thrive in chaos. Here's a fun picture of myself at my desk that my boss took not too long ago. Clearly, I'm very hard at work.

What's your best time-saving tip or trick? Not cleaning my desk! Haha. Actually, I have become an expert at multitasking, for the most part. Some nights at Sirius when I have some audio to work on, I’ll handle my editing while I answer the phones during the live show so I can get everything finished in a 4 hour time window.

What's your favorite to-do list manager? I don’t use any specific manager, but I put everything into my mobile calendar. From important work tasks to coffee dates, everything is in there. Those little reminders throughout the day are real lifesavers.

Which area of technology excites you most? Podcasting! I love radio, and I think podcasting is really evolving and becoming such an excellent platform for DIY syndications. Also, since most podcasts are independent and don’t fall under the umbrella of a corporation, there’s a lot more creative freedom allotted to the hosts which can make for much more interesting fodder.

Besides your cell phone and computer, what gadget can't you go without and why? I’m not very tech savvy and don’t really own anything other than my cell phone and computer, so there’s that.

What everyday thing are you better at than everybody else? Writing and editing. Writing has always come so naturally to me both in a creative sense and in a technical sense. I can usually pick up a grammatical error in an instant when reading mine or someone else’s work.

What was the last book you read? Psychos by Babe Walker.

Where do you get your industry news? Billboard, Blabbermouth, Noisey/Vice, Eddietrunk.com, etc. The internet, really.

What's your favorite podcast and why? I love The Joe Rogan Experience! I genuinely believe he is one of the most interesting people alive. Plus, as a free thinker, I can identify with and respect a lot of his skepticism.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to do what you do? I would definitely advise them to have thick skin for starters. But also, aggressively network with people and to put your heart into everything.

What's the one activity you use to escape? Uhhh…. Nothing wholesome enough to disclose on here, probably.

What's your sleep routine like? I really try to get to bed by 10PM on weeknights as I wake up at 6:30AM during the week for work, but unfortunately, I don’t nearly get to bed early often enough. On the bright side, I’m generally exhausted enough that I sleep through the night which is nice.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? About 3 years ago when I was interning at Sirius, I ran into Eddie Trunk who worked right down the hallway from the studio I was in on Monday nights. As a listener and a fan, I really wanted to be a part of his syndication in some way. I spoke to one of the producers at Sirius about it and she suggested that I let him know I’m available to do fill in work if he ever needed it. I took her advice and let’s just say the rest is history!

Are you more a phonecall person or email/text worker? I definitely prefer emails. I tend to write down everything that’s told to me on the phone, so having it already written out in an email saves me some time. Plus, I’m a very visual person so I retain information better when I read it rather than when I hear it.

What music app do you use to consume music the most? Spotify. Apart from iTunes and the Sirius XM On Demand App, there aren’t many other mediums that I use.

What does your phone home screen look like? Toki Doki Barbie!

I'd love to see Gary Nieves Jr. (Founder and producer of Cobra Sun Studio) answer these questions.

[billmeis-blog]

Callsheet Post 9. Carlos Ramirez: Music Quiz King

I met Carlos when he took over as editor for Noisecreep.com. After taking over for the legendary SethW, he had some big shoes to fill but did so with the grace of a gentleman. Carlos embraces the concept of meeting people where they're at, and always listening to someone before talking. A virtue more of us should adopt. 

Name: Carlos Ramirez Twitter: @musicquizking Location: Los Angeles, CA

Your Current Role: Editorial Director @ NUVOtv (I also co-own a new music site called NoEcho.net)

Your Previous Role(s): Editor @ Noisecreep.com, Senior Manager of Online Marketing @ Universal Music Group, Project Manager @ Total Assault, Marketing @ Beverly Martel Music/IAMSOUND, Owner @ Imperial Kingdom Recordings

One phrase that best describes your work style: Multitask or die

Your mobile hardware: iPhone 5s

Your computer: Apple 13.3" MacBook Pro with Retina display

Your 5 Go to Web/Mobile Apps and why.

Gmail – I’m one of those people that has to have my inbox 100% read at all times. When I look at my wife’s iPhone inbox, it always has something like 150 unread emails. That would drive me mad. I have both my personal and music-related email accounts handy at all times.

Instagram – It’s such a fun time-killer when I’m sitting around with nothing to do.

Twitter – I only follow a little over 100 profiles on there, but I do enjoy them. Unless the account is an entertainment or news outlet of some kind, I don’t follow people who tweet too many times a day. My favorite kinds of people on Twitter are the ones who like to share interesting articles they’ve read somewhere, or they want to tell you about a music artist they’re digging.

Amazon – I’m on there every single day. I buy the majority of my CDs and books there. I don’t buy music downloads. I’m a CD guy. I grew up on vinyl, but I sold my collection when I was in Black Army Jacket. I also buy stuff for our daughter on Amazon. Their Amazon Prime service is everything.

Wikipanion – It’s a Wikipedia client that I can’t live without. Throughout a typical day, I check the app somewhere in the ballpark of 10-15 times. I’m a trivia junkie, so I can be on there looking up anything from the name of a producer on some obscure R&B record from the ‘70s to former Mets player Dave Kingman’s biography.

What's your workspace setup like?

When I’m at the NUVOtv office, I have two monitors set up, but I’m primarily working on a Dell PC. When I’m working at home, I’m on my Mac. I’m all about the minimal setup when I’m working. I hate clutter. I don’t want any kind of paperwork visible on my desk(s).

What's your best time-saving tip or trick?

I answer emails as they come in. I don’t procrastinate if it’s something writing-related.

What's your favorite to-do list manager?

I tried using Evernote, but I find that the way my mind works, I can’t use those to-do list managers. For both NUVOtv, and the stuff I do for NoEcho.net, I just use Google Calendar.

Which area of technology excites you most?

The “All you can eat” concept when it pertains to cable television and music streaming.

Besides your cell phone and computer, what gadget can't you go without and why?

I recently purchased (on Amazon, obviously) a Philips SBT75 Bluetooth Wireless Portable Speaker and it’s come in really handy around our house. I bring it in my daughter’s bedroom and I stream all kinds of music she likes to dance to. Before that, we were using a CD player in there and it was a pain in the ass since she likes to switch up the songs so much.

What everyday thing are you better at than everybody else?

Multitasking.

What was the last book you read?

