Putting It On Offer

Let me know what I can do / Let me know what you need

vs.

Here’s what I want to do for you, would you like that


Both often come from a caring and thoughtful place.

But one gently hands off responsibility for action while the other grabs responsibility for action.


***The great mastery of the equation is developing the intuitive sense for what the other person may need and if it’s something you’re able and willing to give, putting it on offer.

And I think it’s often our awareness that we haven’t mastered that intuitive sense which causes us to shy away from from putting anything on offer all together. So we gently, kindly and often without realizing it pass responsibility.

But to develop intuition you must follow it rather than standing there second guessing it.

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

You’re Doing A Good Job

You’re doing a good job.

Not because I just told you, but because I have a suspicion that recently someone dropped you an email, sent you a DM, found you at the merch table, responded to a tweet, etc, etc and told you that you were doing a good job.

One of your people said it. One of the type of person you made it for.

And if one of your people actually verbalized it to you, there’s a bunch more who thought the same thing but were too nervous, scared, distracted, busy or shy to tell you. Or just didn’t have the opportunity.

So yeah, you’re doing a good job.

***We know this because think about all the times you thought something was good vs. the number of times you verbalized that to the person who made it.

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

The Mint

The mint on the pillow is not expensive.

But it’s worth a lot.


It’s not that the mint is simply a nice little something extra.

And it’s not at all about fresh breath.

The mint opens up an entire new dimension, a new story, a new identity.

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

Studio Guys

I did a bunch of these a few years ago, but had the idea hit me again today and I couldn’t resist. Cooped up in a recording studio for hours upon hours, days upon days with overflowing opinions and emotions at every turn, everyone starts learning the little things about each other…


In-Studio Band Archetypes

Don’t leave me out guy
Always right guy
Let’s not fight guy
I hate you guys guy

We have to work all night guy
Let’s have friends stop by the studio guy
My part is done I’m leaving guy
We have to all be here at the same time guy

It’s not my problem it’s your problem guy
I honestly don’t know what the problem is guy
I hate problems but feed off problems guy
You guys, what’s the problem guy

Analog is smoother than digital guy
Can we bump up the tempo guy
There’s something around the 1:41 mark that just doesn’t sit right with me guy
The acoustic almost sounds TOO good guy

That take was amazing you guys guy
Let’s do another take just so we have it guy
Can’t we just copy and paste it guy
I could take it or leave it guy

This is perfect for tv and film guy
I played this for my wife and she loved it guy
My kids were dancing to this last night guy
This isn’t radio enough guy

I think we’re finished, it’s great guy
I have a few more mix tweaks guy
No one has asked my opinion yet guy
When’s lunch? guy

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

Favorite Parts Of The Non-Favorites

Not all the songs you’ve put out are your favorite.

But for each song you put out, you have a favorite part.

Playing live is a chance to highlight that part in a new way, to make it pop more powerfully.

You can make your favorite part be the main part…the main point of the playing the song.

That’s the gift of live music for an artist.

The chance to do it a (slightly or drastically) different way.

And if you’re highlighting your favorite parts of your non-favorite songs, they just might turn into your favorite songs too.

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

Jeans And Costumes

There are two main reasons your favorite jeans are your favorite jeans.

1. You found that diamond in the rough, perfect cut that are just right for your definition of style and comfort.

2. The happiness you get when you know you’re putting on your favorite jeans. The happiness changes you for the better. When you put on your favorite jeans something else happens than just a shift in your style.


So as you might guess, it’s that second one that’s really interesting. (Although I go to great lengths for the first one)


I hadn’t always been a big advocate of costumes for performing because I thought it meant Lady Gaga meat dresses or KISS makeup. But now I think of costumes more like a favorite pair of jeans. Something that you put on that does something extra to you.

So a now costume can be a jacket, hat, ring, button, boots, bracelets. You name it. Anything you want.

It’s not about the level of flair, but about changing your mind.

It’s just a pair of jeans. But we all know your favorite pair of jeans is much more than that.

Give yourself the gift of performing in a costume (our new definition of costume), and I think it will have the same effect.

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