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Flight
I've always been a freelancer---never worked for a daily for that reason. I like many of them, but still, I'm not big on telling what sells.
The last two were monthlies: a community paper and one aimed at the 50 plus market. Both were doing fine but went out of business due to illness from the publisher and sales director. I was going to continue the 50+ plus...it was a serious money maker, and not hard work, second nature to me...but I hate ad sales. I have writers I've worked with who would be so good at that, but they live far away. So I'm in the freelance game again. You? Do you have any specialties.
If you look around here, you'll run into quite a few freelancers. Oddly enough, I'm finding more working writers than I do in my writing group. :)
posted by
terpgirl30
on May 15, 2005 at 9:16 PM
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terpgirl30 - Sure glad I found your blog, a fellow pro journalist. Producing newspapers, magazines, etc.,. is almost as stimulating, demanding, & unnerving as blogging. But I still prefer it to today's commercially-driven Media - 'If it bleeds, it leads."
posted by
reasons
on May 15, 2005 at 4:07 PM
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King
You're right. And we don't have to wear funny hats and clothing to be sneaky. Imagine what we COULD do if we went that route.
Kim
posted by
terpgirl30
on May 15, 2005 at 3:04 PM
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terpgirl
We have our ASCAP violators. They are folksingers like myself who sing popular music live, in restaurants, lounges and coffee bars. Then we have our downloaders. None of them are pick-pocketing. At least not physically. Great post. I love Mexico too.
posted by
kingmi
on May 15, 2005 at 12:53 PM
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I dunno, Mark
It's tough for me to get afraid of a guy wearing a pink belt. Then again, maybe that's what they count on to lure prey. Sombreros are just masquerade masks for a different body part.
posted by
terpgirl30
on May 15, 2005 at 12:44 PM
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Question for JJ_Wilde
Will they play Free Bird?
posted by
mikea18
on May 15, 2005 at 12:30 PM
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hey,
There are marauding Mariachi bands in all of the ''Upper Crust'' Mexican food restaurants in PHX. If you wave to the maestro, tell him to play at your table, and hand him a tip, they will maraud right over to your table and play any song you request. The generally accepted terminology, though, is not Marauding Mariachis but Strolling Mariachis. There is a bit of difference in a shade of meaning. You could validly use either term, depending on your feeling about their music.
JJ
posted by
Jack_Flash
on May 15, 2005 at 9:56 AM
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terpgirl30, I'm glad these things find you. I don't recall marauding Mariarchi bands when I was in Mexico -- possibly something to do with the margueritas
posted by
Azur
on May 15, 2005 at 9:39 AM
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Well, this explains Herb Alpert & Brazil '66.
Not to mention the Baja Marimba Band.
Los banditos muy mal!
posted by
mark2556
on May 15, 2005 at 9:38 AM
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You Look Fabulous
Very seriously, you saw this coming. That is serious truly trend setting skills!
posted by
terpgirl30
on May 15, 2005 at 9:31 AM
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A crime wave involving bogus Mariachi bands? Actually, I am not at all surprised.
posted by
TARZANA
on May 15, 2005 at 7:13 AM
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terpgirl, I've always loved Mariachi players. Now, I'll be eyeing them with suspicion. Do the
Texas Tornados count as Mariachi players? Are they fake and picking pockets? I got pick-pocketed in Madrid while enjoying gypsy musicians at the Plaza del Sol.
posted by
TAPS.
on May 14, 2005 at 7:06 PM
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Smartdog
If there's a bad movie to be made, I'm just the person to write it. I was thinking Chevy Chase in the lead since he probably still has that Three Amigos costume hanging around.
posted by
terpgirl30
on May 14, 2005 at 10:37 AM
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I may have to rethink things
I wasn't even putting Herb Alpert into this category. He was famous in my mom's generation, but I confess, I've always had a bit of thing for him. Does the man age? Him and Charro...there's must be something to this music.
As an aside, was that Whipped Cream album cover not the BEST cover of all time? Whether you like the music or not, that cover catches you.
Everyone, thank you so much for the kind words! Mandinka, I couldn't write short if I wanted to. In makes me nuts in my writing group when you see someone commenting, "nice poem." The person doesn't learn much or have any clue what it was that you liked so it can be expanded on.
Kim
posted by
terpgirl30
on May 14, 2005 at 10:36 AM
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Good stuff again
I smell a bad movie coming soon! Good comments and good reading.
posted by
smartdog_670
on May 14, 2005 at 7:30 AM
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Herb is a good example, although not as traditional as many.
posted by
Jack_Flash
on May 14, 2005 at 5:45 AM
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Terpgirl,
Sorry I addressed my comment to CA88. She commented just prior to me and I thought I was at a blog of hers. Too late, I realized that it wasn't her blog. In any case, it was your comment, and I did enjoy reading the post. I am a big time Mexico buff.
JJ
posted by
Jack_Flash
on May 14, 2005 at 5:44 AM
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I do know Herp Albert! lol
posted by
Ca88andra
on May 14, 2005 at 5:43 AM
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CA88,
You don't know a Mariachi Man? (Actually, some are women.) Well, I live in AZ, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised. Herb Alpert and the Tiajuana Brass might be one of the groups which you have heard. And I mean BRASS. If you have ever heard his group, they are very good in the brass section. Exquisite in places.
Brass; Giant Box accoustical guitars from Uruapán; frequent accordians; humongous sombreros, short-coated, tight-pantsed, black suits, everything in black with flowery trim are their uniforms. If you want to hear the really good stuff, listen to groups from Jalisco, the state of which Guadalajara is the capital. Anna Gábriel does some really beautiful stuff. Do be careful about tripping over one--if it is late in the day and they have a couple of shots of Pulque before going home, they may be laying in the street.
As far as ripoff artists who prey upon tourists, Mexico is probably not the leading country for that, but it's got to be in the top five. Watch expensive items anywhere you go, including the U.S. If you are easily victimized by such artistas, don't worry about the Mariachis in Mexico City--you will be bled dry long before you get to them.
JJ
posted by
Jack_Flash
on May 14, 2005 at 5:38 AM
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I doubt I would know a Mariachi player - real or not - if I tripped over them!
posted by
Ca88andra
on May 14, 2005 at 4:56 AM
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WOw
Who would have thought people would use the Mariachi tradition to rip people off? not me that's for sure. That really caught me by surprise. Hey I really like your feedback on my posts. You give me a nice thorough response. I like to see when people put a lot of time and energy into their comments. And I agree your blog is more like a column. It is more of a news article than just a personal opinion kind of thing.
posted by
mandinka
on May 13, 2005 at 11:13 PM
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Hey terpgirl..
...that was an interesting read!!
posted by
ginnieb
on May 13, 2005 at 9:51 PM
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