I’m always in the middle of reading 2-3 books at any given time. I just finished reading Hitman by music producer David Foster. I’m currently in the middle of reading A Wilderness of Error by Errol Morris, Honestly by Stryper’s Michael Sweet and Benson by jazz guitarist George Benson.

Where do you get your industry news?

The Twitter feeds @billboardbiz, @Deadline, @Mashable, and @hypebot.

What's your favorite podcast and why?

I’m not really a podcast guy, but I listen to a lot of the archived stuff on the Sirius XM iPhone app. I only get to listen to Howard Stern during my work commute, so it’s nice to have all of the episodes on the app to listen to whenever I want. I also check out some of the musical specialty shows on the other stations.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to do what you do?

Try to land an internship at a smaller entertainment company. I think interning at a behemoth like Universal Music Group or Paramount Pictures is fine, but you’re better off at a boutique agency or indie company. I interned at Roadrunner Records in 1994 and it wasn’t the giant they are now. I learned a lot there and got to do a lot of hands-on stuff since they needed the help at the time. I never had to make coffee for anyone.

What's the one activity you use to escape?

I have a 2-year-old daughter, so spending time with her would be an escape from all the work and NoEcho.net stuff.

What's your sleep routine like?

I usually go to bed around midnight during the work week and wake up around 6-630AM. On the weekends, I get to bed a bit later, but I wake up around the same time.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Someone once told me to not bring your personal life bullshit to work, and I never have. If I’m having a bad day, I don’t take it out on my co-workers, and certainly don’t let it affect my work.

Are you more a phone call person or email/text worker?

As the years go by, I find myself using the phone less and less for work-related stuff.

What music app do you use to consume music the most?

I’m on Spotify all day. I make tons of specialized playlists. Some of them have thousands of followers, so I know I’m not alone on this stuff. I also use my CD library which is available on my iCloud.

What does your phone home screen look like?

I'd love to see Finn McKenty answer these questions.

[billmeis-blog]

Callsheet Post 8. John Bambino: Email Slayer & Bicycles

I met John when he was spearheading Heavy Hitters and representing some of the hottest acts of his time. He was always gracious and constantly giving value to those around him, despite rooting for the wrong baseball team.  I find myself giving some of the same advice to young people in the business today as he gave me years ago.

Name: John Bambino Twitter: @Bino223 Location: New York, NY Your Current Role: Manager for Indegoot Entertainment Your Previous Role(s): Owner/Operator of Heavy Hitter Inc, East Coast Creative Manager for EMI Publishing, Northeast Regional Radio Manager Sanctuary Records Group, Head of Artist Development Mcgathy Promotions. One phrase that best describes your work style: To the point, blunt, no filler. I don’t mind the filler banter, but lets get the job done first and foremost and reap rewards together. Your mobile hardware: iPhone 5. Your computer: At work I use a Mac and home a PC. Your 5 Go to Web/Mobile Apps and why.

I could list 5 social media apps for latest updates (business and personally). 

Pages (helps maintain my multiple artist pages on the go)

Google Maps (great for walking, driving, train and bike riding) 

Google Chrome (so much better than safari and syncs with both my MAC and PC)

Map My Ride (avid bike rider) and Spotify

What's your workspace setup like? 

I'm a minimalist and not a fan of clutter. I do what I need, print what I want, file when it's necessary. We have an open office layout and cluttered workspace is not cohesive to the environment. Besides the typical needs like my mac and phone on the desk you will always find a box of cereal and a salad bowl, maybe a bottle of liquor for THOSE kind of days.

What's your best time-saving tip or trick? 

Im a creature of habit. I try to set up for the following day at the end of the prior day. Lists! Lists! Lists! Drafts! Line them up, knock up down. Crossing anything of the list is always a sense of accomplishment. What's your favorite to-do list manager? 

A legal pad and pen. Old school, reliable. For meetings, conference calls, etc. I use my iCal or Outlook calendars. Which area of technology excites you most? 

Better access to my files/music. Some love Box, Hightail, etc. But sadly I’ve found them to be limited in reliability. I don’t always have a signal on my phone so it can be a hindrance. At work all those sites are reliable but everyone uses something different, then you have to sign up to access. It's too much.

Signing up for user and passwords is a pet peeve of mine. I have a running list of over 50 log ins and having to add to it kills my enthusiasm. I wish there were no limits on sending emails or files. I'd be a much happier person if I could. Besides your cell phone and computer, what gadget can't you go without and why? 

Is there really a need for anything else beyond those two? Maybe longer battery life? What everyday thing are you better at than everybody else? Maybe keeping up on emails? 

I have friends or coworkers who have hundreds if not thousands of emails in their inbox. I try to keep it down to maybe 50 at most, and most of those emails are just as a point of reference. I love filing emails away, moving on to the next thing. It's like a digital list, a clean desk, love it and proud of it. What was the last book you read?

I'm huge on biographies such as actors, comediennes or musicians. Last one I finished was “His Way, An Unauthorized Biography of Frank Sinatra” by Kitty Kelley. Where do you get your industry news?

I have a round of websites I like to visit daily such as Billboard, Hits, FMQB, etc. I love my metal news sites such as Metalsucks, Metal Insider, THEPRP, Teamrock. Of course there is always Facebook for up to the minute updates from those who work within the industry. Twitter is amazing if you know how to use it to find what you’re looking for. What's your favorite podcast and why? 

Im not big on podcasts. Just never picked up on them. Im sure one day I will.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to do what you do? 

You really need to want to do this! There is no real room for half stepping in music industry. It's not getting any bigger. Have a strong mindset! Surround yourself with a great support staff/circle. People in this industry can easily kick you when you’re down and pat you on the back when you’re up.  I say this not to dissuade the reader, but you always need to have your guard up and be on your toes.

There will always be someone who wants to push you to the side to be where you’re at and do it for less. When you do have success, enjoy it and embrace it. It's a wonderful feeling when it lasts! Also, it may not applicable to everyone, but usually everyone loses or is let go from a job at one point or another in music, but if you’ve put forth the efforts in your previous gig(s), someone will notice/recognize you as an asset and swoop you up before you get to the unemployment line.

I hope everyone who works in music has that mentor there to help them when you’re down. Ive had a few great ones throughout my career. Bill McGathy has always been a great mentor for me. I've worked for him, he helped me get gigs, supported me through my own company. When my own company shut down, he opened his door for my return. What's the one activity you use to escape? 

