Okay, so he does the tour...blah, blah, blah...then what?! Amanda (Hey, girl!) says that his AI contract is up in August. What then? For those of us who are heavily into music and it's industry, we KNOW how long of a process getting a deal signed and a project recorded can be. AND, on top of that, he has to wait till the AI winner puts his/her (coughing...wack...coughing) CD out.

ELLIOTT MUST WORK THE UNDERGROUND CIRCUIT!!! Talk to your area promoters. Let's get Elliott into the House of Blues, Jazz/R&B clubs (grown folks spots please...I don't want to deal with bar fights), Art festivals, ALL OF IT! If he does well with this, which I know he will, he'll have NO PROBLEM getting a fair deal...so that he won't end up bankrupt like some other artists we have heard of. By keeping and growing his fanbase over that course of time, Elliott will BLOW UP when the CD finally hits the streets.

Yaminions, it's time to DEMAND ELLIOTT! We don't have to wait for a CD! Where would most musicians be if they waited for that?!

Well some other contestants on previous seasons and this one mention doing Christmas CDs. I mean they're pretty easy to record and get out there, and heck an Elliott CD would make a nice Xmas present. I'd probably buy multiple copies.

But after that he definately needs to network like he said and get into a label that's will to not only work with him, but support him. He's not going to have Kelly Clarkson sucess overnight and he needs label that understands that.

Hmm..House of Blues would be perfect for Elliott. Me being originally from Memphis and knowing the music scene cause I was a light tech back in the day...would be glad to ask some folks I know for help. But Elliott must get a promo CD together, something showcasing his talent, so we can shop it for him. We used to put together "promotional packs". But at this point it's really up to a manager to shop for Elliott. He needs to hire a reliable manager for him. Someone looking out for his best interests.

My best friend is the tour manager for the rock band HIM and has some major connections. He was just here with them at the House of Blues. I need to talk to him about this, see what we can do to get Elliott a manager. He needs someone looking out for his best interests. Someone to look at all these contracts they throw at him.

I'm studying to be a paralegal and also know the music business pretty good. But he will need some outside help once this American Idol contract runs out.

Very true! In addition to that, some labels want proof. Yes, AI is a good launching pad. However, because one person can vote a million times, it's really not a great or safe way for any label to judge the fanbase. But if they come and see him doing jam-packed shows, they'll see the value in him. This is actually how most get started (and by doing background vocals). Very few are discovered out of nowhere.

I wish I had the money to invest in him, I'd put him in a recoding studio if I could. He belongs there for sure and on a stage selling out concerts.

He really needs to consider getting a manager someone to help him at this point.

That's what I'm talking about. But because of this contract with AI, a promo CD may not be possible. A promo CD for him may have to be DVD's/MP3's of his AI performances with review clippings. We don't want him to be sued...even though the DVD/MP3 idea may be just as bad. Maybe giving out the AI CD with MMFL on it. I'm just not sure if a promo CD is possible right now.

From what I understand, he has already been indirectly approached by various moguls. Don't know who, but he seemed very excited. I'm sure he will record. He will. There is always someone willing to take a chance of a voice like his, especially with the publicity the show gave to him. No matter what we think about AI, it was perfect platform, the ONLY platform for someone like Elliott (already 27) to start a career. The cards worked out in his favor.

Let's be clear. I WANT Davis to pass. RCA/J would have not a clue on how to develop his talent. And he needs to stay the hell away from freaking Matolla. He needs something more independent, a label that will not pidgeon hole him into hip-hop as I suppose they may try to do. El said in an interview that he wanted to make a soulful R/B album. This is where El belongs. I suspect he will be seeking management (I don't think this will be an issue), an entertainment lawyer (he needs one to make sure he doesn't get screwed over) etc. The tour will help his confidence and will give him needed experience. You cannot buy experience like that. He needs to be developed and his sound needs to be honed. But "IT" is there. It is.

I suspect he could do the rounds through the underground small club scene, soulful R/B is made more for this type of an arena than large stadiums. He's not a stadium singer and he knows that. But he will have a career. I cannot say that it will be a huge career like Clarkson's, but she does pop/rock and that genre is money right now. No, he'll have a respected career. There is a point in every musicians life where they have to decide: Do I stay true to myself and maybe not be a HUUUGGEEEE, multimillion dollar success? Or do I sell out and make millions and plunk out records that will be forgotten in 2 years? El's song choice on Tuesday said it all. HE IS NOT A SELL OUT.

