I couldn't have wrote it better...

MusicNetwork.ie wrote this great article about the website -

June 29, 2006

Music broadcasting on the edge (literally) - Ireland's newest online music broadcaster goes live

Not five minutes walk from Music Network's Dublin Castle office is perched Ireland's newest online music broadcaster. From an eyrie high above The Oak on Dame Street Balcony TV has broadcasted daily on the internet since going live in early May 2006.

Not for Balcony TV, however, the lavish D4 resources and million-euro presenters of RTÉ, or even the bright and breezy on-a-shoestring production values of the out-of-towners at TV3. Instead it has a few square metres of space on the eponymous balcony, three 'staff' members, a handheld digital video camera, some lights and a computer to produce a few minutes of new footage every day. The al fresco 'studio', a tiny futuristic balcony facing east along Dame Street, is visible by looking skywards across Dame Street from the office block rising out of the old Millennium Garden beside City Hall and can be easily identified by a troublesome Balcony TV banner adorning the back wall.

Harnessing the resources of youtube.com the team uploads the videos of musicians' live performances on the balcony allowing them to be viewed by anyone with a computer who wishes to do so.

The triumvirate behind this blast of fresh broadcasting air is Stephen O'Regan, Tom Millett and Pauline Freeman.

Stephen O'Regan, who studied film making in New York, multi-tasks for Balcony TV. As well as shouldering a lot of the organisational and computing responsibilities he is also the one found mostly behind the camera. Tom Millet can be seen in front of the camera as a presenter but also lines up the acts that appear and reportedly strikes fear into the masses with his guerilla marketing tactics. Tom is a double bass player and the third member of the trio, Pauline Freeman, is a cellist. Pauline is also a presenter on Balcony TV and has appeared 'on screen' playing the cello with her band Alan Alda.

The video archive of the acts appearing on the Balcony TV shows a definite leaning towards the singer/songwriter genre. Stephen is keen to increase the range of musicians appearing on the balcony and would welcome contact from jazz and classical musicians in particular. Space on the balcony might be a bit tight for a grand piano but at the risk of losing an eye courtesy of an errant violin bow or a twirling drumstick a string trio or jazz trio with a snare drum could just about squeeze on there.

If you are interested in getting in on the ground floor, so to speak, and appearing as one of the earliest performers on Balcony TV contact Stephen O'Regan at stephen@balconytv.com or call Stephen at 086 8613374.

You can say 'I was there…'.

Visit Balcony TV at www.balconytv.com

- Thank you MusicNetwork.ie

big suits

Waiting for the upload, I'm sitting beside some people here who are discussing making big website deals. Not with me mind. They are talking big money. How do they do it? They are dropping figures like there's no tomorrow.
If I could just slip them an Official BalconyTV Card, it could gaurentee the future of the site. They'd like it, and want a buy in. I just need them to have a look at the site, and then badabing badaboom.
I mean, everybody likes the site!! Everybody!!!!
Sorry to those who were spammed about the site yesterday, and maybe have been spammed before. I payed my brother 20 quid to email the world. He may be employed for a summer job. 20 quid for two hours, I think I'm paying him too much though.
Rehung the BalconyTV dodgy banner yesterday. We had a pretty bad rope job with it last week. But then it got very windy, and worried about somebody getting there head clattered.
During Gay Pride, I attempted to rehang it...you wouldn't believe how close it came to falling. HEADLINE - BALCONYTV BANNER KILLS PASSER BY!!!
Anyway, rehung it with alot of heavy duty masking tape. In a different spot, but looks good in a ultra cheapy way me thinks.
I see MySpace isn't working right now. Its a joke!!!
Tomorrow folks, tomorrow.

two brown chairs

To the old Spiderman theme.

Writers block, writers block, another day of writers block.
What to say? What to do?
When you've got writers blues.
Writers block, writers block, how does one get writers block.
When you try toooooo write.
All you can come up with issss s@%&e!

APPLAUSE

Why thank you.

May I congratulate Black Orchid on surpassing 600 YOUTUBE views, but me things GAY PRIDE is on the way to the top. Me thinks.

We want digits!!!

