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Published in U.S. 1 Newspaper on June 28, 2000. All rights reserved.
Stocking Music
If your company had a theme song, what would it sound
like? When broadband becomes universal, a soundtrack will be an important
component to the corporate website, says Doug Wood, a musician,
composer, founder and president of Omni Music, one of the most recognized
stock music libraries (www.omnimusic.com). "All TV, radio, and
cable stations need a source of music that they can legally license
and use, and the same would be true of corporations," he says.
"As we move into broadband, every corporate website is going to
turn into an entertainment site. The communications business is just
going to explode and I think there’s a bright future for a lot of
creative people in that business."
Wood will speak on "What Every Media Professional Should Know
About Stock Music" for the Moving Image Professionals and Princeton
ITVA on Wednesday, June 28, at 6:30 p.m. at Good Time Charley’s. Cost:
$10 and cash bar. Call Andy Kienzle at 609-394-4818 or E-mail:
Wood will talk about the role of music in a production, how it sets
the tone, and how it lets the viewer know how to feel. Learning to
pick the right music, what kind of assistance to expect from the stock
music provider, and the legal and economic aspects of licensing stock
music for video, new media, and the Web will also be covered.
Everyone knows that music is a critical element of virtually any video
or film production, but most budgets don’t allow for the creation
of a custom score or the purchase of rights to a popular song. And
contrary to what some industry people think, it’s not legal to use
a few bars or notes of a copyrighted composition, no matter how short,
says Wood, who is also on the board of directors for ASCAP, one of
the largest music licensing organizations in the world. "There
are so many misconceptions that hover around this subject," he
says. "The most commonly asked question is how much music can
I get away with using and the answer is none."
That’s where stock music comes in. Omni (www.omni.com) was one of
the very first American companies to offer contemporary production
music, says Wood, who co-founded the business with his wife, Patti,
in 1975. Raised in Port Washington, New York, Wood met Patti at the
age of 4, and both later attended Manhattan School of Music. During
the Vietnam War, Wood worked in a warehouse in Philadelphia sending
medical supplies to soldiers overseas. Following the war, he studied
music composition for two years before launching the business with
his wife in their living room. Omni now has 15 employees and works
with 75 composers world-wide.
Some stock music companies specialize in compositions that are obvious
rip-offs of well-known songs — not Omni. "Some people give
you a song that’s so close to Mission Impossible that you can’t tell
the difference," he says. "That’s not what we do. I always
look for specific kinds of talent, people who are doing something
different from what we have."
You can convey a sense of time, place, purpose, and direction to an
audience very quickly without capitalizing on familiarity, says Wood.
"If somebody said we’re a forward thinking Internet company with
a smile," he says, "I’ve got music that will do that."
The outlook for stock music companies like Omni looks good with the
growth in the media, and Wood says there are a lot of new companies
coming into fill this new demand. "It’s not a case where we have
a captive market," he says. "There’s a lot of room for companies
and composers to get involved in this field."
— Melinda Sherwood
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Women Build
Trenton’s first "Women Build" project —
a house constructed solely by women — began the week of June 26
at Habitat for Humanity. Crews of women are working through the initial
week and continue through the summer on Saturdays, says Carol Gerrish
of Landmark Strategies in Monmouth Junction who is project coordinator
(carol@transformingwork.com). Mike O’Hara of the Hamilton Home
Depot on Route 130 South will give a construction workshop for prospective
women builders on Saturday, July 1, at noon.
Governor Christine Todd Whitman has pledged her active participation,
and the following groups have pledged $1,000 plus significant work
hours: Hightstown-East Windsor BPW, NJAWBO Mercer chapter,
Central Jersey Women’s Network, Withum Smith & Brown, Mercer County
Bar, Mercer County Board of Realtors, and the Junior League.
To volunteer, sign up at www.habitatnj.com or call Sandy Soule
at 609-655-0049.
In another Habitat for Humanity event, Janssen Pharmaceutica
and the Trenton Times each presented keys to a new home to an
underprivileged family on Saturday, June 24. Janssen has more than
700 employees in Titusville (609-730-2412).
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Mercer Courses
To finish your summer with more than a good tan, there
is still time to sign up for credit courses and certification programs.
On the credit side, Mercer County Community College offers a handful
of professional development courses, each worth roughly three credits,
during its six-week summer session, which begins Wednesday, July 5,
and runs through August 16. These three credit courses cost $231 for
Mercer residents, but classes include a fee ranging from $25 to $75
per course. The last day to register is June 29. Call admissions at
609-586-0505.
Business classes last 3 or 3 1/2 hours and generally begin weeknights
at 6 p.m. They include "Office Accounting II," on Monday and
Wednesdays at 6 p.m. "Business Organization and Management,"
on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6 p.m., "Business Mathematics,"
on Mondays and Wednesdays at 9 a.m.; "Business Law II," Tuesdays
and Thursdays at 6 p.m.; "Basic Economics," Mondays and Wednesdays
at 6 p.m.; "Economics of Money and Banking," Tuesdays and
Thursdays at 6 p.m.
