Brilliant Idea

So what’s your brilliant idea? - said somewhat sarcastically and somewhat hopefully

I don’t think anyone expects themselves or anyone else to walk into the room with a brilliant idea. If we knew the idea was in fact brilliant we’d be on our way to the bank already, cashing it in by ourselves.

We associate ‘brilliant idea’ with something that wins in the market, something that makes a lot of money, something that turns no’s into yes’s. So we only know whether or not it’s a brilliant idea after the fact.

I think what we’re really asking for when asking for a brilliant idea is this…

Do you have an idea that energizes the room? That elicits imagination and action? One that has the power to draw out the best of everyone? An idea that we can latch onto and contribute to in a way that we’re all proud of?

I think we’ll all take an idea like that.

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

Two Important Artistic Skills

Two important skills in tandem for the true artistic professional…

1. Moving on (from the song, production, design)

2. Coming back to it

Moving on when it’s time to let it go for right now. Taking a breath and admitting that it needs to rest.

Coming back to it with just as much energy and inspiration as when it first began. Becoming the type of artist who can revive the fire.

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

So This Is The New Year

Well depending on what time zone you’re in maybe not quite yet.

There seems to be a love hate with new years and goal setting, making changes, making promises.

As it’s been said: Everyday is the beginning of a new year.

So January 1st is no different. Another opportunity to commit, recommit, risk, grow, care, push and serve others.

***Perhaps the only new nudging I can offer is this: Make the timeline of at least some your goals shorter. A lot shorter. A week or a month, or max three months. Create your own urgency. I’m urging you.

***One other thing. It’s time to stop looking for the quick fix secret potion or secret bed time routine that will catapult you to glory. Instead: get back to work.

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

Posts That Have To Stop

Artist posts that have to stop in 2019 (or put on a new creative twist on it):

-Making an announcement about the announcement you’re going to announce.

-I can’t say too much right now but…

-Any post with a link to iTunes instead of a streaming service.

-It sounds like if this artist has a baby with that artist.

-Go vote for our video in this competition…

-We just stopped caring what anyone else thought…

-Epic


All of these posts had their moment in the sun but those suns have set.

So if you’re about to do one of these, don’t.

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

What Each Wants

The drummer wants it slower so it grooves better.

The singer wants it faster so there’s lessdowntimebetweenwords.

The guitar player is quite happy with the tempo and plans on rushing no matter what anyway because good looks don’t wait.

The bass player wants it to be perfectly locked in, in a perfectly imperfect way.

The audience just wants to have the best night of their lives.

Everyone’s right.

You gotta figure it out.

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

The Piano Lean Back

There’s a move piano players do.

They’re lightly playing a song, singing along, maybe noodling something in the higher register…

And then as they smash into the mid and low-mid part of the piano they kinda lean back and to one side a bit. Like they’re pushing the piano with their hands and the piano is pushing back in beautiful tension and release.

I love that move.

I don’t have that move but I love when I see real players do it.

There’s a smooth professionalism that comes through. It’s so subtle. Yeah, I can play those chords too, but I can’t DO that.


On the same note…

I watched a documentary this past weekend having to do with an old Italian woman making handmade pasta.

For those of us who believe Kraft Macaroni & Cheese is pasta…
To make handmade pasta, as the dough gets rolled really thin with a wooden rolling pin, flour gets sprinkled periodically on the table, the dough and rolling pin so the dough doesn’t stick to anything.

All this motion is happening at the same time and the dough gets paper thin but never breaks.

It’s amazing.

Watching her do this work, watching her hands…she wasn’t doing anything special, except that it was absolutely unbelievable. It probably took thirty or forty years to be that smooth and effortless. Truly a thing of beauty.


A day to learn a lifetime to master. It’s the little things.


***And…

The piano player isn’t any good at landscaping.

The pasta maker isn’t any good at fixing cars.

Thank goodness.

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