Yep....It's already time to start thinking about it...There are no official dates yet,  but it's good to start planning now.  I started this thread as a place for questions regarding demo packs,  and future info regarding OFFICIAL Cornerstone 2008 planning.  i can assure you that me-n-th'boys have some great things lined up for 08.  We hope you do too,  and as always,  your thoughts and ideas are welcome.  We cull your thoughts and take them down to our super secret TastyCave,  where we cuss and discuss everything.

That being said,  here's some things I'd like for you to keep in mind when preparing your Cornerstone 2008 demo.....

1.  There are typically three (maybe 4) slots available.  of all the DJ members here on Tastyfresh,  only three or four will snag a spot.  Yep,  that's pretty steep odds,  but that's also why you MUST bring your A-Game to the demo.  As with any demo,  it should be flawless.  it should be well thought out.  Most of all,  it should be relevant.

2.  What I mean by relevant is it should reflect the spot in the night in which you will be playing,  which is the opening slot.  As a DJ,  opening is the most difficult thing you will ever learn to do,  but it's the most important thing you'll learn to do.  An opening DJ sets the tone for the evening.  They gradually work through different phases of a dancefloor,  having the place ready to rock by the time the headliner comes on,  but not actually blowing the place up.  this means staying away from anthemy tracks,  anything too agressive,  and keeping a nice groove.

PLEASE take the time to familiarise yourself with the following DJs...They're some of the best openers in the business....Jerry Bonham,  Edgar V,  Jimmy Van M,  Loco Dice,  Kenneth Thomas,  Evil 9,  Daniel Soto,  Midfield General,  Reid Speed.

3.  Keep in mind that we also have the Tastyfresh Sound System stage on the main strip.  BE AWARE that this WILL NOT include admission to the festival (sorry folks,  we just can't do it per Cstone regulations) but you will get to do your thing for a whole bunch of people.  Just can't come up with an opening type set?  The generator is DEFINITELY the place for you.

More coming as I think of it.

my life is my demo

that is so profound....

w00t!!!!!!

im so excited for cornerstone, this is my first year going   ;D

Opening sets are sometiems best.

Ive had a few openings and have had a really wikkid time.

At clubs the floor might be empty but theres always people around at festivals.
Plus you get to set the tone for the night.

I realize in the grand scheme of everything my thoughts grand for just a little above nothing but here is a trend I have noticed in booking the barn before...

The vast majority of the demos I heard were going for the "I'm an artist listen to be me artsy with my music".  Now don't get me wrong I'm all about showing your skills and introducing new music but there is something to be said for knowing what to play and when.  I guess what I'm trying to say and want to encourage everyone so badly with is...

Is don't be afraid of dropping the crowd pleasure.

(Funny story behind this...I hate the electric slide...yeah sure it's fun to line dance for 10 minutes but that song verges on eternity.  I dreamed of the day that we wouldn't have to play that silly song at our club nights.  But we always ended up playing it because, without fail, people would get on the floor and end up dancing to other songs.  I am not encouraging the electric slide at Cstone but you get what I'm saying.)

Oneel and crew...feel free to delete this if i comes across as me stepping over the boundaries...I mean no disrespect by it. 

Bah!  no way,  Cindy!  In fact,  you're dead on.  People get so concerned with being artsy,  they forget to just play good music.  All I'm really trying to accomplish is for people to remember WHAT and WHERE they're doing.  They're opening at Cornerstone,  which is not the place to bang it out,  nor get overly artsy.

I guess if I could sum everything up in one sentence,  it wouold be put together a good solid set that isn't boring or predictable.

BTW...Cindy...Your input is ALWAYS welcome,  because,  well,  you're awesome!

Thanks  :-[

who are the judges for the 2008 demos? Are bribes accepted? :)

Sorry...Confidential info!

ok cool, im gonna record my demo tomorrow since im so busy thats the only time i have to do it hahahaha

anyword yet on when we will be able to submit stuff? (dont want my mix to be to old when i submit it lol)

im going to download a trance greatest hits 1995 cd and submit that as my demo

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND CHRIS HARRINGTON FOR '08!

Vote for Chris Harrington hes been working so hard all year.

Chris Harrington will rock the party.

hahaha, thanks guys  ;D

OK... let's ALL chill on the demo talk. I know we've had SEVERAL threads about it. Everybody is jumping the gun here. We didn't take demos until late April last year. That was due to getting the ok for the stage so late. This year, we're not going to wait that long, but I promise you... we're not taking demos prior to the new year... and maybe not until we're a month or two into it. So... for now... chill. Listen to Oneel's advice. Read Cindy's articles on demos for Cstone and PRACTICE.

ahhh ok lol i assumed since this thread was made that we were a month away from submitting stuff at least hahaha

yeah, I would like to see Chris and Andy Hunter at CStone '08 ;)

heh nice...

it would be fun to play cornerstone again...
and seeing everyone again! man that was so awesome hanging out with so many tfers!!!
 ima start getting muh skyllz up to par huzzah :-)

x2

The reaso nI started this thread is so people can be thining about things for future demos.  This is not a thread for submissions,  nominating (because nominating is not a part of this process....We rule as a Triarchy),  or general douchebaggery.

ill open for john tesh

Are people from Brazil invited?

Sure. Only issue is budget. We can't say we'll have enough cash to fly you here and make it worth your while. We can say, if selected, you'll play in front of 600-700 people and have a blast all week long.

I vote for my mom, she rocks da party rocks da party.

I love Chris' mom!

Your not saying there's no cash for flying if selected then?  :-X just not the full amount?

