Congratulations to our clients and friends Starving For Gravity for winning the Opening Band Competition for Rock Against Diabetes!!  They will be playing at the Rox Club in Las Vegas.  Yeah Baby! 

The 3 month search to find the opening band for Rock Against Diabetes in Las Vegas August 23rd 2008 has come to an end, with Orange County's Starving For Gravity coming out on top as the winners. The band was pared down from a massive list that originally submitted their bands to take part, to a Top 45 list that was further trimmed to a Top 10. The Top 10 was then opened to a public vote that saw nearly 8,000 votes from fans made, with a final decision being handed down from the judges participating in the decision process.

For show information go to...
www.rockagainstdiabetes.org
www.myspace.com/starvingforgravity

Other musicians playing at this event are:
BUMBLEFOOT, and an amazing group of musicians such as: Constantine Maroulis, Jeff Berlin, Lez Warner, Rafael Moreira, Paul Mirkovich, Steve Brand and others put on an amazing All Star jam, Las Vegas' own Dario Lorina and his new band KARNEVAL, MAGNETICO, featuring Rafael Moreira as well as the winner of the ROCK AGAINST DIABETES Opening Band Competition,  Starving For Gravity.

In February this year I posted a blog about starting a workout routine and working with a personal trainer.  I have to say I am thrilled with the results.  You get out of it what you put in to it, and I've worked hard to give it 110%.   I wouldn't say it's been easy, but very worth it.  I have lost weight, gained muscle, gained endurance, gained confidance about how I think I look, am healthier (making better food choices), and generally feel much better.  I have more energy overall.  So, with all that said I have to give credit where credit is due.  I have nothing but excellent things to say about the company and trainers I have had the pleasure of working with.  They recently won MyFoxLa's OC Hotlist as OC's Best Personal Trainers, no small feat.  Check out Innovative Results Inc.
www.myproresults.com

One of the things that motivates me a great deal is the positive attitude of the trainers.   They want us to succeed as much as we do, if not more.  I am very grateful for the opportunity to train with these guys and I want to invite, no better yet I want to CHALLENGE anyone who is looking for a way to be healthier, to be in shape, to come down and do your first workout with me!  The first one is a free consultation, you have nothing to lose--you will be hooked once you go.

Email me to take me up on the CHALLENGE, come workout with me.  The private gym is in Irvine, CA.  I'm game if you are, you won't be disappointed!

email:  britt@bombshelterrehearsal.com
put "workout challenge" in the subject line

So, here we are at the end of another long and busy day.  It was a bunch of running around, but it was FUN too!  Ken, Brian and I spent a second evening as a tag team--helping everyone get what they need.  The guys in Evans Blue had a film crew show up to do interviews with the guitar and bass players.  I got to snap a few pictures while the film crew was here with their enormous soft box light.  We also had the opportunity to mic up the band and do a live recording with Evans Blue!  Can't wait to have some of the mixes up on the site for everyone to check out.  All of the acoustic guitars and the acoustic basses were supplied by Ibanez for the guys.  Ibanez's Jordan Colley was here on site to interface with the film crew, band and us.  The film crew was two of the industry's seasoned pros, Bob Patterson and James Hagopian.  It was a pleasure to watch them work, we are definitely looking forward to seeing the finished footage.

Thanks again to Ibanez (Jordan Colley) for working with us here, and for choosing Bomb Shelter.  We look forward to keeping in touch.  To the guys in Evans Blue--YOU ROCK!!  You were a pleasure to have here, a pleasure to work with, you are welcome here anytime you are in town.  Thanks for signing Ken's guitar, and for getting him in to your show in Long Beach...very cool.

We also had a few very talented Artists/Musicians from PRS Guitars here tonight who rolled up here in a long gold limousine with the lettering "I Love NAMM" on both sides.  Right on!!  We were pleased to  have David Grissom, who is a solo artist and also plays sessions as well as a current gig with the Dixie Chicks.  If you get a chance, check out his web site and myspace...www.davidgrissom.com, and www.myspace.com/davidgrissommusic.  Amazing guitar playing, worth checking out!  David was joined by Michael Ault,  as well as Gary and Greg Grainger from Acoustic Alchemy.  Catch up with these guys at www.acoustic-alchemy.net.

What an evening!  We had a great time meeting everyone and we hope they enjoyed coming here too.  Time to get home and GET SOME REST! 

We have had the pleasure of hosting several companies and the artists they are working with here at Bomb Shelter during the NAMM show.  We would like to thank Ibanez, PRS (Paul Reed Smith) Guitars, and Samson.  We also had an independant artist in town for a few shows, Greg Sczebel, down here from Canada.

Ibanez has had their artist Evans Blue here during Thursday and Friday (Jan. 17, 18.), and are going to record some live audio and video on Friday for some upcoming projects.  Check out www.ibanez.com to see some of their great equipment, and also be sure to take a listen to Evans Blue at www.evansblue.com or www.myspace.com/evansblue

Samson had their artist Byron Miller here before some shows during NAMM.  It was a fun evening with them here, many of the guys in this group played with the late Luther Vandross.  This group included musicians: Byron Miller, Nat Adderly, Kenneth Crouch, Steve Kroom, Ivan Hampden, and Darryl Crooks.  You can see all the gear Samson has available on their website, www.samsontech.com.  Don't forget to check out Byron's site at www.bigonemusic.com.

