Tuesday Afternoon Updates

Sorry if I haven't been posting a lot lately but I have either been too busy or just too lazy to post! There has been a lot of stuff going on and for a while there I was burning the candle at both ends. Finally I think I am rested relaxed and ready to get into some kind of routine again!

I've not only been slow with my blog posts but with my vlog posts as well. I'm working on changing all of that an rearranging my schedule so that I have a little more time for everything. I did manage to make a new episode for LOUD Tour TV and a new music video last week even though I was completely worn out. Look for more videos soon. I plan to go out and shoot some right after I have completed this blog entry!

I played in a golf tournament this past weekend and actually did quite well. My team fell apart on the back nine and we were struggling to save pars so we had no chance of winning the thing at all. We finished at 3 over par which considering the cold, wet, and windy conditions isn't bad at all. Maybe with a little more then 4 chances to play next year we will be more successful as a team.

Anyhow I am off to the hockey game tonight. I'll be sure to take pictures so you can see just how close we are! I might even try to do some video from the game as well! Until then stay out of trouble and don't do anything I wouldn't do!

My Live Show Featured On The Front Page Of Operator 11

Looks like I might be on to something here! Check out my live internet TV show that is featured on the front page of Operator 11! The show was recorded less then 2 hours ago and it is already a hit! This is the second time this week I have been featured on their front page! I am very excited for the future of The LOUD Tour and of LOUD Tour TV! Please view the episode below!

More cool websites on the internet!

Sorry for the lack of updates this week. I have been checking out a bunch of other video and live internet TV sites this week and putting up quite a few updates on those. Mainly I have been checking them out to see what kind of interface and what kind of audience you can generate. So after a week of checking a bunch out, here are three that are worth taking a look at.

The big boy out there is blogtv. I had some difficulty in the past week getting everything set up, but once I figured everything out I was able to finally make some videos there. The lie broadcast allows the viewers to interact through a chat box within the show. It's cool to be able to interact with other users while doing a live broadcast. The only drawback is that you get 2 hours of recording time for each show. So if you do 30 minutes a day for 4 days then you have used up all of your time and you have to create a new show. Still it's the largest community out there and it will reach a much broader audience.

Viddyou I wrote about last week a little bit. There is no live broadcasting with viddyou, but clips are posted immediately after uploading. If you have a webcam you can record with the pres of a button. It's a relatively new startup company and it's really more of a place to network and chat with people by leaving each other video clips. The community is good people and there is no badmouthing going on like you will find at some of the larger sites. If you aren't ready to do live broadcasting then this is a great site for you. It's very easy to use and like I said the people there are all great. You can also upload your own videos here as well, so if you like to prerecord shows you can do so and upload it in the future.

The last site that everybody needs to check out regardless of whether you are a vlogger and interested in live broadcasting or just a regular person who is bored on the internet with nothing to do is Operator 11. Operator 11 allows users the ability to broadcast and interface with other users in real time. Anyone can be a part of your show and you can be a part of anyone's show. You and your friends can all meet up on the internet and broadcast your own live TV show! Each person can get in front of the camera from their own computer and offer their input into the show. Each person can also share their video clips during the show. This is live internet TV at it's finest. Everyone needs to go and check this out now, this is the future of live TV right here! To see my show, please visit my profile page. Also be sure to add me as a friend and I'll invite you to be on the show each time I run it!

Well there you have it, if you are bored this weekend be sure to check out these great websites! As for me I'm off to Rochester, NY for yet another show! See you next time!

A Quick Update Before I Hit The Road!

Yes I am off to Bridgeport, CT this weekend. I hear is lovely this time of year (sarcasm!) We have a show and a parade there this weekend. There is lots to be done this weekend too and it ought to be interesting how we respond after having a weekend off.

I went to check out the International Jazz Festival yesterday here in Montreal. The setup and the whole atmosphere looks really cool. I just wish I didn't have to go to CT this weekend and miss out on some of the big shows. Wynton Marsalis plays tonight and Harry Connick Jr. on Sunday. Those are the two acts that I really wanted to see too. I took a couple of cool pictures from the festival yesterday, here is one to share. I also took a video for LOUD Tour TV. You can view it at the top of my blog or on the entry below. I'll be back to check it out more next week so look for more cool pictures and videos!