We were shooting some BalconyTV last night with quite the elaborate set up. A new young Dublin band decided to set up the first drum set on the balcony, not to mention amps and the like - we've gone largely acoustic so far. Possibly dangerous with the weather as it has been in recent days. Needless to say the band gave it socks. It was remeniscent of a certain U2 video in atmosphere as people were looking out from windows in opposite buildings. One group of ladies went as far as to hang a banner from their window as they cheered on THE BAND. I cant say what the banner said...but one thing is for certain...bands get alot more female attention than us film makery types. If you are those ladies with the banner...write in...the band want numbers!!!

CHEER UP CHARLIE

What to write, what to say. Who cares? Anybody? Does anybody really care? Who are we kidding with this stupid BalconyTV concept.
A few eejits with a Balcony, blah blah blah.
Oh pleeeeeeeeese.
And now its Monday. And its wet. And its grey.
Its not like we haven't seen it before.
Another week of complexities and agro.
Pointless agro.
Just goes round and round.
Theres no way this winter is ever going to end, as long as the groundhog keeps seeing the shadow. Hes gotta be stopped. And I've gotta stop him.

TOM: Jesus Christ Ste, your getting it all out now.
STE: Yeah but people like reading this type of stuff.
TOM: Yeah, but you've gone a bit nuts on this one.
STE: Trust me Tom, I know what the people want.
TOM: Just finish up by saying BalconyTV is the best thing ever.
STE: Word.

In the Star!!!

Deadly eh!!! They took lots of pictures of Pauline and Tom, but chose just the one. There was a rush to the news agent at 12 by Pauline, Tom and mishe last night. Quick phone calls were made...
'Did you say that?'' I didn't say that?' 'Oh my god do I look fat in that? ' 'No you don't look fat' 'I can't believed they used that picture' and so on and so forth.
All publicity is good publicity...They say.

THEYRE MADE OUT OF MEAT

So the weekend is here again...and that means only one thing. A drop off in viewing figures. Hurrah. With the drop off noticeable every weekend so far thanks due to the power of web stats, BalconyTV has decided to have a bit of fun come the end of week. Hence todays show. And you can see the same type of thing if you look at last weekends show. We could but acts on the weekend, but that would be unfair to them, as one of the sites key functions is to promote its performers.
Listening to Irelands No.1 Digital Podcast with Dusty Rhodes this week. It was nice to hear them talk about BalconyTV.Com. Although they did give out that we were charging acts to perform on the Balcony. Well at the beginning of the week we decided that charging acts was not the way to go. Infact it was a down right stupid idea by Stephen, showing no business common sense at all. Although we would like to point out, we have not charged any acts so far to perform. But start buying pixel space will ye...jeesh!!!
Ok a couple of plugs. Stephens short film THEYRE MADE OUT OF MEAT will screen as part of the DARKLIGHT FILM FESTIVAL today in HAVANAS TAPAS BAR on Georges Street. Thats at 3 - 4.30PM. Stephen will be there shamelessly handing out BalconyTV cards. If you can't make it to the film, you can watch it at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-NAvPzdjj0
Oh, and buy tomorrows STAR NEWS PAPER, and look at some plonkers dangling from a Balcony.
Tomorrow folks.

blah blee blue

Im sitting here with Pauline. She's eating toast. I tryed to coax her to write todays blog. No success. She's now explaining how she thinks cleaning in theraputic. Now she's saying we should follow Croatia in the World Cup. Now she's moved onto her love life. Now her bracelet. The inner workings of the female mindset, right there.
Bumped into Grainne Seoige yesterday. Gave her a BalconyTV card. She was really nice about it. So I offered to re-negotiate her RTE contract in a bid to lure her to BalconyTV. I said we could offer her a tenner and some tea and biscuits if she came to work for us. She insisted that the biscuits must be USA biscuits. Was very impressed with her choice selection.
TFI FRIDAY.

Waiting...

Wish List of People We Want On BalconyTV.Com.

