#great for practice even if you dont mimic it exactly

[misstoodles-doodles]

Paint study feat. Echo✨

[angelsswirl]

Dysfunctional

FRIENDS

"For friends, real friends, better than your friends, yeah. That's them, that's them, they know all my business"

•°•°•

"Did you hear anything I just said?"

Lisa shrugged, "I heard some of it."

"What 'some' did you hear, Manoban?"

"Oh did I say some? I meant none at all."

"Lalisa! This is important. Am I going to have to start treating you like you're sixteen again?"

Lisa's nose scrunched up, she made an attempt to shove her phone in her pocket, "What? No."

"Give me the phone." Her manager waved his hand in a gesture that mimiced his words.

"No." Lisa said with a scowl.

"Then pay attention. This is important. You like making music, yes? This is how you keep making music."

Lisa sighed but set her phone aside. She hadn't been doing anything anyway. Just absentmindedly scrolling through Instagram.

"Thank you." He breathed a sigh of relief. Most days she wasn't like this. She was rather laid back and went with the natural flow of things. But that was proving to be a quickly failing business model.

"The label has some collaborations they want you to punch out early on for the next album."

"But I thought we all agreed that this next album wouldn't have any collabs."

Chris looked up apprehensively, "The projections didn't look good enough for that."

Lisa sighed. She wiped her face with the palms of her hands.

"Look, Lisa. I know you're burnt out and want to do your thing. But you want to be successful too. The label needs you to be successful. Maybe, on the album after this we can work out something like that."

"Can I at least choose who I collab with?"

Chris winced, "They've already been decided. Two of the three are still being decided but one is set in stone."

"Who is it?"

"Y/N Y/L/N."

"Nice." It was sarcasm if Chris had ever heard any.

"I didn't have a say either. Sorry, Lali."

Lisa took a deep breath but otherwise kept quiet.

"But look at the brightside of things. We'll open you up an entirely new demographic of people to your music. And I don't know, maybe this is just wishful thinking, but I may smell a Grammy."

Lisa remained silent.

•°•°•

"You love walking into studios with people you dont know and singing for them on short notice right? That's your favourite pastime?"

"I hope that was sarcasm, Ryan."

"It was....and it wasn't..."

"What did you do now?" You turned around towards your manager in your seat. He looked as though he was about to start sweating through his suit.

"I didn't do anything. The label did it. You have to collab with Lisa in about half an hour. I brought you some tea!"

"RYAN!"

"I know! But I promise this wasn't my fault. My bosses just told me twenty minutes ago. Everything was such short notice but can't be rescheduled."

You pinched the bridge of your nose, attempting to stave off a headache.

"Fine. I'm mad but I know there's nothing I can do about it at this point. Give me the sheet music."

Ryan frantically searched through his breif case. Pulling out the sheet music. He had the demo pulled up on his laptop, but sometimes you were a bit old school.

You skimmed over it. Imagining melodies and harmonies in your head.

"Okay. Not bad. Who wrote it?"

Ryan shrugged, he finally seemed to relax as you had. "Not sure. I didn't have enough time to ask. Maybe it's whoever is singing on the demo."

You nodded in agreement.

The door to Ryan's office opened and in stepped one of your favorite producers.

"Lisa is here already. Surprisingly, punctual. You ready to do your thing?" She asked with a smirk.

"As ready as I'll ever be."

•°•°•

You had known of Lisa. It was hard not to. You didn't run in the same circles but that didn't deter you from seeing her on just about every award show, every tabloid magazine, every late night show etc.

She was famous to say the least.

You weren't too far gone yourself. You were well known. Maybe not to the same extent that Lisa was but you weren't the lounge singer performing at some dingy dive bar.

You had heard things about Lisa. Things that you would rather believe not to be true, but were hard to separate from the real thing sitting in front of you.

She wasn't rude persay, but she was definitely an acquired taste.

You met her in a handshake when you entered the room and offhandedly realized that her fingers practically engulfed yours.

Well, maybe it wasn't that offhandedly if your gulp was anything to go by.

"Lisa."

"Y/N."

"Yeah, now that everyone is acquainted, lets get this show on the road because I have nail appointment in three hours."

You both chuckle at your producer.

~•~

Lisa was a phenomenal artist, but boy did she get on your nerves.

She was cocky, and loud, and really, really hot. And maybe that last one wasn't something to be pissed about but still, it infuriated you.

And the worst part about it, you're 99% sure she knows exactly how much she's pushing your buttons.

"Okay. So don't kill me. But i have another thing I need you two to do..." Ryan winced. Lisa's manager didn't look that excited either.

"I'm going to hate it, aren't I?" You asked with your arms crossed, trying to keep your glare in Lisa's direction to a minimum.

"Yes."

"Great."

"Yourlabelsthinkitwouldbebeneficialifyoutwoengagedinaprrelatinship."

"What was that, Chris?"

"We need you to fake date for publicity. Lisa's album is coming out soon and and Y/N just needs more exposure in general. Personally, I think it's a great idea."

You have the sudden urge to scream.

Lisa starts to laugh loudly, it's laced with sarcasm, and for the first time today, you agree with her on something.

"And like everything that's happened today, we don't get a choice?" You asked.

Ryan nodded solemnly.

Lisa shrugged with finality. You had a feeling she was used to this kind if stuff, "Fine."

She seemed to be over it already but you definitely weren't.

"We'll let you two discuss this among yourselves." Ryan, Chris, and your producer all but bolted from the room.

You stared at the wall, while Lisa stared at you.

"If we're going to do this, you can't fall in love with me."

You scoffed harshly. "That won't be hard. Seeing as I can barely stand you as it is."

Lisa only smirked, serving to irritate you even more.

[astrozones]

Sanders Behavioral Health, Chapter 4: Mother Logan

three hours bouta be gone

discord for only the truest Lads. gender dont matter- Astro’s Zone

Three hours.

Fifteen minutes.

Another hour.

Another break.

And so on and so forth, until it was exactly 8:45 p.m. and Logan would get ready for bed, and when 9:00 came around he would ideally be sleeping, no electronic devices in sight.

It was the perfect schedule for a weekend of study. And Logan sure did need it, he was only a couple months ahead in the curriculum, which was a month less than where he should be right now.

But just as Logan sat down to start, his phone chimed. Logan was 100% prepared to ignore it, but the voice told him he had to pick it up. The metaphorical voice, of course. Now that he knew how to identify it, he knew it was either his OCD or anxiety, and oftentimes both.

Logan stared at the book in front of him, not moving in the slightest. He knew it was stupid, he didn’t have to check anything. But, he could still anxiety rushing through his body.

He picked up the phone and went through his texts, feeling relief almost instantaneously.

FamILY!

{ We should all hang out today!!! }

[ Wait whend the chat name change ]

| like last night roman where were you |

[ Sleeping??? ]

| sleep? who’s she never heard of her |

[ And going back to Patton i am free today ]

{ Yay!!!! }

| my parents are gonna force me to do homework if I don’t, so sure |

{ !!!! }

{ Logan? }

{ We can see you’re online!! }

( I’m afraid I am busy today. I’m studying. )

{ I thought you were ahead in the class?? }

( Yes, I am. But I am not where I want to be. )

{ Aw, Logan!! You should take time to not overwork yourself!!! }

( I do. And I was under the impression that you were busy this weekend. )

[ And i oop- ]

| i can’t believe roman’s a vsco girl |

[ sksksksk ]

| that wasn’t an invitation. |

{ I am for most of the day!! I was thinking we could have a sleepover!!!! ^-^ }

| wait so i do have to do my homework? |

| i’m willing to do it if it means i get to punch roman when he acts like a vsco girl again |

[ Id like to see you try ]

{ I would very much prefer there to be no punching, but it’s great to see you’re both in!!! }

{ And Logan? }

( ... )

( I suppose I can think about it. )

{ OMG YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! }

{ We have the whole famILY :3!!! }

| huh I thought roman would’ve had something to say about that. |

{ I do have some bad news though ;-; }

{ My parents are repainting our living room and don’t wanna risk anyone messing it up :( }

{ So I was wondering if either of you were willing to host? Not Logan because he’s still considering it }

| ugh i should’ve been more picky about it and I wouldn't have to go through this |

| well my room’s too messy and it’d take more than the day to clean |

{ Well, Roman??? }

{ Roman?????????? }

[ Wait what ]

[ Sorry one of my posters fell down and i had to fix it ]

[ Lemme read through the chat ]

| lmao |

[ … ]

[ asdkfldsaihateyouvirgildksfl i suppose i can do it ]

| hey i see that |

[ My parents are out for the weekend so yea ]

{ !!!! YAY!!!!!! I CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU ALL AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! }

-- --

Logan’s anxiety was yelling at him once more, telling him he needed to put the phone down. Ever compliant to the voice, he put it in a drawer under the desk. A little unnecessary, sure, but it made him feel better.

Logan shook his head, the voice driving into him once more. He was off-schedule! That’s 10 minutes of studying, wasted . He was certainly going to fail, all it would take was one set off his system and he’d get addicted to the freedom it promised.

He took out his pencil, and arranged the books around him to be exactly how he wanted. If it wasn’t, it would be unbalanced, and that certainly wouldn’t do.

Because everyone knows you can’t study unless you have a perfect workspace.

Right?

--

Logan was outside his house, door in front of his face. He huffed.

His parents had kicked him out for a couple hours, telling him he had to go outside for once instead of staying holed up in his study room.

They didn’t get it.

They didn’t get why it was wrong .

According to them, Ramona Steers, a staff from Sanders, had told them all the ins and outs of what they needed to help Logan get better, and that making him go outside was one of them.

Originally, they said he’d have to be out for 5 hours, but once he told them about the sleepover situation, they had agreed to take an hour off.

So, he was going to a sleepover, he had 4 hours outside, $100 to spend as he wished, and nowhere to go.

--

Logan walked into the popular local café, The Lolapad, known for it’s fantastic drinks, welcoming aesthetic, and it’s kind owner, Lola Adams.

Lilo was at the counter today, alongside her coworker… Patton?! Logan narrowed his eyes, Patton had never talked about a job, and Logan was a frequent visitor to The Lolapad. Logan knew he had to question him about it.

Well, once he got through this excruciatingly long line, anyway.

The only downside to The Lolapad was its popularity. With it being this early in the morning, it was full of daytime workers preparing for the long day ahead of them. Logan sighed.

He admired the decorations. The floor was a deep blue, to mimic water. The tables were designed like lilypads, and the chairs had a flower pattern. The walls were purple, with painted vines crawling up in some corners of the room.

