The Music, The Hang, The Money

The music

The hang

The money

Two of these three things have to be great for the gig to sustain.  Two out of three is good, its actually quite a gift and achievement. Having two of three is enough to keep from going crazy.

If you only have one, the clock is ticking.

If you have none, you are crazy. What are you doing?

If you have all three, congratulations, you’ve done it

p.s. Which of the three are great on your gig(s)? What will you do to help?



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

Or connect via…

The Last Song Of The Set

Most people don’t walk in, or walk out, during the last song of your set.

The ones who are there have already been there and they’re going to be there when you unplug and run off stage.

You want to end with something memorable, but you have the freedom to take it slow, to build to that last moment.  Taking it slow isn’t a must…but the last song isn’t the first impression…it’s the icing on the already made cake.

The climactic payoff can be later in the song, not sooner.

It’s something to think about. 

It’s easy operate under the idea that every song is a desperate clamor for eye balls and attention while being be all fireworks and adrenaline…but by the last song you already have all the eyes and attention you’re going to have for the night.  Now do something with them, something not so desperate.

It’s the last song. You can do whatever you want with it and the people will take it in.

Don’t miss a post. Sign up for free.

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

Benevolent Dictatorship

As the artist, remember you are the owner, you are the one, the secret.

If you pack it up and go home, everyone else does too.

It’s a benevolent dictatorship.  Your benevolent dictatorship.

Look to make difficult decisions, to take responsibility, to take blame and give away the praise.

Have you seen the Foo Fighters documentary Back And Forth?  Dave gets it.  He’s had to fire friends…it had to be done. We wouldn’t have The Colour And The Shape if he didn’t.  It was the right call.

Dave had the vision. 

YOU need to have the vision too, the whole vision.

You can’t throw around a power trip at every turn (it’s not a dictatorship, but a benevolent one)…but your gut feeling…you need to listen to that and be unafraid of the implications.

If this thing succeeds, it’s on you.  If it falls flat, it’s on you.

The big things, the little tiny details, no one cares like you do. Take the lead.

Don’t miss a post. Sign up for free.

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

I’m Just Really Important Lately

“What have you been up to?”

“Just been super busy.”

I was at a coffee shop the other day and saw a mild aquaintence-pal…I said the first line and he started responding with the second, but then stopped himself.

He said, “Ya know, what does ‘busy’ even mean, when people say they’re busy, when I say I’m busy…I think you could substitute the word ‘important’ for ‘busy’ and that would be much more honest about how we’re trying to come off…what we’re REALLY trying to say”

I’ve just been REALLY important lately.

How was last week? I was super important the entire time.

I’m important all day tomorrow, but maybe another time.

I can barely breathe I’m so important.

I love having an important schedule.


Don’t we do this? Isn’t this want we’d really like others to believe about us?

Yes. Yes it most definitely is.

You’re important, I’m important, we’re all important…our mommas told us so.

So take “busy” off the table.  I’m busy, you’re busy, we’re all busy, so it communicates very little.

Make an effort to communicate something other than how important you are…it might just lead people to believe you’re important

p.s. The words you use matter.


Don’t miss a post. Sign up for free.

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

Post Honeymoon Head Butt

Are these the people you want to be working with after the honeymoon phase is over?

Because it’s going to end. Soon.

It’s always fun working with the new people at the beginning. It always starts off well.

That’s why you started working together in the first place…if it wasn’t starting off well, you wouldn’t have jumped in, duh.

But the goal isn’t to find people you don’t disagree with and argue with and sometimes hate.

The goal is to find people you can disagree with and argue with and sometimes hate, but are willing to come to the table and work it out..and keep moving forward together.

At the beginning it’s difficult to envision butting head with your new manager, agent, label, PR, etc…but you WILL butt heads, no matter what, no matter how nice or talented or connected they are.

Are these the type of people you’d like to butt heads with over the weeks and months and years and your career?

Don’t miss a post. Sign up for free.

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

It’s All That You Don’t Know

There is a group of things that you know are going on.  You dwell, worry, contemplate, sift through, prioritize, accomplish, add to, freak out about this group of things you are aware of.

There is a much much bigger group of things, pertaining to you, that you don’t know are going on.  It’s hard to even imagine what’s in this group.  You can’t, because you don’t know.

And its all that you DON’T know that’s gonna get you through.

The things you know are such a tiny sliver.

There are things happening right now that are, and will be, keys to your success…and you have no idea…yet.

Keep working. Work great. Have faith. Remember that you don’t know everything…there’s life there.

Don’t miss a post. Sign up for free.

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