Saturday, November 20, 2010

And they say Brooklyn is just...



Brian Bonz: South Brooklyn Phenomenon

Hailed from South Brooklyn between Sunset Park and the border of Bay Ridge a new evolving sound of independent rock came out. I remember Brian Bonz 10 years ago starting to play at local lounges and cafes before the scene exploded in Park Slope. It is amazing to see his music progress. When I was younger, my brother, andrew and I remember him knowing only four chords...
Brian Bonz and the Major Crimes perform "Christa McCauliffe's Cacophony" live on Fearless Music TV in HD on Fox.

Tighten Up--by The Black Keys



This video concept is phenomenal!

Monday, May 10, 2010

Caspian: Sunset Anthem

Born and raised in Brooklyn New York. Took the name of a Tiger and transformed it to match the sole purpose of bringing back real music.
New promotional video:

Thursday, April 8, 2010

The Purpose of a Promotional Video


You may be a great speaker, an excellent writer, or a brilliant communicator, but in today’s culture, when images and media bombard society: How does your voice carry? When language alone is limited in expressing your imagination, how do you get your listeners to bite or capture your vision wholeheartedly?

Let’s examine something: Why does radio (something that you hear) say to you, “Visit our website to download photos and watch video interviews of your favorite artists.” In one sentence the radio station has given additional channels of media to spread their message. How are you letting media play a part of promoting your brand? What ways are you effectively spreading the word to a mass audience?

A video, unlike you, can be in many places at the same time. Technology provides a way to tell your story and say your message vividly.

For instance, let’s look at the features of having a promotional video:

- Catch people’s attention ☺
- Instant access to a large audience without the additional budget or the hassle of traveling

But how does that benefit your “bottom line”. Here are the results:

In reality, you can only be at one place at a time; Make one presentation to one person or a group of people at a time. By having a commercial you have the high quality standard and capacity to reach a large audience like a big company that you watch on TV.
-(You) create value for your product or service by telling your whole story creatively

Here are two examples of clients that have effectively used promotional videos to support their organization, respectively:

NYACK College:



By playing this video they reached 18,000 potential students in one large event and also continually show this video throughout college fairs, during campus tours and on the Internet (social networking sites).
Result: 25% admission enrollment increase in Fall 2009


Street2Street:

A non-profit organization that started with one basketball tournament in Brooklyn, NY created a video and has grown within the last three years throughout the country and in every borough within NYC. The latest promotional video premiered at Yankee Stadium for a fundraiser event.
Result: World Champion Yankees Manager Joe Girardi saw the video and understood more about the organization and featured Street2Street in a weekly TV show “Yankees Magazine” on the Yes Network.




Videos help further your dreams, develop your growth and provide vision to the target audience to create results for your business, art or non-profit. I hope you take advantage and use it today.

Roller Coaster

“Life is like a Roller Coaster ride…Sometimes you’re hanging upside down, helpless, pockets spilling quarters. Sometimes, you’re laughing, screaming, the wind in your hair, on top of the world!” --Greg Laurie

2009 was a Roller Coaster Ride.

A lot of highs and lows, Burgos Media Solutions had amazing opportunities happen last year. In January 2009, we had the opportunity of filming story line footage for NBC’s “The Today Show” America’s most watched TV morning show. My twin sisters Lauren and Alyssa were featured for their business. We produced and directed music concerts and live shows in Times Square & across the tri-state area for amazing bands, American Soul, electronic press kits, an off Broadway play, filmed commercials, TV talk shows, national webcasts and business conferences featuring CNN political analysts, 700Club TV Show and host Gordon Robertson, and worked with Kenneth Copeland Ministries on their international TV Show telling an amazing story about a father and daughter being reunited after many years. In March, our company made promotional videos for NYACK College that premiered in front of the IZOD Center for over 18,000 attendees. We worked with award-winning artists, wall street companies, TV shows for India and more! And in October I had the opportunity of being an extra with HBO on a new show, “How to Make it In America” premiering in January 2010 with acclaimed celebrity/fashion designer, John Varvatos. When the economy took a downturn, we were hit like the rest of them, sometimes going months without any proper payment as contracts froze, budgets depleted and people couldn't market properly. I felt like throwing up! But I still had to pay bills and keep the company going.
God has blessed us. It was the first year I worked independently without any steady accounts, or any other sources of income! I had a great team supporting me. My family: my mom and twin sisters, my dad, and great media interns and contractors: Candace Jackson, Jaely Jimenez, Michael Castro, Philip Swift, Justin Hawkins, Henry Marin, Jonathan Kapps, Jon Castelli, Desiree Royer, Hector Guerrero, Eddie Soto, Marisha Clarke, Johanna Ferreira, Jonathan Plaud, John Olin, Rich DiPietro, Jeremy Garcia, Nina Chiofalo, Vivian Wright, and more! Looking back, I learned a lot. We had many ups and downs, but it has been a great build up to the next ride: 2010! Many thanks to my great mentors and clients that have helped keep us going! Dan Stratton, Eddie & Norma Dejesus, Liliana Blanco, Kim Jones, Donald and Vanessa, Aaron Brown & Chuks Agada!

