Michael Jackson Pictures

Michael Jackson still makes headlines.

Something that is very interesting about his news stories is that you can tell what the tenor of the article is going to be by looking at which picture they use to go along with the headline.

Michael Jackson’s career has such a wide assortment of photos to choose from, but depending on the slant of the article, different photos from different periods get used.

If it’s a positive article, praising his melodies and performing, chances are the picture is from vibrant and from the 80’s. (or Google “Michael Jackson is good at music”, mostly flattering pics)

If the article is negative, they use one of those “just got out of the plastic surgery clinic” pictures. (or Google “Michael Jackson is weird”, mostly unflattering pics)

If the article is just a normal article/neurtral, it’s usually a mid 90’s picture (or Google “Michael Jackson”, pretty normal)  Like most of the pictures today with the related article about him wanting to play Jar Jar Binks.  Crazy.

The corresponding picture to a story helps frame the context story.  It’s easy to tell with Michael Jackson because he’s an extreme example and he has extreme pictures.

What story are you telling? What context do your pictures help frame?  Do you do anything extreme?

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

Serial vs. Undisclosed

Remember Serial?

A lot of people cared about the Serial podcast.

It caught on.

The story got the spotlight for a season.  And then went away.  Nobody’s talking about it.

Why?

It’s not because there wasn’t more story to tell.  The Undisclosed Podcast is doing an excellent job of uncovering new facts and probabilities relating to Adnan’s case.  It’s fascinating and infuriating and confusing and fast paced.

It’s also not because people believed justice was served.

So we have an unfinished story in which there’s a good chance justice wasn’t served.

Why isn’t Undisclosed (and carrying on the story) as famous as Serial?  Why aren’t more people demanding justice?

Because the predominant question Serial listeners were asking was simply “does this entertain me or not?”  And the answer was YES for tons of people, myself included!

Serial ended up being for the masses.  Serial was the hit.

Undisclosed provides the album cuts…for the hardcore who want to go from mere entertainment to meaning.  To dig deeper and ask “does the outcome of Adnan’s trial line up with my values and definition of justice?”

You need the hit to get a mass, you need the great album cuts to create attachment.  

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

Stage Comfort

Being comfortable on stage is not the be all end all.

Your audience expects you to be comfortable.

You started out having played zero shows and being super uncomfortable, and now you’ve played a bunch of shows and your comfortable on stage.

So you feel good about that.  And you should. That’s growth.

But so what if you’re comfortable on stage?

Comfortability is not the goal.

Please please don’t stop there.

The goal is impact, not comfort.

The hope is that you gain general comfortability and in turn it allows you to show more of your character, your personality, your uniqueness.  More of who you are.

More than that, the hope is that your character and who you are has grown you into a person who is confident in what they have to say, the impact they have to make.  

A person who is comfortable enough with the spotlight to actually DO something with it…beyond just being comfortable with it.

If you’re uncomfortable, grow in comfort.  If you’re comfortable, grow in impact.  If you’re making impact, we’d all like a ticket to the show.

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

Taco Tuesdays

There’s been Taco Tuesday happening for millions of years.

Why?

For the one single reason that the words sound good together. The alliteration.

Nobody questions it because why would they, tacos are tasty and Tuesday is as good of day as any to eat them, or put them on sale.

It’s gotten to the point where Taco Tuesday just is.

Taco marketers could have picked any day to make Taco day.  They chose Tuesday because it was simple and easy and sounded best.

Too often artists run away from simple and easy and sounds the best.  Too many artists would have tried to sell Taco Wednesdays.

Sometimes simple, easy and sounds the best IS the best.

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

The Door Guy

You’re a nice person. You’re whole band is actually pretty friendly. You’re road manager is even kind of not a jerk sometimes.  You’re monitor/sound guy is easy enough to get along with too.

But you know who gets to start dictating the tone and experience for your show…

The door guy.

Yep, you might have an awesome warm and friendly team, but your fans aren’t likely to interact with any of them.

But they are certain to interface with the door guy.

He’s the first (and at the end of the night, the last) line of interaction.  The first line representing YOU.

What if the door guy was nice instead of nasty or indifferent?

What if you went out of your way to make sure the door guy was comfortable, fed, well taken care of before he started ripping your fans tickets?

What if you got him a chair?

What if you invited him in…explained how vital he is for the night to be a success, invited him into the vision?

What if you tipped him?  Before and after.

If the door guy is a jerk, it’s probably not going to ruin your fans’ night.  

But if the door guy is friendly, interactive, human and maybe even smiles, it will bring the night one step closer to unforgettable for your fans.

Put effort into stacking the deck in your favor.

p.s. And by door guy I mean the door staff, the ticket takers, be it one person or a dozen or a hundred people.

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

Bob’s Artist Rules

Some of you probably subscribe to Bob Lefsetz’s blog, insights/rants/criticism/advice/opinion about the music and entertainment business.  If you don’t, you should, at least for a season to give it a shot.

Last week he wrote a worthwhile post and it makes sense for me to just copy and paste it so that you can sift through it all yourself, rather than me quoting and commenting on selected parts.  

Here:

Subject: Artist Rules

1. Inspiration trumps execution.

Write a great song, it’s more important than knowing how to play it.

2. Audience is everything.

If you don’t want to reach as many people as possible, stop now. You’re too afraid to make it, you’re not a real artist. Artists believe in themselves and want to share their work, they believe it will change the world. You can only do this by having an audience, hopefully a large one.

3. Artists never stop learning.

Once you stop testing limits, once you revert to formula, your death warrant is signed.

4. Real artists ship.

If you’re trying to get it perfect, you’re on the wrong path. Life is imperfect, your goal is to reflect it. People relate to that which has rough edges, just like them.

5. Artists are insecure.

If you think you know everything and have all the answers you’re not an artist. An artist lives for feedback, and decodes and deciphers it to see if he’s on the right track. You don’t have to abide by criticism, but to avoid it is a mistake.

6. Artists want to get paid but are willing to leave money on the table.

Your goal is to get it right, your vision down. Sometimes this means you get paid less, or not at all. But if you don’t know your worth, no one else will.

7. True artists are humble.

They realize they’re part of a great continuum, inspired by the past and grease for the future. No one is forever, never forget that.

8. Artists are jealous, but the best channel that jealousy into their work.

It’s tough to see someone get more acclaim and make more money. But rather than be sour grapes, be inspired. No one likes someone who bitches, someone who complains someone stole their opportunity.

9. Risk.

You know when you do your best work. But take chances, you never know what will resonate with listeners. You’ve been doing it so long that you’re never going to do something bad, let the audience decide what is good.

10. Don’t try to be something you’re not.

Just because country is hot, that does not mean you should cut a record with a banjo. Just because TV delivers eyeballs, that does not mean you should be a judge. Do what you do, it’s your only chance of lasting success.

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