Collaboration: Creating a website turns out top results!

Bee's Buzzing Honeycomb designed by Austrine in association with A Creation

Our good friend, writer Busrah Osmanoglu,  asked us for help in creating an easy-to-read website for her portfolio of work. Check out the results over at Bee's Buzzing Honeycomb, thanks to the design of our wonderful colleagues over at Austrine.

About Busra Osmanoglu: Bee's Buzzing Honeycomb

Get in touch with us for a consultation if you want to upgrade your online presence. Thanks to all the creative contacts we have acquired, we can tailor our packages to suit your needs.

These are the basics of what's on offer:-

PP1​.
Website.​
Let us create your website to sell yourself in the most artistic yet professional way. Busrah got Bee's Buzzing Honeycomb looking just how she wanted it!
£150*

PP2​.
Social Media.​

Not familar with the social media networking? Or familiar with it and too tired to maintain it all? Even if you have some social media profiles already, we will amend them for slick professional results.
£50*

PP3.
​Headshots/Portfolio Shots.​
Photos are so important when applying for any arts industry job (in-front/behind the screens)! We have collaborated with photographers up and down the UK to bring you some fantastic and hard to beat packages, (international photographers also available on request). Don't forget to mention your location!

PP4.
​Show-Reel/Film/Video.​
Our colleagues around the world will create you professional/industry standard products. Quotes are available through our Contact Us page, if you get in touch with us mentioning all your project details and location information.

PP5.
Website and Social Media.​
Discuss your branding with us in a consultation and we can create you a website and link it with professional social networking profiles.
£185*

PP6.
Pro Combo.

The ultimate package includes us creating your website, setting up your social networking professional profiles, arranging your headshots, and putting together your showreels. Together, with our collaborative teams across the UK, we are able to offer this set-up at fantastic prices (depending on your location). Please get in touch 

*Please note:-

• The management have the right to withdraw package offers/promotions at any time.
• All packages/prices above depend on what you require but these will be discussed/agreed at the time of contract.
• Prices will only increase should you be requiring more than the offer we state in our final agreement contract.
• We do offer services of maintaining your website/social media. If this is required, we are more than happy to do so with a charge of £10 p/h, or, if regular maintenance is required (i.e. monthly/yearly), we will be more than happy to arrange a discount.
• Please note you are still able to get a free profile on our site without purchasing any package from us and we will still continue to give you some free promotion, please get in touch with us through our Contact Us page for more information.

Spotlight: Charles Arthur - How I Got My Media Break

Charles Arthur is the Guardian's Technology Editor.

Charles Arthur, the Guardian's Technology Editor

My journey into the media began when Dunlop had a competition where you could win a week in New York watching the US Open tennis. I entered it and won. I offered to write an article for a tennis magazine that was then going, they accepted it and said "if you'd like to do more..." So I got to go to the professional tennis events all over the UK.

I did that while having a job in the civil service - the amount I got paid by the magazine wouldn't have covered a good meal.

After two years I realised I definitely didn't want to be in the civil service, and definitely did want to be in journalism, but there wasn't any chance of getting a job in tennis journalism - the national papers were all sewn up, and the magazines were tiny with no budget and barely any staff. I noticed that it was actually me who was asking the questions that got the best answers in the press conferences. My degree is in electronic engineering - and so I expanded that.

I looked for jobs in the computing trade press. I got offered two in one week - but the one that I really wanted I was offered on the spot, in the interview room, by David Craver who subsequently set up ZDNet in the UK. David was a great man - I don't say that only because he hired me - who died a year ago.

After five years at Computer Weekly, I became news editor, which meant trying to herd all the cats in the newsroom. It was fun, but I wasn't great at it, because I wasn't good enough at the personal side. Too young, perhaps.

I went from Computer Weekly to Business magazine, that went bust so I freelanced for a year and then joined New Scientist. Then one day the cartoonist came in and said "so I suppose you're going to apply for that job on the Independent?" I knew the person who was leaving it, had a chat with them for some useful interview info and got the job - which was mostly reporting. Though at the end of my time at The Independent I was editing its technology pages, on pretty much zero budget.

We had a third child coming and freelancing seemed like a better way to balance family time. So I spent a year freelancing. Then the Technology editor job came up at the Guardian, which I regard as the pinnacle of technology journalism in Fleet Street, and which only comes up about once a generation. So I went for it..

I've liked all my editors which tends to help. If you're not enjoying your job, you're either in the wrong trade (I think of journalism as a trade, not a profession) or the wrong place. If you're in the wrong place, find somewhere else, or make it. I've never done a job I actively hated. Life's too short.

Links to connect with Charles Arthur:-

Follow him on twitter

Charles Arthur's blog

Soulcial Consciousness - Get to know: Imani Hekima

Imani Hekima's singles Shame and Robots Rebellion are available to buy on his itunes page.
Lyrically and melodically haunting, I decided I wanted to get to know more about this Soulcial Conscious one.