I have a few activities for an escape. Spending time with my fiancé and family is major! I try to take advantage of that whenever possible. Bike riding is another great escape for me. I love collecting miles on the road like some people collect music. Baseball! I love going to baseball games and shutting out everything while taking in a ballgame. What's your sleep routine like? 

Ugh, it's horrible. I get up and down multiple times in the night and fight the urge of checking my phone for emails (which I do). The smartphone is a blessing and curse. I would bet good money though if smartphones didn’t exist some people would either have the best nights sleep, or not sleep at all. What’s the best advice you’ve ever received? 

Be careful how you talk about people, jobs, or bands. You never know what may be your next coworker/boss/ally/project. As I mentioned, this industry isn’t getting any bigger. Are more a phone call person or email/text worker? 

I don’t mind taking/making phone calls. It’s instant gratification with phone calls when you get the person you need on the line. Then you have the times when that person might not be available, texting would be the next favored communication.

Emails when both prior attempts fail, or if matters aren't pressing. I deal with bands and they LOVE texting. I find that some emails don’t even get looked at or are buried under their 500 other emails that are ignored. What music app do you use to consume music the most? 

Spotify for most part, or my iTunes. I love Spotify for the “related artists” tab. I can tool around looking for new bands or music Ive never heard. Im not a fan of streaming radio stations like Pandora or Rdio. When all else fails, I like to turn on my local classic rock station on the FM dial or iheartradio. What does your phone home screen look like? 

I'd love to see _________ answer these questions.  I could list a few but really it would only be for reasoning to answer my own questions of ‘WHAT THE HELL DOES THAT PERSON DO ALL DAY THAT THEY CANT GIVE ME A REPLY”

My other candidate would be Ahmet Ertegun. ----------------------

Inspired by the fine folks at LifeHacker and their How I Work blog series, the Callsheet series gives the spotlight to the people behind the scenes that keep the music business going. The managers, road dogs and 3am phone call takers who live and die making things happen. Callsheet gives you a chance to learn their secrets, tips and tricks that make their day easier.

----------------------

[billmeis-blog]

Callsheet Post 7. Nick Tieder: I Deleted My Twitter

I met Nick while working at RED Distribution. He sat next to me while working at JRB Innovations and was routinely offended by my choice in egg salad lunches. But, once I started blasting Extol we quickly became friends. Nick has some serious experience and years under his belt and should be listened to. 

Name: Nick Tieder

Twitter: I deleted my Twitter about a year ago. I don't like contributing to clutter.

Location: New York, NY

Your Current Role: VP Marketing @ In De Goot / One Man Show @ No Jacket Required Marketing

Your Previous Role(s): Director, Strategic Partnerships @ This Old House (Time Inc.) / Director, National Sales & Retail Marketing @ Or Music / Director of Retail Marketing @ JRB Innovations / Senior Director of Sales @ Artemis Records

One phrase that best describes your work style: Efficient

Your mobile hardware: iPhone 5s

Your computer: Macbook Pro / iMac

Your 5 Go to Web/Mobile Apps and why.

1) Mail - Having your office in your hand is invaluable. On a side note, I will forever be perplexed by folks who do not opt to delete the signature that indicates you are emailing from your handheld. No one needs to know, nor cares that you aren't at your desk or that there are typos (but, c'mon, put in a little effort and those are easily avoidable). Oh, and changing the boiler plate signature to something you deem wittier is even worse than leaving the standard signature on.

2) Instagram - Carefully curating your follow list is crucial so your feed remains a pleasurable way to enjoy a few minutes of down time as opposed to a chore. If you can stay on top of that, then Instagram is a great way to follow a wide variety of things that tickle your fancy while also satisfying your need for visual stimulation.

3) Foursquare - I'm not particularly interested in mayorships, points, etc., but what I do like is the ability to search for places of interest near where you are currently located and the special offers from restaurants and retail outlets available with a check-in. Plus, it is nice if you notice a friend is having a drink a block away from where you are and you can pop in and say hello.

4) AllMusic - I am a music nerd through and through, so I love AllMusic's mobile app because I can look up band/artist's discographies, bios, etc. wherever I am. This usually happens when I hear a song or read about a band and want to dive deeper into their catalog and it also comes in handy if you need to settle an argument with a fellow music nerd.

5) Shazam - I'm always looking for new music (whether literally new or just new to me) and Shazam is an easy way to identify that song on the radio, playing in the store/restaurant/bar or in the closing credits of a TV show.

What's your workspace setup like?

Clean. No clutter is something I require as it helps me feel relaxed and organized. That being said, there is a difference between clean and sterile. My desk is decorated with various items that speak to my personal interests in music, film and television as well as other odds and ends like a mini sculpture (see picture) and an awesome pen/pencil/scissor holder my wife got me.

What's your best time-saving tip or trick?

Don't ask others to do what you could easily accomplish yourself. Too many of us like to needlessly insert other people in the middle of things which just slows everything down.

What's your favorite to-do list manager?

I have all my email addresses housed under one Gmail account, so stars, folders, "important" tags and the Google Calendar are my best friends. My email inbox and Calendar are my "to-do" list.

Which area of technology excites you most?

Consolidation. The less devices, apps, etc. we have to deal with going forward, the better. When we can control everything in our homes from one device that is also something we can put in our pocket and carry with us outside the home to make phone calls, email, take pics, etc., it is going to be wonderful. Just going to be a royal pain in the ass if the damn thing ever breaks or is lost/stolen. Companies will have to make replacing them something that can happen immediately.

Besides your cell phone and computer, what gadget can't you go without and why?

My iPod. "You don't listen to all your music on your phone?!?!?!?" I know, I know, especially considering my answer to the previous question.

What everyday thing are you better at than everybody else?

Answering emails.

What was the last book you read?

God's Middle Finger: Into The Lawless Heart Of The Sierra Madre by Richard Grant. I tend to prefer non-fiction because the old saying that "truth is stranger than fiction" is 100% true. This book is about the Sierra Madre mountain region in Mexico that is run by outlaws and the drug cartels. The author goes exploring in the area and his life is quite literally at risk from the locals and the elements the deeper he gets.

Where do you get your industry news?

