The Moment Before You Quit

This is a powerful moment, because you’re willing to give it up but haven’t actually given it up yet.  It’s an idea I first thought about from this book.

Don’t pass up the opportunity of this moment. Don’t rob yourself of this window.

When you’re ok with quitting and ready to quit you can complete the following sentence:

I’m quitting in X amount of time unless…

And that “unless” is powerful. You have nothing to lose, so why not go for it? Why not try?

Why not shoot for the big one a few times like you’d always been afraid to do because you were holding on so tight.

Unless…

…I get to play this venue

…work with that company

…we make that type of record

…I get to take six months off

…we do these specific things differently

…we sell out the tour

You get to pursue “unless” with reckless abandon. Pure freedom and wild eyes. One more ride.  One more push to get you to where you believe you should be.

Before you throw in the towel, throw the hail Mary.

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

Does Anyone Have An iPhone 4 Charger?

Does anyone have an iPhone 4 charger?

I heard that question a million times when the iPhone 5 came out because Apple had just switched the shape of the input jack for the charger.

So some people had the 4, some people the 5.  Each with a different charger.

It threw everyone off.  Suddenly when you were low on juice you couldn’t simply ask someone with an iPhone if they had a charger that you could borrow for a few minutes.  You needed the 4 charger…and a lot of people still had the 4 but a lot of people had the 5 too.  

It was confusing because Apple lovers were playing on different technology. 

It was annoying because we weren’t all together and made it less convenient to give or receive help in the area of phone charging.

But now…I never hear people ask if someone has an iPhone 4 or 5 charger, or 6 or 7…its back to “hey man, can I borrow your charger”. Simple.

Because now we’re all converted to the NEW.  And its better that way.

For a while people weren’t on the same page but now they are.


I think we’re finally getting to the same thing with music streaming.

As streaming has come along its been confusing for both artists and fans…are we supposed to purchase the music like the way it’s been for so long, or are we going to stream and simply listen?

Should artists market “Buy our album” or “Listen to our album”.

Old vs. New

But it really seems as though in even the last six or twelve months, we’re all back on the same page again.

An artist or label or marketing team telling the public to buy a song or album feels a lot like asking to borrow an iPhone 4 charger.  

It’s a little odd. Not a crime, but certainly not a step into the future.

We’re converting (and almost completely converted) to the NEW. And its better that way.

Like the Doobie Brothers said…

“Woah-ooo-wooooah LISTEN to the music…all the time”

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

Same Song, More Money

When you know deep down your song isn’t the special song, putting more money behind it will not make it the special song.

Because even in the extreme best case scenario, the money does in fact push the song to notoriety and everyone thinks its your special song…but you’ll always know it was just the money that did it, not your genuine belief.

Making it not the special song.

Spend your money wisely.  Spend other people’s money just as wisely.

Spend your time writing songs and you’ll end up with a special one.

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

Nightcap 12

For a long time I thought .38 Special was telling a girl named Loosley to just hold on.  

A lady ran into me with her grocery cart because she was on her phone, and then drooled as she apologized. It’s getting bad out there. 

Calling a delay of game penalty in a football game delays the game more than if they would have just let them snap it.

One-sheets were invented, in part, to stretch the truth…or just completely lie.

If you want to find out who’s in charge, take charge, and you’ll quickly find out if it’s you or someone else.

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

Christmas Crooner and Electro Pop Rock

We’re getting close to Christmas time.  All the sights, smells and sounds of the season.

One of the most notable sounds is them music.  Specifically, crooner music.  Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Bing Crosby.  You know what I’m talking about.

We all put it on and feel warm and fuzzy, don’t we?

So good.

The interesting thing is…no one cares which crooner is singing, or which song happens to be on.  No one’s really paying attention, nothing really sticks out, It’s simply a great vibe.  

The entire genre feels amazing.


It seems to me a similar thing is happening in the electro/synth pop-rock genre.

You can turn it on and the vibes are great. The sounds are great.  It’s a really cool mood.

But more often than not, songs aren’t sticking out. There’s very few smashes. It all kinda sounds the same. Not bad at all. Actually pretty good.  And the ‘pretty good’ is seductive.  Pretty good ain’t bad.  And obviously, careers have been and can be built around that.

In the Christmas crooner genre and in the synth-pop-rock   genre, feelgood and listenable comes pretty easily.

Not bad.

But dig for even better.

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

Although It’s Been Said Many Times, Many Ways...

Although it’s been said many times, many ways…

Fight the urge to stop writing.


The urge to stop creeps in when…

you’ve just released a project.

you’re doing a bunch of touring.

there’s no time labeled “writing time”.

there’s months long of late nights early mornings.

you don’t feel inspired.

you don’t feel like it.

you’re tired.

everyone else is saying its break time.

no one is encouraging you or patting you on the back for taking the time.


But if this thing is gonna take off, you’re gonna have to resist the urge to stop writing.  The writing is where the sky opens up and you’re reminded of the possibilities again.

Do not stop.  It’s worth it. For all of us.

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