Weekends have, in recent years, become periods of almost mini-holiday; little periods of respite when we would take the opportunity to throttle-back, ease off the pace a little and take some time to enjoy ourselves, right? Almost right. This weekend there’s been no throttling-back and no easing off the pace. It has, however, been totally enjoyable – if tiring.
On Friday evening we visited the Witchwood School of Rock; watched live sets by two young bands and recorded interviews with School of Rock organisers as well as an interview with one of their musicians. We also recorded an interview with internationally-renowned author, Philip Pullman CBE.
Saturday I got up at 4.30am to edit the Philip Pullman interview. A bunch of hours later we did some running around the local area, then we went in to the studio and recorded this week’s show (which includes the Philip Pullman piece) . Then Gemma and Gemma (really!) arrived and we went to the Battstock Music Festival. While we were there we interviewed musicians Trevor Moss and Hannah-Lou, Danny Wilson (Danny and the Champions Of The World), and two-thirds of the band The Epstein. Then we came home, where I began the monster task of editing 8 distinct video clips of stock footage in to a single, sequenced video project, whilst having the world’s most lunatic Skype conversation with Daughter. Ultimately I will edit the finished video project in to the soundtrack of a début – charity – single, that a local band will release with, hopefully, the Prime Minister’s support, as well as the support from Help for Heroes. Then we fell in to bed. Not with Gemma and Gemma though.
Sunday I cleared out the boot of my car (a Herculean task!) and we drove to Family Day/Car Boot Sale at Eynsham Hall. The whole ‘boot’ thing is a new experience to me, but while we were there we met – and interviewed – Georgia Garrett, a 16-year-old vocalist from Essex (and competitor on the forthcoming series of Britain’s Got Talent). Georgia has a surprisingly mature, very pleasing singing style and is an all-round nice person. Right now we’re home for a breather, but this evening we’re supposed to be going to a big night out in The Wheatsheaf, in Oxford.
So for the next few days, I have a ton of audio to edit, I have a daunting amount of video to edit and then compile in to an audio soundtrack and I have a *huge* amount of web-content to write. I also have 3 press releases to write, need to compile a list of industry-specific addressees and write a marketing plan for the band’s charity single. I have also been invited to attend a meeting with the head A&R guy for EMI Records at some stage, I need to come up with a playlist for next weekend’s show and work out where we’re going to slot which interviews in to the audio. And I have three meetings to attend; London, Birmingham and Reading.
And while I’m writing this, the worst James Bond film in the history of Bad James Bond Films is playing itself out with reduced sound on the television: Octopussy (tagline: Neither a Pussy, nor an Octopuss. Just really really shit).
I’m acutely aware I haven’t touched the guitar for three days; my self-imposed ‘song a month’ challenge is already looking in jeopardy!
So, how was your weekend? Busy?
Bloody hell. I would struggle fitting that lot into a week, let alone a weekend. Getting up at 4.30am on a weekend?! You are a complete mentalist!
I’m glad someone managed to enjoy it. I am similarly travelled, similarly tired, but didn’t enjoy most of it. One of those weekends you wonder whether a different life might be in order.
Do you ever stop chap? Seriously, that’s an awful lot that you managed to cram in. Makes my Sunday seem somewhat slovenly in comparison.
Not so busy as yours but busy, yes. Went to an Art Festival and worked around the house. Doesn’t look like much when typed out!