Easy Steps on How to Make Hip Hop Beats

The fantastic aspect about hip hop and a major part that makes it popular is the basic rules laid down when making a hip hop beat. This creates space for creative expression due to its flexibility. Despite the fact that it can be fun making the beat it can also be cumbersome at times. Here are few steps you can follow on how to compose hip hop beats.

The first step is picking the style of the beat. You have to know what you want before making it. These styles are like rap, rnd, pop, etc. after determining your style is when we go to the actual making of the beat. You should start with creating a drum beat which is the most fundamental part of this beat. When creating the drum beat you can opt to use pre-recorded midi - drums, drum loop or just produce your own drum loop with a beat making software. To make a solid base you are required to produce a drum beat that is four or two measures long.

After laying down the drums, the next thing you need to do is creating or picking a bass grove. The bass line you decide to use should rhyme with the drum beat, catchy and loop-based. You should know that the bass groove is also important. Using your program you can produce your own bass line or just go online and download a free bass groove. Now you have the bass and the drums now it is when creativity comes in.

The subsequent step is adding an orchestration. An orchestration is basically any element or musical sound that is at the top of the basic beat. At this point you can decide to use an instrument like a harmonica, violin or harp. You can also add any sound as long as it complements the hip hop beat. Once you are through with this step, you now can add some samples. Sampling is usually included in all hip hop beat. This is simply a snippet of the pre-recorded song by an artist. To avoid getting any trouble with the copyright laws you should get permission from the artist. Once you are through with that hurdle you can now add the samples to the beat.

After that, is the part where you add effects. These will help in adding originality to the beat. There a number to pick from and it is up to you to decide what you want. These effects range from delay, compression and re-verb.

It all comes down to just a mere fact of understanding the current trends by most hip hop artists and then letting your imagination run the show. Listen to the all times greats and apply the basics and the question of how to make hip hop beats won't need an answer. All you need to do is train your ears to pick out the trends and know what the hip hop industry is craving for. With all this you will make bit in the music world.

By Zach Santana

5 Simple Steps To Grow As A Tattoo Designer

With the popularity of tattoos as an art form, many are attracted to it. There are hundreds, even thousands, of people who want to become tattoo artists. Unfortunately, not everyone ends up with their dream.

Many start their career by trying their hand with a basic tattoo kit and practicing on their friends. Others learn about their inherent skill by accident, while a few enroll in formal art classes for the purposes of learning to tattoo. Whichever way you come to learn about the art of tattooing, you have to devote your time and commit yourself to this lifestyle if you want to succeed. As any experienced tattoo artist would always say, there is no shortcut to success. Here are some of the best tips for anyone who wants to become a tattoo designer.

TIP #1: Sketch it out!

All tattoo designs, however simple they may be, start with a great sketch. Sketching is one thing that tattoo artists must learn. By sketching out your design, you will be able to foresee the final result; this way you can determine what colors would be best. At the same time, you will also see how the design will fit the body contours of the client. You can make necessary changes to your design before finally tattooing it on your canvas. Basically, your sketch stands as the planning phase. It is at this stage where excellent tattoo designs are made.

TIP #2: Never allow your hands to be idle.

Just like any other skill, practice is essential if you want to grow as a tattoo artist. You need to practice your artistic skill by trying out as many different mediums as possible. The more you use your hands, the better you become and the faster you develop your tattoo skills. Take the time to draw tattoo designs on paper and try them out on artificial skin. Over time, you will find your skill levels will increase.

TIP #3: Build your own niche.

Every tattoo artist has their own forte. Tattoos can be categorized in virtually thousands of ways. As you begin making your own custom tattoo designs, you will find a category that appeals to you most. If you are good at tribal designs, you can work your way to the top with those. However, you must not stop there. You should continuously try to broaden your library. The purpose is to start with one niche and eventually covering all kinds of tattoo art. By having one niche, you will find that mastering the art of tattooing is easy.

TIP #4: Play with colors and styles.

As mentioned earlier, you should not confine yourself to one tattoo style. Always try to broaden your skills by combining different designs, colors and styles. There are unlimited resources online available to you; you simply have to do your own research.

TIP #5: Deal with your weaknesses.

