SUPERLATIVES ALL AROUND

I have to say todays BalconyTV featuring Joe Doyle has gone straight in as my favourite show to date. I think it illustrates best what BalconyTV is all about. Amazing live music!

Apart from that...one of my favourite sites has had a rejig, so if your interested in great conversation check this out...www.charlierose.com.

And then there is this ofcoarse...www.xenu.net

STRESS

Last night was by far one of the most stressful evenings of BalconyTV tapings.

The strong wind swirling about Dublin caused enough problems, along with the endless lorries going down the street.

We have noticed that there are an increased amount of lorries going down Dame Street between the hours of 7 and 9 - when we tape BalconyTV. These are not any lorries, but huge major cargo, missile carrying monster machines you usually only see on the Discovery Channel.

There are also loads of those trucks with 16 cars towed on the back.

It was mentioned that large trucks are not allowed to go through the city by one act last night. It can't be doing much good to the road.

It seems they have been ofloaded from the various ships at the Dublin dock, and they proceed to make their way through the city then.

It makes filming a nightmare.

Ban them all I say.

BAD POSTERS

I wonder have you noticed posters around town for a new Irish movie called Speed Dating?

I haven't seen the film yet. It could be amazing. It could be Citizen Kane. But the poster is neither.

I don't understand it. The Irish Film Industry is a tough place. Getting a movie made is monumentally expensive and difficult. So why on earth after managing to navigate that process do you dent any hopes you have of success with the most uninspired movie posters of all time.

What we see on the poster is a man. In the background nothing. Dodgy font and cheesy cheep red glow to booth.

At the bottom of the poster is a film strip (telling us that it is a film), and shots from various scenes in the movie.

I'm guessing (and hoping) the film makers didn't have a say in the design of the poster. I can only imagine the buck stops at the distributors and promoters.

Anyway, I do hope the movie is good. You can read about it, and see the movie poster at...

www.speeddatingthemovie.com

Went to see Sunshine yesterday. Now that was good. Very good.

RATINGS

BalconyTV has according to YouTube viewing stats had well over 350'000 video views to date. Which averages way above 1200 views per video. Not bad. Not bad at all.

TOM AND WOODY

This photo is leg...

Your eyes do not deceive you.

CH CH CH CHANGES

Some subtle changes have been made to our front page design. Can you spot them?

Well the logo has had a tiny touch up. And notably Paulines Photo Corner has gone bye bye. It just wasn't working out.

We are currently working on a redesign of the page, so watch this space.

Watch this Balcony space.

CLEVER MUSICIANS ALL AROUND

It amazes me how many bands want to play on BalconyTV, and indeed do play on BalconyTV, without having ever actually looked at BalconyTV.

We get emails and phone calls from bands all the time asking to play. They follow up with questions such as...

What is it exactly?
What do you do exactly?
How many songs should we do?
Whats the set up?
Is it local TV?

It gets worse. Some bands having been given permission to perform, still don't check out what the situation is. They come along with huge speaker set ups and drum sets. Then they ask...

So will this be on the telly?

It can get a bit depressing. But we smile and nod politely.

I don't understand though. It seems logical that before agreeing to a gig, or wanting a gig, you should examine what exactly the gig is. And then if you like the gig, then you request the gig. I'm not Paul McGuinness, but its just seems right.

'Eh, turn up at Slane Castle on the 18th of August about 6pm. You'll be supporting this other band'.

'Ah yeah, no botha'.

Band turns up at Slane Castle. 80'000 people screaming.

'Jaysus, fucking hell, whats this? I didn't know it was going to be like this'.

Well why didn't you check it out first you ninkimpoop.

Admittedly BalconyTV is not Slane Castle, but it seems there is still alot of Spinal Tap still out there.

MORE NEGATIVE VIBES

Canvasing for media support was to this point one of BalconyTVs main marketing strategies. As we have no budget, we have felt that getting ourselves in the press was a good way of getting us out there.

We have been lucky that allot of press coverage has came our way without us seeking it, but we admit that we have chased up publications that have been more stubborn...i.e. HotPress.

Recently we contacted Temple Bar Magazine. We felt since we are located in Temple Bar we were ideal material for them.

They agreed and sent a reporter and a photographer out at once.

The article has just been published in the most recent issue. And unfortunately the results are not great. As Roberts Evans says so well in The Kid Stays In The Picture - 'if you live by the sword, you die by the sword.'