Experiences create the opportunity to share your story!

In April 2009, my company had the privilege of producing & directing a concert with Kevin Davis & the JazzCatz. Check out a song that relates to 2009 entitled: “Roller Coaster” (it gets really good at 5:04) Enjoy!
© 2010. Burgos Media Solutions, Inc.


10 lb weights

During my freshman year of college, I had a good friend named Brady Paselk. Brady and I were around the same height and weight (we were both pretty tall and rather thin). We were active and loved sports! One of our college days on campus, I wanted to go to the gym and work out. He wanted to hit the weight room. I liked to work out but I never really worked out with weights.

Brady played competitive sports-including football in high school, and was used to the whole workout routine. When we went into the weight room, I noticed the guys were all bigger than me. They were older, worked out longer and had huge arms. Brady said, “Come on let’s do some bicep curls,” so I followed him. He walked over to the dumb bells and unashamed Brady grabbed some 10 lb weights. He told me to grab the other set of 10 lbs dumbbells. Before we started to workout Brady looked at me and said, “If this is all we can lift than this is what we start with.” He looked in the mirror and started doing his curls.

Wow! The confidence! He didn’t care that the guys around him were lifting 35, 65 or even 95 lbs, he was content with what he could do at the moment. After we finished doing a set, we increased, building to 15 lbs, 20 lbs and so on…

Every day, I remember this story. It means the world to me. I can see how big other people’s production companies are, their houses, car(s), money in the bank- many are lifting different weights. But freshman year in the gym, Brady taught me a valuable lesson, “You should only lift what you can handle.”

Brady Paselk

Thomas Edison Quotes



"Everything comes to him who hustles while he waits."

"If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves."

"Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless."

"If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed…every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward."

"I never did a day's work in my life. It was all fun."

"Anything that won't sell, I don't want to invent. Its sale is proof of utility, and utility is success."

"Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration."

"Great ideas originate in the muscles."

"Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up."

"Be courageous. I have seen many depressions in business. Always America has emerged from these stronger and more prosperous. Be brave as your fathers before you. Have faith! Go forward!"

D.I.Y. (Do It Yourself) Marketing

Until just twenty years ago, scientists thought our brain was all wired up by early childhood. This seemed logical given that children went through a phase of easy learning which slowed down at a certain point, and that we seemed more forgetful as we got older. I’m getting older though and I realize that I learn a lot quicker than when I was 5 or 6 years old in a variety of things. So what’s going on? Well all this changed with an exciting new domain within neuroscience called: neuroplasticity . What does this mean? And how does this apply to you?

Despite the age, the human brain is always set to learn new things.

As the study of the brain evolved, scientists noticed that the brain was capable of creating new connections on a massive scale, at any stage of life, and did this in response to anything new that was learned, such as learning an instrument.

Do it Yourself Marketing…wait...me??

Marketing, promotion, and networking are the life blood of your company.

It is essential for people to know who you are and what sets you apart from your competition (unique selling proposition). It takes money to make money. If you do not have a marketing budget substitute money for time. When I can't afford a budget for marketing, I take the time to learn the new trends, attend seminars and market myself to promote my company. Time is always an investment.

**Disclaimer: This section is intended for readers involved or own a business, ministry, arts, education or are looking to have a stronger grasp of business and marketing.**

Our business is to be after people. You have to spend the time, effort and energy creating a buzz for your business, product, music, movie, or ministry. This principle is very effective within ANY professional background or field of expertise: corporate, non-profit, entertainment, inspirational, education, etc.
Even Jesus said it, “I must be about My Father’s Business.” People are valuable assets. People bring in their money, time and talents.

