As you might expect our little group watched with anticipation as the new TV show the "Sing Off" was aired last week and last night. Personally my first reaction was that the groups performing on the show weren’t that different from us. Sure, all but one group had a lot more singers, but they were trying to capture a lot of the same things we want to capture, and perform. I mean to hear the studio audience react to the "Beezelbubs", the eventual first runner-ups, as a performer it made me a bit jealous. Still, the important thing to all of us continues to be the music, the harmonies that are capable of giving even the most skeptical person chills.

Even the beat box and horn sounds coming from almost every group as they progressed through the competition were tolerable as they were used more to accent and complement the music. But, and you know a but was coming, the finale was off-putting.

I have to admit that I was out and didn’t turn on the finale until a half hour into the program. I was just in time to see the "Voices of Lee", performing with an English singer. It was hard to watch, especially as the other two groups then followed up and sang with other recording artists. The songs were not bad, but, this was a singing competition for these groups and in the finale instead of being able to showcase why they were in the finale these finalists were relegated to back-up singers. Granted "Nota", the winners, got to sing back-up with the legendary Smokey Robinson. But still, I found it to be bad execution of what started as a fun and entertaining program.

There are many other things I could pick apart and vent about this show. Let me sum it up by saying in my opinion Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey appear to be fairly evenly matched in intelligence.

So, after watching the entire first season, four shows, of the "Sing Off", I don’t think we, D(x)4, will be watching for the next season’s auditions. Don’t get me wrong, the opportunity to perform on national television is huge and if invited we would gladly be there. But, I have a hard time believing that any of the groups started in the competition with the intent of being back-up singers to anybody. Still, in this business the exposure of this, or similar shows, could be life and career changing.

For now D(x)4 will continue to work in the studio and perform at small venues. So, continue to watch for the announcement of the release of our first CD.

In the meantime, Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah and Happy Holidays to all.
I meant to post this on the 22nd, the day I wrote it and before Christmas. As you can see I didn’t get it done. The interesting thing is that on Christmas Day as I was visiting with friends one young man mentioned he had watched the "Sing Off". His comment was that despite the hype NBC, and Nick Lachey, tried to create, this is not a new art form that is just being discovered. He then went on to talk about being at the California State Fair several years ago and listening to a accappella group. His memory was that it was a fun performance but not something he would have searched for.

On that note I again wish any who may be reading a Happy New year.

Update - D x 4

I guess we are now investigating launching our own record label. Daniel came to rehearsal today with his music, "Two Silhouettes", and a CD of piano music his aunt recorded last year. After rehearsal Daniel asked us all to listen to the CD. It was absolutely beautiful. His aunt is an artist, she conveys feelings through her music like I don’t think I have ever heard, or felt, before. After we listened Darrell said what we were all thinking, "that was nice, but why are we listening to it?" Daniel’s response was interesting. He said, "my aunt made this CD last year as a Christmas gift for family and friends. Since then she has had several people tell her that she should get an agent and get a recording contract with a label. She hasn’t really done anything with it, she doesn’t know where to start. I was thinking about her the other night while looking for music for us to sing. Aren’t we basically talking about starting our own record label to produce our CD? If so, I thought, maybe while we’re working out the logistics of our CD we could also look into doing something similar with my aunt, what do you guys think?"

My first thought was this was just supposed to be some fun and now it’s starting to sound like a job or something. But before I could say that Dwight spoke up. "Daniel, didn’t you say your aunt has already recorded one CD?" Daniel responded with a "yes", and Dwight followed up, "so she has one finished CD that could be produced, copied, and then just needs to be distributed right?" Again Daniel responded, "yes". "So", Dwight continued "couldn’t we use that finished CD as our test product to try some different marketing?"

As I looked around I could see that everyone was getting into this idea. Could we launch, and run, a record label? What would we need?

Doubts were still running through my head but each time I started to voice them one of the other guys would start talking about another idea. The next thing I heard clearly, I think it was Daniel, was a comment on marketing and distribution. I was pulled from my own thoughts by Darrell asking me a question. "David, David," it took me a moment to respond with a mumbled, "what?" Darrell poised his question again, "David, don’t you already have a website?" I was to embarrassed to admit that my ‘website’ was nothing more than a domain name that I paid for each month. Before I responded Dwight said, "Yeah, I saw the notes on that, isn’t it davidlsullivan.com?"