This is probably the most important tip you need to constantly be mindful of. To become an exceptional tattoo artist, you need to know your weaknesses, and confront them. This is the most difficult aspect that every tattoo artist must deal with, but once you overcome your weaknesses, you can do virtually anything.

Hopefully, these five simple tips will help you find your place in the industry.

By Kristen Sauerzopf

The Relationship Between Interest Rates and Inflation

Everything in an economy in interlinked with each other and in a broad sense the economies of the world are linked with each other as well. Countries export and import with each other and this is why if one country has a problem in its economy the other country will get affected as well. Just look at how the whole world felt the ripples of the effect of the collapse of the US housing market. This phenomenon is known as the ripple effect or the multiplier effect. Likewise, interest rates and inflation both are very strongly linked.

Lets first define inflation and interest rates just so that everyone is on the same page; inflation is defined as a general increase in the prices of commodities over a period of time. Interest rates are the percentage at which you borrow money, meaning if you borrow a set amount of money you will have to pay back more than your borrowed amount, this is because the value of money decreases over time.

The best way to understand the concept of the relationship between interest rates and inflation is with an example, so let's say interest rates in your economy have fallen, it gets cheaper to borrow from banks, getting credit cards, loans, and everything. You see people around you getting loans and using credit cards, and it compels you to think, why shouldn't I? As a result, you get involved in bank borrowing as well, taking advantage of the interest rates, life seems great initially, you are able to pay your debts and monthly payments on time and you get used to it. However, after sometime the case doesn't remain the same due to changes in demand and supply. You need to realize that time changes and as it passes, demand for everything will be so high that there wouldn't be enough supply to meet that demand. For example everyone now has a car or a motorbike, and the demand for petrol has risen so much that supply becomes inadequate, and when this happens we see an increase in price because people are be willing to pay higher prices to get it, and this is when things start to go wrong. Now imagine every good and service starts to face this same problem, everything will become expensive and even if some commodities do not face this problem of increased demand they will have to increase prices because in general prices have risen and that's affecting their income as well. This is known as demand pull inflation.

Similarly when interest rates increase, borrowing becomes expensive and people save rather than spend because when they save, the same interest rate applies to their savings and saving seems a better option. This eventually results in a decrease in demand and when there is less demand in the market it leads to an excess of supply which force prices to decrease and inflation levels go down. And that's how interest rates and inflation are connected with each other.

By Jamie P. Johnson

All About Prescription Drug Financial Assistance Programs

Everything in this world needs finances. From the basic needs like food, shelter, health care, education and clothing, money plays a very vital role in getting things moving. It is why one needs to have access to money in order to get life moving easily. In matters related to health, money also plays a very big role. Many people are locked out of accessing quality healthcare as a result of lacking funds. Luckily for them, prescription drug financial assistance programs exist. These programs help in securing the most needed medical assistance for the person who applies for their help.

The most important thing to a patient is getting treatment (and right treatment for that matter). The patient may need urgent treatment for illnesses in instances where money is not allowing for direct purchase of the prescribe drugs. Drug financial assistance programs come in handy in helping patients who are in situations like these. They are also suited for patients with persisting health problems that need regular medication. They provide financial help to the patient whose medical bills may be an uphill task for him/her to pay. The best thing about using these programs is the fact that one only needs to meet a number of requirements which luckily, many patients are able to meet. Once accepted, the patient can rest assured that his/her drug prescription problems are all kept in check.

For any patient to qualify, he/she must not be covered by any insurance cover that pays for his/her prescription drugs. These programs also ensure that the patient applying for their help dos not qualify for any government, state or federal program that offers payment help for prescription drugs. The program also makes sure that the patient will no doubt have financial hiccups when paying for the prescription drugs. If the patient qualifies for all the above requirements, then he/she can fill the application process and forward his/her application giving all the relevant required information. In some instances, the prescription drug financial assistance program may allow the applicant's doctor to write a simple short letter attesting to the fact that the applicant has financial difficulties. This plays a great role in getting the applicant accepted in the program.

When making the application, all the applicant needs is to carefully read and follow all the instructions in the application form. In instances where he/she does not understand, consultations should be made to people who can help in interpreting and advising. Some forms require proof of income. This helps the patient in getting the appropriate needed help for his drug prescription problems.