Here’s a step by step plan on getting started from a great resource, "Marketing for Smarties”:
Create a contact list
Create a network of people you need to reach
Develop a brand
Build your product by creating marketing material (commercials, brochures, posters, flyers, tv shows, infomercials, short films for movie concepts, music videos)

Resources:


Quiet Leadership by David Rock
American Marketing Association
Marketing For Smarties Seminars & Training Material

How To Start A Business

“There is a woman behind all great things.”
--Alphonse de Lamartine, French Poet, writer and politician (1790-1869)

I have been fortunate to have three young women in my life who have been pivotal in beginning my business: My mother and twin sisters, Alyssa & Lauren. My sisters, Alyssa & Lauren were officially the first people in our family to launch their business off the ground. Since 2006, they have been very successful. They have been presented with Entrepreneur of the Year awards and distinction awards from Growing UP CEO, Inc Magazine, Ernst and Young and El Diario La Prensa respectively. They are continuing to grow their business with a new eCommerce Website being launched this Fall/winter 2009. I had the chance to collaborate with the girls by interviewing these award-winning entrepreneurs on how to successfully start a business. This is an article that will be very helpful and insightful to our readers.

Step 1: Opportunity recognition

“See a Need fill a Need”

Alyssa says, “Well, at first, I didn't want to start a business! When my mom told me about a program called NFTE Biz Camp, I wasn't interested because I thought having your own business would be boring… At Biz Camp we were taken to the wholesale district in NYC with the assignment to purchase $25 in merchandise and resell it. I was in heaven! I could work surrounded by beautiful things and use my artistic eye to pick the right merchandise making money by bringing fashion jewelry to all my friends who I knew didn't have access to quality fashion jewelry…”

Lauren says, “Since there are no jewelry or accessory stores in our neighborhood my sister thought that it would be a good idea to start a fashion jewelry business.” This was the beginning of Bklyn (pronounced “Brooklyn”) Blingz!

Step 2: Create a business plan:

Lauren says, “…It makes it more official, especially if you want to get a loan, you have to show figures.”

Alyssa, “It’s an outline-”

Lauren interjects, “ or a projection sheet.”

Alyssa continues: “A business plan helps you see if your business is worth going out for.” The twins were a part of an amazing non-profit business organization called NFTE (a youth entrepreneur program for teens 12-18) this non-profit was pivotal in teaching all of us business and giving the girls critical PR and promotion.

Since the summer of 2006, the twins have been on ABC News Nightline, MSNBC “The Today Show”, and have been invited to numerous expos and dinner events to speak and share their story. How does this help?

Step 3: Networking

Alyssa says, “We would start wearing our earrings, bracelets, necklaces wherever we went and people would ask, ‘where did you get that jewelry from?’ It opened a door to selling our jewelry.”

Lauren says, “You have to network and promote your business. Here are some ways:
• Get business cards (you can find get 500 free business cards at http://www.vistaprint.com)
• Create flyers, posters, and a website for customers to find out more about your business.”

Alyssa adds, “Get other people’s business cards and create an email list because people might not take time to contact you but you can be the first to contact them. Also, when you meet other people you are developing your contact list; and the business cards or people you meet can be used as a resource later on in life.”

I told you I learned a lot from these young ladies. It is amazing to have them in my life and watch them grow ☺



Get connected!
Want to learn more about business?
Check out these resources:

Network for Teaching Entrepreneurs (NFTE): http://nfte.com
Women’s Business Center/Business Outreach Center: http://www.bocnet.org/boc/boc_services_womens_business_ctr.asp
NYC Business Express:
http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/businessexpress
NYC Business Solutions:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/sbs/nycbiz/html/home/home.shtml

Burgos Media Solutions, Inc. offers a variety of production services, training and consultation to help market and grow your business.

How I Became A Producer

In High school, my musical theater teacher, Renee Bucciarelli said to me during a rehearsal, “Matthew, don’t worry about the details around you-focus on your performance.” But I liked to view the bigger picture. When I performed I wouldn’t feel the same passion as the process it took to produce the actual project. Renee would always tell me, “I can see you have a production company some day.” I didn’t know what a production company was. So I went to college to find out.

I attended Oral Roberts University and studied mass media communications with an emphasis in multimedia production. I was able to study television, web, video, film, audio and music production in the classroom. But I also had real world experience through internships. I worked a summer internship at PBS/WNET13 for two award winning TV Shows in the local Television department; in the fall and throughout the year as a TV camera operator for national TV shows and conferences. My junior year I concentrated on audio and became an audio technician for a large 11,000-seat concert & event center (very similar to Madison Square Garden). I worked my senior year of college at an Oscar-Award winning production company in Hollywood, CA, and as a video editor at Mayo Clinic Hospital in Rochester, MN. My production experience and networking started landing me freelance production jobs at Cox Cable Communications and ESPN. It was a great college experience. But that was work! ☺

In between school and internships I would create (or produce) my own projects:
1) A music video I filmed & co-directed that was featured on the Fuse music channel.
2) Audio engineered, tracked, recorded and mixed over 60 bands and artists in a recording studio in Ohio.
3) Wrote and record music for a talented band in college.
4) Wrote a script that was selected and produced for a Hollywood film festival.
5) Create a behind the scenes concert DVD for a college band-that later got a record deal with Universal Records.
6) For my final project I designed and developed a website which helped land my first client on Wall Street!

