Twenty-One And Broke

When you’re twenty-one and broke, the dream is alive and well. In fact, I would argue twenty-one and broke is just about perfect. The fire in your gut is burning hard. Wide eyes, huge goals and nothing gets in your way.

The difference between twenty-one and thirty-one, is that if you’re thirty-one and still broke, the dream is not alive and well.

The truth is at thirty-one the dream gets reignited when you have a little jingle jangle in your pocket as opposed to being broke.

When you’re thirty-one, knowing that dinner is covered today, this week and this month actually brings the fire back.

Artists especially have a hard time simply saying out loud ‘I need some money!’

You can’t be twenty-one and broke forever. The fire that twenty-one and broke provides is really special but isn’t meant to last forever.

Sure you might need to write a better song, or book a better tour, or change managers…but maybe you just need to go make some money, honey.

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

Top Of The List

The Top Of The List

Only one can be there at a time.

What does it cost and is it worth it?


When American Idol first started, me and a bunch of friends went and tried out. We tried out because we wanted to win.

But as the season after season went along and we heard about the contracts and obligations that came along with winning, it became very clear that the winner wasn’t the winner at all.


There’s a high price for number one…on this chart, that chart, this list, that poll, metrics metrics metrics. If you want to be on the top of the list, choose your list wisely.

Or make your own.


***In case you were wondering, I sang Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen.

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

Famous vs. Recognized

There’s a big difference between being famous and being recognized the places you go.

Many people would say they want to be famous.

I would argue most people simply want to be recognized the places they do in fact go.

***Famous is more like wanting to be recognizable. Recognized where you go is more like wanting to see and be a familiar face.

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

The Over/Under Promise

It’s not a great idea to over promise and under deliver.

It’s not a great idea to even just promise and under deliver.

A lot of people think it’s a good idea to under promise and over deliver. But if that’s the goal it’s actually very hit every time: by under promising and then promising even less the next time…but you still have the excuse that you over delivered. It’s easy to under promise and then over deliver by a little tiny bit.

Simply promise and deliver.

And do that so many times in a row that you become credible and that credibility turns into trust.

The over/under game is a distraction.

Promise and deliver.

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

One Stop

The term One Stop is used in the music licensing world (putting songs in tv, movies, etc) when the licensing company can give a complete Yes to using a song.

Simple example: When there are seven writers on a song and all the writers are represented by the same company, the company is allowed to say yes for all of them at once. Making it really simple and quick for the person wanting to use the song. This is a One Stop. ie. Stop here, get everything you need and keep going.

Simple example: When there are seven writers on a song but each writer is represented by a different company, the person wanting to use the song has to go to seven different companies and negotiate seven different Yes’s. Making it the process long and tedious and not usually efficient.


It’s really nice to be a One Stop. To be able to say ‘Look no further, I’ve got you covered’.

You can’t be a One Stop for everything, but you should be a One Stop for something.

It’s good for you and good for them.

***Sometimes when someone asks you for something you simply can’t be a One Stop and other meetings and signatures and contracts are required before taking action. But sometimes you can simply decide to be a One Stop…’Look no further, I’ve got you covered, I’ll take care of everything’.

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

If You Know You’ll Get Another Chance

What’s the riskiest path you are willing to take that won’t put you under or bankrupt you if it fails?

That’s a line worth getting closer to.

Said another way…If it won’t knock you out of the game and it’s something you want to do or need to do, why aren’t you trying it?

You get another chance if it fails.

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