I do suppose he is one of those people that really isn't in it for the fame, fortune, or glory. He's actually in it for the music. And that people, is the right reason to be a singer.

I agree about the Underground Circuit, but I think that Elliott should use the Internet as a medium to get his stuff out to cut production costs for CDs and DVDs. These are my suggestions. Shoot me if I'm stupid.

1) Elliott should appeal to his fan base first. They will help him get started.

2) He should leverage his sales items (tee-shirts, hats, autographed pictures) to raise money. Most of that stuff can be drop shipped and he really doesn't need to get involved but it will bring the money he'll need to get started.

2) If he needs more money, he should offer pre-orders on his first 3 songs to be released as downloads from the Internet at say 99 cents apiece. If a million fans each pre-ordered each song at $2.97 that gives Elliott $2.97 million to work his own deal with a producer. He can sing something in the public domain to minimize royalty costs. I think him bringing MMFL to the idol stage was an example. How many people sing that song as well as he does, really.

3) With the pre-order money he can buy a support crew to support (PR, musicians, promoters, etc) to launch his own road show. Heck, a touring bus is less than $500k assuming he paid cash for that. As he popularizes his songs, he can add them to the download list at his website.

4) As he makes the rounds in the underground circuit, he can hire a videographer to create DVDs of the various performances. More stuff to sell on the website.

I don't think he needs (at least early on) the retail outlets pushing his stuff.

Ok ... time to call me stupid ...

[SIZE=7]I can't tell you how happy I am to see this thread continued. It's the most informative of all them that has passion but not emotion. I love this. I hope you will keep us all update on Elliott's CD's. I'm in a rural area so concerts etc., are harder for us but CD's would be great.

Oh I don't doubt the labels being ready for him. But, contractually, that won't be happening today or tomorrow, right? Can he not sign before the AI winner or can he just not release a CD before the AI winner? If he can't sign, then he needs a job singing so that he can continue to get experience and exposure.

I am definitely hoping Darth Davis will pass on E...and I'm just about sure he will. If y'all remember, EllaGCracker (from the AI boards) was an A/R exectutive for Universal Urban. I'll email her and see if I can get her over here to chat.

Check out their artist list:
http://universalurban.com/site/web/artists/

Any artist can have a demo CD...he can't do anything until the tour is over though.

He can't really sign anything until he's released from his obligation with the American Idol contracts. But that doesn't mean he can't "look" at things. ;)

Imagine my surprise when I saw this thread! :D I love it! I see some of my friends- Hi dulce, v4elliott!

I want E to work with Quincy Jones, Q has a way of blowing artist up big time. I can't wait to get my hands on his cd, it's a little depressing, cause I know we have to wait for some time before that happens.

Yeah I love being able to come on here and "discuss" things, some people have really been in the music business and know some things, but don't try to talk about it over at the other board...they just don't want to hear it.

:o

Hi Tybar: I'm under a new name here. I was Taylorbabe but it got people confused that I was for Taylor. So I changed it. Nice to see old names though. Ya Quincy.

Hey TY!

Welcome! Grab those kleenex and snuggle in over here. We're comforting each other by talking about Elliott's future.

Anybody know how to contact Googie, JB, Jlynn, MusicD, squeegee...please don't get mad if I didn't call your name. There we got to be a crowd over there. Anyway, tell 'em to come on over here!

That sounds very interesting dulce. Where did you hear that from? I would like to read up on it.

EDIT to add: and I just read this and

Wouldn't that be amazing if that actually came to reality?

MusicD and Jlyn are here. MusicD has a different name. I told Jlyn and Googie. I don't know if Googie is here yet but Jlyn I believe signed up.

OK I pushed the wrong freaking button, but I think it's cleared up now. Well...I heard that part about the supposed offers in various interviews. He wouldn't be saying there is interest if there wasn't. We're not going for Kelly Clarkson fame here. His style (soul r/B) and personality are not suited for major stardom. But Elliott will sing. He will have a career and he will be happy.