The ceiling decor was the most impressive, though. Soft, blue lights and glass hung on wires from the ceiling, almost like bubbles flying towards the sky. There was no competition that would ever pass The Lolapad, at least not anywhere nearby.

He recognized a few students lounging in chairs, mostly consisting of the upbeat, extroverted club members.

And, if he was right, one Vanessa Cordill, with her boyfriend, Jace Lendell.

God, he despised Vanessa. She had been a huge bully in the past, only stopping after he stopped reacting to it. Logan hardly had anything to do in class, having learned all of this in his own time, and his teachers would yell at him the moment he picked up a book to study ahead of the curriculum. So, seeing what his classmates were doing was the only interesting option.

And oh, Logan saw .

He was never one for gossip, but he remembered so many things.

And most of it had to do with Vanessa.

Like that time she had snuck a gun into the bag of the boy beside her- Victor Jackson. Victor was taller, and larger, and had a mean-looking face. For anyone who got to know him, though, he was very sweet, and hated hurting people.

Victor was expelled the next day.

Logan had, of course, defended Victor. But Vanessa was convincing, lying her way through her nice girl act until the principal was convinced.

So, Logan did what he did best. He collected evidence. And, once he felt as though he had enough, he would report her.

But until then, he was forced to stand by and watch as Vanessa got to do whatever she wanted.

She was like a villain out of a bad movie, or a crappy fanfiction.

“Oh, Logan!” Patton’s voice dragged him out of his thoughts. Logan was at the front of the line, apparently. “I didn’t expect to see you here!”

“Neither did I,” he responded. “When did you start working here?”

“Oh, no, I don’t usually work here! Jessalyn asked me to replace her today, well, she asked last week- so I’m working here for a couple hours! Lola was okay with it, she’s really nice y’know? And-”

“Are you getting paid?” Logan asked. It would be rather selfish of Jessalyn to keep all of the money, at least in his opinion.

Patton shook his head. “Nuh-uh. But I’m okay with it though! I like helping people. Now, what can I get ya?”

--

Logan found himself on a swing at an empty park. He had finished his drink, and was now letting himself go back, and forth, back, and forth. He wasn’t the biggest fan of attempting to do anything… potentially dangerous, but he found softly letting himself go back and forth was a good way to collect his thoughts.

The birds chirped in the background as the sun shone above him. Everything was as it should be, but he couldn’t stay too long at the risk of getting a sunburn.

He heard a text come in, and he pulled out his phone.

FamILY!

{ If your son gets burnt by the sun, is it a sonburn? }

-- --

Logan smiled slightly as the replies came in from his friends, all exclamations of distaste as Patton sent a plethora of emojis, that mostly being-

Oh.

Wait.

His friends .

…

Hm.

Not that he was against that, of course, but the immediate reaction of calling them his friends was, well, a little unnerving. He had always been the quiet one, and had a few friends in the past, though they had all moved away to other towns or cities or whatever . He didn’t care.

And if his new friends did the same, he would be okay with that. Yes, he would definitely be okay with that. If they cared, they would contact him, and if they didn’t, he was okay with that. There was no use fighting it, after all that would only give him more time to study.

As it should be.

He put his phone away, no use replying, as he had already agreed to go to their sleepover.

He heard giggling from behind him. He was brought back to the real world, only to find that he had slowed to a stop. Logan turned his head around.

There stood a small being, maybe 6-7 years old, and definitely a child. He had a light brown mop of hair on his head, and donned a red-black-green coat and tiara. He stood to face… it.

“Hi! I’m Adrian!” the kid said, stuttering over the ‘r’. “What’s- did you just get done from a- a-

‘businesses’ meeting or somethin?”

Logan looked down at himself. He wasn’t even wearing a tie today… he had a simple black button-up shirt, and jeans. What about this screamed ‘professional’?

“No,” was all he said in response.

“Are you- are you gonna go to a businesses meeting?”

“No. I’m still in high school.” At this, the miniature human named Adrian grinned, and he could practically see the metaphorical sparkles.

“That’s so cool! I’m only in firs’ grade, but Mommy says I’m gonna be 7 in-” Adrian started counting on his fingers. “15 months!”

“What… do you mean 15 days?” he asked, it was either that or 15 weeks. Adrian nodded excitedly. What he was excited for, Logan couldn’t tell.

“YEAH! I’m gonna be so smart!” Adrian boasted, causing Logan to smile slightly. “Do you wanna come play wif me?”

“I- er-” he was cut off as the 6-year-old grabbed his hand and tugged him along towards a large willow tree.

“I’m gonna show you my friend- her name is Joy! She has two dads, isn’t that so cool! Some people make funs of her for it- but I find it cool! She’s really funny, there she is!” He pointed towards a girl, presumably 6 as well, in a princess costume, and very red hair.

“JOY! I FOUNDS US A FRIEND FOR OUR TEA PARTY!” hold on, tea party ?!

“It’s Princess Joy now,” the girl stated, surprisingly strict for someone so small. “Who is he?”

“Dis is Logan!” Adrian said, adding in a whispered, “he’s a buisnesses man”

“Hold on-” Logan tried. He suddenly found the purple princess in front of him, eyebrow raised. Was he about to get judged by a child?

“Hmm,” Joy said, looking him up and down before nodding. “He may stay.”

She turned around and strutted back to where she was sitting before. She dusted off her skirt before plopping down on the ground, gesturing for them to sit near her.

“We don’t have an actual table, so we gotta pretend.” Adrian whispered to him before skipping over and sitting near Joy. Logan reluctantly joined them.

“Princess Adrian, may you please pour the tea?” Joy instructed. Adrian nodded, miming the actions of pouring.

“Princess?”

“Yes, Peasant Logan,” Logan jerked his head back, this kid - “Princess is longer than prince so’s it’s better than a prince. Princess Adrian and me are both princesses.”

“Prince and princess are equal titles.” Logan said. Joy actually looked offended .

“Impossible.”

“Yeah!” Adrian chimed in, sitting himself down in his spot. “Everyone knows that.”

“But-”

“Princess Adrian! That’s rude, Logan’s a peasant so he didn’t know.” Joy said, taking a ‘sip’ of imaginary tea.

“Oh! Sorrys Logan.” Adrian’s voice lowered, and if Logan was right he was on the verge of tears?

“Er… It’s okay Adri- Princess Adrian.”

Adrian brightened. “YAAAY!” he cheered, getting up and bouncing around him. Logan didn’t know what to do-

“That is not princess behavior, Princess Adrian.” Joy said, turning up her nose. Adrian looked confused.

“It isn’t?”

“Princesses are more quiet. I’m 7, so I know better.”

“I’m 17,” Logan cut in. Joy turned to him.

“And? You’re still a peasant, Logan. I don’t makes the rules,” Joy put her cup of tea down. “I only knows them.”

Logan was about to respond, when-

“Woah, hey what’s going on here?” another voice said. Turning around, Logan saw Roman enter their little… area behind the leaves. He sighed.

Adrian gasped from beside him, nearly tripping over his feet in order to get to Roman. He peered up at him.

“Are yous a prince?” He asked, practically vibrating where he stood. Roman scoffed.

“Of course I am, I’m Prince Roman! I just lost my crown.” Roman announced. Adrian glanced at Joy, who nodded, causing Adrian to smile.

“I’m Princess Adrian! That’s,” he turned back around to point at Joy and Logan. “Princess Joy and Peasant Logan.” Roman, the bastard, hid his giggles behind his hand. Logan glared.

“Peasant Logan didn’t knows that princesses are higher than princes cause princess is longer. That’s true, right?” He asked, dragging Roman along to sit with them. Roman looked at Logan, smug.

“Of course! It’s common knowledge! For shame, Logan!” Roman exclaimed as he sat.

“For shame!” Adrian repeated. Logan groaned, shoving his face into his hands. This is not how he thought his day would go.

He felt a small hand pat his knee, and he looked up to see Joy looking at him with a sympathetic frown.

“It’s okay, Logan. Not all of us can be royalty.” She said, before returning to her princess persona and commanding, “Princess Adrian, would you may please pour Prince Roman some tea?”

Adrian nodded, standing up and dashing around the ‘table’ to give Roman his… ‘tea’.

“Thank you, Princess Adrian, I am forever in your debt.” Roman mock bowed from his sitting position. Adrian giggled before returning to Joy.

“Once we are done with our tea, we shall help you find your crown, Prince Roman.” Joy said before taking another sip.

“Of course. Thank you, Your Highness,” Roman faked taking a sip of his tea. “I must say, this tea is quite delicious! I commend your skills, Princess Joy.”

Joy preened at the praise, resituating the tiara on her head. “Thank you, Prince Roman. It is greatly appra- appre- appreciated.”

Minutes of his free time went by as they all mimed sipping tea and making small talk. Well, all except Logan. That quickly changed once Joy prompted him to start drinking, with Adrian and Roman piping up in agreement. Begrudgingly, Logan followed through.

Eventually, Joy stood up and announced that they had all finished their tea, and had to search for Roman’s crown. Logan argued that Roman’s crown didn’t exist. Joy said he was just a peasant and didn’t know what he was talking about. That shut Logan up pretty quick.

So, he was dragged around on the search for a crown he was certain didn’t exist. Joy separated them into teams, Roman and Joy on one, Logan and Adrian on the other. She said her reasoning was ‘one to search and one to protect’, with both her and Adrian on the search side.

Logan silently followed Adrian around as he set out to find it, looking in the places it couldn’t even be at times.

“Logan!” Adrian whispered, tugging on his sleeve. “Logan look! Issa bunny.”

And it was. A cream colored rabbit was frozen staring at them, ready to move at any sudden movement. Hm, that reminded him of Virgil… or was that rude?

He watched as Adrian slowly crept up on the rabbit. Logan looked around to find Joy and Roman. He saw Joy’s bright purple dress… in a tree? Roman was right next to her, carefully following to catch her if she fell while she was searching the tree.

He turned once more to Adrian, only to find him cuddling the bunny. Odd… if it were wild, it would have bolted the moment he came too close, so this one must be socialized. He walked towards Adrian and the rabbit.

Adrian smiled at him as he approached.

“I named him Jerry!” Adrian whispered, extending the rabbit towards Logan. “Wanna pet ‘im?”

Logan reached out to Jerry, only to jump back when it tried to bite him.

“Bad Jerry! Don’t bite people!” Adrian reprimanded the animal, as if it were a dog and not a clearly aggressive rabbit.

Well, at least when they brought it over to the other two it attempted to bite them, so at least it wasn’t exclusively Logan. It seemed to only like Adrian, to Adrian’s delight and Joy’s distaste. They were quickly corralled into a game of House by Joy, the quest for Roman’s crown forgotten.