We feel the article in Temple Bar Magazine paints us in a unnecessary negative light. It gets facts wrong and uses quotes out of context.

If you have a chance to read it yourself (Temple Bar Magazine is free in many Temple Bar locations) you'll get the gist.

While we have a number of issues with the article we would just like to make one point clear. We respect all acts that have performed on BalconyTV to date, and in no way consider it 'a joke' on them.

ALAN ALDA TONIGHT

Sorry for the slow upload of todays show. I blame you know who...(or do you?)

Dont forget Paulines band Alan Alda have a launch gig in Radio City tonight in Radio City. See you there!

BILL O' REILLY at TRINITY COLLEGE TONIGHT!!!

Excuse me as I rant.

I have just heard that Bill O' Reilly will be inducted into the Trinity College Philosophical Society tonight.

If you don't know Bill O' Reilly he presents the top rated show on the American News Channel Fox News. 'The O' Reilly Factor' is infact according to the ever reliable Wikipedia, the top rated show on all the American News Channels.

Unfortunatly, on a nightly basis Bill O'Reilly misrepresents the facts alarmingly. You have to see the show to fully understand it but comments such as...

'we expect every American to support our military and if they can't do that to shut up' are routine.

This is the style of news journalism accross the Fox News Network, but its fair to say The O' Reilly Factor is the worse culprit. In the past O' Reilly has gone as far as asking for guests microphones to be cut live on air. This ethos goes against the base ethics of journalism.

I know it is too late, but I feel a protest would have been worthy for Bill O' Reillys appearance. He represents much of whats wrong with America, and more importantly the media, which plays such a crucial role in current affairs.

I imagine those in the Trinity College Philosophical Society will give O' Reilly an easy time, making his appearance pointless. The only reason I can see for giving him the Trinity College Badge of honor, is if he is given a proper debate. But as his argument would probably resort to 'shut up'...I can't see much the point in that either.

I think the Trinity College Philosophical Society should reflect more on the guests they bring over, rather than simply having a guest for sensationalist values...although that is all that Bill O' Reilly stands for.

It is an ill advised guest appearence in this personal bloggers opinion, but I feel the subject matter is important for society. (I am sounding like a politician now.)

If your further interested in learning more on this subject you might check out OutFoxed...
http://www.amazon.com/Outfoxed-Rupert-Murdochs-War-Journalism/dp/B0002HDXTQ/outfoxed-20

Or these links...
http://www.sweetjesusihatebilloreilly.com/
http://mediamatters.org/issues_topics/people/billoreilly

Suffice to say there is alot more out there.

Enjoy these clips...

DELETING BAD COMMENTS

Yesterday we received the email from a unhappy viewer of BalconyTV.

- Why do you delete negative/critical comments? Do you think YouTube is your own personal advertising service for the, might I add, mostly awful bands & musicians you have on your Balcony TV show? Are you one of those despicable people who believes the public are idiots, and have decided to make a quick buck from that? Or are you an idiot yourself?

Please write back, I'd like to know...

%&*%$ -


We decided to respond.

- Hello %&*%!,

An old saying, 'if you don't have anything good to say, best say nothing at all'.

BalconyTV has had alot of excellent acts. I encourage you to check out Paul Brady, Eleanor McEvoy, Leanne Harte, Jinx Lennon, RoySeven, Moesley etc etc.

I think its very harsh of you to call most of the bands awful. While they may not be of a certain standard (I am actually surprised how good most are), at least they are doing something creative which I think is to be commended.

Certainly better than putting out negative energy which you seem to be projecting.

We delete negative comments because we don't want acts to be turned off appearing on BalconyTV in the future, and also we don't want acts to be humiliated. Alot of the bands and performers work very hard at their craft whether you like it or not.

I'll also point out that BalconyTV is not American Idol.

I have noticed some people just post the meanest exaggerated comments. Posting them obviously gives them some kind of empowerment.

To anwser your other questions...do we think YouTube is our own personal advertising service?
No, we do see it as a platform to showcase various acts though.

Are you one of those despicable people who believes the public are idiots, and have decided to make a quick buck from that?
I don't understand how you think we can be making a quick buck from anything. We are at present making zilch from BalconyTV.

Am my an idiot myself?
It's always possible.

Feel free to write back.

Stephen
BalconyTV.Com -


What do you think?

PAULINES BAND LAUNCH GIG!!!

