How Much?

Many times an artists answer to “What do you need?” is: money, funding, backing, support, an advance, an investor.

Their answer might start a little more vague, but quickly it comes down to, “What do you need?”…”money”.

Then there’s a curve ball follow up question of “How much?”

This throws most artists for a serious loop.

Lot’s of ummm, errrrr, well…I’m not sure.

Most artists are seemingly painfully aware they need money, but have no idea how much they need.  Why?  Because it’s more socially acceptable to simply need money than to know exactly how much you need in order to do what you need to do.

I already know you could use some funds to move your project/career to the next step.

How much?

p.s. I know…the answer to “How much?” is most likely always changing.  It’s changing month to month and maybe faster.  So stay plugged in. Talk about it. Talk about what the plan is and the money necessary to carry out the plan.



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

Give The High

As it pertains to your next show…

Give the high and you’ll get one. 

Notice the order, the structure of the sentence.  It has to be in that order or else it doesn’t work (for long anyway).

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

Clearness Is Kindness

The music business is a feeling business.

Not only in the music but in the relationships.

We don’t want to make anyone feel bad.  We don’t want to make anyone feel left out (although we don’t necessarily mind people getting left out…we just don’t want them to feel that way).  We don’t want to hurt feelings or step on toes.

So what communication method is most commonly employed pertaining to difficult subject matter?

Passivity.

Passivity is not dealing with it.

It’s eluding to it but not saying it.

Hinting at it but never exposing it.

Talking around it but never going straight in after it.

But as it’s been said…to be unclear is to be unkind.

If you communicate something important in a passive way…it’s YOUR fault they didn’t get it. It’s YOUR fault the problem still exists.  You had awareness of the issue but were unwilling to approach it out loud.

Clarity doesn’t mean everyone is happy…that’s ok.

Clarity is messier than passivity, but cleans up much better.

p.s. Also, pertaining to important matters…texting is little league.

Calling and face to face are big leagues.  You want to be a pro?  Pros lay it on the line and communicate voice to voice.



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

People Are Listening

In the chaos of the music business, whether on the creative or business side (really everyone is in both)…every once and a while you’ll receive an incredibly heartfelt encouraging text message or email. It actually makes a difference and you don’t just brush it off.

Here’s the thing…even if they wouldn’t have sent that text or email, your impact on that person would have been just as real.

There are people who are listening to your music right now, absolutely loving it and you will never specifically know.  But the person listening, they know.

For every person who sends that encouraging message, there are ten who don’t, or a hundred who don’t, or a million.

The music is out there. You are out there.

You have no idea who’s moment you’re making.

Your music has longer legs than you could ever understand.

Who needs to know their music has long legs?

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

Holding Hands

There’s a TV show I came across a few weeks ago, Impractical Jokers.  It’s four dudes…one guy at a time has to go out into a public place and do and say what the other three tell him to do.

Doesn’t that sound hilarious?

Well, I’ve had a lot of laughs.

They did one game where each guy had to get someone to willingly hold hands with him for at least a few steps while they walked.

Again, hilarious, for real.

The three guys watching the one guy, tell him which people to pursue.

It’s so interesting…a lot of the random people who get pursued are emphatically against it, ignore it, won’t have a thing to do with it.

But then there are some people who HOLD HANDS, willingly!!!

They actually like it!

They think it’s funny, or oddly friendly that this stranger wants to hold hands with them.  

It’s kind of magical. You can see it.  They know it’s weird, but they’re drawn in and are accepting of the connection.

Not everyone wants to hold hands, but the ones who do will hold hands all the way and love it.

You don’t need everyone to like your music…you just need a few crazy ones who are weird enough to understand what your point is and are willing to take your hand.

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

Wait Till The Morning

It’s fun to talk about things late at night.  Imaginations get going, everything gets more idealized, you’re a little tired and a little more relaxed.  

At night, very dumb plans sound very smart and insightful.

Wait till the morning to commit, to sign the contract.

Especially for big decisions. If something sounds like a great idea at night and it’s still a good plan in the morning, it’s solid.

Sleep on it.

There’s something about the morning that brings your head and heart back to equilibrium when making big career (or personal) decisions.

You know how they say if your song can sound great with just you and an acoustic guitar, it’ll hold its weight full band in the studio…well, if a decision holds its weight in the morning, it’ll last long into the night.

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