Low Talker, Puffy Shirt, Hand Model

Season 5 Episode 2 of Seinfeld is the one with the low talker, puffy shirt and the hand model. An amazing episode from start to finish.

If you watch Seinfeld you know all three references. But even if you don’t watch Seinfeld you know what the first two are.

Each of those story lines was hilarious and a smashing success. So why use them all in the same episode? Why not spread out the good ideas over time? 

Why? Because Jerry and Larry and the other writers were committed to the work…

Season 6 had it’s not you it’s me

Season 7 had the soup nazi

Season 8 had yada yada yada

Season 9 had festivus 

If you’re doing the work, if you’re committed to the work, the ideas come. Some better than others but there’s no shortage so there’s no need to hold back.

Seth Godin just released a book called The Practice that takes a deep dive into this idea. It’s really great, I hope you’ll check it out.

Dabblers And The Top Of The Charts

If you’re on the top of the charts, the people look for music on top charts will find you there.

But you’re probably not on the top charts. By definition few are.

So the people coming across, dabbling, testing out your music don’t (always) want what’s on the top of the charts. If they did they’d be clicking there instead of clicking you.

If they’re dabbling you know they’re dabblers, which is important for you to know. 

When someone comes around your camp, they’re curious, they’ve got an eye out. What do you hope they find?

»» I gave my website a bit of a makeover. Complete with beloved internet standards like About and Contact (and if you keep scrolling, the bottom of each page has a special little extra).

Also, an important note for some, I moved my blog platform from Tumblr to Squarespace. There’s an RSS button at the bottom if anyone needs that. 

It’s likely there will be some kinks to work out over the next few days so feel free to drop me a note if you see anything weird.

Excitement and Possibilities

New Hum Love playlist up on Spotify and Apple.

For the most part I only listen to music in my car, so I’ve found that I like to make this a playlist that I look forward to pressing play on when I get in my car.

Getting in the car means there’s movement. Going, action, cool, speed, possibility, excitement, get some blood pumping.

Sure maybe it’s just to the grocery store but still. I want some spark when I press play.

Shout out to the couple Minnesota artists on there this month (Lupin and Step Rockets)…and there’s a guy, Zen Thomas, on there with a killer voice and when the chorus groove kicks in it really moves.

We usually want music to reflect our mood and/or change it.

From my vantage point, Hum Love enhances the excitement of going and possibilities of when you get there.

»» If you click the heart on Spotify it’ll automatically update for you each month.

»» Feel free to keep sending along suggestions for next time.

»» See all the past playlists: Hum Love Archive on Spotify and Apple.

Nightcap 26

You won’t be able to get through your car trouble story before hearing about everyone else’s car trouble.

Underwear is a very appropriately named article of clothing.

There’s a picture of Steven Tyler on the spine of the Steven Tyler book, my daughter thinks it’s me and I do not correct her.

Everyone who is shopping at Walgreens is ‘just running to Walgreens real quick’ and that’s why everyone looks like crap.

Excitement plus apathy. That’s why I’m no good at poker.

The first aisle of the grocery store is a bad place to run into someone you don’t want to run into. Cause then there’s the second aisle meeting, then the third, then the…

Putting Out Music Not Loudly

It’s safe to say not many (or any) artists want to put out music as quietly as possible: Not posting about it or making a video or doing an interview. Just putting up on streaming and telling no one. (And if you’re wanting to do this as a career I don’t recommend this method.)

On the other hand, lots of artists put out music as loudly as possible. Shouting to anyone and everyone over and over, saying yes to every press outlet, buying followers to impress prospective press outlets, buying email lists to spam, Facebook ads, Instagram ads, hitting uninterested people over the head again and again because maybe they’ll click this time.

So you’re not going to put out music as quietly as possible…but what if you didn’t put out music as loudly as possible either?

What if you had a plan? What if you knew who you wanted to tell about it (ie. the people who want to hear from you) and just as importantly, who you can happily avoid telling about it because you know they aren’t your people anyway?

It’s not about raising the volume of your voice but the impact of it.

An Easy, Better Alternative

I was going to go to Wendy’s but as I was pulling up I saw a Hugh Baby’s across the parking lot and since I’d heard it was good I decided to try that instead.

It wasn’t a sign saying Hugh Baby’s is ten miles down the road that way. It was simply right there.

It might be helpful to put yourself right next to the competition (or the people doing something similar to you) so you can be an easy alternative to someone who might be looking for an alternative.

»» Ok so I stole the opening sentence from a Yelp review of the Hugh Baby’s that just opened up nearby.

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Drop me an email: gabe@gabethebassplayer.com