Imani Hekima. Check his Myspace for tour dates http://www.myspace.com/imanihekima

Tell me all about the current single

I wrote ‘The Robots’ Rebellion’ in 2004 and it appeared as a ‘promo’ on a compilation album in 2007. It was released as a single in December 2010, available on iTunes and Amazon.  The song takes its title from a book by David Icke, published in 1994. The promo video (which you can find on Youtube) pays homage to John Carpenter’s film ‘They Live’.    

What did changing your name mean for you?

Coming from a British/Jamaican background, changing my name was a way of identifying with my African cultural heritage and history.  Six years previously, I’d begun reading up on it.   I was originally Andrew Mitchell and I changed it by deed poll to Imani Hekima in 1994.  Imani means ‘faith’, Hekima means ‘wisdom’ in Swahili.

What is your earliest musical memory?

My earliest musical memory, which is also my earliest memory, was hearing Tamla Motown. I can’t have been much older than one year old because I was in a cot.  That’s probably why I love Motown.

What was the first song you bought?

For my “sins”, the first record I bought was Rat Trap by The Boomtown Rats, Bob Geldof’s band.

Whose concerts have you attended, and which was your first gig you attended?

I’ve seen a variety of people.  The Specials was my first gig, back in 1980.  I saw all the 2 tone bands and British reggae artists such as UB40, Aswad and Steel Pulse.  I’ve seen Public Enemy (back in 1990), The Pharcyde and the great jazz drummer Max Roach.

What instruments do you play?

Piano/keyboards, singing, bass guitar, 6 string guitar and drums (drum kit).

How do you write your songs?

Usually either the music comes first or I’ll get the lyrics.  Occasionally, they’ll both arrive at the same time. The ideas drift in at any time.  I don’t sit down and try to force myself but I do lots of practise and research to get ideas.

Have you ever wanted to give up and how do you overcome that?

Yes, on some occasions.  It happens to most people.  You have to keep going and if you love what you do enough, you will persevere. 

What drives you, and what inspires you?

I’m inspired by my own passion and by the examples of others who also keep going regardless.  I’m inspired by the whole journey, the trials, errors and successes. 

What’s your favourite city/country to play in and why?

I’ve only really played in the UK with my own music, though I’ve gigged in Holland and Spain with covers bands.  Favourite city?  None really – if people are feeling your work, it doesn’t matter where. 

What do you like about being in the studio and what do you enjoy about being on stage?

On stage it’s obviously more immediate and direct communication with the audience.  I also enjoy recording and seeing the music take shape and the general banter when it’s going well.

Do you think politics and music work together well?

Politics and music does go together but there’s an art in getting the balance right.  The music has to be good enough on its own to make someone listen or dance.  It has to be remembered that many people who happen to love political songs may not be attuned to the lyrics.  Saying that, the message alone, no matter how worthy, will not be heard if it isn’t given an effective musical setting.

How important is the visual aspect of your music?

It’s important in some ways.  I’d like to develop that side of things for live performances.  The video for Robots Rebellion obviously had a lot of thought put into its visuals.  It was done by a guy called Ian Geddes, who had the idea of blending footage from the film ‘They Live’ with my song.

You perform interpretations of Bollywood music, how did that come about?

In 2008, I saw a job advert for a pianist to perform Bollywood at an Asian wedding.  A little light went off in my head and I instantly knew I wanted to apply.  This is despite me knowing no Bollywood songs at all at the time.  I’ve since played at Asian weddings all over England, all faith groups.  I played a support slot to Raghav in 2009.  That’s the short of it.  People can visit http://www.myspace.com/bollywoodpiano to find out the full story.

What music do you listen to and when, to relax, in the car etc?

It varies.  At home I listen to all kinds of stuff.  I listen to lots of dub, Miles Davis and just about anything else in between and related.

Do you have an ipod or ipad?

I don’t own one.  My brain is my iPod.  I always have songs going on up there.

Any thoughts on technology and music?

With the exception of a few ‘neo soul/progressive soul’ artists, I think black music over the past 20 years specifically has suffered through not enough instrumentalists.  

However, you can still make great music via computer technology.  In that respect, hip hop (REAL hip hop, not ‘bling pop’) has led the way.   

Have social networking sites helped you?

Myspace and Facebook are good means of showcasing what I do.  There are a lot of people who are against them but I say it’s what you make of them.

What are you working on?

I’m working towards the release of an album in 2011.  Rather than put it out in 2010, I decided to put out two singles this year to test the waters and raise a bit of awareness.  I’m also working on new material intended for the second album.  I’m supported live by Philippe Clegg on bass and my sibling Stuart Mitchell on drums.  All being well, I’ll be recording new stuff with them.

What does the future hold for you?

Hopefully I’ll continue to grow as a musician and reach more people with my work.  

Links to check out Imani Hekima:-

Imani Hekima Facebook Group 

Imani Hekima's Myspace
imanihekima.co.uk/