There is also a slew of computer courses designed for both the industry
professional and people who just want to update their skills: "Introduction
to Computer Science," on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, 1
to 4:45 p.m.; "Computer Concepts," Mondays and Wednesdays
from 1 to 5:30 p.m., or 5:30 to 10 p.m.; "Internet and Computer
Technology," Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.;
and "BASIC Programming," on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5:30
to 9:50 p.m.
Also "Introduction to Visual Basic," Tuesdays and Thursdays,
5:30 p.m to 9:30 p.m.; "Advanced Visual Basic," Mondays and
Wednesdays 5:30 p.m. to 9:50 p.m.; "JAVA Programming," Mondays
and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; "Windows NT Network Administration,"
Mondays and Wednesdays, 5:50 to 10 p.m.; "Windows NT Technical
Support," Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:50 to 10 p.m.; "Internet
Information Server," Mondays and Wednesdays, 5:50 to 10 p.m.;
and "Netware Advanced Networking Topics," Tuesday and Thursdays,
5:50 to 10 p.m.
For softer skills, "Public Speaking" is offered both Mondays
and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 6 p.m.; and "Statistics
for Social and Health Sciences" is on Mondays, Wednesdays, and
Thursdays, from 9:10 to 11:30 a.m. There are also several introductory
and intermediate-level courses in biology, chemistry, mathematics,
psychology, sociology, archaeology, health and fitness, and foreign
languages scheduled for the summer session.
Mercer also offers a Funeral Service Certificate program to help people
prepare for national and state licensing examinations. "Principles
of Embalming II" is offered this session. Classes are scheduled
to meet the demands of students. Call Professor Robert Smith at 609-586-4800,
ext. 3472. "Fire Protection Systems," on Tuesdays and Thursdays,
6:45 to 10 p.m., is also offered for those interested in fire service
or related fields, such as security, police, industrial safety, architecture
and building safety.
For the following courses in the continuing education department,
call 609-586-9446. The paralegal certificate involves six on-line
courses, at $199 per course, starting Wednesdays, July 12 and August
9 (www.ed2go.com/mccc.edu). The courses include "Legal Documents
and Analysis" and "Evidence, Legal Interviewing, and Investigation."
Another certificate that can be obtained is in project management
principals. Sessions start July 12 and August 9, and such courses
as "Planning, Executing, and Controlling" cost $99.
"Diversity" is an elective for those taking the Child Care
Career Development Certificate, and this five-session course starts
Monday, July 10, at 7 p.m. at the Prodigy Learning Center at 450 College
Road East. The center is partnering with MCCC to offer this course,
which meets the annual staff development requirements mandated by
the state. The certificate requires three core courses and seven electives,
which might include "Water, Sand & Wood," "Creative Dramatics,"
and "Movement & Music with Young Children." A core course
in "Problem Solving" starts Monday, August 14, at 7 p.m. at
the Prodigy center.
Certification would not seem to be a high priority for an entrepreneur
who wants to start a business, but just such a certificate can be
earned. Consultants and bankers might want these credentials. Eight
courses are required, including "Recordkeeping for a Small Business
I," taught by P.K. Vasudevan, CPA, in six sessions starting
Tuesday, July 11, at 7 p.m. ($70) and "Forming Your Own Corporation,"
taught by attorney Murray Gendzel on Saturday, August 12, at
9 a.m. ($25).
Teachers who want to segue into a business job can study for a training
certificate, which requires four core courses and two electives. "Program
Evaluation," an elective course for training certificate, will
be taught by James Moore in two sessions starting Friday, July
14, at 9 a.m. for $90. Call Lynn Coopersmith for content information.
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Minding Our Business
Budding entrepreneurs get a chance to learn the nuts
and bolts of operating a business at Rider University’s Minding Our
Business summer program. Beginning on Wednesday, July 5, students
from Arthur J. Holland and Martin Luther King middle schools will
get 10 days of entrepreneurial training under Kevin Wortham,
chief administrator and instructor of the program, which includes
workshops on conflict resolution, career planning, the Internet, preparation
for college admissions, and how to run a music business. Students
will also take field trips to New York, area businesses, and get to
test their newfound skills at a summer flea market.
"Minding Our Business seeks to advance the personal and vocational
development of inner city youth through entrepreneurship, education,
and mentoring," says Sigfredo Hernandez, association professor
of marketing at Rider and founder of MOB.
MOB students will go to the New York Stock Exchange and to New York’s
wholesale district where they can buy products and supplies on Friday,
July 14. The fruits of the students’ preparation and labor will come
to fruition on Saturday, July 15, and for nine consecutive Saturdays,
when they sell their wares at the Trenton Flea Market on the front
lawn of the Martin Luther King School from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. To sign
up, students need $25 of "seed money," which will be returned
after the program. Call 609-895-5509.
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New Jersey at the RNC
The spotlight will be on New Jersey companies at the Republican National
Convention in August. The New Jersey Commerce & Economic Growth Commission
is assembling 8,000 to 10,000 promotional delegate bags filled with
New Jersey goods and products. The goal of the program is to highlight
to the convention and the nation all of the common day-to-day products
conceived or produced in New Jersey — from homegrown cranberry
juice, to the Band-Aid, to M&Ms, to the first light bulb.