Joy claimed herself as the father, saying, “I have two dads so I have to be the dad!”. Both Roman and Adrian nodded in agreement at her claim. She pointed to Logan.

“You shall be the mom!”

“ What- ”

“You act like a mom so you are a mom.” She cut him off, turning to Adrian and Roman for confirmation. They both agreed, Roman looking amused at Logan’s sneer.

“I’ll be the kid!” Adrian announced. Joy nodded and pointed to Roman.

“You can be the dog! Because you remind me of the golden dogs.” She said. Logan would’ve laughed if he hadn’t been put in a worse situation. Roman nodded, looking determined.

“Woof,” was all he said. Joy nodded once more.

“Perfect.”

—

So Logan found himself playing a game of House, something he hadn’t done in years . He interacted as little as they would let him, dear god if another student came and saw him like this, he wouldn’t survive.

He ended up there for far longer than he had wanted, a total of 6 hours since he was kicked out. Yet he was reluctant to leave, he knew it would break the kids hearts if he did.

He was finally freed from his metaphorical prison when a voice called,

“Adrian! Come on, we gotta drop off Joy at her dads’ house!” A woman called. Logan glanced at Adrian.

“Is that your mom?” he asked. Adrian nodded, turning to the two older men. He gave them both hugs, first Logan, then Roman. He even gave Roman his tiara, saying he was sorry they couldn’t find his crown, and he had more tiaras at home. He turned as Joy stood up and they both sprinted towards Adrian’s mom, well, only after Adrian had picked up Jerry.

Both of the remaining boys watched, amused, as Adrian seemed to argue with his mother before she gave up and let Jerry in the car. Before Adrian got in the car, though, he turned to the boys.

“Bye-bye Logan! Bye-bye Prince Roman!” he shouted, before disappearing into the car.

“So,” Roman started, and Logan mentally prepared to be poked fun at.

“See you at my house in a couple hours?” Logan blinked, once, twice, before he realized that he wasn’t being made fun of for playing with children for several hours. Well, he supposed that made sense, as Roman had done the same.

“Uh… sure.” Was all he said before making his way back home.

—

Logan was stressed, to say the least, when he got home. His parents were happy that he stayed out for longer than they had offered, but all Logan’s mind would acknowledge was that he went off schedule. He was going to be so behind, this is why you don’t go off schedule, Logan! You get looped into it, and you’ll never get out of it.

He dedicated the rest of his free time to studying.

As it should be.

[kenmaiii]

stop being jealous and bitter!

Now i know you cant outright just throw away your jealousy in the art community. You see a really cool popular artist or just someone with absolutely amzing art and you think “wow holy shit their art is so good i wish that was me and that i could do that....” I understand that spite can be a good thing sometimes; it can be what motivates you to improve and do well, especially if the artist is well... not the best person in terms of personality. Great, that’s even more motivation to do well right!? 

But when does all the comparing go too far?

----------------------------------------long post incoming------------------------------------------

Now i’ve had people very close to me do this. I’ve been told that im ‘popular’ which im honestly not seriously. They could probably be reading this right now, but this has been bothering me for awhile so i must get this out there. Let’s step into a certain mindset for a moment:-

You hate your artwork. You hate your current skills. Sure there are artists you like. But then there are ‘THOSE’ ones. You have very specific artists you follow just because theyre so good and popular they make you feel bitter and you still check up on them regularly to fuel that bitterness. You know good and well that they make you bitter and angry and peeved but you just keep going back.

Step back for a moment and think.... why on earth am i fucking doing this???? Comparing and feeling bitter about another persons skill or popularity and letting yourself stay sad and bitter isn’t good for ANYTHING, art aside. It’s good to want to feel validated at the work you spent time on but it WILL get tiring if you keep complaining that ‘your art is bad’, ‘your art isnt good’, ‘its shit’ or ‘garbage’. Your brain is just internalizing that and hindering your work and future improvement. It’s most importantly WASTING YOUR own time, YOU the creator. And not to sound snobby here, i really truly dont intend for that, but some of you know good and well that you keep belitting you work because you only just want people to compliment your art when youre only doing the bare minimum to improve! I can only tell you as a friend or an on-looker that i love your art so many times (as much i really do love it and hope for your improvement) if you continuously decide to still turn around and say you hate your work and tell me im wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!! Why reach for compliments then! Why continuously turn them down?

And i’m not saying you cant ever not like your art (cause it happens) or decline a compliment, but to do it every single time....it leaves a bad image for your work. You either start to believe it, or the person complimenting you will get put off from your negativity!  

It makes people feel bad, especially if theyre also artist AND also your friends. You can’t keep saying you prefer their work and still put down your own. It makes your artist friend uncomfortable. They might not know how to respond when you keep doing it. And im sure they wouldnt want you to keep making yourself feel bad. Personally, i wish all my art friends success and improvement, and i want them to love and feel proud of their work more than the times they hate it. We really need to uplift each other as artists.

Thanks.

What you think and say is what you become and if youre always negative and comparing youre gonna tear down both the person you admire and yourself. Ie, if youre constantly thinking ‘ill never be as good as this person’,’no ones ever gonna like my work’, ‘i cant color as well as they do’ or saying that your work is only ever garbage... newsflash asshole! your mind absorbs that negativity and makes you believe it! u fool!!!!! Because brains are stupid and can be your worst enemy at times! 

Sometimes you just need to stOP looking at certain peoples work completely if it gets you that bitter or angry or sad. Unfollow them! Block them! Delete their name from your search history if you have to! Stop hurting yourself and forget about them, it’s like trying to think about an ex thats moved on. Pointless.

Negative emotions such as sadness and anger are our brains direct ways at trying to reach out to ourselves.

You: seeing cool art Your mind: remembering you dont have some of those skills or popularity + comparing = sadness/ anger/ bitterness at not being able to be at that lvl withtin the same timeframe or less

Your brain is trying to tell you to fix this! But you know you might not have the tools to gain that much popularity or become so good at anatomy, coloring , compositions or backgrounds overnight, so the only solution for your brain is to self-sabotage.

It’s just the same as suddenly feeling sad for no reason. It’s your mind trying to work out a problem you never resolved. Maybe your friends haven’t replied in awhile and you feel ignored. Or you subconsciously remembered a bad experience without really realizing. You’ll get sad. Your mind is is saying ‘Hey asshole im sad. I know it might be out of your control but I’ll stay sad about this one thing until you resolve it somehow. ’ (whether it be blindly distracting yourself on purpose or fully wallowing in the feelings)

So we realized youre feeling intensely about this persons work vs your own...then what exactly happened there? The answer is pretty simple. Some kind of information processing happened in your brain. The result of this processing made the your mind conclude that one of your existing problems (art in this case) can never be solved; whether conscious or unconscious, and this explains why your mood might change all of a sudden without any kind of warning signs (in relation to what you saw). 

Inspired VS Jealousy When youre inspired youre working against yourself in a GOOD way. You’re feeling motivated to make something great! Youre feeling motivated to make something better than the last piece!! And honestly thats wonderful!!!  That is a lot nicer than being in art-block, comparison negativity hell.

YOU are the only one responsible for where you are as an artist. That goes towards every artist of every skill level! There’s always someone better than you and there’s always someone worse than you. People get better at art in different intervals depending on how much they take in or put into practicing. Some people just get some concepts and fundamentals a lot easier and quicker than others but that doesn’t mean they naturally had that ability from birth. They put in the work just as you should be doing instead of feeling so intensely negative! But when you’re jealous and negative all the time, that’s when it starts to go downhill. :/

Jealously is a very human emotion at its core. And im not saying its super easy to deal with and just suddenly get over, but there are things you can do to slowly help yourself do it at least a little less.

Here’s the best things you CAN do instead:- - Write down some of the things you find yourself feeling bitter over about, especially when you look at another artists work? Ask yourself why these specific things? If it’s something you yourself can work on in your own pieces then maybe uh do that?  - Find the time to practice your work. - Practice even more. - If it’s your style that you arent happy with think of the artstyles you like and set aside time to mimic the way that artist might draw something (hence adding that to YOUR style). Take a sketchbook page or two and just draw entirely in those styles. - Practice. I can’t stress this enough. I know artists say this a lot and it can kind of just be thrown around carelessly, but if you keep putting this off and saying you don’t want to practice or talking about how time is going by when you should be practicing things.... and STILL refuse to practice then???? I cant help you sorry. Time waits for no one, so sometimes you need to grab time by the horns and kick its ass for awhile. Put in that effort! - Please use references. Even better if you use it nearly EVERYTIME you draw something, especially yknow...if its a pose, body part or background that you know you have no idea how to properly express! Find a stock image or a variety of websites to use! Save poses that you like from online magazines, other artists and photographs you see anywhere online. I like to look at online magazines from other countries or photographers, and there are tons of places like pinterest or instagram and whatnot. - Stop comparing and being bitter. Ii cant say this enough it gets me so ticked off, but my stubborn taurus self refuses to fully go off until it all piles up and this post is the result lol. If you know you can’t let go hating on a certain artist (for no good reason) then dont hate-follow them! Don’t check up on their work constantly! Don’t even talk about them!!!!!!! Try to get them out of your head for goodness sakes. Majority of the time they dont even know who YOU are so why are you worried about what they’re up to. - STOP SHITTING ON YOUR OWN WORK. - STOP IT RIGHT NOW. - AS THE ARTIST SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO FORCE YOURSELF TO SAY ‘’hey, my work isn’t exactly where i want it to be at this point in time and it may never be but i can appreciate that i’ve gotten better at a lot of things and im better than where i was a few years/ a year/ a month ago/ even weeks ago.” - ”I��m proud of this piece and can’t wait to get even better.” - Art is a struggle that takes time, effort and a lot of work. There’s always going to be someone better than you and there’s always going to be someone worse than you. You can only strive to get to the level that would make you happiest, otherwise you will get irritated with it and feel absolutely miserable about everything you produce. - PUT IN THE WORK TO GET YOUR ART OUT THERE. Social media has been both a curse and a blessing to artists all around. It’s made it easier for us to share our work around and opened paths for making money online and at home and connecting with other artists, but competition grows everyday as more people post their work in the same market. (ie another reason why it can be hard to get your commissions out there) Also as artists we want that dopamine rush you get from people liking your stuff, i get that its gucci. -But if you aren’t tagging your works well, posting somewhat consistently, not really bothering to talk to people in certain art communities (even people in your fandom because hey potential friends and even partners on future projects), not adding your works to groups (a big problem i see with people on places like deviantart mostly), joining and sharing them in art group chats/aminos/discords, joining events to get yourself out there (such as zines/big bangs/gift exchanges etc), giving tips and advice or even little helpful tutorials to people then how do you expect to be noticed? How.  If youre not doing at least TWO of these things then hoW can you complain about not getting attention. :(

 Of course you dont have to do ALL of this. Im just saying ...if you arent out there advertising how will more people know about you? This leads to you thinking no one likes your art (skill level excluded because even my cringiest old art would have a few comments or encouragements to see my future improvement, and i still want to hide when people like/comment/reblog said old art to this very day). 