So here is a big shout out. ALAN ALDA - Pauline ('FROM BALCONYTVS) band have a launch gig in Radio City on Friday!!! You need to see this gig...A/ To see Pauline live and B/To see and hear the amazing music of Alan Alda!!!!
Here is just a taste...

MYSPACE VIDEOS MOVE SLOWLY TO YOUTUBE

So when we had our YouTube debacle...we could not upload new shows onto YouTube and instead had to upload shows onto MySpace Video instead. So gradually over the next few weeks we hope to upload the MySpace Videos on YouTube. Starting today with The Gandhis. Got that. Good.

Strikes me that there are a few bands who rate themselves over and over again on YouTube...and even worse...make fake comments on their video pages. Those bands know who they are. Not cool. Not cool at all.

Happy Easter Egg Day!!!

WIKIPEDIA ENTRY

This is interesting. We stumbled upon an BalconyTV entry yesterday while glazing through Wikipedia. Which is a bit funny, as we made no input:-)

Here is what the entry says.

------

An Internet TV Station

Balcony TV is a "TV station" run from a Balcony on Dame Street Dublin which, if you're interested, is just within range of thrown missiles (like small bricks and jars of urine). Well, they call themselves a "TV station", but they lack any of the broadcasting licence and consistency that would lend legitimacy to that claim.
Some believe it to be a conduit for sending coded messages to our enemies overseas.

Accountable Humans

Tom Millett (who introduced himself as Tom Miller in the first episode) is a presenter who regards his guests with Alan Partridge-esque arrogant disdain, while "film-maker" Stephen O Regan shouts obnoxious interjections throughout the "broadcast. Pauline Freeman is a computer-generated female co-presenter created in a Weird Science type experiment.
[edit]Where is it?

The "TV station" is "broadcast" on YouTube, alongside such master-works as "Fireworks".

______

The question is...who doesn't like Alan Partridge?

We have two suspects. Just two.

THE BEST OF THE SUNDAY ROAST

Just flicking through the pages of Totally Dublin, the free Dublin magazine...I see on page 81 there is a CD - The Best Of Sunday Roast Vol. 1.

The Sunday Roast has become a top destination for live music in Dublin every Sunday night in Thomas Reads, just below our little balcony.

The CD seems great with Balcony favourites Robotnik, Robin J. Hurt, and The Movement all featuring. And a big congrats to Keiron Black for pulling the whole thing together.

Keiron has appeared on the Balcony a couple of times with his band Keiron Black and the Amazing Few. Get the CD (its free!) and watch this...

HOTPRESS 2!!!!

There is alot of shouted anger in this city these days. Especially from smack head, heroin addicted, alcaholic types, that increasingly mingle outside the local Spars and Centras.

FUCK SAKE, JASUS, BLEEDIN HELL, FOR FUCK JASUS...and so on and so forth.

I heard quite alot of it as I was flicking through magazines that I couldn't afford. After looking and wanting Four Four Two and Empire...I saw the latest Hotpress...and quick flick through...I saw that we got another mention. This time in the Caught In The Net section.

It seems they noticed our tirade against them recently. And have responded.

Presuming there tone is not sarcastic...they are forgiven. Now how can they refuse sponsoring our iccle website?!!!

THE REVOLTS ROCK

Congratulations to The Revolts who won a regional Blast Beat battle of the bands in 'The Wes' on Monday night. The band go on to the next stage...which our detectives suggest is in Radio City on the 14th. Rock n Roll...

Problems Problems

Its not good...but YouTube has been on the blink all day. Either that of ClearWire. But not us!!!

BOSCOS BOX

So todays show is a bit random, we admit. But then again, BalconyTV is a bit random. Late cancilations mean brain wracking for show concepts.
Yes it could have been another Bloopers Special...and yes it could have been another informative show along the lines of 'Pauline Makes A Cuppa'...but then we thought why not take the viewers inside the scruffiness that is the BalconyTV Apartment. We think it could be cool just like inside Boscos box. We are all fans of inside Boscos box. We all wanted that room when we are young...and Pauline still wants that room now!!

BACK

Blogging is a strange thing. It's a bit like going to the gym...if you dont do it one day...you wont do it the next...and the next...and the next...and then you physically have to force yourself to do it again. Like I'm doing now!
But really...thats not what blogging is all about. Blogging should be natural...should come from an inner well of expression...that needs to erupt in an explosion of thought and words...

Blah, blah, blah...

Sorry for the absence...more mindless drival in the days to come.