| Minutes of the Meeting held 28th December 1999 |
| ACTION | |
| APOLOGIES | |
| There was none. | |
| MINUTES OF LAST MEETING | |
| Accepted as VALID. | |
| MATTERS ARISING | |
| MCPS/PPL | |
| Mr Whitaker would deliver the various forms and whatnots to Mr Hibbett. He reported that he had spoken to John at Overground who had agreed to give Mr Hibbett some help,. which would very probably be very necessary. | MW |
| AAS GOLD DISC | |
| It was reported that humour levels in this item were rising, as it never failed to raise a smile from visitors to Mr Fleay’s kitchen. He stated that he hoped to set up a ceremony in Reveal, whereby Stevie Stumble and Tom Reveal would be in attendance, thus utilising the Gold Disc as an instrument of reconciliation and love. | RF |
| MUSIC LIVE | |
| Mr Hibbett had contacted the organisers of Abbey Park, and would be alerted when things started to occur in the new year. Both he and Mr Fleay had copies of Music Live application forms, which they would Look Upon. | MH RF |
| DOMAIN NAME PLACE | |
| This had been forgotten about, but would be looked at. It was agreed that it might be handy to get a proper domain name, even as a forwarding thing, in case we moved providers in the future. | |
| PROMO VIDEOS | |
| Due to Yuletide festivities nothing much had been done here either. Mr Whitaker stated that Adam from Taking Pictures was in the country at the moment, and was thus contactable to discuss sending them his video single. | |
| ORGANISATIONAL ISSUES | |
| The following label-based issues were discussed: | |
| WEBPAGES | |
| The site had now had over 4,000 hits, likely due to our appearance on the Cuban Boys pages, all praise to them and their kin. Mr Fleay was currently working his way through directories, getting us listed, and Mr Whitaker asked that we be put onto Yahoo, as we appeared not to be there. It was agreed that the Stumble link be changed to the actual page location, not that look.to or findhere address thing. | RF MH |
| WEB CONSULTANCY | |
| This was now Actually Done and ready to set up. There was an extremely long and INTERESTING ACTUALLY conversation about how Visual Basic and JavaScript had been used, and all sorts of clever discussion between Messrs Fleay and Hibbett about NT Servers, and that. It was GRATE, and Mr Whitaker wasn’t bored, whatever he says. Messrs Fleay and Hibbett would liaise with Tom for a time to go in and explain it all, set it up, and discuss matters accordingly. | RF MH |
| NEWS LETTER | |
| The last issue of the newsletter never actually went out, as for various reasons it was very out of date. Thus it was agreed that parts of it would be salvaged for the next one, which would contain our Millenium Message to THE KIDS. | MH |
| PLUGGERS | |
| We’d had a christmas card from them! Also from West 4 and the Hive, and it was agreed that we really ought to do the similar next year. | |
| DISTRIBUTION | |
| Gareth had failed to reply to Mr Whitaker’s recent emails, so he would FACT him again, heavily. The deletion period ends on March 1st,.after which stock should be returned, and it was agreed that the AGM be delayed until this was all sorted out, so that financial matters could be clarified. | MW |
| Meanwhile, the BEAUTY of Prime shone unabated. Around 100 copies of the Frankie Machine single had been sold so far, with 15 of the Wandrin’ Allstars reissue. Mr Whitaker had sent them details of our plans for the new year, and he agreed to find out about receiving financial statements, for the sake of Mr Fleay’s spreadsheet of TRUTH. | MW |
| FINANCE | |
| Mr Whitaker had still to provide Mr Fleay with receipts, as discussed last time, but would action this swiftly. There was a discussion about getting in an accountant – various board members would be facing the face of the taxman in the near future, and it was thought that there might be a way to combine all things under the AAS banner, benefiting all. No-one had a clue though, and it was agreed that everyone would try and dig up some accountants, hopefully finding an “hip” accountant (hmm) who could give us a free chat to start with to see where we stood. It was all a bit confusing, but as Mr Whitaker quoted eloquently, “in chaos lies opportunity”. | MW ALL |
| JOB DESCRIPTIONS/QUALITY MANUAL | |
| Pend! | |
| AWAY DAY/AGM | |