I understand mainly OC artists feel this way that no ones gonna like their characters, or it just doesnt get reblogged enough in general but thats understandable too. No one is ‘selling out’ if they only do fanart. No one is ‘snobby or scared to get themselves out there’ if theyre really enthusiastic about their stories and worlds. Otherwise we wouldnt have fandoms int he first place, theyre all someones work. And hell, good for you if you draw both. It really is just a matter of how you put yourself out there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It’ll take some time but there IS always someone out there that likes your stuff. And sometimes you just have to be content with making work for yourself, work that makes you happy. The online art world is tough especially when youre small but once you fall into the depths of bitterness its hard to rewire your mind...

This is how yall should be looking at your/others work majority of the time: You: seeing cool art  Your mind: omg thats beautiful! i wish i could draw and paint like that. i should practice more , try out some poses and anatomy or implement what they do into my work. i wanna make a cool ass piece like this too i feel so pumped to draw and work!! 

And that’s that! Do yourself a favor and be happier you bastards! Its tiring being negative and sad all the time and i want tf out of it. Its so very tiring and annoying to be sad and bitter as shit!!!!! My goD

I can’t really think of anything else to add to this and the text may appear angry sometimes as i was very heated when i wrote this but tried to tone it down a lot hfkds. Im not some ‘art guru goddess with supreme skill uwuw’ but advice is advice! It’s always up to the person listening to take it or not.

I’m gonna end this with one of my favorite art quotes of all time from t h e Arin Hanson himself. Because it really is true. 

Get yourself out there, practice towards a level that makes you content and try to have more fun with loving your work.

It’s taken me a long while to post this, as i’ve been feeling this way for...at least a couple months??? but i finally put it all out there i just needed to do this lol.  Sorry if i mightve repeated info sometimes here and there?

This post is just as much of a call out to my own actions but more so @ those of you that specifically do this! 

[keeganoocw778-blog]

This Week's Top Stories About Tribute Acts

There are a couple things. Then look for another one if it refuses to play songs which you would like. So if you would like your cellphone to operate with quite a few bands, you have to have multi band mobiles.

You have to find out the type of singer and band that you desire. Singers find types of singing tasks to allow a money to be earned by them. Although session singers work it's vitally important they can find the work done well without sight read and the should rehearse. Choosing a singer for the wedding can frequently be a daunting experience.

10 Best Mobile Apps For Hire A Band

The song was an effort to ease her grief. In reality, his songs sell all around the globe. The song is intended to celebrate peoples diferences. You also will need to be certain the band plays songs that you desire.

The planning which went to the entire terrorist plot was a good deal of years. The audio company may be a cruel and challenging spot for artists. It's very glamorous to have a singing occupation that is whole, and they can offer pay that so many singers want them.

Read through our whole inventory of concert tickets that are soda , simply discover the event. We've got tickets at any tier to be sure you get to do all you need on your journey if you're watching out for a casual occasion! Postponed or rescheduled events won't be reimbursed. Highlight you feel incident or a specific event will remain important to you.

You know, once the show was great. The series is certain to have you singing along with a few of the Bee Gees hits and dancing. If you are searching for a tribute show you will discover it in the city of Vegas. Just take a peek at you made the series in the initial site. Very near the Michael The show was a one it was quite 1 song and the performances were quite cool! Seeing a series is a critical part of the Vegas experience. If you're producing that display or TV Shows that have flopped you must look closer at exactly what you've made.

Tickets for the five rows incorporate a souvenir color booklet. Your tickets weren't valid for entrance. Buying tickets for dinner and a show is an excellent way and there are a great deal of shows.

There are individuals who can't live without amusement. It can be quite soothing to the body and mind. Besides the aforementioned, it may be utilized for purposes. Among the things for people is their amusement.

There are lots of strategies that are wonderful to locate amusement for next to nothing. It's not confined to dance and tune numbers. It may be seen best as a business enterprise. A method to receive free entertainment is to pay a visit to the library and locate a novel or a film.

20 Gifts You Can Give Your Boss If They Love The Tribute Act

As the corporation will design variety of things that vary from signage you've got to supply info and your company logo. Needless to say, not every business is able to be this avant-garde in their promotions. There are.

You are able to use music either at your garden or your house. If you are among the lucky people who want to learn more and grow in your favourite kind of music we're likely to get to have a route. The principles want to be powerful since it's a complicated kind of music where a guitarist must play distinct scales and chords. Along with a lot of practice, you may be playing with some songs that is smoothjazz and quick.

Dont have a site that raises red flags if a band doesn't have audio and video samples on their site or even worse. You also wish to amuse your visitors although of course you're likely to want to have a group that may play with a number of your favorite artists and songs. To is only a portion of that but a good deal can be indicated by it. So that you may decide to initiate a fashion ring themed rings are rather popular! Any expert wedding ring ought to have a site with video and sound.

Music might never be considered by you in the precise manner after you've been exposed to this Ukes' musicology that is depraved. If you exchange songs either in individual or online, the penalties could be a lot worse. It's going to go and I want to think that the music I compose is timeless, so I want to think I could release it at anytime. You don't want to be advised that you can play with real time music as soon as you have paid the band their deposit.

PERFECT TIMING It may be hard exercising once you're interested in getting the band to begin and the length of time you would like them to perform for. A previous factor for our tribute group to think about is the character of their material. There are many more tribute bands out there competing for the same audience that is exact than there was so ensure your tribute group is the one that gets recalled for putting on an excellent show. Look through the gig listings and odds are you are going to find as many tribute bands and singers because there are first actions.

15 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Ignore Hire A Band

Your favourite recording artist employs a singing sound near their voice that is. So music is one. D'Agostino's music downloaded from online retailers or can be bought on his site.

In the event the celebrity has lots of info they'd like you to share with the crowd, either have a little bit of paper out on stage along with you memorize it. The operation creates memories that will endure a lifetime. Such classic performances take the event's nature to a different degree.

The process for growing out your hair depends on your planned length. Can you share the methods technology is currently altering the experience of visiting the healthcare provider. The focus at this time is obtaining a couple of new songs up to rate.

Unique portions of your hair will grow out in rates. If your hair is long enough, you're going to be in a position to hold this up. Brushing your hair gets significant. Based on how quickly your hair dries up, every two to three times you might be shampooing and conditioning your hair. As a hair that you don't wash!

Once they get to the awkward stage their own hair cuts. Your hair will get in the way and could wind up in your meals! Growing long hair isn't for everybody.

Tribute acts have turned into a audio genre all their own. The acts they are patterned not always welcome them after. The tribute act was conducted all around the nation to rave reviews and features 2 sets of the best hits of Cole.

Every group have their own stipulations that customers must comply to appreciate their specialist services. A thing for our tribute group is the character of the promotional material. Bands begin considerably more seriously, they will need to have the ability to play with musical instruments to begin with. Beatles tribute band are popular with residents due to their electrifying concerts. Take a look at our catalog to discover the very best choice for your event, if you're searching for a Wedding in Liverpool.

The instant you understand just what sort of songs you want in your wedding, then you're all set to have a band. It's documented that those songs can be extremely rewarding for the service which might explain their reluctance. It is not simply the music which makes the team one of the Beatles tribute acts in vegas. The band may be a tribute act in the place where they play music that is only in the favorite group. The majority of the times, the band that is most economical may not really be the option. Using a site or a networking site that is social characterises the perfect music group.

In several ways, the genre has changed into a joke. First and foremost, jazz isn't dead. This music became a sort of treatment in the center of painful experience. In case such as mine and several other that are currently posting this music it's not for monetary gain or material. Everybody has that tune. This album needs to be first categorized and also a myth has to be dispelled.

From Around The Web: 20 Awesome Photos Of Elton John Tribute

There is no singer, than the folks in conditions of the words for instance. It's very important they can get the job done with singers with no should rehearse and sight see though session singers work. Many singers find sorts of singing jobs to permit a small money to be earned by them. There are still musicians which are still recording in their prior age. If you meet with people that are geniuses, so iconic and they're so fine and normal, it's so inspiring.

The contest is rather strong. Additionally, it's an effort at attempting to mimic the manner music of different genres, to their listeners, are being presented besides jazz. It's very glamorous to have a singing occupation that is whole, and they can offer pay that is the reason why so many singers desire them. A house is more than a home. Heating up the dance floor at one of clubs is almost always a option that is enjoyable, if you're looking for a enjoyable night out. The mood is depressing by means of this track along with the subsequent.

It becomes memories you are able to laugh over for many decades when you look back following your wedding! It is extremely important to request from those people who have organised weddings. You might want to be certain everybody is happy and amused at your wedding . At the specific same time, there are few which are well-known for playing weddings. Arranging a wedding on a tiny budget today can be an extremely daunting job to do on the engaged couple's part.

You don't wish to go when it has to do with obtaining the wedding singer ripped off. You may want to be certain you're interviewing the wedding to make sure that you're getting what you purchase. Wedding singers deliver top quality backing tracks and sound systems so the result is extremely professional and a band won't be missed.

Wedding is the most special day in the life span of boy and a woman that are likely to begin a new life. At length schedule a interview with the individual you believe you desire in your wedding. Without having to spend a lot on the pricey stuff you might have a stunning wedding.

By the book's close you are likely to be enjoying with some terrific songs. You might want some songs about love to supply the background music if you're currently celebrating Valentines Day in your home. It is a fact if it's written well enough that a song that is wonderful will not ever find old. Father daughter wedding songs are more significant than you might imagine. If you would like to choose music for an wedding, you may locate the listing.

The concert will happen on the plaza before the Pasadena Civic Auditorium.

It is not simple to categorize the things that they do as a tribute'. Among the tribute that is distinctive and original indicates that's survived the test of time.

An individual may receive a wide collection of premium tickets. Perhaps the tickets to hear the artist that is true are too costly. Tickets for the initial five rows incorporate a souvenir colour booklet.

Nobody under 18 years-old is permitted. Perhaps the easiest way to celebrate some special occasion that is different or Valentines Day is to produce dinner reservations in a quiet restaurant. Day of series could be accessible. Do not neglect to take pictures, if you get a romantic evening planned with the man who you love! All you need to do is be sure on the afternoon of this event, you've got crew and safety which is able maintain everybody who comes secure and to make your platform light up like never before. Any moment you're feeling bitterness despair anger or lonely, all you need to do is think about the excellent love that imagined you. You can make sure that you aren't going to have a moment's peace till you have taken your kids to observe the movie.

