The Laurie Berkner Band Blog

Phew!

It's been a marathon couple of weeks for all of us here at the LBB.  Not only did we have the release of the new CD, but we also were working on 2 shows in Morristown, our "10 Days of Giveaways" Contest, the extension of the ParentsConnect contest, intern interviews (we've met with some great people so far!), lots of creative brainstorming, and much more!

School is out, so Laurie's been quite busy being able to spend time with Lucy, too!

We are enjoying a little bit of slightly-less-busy time before we jump into our next VERY big project (we can't say much, but it does, indeed, involve a new DVD)...

Anyone have any great plans for this weekend?  We're excited about fireworks, picnics, and beautiful weather.  It'll be very, very welcome to top off a very productive month!

It's Here! "The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band"!

It's finally here!

"The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band" hits the shelves (both real and digital) today!

You can purchase hard copies (actual CD's) from most major retailers (including online - try Amazon, The LBB Shop, and websites for your favorite CD stores)

OR

You can download the CD from sites like Amazon, iTunes, and other download sites.

OR

You can download the DIGITAL DELUXE Edition (which includes 4 bonus videos!) from Amazon, iTunes, and other download sites!

We are so excited to share this very special compilation of our "Greatest Hits" with you.  It's been such a fun musical journey, and we can't wait to see what's next :)

Don't forget to answer today's contest question on Facebook for a chance to win an LBB gift basket, an autographed copy of the new CD, a 6-Month supply of Honest Kids by Honest Tea, and a video chat from Laurie herself!

Added Prize in 10 Days of Giveaways Contest

Yesterday, we announced that Laurie will be adding an extra-special bonus to the Grand Prize for our "10 Days of Giveaways" Contest.

The winner will now receive (on top of a 6-month supply of Honest Tea, an LBB gift basket, and an autographed copy of the new CD) a VIDEO CALL from Laurie!  (If you don't have video capabilities on your computer, she'll do a regular call).  She will talk to you, answer your questions, and even sing a song!

For more information about the contest, visit our blog about it! Or just visit our Facebook Fan Page!

Rehearsal

Tonight, the whole band will meet for a rehearsal to prepare for this Sunday's show in Morristown, NJ

Not only will Bobby, Adam, Susie, and Laurie go over the show and rehearse the songs, but the dancers from NYC's Troupe 212 will also be at the rehearsal!

This is because the swing dance troupe will be a very special part of the Morristown shows, and many of the future shows taking place in and around NYC!

They will be performing live while the band plays for several songs.  We're so excited to be part of such a fun group of people and to share both music and dance with you!

For more information on live show, please visit our website, www.LaurieBerkner.com.

Here's a video of the Troupe rehearsing "Shortnin' Bread", which they performed at a past show (they have new routines to different songs this time!):

Tomorrow is Day 5!!

Hi everyone!

Just a friendly reminder that tomorrow is the halfway point for our "10 Days of Giveaways" contest!

If you haven't heard about it yet, now's the time - prizes are getting better everyday!

Tomorrow, you will be able to win an autographed poster from the whole band.

On Friday, you can win your choice of our 3 books, autographed by Laurie!

On Saturday, we'll be giving winners signed DVD's

Sunday brings autographed T-Shirts

Monday's prize is a MONTH'S SUPPLY of Honest Kids from Honest Tea

And Tuesday will bring one lucky winner an awesome LBB gift basket, a 6 MONTH SUPPLY of Honest Kids, and an autographed copy of "The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band"!!!!!!

For more info on the contest, check out our Facebook Page and our event: http://www.facebook.com/LaurieBerknerBand?v=app_2344061033#!/event.php?eid=131235513571222&index=1

GOOD LUCK!

Make a Variety Show!

It's a rainy evening here in New York City, and on rainy days nothing is better than a creative indoor project.

Everyone (big and small) has a story, a talent, or something to share, so why not express them by putting on a Variety Show?

All you need to do it gather mom, dad, your babysitter, siblings, friends, and anyone else who might be around!  Everyone might want to participate, or some might just want to be the audience.

Create your show by gathering all your ideas and special skills and putting them together.  You can:

• Dance
• Make a song
• Play some instruments and make up words (See our making-musical instruments post!)
• Make puppets (socks are great for this!) and do a puppet sketch
• Show off your artwork
• Show off your special skills (hula-hooping, standing on one foot, ball-bouncing, crossing your eyes, making funny faces, etc)
• Whatever showcases YOU!

If you're feeling especially creative, you can make a set, costumes, and even do special lighting (for example, make a spotlight with a desk lamp).  Put on fun clothing, make signs pointing your audience where to go, or put on songs you love to play between acts.  It can be really fun to have an announcer or MC between acts.  You can also design your own tickets to your show!

If you want to share your shows with us, video tape them and send them to us at [email protected]!  If you'd like us to share them on Facebook, just let us know in the e-mail!

