* THERE ARE STILL DOLPHINS AMONGST THE SHARKS *

* THERE ARE STILL DOLPHINS AMONGST THE SHARKS *

I have some unfortunate news but we are very hopeful that we will find a great venue for the CD Release show!

So, as most of you know, my CD release party was supposed to be this upcoming Sunday at BB King's. Well, unfortunately, the venue decided to throw some sly curve balls in the contract they neglected to send us for a month and finally 6 days before the show, we get it and there is all of this stuff we NEVER even talked about. Man o man, if we hadn't read the contract thoroughly we would have been completely taken advantage of and out quite a bit of money.

If you want to read more about the details, at the bottom of this blog, I have included the letter my manager sent out to everyone when announcing the cancellation and rescheduling of my CD Release Show. If you don't really care to read it all, I totally understand.

I love you guys so much and I just want to let you know that I am very hopeful. I know that this has all happened for a reason and that as well know and famous as BB King's is, I am not willing to compromise what I believe is true and let anyone take advantage of my friends, family, and fans. NO SIR! These things only make us stronger. I believe we have all been given certain gifts, for a certain purpose and when something tries to get in the way of that, by golly, you just walk away.

You know, a lot of people say, "oh yah, that music business, it's all sharks and you're just the food." Well, yes, there are a lot of sharks out there but you don't have to be the bate...and I believe that there are dolphins out there as well. The dolphins are the positve ones, the fast ones, the ones who love to play but won't be too quick to be taken advantage of...the ones with the good hearts. Love is their constant guide. They bring integrity and life into this business.

Although the sharks seem to out number the dolphins, we (all those on my JM team) have been so fortunate to meet a strong handful of dolphins who we know we can trust.... And if you don't have trust, well, you don't have anything. Trust comes from love. What's life without love? Anywho, so, the good is still out there, it is up to us to use our gifts to breathe life into it's fire, so that one day it will burn so bright, so hot, that it will spread like a wild fire to the dolphins AND especially to all of the sharks. You may call it "wishful thinking," but it is in my heart and I truly believe anything is possible with love.

Anywho, I will keep all of you posted about the new venue for my CD release show!

Thank you again for all of your love and support. I would not be here if it was not for all of the dolphins in my life, YOU! 0:)

Love,
Jill Marie
xoxo

HERE IS THE LETTER:

Our dear friends and family,

Tonight we were very frustrated to find that we have to reschedule
Jill Marie's CD Release Show. But don't worry, we are only pushing
the show back a week or two. Details will come in the next few days
after we have confirmed the new booking.

Now, for the why.

In short, B.B. Kings pulled a stunt that I can only describe as
vicious, heinous, nefarious and unprofessional. They used a tactic
known in business as a "bait and switch," and I am more than happy to
tell you about it, because while it is your decision, we encourage
you never to give them your business and forever boycott B.B. Kings.
A "bait and switch," is when you lure a customer in with the promise
of delivering something that is discussed and agreed upon and then
when you get them in, change the actual terms and/or price and
usually with the customer in a position where they have no choice but
to take it. Car salesman are a biggie. :-)

For those of you who do not want the details, you can delete this
now. But aren't you curious about what happened? :-)

1) We booked the show two months in advance. They were supposed to
have sent me a contract for the performance over 30 days ago. They
did not, even after two reminder phone calls.

2) They were supposed to send us discount pre-sale tickets to sell
to all you for $10 instead of the $12 fee at the door.

3) They never sent the tickets, even after two reminders.

4) They finally sent the contract via e-mail this morning, six days
before the show.

5) I read the contract thoroughly, and was disgusted when I saw what
they were trying to pull over the bands' eyes. They had not once
mentioned ANY of these following items in our previous discussions
and verbal contractually agreed upon terms :

a) Entrance fees ARE $12, however... only for people over 21. For
those under 21, they are required to pay an additional $8 per person,
which gave them two drink tickets redeemable at the bar for sodas.
So now, with $10 parking, $12 entrance and $8 drink tickets, it was
$30 for anyone under 21 to come see Jill's show. A substantial part
of our fan base are people in the age group under 21, and to ask many
of these people to shell out $30 is just ridiculous, and on top of
that, possibly but a new Jill Marie CD? C'mon.

b) This was a HUGE sticking point. They "managed" to neglect to
inform us until we got the contract, that the band is not permitted a
sound check, unless we pay a fee of $50 to B.B. King's. A band
cannot perform a good show without a sound check. Period. Levels
need to be set, EQ, etc. This was already beyond "bait and switch."

