Dolly _

GREEK TRAGEDY

It's like going for a second time to a traveldestination you loved and wondering if you still love it. The decor was exactly the same as a year ago, roughly, and even the actors were partly the same, and ofcourse the beer was still served in plastic cups, something I'll never get used to.

Aristotle new it thousands of years ago. A good play is a matter of unity in time, place and action.
The intangible notion of time was not to be measured by clocks, but by visiting the Paradiso-place. When I entered the venu, it felt like the New Years party '07 was yesterday. So much has changed eversince, and so little at the same time.

Just read the blog again from the first gig, and noticed that the touching clumsyness of Cubworld changed into a self confident performance. Unfortunately My World wasn't sung, albeit Jake touched me again with a song he wrote for his wife Mandy. Can't recall the title, only the soul and the line: love your sleepy eyes.

So powerful in all it's simplicity.

The revelation of the evening was So What, the best live-band I've seen so far on SAB-gigs. So young, but playing like a lean-mean-thoroughly-oiled-roc king-machine that appears to be together since Ice Age.

Time and action unfortunately failed, with respect to broadcasting the show and artist-interviews. Kind of Greek tragedy for what was supposed to be a SAB-premiere. Fortunately unity can be restored, other than in ancient Athens, by bringing up the footage later on.

Francis Rodino didn't disappoint with his good old fashioned rock & roll and neither did the presence of believers and a lots of business-relations who endorsed the concept over the last year. Slightly different vibe than a year ago; less Sellatology, more SAB-newbees.

Whatever, for those who love music, time is eternity.

8/2/2008

A QUEEN WITHOUT A CROWN

The bluesuits in our officebuilding obviously couldn't believe their eyes when I was walking in the Central Hall wearing my Dolly-hat and cocktail dress. When Pim arrived later per scooter in his sharp tux, the picture was complete. Business must be going extremely well at SAB, must have been one of their thoughts. When the limo-driver arrived to pick us up (a service for the nominees) he handed over two baskets filled with champaign-glasses, Moët and other delicatesses. And when we were heading for Utrecht and the driver slowed down, we enjoyed backseat- bubbles together with fresh strawberry's coated with white chocolate. A traffic jam never felt so good!!   

After a red carpet walk we arrived at the venu and I was starving in the meantime. I performed a guerilla-attack on the bowls with oysters accompanied with pink champagne. Heaven has a name!! (And a good cook!) Delicious tuna with sesame seeds in a balsamico dressing followed, an excellent duckliver-paté, velvet musselsoup with tarragon, a beefstew for maincourse and a selection of divine deserts. Big compliment to Food Lab for the catering, which usually has the taste of upgraded hospitalfood.

A lot of speeches during the meals, a little overspeeched as far as I'm concerned. When Heineken-topcat Herwin van den Berg entered the catwalk, the fading attention of the audience got a boost again. Not only because he had a intersting story to tell, but also because the: "And the winner is" moment was there....  

When SAB was on, and he (over)praised the company, I was getting suspisious. Usually the prelude to a kiss of death. When he said a couple of minutes later that SAB is one of the most promising company's around, I got my personal confirmation: dead.  

Sounds very dramatic, but ofcourse it isn't. We are very proud to have been nominated amongst these multi-nationals, and it would have been too much honour for a company that only exists 15 months to get the trophy. Besides that, the Rabobank had a very strong case, well deserved!!

When the flowers as an extra wall-icon for our "wall of fame" at SAB HQ were handed over, there was time to network, to dance and to laugh with those I know for a long time. And believe it or not, got the third job-offer in two months!! Yes!!!!! Need that narcistic fuel to keep the engine running! (For SAB that is!)  

Then the limo-driver picked us up; and the next morning it was business as usual again. You don't need a crown to feel like a queen, just as long as you enjoy what you are doing; the biggest award of all. 

02/12/2007

E DAY D DAY BB DAY 07

Went yesterday with Pim and Yf to E Day 2007 in Rotterdam. Only the location was worthwile the visit. The stunning old Van Nelle  factory (coffee/tea/candy brand) is one of the most beautiful examples of the so called New Way of Building.

Archtiect Van der Vlugt got the assignment to create a factory for workers with enough space and light, in contrast with the deplorable conditions these pour souls had to fulfill their jobs in the years before the Interbellum.  

