I'm A Sound Snob

I grew up in the 80s with a family that loved music. My parents loved to sing karaoke and cha-cha. My sister loved to dance and listen to new wave / pop / freestyle and... umm, The Jets. What genre is that? I guess R & B? (R & B has so many different styles, but anyway...) My brother was a DJ spinning everything from hip-hop (public enemy, beastie boys, sir-mix-a-lot) to cha-cha to new wave / synth-pop  / freestyle (yaz, duran duran, will to power, trinere).

I love all of the above, attend many concerts, listen to A LOT of music. Always have.

One of earliest memories of hearing loud music was sitting in my brother's black fiat convertible. These days people like lots of bass or big sound with rattling trunks. For some reason at that time, my brother and his friend were into tweeters with HIGH TREBLE. My brother was so excited to show this to me, so we road around in his convertible listening to some public enemy and paris on blast. It was horrible! I didn't like it at all.

That being said, since then I've had a love for mids and lows. On the flip side, a sensitive ear to treble. When I'm at the club, a concert, anywhere. If there's just a bit more treble then I like... I make a face and shake my head (c'mon sound guy!!).

I'm a sound snob.

For the past 2 years, I'd been yearning for the right set of earbuds that can suit my need for decent mids and lows. I'd went through several different types. Even those wooden ear buds that are supposed to have really good acoustics and good tones. I've spent up to $100 on ear buds and returned them every time.

I finally found ear buds with acceptable mids and lows for... $11 and free shipping with my amazon prime account!!

They are the Monoprice Enhanced Bass Hi-Fi Noise Isolating Earphones. Don't get me wrong, these are not the best of the best... But for $12, I'd buy multiple pairs to keep in my office, my bag and my bedside.

Finally! Reviews that are reliable, thank you universe. And if they break, I'll buy em again.

I'm Back! And It's 2014!

Within the past couple years I thought that I'd abandoned this blog forever. Since then a lot of things have changed and progressed. A colleague and I (which I will introduce later) agreed that we were both going to create blogs for ourselves. I kept talking about how "I used to have a blog" and for the past 3 months have been trying to figure out an AWESOME NAME for a new one.

It wasn't til 2 days ago that I said to myself.... My old blog name is awesome, it is what birthed the name of my business that is still running today and (excuse me for my nerd/tech language) from an SEO standpoint, it makes complete sense for me to use it because it has content and established links!

So here I am, a little more than 3 years after my last post. I'm back!

What's new with me is...

1) MeetGeraldine has expanded from a blog and website design company to a business strategy, marketing and design company with a (currently 11 person team) called, "MeetGeraldine".

2) We have an office based in downtown Oakland.

3) I am thinking of (actually going to) finally release all of the music I made from the late 90s to early 2000.

4) I have chosen to dedicate 2014 to listening to others, hearing their greatness and accepting their wisdom. 

5) I drive a Volvo.

6) Years ago, I sold off all of my equipment. But TODAY, I just ordered a new DJ Controller.

Lots to tell. Stay tuned.

Eyes Wide Open

For the past couple days I've been heavily acknowledged by my colleagues. The comments touched my heart and gave me the ability to re-discover who I truly am and who I have been for other people.

I've also been observing judgements I've made of people in my mind. I'm committing myself to keep aware of these thoughts as they come up. I want to see greatness in the future for myself and for everyone that I come into contact with from this point forward.

Eyes wide open.

-MeetGeraldine.

A message from Simon Sinek

Simon Sinek is one of my favorite authors. I'm signed up on his newsletter. Here is the latest and greatest.

Good Marketing vs. Bad Marketing on Re:Focus

Good marketing offers us a view of the world.
Bad marketing offers you a product to buy.

Good marketing speaks for us.
Bad marketing speaks at us.

Good marketing starts with a cause.
Bad marketing starts with a goal.

Good marketing drives loyalty.
Bad marketing drives transactions.

Good marketing promotes values.
Bad marketing values promotions.

Good marketing tells us exactly what a company really thinks.
Bad marketing tells us what the company thinks they want us to think they think.

Good marketing seduces.
Bad marketing targets.

Good marketing never mentions price.
Bad marketing always mentions price.

Good marketing uses the products to help tell a story.
Bad marketing tells stories about products.

Good marketing is about us.
Bad marketing is about them.

Bad marketing manipulates.
Good marketing inspires.

For more info on Simon visit: www.simonsinek.com

All about tipping.

I've learned a lot since my last post in January. For those of you that may not know my primary hustle/job/position/career (whatever you'd like to label it as) since January of 2009 has been as a manager of a beautiful restaurant in oakland, ca (with delicious food) called, Spice Monkey.