Every application form should be taken to the doctor for approval. After the doctor has approved and supported the application process (by even giving a list of all medicines needed), the applicant should then mail the forms to the relevant drug companies. Every application should be accompanied by it's relevant prescriptions. To keep the drug prescriptions coming, it is important that the applicant re-applies for refills. This also helps in indicating instances where the prescription has changed so that it is also considered in the prescription help. In every step of the application process, the patient/s personal doctor should be involved. These programs rely a lot in the doctor's recommendations in order to effectively help the applicant.

By Kevin Wynn

How to Build Customer Satisfaction and Brand Loyalty

If your company is built on the core value of providing exceptional customer service it will be important to foster employee engagement. To boost employee engagement, start by instilling a "CEO mindset" in every employee of your firm, from senior management down to support staff. Instilling a CEO mindset means empowering your employees to take ownership of their roles by taking the initiative in resolving customer issues.

Employees with a CEO mindset do not stick to their job descriptions or wait for direction but apply creative and innovative methods to improve and enhance work processes that result in superior service. Empowering employees will differentiate your company from your competitors and build brand loyalty.

Let's take three examples to highlight how employee initiative drives exceptional service.

Case Study 1

During the early days of Starbucks, CEO Howard Schultz didn't see a need to purchase blenders-the store was selling coffee after all and what possible use could a blender have? A Starbucks store manager in Los Angeles, not dissuaded by his reluctance, took the initiative to purchase her own blender to create a new drink that she then tested with her café customers. As greater numbers of patrons began asking for this drink over time, Schultz became convinced that an investment in blenders wasn't such a bad idea after all. Since then, the Frappuccino has become one of the best-selling beverages served at Starbucks and has generated hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue.

Case Study 2

Managers at UPS frequently tell stories of initiative during staff meetings to build employee morale and foster this behavior in all employees. Here's just one example. A UPS driver was delivering packages to a U.S. military base in Aberdeen, Maryland one snowy evening not too long before Christmas. The driver noticed that part of the address was missing one package. The easy solution was simply for the driver to leave the package with the base HQ to be re-routed at some later point. However, this driver took the initiative and made the extra effort to locate the solider to whom the package was addressed. The solider was very grateful for no little reason: inside the package was an airplane ticket home for the holiday! Had the UPS driver not made the extra effort the solider would have missed the flight and the chance to spend Christmas with his family.

Case Study 3

Southwest Airlines has been able to effectively combat rising oil and gas prices and maintain healthy revenue even during the recent economic recession. The main strategy was to build a strategy team composed of senior management down through baggage crews. The team met once per week for brainstorming sessions and was encouraged by top management to take the initiative in generating ideas that would improve productivity while reducing costs. Southwest's Chief Information Officer, Tom Nealon stated that having a cross-functional team allowed members to develop a "big picture" perspective and ask insightful questions that led to innovative solutions. These ideas have helped the company gain a substantial competitive edge in its market by delivering superior service (e.g. streamlined reservations, limited delays, quick boarding) at lower costs.

By Divyesh Nathoo

Boost Your Business With Binary Sexology

Binary Sex Secrets for better sales and business

The science of Binary Sexology can have dramatic effects on improving your relationship with your partner through better understanding and better communication. How can you extend that science and have better relationships with your clients, co-workers and customers? Can you use the study of sexology to create more sales (or to make more money)?

Basic biology shows us that men and women are physically different. Psychology shows us that males and females also think differently and relate to their world in different ways. Google Binary Sexology to see a simple video on YouTube that illustrates the point perfectly. Understanding the differences between how men and women think, process, relate, communicate and make buying decisions can help sales people or business owners to design better marketing that appeals to the specific niche: masculine or feminine.

Tailoring the advertising and altering the sales pitch to better suit the client can result in a much better outcome for both the customer and for the sales person.

Average businesses will advertise in the same way to both men and women. This is like marketing in China and only using signs that are written in English. Sure, there are 300 million Chinese who speak English, but you will be missing out on the 1 billion people who only speak Chinese.

Compare this to Australia or the USA where between 60% and 85% of the purchasing decisions are made by females, and yet advertisers may often only target men. For best impact, businesses need to market more effectively to the majority of women and also learn the best way to tailor sales to men.

