Artist Interview: Charlie Chronopoulos

This is a new segment to the blog - Artist Interviews.

Charlie Chronopoulos is a musician living in Boston, MA. I've heard him play a number of times and have nothing but great things to say about him and his work. He was kind enough to answer a few questions for us. Enjoy!

Tell us about your background and who you are - Well, I'm Biased. If you want to know somebody, ask his friends.
What are your 3 top websites or books?...Top websites have to be anything regarding Net Neutrality right now. Keeping the internet democratized so you can write this blog is something that is under seige right now by corporations like Verizon and AT&T.
Books; Pathways to bliss- Joseph Campbell Art & Physics - Leonard Shlain The Gay Science- Freidrich Nietzsche


Do you feel that living near boston helps you and if so in what way? Oh honey I'm in Boston not near it! People energize me and keep me excited to be alive and creative. Also, I am home alone writing all day, So, to break it up and walk, it cures what ails ye. Y'know to see people doing things pulls you out of yourself sometimes.
Do you have a regular job? I love this question. No.
Do you find that being creative gets pushed to the back burner sometimes and how do you prevent that from happening? It doesn't get pushed back, I push it back. I don't know why, and I want to stop doing that, but for now I think its laziness and fear of success that cause it to happen.
How do you come up with set lists? or do you just take requests? I try not to take covers too seriously. I just try to give the people what they want.
How annoying is it when people request songs you hate? Well, It is annoying. But the only time I hate a song is when people don't really want to hear it, they just want to hear me play it. For instance, I look like so and so, and they say " play that song by so and so. I bet you'd do that good." That's lame.
Do you like playing with other musicians? mhmm.
Give us some advice - Find a way to have people ask you "Do you have a regular job?

Thank you Charlie! If you'd like to know more and find out where Charlie is playing next, here are some links:

• Charlie's Website
• Charlie's Myspace
  
• Fratello's Entertainment Schedule
  

Is this an auction?

Should you negotiate your hourly rate? This is an issue, I've run into, I've read blogs about, and talked to countless friends about. My firm answer is ABSOLUTELY NOT! Let's figure out why I say this.

1. You charge your hourly rate for a reason: whatever that reason is, as long as it wasn't haphazard stick with it.
2. Don't look like a push-over: I know especially for women (I am one) it can be difficult to stand your ground but you'll be happy you did and you'll look more professional.
3. This isn't an auction: You choose what your rate is not the client, if they don't like it they can move on.

My closing sentiments are these it's easy to start doubting yourself when someone questions what you are worth. Don't let them! You've done your research, you know you produce high quality work. If it comes down to it and you have to kiss the job good-bye consider yourself lucky and move onto a client who appreciates you and the work you create.

Here are two helpful links I've come across on this subject The Wealthy Freelancer and Vandelay Design

The Interview Conundrum

You put on your favorite suit, your new heels, and you grab your portfolio. You think you've done everything right for that interview, and you don't get the job. Has interview etiquette become so contrived that it's difficult to stand out anymore?

Recently I've had this exact experience. Out of 2000 resumes I was 1 out of 8 chosen for interviews. I thought I played my cards all right:

• In every email prior to the interview I was polite, gracious, and respectful of time
  
• I wore my favorite Tahari suit and new black leather pumps
• I chose the best pieces from my portfolio to show
• I gave my firmest hand shake
• I repeated the interviewers names when I met them, and before I left
• I expressed my interest and fit for the position
• I sent a personal thank you note to each interviewer

The sad fact is that each person who interviewed probably did the exact same thing, with some variation. We all wore new shoes, and fancy suits, we all sent thank you notes and shook hands firmly. And this is exactly the dilemma I have yet to figure out.

When we all do "the right thing" who stands out? There has to be some special way to stand out from the crowd, something that every other interviewee hasn't discovered yet. When I find this holy grail of interview etiquette I'll be sure to pass it on, or should I?

*Image credit to http://claranatoli.blogspot.com/

My favorite Graphic Design Blogs

There are so many blogs out there to choose from, so I'm going to help you narrow it down and list my favorite design blogs to follow. Here we go:

• Design Ma.g: This is a compilation of blogs written by designers/programmers, always has a wide range of useful information, good to pick and choose the articles you find interesting.
• Just Creative: One of my favorite blogs to read, updated very frequently, Jacob is also great to follow on Twitter.
• Design Diva: A newer blog but has a lot to offer, also a great designer to follow on Twitter.
• Vandelay Website Design: Lots of list and tips.
• Freelance Switch: Advice for freelancers, but all designers can benefit.

So there you have it! A sneak peek at the blogs I subscribe to and read regularly.

Wallpaper featured in Smashing Magazine

Have to gloat for a minute, my wallpaper was again featured in Smashing Magazine's monthly wallpaper list! Thanks Smashing Magazine! Yay, I think I'll have to save it to my own desktop.

Cute Christmas Gift Idea

So I'm so tired of giving people stupid christmas gifts because you have to. These are adorable, inexpensive, and can be made to fit any theme.
What you need aside from some time and patience:
1. random dollhouse items (check craft stores, yard sales, overstock stores, or ebay)
2. fimo clay (walmart)
3. pin backs (walmart)
4. hot glue gun (walmart)

I found these small dollhouse pieces - tiny sweaters, and "knitting supplies" at a garage sale, and a closeout store. I just arranged them so they looked cute and made sense, and hot glued them into place on the pin back.

For the pizza I found tiny rolling pins at a craft store, and rolled out fimo clay to a disc and decorated it just like you would a regular pizza, after "baking" the pizzas I hotglued the rolling pins and pin backs on.

And for a few bucks and a couple hours you've got the cutest gifts to give out this year. I bet no one else will have a cuter idea.

Pandora Radio, how many ways do I love thee?

If you haven't fallen in love with pandora radio yet, you must be living under a rock or atleast have a compelling reason like...you have dial up (god forbid). But I need to just pass my love on. Pandora lets you create a station of only songs you like, you rate songs as they come up and it gradually sifts the station down to only your favs! No more buying CDs for that one song you have to have, no more fast-forwarding tapes (um yes I still use a tape player sometimes...sad), or even skipping through CDs. If you don't have a pandora account, put down your drink and get on it! If you're lucky email me and I'll share a couple favorite stations I've created with you.