Digital Music News, Hits, Billboard, MetalSucks, MetalInsider, MetalInjection, Noisey, Stereogum, Grantland, NPR.

What's your favorite podcast and why?

I still have not embraced the podcast, but don't rule out the possibility of eventually doing so. Between all the new music I want to hear, TV shows on the DVR, movies and TV shows on AmazonPrime and Netflix and books and magazines (Decibel, Beer Advocate, Wired) to read, I'm at my saturation point for entertainment.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to do what you do?

Have thick skin. You will meet countless people who tell you don't know what you are talking about, that you are wrong, that you are dumb and a million other meaningless insults.

What's the one activity you use to escape?

I'm not much for escapism.

What's your sleep routine like?

Usually in bed and falling asleep in the 11pm-12am hours and waking up in the 5:30am-6:30am range. I average about six hours a night, which is less than the eight hours the "experts" advise, but six works for me. I rarely sleep in because I get a tremendous amount of satisfaction from having accomplished a lot before 10am. And on weekends, that could simply mean having exercised, eaten breakfast and watched a show on the DVR before 10am.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Be nice to everyone. You never know who you will see again and where.

Are more a phone call person or email/text worker?

Email/text as I find it more concise and efficient, but it is important to always pick up the phone if an email/text chain is beginning to spiral out of control.

What music app do you use to consume music the most?

Currently, iTunes and Amazon's Shopping Cart. As a marketer, I find it important to live through the process of purchasing music because that is what I am being charged with trying to get consumers to do. Placing pre-orders for new albums by bands I love on iTunes, Amazon.com and band/label web stores is something I feel helps make me a better marketer especially since, as an industry, we are currently so geared towards first week sales. And of course I get the benefit of giving money to a band I care about and support.

That being said, the landscape is of course changing and the battle is becoming more about getting consumers to simply listen to the music. With the future of the business so glaringly clear, I'm also active with streaming services like, for example, Spotify.

Personally, I think more people in the music industry need to spend time actively trying to see things through the consumer's eyes. You need to understand your customer right?

What does your phone home screen look like?

I'd love to see Marc Schapiro answer these questions because I'm always picking that dude's brain.

----------------------

Inspired by the fine folks at LifeHacker and their How I Work blog series, the Callsheet series gives the spotlight to the people behind the scenes that keep the music business going. The managers, road dogs and 3am phone call takers who live and die making things happen. Callsheet gives you a chance to learn their secrets, tips and tricks that make their day easier. 

[billmeis-blog]

Callsheet Post 6. Chuck Loesch: The Beard To End All Beards

I met Chuck a bit ago with his work as a warrior radio DJ during one of my many pilgrimages to Austin, TX for SXSW. Most recently I saw him speak on a SXSW panel, where I was apologized to publicly. ANYWAY, he's a force to be reckoned with in his respective field, and worth paying attention to. 

---------------------------- Name: Chuck Loesch Twitter: @beardedape @nocontrolradio Location: Austin, Texas

Your Current Role(s): Daddy | Husband | Radio DJ/host of NO CONTROL Radio | Program Director NO CONTROL Radio HD3 | Facilities Manager | Co-Host  - MetalSucks Podcast | Staff Writer - Metal Injection

Your Previous Role(s): Promotions, Overnight Jock, Landscaping, Bartending

One phrase that best describes your work style: Plan what you can, but expect the worst.

Your mobile hardware: Iphone 5S, Ipad 2.

Your computer: Dell Optiplex 7010 at the office and a hand crafted beast in my home office for audio/video.

Your 5 Go to Web/Mobile Apps and why.

Evernote – finally getting the swing of this one, it works great to coordinate all of my tasks

Tweetdeck – best interface ever

Soundtracking – better than Shazam to share music and post to FB and Twitter

TwistedWave – great audio recording app and only one that has FTP and e-mail offloading

Podcasts – the built in Iphone podcast app, I funnel all of them from Itunes

What's your workspace setup like?

Haphazard at best, I keep my home office sort of organized, but my office looks like a bomb went off.

What's your best time-saving tip or trick?

Delete e-mail. Don’t keep that stuff lingering in your inbox, turn it around and delete them NO EXCEPTIONS!

What's your favorite to-do list manager?

Pad and Pencil, I am an old fashioned guy when it comes to that, but Evernote is creeping into my life now.

Which area of technology excites you most?

I am experimenting with a bunch of different ways to gather audio in the field. What used to be a backpack can be assembled into your Ipad and Iphone. New tech is popping up daily and I am ready to try whatever is next!

Besides your cell phone and computer, what gadget can't you go without and why?

I am not tethered to anything other than my smart phone.

What everyday thing are you better at than everybody else?

Sleeping. I have the ability to fall asleep faster than anyone you have ever seen. Probably related to the question below…

What was the last book you read?

The Economics of Attention – one my MetalSucks cohost suggested is next on my list, but have been worm-holing on Lovecraft recently.

Where do you get your industry news?

Radio Ink, All Access, FMQB

What's your favorite podcast and why?

MetalSucks Podcast of course, because I host it! No, really, I love Mark Maron, Decibel, Metal Injection, and listen to all of the Smodcast stuff with Kevin Smith.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to do what you do?

Don’t, there aren’t enough jobs as it is…Joking, kind of. Really you have to be ready to take the opportunities wherever they come, and learn everything you can about everything. You might be surprised what actually works for you and where it might lead you, work your ass off and be respectful of everyone.

What's the one activity you use to escape?

Video games. MMORPGs mainly, they take up a lot of time, and now I even have a podcast about one of them @badfeelingpdcst

What's your sleep routine like?

Nonexistent, as many shows I go to, the late hours of my radio program, I get about 5 hours a night and then the weekend try to catch up.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Entertain, and if you can’t entertain, Inform, and if you can’t inform, try a different career – Cactus Pryor

Are more a phone call person or email/text worker?

E-mail and Text, quicker easier, I jabber way too much otherwise.

What music app do you use to consume music the most?

Used to do Spotify, but really I listen to everything in Adobe Audition these days and in the car it’s podcasts or talk radio.

I'd love to see _________ answer these questions.

Bram Teitelman

---------------------- Inspired by the fine folks at LifeHacker and their How I Work blog series, the Callsheet series gives the spotlight to the people behind the scenes that keep the music business going. The managers, road dogs and 3am phone call takers who live and die making things happen. Callsheet gives you a chance to learn their secrets, tips and tricks that make their day easier.