Any concern that a business will have to spend more money on marketing is easily relieved. Having two smaller ad campaigns or two different sales pitches makes more sense and each campaign will be far more effective in its results. A business that sells coffee or T-shirts in small, medium and large will generally make more sales and more money than a business who tries to only sell the one-size-fits-all, like-it-or-lump-it type of product.

Tailoring products to better suit your market can have a big impact on your bottom line, but does anyone use the Binary Sexology techniques for nefarious purposes?

The same technique used to seduce a customer to buy products or services can also be used to seduce them for other reasons. Some people will do things for their own purposes and some people will do things for the greater good. We can only teach you the skill, we cannot be responsible for other people's morals or outcomes.

By Jeremy Britton

Newsletter Ideas For Company Use

A lot of businesses and big companies make use of newsletters to communicate to people within or outside their organization. Newsletters are made use by companies to update their employees with current issues and developments which can be helpful for the entire organization. On the other hand, businesses use newsletters for people outside their organization to let them know about new products, services or offers that they will be launching. This is also their way to strengthen the popularity of a certain product they are carrying. Newsletters are informative, persuasive and conversational. This is why it is important to know the effective newsletter ideas that will make the people read the letter from start to finish.

When you will be using newsletters for employees, staff or entire organization, you should make sure that the letter is made in a friendly manner. Keep it interesting and not too formal so that the people who will read the letter will be comfortable enough to read it up to the end. Often times, the subject or topic of a newsletter that is intended for staff, employees or organization are for welcoming new members, reports on what happened within the departments, launching of new products, showing appreciation for the staffs' hard work or to let the staff know which products are actually selling well. Since you will just be sending these types of letters to your employees, keep it light. It can be short but complete. Make sure that you only send the newsletters out to people who are involved or concerned with the certain subject or topic.

On the other hand, when you want to send out newsletters to clients or prospect customers, you need to keep your letter interesting, informative and fun to read. Make sure that you successfully convey the message that you want to relay to the people. If you are to advertise or market a new product, keep your letter focused on the advantages and benefits that the product can provide to people. But keep it in a conversational manner and avoid being too sales pitchy. This way, people will learn more about the product without being irritated by the sales pitch of the letter.

A business newsletter will always work well for companies as long as it is written in the correct and proper manner. A skilled and experienced newsletter writer would know the right techniques to use that will be suitable for a particular group of people who will receive the letter. You can hire your own newsletter writer so that you would be sure that the results will be positive for your company. Or you can also learn how to create effective company letters. In doing this, you can save money because you will not have to hire writers. You can just make the newsletters for your company then. But aside from writing, you should also learn how to make full use of them so that your company will always get the results that it needs from your newsletters.

By Benjamine Vlaunt

How Business SMS Marketing Can Skyrocket Your Sales

The fact is there are now billions of cell phone users around the world. I will even go as far as saying the whole world is obsessed with mobile communication. And any business owner that's not using mobile marketing for growth is seriously missing out! As this provides a fantastic opportunity to easily bring more customers to their door. But how can business SMS marketing vastly increase your customer database and sales conversion?

Use Opt-in SMS Webform: This is the most secure method of effectively growing your customer database without spamming. You simply shouldn't run business SMS campaign to contact people without their consent. Adding this form on your site allows people to willingly join your mailing list and receive your messages. As a result, you'll get to accomplish high sales volume from your promotions to your opt-in list.

Reveal Message Frequency: Inform your business SMS audience of your message frequency. This way, they know exactly what to expect. And don't use aggressive marketing tactics. It won't work! By not regularly bombarding your audience with too many messages should keep them warm and more responsive to your offers.

Use Media Links For Promotions: Mobile SMS marketing is not just about sending text messages to your subscribers. You can optimize your sales by adding video or image links to your messages. Visual representation is a great way to really captivate your audience. For example, a restaurant owner can text a video link to subscribers about their latest menu to boost sales.

Provide 'STOP' Option: Offering the 'stop' choice to unsubscribe from your database will encourage a lot more people to sign-up to your list. It puts people at ease when they know they can unsubscribe at any time. Make this crystal clear on your SMS Webform.

Be Time Effective: This is really crucial to your SMS campaign. For instance, an early morning or late night text message to your customers is obviously bad timing. If you don't do this, your sales volume will be much healthier. And if you do offer seasonal deals, be aware of the timing you promote to your audience. For example, what needs to be offered in a month's time to maximize turnover, don't hastily promote it before then.

