Good Players

It’s not necessarily always fun to listen to good players play music.  Depends on the tunes and the vibe.

But it’s always fun to play with good players.  Doesn’t matter the tunes or the vibe.

If everyone’s slammin, it’s fun.

It doesn’t get old.  Feeling the groove, hitting punches, melodies, harmonies, everyone’s ghost notes falling in the perfect places.

You can go for hours.

It’s always worth it to have great players. And to pay for having great players.  It makes life better.  It makes the music better.

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

I Have To Check My Email

Email is a small, solvable problem.  

We receive an email from someone asking us something, wanting something, needing a response, needing our attention.  Who me?  Someone NEEDS me??

Instantly the most important thing in the world becomes emailing them back so we can complete the circle, responding to the need presented to us.

And there’s nothing inherently wrong with that.

It feels good.  I did something.  They needed me to respond and I responded.

But emailing (or tweeting, or facebooking) is often times just a socially acceptable way to procrastinate.

Because you should be doing something else, not checking your email.  Email is small.

You should have bigger problems you’re working on.  

You shouldn’t have time to turn around every time someone taps you on your digital shoulder.  At least not immediately.

Again, email is a small, solvable problem. So you should, in fact, solve it.  And you get a gold star (in your brain) when you solve that problem.

But don’t mistake a bunch of gold stars for the gold crown that comes with solving the big problems, doing the hard work, doing the long work.

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

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

I do.

You do.

Everyone does.

That’s why the TV show with Regis Philbin worked.  So many people watched because we all share that desire so we could all sit on the couch and wish it were us up there.

It was a fun show, tons of excitement.  We cheered for the person on TV and wanted them to win because we wanted to win.

If they want to be a millionaire, and I want to be a millionaire…and then because of that they came to be a millionaire, then I think I can too.

But what if the show was changed up.

What if instead it was called “Why Do You Want To Be A Millionaire”

How different would that show be?  Really different.  It would probably be pretty boring.  Lot’s of people just saying “…ummm….hmmmm….it would be fun?”

We don’t all share in a similar answer for that question, if we have an answer at all.

There probably won’t ever be a TV show called Why Do You Want To Be A Millionaire, but it’s still the far more important and valuable question.

And go ahead and relplace Millionaire with Rockstar.

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

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