10 Startups That'll Change The Elton John Tribute Industry For The Better

Have them perform if you're likely to use a band and learn whether it matches your motif. Alternatively, you can want to employ a band which plays with audio, so as to heat up the atmosphere. A ring with Pilipino style might be a superior alternative.

If you wish to know how to publicize your group and raise your probability of obtaining a record deal ( fast and cheaply), here are a couple of do-it-yourself ideas which will help get you started. Employ a High School Dance Band it is possible to choose to employ a ring but that will be a bit costlier. You'll most likely want to use a chamber or band orchestra.

There are a couple of things to keep in mind. Then search for another one if it fails to play songs that you would like. According to what exactly the rings offer, you might discover that the higher priced rings are the better value.

If you decide to employ a band be confident they understand how to play your songs. You might need to employ a group that specializes in that sort of music along with a caterer who specializes in that sort of food. Rings are eager to accommodate requests.

[hippieeloquent]

Vertical Climber Machine

Many people breathing in little apartments and still desire a home exercise product- vertical climbers attain not say you will going on much space and as we have back observed they all are collapsible, which means that storage is a cinch. A vertical climber is easy but deeply operating for home gym equipment. After unqualified assembly, though using the stair for a workout there is a large footprint of the equipment which trial 23 inches X 36 inches X 79 inches. Shandong Jinggong Fitness Equipment Co., Ltd. No event what age you are or what height you have, you can attain your fitness following this wonderful climbing device. Using the elliptical can support you achieve your fitness goals as they trigger most major muscle groups and burn calories. The vertical climber mimics rock climbing motions and engages the primary muscle groups in users of every shapes and sizes thanks to its compliant climbing arms. 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[jess-oh]

Reflection

hey journal!

i had an off day today. i woke up early, showered, cut and prepared my lunch for the day, packed grapes to snack on, and was overall in a pretty good mood. i even stayed awake for the entire train ride up north and while i did run into the homeless guy again, he didnt recognize me this time. phew. but i started it off well! i did! but then i preceeded to feel very overwhelmed and I can’t tell if im just being lazy or if today was honestly an off day or what. i think it’s bc i do have a tendency to work fast in general but bc of that, i usually have a lot of free time and a lot of time for a break but today, i didnt feel like i had a break. it was just one thing after the other and all so fast! And I’ve been getting more “fire drill” requests recently where clients need something ASAP. Which haven’t been too hard. It’s just a lot to take care of I guess. And it could just be that it’s a busy season right now. But it was just today and I do feel like tomorrow will be better. I just need to come up with a few different drafts for the one pager and the company map. I’m thinking of looking into flow charts? Or an organizational map? Or maybe it’s a chart? Anyway, I did one for ITM that came out pretty nice so maybe I’ll mimic the style. I think I’m just having such a hard time bc I don’t exactly know what they want whereas my work for the clients have been pretty straightforward. 

Sometimes I wonder if I’m too “perfect” and because of that, I lack a personality.

I didn’t actually tell anyone the above thought bc I thought it’d just come off as cocky but it was an actual concern! but I don’t think it’s true, haha. I’m passionate, loyal, determined, and hardworking. I’m not as goal-oriented as I used to be and I’m a lot more open to mistakes bc I know it’s not the end of the world. I’ve been able to overcome my fear of failure and it’s been immensely helpful. Although sometimes, I do still wonder if I’m not putting my best foot forward because I’m not a perfectionist anymore and worry if I should revert to those old habits. But I was so unhappy then and I’ve been able to do a lot more now without making every draft a “perfect” draft. 

I didn’t realize the people in my class from Sa-Rang went on their road trip recently and it looks like they had a good time and I was actually not at all worried about missing out. In fact, I think if I went, it would’ve just been awkward. I’m glad theyre having a good time. I just don’t think my personality fits in with them. Everyone is so competitive and I’ve tried to play those games before and I feel like if I called them out on it, they’d just chalk it off to me overreacting and they just dont trust me bc of the game and not bc of the past. But I feel like it would be bc of the past. I just wish they’d give me a chance. I actually feel like a real, decent, valid human being with my D&D friends and co-workers and peers out here. And with them. I always felt like I tried to speak up but they would ignore me. I was a voice always unheard and it made me feel invisible and like less of a person. And it felt like a norm so whenever people did acknowledge my existence, I was so touched. So touched to know that at least someone could see me. But how sad is that? I know who I am and I know the good that I have done and I know my place in God’s Kingdom. But whenever I’m with them, everything just falls apart and I question my identity and I just really don’t want to go back and face that again. I only have a month left before I have to. I want to make the most of my time here so that I’m not so afraid when I go back there. I do need to stand my ground with them and I know that I shouldn’t be this afraid to go back to my home church but I am just so afraid of how they’d react and judge me bc they’re the people I call “home.” And if that falls apart, then what. I do have Lakeview here and I’m glad but it’s still a work in progress for sure. I also want to make sure I’m doing things to help and invest into others because I genuinely care for them and not so that they’ll be grateful and thankful towards me later. I do want to genuinely serve them. I do. And I know that I can get into my own head a lot but I do want to really care for them on a deeper level. I also worry that whenever I reach out to guys, they think I’m asking them out on a date but I’m not. I actually just perceive them as I perceive girls—as hurting people and I want to be there to help them through it. 

I have “Jessie’s Girl” stuck in my head and as catchy as it is, it’s distracting my writings.

I’m really excited to sing karaoke with my friends on Friday and I just belt out my horrible horrible voice. I am totally prepared to lose my voice, HAHA. 

I’m just really conflicted, I guess.

On the one hand, I do really want to go home and just be home and not have to worry about anything but to just be in the presence of my parents and sister and to have the opportunity to go out on more late night adventures with Andrew, Aurora, and David. Those are always fun! And admittedly, forcing hangouts with Jeanne, Grace An, Tina and David Kang were always kind of awkward and I shouldn’t force these things. If people want to hangout with me then they can hit me up. But I’m only in town for so long and I would much rather spend time with people who actually genuinely care about me. 

I’ve also been so busy with my internship and havent had time to work on my coding skills :( And I want to start designing my D&D character too! Maybe I’ll start sketching on the train tomorrow or something. 

I need to do my dishes and practice my VBS dance moves too! Hopefully Saturday? :/ I want to be prepared and ready to teach 2 more dances that I’m confident in on Sunday! And then...I’m not sure what we’ll do for the rest of the time. Maybe we can all work together on the fifth dance and just keep practicing every Sunday. I do need to make sure they can confidently dance on their own without watching me. I’m worried about one of the bigger girls because she is me. She’s not bad at dancing. She’s just not confident in her skills and I want to make sure she knows that she is seen. She is real. And valid. And so important and perfect in God’s eyes. I know I was pretty nervous last Sunday but I do want to really pray for them and be a sort of mentor figure for them. We just started training and I already love all of them so much. It was also pretty disheartening when I asked for fun facts about them and they just resorted to being a PK, as if that’s all they’re good for when in reality, they are so much more than that. I can understand why and how I got and get left out a lot more now. I’m that bigger girl bc she wasnt as enthusiastic or excited. She was just shy and quiet. And I feel like there have been moments when I’ve been really enthusiastic but no one else agreed with me and I ended up just being the odd one out and felt like such an outsider and like I didn’t belong. :/ I want to really do my best and try my hardest. I do.

I’m also worried that by the time I come back during August, I won’t have grown that much and nothing will feel like it’s changed. I’m just trying to prepare and think as much as I can until then. I almost don’t want to go home at all. I’m so scared that what awaits me is just me feeling like I don’t belong. At first I was sad that I’ll only be home for a few weeks but now I’m thinking that’s all I can handle. I am so afraid that I won’t have grown or learned enough. So much happened this past year that it feels like nothing happened at all. I struggled with alcoholism, depression, anxiety, I lost Marlena and Jakob, I made new friends like Sara and Evelyn too. I had trouble coming to terms with my dad’s mom’s death, my mom’s dad’s death, my whole family dying and everything we own being burned to a crisp. All of my family members and friends getting seriously injured and everything they know and love being destroyed in a great blaze. And hardest of all, I had to come to terms with the very real reality of Robbin passing away and honestly, I still can’t fully believe it. I think once I see his grave again, I’ll actually begin to fully accept it. I really still can’t believe that happened and that’s definitely been the most impactful part of this past year. I knew that this year would be tough but I thought in terms of persecution and that’s something I overcame. I didn’t care about how others would judge me at church or on the streets anymore because I know who I am in God’s eyes. Or at least I’m trying to learn my worth in them. But this? This was on a whole different level. I went home in February for the weekend to attend Robbin’s funeral. I know it was so expensive but it was so worth it be there. It was much needed closure. I remember seeing my dad cry on our way from the airport to his mom’s place. We were both so upset, knowing what a great person Robbin was and how short his life was. He was ten years older than me when he passed away. It’s been over five months, nearly six, since he had a heart attack and I just. Sigh. I really miss you Robbin and I am so sorry that I didn’t do more for you while you were still here. I know it wasn’t my fault but I still can’t help but feel partly responsible and wonder if anything would have changed had I said something. I know what depression feels like and it sucks and I could’ve been there for him but I wasn’t. 

But anyways,

I’m here now and I am doing good. I know I am. I am happy that I can. I need to stop procrastinating and be more pro-active and get everything done sooner so that I have more time to relax and not have to worry about things to do the next day. I don’t even feel like typing anymore but I’m not tired either. I might just watch videos because might as well. I’m really not in the mood to shower or was dishes. At least tomorrow is my last day for the week! Woo! I could just take care of those things tomorrow, I suppose. Sigh. I know I shouldn’t be lazy and I definitely have the means and ability to get up and do these things and just get it over with my but I’m really not in the mood. I just want to lay on the floor and cry and wallow in my sorrow. Sigh. 

On a brighter note, I saw the Incredible 2 yesterday with Tykira and Jordan and it was so good! I predicted the plot pretty early on so I was worried that that would be the whole movie so I was pleasantly surprised when it wasn’t! C:

I read some old posts in the Guat Squad group the other day while looking for old VBS dance moves and I told Judy that I missed everyone. But honestly, I don’t know if I do. I posted so many times and was so excited to post about reminders and I honestly did trust them and have a good time but not everyone, I guess. Even on the mission field, I was a lot more comfortable talking to Judy, Grace, and Gladys than anyone else on the team. There were moments during training where they did acknowledge me and I felt accepted and like I belonged but for the majority of the time, I don’t think I actually really got along with them. I need to stop trying so hard to fit in and just saying what everyone else is saying and speak the truth instead. It might be “not the right move” but it’s much better to be me and honest than to spend so long trying so hard to fit into a group that will never accept me anyway. I think this is a new goal that I should be working towards. Using my observations to just be blunt and straightforward and honest. I think I’ve been doing a pretty good job doing that with my family and P. Josh so far. I just can’t be afraid to be honest to those around my age either. 

