Hey everybody,

So, I noticed that I lost a few patrons with last week's post.  Which really breaks my heart.  So, let me ask, should I not do the live-streaming shows?  I know that I was having some technical difficulties but I will sort them out in the upcoming shows.  I figured that a couple hours of live-streaming entertainment would be worth the pledge you all have committed to me, but if not, please, let me know.  I was working on recordings all last week, but I had two shows to prepare for, as well as band practice, not to mention getting this current Say It With A Bullet album into shape, as I want to have it ready for release by the end of this month.  I was hoping to have all 10 songs ready before I gave you guys anything, as I know I have iterated on a bunch of these songs in the past, but, I have included them in this week's posting because, well, they're basically all of the recordings I've been working on.  The other songs just aren't ready yet.  

Okay, but please, allow me to wax poetic about losing patrons.  

I think I might slowly be fading into emptiness.  Patreon's not a very good way for me to interact with my friends and fans.  I've had my most productive year yet, but I feel like the music is just falling on deaf ears.  That the music is just being cast, yet again, into the abyss.  I can't get the Grey's Anatomy people to listen to my new stuff.  So the possibility of a big infusion of cash is not gonna happen.  I can't seem to engage the fans.  I'm terrible at self-promotion.  My money is dwindling.  My career is disappearing.  My music goes unheard.  And I feel paralyzed.  What do I do?  I've never done anything but make music and make it all the time.  Produce, produce, produce and then, voila, good things have happened.  But right now, I just don't see what could possibly save me from doom and ruination.

Okay, ha ha ha!  So, that's basically all of my fears in a nutshell.  But, aside from money, which is a short-term and easily fixed solution, and aside from the fact that it FEELS like I'm not engaging with the fans, there are all sorts of indicators that suggest otherwise.  Such as, my streaming numbers are going up each month.  The whole music business is now shifting over towards streaming songs, and my song-streams are climbing.  That's a good sign.  Also, because I'm producing so much new music, when people who stream my stuff like one song, there's a high likelihood that they will find others that they will enjoy.  I will have about 12 albums out, maybe 13, by the end of the year.  And I only had 7 going into 2014.  That's a lot of available music for people to stream.  Albums that maybe they might not have otherwise purchased but now can listen to for free via streaming.  So, that's good.

The reason I wrote the above two paragraphs is I just wanted to give my patrons a look into what goes on in my brain.  This is the fear and doubt that I have to deal with all the time.  The balance of reasoning and irrational fear.  And when I lose patrons, it feels like I'm failing.  Like it's just another reminder that my music is fun but kitschy at best and mediocre to boring at worst.  But hell, they could have left for any reason.  Maybe they lost their jobs.  Maybe their credit-cards were compromised and they haven't installed the new one yet.  I mean, it might have nothing to do with me.  Or maybe it does.  Maybe they feel cheated that I didn't provide new songs last week.  But if so, I have to let it go.  And just keep on doing what I do.  Til the wheels fall off.  Til the the engine explodes, the paint cooks away, and I arrive wherever I'm going, in a fiery, burning chassis of love, doubt, fear, and, ugh of all ughs, hope.  

Anyway, I wrote all this to let you know that when I don't have a lot to give you in a given week, it's not that I'm not doing anything.  I am.  I'm always working on music.  And I'm trying to figure out the best way to give you an insider's perspective on what I'm doing and how it gets done.  I really do love all the support you guys give me and have continued to give me.  Without you, frankly, and without Patreon, I think I might've, well, nevermind what might have happened.   But, see, I can't stand Facebook.  And Facebook definitely seems to be throttling my messages and announcements.  MySpace is dead.  And I just don't have the time or wherewithal to go seeking other avenues of social engagement.  And I'm certainly not ever gonna use ads.  Ewww.   So, it's you guys, my patrons, that fuel my engine.   Thank you so much.  I love you all.  I will try to do better.  I will try to give you more songs.  Better songs.  All the time.

