A Quest For Imbalance

Some people are already back to work.  The holiday(s) is seen as something to get through, something to bear while the motto of “there’s so much work to be done” is still at the top of the priority list.

Others use December as an excuse to take a whole month off of work.  Well, not actually.  Some in the music business merely say “the music business closes down during December” as a means to only selectively respond to email the feel like responding to.  And letting the rest wait till after the New Year.

Which segues into the idea of life-balance.

Balance of work, life, holidays, friends, family, goals, kids, spouse, yard work, paying bills. The list goes on.

I’d like to offer up a different twist. Perhaps it’s just different language to say the same thing…but it says something different to me so here goes.

Life imbalance…pointed in certain directions at certain times.

I think of it like on a teeter-totter.  It’s REALLY hard to get both people up in the air equal heights off the ground.  You’re in balance and then a little out of balance…in balance for a few seconds and then way off.

Balance is an elusive (perhaps undefinable) point.

So I’m shooting for imbalance.  Where I put all the weight on one end of the teeter totter and then simply point my vision where it needs to be at different times.

I.E….When I’m working, I’m all in. I’m not thinking about “am I working too hard, should I be working less hard in order to have balance somewhere else…how much work time is too much work time”.

When it’s time for vacation mode, it’s vacation mode. I’m not doing work or fixing things. I’m not searching for balance whatsoever…I’m fully IMBALANCED toward vacation.

And that’s really it, rather than searching for some perfect metric of balance its…how can I be FULLY IMBALANCED toward the thing I’m currently doing?

Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t arrived. I’m still being transformed by this idea.  But I’m way better at it than I was ten years ago.

And I’m not against finding “balance” either.  But flipping the semantics has been helpful to me.

So enjoy today. Enjoy tonight. Fully. What would it look like to be completely imbalanced toward tonight, to be completely partial and biased toward the now?

…and to all a goodnight.

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

Things To Click On

Over the river and through the woods…

Lot’s of us traveling this weekend…so here’s some stuff to keep you entertained, informed and educated.

I made a playlist of music I’ve been listening to lately. I don’t think it’s all from 2017 but probably most of it.  I put it together on both Apple Music and Spotify for the sake of inclusion and generosity.

To grandmothers house we go…


Apple Music: Gabe The Bass Player

Spotify: Gabe The Bass Player


Other Audio:

John Mayer interview on NPR’s World Cafe

David Israelite on And The Writer Is

Dirty John Podcast


Video:

Jerry Seinfeld: How To Write A Joke

Bruno Mars: Billboard Music Awards

Rooney: I Should Have Been After You

 

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

Training The Markets

Training your fans to either come to your show or not. Not dependent on day of the week, price, time, opener, venue, etc.

Weekend shows are great. People go out more on Fridays and Saturdays.

But if you’re going to make a living on the road, you need to be able to play more than two shows a week.

The goal is for the day of the week not determine whether or not someone will buy a ticket.

Certainly when Paul McCartney or The Killers come to town I don’t think I even look at the calendar, I just buy.

“Are you going to see Paul McCartney?”

The answer is simply yes or no…not “if it’s a Thursday yes, Wednesday no”.

Starting down this path is scary for young artists.

Because you start off just touring weekends. You build up some markets but now you want to add some new markets.  You want to go from Fri/Sat shows to Thurs/Fri/Sat shows.

So you put the new market in the Saturday slot…and a city you usually play on a Friday night you have to book for Thursday night.

Ahhhh! But people in that city are used to seeing you on Fridays. You have a great draw in that city. You don’t want to let the promoter down.  You want to have MORE people at the show, not less.  Fridays are convenient for people. Fridays are better than Thursdays! We must play all our shows on Fridays!!

Slow down. You’re training your fans.  And it’s good for both you and them.  It ups their commitment and strengthens your bond.

Eventually you’ll be able to play your ‘best markets’ on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and maybe even Sundays.  

And wah-lah you can make money any day of the week.

It takes time and a plan. This is part of your plan.

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

Long Song Versions

When I find an album I like (and I probably listen to more full albums now than ever before), I don’t want it to end.

I want to be inside the songs longer. I want to hear another chorus, maybe a second bridge and then another chorus, and then an extended outro. I want it all to keep going.

And I doubt I’m the only one.

So what if you came out with a long version of your album?

Where 3 minute songs are 4 and a half, and 4 minute songs are 6.

This album wouldn’t be for everyone and it would be near impossible to market…it would even be a tough sell to existing fans…except for the ones who would dive in immediately, without you having to say very much about it at all.

The interesting thing about making this product is that some people would FOR SURE want it.

We toss around the idea all the time about focusing on the die hard fans and making sure they get taken care of no matter what. The whole 1,000 hardcore fans thing.

So you are welcome to use this idea. I don’t think anyone has done it before and it would mean a lot to the people who love your music. 

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

The Jim Carrey Doc

It’s worth watching. It’s weird and artistic and at times uncomfortable. 

Throughout the documentary modern-day Jim Carrey is interviewed, talking about his life throughout the 90’s.

He said he’d go to bed every night thinking “what do they (the people) want next” and then next and then next.

But one night he said it really clicked.

“What do they want?”

“They want to be free from concern”

And he decided the best way to give that was to be viewed as someone who was in fact completely free from concern. 


I’m not saying that’s your answer too. But I will say that type of answer is probably in the ballpark. (Notice his answer wasn’t “better jokes” or “more outlandish antics”…though that’s what happened as a result of the realization)

If you’re answering that question with “more kick drum” or “a little lighter jean color”, you’re missing the purpose of the question.

The kick drum and jean color questions are already answered when you answer the real question underneath.

Jim Carrey answered that question in a very deep, cerebral, spiritual, business savvy way…and in doing so went on to be Jim Carey.

Maybe if you answer the question in a similar fashion you’ll go on to be…well…you.

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

Music Docs

One of the things music documentaries work so well for is to get people into an artist they don’t already like.

It’s saying “you might not like our music, but if we explain ourselves to you maybe you will”.

And it works a lot! And that’s completely ok and fantastic.  Keep watching em’ and keep making em’.

90 minute explanations (about you and your music) are great and interesting, informative and even inspiring…But the hope is you don’t need each potential fan to watch a documentary about you before getting into your music.

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