Stuck Sucks

It’s possible to get stuck in the mud, stuck in a snowstorm, stuck in traffic.  Those things can have power over you…and realizing you’re stuck is simply realizing the thing you’re stuck in is more powerful.

And because they’re more powerful, they takeaway your choice…making you “stuck”.

The word stuck hands over control to the other thing.

And sometimes that’s true.

But most of the time I don’t think we’re stuck.  I think we’re stalling.

I’m stuck on my couch watching ESPN.

No, I’m just stalling.

Etc, etc, etc.

We want to use the word stuck because if we’re truly stuck and something truly has power over us then we never have to take the responsibility for not moving?!

But if we dare admit to ourselves and the people around us that we’re stalling…the word stalling admits a different reality.

A reality that says: I’m afraid, I’m embarrassed about not knowing, this is too unfamiliar, if I take another step into the unknown I might die or get laughed at.

Aa ha.

Stalling brings you closer to owning your predicament, and reminds you who is in control.

Stuck sucks…whether true OR false.

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

I Meet Lots Of Artists Who...

I meet lots of artists who want to get bigger, but never mention doing anything to get to get better.

I meet lots of artists who want an agent to do things for them, but never mention what they’re going to do for the agent.

I meet lots of artists who are releasing music and expecting big things, but never mention where those expectations came from or what they’re based on.

I meet a lot of artists who are hoping, but never mention doing. 

I meet a lot of artists who are going to see what happens, but never mention ensuring that it happens.
 
I meet a lot of artists who want to be famous, but never mention what for.

There’s nothing wrong with the first part of each of these sentences, but the second part of each sentence is the life blood.

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

The Chiseler

In the time it takes to build an amazingly beautiful sandcastle on the beach you can chisel about half an inch into the rock.  

So while the sandcastler is celebrating the master piece, the chiseler has nothing to celebrate and must keep working.

And then the rain comes.

The sandcastler has lost everything and the chiseler has lost nothing and doesn’t even notice the rain and is getting even closer to the celebration.  

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

The Problem With Getting The Meeting

The problem with getting the meeting is that you think you’re job is over.  That the hard part has finally subsided.  That you can relax a bit.  That because you got the meeting that you’re in.

The problem with getting the meeting is that the goal becomes about having a good-time meeting rather than providing something of value. 

Before you ask for a meeting, ask your self What am I providing? What benefit can I pass onto the person I want to meet with?

The person you want to meet with probably doesn’t need another meeting, but there’s a good chance they need the benefit that you can provide them.

There’s a ton of people barking up their tree for a meeting in order to ask them for something.  

What if you don’t bark up their tree for a meeting but instead provide them with something?

p.s. Rarely is meeting synonymous with doing.  


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

Taking It Off

The audience loves when you take it off.

It doesn’t matter what it is. Take it off and you’ll elicit a reaction from your audience.

Perhaps rather than asking “How is everyone doing?”, just take off your jacket and you’ll have your answer.

p.s. Because more than asking the question, or even knowing the answer, as an artist you want to EXPERIENCE a reaction to something you say or do.



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

Connecting Over Anything But Music

It’s easy and fast to connect with other music biz folks over music. And we should. After all, it’s the business we chose and are choosing.

But because we spend so much time using music and music biz as the connecting factor/conversation, those factors can lose their effectiveness…or perhaps become less effective.

When everyone is talking music, we remember the person in the biz who uses the same protein powder we do, or is a fan of the same sports team as us, or is obsessed with the same shoe brand.

Unique, exceptional, rare connection is powerful.  And by definition, scarce.

And things that are scarce and powerful ping our brains differently and stick with us.

You may have only met that booking agent once, but you discovered you both buy lunch meat from the same local deli.  Now you’re not just another artist with good music.

More than anything, I think people in the business just get tired of talking about the business sometimes and are looking for a more exciting, personal connection.

I want to connect with you about what you and I do in the music business, but I get extra pumped up when I find out you used to have a Penny Hardaway Team USA basketball jersey in 8th grade too.

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