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- August 2003 News about the band
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August 2, 2003
- Second performance of Stillwater

Dedication of Baby Gabriel and Despedida for Gina Bas' Family
Saturday, August 2, 10:30am to 3:30pm
Belarusian-American Center
284 Whitehead Ave., South River, NJ

After all the talk about continuing or not, the Redeemed band, minus two of it's members, still went on with the gig at South River. The remaining members' determination and dedication to fulfill the commitment was rewarded with a "very generous" love gift from the host family. This for sure will serve as an inspiration and motivation to the group. Thank you Lord!

...because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does - Ephesians 6:8
August 4, 2003
- Email from Vince Pascual, Stillwater Band Member

Hi guys. First, let us thank God for the unexpected gift of $2000 that we received from the gig. In my years of playing, I never received that much money before for one gig. I believe the Lord may yet have a plan for this band.
- Joey, Kuya Frank told me that you came up with the idea to get a recorder for us. I think we should do it. Do you think you can find us an 8-track CD recorder? Kuya Frank said that a 6-track would be fine but if we can find an 8-track for a good price, it would give us better sound quality. Also, we need 2 good headphones for the recorder unless the recorder already comes with it.
I think we should all invest in this so we can do all the necessary things to make our music sound really good.
- What are all your ideas? Thanks and God bless.
August 4, 2003
- Email from Vince Pascual, Stillwater Band Member

Guys, Joey sent me websites on 3 really good recorders. It's in www.musiciansfriend.com under recording.
I like the Tascam the best. I have one and it does offer a lot of quality. But I'd like to get your input on them. Can you all please give me a feedback? Whatever money is left, I think we should split it because Jemar is looking to get some effects pedals for his guitar. Kuya Frank, which one of the recorders do you like?
August 6, 2003
- Email from Vince Pascual, Stillwater Band Member

Guys, here are the new chords for this song. (Because I found You)
Yetski, I have bass lines for you. When I get the chance, I will e-mail them to you.
Please print the new song. Thank you.
August 6, 2003
- Email from Frank dela Cruz, Stillwater Band Member

It seems that nobody else is interested in buying a recorder aside from Vince, Joey and me. Guys we have to make a decision on how we are going to split the blessing (net of 10% tithe of course) that we received. Vinia is asking me already. In my opinion since this is the first fruit of our labor as a band why don't we just give it all to God. If my memory is right the bible says your first fruit belongs to the Lord. Correct me if I'm wrong. I trust God that He will supply all our needs as a band and will bless our ministry if we are true to His Word. Remember Ray An's seminar on the heart of Worship. The court is on your side now voice out your opinion.
August 6, 2003
- Email from Yetski Serrano, Stillwater Band Member

Count us in...(we vote for having a recorder)

-dangski & yetski
August 6, 2003
- Email from Renato Aguinaldo, Stillwater Band Member

For me, okay lang kung bumili tayo ng recorder and give the rest to the offering OR give 100% to our offering.
August 7, 2003
- Email from Frank dela Cruz, Stillwater Band Member

Okay we all agreed to buy a recorder except for Jemar who haven't given his response yet. When and what are we going to buy. I sent you the brochure for a recorder from Tascam which cost about $599.00 with out a CD-R/RW built in. I saw another one from Sam Ash.com and it's made by Zoom and it's on sale for $699.00 with built in CD-R/RW. So what's you opinion Guys.
August 7, 2003
- Email from Frank dela Cruz, Stillwater Band Member

Guys the love gift for the band will be given to me in the amount of $1,800.00 (net of 10% tithe natin sa WIN-NJ). Pastor Mando will issue the check to me. So unless you guys decide what to do with it I will hold it muna. Anyone wants to hold it in the meantime and I will endorse the check. If not, just let me know when we are going to buy the recorder(which one?) and how we are going to split the rest of the money. Okay.
August 7, 2003
- Email from Vince Pascual, Stillwater Band Member

Guys, this is what I think we should do with the money...
-we already gave our tithing portion
-we agree to get a recorder, except we have not heard from Jemar yet.
-we need to get a good set of headphones for the recorder, maybe 2, but not 2 expensive.
-Jemar's idea is also to get speakers for the band with the remaining money...not a bad
idea.
-what do you guys think? Please e-mail me back.

