How Do You Get An Artist To Complain?

I was reminded of an excellent joke this past weekend.  It’s funny because it’s all too true.

How do you get an artist to complain?

Give them a gig.

The sound isn’t perfect.

The green room has been previously used.  

The food is not as good as your mom’s cooking.  

The crowd isn’t pumping their fists hard enough or weeping heavily enough.  

The set time structure is awful.

The smells.

The opener sucked.

The headliner sucked.

You sucked.

The drive is too long.

The set was too short.

The hotel didn’t reserve the rooms correctly.

The money isn’t good enough.

Pick and choose your complaints carefully.  Nobody held a gun to your head to take the gig.  You chose the gig.

So how do you get an artist to stop complaining?

Duct tape.

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

Having The Right Badge

Having the right credential or wristband or lanyard makes you feel powerful.

You can.

You’re allowed.

You have the pass.

You belong.

Not having the correct badge makes you feel less-than

You’re very aware of where you’re not accepted.

You’re afraid of getting caught.

You don’t belong.

If only I had the pass.

But what if you always had the pass?  The pass to be in the room you’re in.  If there was a lanyard with a laminated name tag and security clearance that allowed you to go to the grocery store, or the gas station, or your kitchen, would that make it feel more purposeful? And make you feel more powerful?

When I set foot in a room that I have the badge for, I’m in the club. I FEEL in the club.  I’m confident.  I speak better.  I’m more interested in others (maybe because they have the badge too).

WHY DO I NEED A BADGE FOR THAT?

We spend all our lives wishing we had the right badge, when really all we want is to be a part. To feel a part.

The goal isn’t the badge. Life is the goal.

Life is where you go. Not on the next coolest guest list or green room hang.

An open bar in the VIP area is great.  But there’s a person right next to you in the general admission section with a great story too.  But most people would rather have the VIP badge just because.

You have the right badge to be exactly where you are.  Wherever you end up.  Right now, tomorrow and the next day.  

So feel the power and permission to be connected with the world around you.

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

You Should Have Done That Earlier

“You should have done that earlier”

Although probably true, it’s a shame ridden statement that does no good in the moment. No one learns or leads by saying that in the heat of the situation.

Most likely the person knows they should have done it earlier.  They know it was dumb not to.  Because what’s the most common response?….”I KNOW!”

“You should have done that earlier” can be replaced with “Let’s figure out what to do now”.

Later on, in a calmer, clearer moment, and if it’s needed at all, you can explain why doing it earlier is beneficial and remind them it’s probably a good idea too.

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

Who’s Really Working?

Everyone wants just enough going on so that they have something to talk about, but not so much going on that they don’t have time to tell everyone what they have going on.

Who’s really working? The people you haven’t heard from in a while.

Even Roger Federer when he won the semi-final at the US Open last week said it was fun to play in front of a crowd because he spends most of his time training alone with no one watching or paying attention.  

The thankless, unseen, uninteresting work. That’s the real work.

If someone is bragging they’re usually losing.

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

Early And Late

It never feels like it makes sense to do things early until you’re running out of time.

You could have done it early, but you had so much time…so it could wait.

For a lot of things, there’s no moment where you’re doing it on time.  It either feels too early or too late.

Why was it late? Why were you late? Because you were busy.

Doing what?  Waiting till the last minute.

Why? Because being early feels weird.

Get it done. Now.

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

So You’re Still Working On Your Record?

A lot of times I hear an album and think, wow, they had way too much time on their hands.

Time is a luxury and also a trap.

It’s true, God is in the details, so don’t skip digging into those. But you’re not God, so as much as you think you can make the perfect song and album, you can’t.

As the self indulgent, bravado induced Noel Gallagher said “True perfection has to be imperfect.”

Stop spending days weeks and months making your songs “INTERESTING”, and spend a little time making GREAT songs.

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