Advertise Here

ADVERTISE HERE. 

That is a great ad on a billboard.  It’s only two words and your mind fills in the rest of the blanks.

Your brains knows the string of events that have to transpire in order for the billboard owner to put YOUR ad on the billboard.  The owner knows that. So he doesn’t clutter the billboard…which in fact makes the billboard more attractive to you!

Then someone buys the billboard (because the billboard “Advertise Here” ad was so streamlined and simple and connected so well) and fills it up with way too many words, messages, pictures, numbers, commands, requests and directions…while using a million different colors.

They think the location of the billboard will make their ad effective, when in actuality it’s effectiveness is tied to “Can this ad be easily and clearly consumed by people within a less-than 2 second glance as they’re driving 70mph?”

Which, “Advertise Here” is.


If you’re playing the High Note and put up show posters at the High Note, there’s no need to put the location of your performance anywhere on the poster! People will automatically know the location…all you need is there is your band and the date (not even the time).  

Simplify.

Understand what the goal is for the marketing and advertising.

If you are concerned with YouTube plays, don’t put a lyric video AND a regular music video up of the same song and ask people to watch both.

Simplify. You want YouTube plays so tell everyone to watch ONE video.


Ok, you get it.

But will you have the discipline to implement it in real time.

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

Let’s Make An Even Better Live Show

I’ve been writing this blog nearly every day for over two years now and could have never guessed the wide variety opportunities that would come my way to help artists and industry people.

From helping artists release records, to running PR campaigns, connecting artists/writers/producers/managers, booking gigs…I’ve done a bunch of stuff. 

But I’ve found a sweet spot over the last two years and I think it’s time to share it with you and invite you in…

I help artists build a great live show.

And I probably want to help build your show too.

From the big ideas and the obvious aspects of a great live show, to the tiny details that make a huge difference. 

It’s been thrilling for me to work with artists’ natural instincts to direct and build something even better than they had before.

Maybe you’re next.



Now I’d like to take a minute to approach your apprehension…

Some version of…“We’re pretty good, we’re fine, we don’t need this type of thing.”

To cut to the chase…you’re wrong.  Go get your three favorite artists DVD’s and scroll to the end where the credits role.  Whether it’s U2, Katy Perry, Bruno Mars, Madonna and the like, you’ll see a line in the credits that says “Creative Directors”.  Those are the people telling them to not use the catwalk till the 4th song, to pump their fist at the beginning of that chorus, to smile a little during the intro, to turn to the side when singing the big note.

Big artists know how important this is: someone who can WATCH the show and breathe into its unique connectivity, unique flow and unique impact.

So let me get this straight…you want to open for these mega artists, be like these mega artists and then BE a mega artist, but you don’t think you need the personnel that make those artists top tier entertainment?

The artists you love utilize someone like me.

I want YOU to have great nights. To walk off stage and know you did it. And I want your audience to have a great night when they come and see you.

I want your show to be truly amazing.

I want to help you get there. 

I don’t care if you’re playing clubs or stadiums…like I said before, over the past two years (well, actually the last 10 years) I discovered live show creative direction to be a sweet spot for me…I can help and I will help.

Email me: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

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

Uptown Garbage Can

Bruno Mars said Uptown Funk was thrown in the garbage ten times throughout the course of a year before it became Uptown Funk.

Maybe it’s time to go dumpster diving.

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

A Trick On The Road

Being on the road is a long road.

You’ve been with these people not only for the past two weeks day after day, night after night, but the tour before that, and the one before that…

These people are your friends, your best friends…but again, the road is long, and everyone gets pesky. Pesky and annoying and frustrating and belittling and a lot of other bad things.

So here’s a helpful little trick it took me years to learn…

When you are feeling upset and frustrated at a band mate or road mate, ask to help them. 

It helps. 

Carry their pedal board, get them a beer, open the door for them.

Helping someone you’re mad at wrangles some perspective into the situation too.

Try it. 

If I’m wrong at least you did something nice.

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

Stop Playing Your Songs

Stop playing your songs and put on a show instead.

In the studio it was your job to play your songs very very well.

But now the job has changed.

Playing your songs perfectly isn’t the point anymore.  Calling another rehearsal to try and tighten up the music that last 1% isn’t worth it, because unless you’re the New York Philharmonic no one cares if you’re perfectly perfect.

If people wanted to hear your songs played really really well they’d stay at home and fire up Spotify.

Once you’re out of the studio and on to the road your job is to put on a show via the songs that you play.  

The show is what brings people out of their house and into your zone for the night.

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

The Back Hall

The back hall. 

We all wanna believe it’s clean. But I’ve worked in the back hall and you probably have too. 

It’s not.

But it doesn’t matter. 

Because the people sitting around the dinner table at least temporarily believe the back hall (where their food is coming from) is clean…even though they KNOW the back hall is most likely stinky and nowhere near as clean as their kitchen at home.

We will temporarily suspend the truth for the sake of what will benefit the situation…which is to simply enjoy the food with friends without internally or openly speculating the cleanliness of the kitchen and food.


And this is exactly why my first band worked.

We were a cover band with a name so dumb I can’t even bring myself to type it out.

We were not good, but we played the best songs of all time so people were willing to enjoy the night and not let themselves focus on how horribly we played Don’t Stop Believing.

Having fun was more important to the people than if the band was good.  Thank goodness.


This is a fine place to start, but a very bad place to remain.

Onward and upward.

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