[billmeis-blog]

Callsheet Post 5. Ryan J. Downey: Writer, Communicator, Throat Puncher.

I met Ryan while sharing an office in Southern California in 2006. Since then he's been my boss, a client and most importantly a confidant. There are only a handful of people that I can say "I wouldn't be where I am if I didn't meet them," Downey is one of them. If you're a writer, listen up!

Name: Ryan J Downey Twitter: @SuperheroHQ Location: Southern California

Your Current Role: Superhero Artist Management Founder, Alternative Press West Coast Editor, MTV, Billboard and MovieWeb contributor.

Your Previous Role(s): MTV News writer, reporter and producer; MSNBC on air movie reporter.

One phrase that best describes your work style: reply, delete, repeat (sorta like Meshuggah?)

Your mobile hardware: iPhone 5 (5S still in the box) iPad mini

Your computer: 27" iMac MacBook Air

Your 5 Go to Web/Mobile Apps and why.

Twitter / Instagram - connectivity, communication

Spotify - I'm so happy to no longer have to choose which songs to stick on my phone

Starbucks - Gold member since 2006

Pocket - save so-called "long reads" for later

What's your workspace setup like?

What's your best time-saving tip or trick?

Outsourcing interview transcriptions.

What's your favorite to-do list manager?

I've tried many, but I continue to rely on separate, deliberate, specific mailboxes. I've also recently ventured into the world of "VIP." This ensures that priority people and projects are given, you know, priority.

Which area of technology excites you most?

Nanotechnology, particularly as it may help with overall health, aging and so forth.

Besides your cell phone and computer, what gadget can't you go without and why?

Apple TV. I'm an avid media consumer -- recreation, inspiration and work related. I shook off the shackles of cable and satellite about two years ago and I have not looked back since. I consume all of my TV and movies via Hulu, Netflix, iTunes and streaming from my own computer. It also gives our family a sense of control over the television. We choose to watch something, vs channel surfing through loud commercials and pundits yelling at us.

What everyday thing are you better at than everybody else?

Communication. Not necessarily in terms of speed, but in terms of expression and articulation. (Too much so sometimes).

What was the last book you read?

My Life with Deth - David Ellefson

Where do you get your industry news?

Billboard.biz (music) Deadline (film/TV) TheWrap (film/TV)

What's your favorite podcast and why?

Linoleum Knife. It's a movie review podcast hosted by Alonso Duralde (film critic for The Wrap) and Dave White (film critic for Movies.com). They are both authors, as well.

Aside from the Siskel and Ebert style bantering (which is great), they are a married couple. Why does that matter? It means the insight into their personalities, daily lives, friends, life experiences, etc that is interspersed with their discussions about movies are delivered with an extra touch of warmth, insight, candor, authority and experience.

Fast talking, incredibly intellectual and charismatic Alonso is often mock flustered by his husband and foil, Dave, who speaks in a measured, deliberate, gravely baritone that is hypnotizing as he insists on finishing his point, be that about the glory of listening to obscure metal on cassette, a story about that morning's donut purchase, or a slow, unrelenting repetition of the words "you're wrong" as Alonso becomes further exasperated. Did I mention it's all recorded at their dining room table?

What advice would you give to someone who wants to do what you do?

When I was in elementary school, my dad would take me to Comic Carnival in Indianapolis each week to pick up the new issues of my regular reads -- Rom Spaceknight, DC's Vigilante, Uncanny X-Men and my other favorites. One day, some adult was blubbering to the owner, sorta demanding to know which books would someday be "valuable." From behind the counter, the owner pointed at me and said, "you should take a page from this kid. He doesn't buy comics because he thinks they'll make him rich. He buys the ones he wants to read. And if those become valuable someday? Great. If not? No problem."

This same advice served me well when I threw $1000 into the stock market for the first time. I bought Apple, Netflix and Amazon, because those are things I liked. I wanted to back some sort of ecologically friendly company, so I searched for "green" and ended up with something called Green Mountain Coffee. Anyway, they soon after introduced something called "the Kuerig." Anyway, my $1000 became $5000 before I cashed out.

I think the owner of comic carnival's advice rings true in business as well. Don't choose a career because you think it'll make you rich. Never in a million years did Metallica think they'd become the biggest rock band on earth when they were recording No Life Till Leather. I never thought Marvel would make billion dollar movies. Discover what you love. The rest will come.

What's the one activity you use to escape?

Firing up the Apple TV to watch standup comedy, late night talk shows. Also, Krav Maga and kickboxing. But you said one.

What's your sleep routine like?

It's a mess lately.

Fall asleep at 11pm. Get up at 1 or 2. Fall back asleep at 3 or 4. Get up between 6 and 8.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

"Don't like dealing with people who don't respect you, who you don't trust, whose motives are selfish and impure? THEN STOP."

Are more a phonecall person or email/text worker?

I adore the convenience and efficiency of email, text, and iMessage. Nothing is more frustrating than someone texting or emailing and saying "call me" without saying what it's about. They are selfishly robbing you of your ability to prioritize your day. Lately, I won't respond to that technique. Phone calls are good when there's a long story to share, or an interview to be done, or a pitch to give. Otherwise? Nah brah.

What music app do you use to consume music the most?

Spotify. With out question.

I'd love to see _________ answer these questions.

Dave Quiggle.

---------------------- Inspired by the fine folks at LifeHacker and their How I Work blog series, the Callsheet series gives the spotlight to the people behind the scenes that keep the music business going. The managers, road dogs and 3amphone call takers who live and die making things happen. Callsheet gives you a chance to learn their secrets, tips and tricks that make their day easier.

[billmeis-blog]

Callsheet Post 4. Amy Sciarretto: Publicity Queen Bee

I met Amy roughly 10 years ago while nagging her to work with me on projects while I was at Facedown Records. She is a 15-year veteran of the rock music scene and industry and is easily one of the most prolific females in the music journalism scene. She's a huge influence on me as a publicist, even though she's a Phillies fan. 