Abba, Guns and Roses, Jackie Mason, Pamela Anderson, Woody Allen, Jack Dee, Vocal Sampling, David Letterman, Jay Leno, Conan O' Brian, Steve Coogan, Alan Partridge, Cast of the League of Gentlemen, Neil Jordan, Jerry Seinfeld, Kramer, Superman, Mighty Mouse, Andy Kaufman, Jim Carrey, Pele, Maradona, Shigeru Miyamoto, Koshi Kondi, Bill Clinton, U2, Nelson Mandela, George Bush (that would be a coo), (and controversial), Peter Stringfellow (Tom believes its possible), Davd Grey, Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Sting, Steven Spielberg, Vince Vaughn as Trent in Swingers, Pat Kenny, Gay Byrne, Terry Wogan, Jonathan Ross, The Queen, The Pope, God, The Invisible Man, Arnie Terminator, Bill Murray (defonightly), Willam Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Nigella Lawson ('she's so hot' - Tom), Cameron Diaz in the Mask, Andrea Corr, Miles Davis, Edgar Mayher, Brad Mehldau, Phillip Glass, Liam Neeson, Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan, Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton, Daniel Craig, and the guy who was only in one James Bond film, whos name I can't remember, Mr. Blobby, Noel Edmonds, Bjork, Robbie Williams, PT Anderson, Any really famous porn actresses...female (Tom), Poland, Zinadene Zidane, The Dalai Lama, Robert Evans....The Kid Stays in the Picture, Richard E. Grant, Audrey Tatou, Tom Hanks, The Guys from Enron, Deepak Chopra tonigh on Larry King, The Ghostbusters, The Statue of Liberty, Donald Trump, Super Mario, Sonic the Hedgehog, Mozart, Christopher Columbus, Macauley Culkin, The Dude from The Big Labowski, and so on and so forth.

Waiting, waiting, waiting...

swish jackets and baseball caps

Yesterday was a run about, meeting lots of different peeps regarding BalconyTV. There was certainly a bit of a buzz, with a feeling that things were going off, just a bit anyway. Sold some more pixels. Should see them in full glory later on today. Thank you to our sponsors.
We even did a photo shoot. But more about that in the days to come.
Need to calm down a bit. DIY television is what it is after all.
Pauline is requesting that some fashionable clothing store sponsors her wardrobe on BalconyTV. Seems only right. Tom could do with a few more swish jackets. The film maker need some more cliched base ball caps.
Ok, I wont make this a regular thing, but after you watch todays BalconyTV you have to check out this video, it's unbelievable. Give it up for YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4hVD_dqxfo

Sveige and stuff

So we had our first major problems on BalconyTV yesterday. In an effort to sort out the scrunched up stuff at the bottom of the screen, we went offline for a couple of hours, in drama that was akin to The Truman Show.
We think things are fixed now though. Kudos to Sue, our intrepid web designer.
Finally started the push on the pixel selling yesterday. You can see what we've got at the bottom of the page. We are just beginning. Now we can afford some biscuits for the weeks tea. Pauline likes Rich Teas, I like Toffo Pops and Tom likes bread. Thank you to our sponsors.
We were at a great open mic last night in the International Bar. We walked in to see Jezzebelle and Alan Alda were playing. Both of which were in great form. There were a number of other great singer song writers, although I confess to not being in the International Bar since I was 16. Those were the days.
Clearly on bad writing form today. Cleary. Waiting, waiting, waiting...for the upload.
Go Sweden!!!

New thingamibobs

So today we unveil some little changes to the site. Now we have a nice flag saying 'EVERY DAY SOMETHING NEW', which hangs just above the screen. We also have a cool button for our myspace. And we have a new button for the 'BalconyCrew'. Its there where you can read all about the balcony crew. Ooooooooooo...aaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!
Rumour has it that the bottom of the page looks a bit nuts when you log on...We plan on sorting that this week, by bringing our web designer lots of coffees and moneys and other incentives.
Keep watching the balcony!!!

The rain in Spain lies mainly in the nothing to say

Its raining for the first day in a long time I see; the first time in BalconyTV history!! What are we going to do when it rains on the Balcony? Haven't taught so well about that one. I'm thinking a couple of heavy duty umbrellas. Official BalconyTV Umbrellas!!! There's a taught. We can sell them online. Oh my god, we'd make millions!! It's Sunday, nothing to say, you may notice.