I also need to stop judging people for being wealthy and well off. And also for complaining or being greedy or doing a better job at fitting in than I do. I’ve been really frustrated towards Jane recently bc I feel like she just complains all the time and tries so hard to fit in and it annoys me so much bc I try to fit in too. So why does it work for her but not for me? And maybe it’s because I’m fat or not as pretty. Maybe it’s because of what happened in the past. But regardless, I am here. And I want to be unapologetically me. 

[symbianosgames]

Nearly all games need some amount of artificial intelligence — most commonly to give the player non-human opponents. But conversations about good AI in games are still dominated by Façade, Black & White, The Sims, Versu, and F.E.A.R. — all of which came out years ago. 

Those games are hardly the only examples we can draw from in envisioning artificial intelligence systems. We reached out to several developers for their input on more recent games making innovative and instructive uses of AI.

The following list of games are all notable for the interesting, clever, and/or novel ways in which they use AI, and all are well worth a closer look if you're eager to let a little algorithmic thinking improve your game design. The underlying ideas they explore point toward the exciting and diverse future artificial intelligence could have. 

(For more along these lines, be sure to check out Gamasutra's lists on instructive uses of procedural generation and crafting systems.) 

The Division's enemy AI has had a mixed reception — at one moment they'll stand out in the open, completely unprotected, then the next they'll sneak around the back and give you a surprise bonk on the head. Its attempts to step up from the highs set by F.E.A.R. a decade ago are well worth closer examination, but the real star of The Division's AI routines is its path finding for changing cover. 

Like in Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, players can scan for cover, but here they can also hold down the cover button and their character will automatically run to the new spot. Essentially, this means that movement between covers is automated so that the player can concentrate on tactics. And since the path is shown on-screen ahead of time (it's drawn in a thin white line), the player can see exactly how they'll get there — which further helps in sorting out tactics because they can guess how long it'll take to make the automated dash. 

TAKEAWAY: AI can drive mechanics that help the player get around faster and more effectively, which leaves them with extra mental bandwidth to process the important stuff, like who to shoot and how.

Since its inception in 2005, the Forza series has favored a learning neural network to traditional AI design for controlling non-human drivers. This Drivatar system watches you play and imitates your driving style — kind of like an amalgam of dozens of time trial ghosts.

In the most recent iterations the Drivatar system is hooked in to Microsoft's cloud services, where it can pull in AI racers based on other human players as well as crunch greater amounts of data from each player. Now your AI opponents mimic other players from around the globe — their silly mistakes, quirks, strengths, and weaknesses — which makes for a more unpredictable experience. 

The good side of this is that AI drivers learn to do all sorts of complex maneuvers and each exhibit a distinct racing style, which makes them seem more human. Unfortunately it also means that even with the difficulty maxed out, racing sim purists have a tougher time finding non-human opponents to practice against — because few drivatars actually drive anything like a professional race car driver. 

TAKEAWAY: Learning AI that mimics real people can make enemies and opponents seem more human, but you still need to keep in mind that most people who aren't professionals in the game's closest real-life equivalent will behave nothing at all like the real professionals.

First-person shooters normally showcase enemy AI that's just smart enough to challenge the player as they go around shooting everything that moves. The player is a predator, and the hordes of lookalike bad guys scurrying around the screen are the prey. But Alien: Isolation's Xenomorph reverses that convention. The free-roaming alien is the one in a position of strength, and the player — stripped of her power — gets to feel what it's like to be hunted. You carry a gun, but to use it is to draw the all-powerful, unkillable Xenomorph to you. (A flamethrower eventually complicates the situation and gives the player some power back, but even then the alien remains the hunter.) 

The alien may just be following the behavior trees and routines coded into its digital being (which becomes all-too obvious if you try to outsmart the Xenomorph or otherwise test its limits), but it's hard to predict where and when it might appear nearby. That unpredictability combines with the alien's sensing capabilities — it has keen hearing — and some sort of director system that drives the alien to always be somewhere in the player's general vicinity. The result is a tense, terrifying experience that pushes players to hide in lockers for minutes at a time and to constantly look around for the hunter lurking in the corridors and vents. 

TAKEAWAY: An enemy AI designed to relentlessly hunt the player as they roam about the game world can offer an unpredictable and tension-building element to the level design.

The Ice-Bound Concordance may seem at first glance to be an elaborate choose-your-own-adventure game, but its story of KRIS, an AI simulacrum of an author, is not built of branching paths. Rather, the player and AI combine pre-written (barring some variables) fragments of story text to piece together a novel. This is done through interactions both in the game — dialogue trees, player interventions in KRIS's creative process, symbol and event choices for the plot — and outside of it, through the pages the player shows KRIS from an actual, physical companion book that the AI's not supposed to see. The developers call their AI-heavy take on CYOA a combinatorial narrative system. 

Where many older attempts to put algorithms in charge of a game's story — such as Façade and Versu — have focused on social interactions, Ice-Bound looks inward to tell a more literary tale — or rather many tales. It can handle tens of thousands or more permutations of a literary framework that consists of many narrative fragments and a complex set of rules for how these might be activated and deactivated. The AI and player (and the designers who crafted the narrative fragments) thereby become collaborators in the storytelling process, with the AI's goal being to ensure the player gets a dramatically-satisfying story. 

TAKEAWAY: You can use AI to tell a dramatically-satisfying story — even if it's literary in nature — that's dynamically shaped by and molded to player choices in a more organic way than traditional branching paths.

Tower defense (and offense) game City Conquest is unusual in that its biggest use of artificial intelligence came in the design process itself. Here AI became a tool not for expanding or refining the player's moment-to-moment experience but for evolving the actual design — to improve game balance and to (hopefully) engineer a more enjoyable overall experience by measuring how well the design at each iteration met its goals. 

The AI wasn't handling the design modifications, mind you. Designer Paul Tozour wrote a genetic algorithm that acted as a kind of automated, virtual playtesting team that could evolve into expert players and in the process identify dominant strategies and minor elements that needed tuning. By looking at how both these machine players and human players approached the game, Tozour found flaws big and small and gained lots of data to help him tune the game's parameters. 

TAKEAWAY: AI can help you make your game better before it's even out by playtesting to find dominant strategies.

Jonathan Blow wanted walking in The Witness to be as smooth and unobtrusive an experience as possible. If players got caught on edges or tapped in walls, or if they could traverse terrain in one direction but not the other, it would pull them out of the world. It'd break the immersion, and immersion was paramount to the game's vision. To ensure this didn't happen, he asked programmer Casey Muratori to improve the player movement code. Muratori responded by writing an algorithm that tests for collisions. 

His algorithm hopped in to replace the player and explored the entire island. As it walked it created nodes and displayed lines atop the ground that connected these. White lines meant walkable, red not walkable. (It could explore areas close to boundaries at higher density, too.) If the state changed — say, a door opened — it could go back and pick up from that point and continue to the area beyond. And from seeing the results the dev team could find problems with the movement code or with level geometry that needed refinement. 

TAKEAWAY: AI can do the grunt work for you in finding all the nasty problems that could frustrate players simply trying to explore your game's world.

Several years on, the AI Director used in the two Left 4 Dead games remains a fascinating system for controlling the flow of a cooperative multiplayer game. The Director handles typical AI tasks such as enemy movement and human player proxies in a satisfying, believable manner. But what really makes it interesting is the higher-level impact it has on every session. 

The Director's main job is to manage the pacing. It builds up the intensity to a peak, then eases off, then builds up again, and repeats this throughout the session as players edge closer to the exit. It does this by modeling stress levels in players (affected by things like close versus long-range combat, ammo and health levels, zombies in proximity), then adjusting how the zombies attack — where they come from, how many of them attack, which types attack, and who they focus their attack on. 

AI Directors have since been used to great effect in many other games, such as the post-Left 4 Dead Far Cry games, Evolve, and Rocksmith 2014 — which used its director to handle musical accompaniment to your live guitar play in the game's session mode. But Left 4 Dead remains the best example to study. 

TAKEAWAY: Every player is different, and by having an that AI alters the flow and intensity of gameplay to fit their moment-to-moment needs you can ensure that everybody gets a satisfying, challenging experience.

As these examples show, artificial intelligence can be used in games in myriad ways. It could be a testing tool to make your code or design more robust and to make the final game more fun, or it could make non-player characters seem smart even as they continue to be dumb — just by exhibiting some rudimentary learning strategies or adaptability. 

AI can be the unseen hand directing the whole show or the bullet sponges and companion characters right there with the player. AI can guide players or mislead them, help them or hinder them. It can make the bad guys act like they're genuinely cooperating to kill or maim the player, or it can turn a single enemy into a terrifying hunter. AI can mimic, imitate, learn, forget, teach, and collaborate. 

It's just algorithms, so it'll do whatever you want it to. You only need to think of creative ways to leverage its powers to entice, bewilder, muddle, aid, hinder, process, and share. Don't think so much about AI in terms of enemies that are just barely smart enough to slow the player down. Rather, imagine how it could elevate the experience in some small or big way.  

Thanks to Jonathan Tremblay, David Churchill, and Anne Sullivan for their help with putting this article together, and to Tommy Thompson for his AI and Games YouTube channel — which provided further guidance.

[viralhottopics]

Snapchat to brands: Make great stuff and we might let you get on Discover

Social media influencer Jen Levinson anchors the first episode of Marriott's Snapchat series.

Hotel chains aren’t really cool. They have cool stuff to offer, like free wi-fi and swimming pools, but if you’re a young traveler on a budget, you might be looking more to services like Airbnb.

Marriott isn’t ready to concede that, so they’re going after millennials on their own turf: Snapchat. The goal is to convince these travelers via Snapchat that Marriott Rewards is a program worthy of their fickle love.

SEE ALSO: Snapchat is about to get shark-infested

Marriott on Thursday released the first of four “snapisodes,” the term they’re using to describe advertisements they have created for Snapchat. This isn’t just your typical Snap ad, which is more often a 10-second video clip or a swipe up to a website or movie trailer. These are three-minute, influencer-filled productions meant to capture teen eyeballs while also proving their dedication to Snapchat.