Companies interested in donating products to be part of this promotional
effort should contact Cris Tarangioli at the Commerce Commission
at 609-633-0981.
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Pro Bono Attorneys
The Forrestal Village-based law firm, Reed Smith Shaw
& McClay, has an ongoing commitment to HomeFront to help needy Mercer
County families make the transition to independent living. Mark
Melodia, a Reed Smith partner, says his firm provides year-round
pro bono legal services to HomeFront families in Mercer County.
"What began as an occasional commitment to provide pro bono legal
services to families working with HomeFront has evolved into a truly
enjoyable year round relationship," says Leonard Bernstein,
administrative partner. Now personnel from the law firm are donating
housewares, supplies, and diapers for families in temporary housing
and shelters and also personally delivering meals to these families.
To volunteer, call 609-989-9417.
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Pro Bono Choices
Working on a pro bono basis is a common practice among
marketing and advertising firms because it is an opportunity to showcase
creative skills. "Pro bono work allows us to flex our creative
muscles without the politics of a paying client," says Michael
Visnov, president of Parachute Creative, the Morristown-based advertising
agency that donated creative services to Trenton’s Heritage Days.
Parachute Creative provided a complete makeover to showcase the festivals
new format, changing from a street-based ethnically diverse fair to
a historically roots festival at Trenton’s parks and historic sites.
The agency contributed design, media placement, and public relations
services (www.parachutecreative.com, 215-295-8444).
Visnov suggests considering these guidelines before taking on pro
bono work:
parties need to recognize the value in each other’s services and trust
in each other’s experience."
to succinctly express what it desires to accomplish.
work is satisfying and enjoyable — and may be the work that your
staff prefers — work for compensatory (paid) clients must come
first.
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Donate Please
Sponsors are needed for the golf and tennis tournament
of the Princeton Chamber, set for Tuesday, September 19, at the Bedens
Brook Club. Master sponsorships cost $2,000 and include name recognition
on all promotional flyers and announcements, a full page ad in the
program, a banner on the day of the tournament, and two golf players.
To sponsor one hole costs $150, and to put your name on either the
driving range or the putting green costs $250.
The tennis court sponsor pays $40. To provide golf balls with your
company’s name on them, you would need to provide 112 sleeves, and
to do the same for tennis balls requires 30 cans. Just to play costs
$250, and for tennis only is $125. Showing up just for the dinner
is $65. For information call 609-520-1776.
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Corporate Angels
Squibb, Merrill Lynch , and the New Jersey Sports & Exposition
Authority were the corporate sponsors of the American Cancer Society’s
Relay For Life, which raised over $165,000 for research, advocacy,
and services programs in Central New Jersey.
Public Library a grant of $15,000 to digitize newspapers, photographs,
etc..
at First Union National Bank , received a corporate leadership
award from the First Occupational Center of New Jersey for her efforts
on behalf of disabled and disadvantaged people.
Squibb was the host for the American Diabetes Association’s annual
Tour de Cure 2000. At the Province Line Road site, riders could choose
from 10, 30, or 62.3 mile rides. Bristol-Myers Squibb, which has a
line of oral antidiabetic products on the market, provided breakfast
and lunch for all riders and volunteers.
$100,000 contribution from AT&T, at a June 1 gala at the Brunswick
Hilton. James E. Carnes, president and CEO for Sarnoff Corporation,
received the Chairman’s Award.
Atlantic – New Jersey Inc. chairs the American Heart Association’s
Mercer County walk on Saturday, September 16, at the Mercer County
park Marine Area. The top three contributors to last year’s walk were
RWJ Foundation, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and the Eagle Group
followed by Capital Health System, DanMor Mechanical, St. Lawrence
Rehabilitation Center, Total Travel, RWJ University Hospital @ Hamilton,
Merrill Lynch, and Dow Jones
Walks are also scheduled for Duke Island Park in Bridgewater on October
14, Thompson Park in Lincroft on October 14, and Middlesex County
College in Edison on October 22.
from the Minority Males Community Challenge Grant initiative to provide
an in-school mentoring program for immigrant youths. A total of $400,000
in grants were awarded to eight agencies.
gave 28 $1,000 scholarships to students from 14 high schools. More
than $250,000 has been donated since this program began in the 1950s.
YNB officers attend each school’s awards night to present the certificates,
and the checks were handed out on June 23 at a ceremony at the bank’s
new headquarters at 2465 Kuser Road.
annual Educator Institute, sponsored by the Princeton Chamber and
open to district and secondary-level educators. Aimed at offering
a forum for meaningful dialogue between educators and business leaders,
this institute is scheduled for Monday, July 10, to Friday, July 14.
Teachers and administrators will visit companies in the finance, technology,
hospital, and health industries to learn how to help students meet
demands in the workplace.
Also major supporters of this institute are DeVry Institute, Free
Enterprise Foundation, Hyatt Regency Princeton, Mercer County Technical
Schools, RWJ University Hospital at Hamilton, and the Sarnoff
Corporation. For information call 609-520-1776.
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