One of the most informative and practical things that I have learned about while working in the service/hospitality industry has been "tipping"...The why and how it works. I am posting this because previous to this career change, I had no clue.

In the midst of observing my staff, I've realized that the way people do or do not tip (even in the midst of excellent service) can sometimes be taken personally.

Here are the facts...
#1 - Servers make a low amount hourly. Usually minimum wage.

#2 - Several restaurants require their servers to "tip-out" the people who assist them with table service. This can be the kitchen staff, bussers, bartender, it all depends on the restaurant. The amount tipped out varies. Generally 10 - 15% of tips.

#3 - The proper amount to tip is 18% before tax.

#4 - If you are dining with a group and gratuity is not already included on your bill, NEVER ask the server to charge the amount of your food (already including your tip amount) then assume that your homies are gonna tip for you.

I admit, I used to tip shitty 20% of the time. The main reasons were that occasionally I was low on cash and was not in a position where I could tip well or the food took too long and my server did not come to check on me.

If I'd known fact #2 maybe I'd take my food to-go instead OR give my server the heads up that I wanted to tip them better, but I wasn't able to because I was low on funds. I often find that my servers give excellent service and get really bummed/disappointed when they are left a low tip. They often wonder what they'd done wrong. Since I used to be that way, I realize that sometimes they did nothing wrong. Sometimes it may be unawareness on the customer's part. Lesson for fact #2 is in most cases you're not only tipping your server, your tipping the staff. If you have a complaint, tipping shitty won't do much except for leave the server emotional. Service or attitude issues will not be addressed just because you didn't tip. Leave feedback or talk with a manager instead.

Regarding fact #4 - when having your credit card charged in a small group, add up how much your portion of the bill was and ask your server to charge that amount, then write in the tip yourself. Why? Sometimes other people tip poorly. Often what happens is if you ask your server to charge your portion of the bill (including the tip) on your card, your homey says, "put the rest on this card". THEN they only tip based on what was charged on their card (which is lower than what they really had) because you asked the server to deduct your portion of the food + your tip. The person paying for "the rest" often does not really know how much their food costed because they didn't wanna deal with the bill splitting or was too busy talking the whole time.

Right??

So now... I always tip what's fair. Don't get me wrong, I might not tip 18% or more if I got poor service, but I will NEVER tip zero.

First Post of the New Year: Random Facts

happy new year peeps.

i was on this site today and read some interesting things. here are what they are and my initial responses. follow the link for more...

"During good sex, endorphines are released, which are powerful painkillers. So headaches are in fact a bad excuse not to have sex"
**does not always prove to be true. at least not for cumming. why?

Kissing is healthier than shaking hands
**disturbing but true. wash your hands people!

Ants never sleep
**bastards.

Humans and bonobo monkeys (pygmy chimpanzee) are the only species who have face-to-face sex.
**hmm... interesting. guess that's what they mean by animal sex. (from the back)

Among older men, vanilla is the most erotic smell.
**women, never wear vanilla.

Cold showers stimulate your sex drive
**don't know if i'd dare to try.

Music can help reduce chronic pain by more than 20% and can alleviate depression by up to 25%.
**that's the truth.

have a good day y'all!

berro.com

Saturday, August 15th - Featuring: Impromptu Trio & DJ Bluz

I was debating whether to have a birthday shindig this year. Around the time of my birthday, I usually have 4 different dinners. One with my fam and three others with certain groups of friends and co-workers. I looked into having my party at different bars in the city, somethin' real casual, DJs spinnin and people mingling, having a good time. Long story short, I looked into it and gave up. It seemed like much to plan.

As I was booking for the August events schedule at Spice Monkey ( a restaurant that's the bomb, by the way ), it occurred to me that I really wanted one of my best friends, Hyp and his new band to perform.

Last month, he put together a ensemble called, "Impromptu Trio" consisting of Hyp playing Harp and periodically a handheld drum (I know that sounds mad ignorant, i'll ask him what it's called, ha!), Nyambezi on guitar and Christine Banks on violin. They played for a dinner crowd at Spice Monkey and y'all... IT WAS THE BOMB. I'd never seen anything like it!! I truly wish more folks had been there.


I saw my wish to have a birthday get together as a perfect opportunity for the world to see what I saw. Sadly, last minute we found out that Christine will be out of town. The GOOD NEWS is that instead vocalist, Tiffany Stewart will join Hyp & Nyambezi in Christine's place. So all is not lost and in a way, it's still an "Improptu Trio". (smile*)

Thanks to rmamisay for flyer design (below). And to everyone reading this, please join me on Aug 15th.



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