Interview answers for an Arabic Music thesis project by Ribal El Kallab

A couple weeks ago I was approached by Lebanese cellist, Ribal El Kallab, to answer some questions for a thesis project on Arabic music that he is working on. I've been given permission to post his questions and my responses. If you are interested in my general background in music from the Arabic and Middle …

On being a dance musician

As I cross over the 150 show mark this year (with three months still to go) and since I've had a couple of slow weeks I've been reflecting on how I'm still spending close to half my gigging time playing for dancers as I've been doing over the past decade or so. As I prep …

Anatomy of a Marathon Show: Deano’s Vino Restaurant and Wine Bar

I've been finding old photos (posted a few here last week) of the old "World Music and Dance Night" shows that il Troubadore used to do at Deano's Vino (a wine bar and restaurant) in Indianapolis some years ago and was reminded of some good times from bygone days. For a few years (2005-2007) on …

Noise: when instruments and skills are irrelevant to the Music Revolution

In a couple of weeks I'll be performing at the St. Louis Noisefest (here's the facebook event) at the Lemp Neighborhood Arts Center. It's been over ten years since I last played there (see pic below) and I'd been invited to play the festival on a couple of occasions in the past though I wasn't …

A Klingon Christmas Carol

Friday night was officially the longest night and to celebrate my band, the il Troubadore Klingon Music Project (otherwise known as bomwI'pu' on the planet Qo'noS), opened for Commedia Beauregard's Chicago production of a Klingon Christmas Carol (thlIngan ram nI' tay bom).  Klingons obviously do not celebrate Christmas, but they do have a "Festival of …

Wookiee Bellydance + Klingon Band

UPDATES: (Oct. 8, 2012) Word of the Nerd Podcast interview with me about the Wookiee Bellydance video! (Oct. 22, 2012) Just signed a release for the usage of the video on Objective Scotland's "50 Funniest Moments of 2012" programme to appear on Channel 4 in the UK. Several months ago Deserae, a wonderful bellydancer dancer …

Which Came First, the Music or the Brand?

As I mentioned in a previous post, if you've Branded yourself well, then Marketing (to raise awareness about your music) and Selling (to get gigs) should be much easier to do.  Branding is the totality of your public image and having a good Brand is tantamount to making all other aspects of your business move …

Grand Rights and Belly Dance

I'm in the middle of writing a "Grand Rights" primer for dancers which will likely be a separate web page rather than simply a blog post.  Copyright issues and copyright law are incredibly sticky issues and as I've been increasingly dealing with contractual work that deals with licensing my music (or the music of the …

Why bellydancers, anyway? (part 3) “confessions of a bellydance musician”

This one is four years coming.  I can't even remember if I ever posted the "part 3" or not, but was considering blogging about some things relating to being a being a dancers' musician and thought I'd look up the blogs I'd done regarding this.  I still can't believe I'd blogged those over four years …

Perkfection Cafe & Bar

This is a prewritten post as I will be performing at the Perkfection Cafe & Bar with Ahel El Nagam, Louisville's Classical Arabic Band, and the Gypsies of the Nile bellydancer troupe. If any readers are so inclined then please come to the show for live Classical Egyptian and Arabic music as only Ahel El …

Muncie Gras Bellydance Competition 2009

This is a prewritten post as I will be performing after the Muncie Gras 2009 Bellydance Competition with il Troubadore. If any readers are so inclined then please come to the show for live world music as only il Troubadore can present. There will be live Bellydancing during this event. Show info follows: Muncie Gras …

Zorba's Valentine's Day Hafla

This is a prewritten post as I will be performing at a hafla at Zorba's Greek and Middle Eastern Restaurant with il Troubadore. If any readers are so inclined then please come to the show for live bellydancing by one of Zorba's house dancers, Ja'Niesa, and live world music as only il Troubadore can present. …

Lafayette Music League HOOT Night

This is a prewritten blog post as I will be performing with il Troubadore and special guest, Taletha, at the the February 2009 edition of the Lafayette Music League HOOT Night (see previous post). The Lafayette Journal and Courier had a fun little write-up of the show yesterday: One varied Hoot Night SATURDAY: It’s a …

Mirage Bellydancers Spring Hafla 2009

This is a prewritten blog post as I will be performing at the Mirage Bellydancers Hafla this evening with il Troubadore.  If any readers are so inclined then please come to the show for live bellydancing, live world music as only il Troubadore can provide and then a show at the Knickerbocker Saloon afterwards in …

Why bellydancers, anyway? (part 2)

here's part 2 (continued from part one here: http://people.tribe.net/il-troubadore/blog/dd4e9ada-3ae8-4598-8399-0f9d45be6b03 ) photo above: il Troubadore with the Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre ( http://www.gregoryhancockdancetheatre.org ) by Loudermilk Studios (August 4, 2006) inside Precious Mettles ( http://www.preciousmettlesart.com/ ) after an impromptu street performance. So my personal interest in working with belly dancers, as I said in the previous …

Carnival of Stars

So while doing a random search for "belly dance" and "comic books" I came across several references to the Carnival of Stars Belly Dance and Comicbook Convention. How would you like to do your holiday shopping in a pleasant atmosphere with plenty of free parking while enjoying continuous entertainment? Perhaps you would like to be …

Farewell to a friend

Now that I have some time to breath I thought I'd say some things about my wonderful friend and colleague, Sara Jo (Zweena bint Asya), who will be moving back to Oregon in a couple of weeks. Fort Wayne will be losing a wonderful talent. As a member of il Troubadore I first met Sara …

Gigging

I'm off to a couple of shows. If any of you are in the area, please feel free to come join us at Corner Coffee in Indianapolis. We host an open mic night with a featured artist. This month's featured artist is tribal fusion belly-dancer, Carenza bint Asya. She and a couple of her students …