The Fireman On Call

When I was a kid I knew a guy who was a fireman.  So most times when he was around, he’d have his little radio with him and it would chirp or a message would come through every once and a while and he’d have to go check it and maybe even have to take off to go save some one.

He knew exactly what he was on call for.

Now we all have radios with us but have no idea what we’re on call for.  So we decide we’re on call for anything and everything.  Any beep, chirp, vibration, push note, we scramble for a distraction from the present.  Why?

Seinfeld says that most tv shows 95% of the time is spent on politics and runaround and 5% on writing.  But Seinfeld was 95% writing and 5% other stuff.  If someone needed an interview, too bad, he was writing.  If the producer had a question about the script, too bad, writing.

Everything else could wait, except the writing.  That had to be done.  That’s what he was on call for.  He wasn’t on call for the other things even though most usually allow themselves to be.

What are you on call for?

What are you not on call for?

Don’t miss a post. Sign up for free.

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

That Moment In Food TV

On food shows, it’s usually a host traveling around trying different food.

But after we’ve watched the back story on where the food came from, the back story on the master chef, watched the master chef measure out the ingredients, prepare the food, cook the food, put the food on display and bring it out to the host.

This is the moment.

When the host tries the food.

They try it…and….wait for it….”Woah that is amazing!”

Really? All this build up for “Woah that is amazing”?

The reaction of the host is always a let down when they actually eat the food.

The truth is, there is no reaction big enough or sincere enough to make that moment good TV.  What is the host suppose to do?  “Wow, that was SOOO good, no no, that was INSANELY good, no no, I really really LOVE that food!!!”

Why is this? Because the joy that food brings is internal.  Very hard to express through words in a unique way.

Same thing in music.

The only reaction I’ve ever deemed “enough” for when I show someone a song I love or play one of my own is absolute, boo-hoo weeping.  Non stop crying because they love it so much and can’t even handle it.

Anything less than that and I don’t believe they really understand.

(btw, that reaction has never happened)

The joy that comes from music is meant for the inside.  It speaks to the parts of us that can’t be put into words.  It hits us in places that can’t be ID’d.

So next time you play someone your song or make them a meal, it’s not about what they say afterwards but how they FEEL inside.  

Don’t miss a post. Sign up for free.

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

Moving Forward

About a week ago I emailed out some questions and it’s been fantastic reading the responses.

If you haven’t emailed a response to that post, I’d still love to hear from you.

One of the more popular sentiments expressed from your responses is a need and desire to know how to do certain things:

-negotiate contracts
-get more people to shows
-hire a manager
-open for bigger acts
-the list goes on…

So from time to time, I’m going to try and toss a few ideas out there for HOW to do some things.  

BUT just know, the more specific I get with the HOW, the less it will likely pertain to you… so you might just need to use what I say as the beginning of a brainstorm for HOW you actually need to do things.

The other underlying idea from you all was to push for more connection.  With people in the industry, with readers of this blog, with people on your team, etc.

So I want to encourage that in two different ways off the bat. The first is, ask/tell the people around you to sign up for this blog.  That way it’ll be easier to talk (out loud) about the various blog topics with the those around you. To connect better to the world you live in.

The other way is to connect and comment with me and others on each post through Facebook (send me a friend request and then you can comment) and Twitter.  The links to those two will now sit at the bottom of each email I send you.  Emailing me is always great too.

Thanks for reading and for sharing.

Don’t miss a post. Sign up for free.

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

Your Music Is Not For Everyone

When artists go to market their next thing, be it a record, show, a vote-for-us thing, the message is usually pretty clear.  That is, the artist says “I need you…”.

But with how easy faux marketing has become on the internet, “I need you” has turned into meaning “We want anyone”.

Your music is not for everyone.  It is definitely for some.

Do and say things that are so specifically relevant for the people you NEED, that it further turns off the ANYONE.

p.s. Quick further reading

Don’t miss a post. Sign up for free.

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

Oh The Places You’ll Go

I’m stunned at the array of places the music business has taken me.

The life you have in the this business is going to take you some interesting places.  A handful of times per year you will find yourself playing a gig in an awful place.  Dingy, depressing, in the sticks, terrible system, terrible people, no people, lots of people/no security.  

We all have our war stories.

And then a handful of times per year you wind up in amazing places you could have never guessed playing music would bring you to.

Places that are off limits or at least out of the realm of possibility for anyone in any other profession other than music.  Beautiful cities and buildings.  The country side and a wide expanse of nothingness in all it’s natural glory.

The music business is a wild place.  Cherish the good nights.

Don’t miss a post. Sign up for free.

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

CMA Week // The Railers

It’s CMA week here in Nashville.  The awards were last night, I didn’t go.  But I did go to an after party.

It was wild downtown.  I swear, countless middle-aged men had spiky hair with frosted tips DYING to be mistaken for Gary LeVox…the Rascal Flatts guy.

At these after parties, whatever record label is hosting the party, a few of their acts will play a handful of songs, and the crowd is a mix of industry people and tourists who wait in line forever to get in.

The band I went to see, The Railers, were first.  They’re a new country band with lots talent from lots of years of experience.  You do the math.

Everything was really great, but there was a subtle little thing they did that only pros would think about (or not think about it at all, but just do it instinctively).

Jordan sings bgv’s and plays a bunch of instruments all throughout the show.  He’s lined up right on the front of the stage equal with the lead singer and bgv/percussionist.  So right in the stage lights where everyone can see him.

But part way through their third song he disappeared from the front of the stage and went and hung out in the darkness with the drummer and bass player.  

At first I just thought, oh right on, he’s just takin a stroll for a bit.

But as the bridge of the song approached, it made sense why we walked toward the back of the stage for a minute.

So he could walk forward.

When it was time for him to solo.

So that when it came time, he could re-insert himself into the front of the stage and make his grand entrance back into the bright lights as he started his solo.  It worked.  The people cheered.

Would they have cheered otherwise? Maybe. It doesn’t matter.

—

In a live show, creating a temporary void, an empty space, taking something away, removing a constant, can be really powerful and a great way to call more attention to it when reasserted.

Don’t miss a post. Sign up for free.

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