In other news, I have finally launched LOUD Tour TV Live! I was originally going to do the show on blogtv, but I could not get the camera working properly for it. I tried to get some tech support, but the answer that I got didn't really help me out at all. Their software is built for windows not for Mac, although some Mac users have got it working, I just could not figure out where to change my camera settings. I am tech savvy enough to figure these things out, I mean I produce and post my own videos everywhere on the internet! So I took my live show elsewhere. It's a relatively new company, but they seem like good people and a good community, although I feel like the old guy over there! Go and check out the Viddyou website and decide for yourself.

And with that I am off to eat some lunch, then shower, then pack for CT. See you next week!

LOUD Tour TV Episode 7

Click To Play

Singing, tuba playing, kittens, lunch and commentary! This show has it all! This is also my first attempt at shooting a show in a higher resolution! Enjoy!

To view the post in it's full resolution please visit The Official LOUD Tour TV Page!

LOUD Tour TV Episode 6.5

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Episode 6.5?!?! Yes, I was not too happy with the product that was Episode 6 for many reasons! So I went out today and put some new footage together complete with a little personality and fun! You will find this one more pleasing to watch and maybe even get a laugh or two out of it!


So as you can see, I have been filming a lot this week to make up for last week's lack of filming! I have been shooting (and walking) so much these past few days that my brain (and my feet) are starting to hurt. I have also shot another music video to be released tomorrow. The video is already finished, but I am holding off for now!

I will also be attempting (key word here is attempting) to get some footage from the road and possibly from Syracuse this weekend. All media shot of the drum corps must be approved my corps management before it can be distributed anywhere on the internet. I was going to try and keep it less about the corps and more about The LOUD Tour and friends of The LOUD Tour, but since the way I present myself and present my friends in the video is ultimately a representation of the corps I must run it through the powers that be first. It's not that we don't want our work to be shown out there, however there is a chance that people would use it to maliciously harm or misrepresent our organization. Despite taking all precautions necessary with the proper disclaimers or by using creative commons as a means to license my videos so that no one may use content in any way these things have happened in the past to our organization and to other organizations as well. That's right folks, only in drum corps could Freedom of Speech and Censorship clash in such a way!

LOUD Tour TV Episode 4

Click To Play

There you have it folks, the latest installment of LOUD Tour TV! Today we go on another journey into downtown Montreal complete with comedic and serious commentary. You will also see some more of my music video skills showcased in the video! I hope you folks enjoy LOUD Tour TV Episode 4! It is my biggest and best one yet!

Rate my video by clicking here!

In the video you may have heard me mention LOUD Tour TV Mobile! Well it is a very new and real thing. In fact there have already been three episodes! In case you missed them, go over to the Official LOUD Tour TV Page and have a look! Better yet Subscribe to the LOUD Tour TV Feed and you'll never miss an episode of LOUD Tour TV!

In other news, today is my 2 year blogiversary! I know I had a lot of downtime there for a while in between entries when I was busy posting picture after picture after picture a my moblog, but I am as good as back to full time regular blogging these days!

I will be updating the flickr page tonight with a few photos as well, so be sure to check that out!

Ok now leave me lots of comments and be sure to tell your friends about the show!

Thoughts, Plans, and Observations

Yes it time to get back in the saddle again in terms of writing and taking pictures. Right now those are the only two things that are really making me any money. I have been focusing extra hard these past 3 weeks on the LOUD Tour TV project and it has taken some of my time away from the other two things that I am more known for. This does not mean however that I am going to work any less then I do now on the video project. Now that there are more hours in the day that leaves me more time for all of my projects. The photo and video projects are much more effective when I do them in daylight. I can write on the blogs either in the morning or at night.

