These days my primary work is as a voice map practitioner. Voice mapping uses the frequencies of the human voice in biofeedback process that helps people to heal from historic stress and trauma. For more info, visit my website, mattkramer.com.

Beginning in 1969, I spent over 25 years in the music industry as a concert producer and personal manager. I also worked as a photographer (the back cover of Tom Waits' "Nighthawks at the Diner" is a photo I took of Tom in concert).

I learned about mediation in 1992 when a client mentioned she was using a mediator to settle the issues in her divorce. I asked, 'Why a mediator instead of an attorney?'; she replied, 'Mediation is faster and cheaper, and I can stay friends with my husband.'

Soon after I used the same mediator for my own relationship issues. Not only was the mediation very successful, the experience motivated me to sign up for training. Within a year, I changed careers and became a professional mediator. During my training, I recognized that some of the resolution techniques used in mediation were very similar to methods I used to foster a collaborative environment in my music productions.

Later, reviewing my first year as a divorce mediator, I recognized a consistent pattern in the nature of the information that couples did not know about each other, information which, if understood early enough, could have saved the marriage. I began to formulate the idea that if everyone learned a few of the basic communication tools and conflict management techniques used in mediation, our entire society could improve in many ways. ”Conversations Before a Marriage” is my first book designed to deliver these tools into the hands of anyone who is interested in moving their relationship(s) to a deeper level.

I recently completed my second book, 'And The Band Broke Up', (coauthored with fellow mediator and former VP of Capitol Records, Stu Yahm) a conflict management handbook for musicians and others working in the music industry. I am working on a third book to demystify and heal the process by which many positions of power and control in the business and government are held by the worst possible people. In the process I am developing a theory I call Predatory Leadership and if you have an insight and expertise in this arena, I welcome your collaboration.

I recently moved to Austin, TX; along with voice mapping, I still work as a photographer and I provide service as a family and business mediator, mediation and conflict management lecturer and trainer, and as a consultant for pre-marital and marital conflict resolution. While no longer in the business side of music, I occasionally produce a house concert for touring acoustic musicians; much easier and more fun than running nightclubs and producing large concerts.