Advertise Mobile Coupons At Your Location: If you are located at a retail store, office or another type of business premises, you can promote mobile coupons clearly within your business environment. This is one of the best ways to create a buzz regarding your product or services and optimize sales in the process. A typical example is to incentivize visitors by offering them a coupon with 20% discount. At the same time, you can grow your business SMS database by asking for their contact details in exchange for receiving the coupon.

Send Personalised Messages: People usually become negative for receiving non-personalised messages, as they perceive it as spam. By sending a business SMS message to a subscriber in their name helps to develop instant rapport. It also makes the recipient feel important and respond more positively. For that reason, you can achieve high sales conversions.

My Final Words: The reality is that mobile SMS marketing provides the easiest and quickest way of developing your customer database. It also offers the most cost-effective and result-driven method of growing your business. As people read their text messages no matter where they are. So, take full advantage of this powerful marketing method in order to skyrocket your sales and get your business to the next level.

By Shefiu Francis

How Big Data Can Change Businesses

The next frontier for businesses will be determined by how well businesses incorporate big data into their operating spaces and technologies. We see more and more the incorporation of large data sets into business infrastructures and it is clear that big data will continue to define and reinvent the ways businesses operate in the future.

All businesses acquire and run on some sort of data set - whether it be inventory, financial statements, transactions, client profiles, files, media, and online presence, the implications of big data will fuel exponential growth in the ways businesses can operate and grow to their great capability. Leaders in every sector will have to change certain ways information is stored, read, and utilized within the new online scope. We see this expressed in great volumes and detail through the rise of multimedia, social media, and of course, the internet, which is a Mecca for online businesses to proliferate.

But just how will big data change businesses as we know it? Let's just take a look at healthcare. Big data can now make it possible for health care providers to pull up information on any patient, anywhere in the world. Large data sets allows for instant access to pertinent patient needs, prescriptions, and medications. This is more efficient, timely, and can even reduce health care expenses. Operational efficiency is key nowadays to the success of any business. If government administrators could improve their online big data infrastructure, expenses could be negated and issues could get process in a speedier manner. Governments need to improve their "business model" and big data will allow them to analyze large data sets faster, and more efficiently.

With the advent of the internet and large data sets, companies now have the power to synthesize large sets of complicated, quantifiable data. This means they need to change certain business models to adapt to this new model. Collecting massive amount of data but having no way to break down, categorize, and scale the data available to them will only be disastrous. Therefore, big data comes with the need for employers to learn new methods of technology analysis and learning new perspectives on just how data sets will cause businesses to evolve.

As more and more establishments turn to big online data sets in a more transactional, digitalized form, as a whole businesses will be able to collect more accurate, detailed profiles and performances of their businesses and clients, with the ability to instantly change data and boost productivity. This allows for narrow segmentation and precise data sets that will affect important business decisions.

By Amanda Rodriguez

How to Sell Advertising Differently

Radio stations, TV and newspaper companies worldwide are experiencing never before challenges, and in many cases simply losing market share right before their eyes. Is it not time that we all think about changing the ways we do things. The tired, "We have always done it this way syndrome" is not working.

Here are 7 reasons why that could be happening and how to avoid it.

1. Too much sameness- In the boom times there was plenty to go around, the revenue was just pouring in, credit was easy and the consumers spent, who did they spend with? Your customers! Now they are not... so what are you going to do about it... the same old same old?

2. Set yourself apart- Media companies and their direct selling teams will have to find a new way of doing business... you now need a good story; you need a reason to be in your market a reason that sets you apart from the opposition. The reality is the economy is getting cleaned out- it was badly needed, we are seeing the worst employees, the worst salespeople and the worst mangers are moving on.

3. Money- the money in circulation is always in motion- Right now there is a little less in circulation, but the money that is in circulation is always there, moving from one area to another, it moves, such as traditional media has seen this shift to online. The truth is that it moves for reasons, and if that money is not moving to you there are reasons that money is not moving to you, that are within your control.

4. Get the money before they do- I have experienced first hand capitulation in many of the media companies I speak with, thankfully not many of my clients. They have given up! When the money rolls in, anyone can do well, now they believe that the money out there is beyond their control, so they have given up and are not just trying. They are sitting in sales meeting saying that it's tough out there, the market is different, and advertisers are not interested in advertising.