Name: Amy Sciarretto Twitter: @lrgrrl666     Location: Rutherford, NJ Your Current Role: Publicist/HPIC at Atom Splitter, Inc. + Writer of all things rock, metal, fashion, beauty, lurve. Your Previous Role(s): Director of Publicity, Roadrunner Records, CMJ Loud Rock Editor, Kerrang! writer, Revolver columnist... so many, too many to list. One phrase that best describes your work style: "Gets shit done." Your mobile hardware: iPhone 5 Your computer: MAC Book Pro Your 5 Go to Web/Mobile Apps and why:

Instagram, bc pics are pretty; Waze, bc I travel via car a lot; Chictopia, for style ideas when shopping; Twitter + Facebook, bc, like duh; MailChimp, bc I use it and it rules; SoundHound, bc it's fun.

What's your workspace setup like?

Room + Board desk, ergonomic chair, my office + my dog's suite.

What's your best time-saving tip or trick?

Making lists, getting up early, to stay ahead of the game.

What's your favorite to-do list manager?

My color-coded calendar and Google Cal!

Which area of technology excites you most?

Stuff that is one-touch, having so many jobs, having everything in one place is nice. I wish I could get into Evernote... since it comes so highly recommended. 

Besides your cell phone and computer, what gadget can't you go without and why?

Those are it. I am not as much of a tech nerd as I wish I was. I crush on the the nerds at the Genius Bar at the MAC store whenever I have to go there and they help me... be it a dude or a girl.

What everyday thing are you better at than everybody else?

Communicating and writing, and follow up/follow through.

What was the last book you read?

"Girlvert," a memoir on life as an extreme porn star by Ashley Blue. NOT for the faint of heart. 

Where do you get your industry news?

Billboard, FMQB, OhNoTheyDidnt.

What's your favorite podcast and why?

Adam Corolla... bc he is funny. RIP Creep Show. THAT was my favorite. For obvious reasons.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to do what you do?

Be prepared for lots of long hours, lots of chasing, lots of following up, lots of frustration, lots of duties that fall well outside of the job description and lots of FUN! As they say in Little Miss Sunshine, "Love what you do -- fuck the rest."

What's the one activity you use to escape?

Daily maintenance of and walks with my Higgins, my four-year old son aka English bulldog. He requires daily wiping of his facial folds, his ears and his tail. So I do that and sing to him and spray him with vanilla almond cologne daily and it's our bonding time. It relaxes me. I also love helping abandoned and abused animals.

What's your sleep routine like?

Too short. I hate that I sleep with my iPhone next to my pillow. Bc you never know when a band member is going to miss their flight or drunk dial you. Or your editor wants a quick post on Miley Cyrus or Justin Bieber's latest idiocy.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

"The internal campaign is JUST as important as the external one." - Jamie Roberts

Are more a phone call person or email/text worker?

Text and email. I write better than I speak.

What music app do you use to consume music the most?

iTunes + SoundHound.

I'd love to see _________ answer these questions.  

Brian Bumbery of BB Gun Press or Jamie Roberts of 10th Street, two of my all-time fave publicists who taught me a lot!

---------------------- Inspired by the fine folks at LifeHacker and their How I Work blog series, the Callsheet series gives the spotlight to the people behind the scenes that keep the music business going. The managers, road dogs and 3am phone call takers who live and die making things happen. Callsheet gives you a chance to learn their secrets, tips and tricks that make their day easier. 

[billmeis-blog]

Callsheet Post 3. Jeremy Saffer: The Dark Lord of Music Photography

I met Jeremy while working at Facedown Records a hundred years ago. Since then, he's only refined his craft. Once the kid who you would always find in the photo pit of most New England area shows, he now finds himself as one of the most sought after photographers in the game. 

Name: Jeremy Saffer Twitter: @jeremysaffer Location: Western Mass/Los Angeles

Your Current Role: Photographer

Your Previous Role(s): Student

One phrase that best describes your work style: Making self-described workaholics look lazy.

Your mobile hardware: Nexus 4, iPad. – Not often used in photography related things but used heavily in work related things such as social/emails etc.

Your computer: Macbook pro

Your 5 Go to Web/Mobile Apps and why. –

Janetter (twitter client) - I am most socially active on twitter and use it to communicate to both friends, clients, and fans.

IFTTT – if this than that. – an incredible website/now an app that creates triggers for anything you can imagine – I have mine set so when I post an instagram photo it reposts it as a native twitter photo – adds it to an instagram folder on my facebook page and personal fb page – etc. absolutely worth checking out if you use more than one social network and want to create some streamlines.

Instagram – first I was completely against it, but it goes with out saying, instagram, currently, has the most active users in my world (music/photography). And is rapidly growing, it’s a great way to show what im doing with visuals, give teasers to photo shoots, and connect my world (which is visual) to everyone else.

Dropbox mobile – being able to throw a shoot into dropbox on my laptop and access it on my phone and iPad whenever I need to is great – if I need to put a quick folio together – show someone a shoot – I can do that in just a drag of a folder. Also, on the opposite side, my cellphone photos all back up to my dropbox, so if I need to access some behind the scenes shots on my laptop – they are right there ready to go

Clash of Clans – a mobile game I play with a slew of touring musicians and friends around the US. Remember, every now and again, a 3-minute battle with dragons, wizards, and warriors is absolutely necessary to break the monotony of photo editing and exporting/importing.

What's your workspace setup like?

I have three different types of workspaces

1. my home office – which is in my bedroom, it’s a desk with a laptop and three Drobos attached to the laptop with a dry erase board of photo shoots I need to get done in a time line.

2. my home studio – a slew of backgrounds, 10 lights, multiple light mods (soft boxes, grand boxes, ring lights etc). all light blocked from the windows, big open area.

3. on location workspaces – depends on where I am shooting – sometimes I'm shooting in a dressing room no smaller than a hotel bathroom, sometimes I'm shooting on the floor of a venue, out in a field… its ever changing and not really consistent – but I always bring at least three lights, an assistant, my camera, and batteries to power the lights on location.

What's your best time-saving tip or trick?

Get it right in camera. Every minute you spend editing is a minute you're not spending booking your next shoot, or shooting. If you see insane lighting you want to do, figure out how to do it in camera, don’t rely entirely on post production. Having a good knowledge of lighting can save you hours of time behind a laptop, and more time getting more work.

What's your favorite to-do list manager?

I have a dry erase board next to my laptop and in gmail I star and have a folder for shoots I need to do in order of deadline.

Which area of technology excites you most?