Whatever the case, we should get a recorder. I myself vote for the Tascam with a CD burner.
August 7, 2003
- Email from Rene Aguinaldo, Stillwater Band Member

Okay din sa akin kung bibili tayo ng mga equipments para sa band. Gagamitin naman natin ito to glorify God.
August 7, 2003
- Email from Frank dela Cruz, Stillwater Band Member

I have no problem with that suggestion. Regarding the recorder, if we get Tascam with CD burner it will cost us $799.00 (Tascam CD burner cost about $199.00) whereas if we get the one made by Zoom (I attached the brochure earlier) it will cost us $699.00 with built in CD burner, 20GB of space which is about 60 hrs. of recording). Let's say we get all these equipments, who will take care of all them. Our last day in our house is September 12, the day of our closing. Yes somebody bought our house already for
$345,000.00. The only house who has ample space of storage is Boyet G., a new father. I also have a problem where to store my electronic drums. If we buy new speakers which might be considerably huge compare to what I have then where are we going to store them. It should be in a place convenient to all of us as far as location is concerned. We have no problem where to store
the recorder because it is small. The one who is techie person should be the one who will take of it so he can learn how to use it well. Think about it. I ask everyone to voice out your opinion.
August 7, 2003
- Email from Vince Pascual, Stillwater Band Member

Kuya frank, you are right. For now I think we should get the recorder and let us get the one you suggest with the built in CD burner, the Zoom model.

As for the speakers we can wait a bit. I will be responsible for the recorder. I suggest that we have a "BAND ACCOUNT" and that is where we will keep the extra money so in the future, any item we may need to buy for the band we can get from the account. Any money we make from gigs, we will put in the account. WHAT IS YOUR FEEDBACK ON THIS IDEA?

I don't know about the rest of you guys, but I intend to keep this project going. We did not receive this blessing of $2000 from the Lord for nothing. HOW DO YOU GUYS FEEL ABOUT THIS ?

So, Kuya Frank, let us get that recorder plus a set of headphones for it, unless it comes with the headphones already. In the meantime, while you're still here, can we leave the recorder in your care? Eventually, we will all sit down to learn it, I think it is a must.
August 7, 2003
- Email from Frank dela Cruz, Stillwater Band Member

I agree with your suggestion to just open an account for the Band for the money left. Under whose name the account will be. If its under the name of the band who will be the authorize person to handle it. We really have to sit down and talk about it.

Okay we just have to wait for the feed back from the rest of you guys and we go from there. For the recorder is everybody in agreement to buy the Zoom recorder. We can buy the recorder from Sam Ash it's on sale for $699.00. Pastor Mando will give the check tonight. So if everybody is in agreement we can buy it on Saturday. I don't how long will the unit be on sale. Who will go with me just in case we decided to get on Saturday? Let me know.
August 7, 2003
- Email from Rene Aguinaldo, Stillwater Band Member

I will go with you, Kuya Frank. As for an account, we don't necessarily have to open an account, I am thinking we could leave the money with Randy or the church, since Randy is the treasurer. Anybody else want to go with us?
August 7, 2003
- Email from Jemar Mangali, Stillwater Band Member

Hi Guys,

I will go for the Tascam recorder than the Zoom, if you guys noticed my effects is Zoom, Zoom is made in Japan, Zoom has a lot of probems, I have used Kuya Vince Tascam recorder that he had since the 80's, and i was able to record FLESH, mixing guitar, piano and a drum beat from the keyboards all by myself, (i just lost that tape, sayang) and that was an 80's model but it still works, about my effects all of you know that it has problems, sometimes i have no sound for my guitar and we kept wondering what the problem was and Tito Frank and i figured out that it was my effects, its like a computer that hangs, Zoom has a lot of problems not only in its effects, I liked Zoom and i bought it because it was CHEAP, but in the case that we have, we are spending a lot of money and its for a recorder so we can record our stuff, i suggest we choose wisely and examine all the angles of the equiptment we are going to buy. I would rather have us buy a more expensive recorder that will spare us the trouble that i have with my effects.

About my ideas about extra speakers it was just a thought that i had, but i think we should do the recorder first cause i think thats more important, so we can record stuff and be able to send a demo CD EARLIER, the EARLIER the better cause if our DEMO ever gets rejected we have more time to make new songs and start and submit another demo CD, as the saying goes, try and try until you succeed.

Maybe the church might have a fund to buy new speakers cause the praise and worship really needs more speakers because there are a lot of new singers joining our team, we already have a a new mixer that can handle all the mics and the instruments, Paul my friend who was once with me at our practices analyzed how we sound both the praise and worship team and REDEEMED and said we sound good but it would really sound better and it would be easier to soundcheck, if all instruments have their own speakers and the voices are on a separate speaker, this is the real ideal set-up both for the worship team and for REDEEMED, i am not telling we should buy speakers right away, maybe the church has still no fund for speakers and REDEEMED has more important stuff to buy and prioritize like the Recorder, i just want everyone to know that this is the ideal set-up and we would sound really better and professional with this set-up.