Mr. Greg Sczebel, whose last name I still can't pronounce right, traveled here from Canada with his group who will also be performing several times and places during NAMM.  It was a pleasure to have them and I'm sure they are enjoying the weather down here!  Greg's group included himself, as well as Dan Oldfield, Hank  "The Tank" Ensell, and Steve Davis.  Be sure to take a listen to Greg's music at www.myspace.com/gregsczebel.

We look forward to seeing everyone else again!  Good luck and much success in 2008.

Well, it's almost the end of October and here we are with Halloween right around the corner, closely followed by Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's.  It sure seems as if the time goes by even faster the older you get.  

Things have been going really well here at Bomb Shelter.  I'm sure everyone is getting used to seeing our new Manager Ken Dean roaming around here and answering the phones.  I've relinquished some of my phone answering duties, so you might not get me on the phone when you book time.  All of my current employees are able to answer the phone and book time for you, Ken, Brian and Greg.

Looks like we have decided to try out a new cancellation policy, so please check that out and get familiar with it.  Click on this...New Bomb Shelter Cancellation Policy, to view the details.

We will also be raising the rates here pretty quickly, most likely around the 15th of November.  Please check back as we will be posting some additional information on the new rates here shortly.  We have not raised our rates in quite some time, but need to due to increased energy costs as well as the need to continue to provide you with a quality facility, and top notch staff.

We always value your input and feedback, so feel free to let us know if there is anything else we can do to make your visit to Bomb Shelter an excellent one.  
Thanks for your help,
Britt

Well, the month of August seemed to go on forever and September has shaped up nicely.  We lost longtime employee Bobbo, and Tommy as well, so it was time to put together a new lineup of staff members here at Bomb Shelter.  I worked additional hours to cover for the evenings that were previously covered by them.  September has brought me relief getting back to a schedule I can count on as well as a new Manager and Assistant Manager to help cover the load.  You may now have the pleasure of talking to one of my staff members or myself when you are booking rehearsal time.  Everyone will be trained to answer the phone, assist customers and book rehearsal time.

I've been jumping into learning some new skills as well, taking photography classes at Orange Coast College this semester.  I'm taking the basic Photo 120, black and white film photography course, as well as "Intro to Digital Photograpy."  I am looking forward to offering Photography as an additional service to all musicians here at the studios.  I already have my new digital camera and will soon complete my gear list (for now) when my new laptop computer arrives.  
I have a Canon Elan 7, which is a film camera.  It has always shot great pictures.
I recently bought a brand new Canon 30D digital camera with two lenses.  
I also have a small Canon point and shoot digital camera, a PowerShot SD800 IS
My computer will be a MacBook Pro, 2.44Ghz, 15" monitor
Software: Adobe Creative Suite, CS3 Design Premium (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.)
I also have access to additional equipment and darkrooms via the Orange Coast College Photography Program.

I will be putting together a package for those that rehearse here as far as the photography goes.  Keep checking back for details on that one.  I promise you won't be disappointed!

Well, I'm super busy these days but I'm excited too.  You may not see me here as much right now, but I'm still very involved in the running and operations at the studio.  As the photography gets rolling you will see me here in the evenings more--camera in hand!!
Britt

Ok, I like to write.  I keep a personal journal on one of my laptop computers.  I even bought myself a little writing desk lately.  Last month I was at home in the evening doing some writing.  My family has been a big influence in my life and we have lots of funny family stories, as well as some great advice passed on from my parents to us kids.  In honor of the things my parents have encouraged in us kids, I came up with the following acronym.  Now, I have to tell you a small family secret for you to understand the reason for the POOP acronym.  We could somehow never mangage to get through a meal at the dinner table without something coming up about the backside of our anatomy--weather someone talked about it, mentioned anything anal ie. farting, etc., it would somehow come up in conversation in one way or another.  So, now it's just a family joke.  I thought it would be funny to have a "family motto" so to speak.

I originally called it the POOP Recipe for Success, but I also coined the phrase the "POOP Factor." 

Next...The POOP Factor revealed!! How to make your life worth a pile of POOP.  You won't want to miss this--news live at 11.

The POOP Recipe for Success...
P...Possibilities
O...Opportunities
O...(keep your) Options Open
P..."Prove it!" attitude

So, now I've shared it with the world.  Feel free to make jokes about it of your own, we did!  My family got a kick out of it, so did I, and so did my husband James.  There is a little bit more to the explanation as far as the things that it defines, if you care to read on.  
I always try to look at situations and see the POSSIBILITIES instead of the things I can't control.  Always look to try new things and create OPPORTUNITIES for youself no matter where you are going or what you are doing.  Keep your OPTIONS OPEN, don't close your mind or your door to anything you might miss otherwise.   The "PROVE IT!" attitude--now, I definitely don't want this to sound like the negative kind of  "prove it."  I want this to be a positive "prove it."  I want this to have the kind of "I can do anything" power behind it.  An empowering kind of "prove it."  A get off your butt  and "do it" kind of feel.  So there you have it, my explanation behind The POOP Factor.  If you like it, I'm glad.  If you don't, I'm not offended either.  

It makes the saying "oh POOP" have a whole new meaning!  
Britt