| As stated previously, it was agreed that the AGM be delayed until financial matters were clarified, though the away day should go ahead anyway. Skegness was deemed to be too far away, and also a bit cold, so it was agreed that the Board would relocate again to the Peak District, possibly to the same hotel as before. Mr Hibbett would get this sorted out, more than likely for the 18th March. | MH |
| FOOTBALL | |
| There was a LOT of discussion of this. Everybody had lost. | |
| A&R | |
| FRANKIE MACHINE | |
| It was with GLEE that the meeting noted the playing of the single on John Peel, the very NIGHT of the last Board meeting. Whoo! Around 100 had been sold at last count, which was pretty jolly good baby. There was a possibility (probability) of a Derby gig at the end of January with Gary of the Beekeepers, and Mr Hibbett would keep harassing the 12 bar until they answered. Songs were in preparation, and Mr Fleay hoped to find time in January to go and record the next one. All in all he stated that he was really Dead Chuffed – he’s written the songs he’d wanted, recorded them all on his lonesome how he’d wanted, even done the cover exactly as planned, and all had turned out GRATE. A warm glow spread around the meetings. | MH RF |
| MJ HIBBETT & THE VALIDATORS | |
| Mr Hibbett was still waiting for CASH to come through, but would send off the DAT in January anyway and see what happens. Artwork was passed around, and the issue of where to produce it was considered. Mr Fleay would try and work out the cost for the Czechs to do it, then see if the chap in Derby could do it cheaper, for both this album and the Johnny Domino long player, and then all systems would most definitely be go. Meanwhile, gigs were vaguely in the offing, and there were four new songs ready to go. Finally the meeting discussed the relative arsiness of the last bunch of new songs. | MH RF |
| JOHNNY DOMINO | |
| The album was now called “Players” which all agreed was MORE GOOD. All was similarly ready to go now, and the band had reacted enthusiastically to the promotional idea of including free copies of Rabbit Themes with the first batch of records. The joint single with Mr Hibbett and the Validators was also all done and ready, with a proposed release date of January 10th, although the meeting thought this might be a little optimistic. | |
| JOHNNY DOMINO/MJ HIBBETT & THE VALIDATORS JOINT CAMPAIGN | |
| The meeting considered the forthcoming campaign for both releases, which would be conducted under the wise guidance of Mr Whitaker. The Mex/Payday Is The Best Day single would, as stated above, be out in January, with both albums following around the end of March. Mr Hibbett would try and arrange some joint gigs in Leicester, Derby, London and Nottingham. The Validators hoped to also play Leeds, Sheffield, Oxford, and Edinburgh and Glasgow, and if there was a possibility of playing these together, it would be investigated. There was in-depth discussion about promotional tools and the validity of combining resources to generate what would be, for AAS at least, a really big campaign fund. Mr Hibbett stated that he would be up for paying around Ł400 to use up about 150 copies of the album, and Mr Fleay would speak to the Domino to see how they felt. Mr Whitaker raised the idea of using Razzle to do press plugging, as they had done really well with the Butterflies of Love. He would investigate costs and sort something out. | |
| In summary, then, Mr Whitaker would speak to Razzle and Overground to ascertain costs and other requirements, Mr Fleay would liaise with Johnny Domino to find out their thoughts, and Mr Hibbett would get on with sorting out some gigs. All were excited at the possibility that this could be the start of a new promotional phase for the label. For the next millenium. | MW RF MH |
| THE FIGHTING COCKS | |
| There had been a flurry of conversation between Charlie and Mr Hibbett since the last meeting, but the album still looked no closer to actually being released. | |
| LAZER GUIDED | |
| Mr Fleay reported that there had been some tension in the Guided camp of late, with the future a little uncertain as some members would be off to University in September. Still, they were generating some interest, from Amberley, Roison, and a great deal from a label called Spa Records. | |
| SALOON | |
| Nothing had been heard from them – bands eh? Do they call? Do they ring? | |
| WANDRIN’ ALLSTARS | |