c) In addition, all the bands' equipment was to be brought in and
stored on the third floor and was only allowed to be brought down,
setup, and ready to go 10 minutes before the show. For those of you
who aren't musicians, this is not an impossible task, but a bit pushy
for such a large venue and the whole third floor thing is just
ridiculous.

d) The band, the WHOLE band, is only permitted one person on the
guest list. So there are six people in her band and only one person
is permitted in free? Again... ridiculous, and again... insulting
and abhorrent.

e) We were planning on not only filming the event, but we also
didn't tell anyone that there was a possibility that ABC 7 was going
to be there filming as part of an upcoming piece on Independent
musicians where JM is going to be featured! B.B. King's according
the contract, requires that we pay $200 per camera to film if we want
to film from the main floor and $25 to film from the 2nd or 3rd
floor. Most of you know, you shoot live music with at least two
cameras. So $400 for us.

f) We are required to have a minimum of 25 people there, or WE ARE
NOT ALLOWED TO PERFORM! Not that this is a problem, but still...

g) We were supposed to earn half of the ticket sales. The contract
arrived and suddenly, we only get half of the ticket sales of people
over 21, after 25 people over 21 have paid to enter!

h) They wanted the band to pay a $250 pre-sale fee to cover the
required 25 minimum people.

i) A band is usually given free drinks. B.B.'s states in the
contract (spelling errors included) that we get half price drinks.

j) If we wanted a CD of the performance (usually a standard $10 or
$15 charge), we were required to pay a $60 fee, bring our OWN blank
CD, and sign a waiver saying we agree to not ever play the CD for
anything promotional or sell it. If we DID want to use the CD or
video, we had to pay a ONE THOUSAND DOLLAR licensing fee.

k) And the final two that REALLY make the whole contract, in their
own words:

i) Exclusivity Clause: Artists booked at a BB Kings event are
barred from playing at another venue in Los Angeles within a fourteen-
mile radius two-weeks prior and two-weeks after performing at the
event, however, this is subject to negotiation.

And my personal FAVORITE! (Being that I received the contract from
them six days before the show was supposed to go on).

ii) Cancellation: In the event of a cancellation within fourteen
days prior to the event, artist will be responsible to pay the
minimum draw requirement in cash within one week of cancellation.


In all my years in the entertainment business, I have never been so
offended and aghast at a contract, and believe me, I've seen some
doozies.

On behalf of Jill Marie, myself and the entire band, who we are
VERY excited for you to meet and hear, we apologize for this
inconvenience, but assure you, we will be rescheduling the event at a
new venue within the next week or so and will let you know as soon as
we have confirmed it (and signed a proper contract!).


As always, your support and friendship means everything and we are
beyond excited to play all the new songs for you and offer you the
chance to have Jill Marie and the band sign her brand new CD for you
at the show!

If you'd like to hear samples of all the new songs, click on over
to this link and enjoy! : http://www.jillmariemusic.com/music.html

Thank you!
Daniel

It's Good to be "FREE"

HELLO MY DEARS!!! 0:)

Yes, it is Jill Marie here.

Everyone keeps saying..."Jill, it's time to post a new blog. It's time to post a new blog!!!"

It has been quite a while and I promised you that no matter how much time went by, I would always write again... So, here I am! :)

First off, I would like to start out by saying I hope that everything is going wonderful in all of your lives. I know I can't exactly ask each one of you as you pass on through the pages of my website, but I really do hope that there are joys and that you are finding strength through your sorrows.

I went to go see an INCREDIBLE show last night. Tyrone Wells was playing down in Hollywood. Have you heard of Tyrone Wells? Well, if you haven't...man o' man... THAT BOY CAN SING! He not only has incredible vocals...but everyone in the band is equally talented as he is. His lyrics stick with you too...not because they are repetitive, but because they're so real and sincere. You can feel the love pouring out in the room as he shares his heart. If any of you have a myspace account, his address is myspace.com/tyronewells...when you get a chance, check it out. Anywho, Tyrone said something that really stuck with me last night. At the end of the show before he sang his last song, he said something along the lines of... "If I could leave you with something it would be to learn to love and forgive...to let go of the grudges because when you do your heart will be free and open to accepting the greatest of love."