Marriott Rewards’s effort is pretty much a dream come true for Snapchat. Previously, media partners, like Mashable and TV studios, were the only outlets building exclusive, high-quality, episodic content for its app. But now brands representing some of the world’s largest businesses are vying for spots on the platform. That could mean that brands could have their own channel or they sponsor takeovers of existing ones.

In the meantime, these businesses are proving themselves to Snapchat by creating and paying for ads.

“The idea originally was to mimic television. We wanted to create a TV series and mimic it as such,” said Amanda Moore, senior director of social and digital marketing at Marriott International. “Snapchat provided us with a lot of best practices, speaking to camera. We knew we needed someone authentic, relatable.”

The four-part series titled Six Days, Seven Nights are called “snapisodes” because it’s an ad purposely made for Snapchat. It’s so on-brand for Snapchat that they even filmed part of it using Snapchat Spectacles, the app’s video-camera sunglasses.

The three-minute episodes each feature a different social media influencer talking to the camera and sharing their story around destination. The first episode features Jen Levinson traveling in Berlin.

For the last two years, Snapchat has built up its own media platform called Discover, where media outlets (Mashable is a partner) create exclusive content. Snapchat previously ran its own channel called Snap Channel, where it had scripted shows similar to these “snapisodes.”

The world’s largest entertainment studios and now the world’s largest hospitality business have taken some of the burden off Snapchat, producing and promoting their own Snapchat Shows.

Cue revenue.

For Marriott, the ad commitment aligns with their authentic social strategy and goal of expanding the Marriott Rewards program.

“Our approach to social media is very curated and very professional,” Moore said. “When it comes to Facebook, you’ll see us do a lot in video this year especially when it comes to live. We’re focused on Instagram stories, planning to create 100 unique stories this year.”

“Snapchat for us felt like a natural next step,” she continued, “Its an opportunity for us to reach new audiences.”

Marriott Rewards began using Snapchat back in April 2016, but primarily used the app to create geofilters, where brands can pay to have filters that Snapchat users can overlay on their photos and videos while in certain locations, such as inside a hotel.

The brand isn’t that active on their Snapchat account, but for a reason.

“Snapchat for us, its a channel thats very raw, but we also wanted to be very specific and intentional,” Moore said. “We dont want to put content up for the sake of putting content up.”

That idea of not producing daily or regularly scheduled content for a social channel is foreign to some brands, but it’s exactly what Snapchat preaches. As Digiday reported, more than 30 percent of brand accounts on Snapchat are inactive. But, again, Snapchat doesn’t care. Marriott is following the playbook of creating Snapchat-exclusive ads and paying for their placement.

It’s the perfect pay-to-play scenario for Snap.

Marriott worked with Imre, a New York-based marketing agency, and Delmondo, a creative studio and technology company that gained notoriety for its analytics and production on Snapchat back in 2014.

“The episodic format is the best way to form peoples attention,” said Nick Cicero, CEO of Delmondo. “That has remained consistently the highest performing format.”

Snapchat users could happen upon the ad if they follow certain travel and hospitality-related channels on the app. The episode also will be put up on YouTube and the Marriott Rewards Facebook Page.

The Marriott Rewards Snapchat account also will feature behind-the-scenes of each episode.

Discovery on Snapchat isn’t perfect, but there’s a way forward that Marriott and Snapchat have at least discussed. Back when Snapchat debuted its first ad for the movie Ouiji, it appeared at the top of user’s feeds, a.k.a. prime real estate for attention. Now, there’s a chance users will skip it or just miss it.

But, Snapchat has been adding to the number of Discover partners. For now, branded content, as in channels sponsored by a partner brand, is forbidden on Snapchat. But brand-only channels could become a bigger part of the platform. Sony had one for James Bond Spectre back in October 2015, and Spotify sponsored a music series in December 2015.

Brands, like Marriott Rewards, have been chatting with Snapchat about an opportunity to be on Discover, as well.

“Discover was on the table for us,” Moore said. “Going back to the TV mentality, were talking season one here. This is our pilot.”

Now Marriott and Snapchat have to determine: “Does this thing have legs? Discover is something on the table if this thing takes off … for this initial season as a brand we kind of wanted to see this vision come to life and get to market quickly.”

WATCH: A reusable sponge could be the latest solution to effectively clean up oil spills

Read more: http://ift.tt/2nnilaW

from Snapchat to brands: Make great stuff and we might let you get on Discover

[keeganoocw778-blog]

What's Holding Back The Tribute Acts Industry?

There are a couple of things to consider before hiring a band. Then look for a different one if it fails to play songs that you would like. So in the event that you'd like your mobile to operate with quite a few bands, you must have multi band phones.

You need to determine the type of singer and band that you desire. Singers find other sorts of singing jobs to allow a money to be earned by them. But session singers work it's vitally important they can get the job done well with various singers without sight read and the should rehearse. Choosing a singer for your wedding may frequently be an intimidating experience.

Why You Should Spend More Time Thinking About Entertainment

The tune was an attempt. In reality, his songs still sell all around the globe. The song is intended to celebrate peoples diferences. You need to be sure the band plays music that you desire.

The preparation which went to the entire terrorist plot was a fantastic deal of years. The music company can be a hard and cruel spot for artists contending with capitalism. It's very glamorous to have a whole singing occupation, and they're able to provide pay that is why so many singers want them.

Browse through our whole inventory of pop concert tickets discover the event. We have got tickets in almost any tier to be sure you get to do all you need on your journey if you're on the lookout for a casual occasion! Postponed or rescheduled events won't be reimbursed. Highlight why you are feeling incident or a specific event will remain important for you.

You know the show was great. The series is certain to have you singing and dancing along with a few of the Bee Gees hits. If you're attempting to find a wonderful tribute show it will be discovered by you in town of Vegas. Simply have a glance at why the series was left by you in the very initial location. Very near the Michael The series was a good one it was quite 1 tune and the performances were rather cool! Seeing a show is a part of the Vegas experience. You have to look at what you've made if you're producing that display or TV Shows that have flopped.

A souvenir colour booklet is incorporated by tickets for the five rows. Your tickets weren't valid for entry. Buying tickets for dinner and a show is an excellent way and there are a great deal of shows.

There are those who can't live without entertainment. It can be quite soothing to the mind and body. Apart from the above, it can be used for instructional purposes. Among the things for people is their amusement.

There are plenty of wonderful strategies . It is not limited to dance and song numbers. It may be observed as a business enterprise. A way to receive free entertainment would be to visit the library and find a movie or a book.

10 Facts About Tribute Band That Will Instantly Put You In A Good Mood

Since the corporation will be designing variety of things that range from signage you've got to furnish your organization logo and relevant info. Obviously, not every business is able to be this avant-garde within their promotions. There are lots of entertainment businesses in the world today who offer services in a variety of styles.

You are able to use music at your house or your backyard. If you're among the lucky individuals who wish to know more and develop into your kind of music we're very likely to get to have a different path. Since it's a sort of music where a guitarist should play on chords and scales the principles want to be powerful. Along with a great deal of practice, you may be playing with a few fast and smoothjazz music.

Dont have a site that raises red flags if a band doesn't have samples on their site or even worse. Of course you are going to want a band that may play a number of your favourite songs and artists but you also desire to amuse your visitors. A band we listen to is a very small part of this but a fantastic thing can be indicated by it. Themed rings are also rather popular you may decide to initiate a fashion ring! Any expert wedding band that is great ought to have a site with video and sound.

You might never consider music after you've been subjected to this Ukes' musicology. The penalties could be a good deal worse, Should you exchange songs either in individual or online. It's about to go and I want to think is classic, so I want to think I could release it at anytime. You don't want to be told you can just play music that is real time until 6 pm as soon as you have paid the band their deposit.

PERFECT TIMING It may be hard working out the period of time you and once you are considering getting the band would like them to play for. A previous factor for our tribute group is the character of their promotional material. There are many more tribute bands out there competing for the same audience that is specific than there was so make sure your tribute group is the one which gets recalled for putting on an superb show. Look through the gig listings and odds are you will discover as many tribute artists and bands because there are acts that are first.

15 Hilarious Videos About Cover Band

Your favourite recording artist employs a singing sound near their speaking voice. So music is one of the things which come to my mind whenever I think of my dad. D'Agostino's songs can be bought on his site or downloaded from internet retailers.

In case the celebrity has lots of info they would like you to share with the audience, either memorize it have a little bit of paper out on stage along with you. Memories that will survive a lifetime are created by the performance. Classic performances carry the character of the event to a different level.

For growing out your hair the procedure depends on your length. Can you share the methods technology is currently shifting the experience of visiting with the health care provider. The focus at this time is obtaining a couple songs up to speed.

Unique portions of your hair will grow out in rates. If your hair is long enough, you are likely to be in a place to hold this up in a variety of ways. Cleaning your hair gets important. Based on your hair dries up, you may be shampooing and conditioning your hair. As a very long hair that you don't wash every day!

As soon as they get to the stage that is awkward their hair cuts. Your hair may wind up on your food and will get in the way! Growing hair that is long isn't for everybody.

Tribute acts have turned into a audio genre all their own. The first acts they're patterned not always welcome them after. The tribute act was performed all over the nation to rave reviews and features two sets of the finest hits of Cole.

Every band have their own stipulations that clients must comply so as to appreciate their expert services. A last thing for our tribute band is the character of the promotional material. Bands begin they need to be able to play instruments to start with. Beatles tribute band are quite popular among Liverpool residents due to their concerts. If you are searching for the ideal Beatles Tribute Band have a look at our comprehensive catalogue to discover the best choice for your event.

The moment you understand exactly which sort of songs you desire in your wedding, then you're all set to have a ring. It's documented that those songs can be extremely lucrative for the ceremony which might explain their reluctance. It is not simply the music which makes the team one of the Beatles tribute acts in vegas. In addition, the band might be a tribute act in the area where they play music that is only from the favorite band. Nearly all the instances, the most economical band might not really be the alternative. Having a site or a media site that is social characterises the music band.

Into a joke, the genre has transformed in several ways. Jazz isn't dead. This music became a sort of therapy in the middle of experience. In case like mine and several other that are currently posting this audio it's not for monetary advantage or material. Everyone has that song. This album needs to be first categorized and also a myth has to be dispelled.

11 Embarrassing The Tribute Act Faux Pas You Better Not Make

There is no singer, than the Motown folks in conditions of the words for instance. It's very important they can find the job done nicely with different singers without the should rehearse and sight see though session singers just work by ear. Singers find other sorts of singing jobs to allow them to make a money. There continue to be artists which are still recording their previous age. When you meet people that are these geniuses and they're so nice and normal, it's so inspiring.

