Interview with the Pakspectator 2008
April 15th, 2010 by adminA strange request but the answers sensible..from 2008
I was asked to pen some thoughts on this blog for the Pakspectator
Would you please tell us something about you and your site?
I am an artist and my blog is an art criticism blog with my own cartoons illustrating my criticism. It is basically about the English art scene but sometimes touches on International themes.
Do you feel that you continue to grow in your writing the longer you write? Why is that important to you?
In some ways but also as I do not have much time I do think my writing style sometimes suffers because of the speed of ‘blogging’. I need to think before I type more often!
I’m wondering what some of your memorable experiences are with blogging?
Well being contacted by the Pakspectator is pretty unusual. I mostly get visited by, and comments from, people interested in the art scene rather than politics although I do cross over when it comes to government funding of the arts which we lucky enough in this country to have received ..well until recently that is. When the economy does badly so do artists. People have other priorities and we lucky to have such a thing in first place compared to other countries. Art is not about just money though it about spirit too.
What do you do in order to keep up your communication with other bloggers?
I simply try and keep the blog updated as much as possible which not easy.
What do you think is the most exciting or most innovative use of technology in politics right now?
Probably the use of ‘interactive’ technology via the internet. We have a lot of U.K. politicians using youtube which is amusing…they try to look ‘up to date’ for the voters.
Do you think that these new technologies are effective in making people more responsive?
I do. I know a lot of English people are sceptical but I work with young people and they have long since abandoned their pens for the computer screen.
Politicians should speak in a language people understand even if on internet.
What do you think sets Your site apart from others?
My cartoons and my art dog character ‘Moogee’
If you could choose one characteristic you have that brought you success in life, what would it be?
Being inventive and seeking new solutions to problems.
What was the happiest and gloomiest moment of your life?
Meeting my partner and losing my father in the same year.
Do you think [the use of Twitter and other social networking tools by politicians] is bandwagon jumping or what?
As I said before politicians need to communicate in whatever way is suitable.
If you could pick a travel destination, anywhere in the world, with no worries about how it’s paid for – what would your top 3 choices be?
Iceland
Nashville U.S.A.
New Zealand
What is your favorite book and why?
Raymond Carver – Fires – short stories and poems
because it made me a poet.
What’s the first thing you notice about a person (whether you know them or not)?
Attitude.
Is there anyone from your past that once told you you couldn’t write?
A lot of arts adminstrators, politicians and lecturers are uncomfortable when one says the truth.
How bloggers can benefit from blogs financially?
I wish I knew..I do not..and never set out to make money from my blog..
Is it true that who has a successful blog has an awful lot of time on their hands?
They need to be sat down in front of a screen and type a lot that is for sure. They also need to avoid R.S.I. and related diseases from too much typing…
What are your thoughts on corporate blogs and what do you think the biggest advantages and disadvantages are?
I not that familiar with ‘bigger’ blogs although something like Huffington Post does seem to have changed the rules about how news is provided.
I think the world has changed and blogging is helping to change it even more…for the better.
What role can bloggers of the world play to make this world more friendlier and less hostile?
Just help with communication..we all need to communicate and avoid misunderstanding each other.
Who are your top five favourite bloggers?
I do not have a top five..I like the Guardian Newspaper Uk Bloggers – five of those do?
Is there one observation or column or post that has gotten the most powerful reaction from people?
Yes but not written by me ironically! A noted New York artist chose to comment on my blog and he gets lots of ‘hits’. He also going to write some ‘artist in New York’ travelogues for my blog so looking forward to those.
What is your perception about Pakistan and its people?
I have a very nice Pakistani family living next door who offered us some party food last weekend because welcoming someone from Pakistan.
So my impression was very good as was the food!
Have you ever become stunned by the uniqueness of any blogger?
My cartoon dog is pretty unique I haven’t seen another.
What is the most striking difference between a developed country and a developing country?
I have never visited Pakistan but I would guess people the same the world over and health and happiness not related to wealth at all. We are wealthy in some ways but poor in others.
What is the future of blogging?
I think it will become more like television because of technology but I hope there will still be a place for good writing.
You have also got a blogging life, how has it directly affected both your personal and professional life?
It has affected my profile as an artist. I believe more people may have heard of me because of the cartoons.
What are your future plans?
Keep blogging and asking questions even when I get no answers!
Any Message you want to give to the readers of The Pakistani Spectator?
Many thanks for spending some time reading my little thoughts from a damp and raining England. May you enjoy health and happiness and good weather!
regards,
Shaun Belcher
Artist and Poet and Songwriter
Nottingham, England
Free as a bird?
October 27th, 2009 by adminToday I finished adding my entire catalogue to this website.
Through an industrious mix and mash of elements from wordpress, ning and twitter I have a fully functional always on player driven catalogue that I can never charge for.. so what’s the point?
Well I believe and research by others backs it up that the old product driven recording industry is dead.
This is what I think the future will look like. All recordings available all the time and no spotify/last fm/mog whatever badging and branding and advertising. If I can do it anybody can. How will artists survive well not by selling CD’s , books or any other ‘hard’ copy but by creating online ‘presence’ and basically building up a global, personally driven online environment which includes (next step folks..not there yet) online streaming…..the tools are there just a matter of time before available for all…..and as for recording..that’s another blog post:-)
Moon over the Downs revisited
October 27th, 2009 by adminThis wonderful set of renditions of my lyrics came out in 2003 and pretty quickly sank in the quicksands of the music ‘bizness’. All the artists volunteered their tracks by MP3 and Kris and Joe of Cicero Buck tied it all together on Super Tiny Records and that was it basically….various artists records, let alone a charity record don’t get shelf space on the market so that was that until now and the beauties of NING which mean I can represent it complete with no fear of downloads…..so if you want a hard copy you gotta pay some dues to Super Tiny and Cancer Research UK. It was dedicated to my father who sadly died of Pancreatic Cancer in 2004. My mother has now been diagnosed with a separate form of cancer so time to highlight this gem and pray yet again….
I cannot thank enough the artists who contributed to it and hope this post helps shine a light on them in return as a form of thanks……keep on shining…..
Like The Moon over the Downs…
to listen to Trailer’s original tapes go to
Shaun Belcher on behalf of the late great Trailer Star
THE TRAILER STAR TRIBUTE – SUPER TINY RECORDS – STR002
the tribute to the star that never was – 15 groovy tracks by the likes of Jim Roll, Deanna Varagona, Bob Cheevers, Ronny Elliott..