About having a bank account its up to you guys, i think its a good idea and i like it,
i will go with you guys this saturday if you are planning to buy the recorder, but it depends on what time you are going, i get off work at around 1 pm, i'll see you all soon, take care God Bless.

In Christ,

Jemar
August 7, 2003
- Email from Vince Pascual, Stillwater Band Member

Guys, I agree with Jemar...I did not know his effects pedal was Zoom. Anyway let's go with the Tascam...Kuya Frank, I have an earlier model, a 1990 model and still works great. Besides, we have $1800 to play with. Let's get the one that is reliable, has really good quality and won't give us a headache.

As for a "bank account" for the band, I think whatever money we make we should leave it with Pastor Mando or Randy. We don't necessarily have to have a real bank account - not until the band starts making millions

Kuya Frank, can we make it later in the day to get the recorder? I have a wedding to go to Saturday late in the morning till early afternoon. Please let me know what is good for you.... who else wants to go?
August 8, 2003
- Email from Joey Romero, Stillwater Band Member

Brothers,
I agree, I think we should go with the Tascam model. They have been dealing with recorders for a long time now. I'm not sure I can say the same thing with Zoom. As far as the Bank account, this can wait, there will come a time wherein we will all know when to get one. God bless!

Joey
August 8, 2003
- Email from Vince Pascual, Stillwater Band Member

Joey, it is not a real bank account...the money will be held by Pastor Mando or a council member of the church, what is left of it after we get the recorder. Any time we play out and receive payment, we can leave it there. But we will take a vote on it.
You know, Joey, this may be just a dream for me personally, but I really believe that this money given to us was definitely and absolutely in my heart, a gift from God. Like I said before, I never ever received that kind of money when I was with my other bands years ago, long before I became a Christian.
What I am saying is, I believe God has plans for this band. As to what these plans are, I don't know...only He does. But it has been a lifelong dream and desire in my heart to come out with an album to share music with the public. Even more now, because I am a Christian, and I feel it is the only way I can reach my parents and my sisters, because they know me by my past. Speaking to them about Christianity will do nothing for them.
I pray the Lord take this band farther than anyone one of us can even begin to imagine. I believe in the promise of God and Him answering our heart's desires, so long as that desire is not selfish but for His glory. Christian music has been on the rise, major record labels are signing Christian bands, of course for the profit agenda. But for me, it is not just about money, it is about personal freedom and being a living testimony of God's absolute love and promise that He has for anyone who wants it. It is the way I want to bring my parents and sisters to Jesus. God bless you, you have been an inspiration to this band with your ideas.

August 8, 2003
- Email from Frank dela Cruz, Stillwater Band Member

I think Tascam 788 recording kit can only be ordered through the internet. I don't know if we can get it on the same price at $799.00 if we go to say Guitar Center. Sam Ash is not selling this model. So if you want we can go browsing tomorrow afternoon and see what's out there. Let me know what time.

Regarding the money, Pastor Mando will cash the $2,000.00 check and give it to Vinia today. Pastor Mando said it's better for us to have the money rather than leave it in the church fund for good bookeeping purposes which I agree because I've been a financial secretary at GCF for 3 years. So it will be up to us what are we are going to do with the extra money after buying
the recorder.

August 8, 2003
- Email from Vince Pascual, Stillwater Band Member

Brothers, Shamim passed this down to me. This may be good for us as a band. Let me know if anyone of you is interested in going.

Dear Shamim,

Anyone who's written a song and then heard it performed on the radio will tell you the same thing. There's NOTHING more exciting.

Well, maybe there's one thing that's just as exciting.....when you start to get royalty checks in the mail! I know a woman who wrote a song a few years ago that Bette Midler recorded, and the amount of money she's made is staggering.