Visual for sure, the things you can do with a digital SLR now are mind blowing. I remember a time when people would say “digital will never look better than film” – and what fools they were, because at this point digital has not just surpassed film, it has SMASHED it. I love shooting film, but at this point its nothing but a novelty. I cant wait to see where we are 10 years from now.

Besides your cell phone and computer, what gadget can't you go without and why?

The most obvious would be my camera, which is my main tool for work, but that’s sort of a given, so that being said my secondary gadget would be my Drobo Mini – which is a raid system on 4 hard drives that I take with me everywhere and use as an in between for my home Drobo and studio Drobo (back ups) – while I keep all files/edits on my mini.

What everyday thing are you better at than everybody else?

I would never say I am better than anyone at anything. Not just because I am not some egomaniac, but because I certainly don’t know everybody on earth, and anything I do well, I assure you, others do it better, aside from maybe being me, or shooting in my very specific style – but I'm sure someone else could gank that and make it better somehow haha.

What was the last book you read?

I just look at the pictures… no but honestly I decided to re-re-re-re-read The Blood Countess, such an incredible book.

Where do you get your industry news?

Usually via twitter. But on twitter I follow a bunch of industry news sites, however most of them streamline and post the same things the other pages have posted. I would say blabbermouth is the main one I read for news I know is 100% true as well as MetalSucks and Metal Injection which are both incredible sites.

What's your favorite podcast and why?

I've never listened to a podcast ever. I know what it is, kinda, but I guess I don’t understand the concept. It’s a radio show you download essentially right? Id rather be listening to music most likely.

What advice would you give to someone who wants to do what you do?

Never give up. The only way to fail is to give up.

What's the one activity you use to escape?

Disneyland. Every time I'm in LA (which is 1/3 of the year) I tend to go once a week with a group of incredible friends. I didn’t get it at first, why people were all about it… then after the first day I bought a season pass.

What's your sleep routine like?

Awful. I have acute onset insomnia, so falling asleep is always a challenge. The sunrise is not a beautiful thing when you don’t want to see it. It’s a defeat. It’s a reminder that you tried to fall asleep before the sun came up, and you lost again. Battling with that, I have a very un-even sleep schedule – sometimes I get super tired and fall right asleep at 2am and sleep 12 hours. Sometimes I wont be able to fall asleep til 5, 6, 7, 8 – and will wake up just 3 or 4 hours later. Its very inconsistent, and it sucks. I'm always too tired to do much, and too awake to fall asleep. It’s a curse but I accomplish a lot of editing.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

Theres a back story here… I was going to Berklee school of music to become a producer. I hated it, I was miserable, and I was working as a photographer for mass-concerts. I wanted to leave Berklee but I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I asked Scott Lee (my mentor, the reason I'm a photographer, and all around the best person on earth) – he said “well, you hate Berklee, okay, cool, what do you like to do?” I responded “I like taking pictures” …he didn’t respond with words, he just gave me a look like im the last person to figure out what I liked doing and it was so simple, it was just that one simple question that changed my entire life.

Are more a phone call person or email/text worker?

Absolutely text and email – I am often at concerts, on a shoot, or editing, where I would rather be able to type – put down my phone and continue working than have to put something up to my ear, lose a hand to it, and take time out of work to do so. If I'm at a concert, I wont hear you anyway, and if I'm at a shoot, I can respond between shooting sets of images if needed, quickly, but I can not make a phone call.

What music app do you use to consume music the most?

Google play – and I don’t use it as a radio – I use it as a studio mix. Essentially its like a dropbox for music – you add a song – its in the cloud and you can access it anywhere – so all of my favorite songs are anywhere I am – so any studio I'm in, I have my studio mix.

I'd love to see Adam Elmakias, Scott Lee, Vince Edwards answer these questions.

---------------------- Inspired by the fine folks at LifeHacker and their How I Work blog series, the Callsheet series gives the spotlight to the people behind the scenes that keep the music business going. The managers, road dogs and 3am phone call takers who live and die making things happen. Callsheet gives you a chance to learn their secrets, tips and tricks that make their day easier.

[billmeis-blog]

Callsheet Post 2. Chris Enriquez: Brooklyn's Adopted Son

I met Chris Enriquez playing kickball in a Tower Records parking lot on Long Island about 14 years ago. Since then he's been the drummer for one of the most influential bands to ever come out of Long Island, a well known Brooklyn promoter and an overall NYC punk and hardcore socialite. Today he finds himself at Revolver Magazine. He has quite a story!

----------------------------------- Name: Chris Enriquez Twitter: @chrisenriquez Location: Brooklyn, NY

Your Current Role: National Account Manager, Revolver Magazine. I'm the guy who handles all ads, be it print or digital.

Your Previous Role(s): Account Manager, BizBash. Used to work in the events industry, now in the music industry.

One phrase that best describes your work style: Roller coaster. Everything's always up and down, but that's what keeps things exciting.

Your mobile hardware: iPhone 4. I need to upgrade to a 5.

Your computer: MacBook Pro.

Your 5 Go to Web/Mobile Apps and why:

1) Facebook - Best networking and promotional tool. This has always done more for me when it comes to promoting shows, parties, events in general, compared to any other social media tool.

2) Twitter - Best source to follow your favorite brands, artists, news.

3) Instagram - Such a great way to visually stay up to date with friends, family, favorite brands, artists, etc. Great time killer and you find some interesting stuff via hashtags.

4) LinkedIn - Most effective way to search and apply for jobs when looking and stay up to date on what's going on in various industries.

5) Tetris - Best way to kill time!

What's your workspace setup like?

Cubicle in average sized office space. Surrounded by lots of awesome posters, records, CD's, bottles of whiskey and rock magazines. Those parts kind of make the work space a bit unique.

What's your best time-saving tip or trick?

iCalendar keeps me together.

What's your favorite to-do list manager? Same as above.

Which area of technology excites you most?

Big fan of Apple products. Not quite sure where I'd be without them. And I've never strayed away from them by trying anything else out (Blackberry's, Androids, etc.)

Besides your cell phone and computer, what gadget can't you go without and why?

Aside from computer, iPad and iPhone, I don't have many other gadgets.

What everyday thing are you better at than everybody else?

Getting things done at the last minute. Not something I prefer, but like I said, everyday is a roller coaster and I find myself multi-tasking a lot.

What was the last book you read?

The Dave Mustaine biography. Not finished yet though. So far, it's a very interesting read. That dude is nuts but damn, what an innovator and incredible songwriter/guitar player.