Hmm, I'm wondering if I should alter my name here... but I'm not really an idolnewbee anymore after going through this season...

And whoever said this thread on the AI board lacked emotion- wow, we weren't lacking earlier this morning/last night!... reverting back to passion sans emotion took a good night's sleep... not all the way relaxed yet, but I think I'm close to just being passionate again...

Hi music lovers. Great place. Just got in so I was catching up on the posts. Regarding E's career, down the line, if finances are needed,I'm willing to cough up some money. I 'm not rich, but not poor either.I'd be happy to help his cause. Keep me in mind when the time comes.I'd do anything to help him get started. :)

Ok, I have this man that works at the local hardware store here in VT that is going to re-open a recording studio and I will talk to him, it would not be expensive... I dont think........I will check with the man and let you know.

Also, I have a friend at CapEmi in NY that I emailed last night for his opionon of Elliot, being he is in the industry and is a muscician also, I wanted to see what he had to say. NO response yet, if I get one, I will let you guys know..

I would love to host the Yamin family here at our farm in VT... We could have a concert on the mountain top......

We would be YAMIN from the mountain top.....

Cheers!

Not for me, I'm not a Kanye West fan at all and hope he doesn't go that route...

Don't bash Kanye. He's got an attitude the size of the Sierra Madre, but you know, in the studio, the man "works it out". Before he was a so-so rapper, he was a producer and the man knows how to mix sounds and vibes like nobody else. He's possibly, and say possibly, better than even Dr. Dre in this department.

Much love to the poster who coined "Darth Davis". That is SO great. I couldn't decide whether the guy was frightening or pathetic, and that name gets at both. Bravo!

Couldn't agree more with you. I've heard the rumors that Clive doesn't want Elliott (the posts I saw said he wants the two finalists plus Chris and Paris), which is both insulting and liberating. Any so-called expert who thinks Kat should sing R. Kelly or Taylor should sing The Boss or our man E should sing ... Journey ... is out of his mind. And we thought E was the one who had to overcome deafness ....

I'm not bashing him, I just said he's not my cup of tea...and that I'm not a fan of Kanye.

Hey Dulce!

I agree, but I don't think mainstream is totally out of the question-- look at Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys, and John Legend to name a few... rnb/soul is definitely hot and is making a comeback-- music always goes in cycles.

I also think E will have a totally new sound infused with his eclectic love of all music and I can't wait to hear it!

I would love to hear a collab w/ Alicia Keys though... If I Ain't Got You is one of my all time favorite songs and E would totally kill on that.

I agree that DD can spot talent and has in the past, but sometimes people are blind to the diamonds right in front of them... I actually think it's better that Elliott find someone who is truly passionate and respects his artistry- that way we'll get the masterclass album we've been waiting for.

I know:). All love in here. Isn't it great that we can say whatever we want to and not worry about the gestappo mods poofing everything?

I"ll put it this way. If Davis is going to go for McScreech, that tells me all I need to know about his a) mental status B) hearing capacity and c) alcohol consumption.

LOL..ain't that the truth..I love it "McScreech"...Clive Davis is noted more for "signing" artists then producing them...I don't think he produced Bo's cd worth a flip. I was disappointed in it.

Exactly- he signed Alicia Keys, but Alicia produces her own stuff w/ others... DD produced Whitney's last album... yikes!

That's why we don't want a major major label. They are going to try to mainstream him. They have no respect anymore for the niche artist. My gut feeling tells me that El will go for the deal that may not get him the most monetary benefit, but will give him the most freedom to record the kind of music that he wants. What a champ.

That does seem to be what he's saying in his interviews thus far- that he really wants to do the kind of music that HE wants to do... of course, he IS still insisting he'd work with anyone with an interest in him, but, by and large, he seems to be responding fairly assertively, and I quite like that. He's coming off so much more confident and determined, I'm very much enjoying his post-show words. And, have you heard his comments about "I Believe to My Soul"? I'm excited again!

I cannot believe that I am still a blubbery mess. There is a small part of me that wanted him to sell out just a little....just a little bit. You know, I wanted him to play the "game". But he didn't. In the end, though, he won my uptmost respect for that. That respect will never die.