Break a leg!

10 Days of Giveaways!

We’ll be anticipating the release of our new CD, "The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band" by giving away all kinds of Laurie Berkner Band items each day of the countdown, including a 6 month supply of Honest Kids' Juice Pouches!

Use this calendar to count down the days to the CD release and remember which items will be given away on each day!

 

We’re starting on June 19th (10 days before the release!) with 10 autographed postcards and working our way down to 1 awesome LBB gift basket, with the new CD and a

SIX MONTH SUPPLY OF HONEST TEA, with lots of great goodies in between (see the calendar above and the list below for more info!).

 

To participate, join our Facebook Fan Page. Everyday at 11am, we will post a contest question on our Facebook Page pertaining to the new CD and the band! Participants with correct responses will be randomly selected receive that day’s prize!

 

Starting on June 19th and counting down the 10 days to the CD release, we will give away:

 

10 autographed postcards

9 LBB tattoos

8 Shaky eggs

7 small posters

6 autographed shopping bags

5 large autographed posters

4 autographed books

3 autographed DVDs

2 autographed T-Shirts

1 month supply of Honest Kids Juices by Honest Tea

 

and

 

On June 29th, a SIX MONTH SUPPLY of Honest Kids Juice and an LBB gift basket with an autographed copy of The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band!!!

 

Rules:

1) Stop by our Facebook Fan Page at 11am every morning for the next 10 days (starting June 19th)

 

2) Answer the contest question posted by us (“Laurie Berkner Band”) by sending an e-mail with your answer with the subject “Day ___ Answer” (fill in the day of the contest) to [email protected]. We may miss e-mails with the incorrect subject – so be sure to fill it in correctly!

 

3) All questions will be about the new CD and the band.  All answers can be found by searching our website, blog, Myspace page, YouTube Page, Twitter, etc!  Questions will get harder as the prizes get better!

 

4) We will randomly pick the number of winners as pertains to the day of the countdown (10 winners on day 10, 9 on day 9, and so on) from participants with correct answers

 

5) We will announce the winners throughout the week on Facebook in addition to sending e-mails

Something Awesome is Happening Tomorrow...

We can't say much just yet, but what we CAN promise is something VERY special in anticipation of our new CD, "The Best of the Laurie Berkner Band".

To be the first to know all the great details, please sign up for our mailing list.

Tomorrow (Saturday) at 11am EST, you will receive an e-mail announcing the big news and containing further instructions.  You can also find info on our Facebook Fanpage - if you aren't already a Facebook Fan of the Laurie Berkner Band, please be sure to become one: Click Here or search Facebook for "Laurie Berkner Band"

We can't wait to tell you all about it! 

Last Day To Vote!

Today is the last day to vote for the ParentsConnect.com Parents Picks Awards 2010!

If you haven't already heard, we are honored to have been nominated for Best Kids Music CD for "Rocketship Run"! 

We urge you to visit the site and vote for Rocketship Run if you enjoy it!  Love other kids' CD's?  No problem - you can vote for as many CD's as you like.

While you're there, poke around to vote for other fun things relating to kids and parenting - from strollers to play spaces to parenting blogs.  Who knows?  You might even find some new things you never even knew about.

Simply click the logo below or visit ParentsConnect.com and follow the "Parents Picks" tab.  Tell your friends!

We're keeping our fingers crossed :)

Beach Memories

Laurie loves going to the beach with her family - whether its the ocean or a sandy spot by a lake.  They went to the ocean this past weekend and talked about some of the thingsthey each like best about being there. 

"I love to collect shells.  I don't usually do anything with them once I have them, I just love the act of looking for them, picking them up and feeling them in my hands" - Laurie

"I love jumping in the waves!" - Lucy

While we were discussing the beach and the memories it brought up, we realized that one of the great things about a beach trip is that everyone has different things that they enjoy. 

Some of our favorite beach activities:

• Digging a hole (we've spent entire trips trying to dig all the way through the planet to the other side)
• Digging a hole and climbing in
• Digging a hole and being buried (and taking lots of pictures)
• Building a castle
• Building a drip castle (ooey gooey fun)
• Building a moat
• Digging a trench from the ocean to your beach towel so the water comes more easily to you
• Having a beach picnic
• Collecting shells
• Searching for sea creatures in the sand (usually all kinds of crabs)
• Searching for sea creatures in the ocean (fish, crabs, starfish, clams, mussels, snails, etc)
• Searching for sea creatures in a tide pool
• Playing games (frisbee, volleyball, ring toss, cards, board games, etc)
• Swimming in the ocean
• Jumping waves in the ocean
• Watching seagulls
• Watching the clouds
• Going for a walk

What are your favorite beach activities?  Parents and caregivers: what was your favorite thing to do as a child at the beach?  Did it change as you got older?  What do you like to do now?