Just Something About It (Charlie Brown)

Isn’t that why we all got into this business in the first place?

If we could explain it and calculate it and write the answer out in a ten step process, it would be replaceable and replicable (and as we all know, this is tried over and over).

It’s the day after Thanksgiving, which around here means the onset of Christmas decor, music…the whole thing.

One of the songs that came on today was Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, the version from A Charlie Brown Christmas.

The recording, the timing, the pitch, the mix…everything about is horrendous.

But it doesn’t matter. I absolutely love it.

There’s just something about it.

(That ‘something’ is most certainly tied to my childhood, but even though I know that I still can’t separate from it…and I don’t want to.)

Just something. It’s beyond all the calculable aspects of what makes a song good, of what makes a song professional.

‘Just something about it’ is a tough goal to write towards…and maybe even something you CAN’T write towards.

But we all know that’s why we got into this business, and we know beyond the shadow of a doubt that ‘that thing’ exists.

Thanks for the reminder, Charlie.

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

So Angry You Have To Be Nice

The scenario is this:

It’s been a long day on the road and the drummer has been pissing you off all day anyway…and then during the show he really took it to the next level with something stupid, and then he said something even more stupid after you got off stage.

You’re fuming mad…and you need to get away from this guy. As quickly as possible.

But now here’s the thing.

The only way you get away from this guy and have some peace and quiet is when you’re finally back in the van or bus.

But you can’t get back on the road until everything is loaded up.

And the faster everything gets loaded up the faster you’ll be back on the road and have your much needed peace and quiet.

So you realize now that a fast load-out is the immediate gateway to getting what you want…and the best way to do that is to help the drummer load out his gear!!!

You’re royally annoyed at this guy but the best way to get what you want is to lend a hand.

So you do.

He knows you’re pissed, but you’re helping anyway.

You’re both talking in respectable tones. It might be all logistics (is this ready to go to the trailer? is that ready?), but you’re talking and interacting in a non-upset way.  You’re doing something together.

And it’s funny how doing something nice and speaking in a not-raging-mad tone (while still possibly rightfully angry at him for the previous incidents of the day) actually has the power to change minds.  It puts things in their rightful place.

So the gear is loaded up, you get back on the road, and yeah you still need some space but it’s not as bad now.  It’s not so much about the other person anymore…more about it’s been a long day and it’s late and it’s time for bed.

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

If You Owned A Mexican Restaurant pt. 2

If I owned a Mexican restaurant in Nashville and if you owned a Mexican restaurant in Nashville, that’d be great!

It turns out Nashville really likes having more than one Mexican restaurant. In fact they like having thirty or fifty or a hundred.

It’s a good thing the person who was thinking about building the second Mexican restaurant in Nashville didn’t think ‘ahh, there’s already one of those so I need a different idea’.

No, that person thought ‘Mexican restaurants are a good idea, I’ll build one’.

There’s already been a Michael Jackson, but it sure wouldn’t hurt to have a few more. People would like that.

There’s already been a Katy Perry, but it sure wouldn’t hurt to have a few more.  People would like that.

People like Mexican restaurants. People like Michael Jacksons and Katy Perrys.

It wouldn’t hurt to think about opening something you know people are going to like…something that there’s already one or two or ten of.

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

If You Owned A Mexican Restaurant

There’s a really good way to accurately describe a Mexican restaurant to someone…

“It’s a Mexican restaurant”

That’s it. That’s all you need to say.  To try and add much more to that is just confusing the point.

Now if I owned my own Mexican restaurant I’m pretty sure I would feel the need to elaborate.  Because it’s mine.  I want you to know the details of what makes it different, what makes it special, and all the attention to detail I put into it that sets it apart from all other Mexican restaurants. 

So I don’t think of my restaurant as a ‘Mexican restaurant’…I think about it with all of the undertones and storylines and foundation and things that set it apart.

There’s nothing wrong (and everything right) with putting that kind of care into the restaurant, but people looking for a Mexican restaurant are really just looking to know that it is in fact a Mexican restaurant.

I want to elaborate and be precious about my restaurant. I want to EXPLAIN.

Everyone else just walks in and simply knows ‘this is a Mexican restaurant’.

Artists are like that with their music.

Example: It’s a cross between this and that with a little bit of a classic element too, but definitely more dancy, but not like Euro-dance, and we love organic sounds and lots of harmonies…I dunno it’s just kinda it’s own thing.

Please.

Artists can tell you in three words or less exactly what type of music their fellow artists friends play…but when asked about themselves all of a sudden THEIR music can’t be put in a box…there aren’t enough words or explanations or examples to verbalize what kind of music they play. IT’S JUST SO UNIQUE AND SPECIAL.

I don’t need to write you a long paragraph describing to you what kind of food and experience you’re going to have at El Mariachi just down the street from where I live.  You’ve never even been there and you know.  No need to complicate things. It’s a Mexican place.


There’s a really good way to describe what kind of music you make to someone who asks…

What kind of music do you make?

If you’re answer is any longer than three words not only are you being long winded with it, but you’re being too precious about something that’s very simple to the rest of us.

p.s. While the opportunity will not always be there, the best way to answer the question is, “I can tell you, but why don’t I show you instead”.


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

Will You Charge Me More?

No one will ask you that but some people need it.

I don’t want your amazing filet mignon for $4. I need you to charge me $40, then I will think it’s amazing.

A free counseling session does me no good. I need you to charge me $200…It’s the only way I’m going to learn anything.

This $20 guitar doesn’t sound good…but charge me $2000 and all of a sudden ‘there’s just something about the sound it’.

I don’t want to come to your show for $1…I want to come to your show for $20. I’ll like it more. (and you’ll take the role of entertainer more seriously)

How could you be helpful to your audience by charging more?

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

Mean Lawyers

You need one.

You need a lawyer that even you are a little bit afraid of.

A lawyer who isn’t looking for friends when negotiating…a bulldog who is getting the best deal for you where YOU still get to be friends with the other entity afterward.

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