Where do you get your industry news?

RevolverMag.com, DUH!

What advice would you give to someone who wants to do what you do?

Know how to network without being fake. Just be yourself, follow your dreams and be passionate, responsible and hard working. If you're in the music industry, live it and breathe it. Go out and be at the right places at the right time. Make friends not business contacts. Just be real.

What's the one activity you use to escape?

Playing drums in Primitive Weapons and No Way. That's when I can truly let everything go and literally feel like I'm in another state of mind or another world.

What's your sleep routine like?

Non existent. One day I'm in bed by 12am and the next day it could be 4am. Again, my life is a roller coaster.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

That's a tough one. I can't think of a specific piece of advice so I'll just say that my family has always been supportive and encouraged me to be who I am, regardless of how frustrating it may have been for them and with my recent success of getting a job at Revolver Magazine, they're happy to see my hard work pay off.

Are more a phone call person or email/text worker?

I am more of a phone call person. I prefer to meet people in person or speak on the phone. E-mails and texts are so impersonal and only prolong things. I deal with it when I have to, which is regularly, but I prefer real contact.

What music app do you use to consume music the most?

To be honest, Spotify but I'm getting way better at purchasing music that I like because it's so important to support the music industry. It's not easy making a living as an artist or running a music label and people need to support.

I'd love to see Brandon Geist answer these questions.

---------------------- Inspired by the fine folks at LifeHacker and their How I Work blog series, the Callsheet series gives the spotlight to the people behind the scenes that keep the music business going. The managers, road dogs and 3am phone call takers who live and die making things happen. Callsheet gives you a chance to learn their secrets, tips and tricks that make their day easier.

[billmeis-blog]

Callsheet Post 1. Seth W: blogger extraordinaire.

I work with a lot of interesting people. 

Each of these industry war-hogs have their own stories and a shed full of tools they use every day. 

My Callsheet blog series showcases these well oiled machines of the music business. 

I met Seth W at a show in upstate New York about 13 years ago. I played with my band, and Seth was his own. Since then he's become one of the sharpest blogging minds in the country. 

Name: Seth Werkheiser

Twitter: @sethw

Location: Pennsylvania (at the time of this interview)

Your Current Role: Founder of Skull Toaster, purveyor of nerdy metal trivia since 2011.

Your Previous Role(s): Founder of Noisecreep in 2009, Buzzgrinder in 2001

One phrase that best describes your work style:

Failing to plan is planning to fail.

Your mobile hardware: iPhone 5 with Mophie Juice Pack, laptop, Logitech wireless mouse

Your computer: 2008 Aluminum MacBook

Your 5 Go to Web/Mobile Apps and why:

1. Rdio: New releases every tuesday, old favorites, social works well with people I follow, and the Recommendations are pretty spot on. Waiting for Metallica, though! Argh.

2. Google Apps for Business: Email + Docs + Drive for the storage and easy sharing of files.

3. TweetDeck: Twitter on the web is awful, and I don't like the Twitter Desktop app, so this works best.

4. TweetBot: 80% of Skull Toaster is done through Twitter, so I need an app that'll keep up when I'm mobile, which is most of the time.

5. Evernote: Perfect sync of notes between my laptop and phone. I couldn't do Skull Toaster without this. Holds all my client work info, travel details for when I'm on the road (like screenshots and phone numbers). Can't recommend Evernote enough.

What's your workspace setup like?

Just a laptop on a desk, or kitchen table.

What's your best time-saving tip or trick?

Using followupthen.com to remember to follow up on certain items. This means I don't have to set a reminder or a Calendar item to follow up. That may only take a minute, but add that up over a year and that's too much time. I just forward the email and it pops up in my inbox when I need to act on it.

What's your favorite to-do list manager?

I don't use one.

Which area of technology excites you most?

Mobile web. Blogs ruled in 2006. Social media rules now. I think mobile web becomes the wild west and I can't wait to see how that plays out.

Besides your cell phone and computer, what gadget can't you go without and why?

Mophie Juice Pack. I don't fault the iPhone at all, since I use this amazing piece of technology that fits in my pocket every hour of the day.

What everyday thing are you better at than everybody else?

Managing email. Inbox zero, always. As I mentioned before, followupthen.com let's me get emails out of my inbox to follow up when needed. Then forwarding emails to Evernote, and organizing them by client or project helps me stay super organized. So when someone asks for details on a project I can go to Evernote (on my laptop or iPhone) and find the details in seconds. That means no folders or "tags" or whatever in Gmail. I'd never go back to organizing things in email ever again.

What was the last book you read?

'Show Your Work' by Austin Kleon. Great read.

Where do you get your industry news?

Twitter. If the news is big enough, it bubbles up to people I follow. I stopped following news ever since I read 'Four Hour Work Week.'

What advice would you give to someone who wants to do what you do?

"Ship," from 'Linchpin' by Seth Godin. Ship something. Get it out of the door. Make a website. Produce a video. Have something to show for your expertise, no matter how bad the first version is. Ship it, anyways. The next one will be better, and the one after that. Always be shipping. Five years from now you'll wished you started today.

What's the one activity you use to escape?

Long walks with no music. I force myself to 100% be in the moment, and not let the problems follow me. If shit is on my mind I look at a tree and think, "tree, tree, tree." Look at a house, and think, "house, house, house." The faster I get out of my head, away from everything, the better I'll be when I sit back down at my computer to get back to work.

What's your sleep routine like?

I've been couch surfing since 2010, and have only had my own bed for seven or eight months during that whole time. Right now I sleep on a couch. Asleep at 3am, up by 9am most everyday, or earlier.

What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?

"We're not saving lives." Shit happens, deadlines are missed, managers are angry, label doesn't like a review, at the end of the day, hey, we're not saving lives. Relax.

Are more a phone call person or email/text worker?

Email and text.

What music app do you use to consume music the most?

Proud paying subscriber to Rdio for the past few years.

I'd love to see _________ answer these questions.

Jeremy Saffer.

---------------------- Inspired by the fine folks at LifeHacker and their How I Work blog series, the Callsheet series gives the spotlight to the people behind the scenes that keep the music business going. The managers, road dogs and 3am phone call takers who live and die making things happen. Callsheet gives you a chance to learn their secrets, tips and tricks that make their day easier.