We’re fully energized after taste-testing some Guru 100% Natural Organic Energy Drink a few minutes ago. This could be because:

1. We were stoked to not sit at our desks for 5 minutes
2. We hopped up on carbs from lunch
3. This stuff actually works!

We tried 3 flavors today, and the Green Tea Honey-Lemon is the clear favorite in the taste category. It takes like sweet green tea – straight up – no energy drink after taste or weird Lipton canned iced tea after taste.

The Superfruit flavor was good, and tasted just like fruit punch, and was a welcome change from carbonated energy drinks. The final one was closest to Red Bull, but slightly fruitier, being their basic Guru 100% Natural Energy Drink.

We also like that the ingredients are organic, and the energy comes from guarana seed extract, ginseng and other plant-based sources. I’m not a huge fan of ingesting pesticides, so maybe that peace of mind is giving me an energy boost? Who knows.

However, I do know there is something in it that works, as demonstrated in the picture

…and don’t you forget it.

This past Saturday our annual summer party, HOODSTOCK rematched Pirate! Promotion’s summer party, FLAG DAY. It was a fight to the finish (of the beer) on the battleground of Fontana’s. Who won? We have no idea. We were too busy having fun.

More pictures can be seen after the jump. (more…)

The first month (4 official weeks) is just about over. That’s 1/6 of the season. It’s still early, yes, but it’s starting to get a little competitive around here. Just a little. The gap tightened this week on the big board, check it out: (more…)

There are a few symbols and abbreviations in the Yahoo! Fantasy Spots league every manager should know. For example, a ‘x’ symbol next to a player right before game time is a helpful heads-up and means that player is not in the starting lineup. If caught in time, a manger could replace the player with someone on their bench so they don’t lose out on potential points for the day.

An abbreviation every manager knows but FEARS is ‘INF’. This is short for ‘infinite’ and it relates to a pitcher’s ERA and WHIP after they get SHELLACKED. Some of us in the office use INF as a figure of speech now. Unfortunately, a couple of us saw the INF this weekend on our fantasy leagues (ex. Dan with Eric Gagne and Elles with Joba Chamberlin yesterday afternoon). Here’s the recap on Week 3: (more…)

Week 2 has come and gone with a lot of shuffling on our leader board. Its very early (12-13 games played for most teams) and one big hit can leapfrog any manager over the next. There are so many stud hitters and home run heroes who are not “hitting” at all so don’t expect these standings to stand still for very long. Most pitchers have shown good stuff with some slow start exceptions. And then theres the countless injuries! Over 120 MLB players are on the DL. Wow!

Excuses aside, everything will balance out and the season is a marathon, not a sprint. But since the stakes here are bragging rights, those on top are taking advantage over anyone’s idealistic view points for now. Fair enough. Here’s where we stand: (more…)

During SXSW a few weeks back, I was asked by our friend Samantha at BMI Publishing to be a panelist for one of their upcoming Industry Insider Series events. The panel was very professional, well organized and a really cool experience from other panels I’ve been on in the past.

Between 100-125 people jammed into 2 studio spaces last night to hear how we help and support artists at our respective companies. Independent artists, managers, record labels and bloggers accounted for the bulk of the audience. We fielded a variety of great questions and listened to details of different marketing and PR challenges many people are currently facing. (more…)

New England Metal and Hardcore Festival, Crimson Management and The Syndicate are proud to announce the first-ever Metal Summit on April 25. The Metal Summit is an interactive and educational conference where fans and the metal music industry can engage, share ideas and help further the scene. The Metal Summit will give labels, managers, agents, endorsers, publishers, media promoters, bands and more the chance to interact with the people who buy albums, tickets and merchandise. This is also an opportunity for fans to ask key members in the industry how they got started and gain advice on starting their own careers. After all, everyone in the music industry started out as a fan.

The Metal Summit is brought to you by The Syndicate’s “The Believers In the Power of Metal” (BITPOM) network. BITPOM is the world’s first interactive forum for fans, bands and the metal music industry to interact. Through the BITPOM Network, fans can have their say. It’s free to join and anyone who is a “Believer in the Power of Metal” can sign up, create their own profile and participate in all discussions. Admission to the Metal Summit is free with sign-up to the BITPOM network. (more…)

The race is on with The Syndicate’s 2nd Annual Fantasy Baseball League! Bragging rights are at stake - WINNER TAKE ALL. Here are the players this year along with team names in our standard Yahoo! mixed league:

• Chris Elles = Beerfest Is On
• Casey Landman = UO Phillies
• Jon Landman = Mr. Wraps
• Pete Landt = Kirby’s Got Game
• Marc Meltzer = Malibu Dinerz
• Dan Rodriguez = Cup Joint
• Rich Schaefer = Meat God Steals Home
• Pat Shillenn = Ste-phan UrKel
• Tim Tatulli = Bacon Bitz

Week 1 Update:
Week 1 feels like it took FOREVER. Exhibition games in Japan, weather related cancellations and a choppy schedule earlier in the week brought on a stutter effect for fantasy baseball managers across the nation. Many sluggers are getting off to a cold start while some practically unknown stop gap players are putting up really impressive numbers in hopes to keep their job. And yes, injuries o’ plenty already. Naturally this early in the season, the standings are changing rapidly with only 6-7 games played for most teams.

Here’s how we rank as of Monday April 7: (more…)

Recently, the office was blessed with a sampling Function drinks, which claim to help us relax, enhance our mood, improve our memory and fight hangovers using the power of all-natural ingredients.

I have to say – so far so good! (more…)