The competition to acquire a singing task is powerful. It's an effort at attempting to mimic the manner music of different genres, to their listeners, are being presented besides jazz. It's very glamorous to have a whole singing job, and they're able to provide pay that is why they are wanted by so many singers. A house is much more than a home. Heating up the dance floor at one of clubs is a choice that is enjoyable, if you're searching for a enjoyable night out. The mood is somewhat depressing by way of this track along with the subsequent.

It becomes memories you are able to laugh over for many years when you look back following your wedding! It is extremely important to request from individuals who have organised weddings. You may want to make sure that everybody is happy and entertained at your wedding day. At the exact same time, there are several which are well-known for playing in weddings. Arranging a marriage on a budget nowadays can be a really daunting job to do on the component of the recently engaged couple.

You don't want to go if it's to do with getting the wedding decoration ripped off. You might want to make sure you are currently interviewing the wedding initially to be sure that you're getting what you purchase. Many wedding singers provide excellent top quality backing tracks and sound systems so the outcome is extremely professional and a band won't be overlooked.

Wedding is easily the most unique day in the life of a girl and boy that are likely to begin a new life. At length, always schedule a interview with the person. Without needing to spend a lot on the stuff, you may have a stunning wedding.

By the book's close you are likely to be playing some tunes that are fantastic. You might want some identifying tunes about love to supply the background audio if you're currently celebrating Valentines Day in your home. It is a fact that a song that is fantastic wo find old if it is written nicely. Father daughter wedding songs are more significant than you may imagine. You might locate the listing if you would like to select music for an approaching wedding.

The concert will happen on the plaza.

It is not simple to categorize the things that they do as a tribute'. Among the tribute that is distinctive and original indicates that's survived the test of time.

A person can receive a collection of high quality tickets. The tickets to listen to the artist that is authentic are pricey. A souvenir color booklet is incorporated by tickets for the first five rows.

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14 Savvy Ways To Spend Leftover The Tribute Act Budget

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Nearly all games need some amount of artificial intelligence — most commonly to give the player non-human opponents. But conversations about good AI in games are still dominated by Façade, Black & White, The Sims, Versu, and F.E.A.R. — all of which came out years ago. 

Those games are hardly the only examples we can draw from in envisioning artificial intelligence systems. We reached out to several developers for their input on more recent games making innovative and instructive uses of AI.

The following list of games are all notable for the interesting, clever, and/or novel ways in which they use AI, and all are well worth a closer look if you're eager to let a little algorithmic thinking improve your game design. The underlying ideas they explore point toward the exciting and diverse future artificial intelligence could have. 

(For more along these lines, be sure to check out Gamasutra's lists on instructive uses of procedural generation and crafting systems.) 

The Division's enemy AI has had a mixed reception — at one moment they'll stand out in the open, completely unprotected, then the next they'll sneak around the back and give you a surprise bonk on the head. Its attempts to step up from the highs set by F.E.A.R. a decade ago are well worth closer examination, but the real star of The Division's AI routines is its path finding for changing cover. 

Like in Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon, players can scan for cover, but here they can also hold down the cover button and their character will automatically run to the new spot. Essentially, this means that movement between covers is automated so that the player can concentrate on tactics. And since the path is shown on-screen ahead of time (it's drawn in a thin white line), the player can see exactly how they'll get there — which further helps in sorting out tactics because they can guess how long it'll take to make the automated dash. 

TAKEAWAY: AI can drive mechanics that help the player get around faster and more effectively, which leaves them with extra mental bandwidth to process the important stuff, like who to shoot and how.

Since its inception in 2005, the Forza series has favored a learning neural network to traditional AI design for controlling non-human drivers. This Drivatar system watches you play and imitates your driving style — kind of like an amalgam of dozens of time trial ghosts.

In the most recent iterations the Drivatar system is hooked in to Microsoft's cloud services, where it can pull in AI racers based on other human players as well as crunch greater amounts of data from each player. Now your AI opponents mimic other players from around the globe — their silly mistakes, quirks, strengths, and weaknesses — which makes for a more unpredictable experience. 

The good side of this is that AI drivers learn to do all sorts of complex maneuvers and each exhibit a distinct racing style, which makes them seem more human. Unfortunately it also means that even with the difficulty maxed out, racing sim purists have a tougher time finding non-human opponents to practice against — because few drivatars actually drive anything like a professional race car driver. 

TAKEAWAY: Learning AI that mimics real people can make enemies and opponents seem more human, but you still need to keep in mind that most people who aren't professionals in the game's closest real-life equivalent will behave nothing at all like the real professionals.

First-person shooters normally showcase enemy AI that's just smart enough to challenge the player as they go around shooting everything that moves. The player is a predator, and the hordes of lookalike bad guys scurrying around the screen are the prey. But Alien: Isolation's Xenomorph reverses that convention. The free-roaming alien is the one in a position of strength, and the player — stripped of her power — gets to feel what it's like to be hunted. You carry a gun, but to use it is to draw the all-powerful, unkillable Xenomorph to you. (A flamethrower eventually complicates the situation and gives the player some power back, but even then the alien remains the hunter.) 

The alien may just be following the behavior trees and routines coded into its digital being (which becomes all-too obvious if you try to outsmart the Xenomorph or otherwise test its limits), but it's hard to predict where and when it might appear nearby. That unpredictability combines with the alien's sensing capabilities — it has keen hearing — and some sort of director system that drives the alien to always be somewhere in the player's general vicinity. The result is a tense, terrifying experience that pushes players to hide in lockers for minutes at a time and to constantly look around for the hunter lurking in the corridors and vents. 

TAKEAWAY: An enemy AI designed to relentlessly hunt the player as they roam about the game world can offer an unpredictable and tension-building element to the level design.

The Ice-Bound Concordance may seem at first glance to be an elaborate choose-your-own-adventure game, but its story of KRIS, an AI simulacrum of an author, is not built of branching paths. Rather, the player and AI combine pre-written (barring some variables) fragments of story text to piece together a novel. This is done through interactions both in the game — dialogue trees, player interventions in KRIS's creative process, symbol and event choices for the plot — and outside of it, through the pages the player shows KRIS from an actual, physical companion book that the AI's not supposed to see. The developers call their AI-heavy take on CYOA a combinatorial narrative system. 

Where many older attempts to put algorithms in charge of a game's story — such as Façade and Versu — have focused on social interactions, Ice-Bound looks inward to tell a more literary tale — or rather many tales. It can handle tens of thousands or more permutations of a literary framework that consists of many narrative fragments and a complex set of rules for how these might be activated and deactivated. The AI and player (and the designers who crafted the narrative fragments) thereby become collaborators in the storytelling process, with the AI's goal being to ensure the player gets a dramatically-satisfying story. 

TAKEAWAY: You can use AI to tell a dramatically-satisfying story — even if it's literary in nature — that's dynamically shaped by and molded to player choices in a more organic way than traditional branching paths.

Tower defense (and offense) game City Conquest is unusual in that its biggest use of artificial intelligence came in the design process itself. Here AI became a tool not for expanding or refining the player's moment-to-moment experience but for evolving the actual design — to improve game balance and to (hopefully) engineer a more enjoyable overall experience by measuring how well the design at each iteration met its goals. 

The AI wasn't handling the design modifications, mind you. Designer Paul Tozour wrote a genetic algorithm that acted as a kind of automated, virtual playtesting team that could evolve into expert players and in the process identify dominant strategies and minor elements that needed tuning. By looking at how both these machine players and human players approached the game, Tozour found flaws big and small and gained lots of data to help him tune the game's parameters. 

TAKEAWAY: AI can help you make your game better before it's even out by playtesting to find dominant strategies.

Jonathan Blow wanted walking in The Witness to be as smooth and unobtrusive an experience as possible. If players got caught on edges or tapped in walls, or if they could traverse terrain in one direction but not the other, it would pull them out of the world. It'd break the immersion, and immersion was paramount to the game's vision. To ensure this didn't happen, he asked programmer Casey Muratori to improve the player movement code. Muratori responded by writing an algorithm that tests for collisions. 

His algorithm hopped in to replace the player and explored the entire island. As it walked it created nodes and displayed lines atop the ground that connected these. White lines meant walkable, red not walkable. (It could explore areas close to boundaries at higher density, too.) If the state changed — say, a door opened — it could go back and pick up from that point and continue to the area beyond. And from seeing the results the dev team could find problems with the movement code or with level geometry that needed refinement. 

TAKEAWAY: AI can do the grunt work for you in finding all the nasty problems that could frustrate players simply trying to explore your game's world.

Several years on, the AI Director used in the two Left 4 Dead games remains a fascinating system for controlling the flow of a cooperative multiplayer game. The Director handles typical AI tasks such as enemy movement and human player proxies in a satisfying, believable manner. But what really makes it interesting is the higher-level impact it has on every session. 

The Director's main job is to manage the pacing. It builds up the intensity to a peak, then eases off, then builds up again, and repeats this throughout the session as players edge closer to the exit. It does this by modeling stress levels in players (affected by things like close versus long-range combat, ammo and health levels, zombies in proximity), then adjusting how the zombies attack — where they come from, how many of them attack, which types attack, and who they focus their attack on. 

AI Directors have since been used to great effect in many other games, such as the post-Left 4 Dead Far Cry games, Evolve, and Rocksmith 2014 — which used its director to handle musical accompaniment to your live guitar play in the game's session mode. But Left 4 Dead remains the best example to study. 

TAKEAWAY: Every player is different, and by having an that AI alters the flow and intensity of gameplay to fit their moment-to-moment needs you can ensure that everybody gets a satisfying, challenging experience.

As these examples show, artificial intelligence can be used in games in myriad ways. It could be a testing tool to make your code or design more robust and to make the final game more fun, or it could make non-player characters seem smart even as they continue to be dumb — just by exhibiting some rudimentary learning strategies or adaptability. 

AI can be the unseen hand directing the whole show or the bullet sponges and companion characters right there with the player. AI can guide players or mislead them, help them or hinder them. It can make the bad guys act like they're genuinely cooperating to kill or maim the player, or it can turn a single enemy into a terrifying hunter. AI can mimic, imitate, learn, forget, teach, and collaborate. 

It's just algorithms, so it'll do whatever you want it to. You only need to think of creative ways to leverage its powers to entice, bewilder, muddle, aid, hinder, process, and share. Don't think so much about AI in terms of enemies that are just barely smart enough to slow the player down. Rather, imagine how it could elevate the experience in some small or big way.  

Thanks to Jonathan Tremblay, David Churchill, and Anne Sullivan for their help with putting this article together, and to Tommy Thompson for his AI and Games YouTube channel — which provided further guidance.