I have seen the power of media and art as a tool. It has helped shape my passion by helping people reach their dreams. Although I’m not a musician, I’m still in music. Although, I’m not a pastor, through being a producer I have seen lives change, churches grow, relationships heal and people get to know Jesus!

I’ve been given the opportunity to work with world-renown leaders; companies, celebrities and entrepreneurs who had a great idea grow into a reality. Now, every morning when I wake up and ask myself, “What do I do?” I can look in the mirror and say, “I’m a producer.”

What are some your dreams? I would love to hear about them!

Being a Producer in New York City

“What is it going to take for you to do this full-time?”

I was asked this question during a meeting with my pastor, Dan Stratton who was a Stock & Commodities Trader on Wall Street.

I had to sit and think about it. I went to film school in L.A. and although California is a great place for television and movies (Paramount, Fox, Sony Pictures, etc.), I felt I needed to have solid connections to be at the top. In NYC, there is a smorgasbord for me to build connections: TV, film, music, theater, business, non-profit, government, public relations, new media, print, etc. and if I build my connections here I can have a “shot” in L.A. Frank Sinatra said it best, “If I can Make it there, I’ll make it anywhere…”

So what was I doing?

After I graduated college I returned to NYC and started working (4) jobs simultaneously to support myself and advance my career: I was a package handler at FedEx in the morning; a video editor/videographer for a production company; an educator and youth mentoring counselor for educationally at-risk students at a non-profit organization throughout the day; and a model waiter for an upscale events catering service at night. I did all this while freelancing and networking in NYC.

If you are starting out in NYC, and you do not have a name, you are at the bottom, so the big thing NOT to do is specialize. Basically, I NEVER said “No” to a gig. The way I made it the first year was doing audio, video, lighting, print and web design jobs. In fact, my first freelance job wasn’t doing video production, but converting and mastering audiocassette series into mp3s and CDs. And how did I get that job?

I didn’t advertise at first (I found out that 14% of people trust in advertising, 78% of people trust the words of their friends, according to Nielsen statistics in October 2007, the year I started my business). I began working on projects for the people my parents knew and the clients started coming. One job led to another; I was getting phone calls, people were starting to see the work I did for clients, and my education and experience solidified me getting the job. My parents always taught me that a good name is to be praised, so always do things with excellence. But, beyond that, my mother was important in explaining that in order to be successful, you have to treat a project or a person’s dream as if it were your own. My creative and technical knowledge is realized by creating the vision of how the client sees it in their mind. It was hard, but when I did that, things started to grow.
Now the opportunity came when my pastor asked me, “What is it going to take for you to do this full-Time?”
To be a producer in NYC you have to own or work for a production company. Was I going to go for it? I did, and within a year I went from a bed-room office to a wall street studio (http://www.burgosmedia.com/studiofacility).

My company is continuing to grow, and now I am being presented with a lot of interns that I am beginning to apprentice and mentor with production projects. Interns who tell me, “ I would eat ramen noodles every day to live and make my dream come true.” Interns that want to do whatever they can do to succeed: Work three jobs, not sleep, give up weekends, take on numerous production projects and go to school to continue their education and further their career.

College is a breeding ground & a solid foundation. It is something very needful, and in this highly competitive environment, very helpful. Yet life is an experience and being in the media field full-time--a whole new education. So I give my interns hands-on projects that can grow their knowledge, expand their contacts, and develop their portfolio that I learned in my professional experience with clients.

You need mentors and people that will apprentice you to be confident and competent in your dreams. And I am very happy to say, that within my business many of my interns have found jobs within a month of working with me in their respective fields: web, TV, film, magazines, public relations firms, Broadway and music.

It has been a blessing to watch them grow and expand their markets and lives!

I believe in advancing my career by helping companies, organizations and people advance their goals. What are some of yours?

NOTE: Are internships necessary? Yes.

Did you know the NY Times posted an article that parents are paying up to $8,000+ a year for their kids to get unpaid internships? Click here to find out more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/09/business/09intern.html?_r=2&8dpc