Web Stats...ahhh Web Stats

Its Saturday morning. Just looking over the web stats, and delighted to see that BALCONYTVs viewership has gone up day after day after day after day after day. But in saying that I notice that at the weekend there is a definite drop off. Interesting looking at peoples trends. This isn't an advert for web stats mind. But I do know that most people are looking to the site at lunch time, which is good for your employers. I also noticed that alot of you look at it at 4pmish...which isn't so good for your employers. And I also notice that alot of you look at the site at 5am...are you nuts!!! Sleep people, sleep!

So folks here it is, the information you have all been waiting for. BalconyTv has been viewed by people from (and if you can raise your hands when your called), Ireland!! USA!! UK!!! CANADA!!! SPAIN!!! AUSTRALIA!!! NEW ZEALAND!!! GERMANY!!! POLAND!! THAILAND!! NETHERLANDS!! SWEDEN!! GREECE!! CUBA!! MAURITIUS !!!(nice) HONG KONG!! FRANCE!! (oo la la) NORWAY!! SWITZERLAND!! CHILE!!! and ofcoarse THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION!!!.

Go web stats!!!!

Keep watching the balcony!!!

Agro top pr guy who knows better...apparently!!!

The feedback is really good now. We've only had positive feedback from people who have heard the idea. Apart from this guy I met in the Dawson Lounge last week. He said the idea would never work. He said our Official Balcony TV Cards were crap. He said he was a top pr guy based in London, and we didnt have a clue. Unfortunatly for him I was bejazzled at the time, having had about 15 drinks. I responded in robust fashion. It all got quite agro. Cuss words flying left and right. Classy it was. Little does he know it was an orchestrated plot to make all 8 punters in the Dawson Lounge awear of Balcony TV. Take that cynical top london pr guy.

bye bye polski

hey yall. so was out in bruxelles last night. bombarding the world with the balcony tv cards. also had the chance to see a number of bands. forget the names of them now...but suffice to say they were all very good. there are alot more talented people in the world than some may want to admit.
it was sad that poland lost to germany in the world, effectively ending there chances of progression. that will be the end of the poland world cup song, we composed especially for poland. it has had plays on radio across ireland, and on gerry ryan...but any possible shelf life it may of had, has gone down the tubes...
you can still here it in the balcony archives...
here todays pitch folks...we are looking to get seven major irish artists. we will get them on the balcony, and have them paint something on a blank canvas. we will time lapse it up so its under five minutes ofcoarse. after which we will auction the paintings for charity, maybe the childrens hospitals.
any major artists watching yet?
ste

Shockingly Hung Over

And todays upload...just wont work. This is the third attempt!!! I think it may be cursed. The curse of CJ. Im not sure he has a curse yet.
So we are discussing launching a massive marketing campaign for the website. Well not that massive - since the budget is very very close to the nil mark. (hint for producers and investors alike)
If we were to have a budget what should we do. We were thinking of putting a building wrap on the outsite of the big windows next to the balcony. With hugh images of pauline and tom looking up in a cheesy Anchorman fashion. We are trying to figure out if you need planning permission for that though. Can we pass it off as art. Im not sure if its art...but i like it.
Free legal advice to stephen@balconytv.com
Even better, if you know the legalities...maybe we can get you on the balcony and film a show, talking about the legalities.
We have been advised again and again, that the best way to get flyers into peoples hands...is with busty hot women. Don't call me sexist...i didnt say it...but everyone I've met has.
Why dont people take flyers of my younger brothers and his mates...but they will from busty hot women.
So if you see busty hot women, handing out balcony tv cards...you know who to thank.
By the way...any busty hot women who want to apply for these flyer handing out gig...email
stephen@balconytv.com
upload, god dammit!!!!!!!!!!!!