On these talent shows like AI, (well if you've done enough talent shows in general), you come to realize that there are the songs that you like to sing, that reflect you, and the songs that you have to sing to win. A Song For You, classic example of a song that isn't well known enough to help him win, but dear God was that El's song or what. Screw McScreech and her crappy ass Somewhere Over the Bloody Rainbow. A Song For You was a moment. It was not manufactured. It was the perfect blend of Elliott and the song. That song will always give me goosebumps. My mom even cried when I showed her the video of it. Granted, she cries easier than I do, but she LOVES Elliott and she called me when she found out he got the boot. We are all sad. Anyway, back to the point, I'm glad El didn't sell out. Neither did Chris. And well, the both got the boot. See how these talent shows work?

It's going to be hard to hope and pray that someone else signs him, but I believe they will. I know they will. Amanda (WW) seems very hopeful so I will be as well. I can't wait.

Oh...did I mention to join the KICK THE KAT CAMPAIGN? :clubbed:

Hey Tybar :banana: I mentioned on another thread how much I would love to see E hook up with Pharrell. And E already mentioned Kanye (maybe a little harder to see). Reading the interview, it occurred to me that maybe E stuck to his guns re the Ray song to make SURE Clive would pass. I hope that's part of the reason, because it's going to happen, and he WILL have offers from producers and labels who "get" him. B)

musicD

You know, I'm even starting to feel guilty for calling El out on that bum note in "I Believe to My Soul", & on the chorus of "Open Arms"... it felt ok talking about the good and the bad knowing he would be performing again the following week, knowing he could improve and we could hear it and discuss it. Not so much now, not so much...

Ugh, that exit interview... I wrote on the main boards, the soundtrack in the background is what pushed me over the edge, it would have been bad enough just listening to & watching El speak, but then they go playing "This Song was Written Especially for YOU to make YOU Cry", and I was done for... bleh, I had been doing so well today.

I wish there were some mysterious way El could record a 2 minute long cover of a song every week, just to make me happy...



KTK CAMPAIGN!!!! :clubbed:

Hello musicians,
someone else Elliott mentioned he'd like to work with is Quincy Jones. Made me think of a great album Q produced in the 80s (long time ago) for James Ingram. He could do great work with Elliott.

Contrary to the views of some at the time, it was clear to me that the brief trip to Richmond was all E needed to confirm to him he was on the right track. He saw Chris never compromise and get booted, and once he saw the crowds show him how he had "touched" (his word) people with his music, he was totally at peace with going out the same way, if that was going to happen. He came back here to L.A. and decided he would do the Ray song, no matter who suggested otherwise.

If he wasn't sure before, he now knows EXACTLY what he's about. B)


musicD

Is that not the catch, though. Be who you are and the rest of the planet doesn't get it. Be a freaking Britney clone and you win the million dollar lotto. But that being said, I agree with you musicD. You got my PM earlier so...

I have so much respect for him cause God knows that in his position, I would have sold out big time. As a singer, I would have and I know that I wouldn't have been able to deal with doing something that didn't "please". That's why I consider this guy a hero to me of sorts. I hope to be half as daring.

I don't think he did that RC song to make Clive pass. I think he did it because it reflected who he was as a singer and where he wanted to go as an artist. People get all upset that he chose another obscure song, but ppl...he's been doing it all freaking season. Why stop now? I am impressed that he stood up for himself against the producers who wanted him to sing something more known. Makes me wonder if TPTB really wanted him gone or not. But he's not a pushover in terms of music. That's what important.

KTK Campaign :clubbed:

Dulce, I agree wholeheartedly. I think if anyone else had chosen such a little known song (and others throughout the competition) I'd have thought them mad, because it's just not helping them get to where they want to be. But with Elliott I admire and respect him so much for singing the songs he loved (when he could) and for staying true to his voice and his first love of R'n'B. I think it showed that his commitment to music was more important than being the AI and that's so very cool. The fact that he did it all in such a sweet and humble was only more impressive. By comparison, I think Chris's commitment to his genre was too pompous and serious and didn't give your average viewer (me) enough to warm to.

Elliott has said that he's had interest from record people outside of the AI machine and I'm sure the fact that he showed himself to be a musician's musician (singer's singer?) first and foremost has done him a lot of favours with those in the industry.