That is simply not true, media companies I know are doing well. The ones that are embracing change, doing new things, and connecting to their market in different ways are prospering.

5. Find out the one compelling reason your advertisers want to buy your medium and not your opposition. Believe it or not, many of your clients are not really interested in dots and spots, and right hand pages or key banner ads- They are interested in how you can get what they want. What is that? Create questions in your interview to find that out. If money is not moving to you it's because you are selling spots...like everyone else!

6. Profitable Pricing- many media companies have rushed to discount and percentage off. They are cutting prices on everything. If your advertising is perceived as a commodity your advertisers will buy at the cheapest price. That is hard to compete with.

7. Finally ask yourself - what business are you in? - If you are in the spots and dots, ½ full-page and banner business then fine, dominate it. You could though try to be in the problem solving business and align your media company with the wants and needs of your advertisers.

By Mike Brunel

Modeling Tips - Safety Precautions

We may move like a cat, but we don't have 9 lives. In an industry with an overwhelming revolving door of talent and newcomers, it can be hard to weed out the psychos and perverts from the professionals. It's best to be safe than sorry when dealing with casting calls, jobs, and Photographers. No matter how beautiful you are, the last place you'd want your headshot posted is on the news over a tragic murder or rape. Life has no guarantees, but we can take some precautions to avoid dangerous situations. Here are my top 10 safety tips for models:

1) DO YOUR RESEARCH

Before you accept a job or meet with a Photographer, check them and their company out on Google, first. It's free, fast, and convenient. Do they have any reviews? How do their photos look? Is their portfolio posted? Website with company information? There are a ton of talented Photographers who are in the midst of building their portfolio and may not have a website up, but they should have an online profile with Model Mayhem, Facebook, or One Model Place, etc. that showcases some of their work. If they're a ghost, meaning they have nothing online-zip, zero, then pass. It's just not worth the risk or time. Use that extra time to find a Photographer who is already online and is serious in networking.

2) USE YOUR REFERRALS

The easiest and safest way to find a Photographer to work with is to simply ask your model friends. Not only will they refer you to legitimate people, but they'll also give you the "ins and outs" of working with that particular Photographer-whether or not he/she shoots nudes, fashion, lifestyle, etc. how fast they shoot and edit, locations they use, and their professionalism. Knowing how a shoot may go based on how someone works is an advantage-you'll know what you're getting into.

3) TO USE A CHAPERONE OR NOT?

This can be tricky. Personally, I'm not a fan of chaperones because I find it a distraction for both myself and the Photographer. My theory is that if we can't work alone together, then we're not working at all. Now, I have seen it done and know Photographers who don't mind chaperones, but I think if you DO decide on bringing one, that you should discuss it beforehand with the Photographer. Be prepared to give them a reason for it and be honest...maybe it's your first photo shoot ever and you'd feel more comfortable having a friend there for moral support? Or maybe you're a little hesitant on the type of content you'll be shooting? Either way, communicating these concerns ahead of time will make the shoot go smoother. You may even find out that just having this conversation with your Photographer can clear up a lot of concerns so that you won't be needing a chaperone after all. Or you may offend them and end up not shooting-that's okay too. Which brings up the profiles I've seen online where Photographers rudely use exclamations in expressing, "NO CHAPERONES, BOYFRIENDS, DRAMA, SINGLE WOMEN, ONLY, etc" in their ads. RED FLAGS! Look, both parties have the right to accept a chaperone, or not, but all within tact. I perceive ads like these as being unprofessional and a little scary. Do they have hidden agendas? Why would it matter if I was single or not? I'm here to model, not date. This isn't Match.com mofo. If you both can't come to an agreement, just move on.

4) MEETINGS

Sometimes, a Photographer will want to meet with you before a shoot to discuss ideas, the project, wardrobe, and to meet you in person. I think these meetings can be helpful in allowing everyone to show their personality and define their vision so that the actual shoot day is fun and breezy. When meeting in person, though, especially for the first time, make sure you're at a public place. DO NOT visit them at their home or hotel. A studio is okay if it's a public building-meaning it's not their living room by day turned studio by night. Offices are okay, too but I just always suggest and prefer cafes for pleasant meeting places.