The thread was a good idea ;)

or hotels...

We did the whole show last year on $7,000 including sound. That left $1,000 for booking. The headliner got the most cash b/c... well... they're the headliner and well... best known.

You can do the math on what you might get.

We haven't gotten word on the 08 budget yet, so I can't tell you what we're paying. Even if I knew... I'd only tell those we're booking.

$10?

well least i can do is put a demo together!

See! That's good pay. It will be enough to buy 2.5 gallons of gas next summer!

I'll pay YOU to have the opportunity to play in the barn!   :)

and NOW we're really getting to the point. I accept visa through paypal.com.

LOL, so bribes are taken. :laugh: j/k.

I'm going to put a demo together also next month or so.  I've been in a haze past september and some of october.

no man... that's not a bribe. I'm thinking about just moving it to the N*Soul model of pay for play. :)

eh..

I'll make your set awesome for free!

.....well.....free tickets never hurt either  :P

......... :o OH SNAP !!!   ;D tell me red didnt just go there !! lol rotglmbo :laugh:


so... oneel...If I actually submit a demo and you pick it.... can you just strap me to the hood of your car for the ride up to C-stone ?   :hug:

The hood might be askin' too much. How about a skateboard and rope?

alright, street boardin', can we get one of those boards with the bigger wheels?

you get the rope and the board. Oneel will get the car.

sweet.

serious note, may have to bum a ride to CStone, cause I'm gonna save up for this year.  But truck isn't travel worthy yet and dad will need the suburban probably, unless he has another car by then.

Philosophical discussion here...

I agree with that statement for clubs.  One-room clubs, specifically.

However, I've noticed that for multi-room clubs and festival situations... that doesn't fly so much.  People will wander in when they hear something they like, and instantly wander out the second they lose interest. 

...Which is why trance is so devastating to an untrained dancefloor.  It's all fun and games until the Epic Breakdown...

Crowd: < :smiley23:  :smiley25:>

30 seconds later... it's just starting to come back up, but...

Crowd: (http://images.allmoviephoto.com/2003_28_Days_Later/2003_28_days_later_photo_005.jpg)

Now, I'm not saying that openers need to crank out the big anthems for  their sets -- or that trance nights at festivals are bad.  :P

I'm saying that asking for Jerry Bonham and Evil 9 sets may backfire when the night comes.

Shoot, I distinctly remember seeing Tiesto clear the floor his first breakdown.  People were getting completely into it, progressive and all, and then the breakdown hit, and "Oh, yeah, I can hear Busta Rhymes playing on the other stage."

Exodus.

Is there something different about the Cornerstone night that makes it different?  The most successful opening DJ set in that environment I've ever seen was Dieselboy (at the same event Tiesto mucked up).  He grabbed 90% of the people at the festival just by keeping the subwoofers constantly quiverring and by having an extremely good MC to literally explain what was happening when the rumblies ceased.

Especially at a rock concert, shouldn't the idea be, within the constraints of not stepping on the headliner's toes, to inventively hold peoples' attention as much as possible?

It's really closer to the one room club situation. People may walk outside, but they are still at the door and that isn't the majority of people there either. Seriously. Most of the people who hung outside the barn this year were the guys running the show and other DJs who needed a break or were working. If portions of the crowd left, it was to go to a different stage to catch their next act.

The Epic Breakdown should be banned from Cstone, but not just because the crowd is mostly uneducated. That just adds to it. There really just needs to be a constant driving beat there. It begs for it. It's an energy and vibe level issues.


Right. We want to pair the best opening DJ up with the best headliner. The idea is to craft a night, a total experience. It's not to just keep people in the room. We want the opener to feed the crowd gradually into the headliner. He's not a time filler, he's a stage setter. If he sets the stage poorly, people leave. If he shows up the headline (like Doug did this year), the room will clear when the headliner takes over.

If he shows up the headline (like Doug did this year), the room will clear when the headliner takes over.


pretty funny Dave.  If kenneth comes back this year he will better understand what actualy hits there.


doug

I think kenneth should open for doug this year.  :-X

I think Doug should open for me this year,  and by open,  I mean open the door to the hotbox!  ;-)

i don't wanna see this face of yours Kev

 :-*

what? you want him to throw a match in b4 you go in???

well... yes.

A thing like that could set off a whole row of "johnny on the spots". The carnage, while pretty, would be horrendous in nature. This is especially true considering any number of those "johnny on the spots" could be "occupied."

This however does bring to life a new image of "flaming poo."

but our campsite is too close... all our gear would be consumed in the hiroshima-esque explosion. 

bump.... the dump thread

How is that for a contract required for Dance Barn performers?   :)

just thought I would stick my head in this forum and give a big "God bless ya" hug to everyone. :)

oh  and freak....  I love the breakdowns.  Epic Trance rules! you better not freakin' ban it.....I'll show up with my picket sign out front - oh... or maybe you just want to tickle the dancers ears - OR NUMB THEM.    lol   real music is dynamic!!!

what c-stone really needs is more DJ led Worship!!!  yeah you heard me right.  If you really want to tickle their ears spin some partaaay holy spirit music... hard hitting clubby Hip Hop, danceable gospel tracks like Kirk Franklin.  Or are you guys too "underground" and "exclusive" and "up-itty for that  :)  lol   dag   jeeez   

ok

bla bla bla
 
oh you guys bring out the best in me.    ok  I do miss you all... and I love you dearly...

I know I say it everytime I stop by for a visit.   so keep me on your mailing lists   jeff@clubworship.org   

peace