They Just Don’t Get It

Maybe they would if you put in a little more effort.  Maybe they will if you reach your hand out and guide them.  Maybe they’ll get it if you look them in the eye.

Or maybe the won’t get it.  Maybe they’ll never get it.  

Maybe you’ve discovered a demographic, or a person, or a group that you’ll have to be ok with not getting it…and, in turn, make sure you never waste any more energy trying to get that group to get it.  

If you find yourself saying “they just don’t get it”, that’s not the point to sit down and stick out your pouty lip…it’s the pivot point into what your next mindset and action steps are.

Who else should take a second and read this?

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

Making And Changing The Plan

Sometimes you have to be skilled in making and sticking to carrying out the plan, and sometimes you need to be good at changing the plan and recommitting to the new plan just as fiercely. 

Knowing which skill to call on and when…that comes with developing your instincts, maturing, paying attention, surviving some cuts and bruises and headlocks, being quiet enough to hear your gut, being ok that people might laugh at you.

I’ve seen amazing displays of courage and wisdom by people both willing to stick to the plan, and change the plan.

And in the end, it’s the courage and wisdom that penetrate deeper than any plan.

p.s.  Notice the second skill isn’t simply “changing the plan”…its coupled with “recommitting to the new plan just as fiercely”.  It’s not enough to change the plan if you’re not going to be amped up about the new one.  What’s a better plan worth if you’re going to be Eeyore about it?

If you find yourself being Eeyore with the new plan, lean into and feed off of someone else’s energy on the team.  Chances are the change was originally their idea…you’re unhappy with but they’re excited about it. The decision is done. You can stick out your bottom lip and mope around (band guys are so good at this), or you can follow the energy.  I suggest the latter.



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

Artists Like Trump

Much like Cam Newton, Donald Trump is a person who people like talking about.  They just do. Obviously.

Here’s my offering, and it’s not a political one.

One of the main building blocks in all the endless coverage of Trump is that he’s gaining building blocks.  Gaining fans.

The story was: he’s getting popular.  Then the story is he’s getting more popular, and then staying popular, and then more fans, and then a bigger audience, and more coverage, and then drawing thousands of people to speeches, and then has a following across age groups, and then across ethnicities, and then SO MANY PEOPLE LOVE THIS GUY.

That’s the main part of the his story. 

It’s a story most artists would kill for…and the story most artists shoot for and cater to.

Flimsy.

Not irrelevant, but flimsy.  Something which is flimsy needs support, substance.

So many artists base their whole story about how big they’re getting, it’s their measuring stick.  Their popularity and their popularity’s growth ARE the story.

Popularity is a weak story.  For both artists and presidential candidates.

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

Taking Care Of Business. Everyday, Every Way.

True leaders are hard workers.

True hard workers aren’t necessarily leaders.

I’ve come across amazingly hard workers, limitless talent, friendly as can be, love getting stuff done…and they need a guide, a leader to prompt and shepherd them.  They are workers and every team needs workers.  It’s vital.

I’ve come across leaders who were leading, but had no idea they were leading.  They steer the ship, delegate, follow up, have a big vision…and they need help, a lot of help and unity in order to pull anything off.  The leaders need to wake up, recognize themselves as leaders, and also let others recognize them as such.

There’s beauty and power in recognizing the difference and identifying which category you fall into, as well as your fellow band members, and also the rest of the members of your team.

p.s. If you have the guts to talk about this stuff with people around you, your band dudes or your team, you are probably a leader.



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

The Next Song

You keep writing the next song because you just don’t know what the next one could be.

Does your guitar have a Blackbird in it?

Does your piano have a Piano Man in it?

Does your computer have a What Do You Mean in it?

It might. In fact, if you believe it does, it probably does…but it might not be till after the next ten songs you write, or the next hundred, or more.

The tiresome journey of the NEXT song.  Will you keep getting back in the saddle? Again and again and again?

The pursuit is romantic and elusive, mesmerizing and blinding.

But when you’re sitting on the edge or your bed, or in your office, or on a cold chair in a music row writing room, you will suddenly feel that the song you’re working on is not simply the next song…it’s THE song.

The feeling that that song will give you in that moment, that gift, is everything.

You get to have that moment, that one intimate moment where only you know you have THAT song.  You hold the biggest secret in the world.  And the world is going to be thrilled when they find out.

Then as the story goes, the song gets tracked and mixed and mastered and released… you have to give that moment and song back to the universe.  

You keep writing the next song because you just don’t know what the next one could be.

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

Mommy Made Me Mash My M&M’s

How many sub par TV performances do we have to endure before singers remember that pitch matters?

If pitch isn’t your thing, make that your banner, your schtick, but otherwise…tighten up.

I know I know, tone, delivery, vibe can cover for some pitch problems, but for TV specifically you gotta be on.

Go see a vocal coach…more than once.  

You’re first objection…

It’s too expensive.  I know you think it’s expensive, $100/hr or so, but you spend that on your cable bill every month.  Cut your cable (and waste less time) and have a monthly vocal lesson instead. 

…then lie you tell yourself when you believe your first objection…

I just don’t need a vocal coach.  You’re not above instruction, and you will not sustain trading on raw talent alone…even Steven Tyler goes to a vocal coach, and he’s about as natural as they come.

Practice your songs. Sing them into your computer and listen back, be brutal.  

Record your next show.  

What happens to your voice on the high energy songs, the ones where you’re running around?  What happens then during the ballads? 

What are the trouble spots on your single?  The song you’ll most likely be singing on TV.  Work it out.

Most singers don’t practice singing or seek instruction.  Most singers are pitchy on TV.

If you’re in Nashville and need a vocal coach, email me, I’ll point you in the right direction.  And the first lesson will be free.

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