5) EQUIPMENT

I knew a model who once showed up at a Photographer's hotel room to shoot and he whipped out a Kodak disposable camera. Fortunately, the story has a good ending-she left without shooting and learned a valuable lesson in due diligence. No matter how many precautions you take, if a Photographer shows up with anything but professional equipment, get the hell out of there. You wouldn't be able to use any of those images in your portfolio anyways-this is not amateur hour.

6) AGREEMENTS

If you're hired to shoot in a wedding gown and there's only a neon g-string laid out for you when you get there, pack your stuff and head on home. If it wasn't in the original agreement between you and the Photographer, then you have every right to leave the shoot. No remixes here. Also, Photographers will usually have you sign some sort of model release agreement. Usually, this states the rate of pay for the job, your address (tax purposes), your age (please be legal), and your signature outlining that you agree with the terms set forth. READ through the entire contract and if you have any questions or concerns, state them to the Photographer. You do have the right to cross out or add anything to the contract, but if you do, make sure to get their signature in compliance and get a copy of the agreement before you leave.

7) DURING THE SHOOT

If at anytime you begin to feel uncomfortable, you can always leave. First of all, you look like a deer in the headlights-not cute, and second, there's no reason you shouldn't feel safe. Either make an excuse that you don't feel well, apologize and excuse yourself from the shoot, or tell him/her why you're uncomfortable. Maybe the temperature inside is too cold for you? Or that you're too hot? Do you need water? A break to eat? All legitimate reasons to check yourself and the situation before leaving.

8 ) PHONE A FRIEND

ALWAYS, always, always, tell or text a friend when, where, and with whom you'll be shooting and when you're expected to be done. This is NEVER EVER negotiable.

9) THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

Just as you would never invite a stranger from the streets into your home is the same reason why you'd never let a new Photographer shoot at your home. Now if you've worked with them before and trust them, or know plenty of models who have, then it's up to you to make that decision. Just remember that inviting someone to your home where you lay to rest every night is only a good idea if they aren't stalkers.

10) USE COMMON SENSE

If it doesn't feel right or sound right, skip it. There's a multitude of professionals out there who are legitimate and will help your career soar. Don't ever settle for something that's not right for you. Life is way too short and I'd rather see your face in bright lights for a long, long time.

By Jayd A Lem

Retail Display Lighting LED Strips Are a Fantastic Option

Properly lighting a retail display can be hard work. Many displays have unique shapes and contours that create shadows and dark spots when traditional light fixtures are used. As any retailer knows, proper lighting is essential to ensuring that customers get the best view of your products. Without proper illumination, the entire point of putting items into a special display can be lost. When it comes to retail display lighting, LED strips really can be the best option. They are versatile, offer ideal lighting, and provide a budget friendly option.

Quality is certainly the biggest reason why retailers around the globe are making the switch to LED lights in every possible fixture. LED light quality is far clearer and more natural than other options available on the market, providing stores with even lighting that doesn't have the same yellow or blue tint that halogen, fluorescent, and incandescent light provides. For retail display lighting, LED strips also offer the ability to bend and flex in order to ensure a proper fit within any shape or space. This helps your customers see your products in the best possible light, rivaled only by that of the sun.

Of course, the quality of the light itself isn't the only way that LEDs are superior. You will also find that the quality of LED lighting is superior in terms of cost and maintenance as well. LED lights require almost no maintenance, and the low heat, low wattage bulbs are designed to last considerably longer than other lighting options. LEDs require very little power to generate, which means that they can also help you save considerably in long term lighting expenses; a fact every retailer should take into consideration. The bottom line is that when it comes to retail display lighting, LED strips offer numerous advantages.

Versatility is another big benefit when it comes to LEDs. For retail display lighting, LED strips offer the advantage of being able to easily fit a variety of shapes, but they can also be connected together or cut apart to ensure the perfect size for any display. LED light strips also offer the unique benefit of adhering via self-adhesive strips, which means that they can be easily moved or repositioned as your display and lighting needs change.

