NURBS weighting

i have a model in maya 4 that i am trying to weight around the shoulders.  i am smooth skinning.  it is not deforming correctly.  does anyone know of any tips or tricks to help out..... or anything that might help...

Have you chacked if the normals are ok?In some cases they are in the opposite direction so your weghting takes place from the other side.Otherwise you have to check your weighting attributes.Maybe they are not the right ones.

Thats a very common problem. First you sould ask yourself what kind of performance do you want from the character.
Remember, making All-purpose characters is not a joke.
Personally, when i create characters that will walk.stalk,swing...limited movement, i tend to model them
in the correct position..which is with arms down so the shoulder has a more natural position.

Have you tried deformations like flexors ?
There is just one tip as far as i know:
the joint influences the deformer and influences the verticies of the geometry.