musings of a non cigarette smoking man

this blog has really just become just a way to stay occupied while uploading. alas ive been uploading for the last 45 mins...and then up popped the colour wheel....the colour wheel of death as i prefer to know it. if you have a mac you know what i mean. i spins and spins and spins...and then..........death.
so 2nd chance.
glad to see the site is finally getting some attention. word amouth being all important due to our non budget...we are getting some interesting phone calls and emails from creative minded people who like the idea, and have show concepts.
does anyone read the bleedin blog. maybe i should start talking about my deep routed problems...
(alter ego: dont do that this ego: check)
so is there any press out there. any chance of an interview or someint...help us, help you...help us...help you.
has anyone seen our banner on dame street? anybody want to make a cool banner for us?
we need help....
keep telling the world...
and keep watching the balcony
ste

the best thing since...

waiting for the upload...

so tom whats the best thing about balconytv?

tom: just that its the best thing since sliced bread...

ste: oh really, what makes you say that?

tom: shush ste, im trying to make an international call...

ste: so what, anwser me, anwser me now!!!!

tom: calm down ste, your getting far to passionate about the balcony gig...

ste: are you suggesting the balcony is not all you think about

tom: well i have the mortgage, the wife, the kids...

ste: tom you dont have any of those things...

tom gets up and leaves...

tom: you can pay for the coffee today...

The number one person to have on the balcony

sitting here with tom, having a coffee in another of dublins more fashionable establishments...and waiting waiting waiting for the upload, i pose the question to tom...

'tom, whos the number one person you'd like to see on the balcony?'

'dave holland' says tom

'whos dave holland' says uncultured steve

'hes a virtuoso jazz double bass player' says tom

'hmmmmm' says steve

'no, id like to interview someone huge' says tom

brilliant...

upload!!! god dammit!!!

keep watching the balcony

Belly Dancers and Builders

and chainsaws and drills and police cars and ambulences...theres always something.
tom was a big fan of the belly dancers, but he managed a restrained presenting performance...for that he deserves kudos...kudos tom!!
saw poland didnt win last night...yesterdays specially commissioned poland world cup song may have been a tad off...
yeah, anywho...just waiting for todays show to upload...
upload go damn it...
nothing to do but type random as i wait and wait and wait and wait...
truth is im doing this from i nice dublin cafe...the have very strong wireless internet signal...
in america most places are wireless, ireland still needs to catch on mees thinks...
mees thinks this is going on far too long...
come back tomorrow...
i think you will...

(once again robbed from noel)

Toms Musings

Hello , The world Tom Millett here i,ve decided to give our producer Stephen O Regan a little brake as he is wrecked from all the hard work he has been doing.Anyway i ,am glad to to see that our Poland world cup song is on presented by my co host the lovely Pauline Freeman so check it out .I have nothing more to say than LOOK UP IT,S BALCONY TV and stay tuned through out the week for more great tv............................so enjoy the world cup all and i, ll see you soon on Balcony TV.

Tom Millett
Cheif Balcony Presenter

The big banner

Weve put a big banner up on the balcony saying...eh BalconyTV.com. Can you see it?
We wonder how long that will be allowd before the council wreck the fun...
Only joking council...
Jezzebelle are on BalconyTV. Saw them play in Pravda one Wednesday...the have great voices...
But they really got into it...and really belted out the song...behind the camera we were wondering if the police would stop the show on account of the loudness...
Pauline...a future balcony tv presenter said...'dont be silly'...
Yeah, anyway...
Tune in tomorrow
Stephen

Liftoff.

So BalconyTV has finally launched. We managed to sort out lighting and sound difficulties...and we are ready to find some really interesting programming.

So if you have an ideas, get in touch.

It seems only right that we begin with a launch party...sounds a bit ropey...but it a party afterall, we promise it will be better in future.

We are broadcasting via YouTube as you may notice. We had our own screen set up, but at the end of the day, YouTube was teh best option. It will allow us to archive all the shows too.

We will set up a link on the main page for archived shows very soon.

Were also going to set up a MySpace for all featured bands and performers...so if your interested you can get in contact with them.

Hope you tune in tomorrow...I think you will.

(Noel Edmonds)

1 Day to Go!!!

And we are stressed out. To bits actually. Lights, camera, action...and nothing seems to be working quite right. Let us know how its looking to you. You can email stephen@balconytv.com. Hmmmmmmm. Touch wood on all this!! Where is Anica Rice when you need her.
Stephen