| The new website had had over 600 hits in the first week, again largely due to the Cuban Boys, may their seed remain fecund forever. The motor for their 8 track had been located, and their next project was progressing well. Also they would be writing the theme tune for a show to be played on UCL TV, which would be a Foot In The Door as they also did programmes for places like BBC Choice. Finally the Twinkie remix was on the way, and as a result of this, Debbie from Twinkie would be singing on the next Wandrin’ Allstars track (the single, in fact). | |
| STUMBLE | |
| The Peoplesound single seemed to have performed its promotional function well, with lots of radio and press coverage, though the meeting still felt it could turn out uncomfortable in the future. Mr Fleay reported that the band had negotiated a different deal to normal, whereby the single was now being sold for Ł3.99, rather than Ł6.99, with the older tracks now being downloadable for free. It came as a CD-R in a generic cover, with a sticker on the front as a specific cover type thing. | |
| Meanwhile, Mr Cooper had been speaking to Various Major Labels in That London, and was hopeful of Something Good happening, and Mr Fleay was POISED with his advice on such matters, as well as to find out the details of their radio plugging. The next single was being recorded next week, although the band had no idea what they’d be doing with it. We’d be getting a copy to listen to anyway. | RF |
| COMPILATION ALBUM | |
| As it has since time began, this item pended. But beware! Do not rest from visiting it, for one day the pending will end. And then what shall occur? Who can say what fantastical events it shall engender? | |
| ANY OTHER A&R | |
| SPRAYDOG | |
| There was an extraordinarily long discussion about this, which saw the Board at their very best, considering all the issues and things. Eventually it was decided that, though everybody thought the album was good, no one person was sufficiently leaping about excited about it to want to push it, and if the only reason to do it was thus to make us look cool, then no real service would be done for anybody. Thus we would not be releasing the album ourselves, but stood,. as ever, ready to help with Wisdom and Thought as needed. | |
| 22 METRE BAND | |
| There had been some discussion about releasing the track “Americans in Europe” as a single, and the band had asked for details of prices, and the possibility of doing a split single. Mr Fleay reported that, including import tax, his single had cost about Ł700. The meeting suggested contacting Charlie of the Fighting Cocks, to see if they fancied doing a split, featuring “Love Somebody, Yes I Do” and Mr Hibbett would FACT him about this, while Mr Whitaker would ask the Wandin’ Allstars if they fancied it also. | MH MW |
| TWINKIE/CUBAN BOYS | |
| The Wandin’ Allstars remix had not been done, and this item would only return when there was something to report. | |
| SCOTTISH MICK | |
| There was nothing to report, as the tape had not been sent off yet. However, the meeting felt there was little likelihood of it happening as planned, with the probability of another Freed Unit collaboration robbing the world of much needed vinyl resources. | |
| DEATHSQUAD | |
| Mr Hibbett had received a tape from said band, which had been Rather Rum. | |
| EUROPA | |
| The Reverend Johnny Carwash had met with Spaceman Sykes, listened to Supermodels, and decided it was GRATE and that they should do another track together, going into a studio and stuff again. The meeting greeted this with joy and praise. | |
| ALSO | |
| Mr Fleay reported that a few demos were on the way to the PO Box and also the email in the form of MP3s, and the meeting noted, for the record, that they were always happy to listen to anything sent and offer opinions | |
| CORRESPONDENCE | |
| Mr Fleay had been talking to Nigel Adams from Butcher’s Wig and Narwhal records, who was a nice chap. The discussions had been the general niceness of the Grand Indie Love-In, and he might be able to help out with some gigs etc. | |
| ANY OTHER BUSINESS | |
| There wasn’t any. | |
| DATE OF NEXT MEETING | |
| In line with past policy, the next board meeting would be at 7.00 in the Three Nuns, Loughborough on the 20th January 2000. As everyone was being efficient, and Mr Whitaker had a New Diary, the meeting AFTER was also settled, for 22nd February 2000, with the NEXT one being the Away Day. Aren’t we organised eh? |
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