On August 14th - you can learn how to do the same thing. The instructor who will teach you how is someone special - someone very special. Her name is Tanya Brown and she's the senior creative director of Famous Music Publishing Company. She works on talent acquisitions and the creative and professional development of writers and producers. Tanya has signed artists who have written for such stars as Ja Rule, Jennifer Lopez and Boyz II Men. Attending this class is your chance to meet a top music-industry pro and learn what it takes to come up with hit songs, including:

* How to take a good song and make it great
* How to get your songs into the hands of key players in the music industry
* How to target A&R execs
* Secrets for selling your songs to recording artists and labels
* And more

Bonus: Bring CD's…Tanya will listen to a few lucky student's work right in class!
August 10, 2003
- Email from Jemar Mangali, Stillwater Band Member

Hi Guys,

I bought a copy sa church ng Anniversary cd and i listened to the songs Redeemed played and all i could say was i was smiling all the time i was listening to it, the problem was the audience couldn't hear us cause we didn't anticipate that they were going to eat at the other room, and sandali lang tayo nag-soundcheck eh, but if we thought we sound bad we really didn't, it's a good thing na na-record natin yung songs, i'll try to burn the cd to give copies to you or you can buy/request some at church.

Ang ganda talaga ng tugtugan natin, we had some problems and mistakes and here they are:

1. Super ganda ng Because I Found You, the way we played it was full of energy, tama nga na yun ang first song natin, kailangan nga lang natin taasan ang key kasi sobrang baba sabi ni Ray-an at napansin din ng ibang friends ko, kuya vince already sent the new chords for this song

2. Rinig si Kuya Vince pero di masyado, especially nung nagrhyrhythm siya sa GLORY nasasapawan ko na siya at di na siya marinig, rinig yung mga adlibs niya sa mga kanta kaso medyo mahina, kelangan lakasan ng konti ang volume niya, pero sandali lang nga kasi tayo nakapag soundcheck eh

3. I made a mistake sa GLORY doon sa isang chord, sorry guys

4. Yung Intro ng FOLLOW yung pagpapasok na yung drums, nawala ang timing namin parehas ni Tito Frank and it was really terrible when you listen to it pero nabawi naman natin yung pumasok na yung verse, pero grabe yung mali na yun it went on for 2 whole measures.

5. Nagkamali mali din sa REDEEMED (IN YOU) kasi nalimutan yung coda part, ngayon yung part na JESUS JESUS sa end ay tatanggalin na natin

6. Gustong gusto ko the way we played STATEMENT, ang ganda talaga ng jam natin sa song na yun, nagkamali lang si Kuya Joey sa isang chord pero di naman halata ng non-musician person, like my mistake sa GLORY, if you would listen carefully sa GLORY i made a mistake once at sa STATEMENT nagkamali si Kuya Joey dun sa second chorus na uulitin ulit yung CHORUS at nag C Chord siya cause he thought it was finished at papunta na doon sa I AM REDEEMED part. Pero ang ganda talaga ng jam natin sa song na yun which papalitan ko na pala ang title from STATEMENT to REDEEEMED.


We made a lot of mistakes but i'm really proud sa tugtugan natin nung anniversary, when we played doon sa child dedication i really saw that we improved and the mistakes i mentioned here ay wala na doon sa tugtugan natin doon, i can't wait na bigyan na tayo ng kopya ni kuya vince sa VHS na jam natin doon sa south river.

Kuya Joey i really liked the part you played doon sa Slow Chorus ng STATEMENT, it has a distinct sound and it made me feel something different, like it painted a different color and aura in the song, ang hirap i-eexplain noh, kwento ko sa yo when we meet,
next time lakasan lang ng konti yung volume mo doon sa part na yun, not that loud but just a little louder from the volume you had in that cd.

All this things i am saying here is kinda useless if you don't listen to the Anniversary cd, i really suggest/beg/command/plea/request/tell/share/ i really suggest you to listen to this CD when we played at the anniversary, it depends to your point of view but for me i really liked the way we played beside the mistakes we had.

I think the band should take sometime to sit down and listen to the stuff we had together, like yung tugtog natin sa anniversary at doon sa south river, so we can see, hear and analyze ano ang mga mali natin and also to have fun seeing ourselves playing and praising God and we can get a lot of new ideas on the way we do things, it's an essential part of continuing to improve our sound which is really happenning to us as evident at south river.

I know God has a plan for this band, continue to pray for our band, i'll see you all this Thursday sa seminar na aattendan natin, i think si Kuya Boyet lang ata ang di makakasama kasi andyan na ang baby niya, i'll call you all soon, take care and God Bless.

In Christ,

Jemar

August 12, 2003
- Email from Vince Pascual, Stillwater Band Member

Guys, I already registered us for the class. Kuya Frank, Rene, Jemar, and me. I paid with my credit card so that we are reserved for it. This is the address:

The Hotel Beacon
2130 Broadway (Broadway and 75th Street) Suite 205

Whoever knows what train to take there, please let us know. Thanks.

© Copyright 2003 Stillwater