Kavit's Blog - Filed under 'musician'

observations from the edge of my seat (and my personal thoughts)

In 2004, I founded InsiderMusicBusiness.com to share with musicians the training they need to get more gigs, more exposure, more sales and more money.

In 2009, I started Madrissa Marketing with my friend Paul Brackley, focusing on marketing education and services for trades businesses.

In 2009/10, I am the President of Young Jains - a not-for-profit, dynamic, creative group focusing on Jainism.

Young Jains is hosting the Voyage To Freedom: Crossing The Ocean Convention on 27-29 August 2010 in London.

At university, I studied genetics.

I'm also a Tabla player. I play a lot of corporates, weddings and the odd bit of folk stuff.

I have two brothers. One of them is a photographer.

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June 26, 2009

I grew up listening to Jacko

I remember listening to Michael Jackson's music literally every single day as I grew up in Nigeria.

I clearly remember the exact posters that I had stuck all over my wall, down the cupboard and on the back of the door.

I remember the small music notes book through which I taught myself how to play Beat It and Black Or White on the keyboard.

I remember the huge singles collection I built up with Stranger In Moscow being the most notable.

I love how his style and music has inspired many artists of today such as Akon, Britney, and others.

I love how Twitter has managed to get the news out even before the News Channels themselves. Twitter are reporting more tweets per second about Jackson than even when Barack Obama became President.

Already, in less than 24 hours, Amazon's best-seller charts in music is filled with Michael Jackson CDs. I can't wait to hear how many millions of downloads were bought from iTunes in the first 24 hours since his death.

People all around the watching the news and letting it sink in.

It's amazing how much one young 50 year old achieved in his life.

It's definitely an inspiration to get up, live more and celebrate life.

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Filed under // achievement greatest michael jackson musician

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March 17, 2009

I don't give feedback well. Here's how I'm improving.

I don't really give feedback in the best of ways. What I say may be good, but the way I share it isn't the best. Part of this post is to just share my thoughts with myself and have a method of improvement. At the same time I am not alone in the way I offer feedback poorly and so I hope my thinking processes here will help a reader.

In the last few days, I've been thinking hard about how I come across to others and whether it's something I like and am comfortable with, and more importantly why I've been doing it the way I have. I realize I'm a fast thinker, my mind works things out visually and faster than others I may be working with and so I can see things that they'll see 2-3 minutes after me. That could get me agitated as I just want to get on with it. I haven't appreciated their growth and progress and usually just jump in and share my thoughts.

I'm starting to slow down a lot in my life and thinking. I truly live and believe that there is no such thing as an emergency, even in the case of death or accident. So there is no reason to act fast without thinking because that is useless and different to fast action with thinking, otherwise known as the Speed of Implementation principle.

One of the key things I keep missing and forgetting when I give feedback is the idea of SANDWICHING my ideas. The way this works is that you first give praise for the progress and understanding being made so far, then offer your constructive feedback and then close again with a note of praise. Although I can see how this works, I just feel that when this is done people forget the constructive critiscism that is shared and get caught up in the praise instead. I much more prefer to be direct but I know that for some people that don't know me, that can be difficult to take. (More on the feedback sandwich here) .

I did a search on "how to give feedback" and came to find a post by Seth Godin. In it, he says that people don't need your opinion and they certainly don't listen to it for improvement. What they would much prefer is your analysis of the situation with suggested alternatives or ideas. For example, "The last three products that succeeded were priced under $30. Is there a reason you want to price this at $31?" is a good way to offer your thoughts and will get them to think.

Part of giving your feedback is mastering your emotions. I mention in many of my talks that mastery of your emotions will give you control and ability to make effective profitable decisions in your business. It is the same if you are going to give effective emotions. There are times in the more distant past when I give feedback and my ego feels better because I know and have shown I am better than the rest. Although I no longer have been doing that and share from a place of content and knowing it is something I felt I should add here because there are others who do that.

So to summarize: I'm going to be a bit more softer in the way I share my feedback, I'm going to coat it with some praise. And I'm going to offer it in public if it is necessary for everyone to hear, using analysis to preframe it, otherwise I will share with the individual(s) in private.

Care to share your experiences and thoughts on offering good feedback?

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Filed under // business feedback musician spirituality team building

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October 25, 2008

London Tabla MOO Mini-cards Just Arrived

Photos taken by Bhavik - www.bhaviksgallery.com

MOO Cards are for www.londontabla.com

Click here to download:

London_Tabla_MOO_Mini-cards_Ju.zip (2119 KB)

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Filed under // musician tabla

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October 18, 2008

Illuminate Your Diwali

Young Jains UK had a short and insightful Diwali event last night with a talk on why and how Jains celebrate Diwali followed by a short music session. I was on the tabla, my brother Bhavik on harmonium and vocals.

Click here to download:

Illuminate_Your_Diwali.zip (100 KB)

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Filed under // jainism musician spirituality tabla

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July 15, 2008

Tabla photos from the Biennial party

Played some background stuff for a private party celebrating Liverpool Biennial's 10 years last night. Played 3 sets of 20 minutes, sometimes longer, of some classical and contemporary stuff creating an atmosphere at the grounds. Lovely weather outside so it was a great evening. Here are a few shots...