Finally I found my voice. "Okay guys", I began, " I have a domain name already registered but I’ve been dragging my heels getting it operational. I don’t really know anything about building, or operating websites. So, it’s just there." Now the guys were all smiling at me. "What?", I asked feeling a little defensive. Darrell was the first to speak, "so we have a domain that we can build on, what do we need next." The next two hours flew by as we talked about what the website should look like and how we could use it to launch our record label.

So, I hope that in the next few weeks I can announce the launch of our new website, davidlsullivan.com which will be our marketing and distribution for our as yet unnamed record label. I almost suggested we could be consistent and launch davidlsullivan records, but I am really not that egotistical.

11/3/09

Today has been a productive, and interesting, day. D times 4, or Dx4, gathered at my house to review arrangements and rehearse. We are an accapella quartet with an interest, and emphasis, on doo wop music. We are all in our late 40's or early 50's, so this is music we have all heard, and sung, all of our lives.

We decided on the name Dx4 because all of our names start with Ds. I’m David and there’s Daniel, Darrell and Dwight. I don’t think all four of us have ever actually performed together before but I have sung with each of the others in other quartets, or groups, at different times and different places. Daniel and I even sang with a quartet that sang the national anthem at some local sporting events. Darrell and I were in a men’s small chorus which sang in local churches and Dwight and I met singing karaoke at a local club, we harmonized so well together some people thought we had rehearsed before we got there. We are all from different backgrounds, but we think, and we hope, that we can come together and sing well together.
So today we started our actual rehearsal. Each of us brought our favorite songs, some arranged for four part harmony, some not, but between the four of us we can take care of that. We started off a little rocky, but once we got going it was really difficult to stop.

When we first talked about singing together we were talking about singing just for fun, maybe an occasional church or baseball game, nothing big. Then last month Daniel came back from a trip to Disneyland and told us about the quartet wandering around California Adventure. That really piqued my interest, an accapella quartet walking around the streets of California Adventure singing doo wop songs. It got me thinking that maybe there is enough interest is such a group to be worth trying to perform a few places and maybe even put out a CD. Now, I have no delusions of grandeur. None of us do. Still, it would be fun to hear our music, our voices, being played on somebody’s CD player, and maybe even have an opportunity or two to perform somewhere.
So with that in mind we started rehearsals today. We aren’t quite ready to book a studio, but it sure was a rush when Darrell started the bass line to "Blue Moon" and we all came in on our different parts. My dog seemed to like it, she didn’t howl or bark, so I took that as a good sign.

Before next week we will each rehearse on our own and try to bring at least one piece of music, each, arranged for four part harmony.

Today started out as many other days. I was up and out of bed before 6 AM., showered, shaved, dressed and out the door by 7 AM. The next hour I sat in traffic trying to beat another driver into the next ope space, inching along.

One good thing about the morning drive, it’s to early to catch most people on the phone. I say most people because I can always catch my law school friend Eddie. Most days Eddie is on the road by 6AM or so, by the time I get on the road he’s on his second cup of tea and ready to discuss the day ahead as well as local and national news. So, at least once a week, Eddie and I spend a good part of our morning drive time discussing everything from squirrely judges, to uneducated opposing counsel to children.

On those mornings that I’m not on the phone with Eddie I’m either listening to a book on tape, anything by David Baldacci or Lee Child, or, dictating notes for my latest book or article. Regardless, I try to make the most of my drive time. Anything to keep my mind off how much time I am actually spending each day in the car. While I try to be productive during my drive time, I try to avoid the more distracting activities like reading the paper or changing my clothes. I’m serious I have seen people actually trying to change their clothes while driving down the freeway. So, my thought is, productivity good, reading or other distractions, bad.

This morning is fairly typical. I will be monitoring a case in one of the courtrooms in downtown Sacramento one where I check in at least twice a week. With any luck I will walk in, check with the clerk or the bailiff, and within a few minutes the case I'm interested in will actually begin. If not I will be back in my car and on my way to another court looking for something of interest.