Many of my other blogs have suffered these past three weeks in the update department. I will be coming back to them in good time, but you will see updates there on a less frequent basis. Other projects take precedence, but also I will be on the road just about every weekend and not be able to focus as much time and energy as I have into them since November. Essentially they are going to take a back seat so that I may do more important things. Updates will likely be limited to once per week on those.

I have done a much more effective job of spreading the word about my video page then I did when I started my blog 2 years ago. Already in just a few short days there are 7 subscribers to my video feed. I find it ironic that it took me 3 months to get 7 subscribers to my blog feed. Is it because the vlog community is more receptive to new projects or is it because I did not work hard enough promoting my blog? I have another theory. We have become the click generation and most of us get our blog traffic through some sort of exchange server. Many of us click without reading. I have been making an effort the past 2 months to read before clicking, and if I can offer something relevant to the conversation, leaving a comment. Perhaps we need a little incentive to read? I believe the folks that run these blog exchange services should take note of this.

So that's it for now. I have to get back to my other projects for today! Look for more LOUD Tour TV really soon!

So Many Changes! More to Come!

So by now many of you have been reading about and seeing the changes that I have brought to my blog. Today's latest addition comes from Twitter. This is another step that I have decided to take to allow more interactivity with my readers. I hope to update it regularly and give people a run down of what exactly is going on in the world of The LOUD Tour.

By now many of you may have noticed that I have switched my videos from YouTube to Blip TV. I am very happy with the switch. Not only can I bring you LOUD Tour TV in a more efficient manner, but I can also bring it to you in higher resolution because of the improved video format. You will also notice that unlike YouTube, MySpace, and Google video there is no watermark on the video. That is a huge plus! I will continue to load videos to YouTube from time to time, however those will only be the videos that show the most interest.

Another thing that I really like about Blip TV is the fact the LOUD Tour TV gets it's own full page dedicated to everything about LOUD Tour TV. Be sure to visit The Official LOUD Tour TV Page. Or get up to the minute updates by Subscribing to LOUD Tour TV.

I have other big news this week for LOUD Tour TV viewers. Stay tuned here and to the Official LOUD Tour TV Page for details really soon!

In other news it looks as though winter might be on the way out here in Montreal. It's still cold outside, but the days of -38 temperatures seems to be behind us. This means that I should be able to get out and shoot a lot more picture and video footage from some happenings around the city! I look forward to better weather and more time spent outside of the house!

The next big project for The LOUD Tour is going to be a major face lift. I have heard from several of you out there in the bloggosphere that I have great content, but an awful look! I have taken each of your comments into consideration and I am aware that changes need to be made in the visual department! So whoever has a really creative idea for a design and layout feel free to pass it along! If I use your design I will do a video review of your blog on a future episode of LOUD Tour TV!

Hello Firefox...Goodbye IE! Oh yeah and some Vlogging!

I have finally made the switch! I know, what took me so long? So far I like the Firefox browsing platform about a million times better then IE. Not only are the loading times much faster, but it doesn't crash or use up nearly as much memory as IE. I really wish that I would have made the switch sooner! All I have left to do is to get some of my old bookmarks into Firefox and I'll be all set. I have downloaded the Google tool bar and also an Alexa plug in at this point. What are some other good plug ins that I can download for Firefox that would really be useful? Any information that you could give would be extremely helpful!

In other news I am going to a meet and greet of sort with some other Vlogger's from Montreal tonight. That's not the best part though! Gabe McIntyre from XOLO.TV is going to be there! So you might be asking what is the big deal? Gabe is one of the founders of XOLO.TV which is a company that is at the leading edge of technology for Bloggers, Vloggers and Podcasters alike. I am very excited to have the opportunity to meet with someone with such expertise in these areas, particularly because I have launched LOUD Tour TV and I want to market it into a product that is widely recognized and successful. In the future I plan on getting my XOLO.TV Citizen Journalist Press Pass and possibly, if I am lucky enough, begin covering some local events and bringing them to you here on The LOUD Tour.

The future of Blogging and Vlogging looks very bright and promising! I encourage everyone to go and check out the XOLO.TV website today and see what these guys are all about!