Transforming Today's World Magazine - JAN 2014 Special Edition Vol 5 Issue 3 | Page 25

is a phenomenon in itself! The entertainment
industry is hardly known for its positive
reinforcement among producers, directors,
singers and songwriters. The competition is
fierce and the volatility to one’s soul can be
extremely destructive. For decades hopeful
stars from around the world flood the streets
of Hollywood dying to become a star;
desperate to get that one amazing chance to
show their talent to the world. Little do they
know, Hollywood’s golden streets are lined
with mine fields just waiting to explode and
destroy an artist’s innocent dreams. More
than any other time in entertainment history,
publicity and promotion are paramount in
producing a successful career. Thousands
flood into L.A. every year trying to become
a star but quickly leave broken and crushed,
starving, tired and lost forever. If they
only knew Al Bowman could have given
them the platform to launch their dreams,
they might not have left and alternatively,
could have walked onto the great stage
of The Avalon Theater encouraged and
excited, instead of feel-ing defeated and
unappreciated. Quite frankly, in L.A. you
are only as good as your last performance.
Singers, songwriters, producers or recording
artists, all enter a ruthless and unforgiving
arena populated with sophisticates lying
in wait to devour the unsuspecting talent:
They have no experience to avoid the
devastation. The only preparation one has
as one leaves for L.A. is have an expectation
of the “experience” one gains once they
get there. Just trying to make a living
from your God-given talent is not enough.
This is where Al Bowman enters the arena
of hope, as he creates a forum for artists
from around the world to showcase their
talent in a big and dramatic way. When
you have the music living inside of you, it
is virtually impossible to turn your back and
walk away from yourself! Your gift is WHY
you live- why you dream- why you persevere
beyond the imagination of most people in the
“real world.” Most rational people would

say: “WHY do you put yourself through thiswhy?” Well, the answer is simple and relies
on the person possessing the gift NOT to be
able to say no! That burning desire always
exists and propels the aspiring artist into the
mouth of the lion that rarely spares its prey.
My heart aches for the artists who do not
know of this extraordinary opportunity to be
nominated as an independent artist, presented
by Al Bowman on stage, and exposed to
major media all in one dramatic evening of
entertainment. Al Bowman has changed the
face of Indie promotion forever: Without The
L.A. Music Awards, how on earth could these
artists find a main-line forum to showcase
their talent to the world and gain the publicity
needed to live their career of dreams? I was
fortunate to get a back-stage view into Al’s
life as he produced The L.A. Music Awards
in 2012. From the sound checks to the
lighting, from the Red Carpet to the media,
THIS was the opportunity of a lifetime for
an aspiring artist. After getting to know the
man behind the music, I was stunned how
Al produced a huge award show that that
had sustained success for over 23 years! To
say the least, this is no small feat in L.A.
No matter if the industry agrees or not,
this award show stands on its own merits
and every year presents new artists with a
vehicle to promote a life-sustaining career.
Once an artist is nominated, a three-tiered
voting process begins consisting of on-line
voting, live ballot voting (by an audience at
The Whisky A Go-Go in West Hollywood)
and a panel of judges that brings all aspects
of the voting process together, culminating
with specific award recipients in multiple
categories. If an artist is lucky enough
to receive the coveted award, the
power of that award is now placed
in their hands- the rest is up to fate
and the public’s reception of their
product. I asked Al to describe
the process that an artist goes
through from start to finish
with The L.A. Music

Awards. I asked him what the most important
aspect of making it in the industry was; he
immediately and enthusiastically replied:
“PUBLICITY AND
PROMOTION!”
Al Bowman: “I’m so glad you are doing
th