The factory was packed with the crème de la crème of those active in Emerce and we met a lot of promising desicionmakers who endorse SAB and want to do business with us.
Wasn't that easy though, our stand was (practicly) invisibly sandwiched between the ladies rooms and the catering, degraded furthermore by the chilly atmosphere of concrete. After baptizing our corner into the Action Zone (everything over here is very regulated and street prostitution is no execption to the rule) and considering to wear a sign with "10 dollar without a rubber" I decided to bring the mountain the Moses, if Moses doesn't come to the mountain. (what's the use of wearing a sign anyway, if no one is watching)

So when Pim speeched for the packed auditorium and doing interviews all day, we actively harrassed visitors by seducing them with SAB-CD's (Thank you good old Jehova Witnesses)

At lunchtime Daniel Ward Murphy gave a performance and we were lucky enough to see this nice guy at our stand alot. Then I experienced the most memorable sanitary stop ever. I was about to open the door, when BB Connected started to sing A Cappella. The angelic sound made me stay there for another five minutes, counting the tiles in the meantime. We had a big laugh afterwards, and ofcourse they deserve that lucky loo-part.

Another highlight was the news coming in that SAB is nominated for THE marketing prize of the Lowlands. It will create loads of publicity for us and another great possibily to make top of the bill-contacts at the fantastic award night-gala. So PLEASE vote!

14/09/07

http://www.gispen.nl/over_gisp en.php?pageid=3&subid=9&am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;am p;meer=1

 (link to the Van Nelle factory and the beautiful Gispen design)   

THE SELLATOLOGY CHURCH

It started when Francis Rodino played on "Het Leidseplein" (A square) close to Paradiso. When a tram stopped and some innocent bystanders got off, they were welcomed at the doorstep with a warmly sung "Burn." You could see them think: "what the hell is going on here?"

The circle around Rodino grew rapidly and there was eyecontact. Like with me and an artist, I've only known from exchanging some wonderful lines every now and then. He apparently guessed my questioning look, expressing: "Is that you Nolio?" And answered with a confirmitive one on more than 10 metres distance.

I encountered my former editor in chief (knicknamed The Henchman) who kindly accepted my invitation. A believer who regocnized me stopped by, and asked him a couple of minutes later: "Are you a believer too?" The henchman confessed he wasn't (yet). The first question appeared to be last one as well.

Paradiso (a former church) couldn't be a more suitable location in that respect. And each and everyone agreed, the whole event was like a family reunion (words without any sarcasm spoken!) With the obvious advantage that you can pick your own members!

All the hard work payed off, all the stress and tension vanished like dust in the wind. Like on the attendence for example, I mean picking the main room in Paradiso was risky. With all the national and international press attending, it would have been a flop if the room was only half filled (or worse). It isn't hard to make up the headlines: SELLABAND NO MAN'S LAND, or SILENCE IN SELLALAND. The opposite was true, the venue was packed and the vibe was unforgettable. To be honest so was the hangover the other day for most of the team, but I still remember that:

1. Arnis hired a new stylist

2. When a remake of Dirty Dancing is planned, the should hire Giuliano from Black Jack

3. Daniel Ward Murphy dances like Dr. Dre

4. If I would have had a daughter, I would be very pleased If she came home with Mark from Second Person

5. I'm not worthy the Lindt chocolate box of Lorraine Jones (sorry again!)

6. The sticky Spanish tourist I could'nt get rid off (kind of Spanish fly)

7. The adorable young F 16 & 18 pilots (eat your heart out Tom Cruise!)

8. The attendence of dear friends and family

9. The wonderful team spirit

10.The music, the music and the music.

AMEN!

18/08/2007

HOT! HOT! HOT!

Isn't English a beautiful language? There are so many words that could mean so many things. Like love for example, or the word hot. In Dutch it just means a high temperature or a physical state I won't elaborate on, because I know Sellaband visitors are decent people.

Common enemy

To start with the climatological meaning of the word, the evening was hot. Literally. Even if there wasn't a history between believers and artists, or artists with artists or believers with believers, the circumtances would have created livelong bonds. Every politician on the decline knows he has to create a common enemy to create unity, and you don't need a Masters degree in psychology to know that ties born in a livethreatening situation are the strongest.
When I entered the studio in the afternoon, when the bands were soundchecking, I wondered (amongst others) what the night was going to bring when the hothouse would be packed. To make a long story short: much ado about nothing. It's like what the Buddhists are saying: when the mind is in control, suffering is a matter of subjectivity.

So here's a big compliment to all the artists who performed like there was no Sahara at noon-factor, and believers who climbed the stairs on time after a (cooling down) smoking intermezzo downstairs.
Having said that, our common enemy was the temperature and it was a good start of a conversation. Like when I was in the toilet busy downing some Peroni beers, and Lucretia and I talked about the heat when she washed her hands on the other side of the door.

After Party

Hot in the other sense of the word was the after party. I always have some reservations when I hear people speak about the Sellaband "family" on this platform. Sooooo Oprah Winfrey.

