Books Could Be Short

You’ve probably heard it before…any nonfiction book could be whittled down and written in about 3 pages.  

So why take time to write the other two or three hundred that go along with it? Because readers want to immerse themselves in it. They don’t just want the bullet points, they want the experience, they want to feel like they took time to do something worthwhile.

They get more out of it and hold on to more of it.

It works.

The author usually knows the simplicity of what he/she’s doing or pointing out or arguing for, but with more context comes greater attachment.

In music, things get turned around all too often.

Artists have the long form kinda sorta figured out…the album, the concert experience, the three hour business dinner meeting.  

If you’re a seasoned artist, you give context, experience, feeling and value in long form situations.

But is it despite yourself?

You can do the long form (maybe even pretty well), but do you know your bullet point version?

What are you all about?

What is the point?

Sum up yourself.

What is the meat and potatoes of the thing?

If you have an album, if you’ve played a couple hundred shows, if you’re sitting down for business meetings, you probably have your books-worth of material…but be sure to have a GREAT book summary page ready to go.

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

Meat RollUp

I went to Publix today to get a wrap. The Club, because it was on sale.

I waited at the counter for a while and no one was coming to help for a few minutes until an employee walked over, said she didn’t know how to do it but that she would make me a wrap.

Usually on a Club Wrap you get a couple pieces of roast beef, turkey and ham, then maybe some cheese and whatever else.

But this lady said “hmmm, I guess I’ll just do it like a pizza”.

She proceeded to put each element over the entire 12 inch tortilla.  Layers and layers of meat, and then about six large pieces of swiss cheese.  She could barely even roll it up one time over.  It was the diameter of a softball.

And it costed me three bucks.

This lady didn’t know what she was doing but her character erred on the side of generosity and going over board to make sure I was happy.

And I was very very happy.

When you get thrown into an unfamiliar situation (or even a familiar one), how do you take the lead, what is your go-to, do you give what you want, or do you give what the other person needs?

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

Jerry Seinfeld

I finally paid Jerry Seinfeld some money.

Last night I saw him perform here in Nashville. Absolutely hilarious and entertaining.  Worth every penny…I would have even paid more.

I’ve paid him for many years with my attention. Watching him on TV, the TV channel sells adds because people like me watch and then Jerry makes some money on the back end from the advertising.

Jerry started his stand up comedy career in the 80’s. He had a crazy successful TV show in the 90’s.  I started watching that TV show in the 2000’s and paid him money for his art in the 2010’s.

That’s a long commitment on his part. It took me a long time to go down the funnel.  

But he continued to be great so people like me continued to take notice.

How long are you committed to being great?

p.s.  The show was awesome. I laughed the entire time, wiped away tears two times.  He exceeded expectations and was a total pro.  All this with no production. No cool lights or fog to add vibe.  No walk on music, no intros, no tricks. Just a dude talking, speaking, story telling in a way that made me comfortable, happy and laughing all night.  Jerry knows exactly what his role is in my life.

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

Tidal

Tidal has to be better for the PEOPLE if it’s going to work.  The software has to be great (at this point in the game, it actually has to be more than a tiny bit better).  

Artists getting paid (more) would just be a byproduct of lots of people subscribing to a quality streaming service.  But artist royalty rates are horrible marketing tactic (only the artists care), especially when they’re not even being transparent with the actual royalty rates.

The reason why more people aren’t subscribing to Spotify/others isn’t because they have heart felt concerns for bands royalty rates.  It’s because streaming music, and subscribing to a service isn’t as popular as it needs to be in order to become more popular…yet.

It will happen though. I’d guess pretty soon. Maybe Spotify, maybe Apple/Beats…maybe even an updated version of Tidal…but I doubt it.

I tried the Tidal free trial.  There’s nothing special about it (it’s actually somewhat klanky) and it doesn’t offer as much music as Spotify and the others.  So why would anyone choose it?

But you should check it out for yourself. Maybe you’ll see or feel a benefit that I’m not getting.

We need to encourage people to subscribe to a streaming service because the streaming service happens to be easy, intuitive, organized, convenient and fun.  It needs to be about the CUSTOMER experience.  

Build a GREAT streaming platform and they will come.

p.s. Bob Lefsetz had a pretty spot on post yesterday about the whole deal that’s worth checking out.

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

Writers Block

No one complains about talkers block.  Therefore there’s no such thing as writers block.

You can have an unusual amount of fear and insecurity about writing in a given season, but to give yourself a pass by saying that you have writers block is just a reaction to fear.  Writers block lets you off the hook for having to do the hard part.

Don’t even give the term writers-block a seat at the table.  As soon as it tries to get through the door, kick it out. It’s not welcome.

Every day you talk. Every day you think. There’s your material.

p.s. Here’s my little secret: I didn’t feel like I had anything to say/write about today.

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

Uh-Oh Moments

There are moments.  Moments where all you can say is “uh-oh”.  Saying uh-oh usually means that the only way to move is forward, but it’s not going to be pretty.  There’s no legitimate chance of turning back and you’re about to suffer a little…you’re about to earn a badge.

There comes a point around 150 or 200 shows where I hope you can (and you should able to) avoid all of the following uh-oh moments.  But if you don’t have that many shows under your belt yet…I actually wish these upon you, in the friendliest way possible.  You need to get roughed up a little.

Here’s some uh-oh moments…

When you show up to the venue on time and literally no one else is there

When you show up to the venue, one guy goes in to check-in and comes out smiling

When another band on the bill asks to borrow your bass

When the sound guys asks if you brought microphones

When you are not insanely famous and the barricade is set up 20 feet off the front of the stage

When the lighting guy thinks it’d be a cool effect to “go dark” in the middle of a chorus

When the venue manager asks if he can pay you in deer meat (true story)

When there’s not a stage

When there is a “band house provided” in the contract

When the production manager asks where the horn section is, when there’s no horn section

When the drummer expects the bass player to have extra batteries for the metronome

When the entire front of the stage is lined with peoples’ beers (spoiler: they’re eventually getting knocked into your pedal board)

When anyone asks if they can pay you later

Send me your moments, and if I get a bunch of good ones I’ll do another post with a  compiled list.

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