It may sound like it but, I’m not an attorney. Not that I wouldn't lke to be an attorney. I mean come on, most of them work way to many hours, get paid way to little and then have to put up with people just like them. What's not to love about it? Seriously, I have a lot of friends who are attorneys and I hang out around them all the time. In some ways I guess it's sour grapes because I couldn't quite make it.

I have attorneys who see me in courtrooms ask me if I am an attorney and then why I'm not. Sometimes, with the right person, I respond that I'm just to smart to get into that work. Even though I'm not an attorney I work for attorneys. I used to say I was a private investigator, it wasn't true. The reality is that I'm more of a hanger on in the legal industry.

I decided, at the age of 30, to go to law school seeking independence. Not so much the financial kind, although I am always trying to make more than a living. But independence in my schedule. In order to achieve that independence I work as a contractor, hired by attorneys to help out on a project basis. Working this way allows me to set my own rates and hours, at least to some extent. This gives me the freedom to work on other projects. Such as this brilliant piece right here.

Years ago when I was in law school I noticed that there were a lot of attorneys, sole practitioners, who had a hard time accomplishing all of the work they needed to. Not just to take care of there clients and their cases, but also to make a living. I also figured out that there are firms who are taking on cases statewide and then need to find local attorneys to complete the work, appear in court and so forth. I mean it would take just one trip from San Diego to Sacramento to eat up the entire profit margin on some of these cases that I get called to help with. So the idea was that I would do legal work piecemeal. Some may ask how I can do this not having graduated from law school or become licensed to practice law. It's really quite easy. I work for attorneys, all, or most of them, sole practitioners who need just a little help now and then but certainly not enough to hire someone full-time.

So I have found, or created, a niche. My little piece of the legal pie. I contribute to hundreds of cases each year without being responsible for more than a little piece of each of them. I interview witnesses, take pictures of accident scenes and injuries. For several years i was a registered process server. Taking pieces of paper and delivering them to people who didn't want to receive them. It really can pay quite well and with a fax machine and post office box I was in business. Today I don't serve legal papers very often and I only stand in line at the clerk's office to file paperwork when specifically asked and I have an hour to waste. Thank goodness for cell phones and unlimited minutes.

Most days are like today, I walk into a courtroom, have a short conversation with the bailiff and clerk. See if anything looks interesting on that day's calendar. If anything looks promising I take a seat and watch for something noteworth. You'd be surprised where a story can come from. One of my favorite stories, I've had a few meals from it, came from a mixed calendar in a neighboring county. As I observed the judge started doing name changes, usually a routine thing. Teenagers getting their driver's license and want the name they've used in school and with friends on the license rather than the one they were given at birth to honor great-granddad. This day was different because the petitioner, that's the guy changing his name, was an adult and had decided to change his name b ecause he wanted a new one. No other reason, just he was tired of being just a another guy named "Bob". After listening to his story, we all had a good laugh and he had a new name.

Hanging around courtrooms I have learned many things. Most of the time cliches are affirmed. From my experience fact is truly stranger than fiction, no good deed goes unpunished, and while you can't take it with you if you write the will right you can have all of your relatives fighting about you, and your possessions, for years to come.

Humboldt County

I think the last thing I expected to see on the Northern California beach was a herd of Roosevelt Elk. But as you can see that’s exactly what I found last weekend when my wife and I spent the weekend hiking and exploring in Humboldt County.
In telling people that we spent the weekend in Humboldt County I usually start off saying it’s taken a few days but I’m now down from my contact high. Most people understand that I am referring to Marijuana. Humboldt County is after all considered by many to be the home of the "K.G.B.", "Killer Green Buds".
While driving near Humboldt State we passed a car with young men , they looked to be college students. Not an unusual sight near a college campus. I noticed the car’s license plate was from "Hawaii". Jokingly I asked my wife if she thought they could be comparative agriculture students. Don’t they have classes where you can learn about and compare the differences between "Maui Wowie" and Humboldt’s own "K.G.B.". Maybe it’s not an official class.