I agree with him a hundred percent. A lot of the time, it can be really hard to forgive someone, especially for something really horrible that you don't think you can ever forgive them for. But, it is in that forgiveness, that you are free. When you hold that grudge, you know you're so upset with that person, oh, how you hate that person... It feels as though there is a huge wall inside of you that keeps getting taller and harder. You find it dificult to open up to other people and to look at the bright side of things. The world looks a little sinister and even though you are really good at continuing your days blocking this anger and resentment with the wall you've built up... deep down, it is doing a lot more damage than you think. This wall of resentment upsets the natural flow of love,patience, kindness, hope, understanding, compassion, and the "light as a feather feeling" of being free that I believe, every human being should feel. Although this wall is tall, and although, this wall feels unbreakable, this wall, is not strong. It is weak from the despair and it too wants to be free...it too, wants to feel the love pumping through your veins again. So, like Tyrone asked of us last night, I encourage the same. It is hard to forgive sometimes, but afterwards, when you feel that sense of freedom... you realize, that although it was hard, you are so much stronger because you took that really big jump, opened your wings from hiding and flew. Forgive and be free. :)

On another note:

My new album "FREE" is finally done! I am so excited to share my heart with all of you. Even though I've been doing this since I was a little girl, I still feel as though this journey is just beginning. I would not be here without you all. I know I say that all of the time, but it is true and I will thank you a thousand times more as the journey continues. :) When you listen to "FREE," I hope that you will find comfort in knowing that when you think no one can hear your cries, that you are not alone. You are so special and unique. You are noticed and looked up to by those you never even thought of. I also hope you find comfort in knowing that love is real. Love is all around you. Love is what "makes the world go round," and Love, will be set you free. Being free does not mean that you fly, fly, fly and never need a rest, never fall, or never run into anything. :P Being free means that even through the weakness and heavy weather we continue on. It is in the getting back up again that we are free.

Well, I think that about sums it up here. I hope your eyes aren't falling off from reading so much!!! :( Thank you for visiting my G.O.D. Blog! Let me know what you think about my new CD. Oh and... a few reminders!

1) Don't forget to check out my guestbook. I feel so cool to finally have one. I know you all have written the nicest emails and I thank you sooooo soooo much! So, when you get a chance check it out.

Here's the link: http://users.smartgb.com/g/g.php?a=s&i=g13-04658-9a

2) Don't forget! This Friday is my birthday show at Highland Grounds in Hollywood!!!

This is going to be a special evening for many reasons...
A) We're celebrating not only my birthday but my best friend Natalie's!
B)This will be my first show playing live in while, since I've been workin' on the album, and WITH A BAND!!!! and
C) Friends and family will be there. What could be better than that???

3) Last but not least, my album release party is just around the corner! Stay tuned for more details! You can order the album now on my website!

Anywho, I'm off to enjoy this beautiful day! 0 : )

THANK YOU AGAIN FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT AND FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS NOVEL OF A BLOG!

Love,
Jill Marie
xoxo
jillmariemusic.com
myspace.com/jillmarie

My first G.O.D. Blog!

Hello everyone and welcome to my new website "Garden of Dreams!"

I hope you are enjoying all of the neat knick-knacks here and there. THEY’RE EVERYWHERE! Yes, I know, I am quite the weird one. You will realize that more and more as you continue to read my blogs over the years to come.

I know some of you are thinking, “Yah sure… you’ll be on tour and forget all about us.” Well, I can assure you that, I’m sorry to say this, but YOU’RE WRONG… plain and simple. Each one of you has made a permanent imprint on my heart and on the path of my life thus far. You all mean so much to me. Please don’t ever forget that.

Part of the reason why I wanted to create this blog was to let you know that I love you and appreciate all you have done to support me. With this blog I am giving you a part of me. I will write songs that aren’t listed on my lyrics page, and random pieces of my mind, of my life.

Pretty soon things are going to get even busier than they already are. I know that I have been a busy person in the past, but the ride is going to get even faster and bumpier! I want to make sure that I keep you posted on the latest tour stories, fan stories, random stories, stories, and more STORIES!!!

Now, sometimes I may get a little busy and not get a chance to write for THREE MONTHS! But I assure you… by starting this blog, I am making a vow to always come back and write again, pouring my songwriting soul out to you my not only number one, devoted fans, but my friends.

Please continue to visit me here! I look forward to an exciting new year!

May your lives be filled with peace, love, and music,

Jill*Marie