Being on the road is a lot more boring than most people think. You know what I’m talking about.
You’ve heard everyone’s stories, you know about your bandmates weird fears, what they like to eat after the gig, their past lovers, their current predicament.
You need fresh.
If you haven’t jumped into podcast world, it’s a must. Great dialogue, which creates great conversation afterwards.
I was on vacation last week at the beach and here’s what I saw.
People taking pictures.
In a lot of the same places.
Here’s the thing: If you build something big and symmetrical, people will come and take pictures in front of, next to, on top of, inside of, or beneath it. (giant doorways, Eiffel Tower, the beach, a flag, a bridge, a castle, a staircase, a tunnel)
Nobody builds the thing and then has a sign next to it that says “come take pictures here, they’ll look cool”. People just do.
You know what else people just do: dance when there’s confetti, are impressed by high notes and low notes, clap easier at 130 BPM, feel special when you look them in the eyes, want to trust a lead singer, want to smooch the guitar player, remember a stage dive, remember a failed stage dive….the list goes on…
You barely even have to point people to these things, you just have to create them and the people will do the rest.
It’s no mistake that most of the pictures I saw getting taken last week were taken where they were. The beach gods knew it would happen.
It should be no mistake what most people talk about when they leave your show.
I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com
Now that this blog has been rolling along steadily for a while, I’d like to take a day and ask your thoughts on a few things.
Basically, I’d love to know what you like and what you don’t like about the blog, but to actually get your brain going a bit more I’ve come up with some questions that you’re welcome to answer. All of them, none of them, some of them…I’m just really interested in how I may be able tailor some things toward what you’re looking for.
What specific facets of the music business (the entertainment business) are you currently facing?
What’s the most important thing you’ve learned about the industry in the last year?
Why do you like receiving/reading a daily blog?
What does your band/team need more of? What does it need less of?
Would you be interested in connecting with other like minded people to discuss topics that have been covered in the blog?
If you’re reading this on the website and not in an email, why haven’t you signed up yet? (reply at gabethebassplayer@gmail.com)
Thank you for being the kind of person who wants to dig deeper than sex drugs and rock & roll. I appreciate your willingness to talk about (and think about) meaningful insights about your life in the entertainment business.
I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com
There’s zero advertising and no reminders or triggers to remember it.
But if you’ve experienced it before, and you know to ask about this Tuna Dip at a place that used to be called Cocoon’s, you know that you’ll be sure to buy some every time you’re on the beach on 30A in Florida.
The Tuna Dip hooked me the first time I tried it. And now I never forget to buy more of it when I’m at the beach.
Do you have a hook like Tuna Dip? A song? A live show? A thing?
Something where the quality and the feeling are it’s own marketing, advertising and satisfaction?
I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com
Two things on her interview in RollingStone about canceling her first arena tour.
1. “I just feel I deserve a break”
Ha! After humans do a lot of work we feel we deserve a break. It’s the same reason Nick Saban says Alabama will (at times) lose to an inferior team the week after winning a nail biter against LSU.
We think since we worked hard, now we get to punch the easy button a bunch of times.
When you put in the long hours on a project and bring it to completion, the true reward is the opportunity to do the next realm of work.
You’re welcome to TAKE a break (and maybe you need to), but you don’t DESERVE a break just because you worked hard for a couple years.
And I’m taking this quotation a little bit out of context, cause after saying she deserves a break, Iggy says she’s going to be working on new material and new visuals. I hope she does. I think she will.
2. “Even though a lot of people just discovered it…I want to be able to perform new stuff and do new things”
It’s great she said this. It’s something that a lot of artists feel but the public is usually pretty blind to it. Most “new” artists have been pedaling the same tunes for years before they break through (i.e. The Beatles).
Being a new artist is hard, and you play those same 5 or 10 songs literally a thousand times. You want new, but fans want what’s new to them.
Overcoming this struggle has everything to do with your connection to the songs as the performer. And why you’re doing this to begin with. Is it real, in your heart? Or is it a tiny bit fake? Do you phone it in? Are you a singer, or are you a lead singer?
—
I don’t care if Iggy Azalea takes a break because she feels she deserves it. And I don’t care if she doesn’t want to gig her first album anymore.
But you…I hope you don’t take a break. Not right now.
And I hope you know why you should keep playing your gigs.
I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com
