Presence In Absence

That is the essence of a bass player.

To the common listener we are most noticeable when we’re silent. When we’re not playing. Missed more when we’re gone than appreciated while playing.

This is why bass players are so subtly confident. Because we are aware of that power. It’s not a cool power but a definite one. The power of people wishing we would jump back in. The power of causing tension when we drop out and release when we pick back up.

When we are playing: it’s the way it should be. It feels whole.


We all hope to be missed while we’re gone. We do that by becoming essential to, and interdependent with, the people around us. To see what we have to give to others and being consistent with it. Steady. Foundational. Like a bass player.

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Drop me an email: gabe@gabethebassplayer.com

The Ready Trap

The thing, the project, the album, the campaign you’re thinking about tackling next has much less to do with readiness and much more to do with willingness.

Don’t wait to be ready. The question is, are you willing?

***Ready and Prepared are different. Ready is an emotion blowing in the wind…while you can become prepared by doing the daily work, thereby building the confidence to become willing to do the next thing even when you don’t feel ready.

***I’ve written about this before.

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Drop me an email: gabe@gabethebassplayer.com

Your Reach

Remember, for all the people who like your post or share or comment there are others who love you in their hearts but simply aren’t the type of people who like and share and comment.

The internet has given us lots of numbers to keep checking and to keep track of. And they can be helpful.

But the range and depth of connection can’t be charted or graphed.

As an artist, your job is for your music to connect enough that you have no idea how far and deep and meaningful your reach.


***All you see is the clicks and the views and the number of streams. You have no idea what that stream meant to the person or people listening to it. Maybe it was on in the background. Maybe someone was excitedly showing their friends. Maybe someone was listening in their headphones with their eyes closed so tight. Maybe the group was singing along. Maybe someone was learning the chords. Maybe someone was trying to impress their crush. Maybe someone was remembering something wonderful or sad or meaningful. Maybe the family was dancing in the dining room.

There’s great serenity in the unknown…connecting enough to where you have no idea the difference you’re making.

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Guts And Reputation

Guts lead you to your pinnacle and then reputation takes over and keeps the mortgage paid.

Once you have reputation it’s hard to have guts because it could cause you to lose your reputation. And you’d rather pay the note on your Ferrari than have guts.

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The Power Of Normal

Most of what you accomplish will be as a result of what you do normally.

So what do you do normally? And how does normally need to change?

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Cooler Options

Everyone wants just enough going on so that they have something to talk about but not enough going on to where they would miss out on the cool thing of the day.

We always want the freedom and availability to say yes to a better, cooler, shinier option. And in doing so we only half way commit to the current option we’re putting our action behind…therefore never realizing the full potential of the work we’re actually engaged in.

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Drop me an email: gabe@gabethebassplayer.com