Pretty Good At The Beginning

I had just bought my first bass guitar and quickly invited my guitar playing friend over. After arguing about which notes to tune the guitars to and a subsequent phone call to the local music store to clear the air…we mapped out our first four chords.

We did it. Four chords. The same chords. Playing together, in rhythm. Pure bliss. We were pretty good.

Thinking you’re pretty good at the beginning gives you the patience and time and curiosity to actually get pretty good. And once you’re actually pretty good, that’s when things really get good.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Bad Internet Slogans

This is not a good high speed internet slogan… 

“We offer really fast internet although periodically throughout the day it’s really slow internet…but that only serves to teach you thankfulness and appreciation for the times when it’s fast, as to become a better person.”

I appreciate the honesty of the slogan but that won’t cause me to buy. I don’t buy internet for a lesson in thankfulness. I buy it for fast consistent access.

They don’t need a better slogan or a more honest one, they need a better product. 

If your thing isn’t connecting with your people maybe coming up with a better tagline, or cooler photo shoot, or even trying to be more honest might not be the answer you or your audience wants. Maybe you just need to make your thing better to begin with.

»» Which sold more records the album art or the album songs?

How Does The Show Sellout?

Does the show get sold out because you’re coming to town with a great show, or does it get sold out because you had a great show last time and everyone told their friends?

If it’s the first one…that should be a good enough incentive to build a great show so you have a great show when you roll into town.

If it’s the second one…I hope you had a great show last time but if you didn’t, looks like you’ll have to start the cycle this time around…and that should be good enough incentive to build a great show so you have a great show.

I’m sure it’s a combination of both scenarios.

When it’s time to hit the road again what are you going to roll into town with? Are you going to inform people of your songs or perform your songs? 

The funny thing is I’ve never heard a fan ask an artist to make a better show.

But I’ve seen and heard tons of fans lifted by the joy and magic and connection that happens when an artist decides to make a better show.

It’s up to you. No one’s going to ask for it. But it will make a big difference to everyone there (including you).

Nikes and Busses

Fifty percent of people who got hit by busses last year were wearing Nikes.

So if I’m wearing Nikes does it mean I need to seriously consider switching brands so I don’t get hit by a bus? 

No. There’s no actual relationship between busses and Nikes.

But we forget this most often when we’re looking for shortcuts.

We buy a better guitar to write better songs.

We write on yellow paper instead of white because the ideas come easier that way.

We wear the lucky boots on stage because, after all, good things happen since they’re the lucky boots.

All of these things might be true but one does not cause the other.

The things are true because that’s what happened before, not because that’s what is going to happen next.

If the better guitar, yellow paper and lucky boots come through for you and you like them, great. But you don’t need them as much as you think you do. Or at all.

(btw, I made up the first line about the fifty percent simply for the sake of illustration)

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.