When it comes to retail display lighting, LED strips are simply the top choice on the market today. Options such as dimmer switches and multi-color changing strips help to ensure that there is a perfect light strip option for virtually every need, while the high-quality, low-cost nature of LEDs simply makes them the best option for any budget as well. Proper lighting can make a major difference in your overall sales figures, and when you take the time to really discover the advantages that LED lights have to offer, it quickly becomes clear that they are the superior choice. If your retail store is in need of better product illumination, it is certainly worthwhile to consider outfitting your display cases with LED strips.

By Kim Zheng

Picking the Right Mechanical Seals to Use

Picking the right mechanical seals to use for your machines and installations is a very easy but tricky process. There are plenty of options available for you when you go about choosing which ones to use. Aside from this, there are also other alternatives you can use if you do not want to spend too much of your budget in these seals.

Some of the most common alternatives to a mechanical seal are gland packing and other similar gasket types. But most engineers prefer using mechanical seals since they are more convenient, durable, and can last them longer when used.

Factors to Remember When Selecting Seals

There are basically three important things to remember when you select which these seals to use for your installations.

First, check for chemical compatibility. Most installation where they are used usually involves pipes wherein chemicals usually flow during use. Make sure that the materials which your seals are made of won't corrode with repeated exposure to these substances.

Also take into consideration the cleaning agents you will use for your installations. Check if these solvents will react negatively with the materials your seals are made of. Chemical reactions are common especially for seals made of non-metallic materials.

Next up, make sure that before you apply the seals that the seal faces stay together. Make sure they are closed shut. If you are dealing with hazardous chemicals, even minor leaks can pose as serious health hazards to those working on the machines. It can also hasten the deterioration of your mechanical seal and the assembly itself.

Lastly, you should know that a good mechanical industrial seal is one that lasts you until the carbon face is all worn out. If the seal uses other materials, then it has to last until everything is worn away and this should take a few months. Be aware though, that seal failures happen from time to time though these can easily be rectified if the proper maintenance routines are carried out.

Types of Mechanical Industrial Seals

They come in different types. This makes them all the more convenient to use since you can choose what size, shape, and material your seal should be made with. One of the most common seals used in construction projects is the hydraulically balanced seal.

This seal has a lot of positive things that makes it appealing to engineers. First, they usually work in whatever environment temperature they may be in. They are also very easy to apply and maintain as compared to other seal types. They can also withstand tremendous amounts of pressure, which is very useful if you are planning to install the seals into machines and not just pipes or drainage.

For special occasions, you can use seals with metal bellows. This type is perfect if you are planning to use them in machines that work in extremely hot or cold temperatures. They are very durable even in these extreme circumstances. As was mentioned above, they are made from other light materials like Teflon, carbon, plastics and the like.

By Dorothy Millett

Fund Raising By Catering a Meal

The current state of the economy in the United States has seen a wide array of non-profit companies looking for a better way to accomplish raising funds. In many cases, sales and other types of fund raising have been seen to be less than effective, leaving the non profit struggling to find the funding that they need to keep their non-profit afloat. It's easier to become complacent when there is no personal interaction involved in the fund-raiser. Sending out a letter or an email is easy to overlook or to forget to respond to, while a hot meal with friends will always be more personal and engender goodwill.

A fundraiser that has been built around a good family dinner is a great way to accomplish fund raising for nearly any kind of business. From a blood drive to an animal rescue foundation, a family meal will draw in people to donate or to sit down and talk with friends. Charging a slightly higher price for the meal than it costs to create will be the first step. Asking for donations from them at the meal, when clients and friends of the organization are relaxed and in a good mood is usually much more successful than a direct mail campaign or an email fund-raising drive.

In many cases, this kind of fund-raising turns out to be less than successful because it is far less personal than an event when everyone gathers. Nearly every kind of fund-raising event will be more successful when it is accompanied by a good meal and the fellowship of like-minded people. Getting anyone together for a good meal and friendly discussion will net far greater benefits than a simple mail solicitation or an email, which is impersonal enough to be ignored.

A very well planned out and well executed fund-raising drive is a quality way to raise money for any group or organization. In addition,since your catering company will quite likely be responsible for much of the cooking, planning and cleanup for the event, the fund-raiser can also be remarkably painless for the organization who is holding the event.

A pancake breakfast or a nice relaxing dinner can generate a great deal of goodwill. It will further afford the organization a chance to discuss what they do and how they do it, building camaraderie between the guests at the event, as well as the fund-raising group or organization.

By Bernard Duke