The actual day is the 4th (this Saturday).  The actual party is the 10th (next Friday).  But I don’t know where to have it.  Suggestions?

More: Photos Video Audio Artwork Mad Libs

Long has it been a serious question, and somewhat of a running gag, to name my band.

I don’t want to lose my identity, however, or wind up in a situation where it’s awkward playing the band’s songs when I’m playing solo (like when Vince Neil goes out on tour, solo, and plays Motley Crue songs…it’s just lame).

Tom Petty can go out with or without The Heartbreakers, and still play whatever he wants. Elvis Costello and the Imposters can play songs from Elvis Costello and the Attractions without starting a riot. So I want to be “Eric Ginsberg and…” Your suggestions below:

…and, the winner…EricGinsberg.com!  (now let’s Tarentino this and see how we got here)

MySpace is good in that it allows me to keep in contact with a ton of people, and share music and blogs with them.  But not everyone is on myspace.  However, everyone is on the internet in some capacity, making EricGinsberg.com available to everyone, not just myspace users.

Myspace sends you notices when I have shows coming up (IF I create an event invitation) and when I post new blogs.  But so does EricGinsberg.com.  You just need to click the little orange RSS button to subscribe to my upcoming shows and this here blog.

Myspace only lets me put up 5 songs, whereas my Music page at EricGinsberg.com has both of my albums and some more songs at the bottom, all so that you can listen, read lyrics and even download a few for free (without myspace’s bogus compression).

Myspace’s one-page layout creates a gigantic cluster-fuck for anyone that wants to post videos and photos into their page.  EricGinsberg.com has many pages to neatly organize and easily navagate your way through.

Any dipshit can create a myspace.  YOU try making this webpage.  It takes time, and professionals in the music industry look kindly upon that type of commitment.  You can still post comments here, there are photos, videos, audio, shows and more.  It’s just better.

In your FACE, myspace!  Now, pass me my wallet.  It’s the one that says, “Bad……..

Addendum: I still love my myspace, though.  I’ll just love it less when you all develop a well-deserved crush on EricGinsberg.com.

One can argue that the primary source of Jonathan Coulton’s rise to success over the last 2 years is due in no small part to his Thing-A-Week project.  From a marketing stand-point, he created something episodic and engaging which gave users/consumers a reason to keep coming back to his website and grew a fan-base by consistantly producing more content.  Now, it’s not like he invented the idea.  Ask-A-Ninja does this, Ctrl+Alt+Del does it, and most pod-casters do it too.  In fact, much of “Web 2.0″ is based on this concept.  And before that, TV shows, radio shows, movie serials, and multi-part print series have been doing this for over a century.

So, now I need to think of an original idea that creates the same opportunity for people to find me, come back to me often, and enjoy the journey with me.  I don’t have the technical expertise of the equipment to produce professional audio or video.  I am at a loss.  Suggestions?

I finally did it!  Look up there, in the menu bar…I launched my new, “You” section, here at EricGinsberg.com.  If you’ve submitted anything to me, or turned in your Mad Libs to me, you’ll find it there.  Now go check it out!  (I’m so excited!)

I also created a mailing list (in the sidebar over there) so you can let me know who you are, and I can let you know when I’m coming to play near you (I solemnly promise not to spam you).  There’s a text message option there, too.  WOOT!

Oh, and check me out tonight, with Alex Brumel, at the Twisted Tree Cafe, 7-9pm.

Oh, and my birthday is coming up, August 4th.  I expect stuff.

Last Sunday, at the iCafe, with the video shoot…no good.  I broke a string.  We’re gonna do it again THIS Sunday!  (7:30pm)

Last night, at the Court Tavern…GOOD TIMES!  Rick Barry was fun, Bob Denson tore it up, and Alex Brumel had me at hello.  Which brings me to my next point:

Alex Brumel and I will be at the Twisted Tree Cafe, in Asbury Park, THIS Thursday!  Come eat and hang out with us.  You’ve never seen him?  You’ll love him.  I do.

This Friday, I’ll be doing a LONG set (8-11) at the Cornerstone Caffe, in Freehold.  Ratio of 3:2 (covers:originals).  Come to eat dinner and sing along.

This Saturday, I’m making my Espresso Joe’s debut with Sheli Aarden and Dawn Mitschele.  It’s a cozy place with good food.

Sunday, you can bring your mom’s video camera, your digital camera (with video function) and camera phones to the Internet Cafe, where we’re going to give another go at shooting a video for my press kit.  It’s gonna be fun.  You shoot it, e-mail me the file, and then I have it edited together with sound strait from the board.  It’s gonna rule.

I’ll see you this week?

The fact that I’m not on this bill is bullshit.

Been playing like crazy, and loving every minute of it:

Friday, at the Twisted Tree Cafe, it would be an understatement to say that everyone was incredible.  MOLE, Sonni Shine, Darrin Bradbury and Rick Warren all blew me away, and I was quite pleased with my own performance, as well.

Saturday, Don Lee’s album release party was a great time!  His new album is excellent, and the whole night was just fun.  My only complaint about the after-party, back at Don’s house, was that this whole 4:30am sunrise thing is bullshit.

Sunday, the Internet Cafe was great!  Super-thanks to the dozens of you who crowded the stage and sang along so loudly could barely hear myself.  The White Shark and I then went across the street to Red and rocked the night away.

Monday, New Brunswick’s West End Coffee Bar and Harvest Moon were a usual amount of fun.  Sarah Jean and Melvin McKnight are terrific hosts!  It’s always nice seeing Marc Wallace and the WMDs, and I got to see Jessica Paris, too.

Tuesday was the pièce de résistance: fireworks in Red Bank.  I shared the stage with The Milwaukees (big bright shining rock stars), Arlan Feiles (incredible singer-songwriter), TV’s Adam and David DiGioia (two of my favorites), to name a few.

I took a much deserved rest yesterday and caught the new Michael Moore film, SiCKO.  He remains the only filmmaker who can consistently make me cry.  A round of applause errupted as retired Parliament member, Tony Benn, remarked of England’s post WWII Universal Health-Care initiative, ”If you can find money to kill people, you can find money to help people.”  Go see this movie.

I may go out tonight, I may not; we shall see.  But I’m definitely taking off this Friday and Saturday.  Only 42 copies of my new album left!  The new “You” section will be completed shortly (sorry for the delay, but I’m waiting on some stuff).