I must admit though, when you see the usual suspects again you already encountered in Amsterdam, or seeying the new ones you only know from some lines or Tribune-article, it really feels like seeying that long forgotten aunt on a wedding again. Like Campus with his ruthless camera shooting blackmail material, knightly Kirt (he came after all!!) with his cigarette pipe and inseparable friend Janosh (already some new insights about the clothes?), Jake and Mandy "huggy style" Kongaika, and last but not least uncle Arnis (and lovely family!) who really got me worried. His dressing style changed dramaticly since january (only because I love the man I'll call it an Indiana Jones retro look) and he was sipping on a single glass of red wine for ages!    
Newbees like Brian "thank you" Taylor, where exactly like I thought they would be, in this case a true darling who makes you happy because he's enjoying everything he absorbes.   

And then the party really started when the DJ-set was heating up. I knew already I had very talented collegues, never knew though Chris "Travolta" Kröner and Pim "the body" Betist could dance like they were picked from Madonna's crew. Like I said before, it was hot and happening!! 

07/06/2007

THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL

Guess what?! I went with Dagmar to a congress in the 'media-entertainment capital' of the Netherlands called Hilversum, and Sellaband.com has won the first prize for the best communication-innovation of 2006!! We had to compete with a company cooperating with one of the biggest banks of the Netherlands, and the succesful campaign of the socialist party (the SP) who has become the third party at the recent elections. A big thank you to the wonderful jury from the Van Speijk-prijs!!  &amp ;nbs p;

10/04/2007

THE BRIGHT & THE BEAUTIFUL

I'm honoured to have joined the team of Sellaband.com. With nearly half of them I go back for a long time, others, like Pim and Chris, I met last year. These guys have one thing in common: they are bright and beautiful people. Only two days at the office, I already experienced an inspiring and witty atmosphere. Not to mention how happy I am Annette joined the team, my longtime loyal/naughty/funny/one of the boys-kind of friend.

It's a delight to be surrounded with music all day, it's even a bigger delight to join a company in the start up stadium. Taking the hoover because the cleaner didn't show up for merky reasons and at the same time wishing Pim good luck in his meeting with a minister. To see Annette lying on the floor with her laptop, because another desk still has to be arranged. To see Chris fixing that desk and solving complicated computerproblems in one flow.To see Johan commanding the troops without commanding, and gorgious trainee Yvonne absorbing every bit of information. To see Dagmar combine an overdose of creativity with being methodical; a rare combination. To see myself contributing in dreammaking, more than by buying parts alone...

Pim and I are developping some very unconventional opportunities for the SAB-site/events & incompany programms, and we are only at the beginning. Those believers who are interested in marketing their products, be it with bannering or taylormade solutions, please contact me at barbera@sellaband.com. Next weeks Tribune will have business-information, so marketers, artist and believers alike, can see the new developments. Remember? We are sharing the revenues together...

So much for money making. My Dolly profilepage was, is and will be reserved for arts. From my childhood years I can't remember anything else than playing with language (in Dutch), finally it resulted in three manuscripts. I've been invited by one (big) publishing house, wich is an achievement at itself if I may say so. (have an audience at the pope is easier) Unfortunately they asked me to change the mould to make it more marketable, but in my view that would rape the essence of the story. I'm telling this, because I sympathize with some artists who must have likewise experiences with record companies. That's why I love to give feedback as Dolly. So please keep on adressing me as musiclover, please keep on making (sick!) jokes or sending me 'say it with music-messages.' Thanx.

03/04/2007

BEER, BANDS AND BELIEVERS

It was on my mind for a long time, the first Sellaband gig ever. How would Cubworld sound live and Secon Person? Is Arnis face to face as friendly as he seems to be between the lines? And what about the Irish enfent terrible from France? Is he the archetype of what we in Dutch say "loud mouth/soft heart-kind of guy?"

Well, Ben couldn't make it. Wonderful Arnis and his fantastic wife Nathalie could. I know now what cheers means in Russian, that Arnis is even more friendly than his acts, lines and foto's are suggesting. That one of the few things he didn't lie about to me, is his appetite for spirits (and high alcohol tolerance). I woke up this morning with a feeling my head could explode every second, I bet Arnis was singing under the shower.

And than there where handshakes and talks with the usual suspects as Campus Legend and Onno Hoogendoorn. New encounters and inspiring conversations like with Erik and Janosh (If you read this, don't forget to tell me the secret in time!!!). And ofcourse there was music. Heartfelt, like the duet between Sasha en Jake and the touching way Lights Fade was sung.

When things went wrong in this performance, my thoughts went back to a dialogue I once had with Jake, when he sad he wasn't a pro. I felt tears in my eyes and wished Kleenex was the sponsor in stead of Heineken.

Talking about professionalism, Second Person and Nemesea excellerated on the podium. Not only because of their musical qualities, but for their presence as well. Emmanuel of the Fakes is a walking questionmark. Where does this joyful, warm man hide his darkside?!!

And then the show was over and the true partyanimals went to the bar of the legendary American Hotel. And then the bar closed. But when the lights faded, the memory won't.

8/01/07