Q: The words need to be original and must make an instant impact on the listener. Tell a story that is easy to understand and doesn't require any extra work on the part of the listener. Make it catchy and memorable. You want the listener to feel the urge to sing or hum along with you. If you are looking for a gig as a cover band, it is fine to include songs that are not your own. In most other cases, you'll need to use original material. If you play in a band and need new songs for your demo CD, consider reaching out to a professional songwriter. You can usually find one by talking to other musicians in your area. For example, the lyrics, "you glitter like diamonds," creates an instant mental image for your listener. Get a number of CDs published by the labels that interest you and listen to them closely. Pay particular attention to the genre of music and how it sounds. Many independent labels pride themselves on developing a unique "sound." If you fit within their current offerings, and maybe push the boundaries a bit, you are more likely to get interested. For example, some labels focus exclusively on jazz, pop, or even classical music. It may be that the cost of recording in a studio and hiring a professional engineer to mix your music just isn't an option. Set yourself up with a good computer and a recording program, such as Audacity. Adjust the program's settings and do a number of test runs to find out what set-up creates the best music quality. Then, burn your best song results onto a CD. Most of these programs allow you to record your voice with a microphone with the sound wave open for editing. You can also import other audio files, like instruments, and blend them together with yours. Make sure to keep a non-compressed audio version that you can give to a professional engineer if you choose to eventually work with one. Search for studios in your area by looking online or taking recommendations from fellow musicians. Meet with the studio manager and then go ahead and book your session. Save yourself time by having your music typed out in advance and arrange to work with skilled studio musicians. When you work in a studio you'll also get help from a producer, who may serve as the studio manager and engineer as well. Double-check all of the fees charged in advance so that you'll know what to expect. Studios will sometimes offer a discount if you book during off-hours, like on a weekday morning, or if you reserve a few large time blocks. Working with studio musicians is important because they will know what kinds of sounds translate the best in a recording setting. For example, a drummer will understand how to get audio with loud pedal noises. Demo listeners often have a stack of CDs on their desks. Keeping your demo CD short means that they'll be able to make it to the finish, if they like what they hear. If you send a longer CD, go ahead and include a brief statement telling the listener which ones they should focus on (it should be the first three songs). In addition, you can add in a link to a website with more songs. This gives the listener an opportunity to see what a full CD might sound like. Placing your best track first gives you the chance to catch your listener's attention right away. It will also tell your listener about what you perceive to be your own strengths. It's a good idea to include your second best song in the second position and so on. If you do an especially great live show or if you are trying to book a gig, it's a good idea to include at least one live song on your CD. Or, you could create two demo CDs: one in-studio and one live. Make sure that you can hear both an excited crowd and your music on the live songs. When your CD is finished, play it on your computer and on another sound system, such as the one in your car. There should be a good balance of sound between any singers and instruments without one drowning out the other. The music should sound crisp without any fuzziness or echoes. Trust your instincts and never send out a demo that sounds cheap.
A: Write strong lyrics. Fit what the label wants. Record yourself with a music computer program. Go to a professional studio. Include three to six songs. Open with your strongest song. Include a live recording. Check the sound quality.

Q: This will make it look more bruised (if you want that look).
A: Scribble with some black/dark brown eyeliner on your finger. Smudge it under your eyes, darker towards the bridge of your nose. Add purple or blue lightly over it.

Q: Rinse away any dirt and debris that may be left on the skin, using a scrubber if necessary to make sure it is entirely clean. Place a zucchini on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to cut it into discs that are each about 12 inch (2.55.1cm) wide. Discard the two ends of each zucchini. Because they have such high moisture content, it's a good idea to salt the zucchini rounds to draw out some of the moisture. This will keep the final dish nice and crunchy. Lay the zucchini rounds onto a plate lined with paper towels. Sprinkle them with salt. Let them sit for 10 minutes. Use a paper towel to wipe the moisture from each piece. Beat the egg and have it ready in a shallow bowl. Melt the butter and mix it with the bread crumbs into a separate bowl. Have your baking sheet ready nearby, so you can transfer the breaded rounds directly to it. Slice by slice, dip the zucchini pieces first in the beaten egg, then in the bread crumb bowl. Each side of the slices should be well coated in bread crumbs. Place the coated pieces in a single layer in the baking dish. Place the baking dish in the oven and bake the zucchini for 20 minutes, or until the breading is deep golden brown. Remove the dish from the oven. They're delicious with marinara sauce or balsamic vinegar and olive oil.
A: Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Wash the zucchini. Cut the zucchini. Salt the zucchini. Set up the breading station. Bread the zucchini. Bake the zucchini. Serve the crunchy zucchini rounds.

Q: You can easily stow away meal replacement bars in your purse or suitcase, and they make a good choice if you value convenience. Meal replacement bars tend to help you feel more fully satisfied than liquid meal replacement options. You can find meal replacement bars at grocery stores, health stores, or online. A meal replacement shake is a good option for you if you want to slowly sip a meal. They're easily consumed on the go, but are sometimes bulkier and more inconvenient than bars. Meal replacement shakes come in a variety of forms that might need freezing or refrigeration. Shakes that are stable at room temperature are the most common variety. A homemade meal replacement is a great option if you're looking to save money and know exactly what's going into your meal replacement. You can make either bars or shakes at home. Making your own meal replacement will help prevent the monotony that comes with eating the same meal every day. You can mix up the flavors of the smoothies or bars that you create. Cooking meal replacements yourself is a creative way to begin understanding what ingredients contribute to healthy eating. Try your hand at making your own shake with this easy recipe: blend together half an avocado, .5 cup (64 g) of spinach, half a banana, .5 tablespoon (15 g) of natural peanut butter, .5 cup (236 mL) of milk, and 3 ice cubes to make a delicious meal replacement shake. You can also make your own meal replacement bars. Mix 14 oz (400 g) natural protein powder, 7 oz (200 g) rolled oats, .75 cup (180 ml) low fat milk, 3 oz (100 g) natural peanut butter, 3 oz (100 g) honey, 1 oz (30 g) cocoa powder, and a sprinkling of flax seed (optional). Use your hands to mix the ingredients. Form thirteen even-sized bars. Place the bars in the refrigerator. They will keep for a week.
A:
Choose bars if convenience and feeling satisfied is important. Find a shake if you prefer sipping your calories. Make your own meal replacement.