Starbucks Makes You Stand Up

I don’t mind paying a little extra for an above average cup of coffee.  I probably wouldn’t have said that 2 or 3 years ago, but things have changed and I can now taste the difference.  Regular Starbucks coffee is not above average, it’s average.  

There’s nothing wrong with that.  Especially being on the road, I value Starbucks’ reliability to deliver me an average cup of coffee.

While I was waiting in line today, ready to order my regular coffee, other people’s orders were being called out on the other side of the bar, loudly, for the entire world to hear.  As usual.  Great big long drinks, something like, “venti dairy free iced mocha latte with an extra shot for Derek!”.

Derek, not really expecting the announcement and fanfare, slowly steps forward to own up to his drink and get back to the construction site.  At least that’s what his attire hinted at.

Starbucks just happens to be one of those places where they force you to own up to your nutritional religion in front of everyone.  

And let’s face it, when we hear the drink title shouted from the rooftops, it’s kinda interesting to see who claims it.  What kind of person corresponds to THAT drink?  How shall I choose to judge them?

Oh, HE’S getting a skinny? Does SHE really need sugar free? Should children even be having coffee?  Who are these parents?

If you really pay attention you can see everyone else judging too.

Man, it’s a zoo out there.  And I guess I just have appreciation for a place where you’re publicly forced be FOR something rather that against.

Derek, it’s all good man.

Shopping For Cell Service

Today I shopped for new cell service. AT&T vs. Verizon. I really didn’t care who won.  

Fellow friends and musicians have used both carriers and coverage seems to be comparable enough to not try and make my decision based on which random highway in Oklahoma has faster 4G. I just needed a reason to choose one or the other.

In Nashville, in an area right by the Blue Bird Cafe, the AT&T and Verizon stores are literally a block away form each other. So I parked in between, walked into both stores and simply asked a salesperson to sell me on their company.

AT&T salesperson: did not introduce himself or ask my name, eye contact was rare, could not do simple math, made my options sound confusing and walked away without saying anything after giving me the fine-print info sheet to figure out for myself.

Now, I’m a smart dude and had already figured out in my head which plan would best suit me, but that wasn’t the point. I didn’t want to buy from this guy because he wasn’t interested in selling to me and treating me like a human.

It was humorous how he didn’t care about the customer, and also his associates near by who weren’t helping other customers but refused to come save my situation. I don’t think AT&T is a bad company, just surprised by the lack of professionalism, especially for a potential new customer.  My guy should probably be fired or get a lot more sales training so he doesn’t do this to more people.

Verizon salesperson: good eye contact, remembered my name throughout the entire process, could do the quick math to tell me what was the best deal for my situation, walked me to the door, opened it for me and shook my hand. Easy.

Obviously I went with Verizon, not based on cell coverage, price, data plans or contract terms, but because the salesperson treated me with respect and value.

Isn’t it ironic that while going to buy a device/service that constantly takes me away from practicing real human interaction, the only real selling point today was the human interaction, not the device/service.

Are You Taking It Too Seriously?

Somehow the idea of “I’m just not taking it too seriously” caught on and spread like wildfire. It’s a staple in our conversations.

It’s viewed as this achievement, like I need to run after it as a goal, everyday.

But “not taking it too seriously” is usually just used a back door to not be held accountable for the purpose or outcome of whatever you’re doing.

If I tell you that I don’t take playing the bass too seriously, I instantly avoid your criticism and judgement.  Because who cares.  I don’t care, so it’s whatever.  Congrats on criticizing bass notes that are just off the cuff nonsense.  I don’t stand behind it, so you’re welcome to push it over.

It’s so stylish to be laid back.

It’s much more vulnerable (and few people equate vulnerability to stylish) to tell you that I do take playing the bass seriously.  It means I have to stand up for it in the face of judgement. I have to be willing to say I put my best foot forward, tried as hard as I could, slaved over it and that it still might not be good enough for some people.

Admitting to yourself and others that you are taking something seriously means you’re about to find out if you have what it takes.

The watchful eyes are coming, subtle or not so subtle condescension and people will definitely be talking about you behind your back.

You can wander into failure and even mediocrity, but success requires clenched teeth and a piercing eye.

Do You Want To Be Famous At SXSW?

So you want to be everyones hero at SXSW?  You want to be known by everyone and be praised from Red River St. to Whole Foods.?

Answer: Quit your band and build a cell phone tower on 6th. 

You could even put your name on it.  You’d not only have free food and drink for the week, but probably free food and drink and admittance to any band’s show in the world.

But better yet…write a great song.  Did you hear any last week at SXSW?

SXSW is an exercise in management of expectations.  A physical, emotional, spiritual battlefield where no one really wins. Some just do better than others.

This year, the vibe that I got from many people I spoke with was that there wasn’t the glue, or the center piece, like in years past.  No really rally point or center of interest.

It could have been the iTunes fest, but they did a bad job.  It was way off the beaten path and there was no chance of getting into it.

Want to throw a great party? Make everyone THINK they have a chance at attending.  That’s what makes everyone talk.

iTunes should have done their thing at Stubbs, or just set up a stage down on 2nd Ave and let everyone in.  Now that would have been the glue every night.

SXSW is a great place to begin business, to be a hustler, to harness your charm and whit and pass it out in the form of a business card after three minutes face to face.

Now we’re all home.  No more free bbq.  No more free Lone Star beer.  No celebrity sightings.  No pats on the back.

Now what are we going to do?

When More People Write Songs

When more people make cars, cars get better.

When more people try to cure a disease, it gets cured faster.

When more people trade stocks, its beneficial for all.

When more people innovate, we get iPhones.

When more people write songs…

It just hasn’t gotten exponentially better since more people started doing it. Seems like it was better when fewer creative minds were writing songs.  Why do we still worship at the feet of the 60’s and 70’s?

The influx of people trying to make great music has most definitely created more music, just not great.  So much mediocre music.  So much decent music.  So much ok music.  So much awful music.

Yes, I can be amazingly critical of music I hear, whether its a giant artist or someone making their first demo.

I have an opinion.  Just ask.

But underneath my harshly accurate and self righteous judgement is really a burning desire to not critique at all, but to forget about myself all together.  The desire to find another song that will TAKE ME THERE. 

And I think we all know where that place is.

The popularity of music has made making music popular.  But it hasn’t inherently made it better.

If you’re going to continue releasing music and pedaling it, make it better.  If you can’t do that, stop. 

I’m cheering for you either way.

When You're 30

When you’re 30, like I turned today, you’re officially old enough to look at other eras of your life and talk about yourself in the third person.  

I’m not a raging moron who did those self indulgent stupid things.  That guy who looked, acted, walked and talked like me did.  He’s the fool.  Not me.

Ahhhh, freedom. Kind of.

You get to dissasociate a little bit with the moments you’re not so proud of.  The moments your parents still haven’t been told about.  I think 40 seems like a good age to really air out that laundry…..maybe.

When you’re 30 there’s more truth to old cliches.

More appreciation for Brad Pitt not dying his gray hair.

More love for the friends who haven’t left.

More money for things you’re now aware are more meaningless than before.

More meaningless things that are actually really fun.

More stretching after sports.

More regret for not staying in piano lessons.

More time on the phone regarding things that are not enjoyable.

More taxes.

More desire for less taxes.

More awareness that the only way to get through this thing is with the help and interdependence of others.  If I could go it alone, I would have already chosen that at this point.  

When you’re 30 you ping pong from still being a fool to having flashes of actually being smart.  But at least the flashes happen at this point.