With 3000 megatons of my love and admiration exploding on your faces,

M

Here's the link to the Say It With A Bullet album as it now stands...

https://www.yousendit.com/download/bXBaUXVrdGpxRTJFTmNUQw

(please note, this link will terminate in two weeks, so please download the music before two weeks from today's date.  Love you!)

http://nightattack.tv/episode/75

This week Brian and Justin are joined by Tom Merritt, Anthony Carboni, and Jeff Cannata live from Nerdtacular 2015!

Hey you beautiful patrons, you!  

Your friendly, neighborhood Mike TV here.  I was just writing to say hello, provide you this week's dose of music, and let you know what's gonna be coming up for the next few months.  

As many of you might be aware, my financial situation is pretty dire at the moment.  I won't get into specifics but, alas, my release of True Crime Television on Bandcamp only took a small chunk out of the money I owe to my creditors. So, I am gonna be forced to take a day job for the next 4 to 6 months to replenish my coffers.  Which means that I won't have time to write music with the same sort of fecundity (I know, it's a bit of a poetic use of that word, but at the same time, not really) as I have over the past year.  I will, however, be able to provide one weekly Ustream show a week.  In fact, I have a link to one that I recorded last Friday.  I play almost 40 songs from every album I have released.  (Well, except Tumors.  I used those songs to sound check an hour before I started the recording.)

Now, I understand that this isn't what you signed up for.  So, if you feel that you must stop supporting me, I completely understand.  I hope to get back to the songwriting before long.  But, my bank account is so close to empty it might as well be so.  I owe hundreds of dollars and I don't expect to see any significant checks for another month and change.  So, I have to take drastic measures to tackle my drastic situation.  

I hope you check out the show to see exactly what I am offering in exchange in the interim.  I played almost 40 songs, I played deep cuts and songs that have long been requested by fans.  I spent two days rehearsing, re-learning old tunes, and re-charting forgotten ones.  In addition to giving you a similar show each week, I am going to provide you with chord charts and lyric sheets to every album I have ever released.  I will give you one album a week.  Starting with the first and moving up to the last.  Once I have completed that project, I will then start recording YouTube videos, explaining how to cover each of the songs, played exactly the way I play them. 

So, I know that you won't be receiving new music from me over the next few months.  But you will still continue to receive quality entertainment, I believe.  A show, along with chord charts and lyric sheets, and then, eventually, YouTube videos explaining how to play my music.  I hope that is enough to compel you to stick with me.  If not, I thank you for your support, heretofore.  I love you all.  

The link below will take you to last Friday's show.

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/mike-tv-live-now-with-30-more-feelings

Love you all,

M.

Hey everyone!  

So I started working a day-job this last week.  I'm gonna have to work for the next few month to allow my bank accounts to replenish.  Which means that I am not going to be able to do a lot of song-writing over the next few months.  But, I will be able to perform one weekly Ustream, and also provide you the lyrics and charts I promised last week.  So, here they are.  The first link is to a file with lyrics and chord charts for the first half of So You've Ruined Your Life.  The second link is to the recorded Ustream, in case you missed the live version.

https://www.yousendit.com/download/bXBaOU1jTkxxRTJwSHNUQw

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/mike-tv-live-now-with-30-more-feelings

I hope you all are willing to bear with me for the next couple months.  As soon as my finances have recharged, I will get back to song-writing.  I just need to buckle down and work a dayjob for a while.  So sorry.  

Thank you so much for the continued support.  I love you all!

M.

P.S. I forgot to mention that the vocals are really hot on the Ustream.  I am still figuring out how to dial them in.  So I apologize for any clipping you might encounter.

The water on Mars announcement has inspired us to put our lab coats on. With the help of Dr. Kiki we bring butts to the audio listeners, we spread scientific knowledge to the art community, and we energize one of Brian's employees.