Down to Earth Update 2

The 3 song demo is done. Well, the recording part of is done. It still needs to be mixed and mastered. Once that is done the demo is being shipped to Word Entertainment, who we are told by our artist development/manager Tony Yazbec, that Word is excited about hearing it. Very Cool. We'll see what develops over the next month or so.

In other DTE news...... it is now down to James Pergolloti and myself. Rob and John have left the band. This is not a bad thing. Things were not going so well with those guys. Ultimately, I think, they were not the right guys for what James' vision of what this band is supposed to be. All the best to them in whatever musical roads they decide to take. James and I are pressing on and will continue to record and write music. Last night I gave James a disc of 6 new tunes I have written over the course of the last week. We are both very excited about where we are at and what we are doing. Keep us in your prayers that the doors that are supposed to open will open and the doors that are supposed to close will close. Hopefully one of the doors that will open is a few endorsement deals. Wouldn't that be sweeeeeeet?!!!

Down to Earth Update

Last Wednesday night James and I drove over to Clearwater to the recording studio of producer Tony Rockliff and I did tracks for one of our tunes called 20 Shades of Grey. Hopefully we will have some mp3's, for all 2 of you who have asked me for them, soon.

...And So It Begins.

Today at 10:30 am I have the unfortunate pleasure of having to meet with my business attorney to begin, what will probably end up as, a lawsuit against one of my clients. I am having to do this because this client is refusing to pay me for design work that I have completed and delivered. I'm not talking a small amount of work either. I did a logo design (which is currently being used by this client.), a tri-fold menu/brochure of their services, 9 or 10 business cards, a postcard for mail outs, a gift certificate/card, a 20% off coupon/card, and web design. All of which, except for the web site, is currently being used to generate income for this client. This client is benefiting from my work but I have received nothing in return. I have sent certified letters and emails asking this person to contact me. I have tried to communicate to this client that I will do whatever they need me to do..... set up a payment plan, whatever, to help them out. I have told this person in the emails I have sent that I don't expect them to pay the entire amount at once. Just please contact me so we can talk.

So far when I have called, which has been numerous times, this client has not been in the office. Right. My wife has called 2 times and spoken with this person regarding this issue but will not speak with me. This has been going on for the last month and a half or so. And we are not talking about a small amount of money. If it were only a few hundred dollars I would move on and write if off of my taxes at the end of the year. But this...... this is several thousand dollars. I can't just walk away from this. This client is putting me in a position that I don't want to be in. I don't like having to force someone to do the right thing but in this case I have no choice.

The good thing is that I learned a long time ago to save everything. I have every email this client has ever sent me and that I sent to them. I shouldn't have any trouble proving my case. Unfortunately I have to use a lawyer to do it. I'll keep you posted.

Michael Ripoll & Jonathan Butler

This video is a few years old but features Kirk Whalums backup band with Michael Ripoll on guitar. Jonathan Butler is singing.