Creating Development

Releasing music (or an idea) makes you take ownership of it. You have to answer for it.

It’s a benchmark.

Because it’s a benchmark, something you finished and released, you’ll remember it and will be a place to develop from.

Released music is unforgettable to the maker of it.

The music you’ve released is the most visible sign (to yourself and possibly others) of creative development.

If you want to develop creatively, write more music, and RELEASE more music.

This used to be impossible.  It used to take tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars to put your music on the line.

Now it’s cheap. You could do it before you eat dinner if you wanted to.  Big act, small act, doesn’t matter anymore.

Writing music is hard and scary. Releasing music is easy and scary.  At least there’s an easy part.

New music for the world to hear is still the most exciting thing about you.  It’s your best calling card.  

It’s the best way to get doors that were once stuck, to start swinging.

Your new release schedule: more often.

I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

Trading Basketball Teams

I love the NCAA basketball tournament. Probably the most continuous stretch of time I spend on the couch all year.

More than ever this year, all the teams are really really good. All the players are giant and look much older than me. Some of them are really good at 3-pointers, some can jump really high, some can run fast, some steal the ball a lot.

So…

If, at the beginning of each game, the home team swapped a couple players with the visiting team, there really wouldn’t be much of a disruption talent-wise. Most players are pretty close.

What would change is the communication, trust, chemistry, history, belief, coaching.  There would be a strange disruption.  The new players would be very similar to the other players in all the visible ways…but be completely different in all the invisible ways.

Teams are great when they trust each other and know how to play really well TOGETHER.

Maybe you think trading your booking agent for another one is your solution. Maybe you think recruiting the right manager is the ticket.  Maybe your trying to charm your way into the right PR firm.

Or maybe you already have all the talent you need right in front of you. On your own team.  But the team has no clue how to play together.  

Adding talent doesn’t help trust. Adding trust grows talent.

I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

Why You Show Up

When you show up, you’re there to give.

When you show up to the show, you’re not there for the fans….not yet.

You’re there for the roadie who meets you out back.

Then you’re there for the sound guy, then the monitor guy.

Then the guy getting more beer for the green room.

Then the door guy or the people taking tickets.

The crew, the waitress, the merch helpers, the security guards.

You’re there for the runners, the opening bands, their girlfriends.

Your band and your road manager and your tech. You’re there to give to them too.

And then the fans.

Most artists, at best, think they’re there to give to the fans.  Do not overlook the others.

Every interaction is an opportunity to give gifts. To spend emotional energy on the world you’re living in that day.

The greats don’t wait to get on stage to make an impact.

I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

The StartUp Podcast

If you’ve ever thought about turning something you enjoy into something you get paid to do for a living (i.e. artists and most people in the entertainment business), you need to download and listen to every episode of the StartUp podcast.

It’s a podcast about a guy from This American Life starting a podcast company. 

He’s incredibly transparent about his fears and insecurities, the way it’s effecting his marriage, the way the money works in the business.

But one of the most important aspects that they don’t really mention directly in the podcast is that….he didn’t wait. He started.

And that really ends up being paramount to the whole thing succeeding, was that he just started DOING it, while a majority of the questions were unanswered. The hard parts and the easier parts.

You are the key. You are the talent, the lightning rod.  And if you operate out of this place, you will also become a magnet. 

I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

Keys Are Important

You have a place where you set your keys so you don’t forget the keys. Because keys are important. Those little pieces of metal (or plastic with a computer chip inside) give you access and allow us to participate in the world around us.

Keys are important because they give freedom. And because that message is so ingrained in our brains, and we believe it so deeply, we set up mechanisms to make sure that freedom is never lost.  

Why is your music important? 

Why is your band, team, organization important?

Do you even believe it is, in fact, important?

I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

Artist Development

A lot of people say that artist development is gone. A thing of the past.

It’s not.

It used to be development was something the label did for you, or did to you. It was their responsibility.

Now it’s the artists responsibility to develop a knack for growth and also learn to surround themselves with people who help them grow.

Artist development is alive and well for those who desire it.  If you’re having trouble finding how to get it started, pay someone you trust $50 and tell them to give you an honest opinion of your landscape. Start there. Build from there.

You can release music whenever you want to. From your bedroom.

You can talk to you fans whenever you want to. From your bedroom.

You can make a video whenever you want to. For next to nothing.

It used to be that artists complained because they needed the labels to make the above things happen in order for them to develop.

Now artists can.

Now the gym is open 24/7. And you’ve got a membership.