Everybody loves Chocolate....

This is it, the Extra Special Pre Xmas interview with non other than CHOCOLATE BLONDE!!! If you do not know who this lady is then where the hell have you been?! She is a fast rising star injecting her electric personality and foxy moves into hip hop / pop / RnB / lets just get giggling and moving music. Plus she has the pleasure of my new style interview technique....hold on to your seats ladies and gentleman cos its gonna be a big one........

So we are going to be conducting this interview in the bathroom. Ok stay with me here. So, this is the scene:

You’re in your bathroom at home, you’re getting ready to go out for a gig and unusually have loads of time to spare. There is a glass of your favorite tipple on the side and some music blaring from the uber cool inbuilt sound system.

- What is the first thing you see as you open your bathroom cabinet?

A note saying well done for upgrading the bath room - an uber cool inbuilt sound system for me - well done, there would then be a second note - saying make sure you upgrade your sitting room next as listening to songs threw your mobile as entertainment for guests is not cool haha

haha!!!!

- Your toothbrush, good old manual or an electric dream?

Always electric set my teeth alight !!! - bling!

- This tipple that currently balances on the side of the bath… what is it?

It is empty

- Ok so for those that don’t know you, give us four bathroom items that best describe you and your music.

Dove - i like to leave you feeling refreshed and sky high

Domestos - bleaching keeps the place and the mind clean

Shower head - always faithfull- HAHAHA

My towel - always ready to wrap you up and make feel good

- You’re a pretty feisty lady with some serious sexual attitude….have you always been like this and what do you put your positive female attitude down to?

Erm---- yes i suppose ive always been like this all though every day i seem to learn something new - the postive side defenately comes from my mum and my friends that i keep always an insipiration all so special as individuals. All my female friends and my mum are all straight up - no long ting lol

- I heard Italy has been on the cards for you recently, as well as telling us a little about what you were doing out there can you tell us did you stay in a hotel? Was the linen and towels etc up to scratch? Oh, did you come back with any fancy soaps or shampoos or possibly even a free dressing gown?

I was Naples had a brilliant time stayed with the family that owned the club. Mukcumba beach club, absolutely beautiful. I was well taken care of treated like one of the family , performed in front of some very important people. In 2010 Italy and myself should definitely be spending some chocolate time - whoop. There was no soap stealing - the dove, it always

gets me threw lol.

- Shave, Wax, Cream or Epilate?

Ha i shant say forests always keep you guessing!!

- Is there a boy waiting patiently outside the bathroom for you?

Erm - ill have to check one second.............. 10 hours later still checking

- What are your goals for 2010?

To be in your shower booming around the room and being sung from your vocal chords.

- If you could visit anyone’s bathroom in the world who’s would it be and why?

Mine as its my favourite place to be - relaxing in the bath woooooooooo lovely

- From where do you seek inspiration?

That has to be coversations i have with friends family etc.

- And as a final question; there are 6 rubber ducks in your bath. Your mum buys you 2 more and then your friend a further 9. You feel there isn’t enough room for you so remove 3. What is the square root of the remaining number of ducks?

I could’nt tell you to busy playing with the 3 I had to start with good times !!!!! hahahaha

Well what can I say.....pass me that Dove. If you want to see more of le Chocolate then check her out on the links below.

My Space

Facebook

Twitter

The nights are drawing in...

Lets face it, the nights are well and truly drawn in and by 4pm you are dreaming about getting home in front of the warm fire and tucked up in your favourite big cardi, slippers on and a glass of your fave tipple on hand. The last couple of hours at work are spend essentially clock watching.

Well take up some of that time by entertaining yourself drawing lines all over your screen and then watch Santa sleigh down them to collect his presents...watch out of the nasty volcanos (I know, who thought they were in the North Pole?!) and the reindeer. Have fun!

Rescue Santa here!

DM's, Care Bears and Hypercolour handprints....

Oh, sitting back, sipping my martini, smoking my vogue cigarettes and reminiscing, the "good ole days" I hear myself mutter.  

So without getting too carried away and aging myself another 40 years I shall introduce you to exactly that, the days of old.  

I grew up in the 80's and 90's and was having an excited conversation the other day with a friend about those colour changing t-shirts you used to be able to get.  I had a collection I must admit and loved my pink or purple tie dyed version.  Of course, there were many worn in school and inappropriate hand prints all over the place but they were awesome!  So awesome they seem to have made a slight come back (well OK not really cos I haven't seen any but hey give me a chance here) with American Apparel and Brooklyn Royalty introducing them to the catwalk earlier this year.  Those crazy Americans.

I also remember the mood changing rings or jewelry, the Leg warmers, the Care Bears and Pob - what happened to him!?

