Last night I made sure to watch the Munk debate, which posed the question, “[Is] Climate Change Mankind’s Defining Crisis, and [does it] Demand a Commensurate Response.”

On the Pro side we had the Canadian Green Party Leader, Elizabeth May, and a weekly columnist for the Guardian and author, George Monbiot. While the Con side was represented by climate change expert and organizer of the Copenhagen Consensus Center, Bjorn Lomborg, and the founder and chairman of the Global Warming Policy Foundation and ex-Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lord Nigel Lawson.

Each of these people is very important to this debate, as they each represent a specific group. Elizabeth May represents the extremist-climate change activist, George Monbiot the realist-climate change activist, Bjorn Lomborg the realist-effective change activist, and Lord Nigel Lawson the extremist-capitalism activist. It’s important to note that last fact, as many people don’t realize Lord Nigel is responsible for privatizing many British sectors and deregulating financial sectors during his tenure in office, as well, note that his Global Warming Policy Foundation is an organization which promotes skepticism on global warming.

The topic was not focused entirely on what to do about climate change, but whether it exists, if something should be done, and to what extent.

Each of their arguments can be summed up into a few words:

The debate was a heated one, with Elizabeth May getting very angry, and yelling at the opposition (which is something she’s known for in parliament), which led to her microphone being cut off by the mixers. Yet, her voice could still be heard in the bleed from the other microphones. She was promptly given a “time out”, along with Mr. Lomborg, until she calmed down enough to participate in the debate again.

Elizabeth May and Bjorn Lomborg resorted to insults and degradation of character to assist their perspectives, while the British representatives conducted themselves in a profession debate manner, rarely resorting to these practices. George Monbiot came off very respectable, with checked facts, and first-hand experience to share, along with a very polite demeanor in respect to the debate.

Going into the debate the audience of 1100 people was asked to cast their votes on the resolution, voting 61-39%. Post-debate results came out as 53-47%, declaring that although the con side had gained 8% on their side, the resolution still favoured the pro.

Most people think that this is mankind’s defining crisis, and believe that our effort should be focused on overcoming it, and its effects.

What are your thoughts?

[Watch debate here]

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Technorati Tags: Climate Change, Debate, Education, Munk, World

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To be successful in the Music Industry, you have to try.

If you want to make enough money to sustain yourself off of your music, you have to treat it like a full-time job.

These are two major points that people have to realize before they dive head-first into the world of music.

Especially now that people have to find alternate ways to make money with their music, its going to take more effort to find those various paychecks and just like with anything else, its going to take a lot of time.

So let’s start from square one: You need good songs.

Writing is completely personal, but the best way to judge your music is to play it in front of an audience. Watch the reaction, and learn how to read them. If they aren’t moving, that song is going to need some work.

Two: Get your name heard.

Twitter, MySpace, Facebook, Reverb Nation, I could go on for hours naming all the sites you should be on, and updating at least once a day.

People are online, and looking for music. You have to be there for them to find you. And once they do find you, keep updating, you have to keep them interested.

Three: Play everywhere, all the time.

Start in your home city. Note: CITY. If you live in a town, its likely that your career will be short lived. Move to a city, get to know the venues, play at those venues. Even if its for free, or for scraps, its about getting your name, and music, heard.

Four: Networking

Meet other musicians, it always helps to have connections to help you get into that venue to play, or to find a new musician when your bassist quits.

One amazing way of meeting local musicians is to take up a job at a music shop. Yes, these places can be hell for an artist, but you’ll meet quite a few contacts, and it doesn’t hurt that they pay you either.

Five: Communication with fans

This kind of ties into point two, but I can’t stress this enough:

• People expect constant involvement from their artists today, give it to them, or give up.

Updating your Twitter account with, “Just spent $140 on a new bike with a basket, sweet ride!” is a lot easier than trying to gain back all the fans you lost being boring.

And don’t forget to talk to fans after your show. I know, everyone wants to feel like a rockstar by walking off the stage and chugging a beer (or wine, I don’t care something bad-ass), but talking to your fans while they’re still excited will make them tell their friends, and will make them happy.

If you want to be successful you need fans, lots of them, and happy too.

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The industry is not a game, and unless you’re extremely lucky, if you’re not giving you’re all, you’re probably not going to get anywhere.

Treat it like you need to, work 8+ hours a day on every aspect of your music, and career, and even more once you start getting attention.

All your favourite bands have paid [and still are paying] their dues, they’ve gotten to the point where they don’t have to work as much, but they still have to work.

Above all, have fun. It can be stressful, and it’ll take over your life, but don’t lose that passion that made you want to start in the first place.

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Technorati Tags: Art, Education, Money, Music, Music Industry, Success

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