Rockstar Halloween

A couple years ago I went to a Halloween party.  The theme was rockstar.

So cliche for living in Nashville. I know.

I half expected everyone to just dress up as themselves.  Thankfully, no one was so vain.

The most amazing thing was that as I walked into the party (dressed as Keith Richards), I could tell who EVERYONE was dressed up as.

There was a Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Katie Perry, Bono, John Bonham, Amy Winehouse, Paul McCartney, Slash, and a bunch more.

Sooooooo good.

But now, as you read that list, for each person on there I bet you have a pretty good idea of how YOU could dress up as that particular rockstar.

They all have a thing.  A unique distinction in their appearance that is easy to pick out.

I’m not saying you should run out and get a face tattoo or start wearing a clown nose all the time.

But considering the ease at which you can imitate the appearance of so many successful entertainers in the music biz…it’s certainly something to think about.

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

People Forget What They Say

People forget what they say.

That’s a big reason why you need a contract.

A contract doesn’t mean you vs. them. It means “lets be clear now, and then when we forget we can come back to this contract and be clear again”.

And this clarity brings people together.

Having a document that helps you and them remember the same version of the story brings people together.

Its amazing how often two honest, upstanding, good intentioned, smart people remember the agreement completely differently 6 months down the road.  

“I thought it was $5000 total”

“No, I thought it was $5000 plus the set up and lighting fees”

Neither of these people are malicious or trying to pull one over.

They just don’t remember.  They forgot what the agreement was.

Write it down.  Put it in a contract.

If nothing else put it in an email and request a confirmation email.

Artists and the entertainment business is the worst when it comes to this stuff.

Start exercising that muscle.

Agreed?

Confirmation email requested.

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

You Are Not Lucky

We all feel like we’re imposters.  Like if everyone really knew what our life was like behind the curtain, it would all fall apart.

It’s easy to think that the good things that come our way are simply lucky breaks.  That’s what we tell ourselves.  We’re lucky.  We don’t know how the good thing happened, but we got one past the goalie despite all of our shortcomings and inferiority, a good thing happened anyway.

Conversely, it’s easy to think that the good things that come for other people…that they must have worked really hard for them and are talented and smart and have this WAY they do it, and are good looking and persistent and have a fantastic, romantic, epic story to back it all up.

“I get lucky sometimes.  THEY’RE the talented ones.”

No.  You got the opportunity because you are one of the talented ones too.  It might feel like luck, but only because you downplay your own significance in the story…and you don’t know the whole story either.

I hate hearing artist interviews where they get asked about some amazing thing that happened and they basically reply with “It just kinda happened”.

No it didn’t!

It happened because you’re willing to work, even when no ones watching.  It happened because you’ve spent years getting closer to the bullseye.  It happened because you have a way with people that is extraordinary.  It happened because you have a knack for surrounding yourself with smart, talented people.

You are not lucky.

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

The Struts

I went to their show tonight in Nashville.

You should go.

They do a million things right.

They give you plenty of moments where you need to pull your phone out, and also lots of times where you need to put your phone away, where you need both hands in order to be a part of the group.

Luke, the lead singer, believes he CAN.  He demands, expects and directs attention.  

Shying away from the attention you receive in a situation where people want you to lead them…that is not humility, that is fear.

Luke doesn’t seem to have that fear…or shyness.  

At a show people LONG to be lead.  So why do so few artists do it?

People want to believe. They actually need to believe.  Give them a reason. Give them several.

Is it about the songs? Yes.  But in a live setting its about everything else too.  All five senses.  And the sixth one too.

YOU take that last step onto the stage. YOU know the lights are going to be on you.  YOU know that everyone in the room is watching.  YOU know that everyone longs for connection.

And YOU get to decide what to do with that.

YOU are the leader.

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

It Must Be Nice

“It must be nice…”- said by someone who sees themselves as a victim

by a person who doesn’t believe they have any choice in their life

by someone who believes they have to be chosen rather than choosing themselves

by someone who thinks it’s someone else’s responsibility

by someone who is jealous and envious

by someone who is not happy for others

by someone who thinks great things just happen to some people and don’t to others

by someone who is forever looking to get off the hook, rather than put themselves on it

So yes it must, in fact, be nice.  And there’s nothing wrong with that.

I hope it’s nice for you sometimes too.

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

The Long Days

There should be some seasons in your life and career that are so insanely busy that you almost explode.  Digging in and doing the hard work for 16 hours a day shouldn’t be a normal thing, but it shouldn’t be a never thing either.

Sometimes it’s go time.

Sometimes you need to burn it hard for a few weeks or months to finish the project, or launch the project, or prepare the project, or do something amazing.

Having the opportunity to work that long and that hard is an amazing gift.  Accept it and work till it hurts…and then keep going.

Will power, stamina, persistence, passion, follow through, reliability…all these words apply.  Pick your favorite and let it encourage you.

There will come a season when you shouldn’t work 16 hours a day (and there’s a different set of difficulties that come with learning how to turn on the slow-down switch….I’ll save that for another post).

But if you haven’t had some long days, weeks and months in a while, start looking for them.

If you’re in the middle of one of these seasons, keep pressing on.  Keep doing the hard work that no one else sees but you.  It’s worth it.

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