However after this hyperactive and animated chin wag I decided to look back at some of the other things we all knew and loved from the 80's and 90's......check it out & start boasting again about how many lace holes you had in your DM's.  Wicked.

 

Every cloud.....

This weekend was meant to be a girls one, filled with fancy eateries, cocktails, a few too many glasses of wine & some good giggles.  Unfortunately the weekend has had to be cancelled so I found myself with some time to do some marketing......much needed yet still something I seem to put off.  "Sorry darling, is that the bathroom that needs cleaning, I'll be right there."  The taps have never looked so shiny.

Anyway it got me thinking about where I turn for help and little hints and tips I pick up along the way and I imagined, where other people trying to get into the photo biz may struggle or also need advise.  Now I have given some of this stuff before but never hurts to recap, some may seem obvious, really obvious but hey....I missed em so you never know, you might too.

• Keep good records.  This includes everything coming in and out.  Believe me when you come to do your expenses or taxes it will save literally days of looking under the bed for receipts or having to fill in bloody excel spreadsheets with info.  It also helps you to see really how much money you are spending and more importantly, making!
• Have a database of contacts.  Record as much info as possible, where they got your name from, jobs you have done for them, any comments or feedback they gave you.  This will help with future client targeting.
• Look out for marketing events or workshops that offer you advise on business.  In the UK Business Link offer a great range; available online for your own study or held in various local venues.
• Share your knowledge.  People love giving advise and others like receiving it.  Share what you know and it is amazing the things you learn in return.
• Speak to other photographers or artists in your field.  Ask for help, seriously people are a lot nicer than you think.
• Get a mentor.  I asked for a lot of help when i first started and still do.  I have a few people who I turn to for different advise.  Get involved with a local mentor group or agency or really make good contacts within the industry and don't be afraid to ask for advise & tips.  Although there are various government agencies offering business mentors which are excellent, often having a friend or someone you know in the same field as you is even better as the advise is far more bespoke and personal to you or your situation.
• Write a marketing plan!! I never really wrote one I just collected post-it notes of ideas!  I am in the process of writing a marketing plan @ the moment and man it is hard, but I think it will help me gain focus.  I am also constructing a timeline and planner of what I will do and when.  Plus, I am setting myself a budget - dear Lord I always had trouble with those!
• Shout about yourself.  Don't be worried about letting people know what you do, where you intend on getting and also where you are struggling.  You just never know how people can help you.
• Offer help to others.  All good deeds are returned and the knowledge you share with others is just one way of creating a great supportive community around you.
• Look at community events and how you can offer your services to the community or a cause and not only help them but bring exposure to your brand.
• Think carefully about starting your business.  Get Advise.  I got bits and pieces but never really went to any workshops or had a plan in place, it just kind of happened.  It feels a little unstructured now and I am positive that if I had of done it properly then I would just be happier about what I am doing now and my goals for the next year.  Plus I would know how to continue the business from previous customers, the wave of new business only lasts so long.  Extending those offers and keeping customers returning or recommending even more customers is essential practice i should have learnt more about earlier!

Knowing me knowing you...

The Fat Mix evening promised good music and a vibe to part to, well it did just that! Although there to take pictures I was also in a social mood & thought a bit of getting to know your peers and so forth was in order.  Plus I was enjoying my stripy blue top (straight from my sis's wardrobe!!) and thought it deserved a shimmy on the dance-floor.

The evening saw DJ Chef (Lets Move Forward Productions) VS Run DJ's, both giving excellent performances and ensuring there was some booty shaking and foot tapping on the dance floor.  

The event was @ The Blag Club in London, Russell Gardens and although not the best sound system in the world it was a quirky setting which apart from the issues I had with the sheer amount of red in the images, was an interesting venue to get some images.  It was a Asian style venue with lots of big comfy seating, incense and real thick wooden tables.  The highlight of the evening I have to say was the live percussion, the bongo dude and the saxophonist.  Both excellent performers and really added a special touch to the evening.   One other thing I saw and like lots, was the gold dress being sported by a lovely lady called Vicky, suited her down to the ground & teamed with some wet look leggings and nice shoes, the gal pulled off the bling dress with pure style!!

See the pics @ www.carli-art.co.uk/login - FATMIXRUN gallery.

Mix it up a little, Fat Style......

Tonight Carli-Art (ie Me!) will be @ the oh so swanky Blag Club in Russell Gardens in London.  The Fat Mix are putting on a club night which not only offers a good mix of funky house, hip hop, dance and live percussion beats but also is a relaxed environment to network in and get to meet a whole bunch of hand picked creatives from various practices!

This is a guest list only event and places are going fast so if you want to join us then get your dancing shoes on, grab your business cards and email info@fattalent.com

See you there! x