Taking The Gig

If you commit to the gig, show up on time.

Know the material.

Care. Or at least act like you do.

Ask for help when you need it.

No need to be braggadocios beforehand. You’re about to perform, so we’ll find out then.

If you’re fun to hang out with but didn’t do your homework, you’ll probably get another chance. Don’t waste it.

If you’re a drag to hang out with but nail the gig, people will tolerate you. But not forever because fun guy is doing the homework and is going to steal the gig.

If you’re fun and you nail the gig, you’re on your way. It’s still a long way to the top but the journey is worthwhile and life giving for both you and the people you share it with.

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Food Trucks And Support

A friend of mine told me about a food truck that has been hanging around our area lately…he said we needed to check it out and that the owner is a really sweet guy and he’s trying to get things off the ground and would appreciate our support.

It’s hard to get by on support. 

Sure, I’ll try something new. But if the food is bad I’m probably not going back just to be supportive.

Whether you’re starting a restaurant, a band or a lawn care business…while in the short term support is crucial, eventually you have to trade on good work rather than support.

Support might get you your first few fans or customers but people won’t support for long before they want to see a benefit for themselves that outweighs what they’re spending. 

It’s great to have support but easier to build a career once you’re delivering something they desire for themselves.

»» Turns out the food was fantastic. King Tut's Food Truck on Nolensville Road. And the owner was a really nice guy too.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

When Difficulty Arises

It could be that difficulty doesn’t come from ‘this really should be easy, you’re just not good enough’.

It could be that difficulty occurs simply because you’re engaging with a new set of problems. And these new problems are stretching you and pushing your edges.

Too often when difficulty arises it’s seen as a sign that something is wrong, whether internally or externally.

Maybe the more important question to consider is, ‘have I been presented with this difficulty as a result of having success, personal growth, taking responsibility, engaging with the type of people I want to engage with?’ If so…you’re probably the perfect person for the job,

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Kind Of Like A Rubik's Cube

Somehow an interesting little toy made it into our house…It’s kind of like a Rubik’s cube except that it’s round and has more colors.

I would pick it up from time to time, mess with it for ten seconds, not be able to do it and put it back down again. Must be an impossible puzzle.

But finally I’d had enough of seeing all the colors not in alignment. Just staring at me. Taunting me. Marketed to children and sold in the kids section. It was time.

It turns out there was one important trick to learn and, presto, I was finished in twenty minutes, much to the delight of the rest of the family.

Going from impossible to victory within twenty focused minutes…just think of the possibilities.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Metallica Country Music

If Metallica released a country album I (along with lots of others) would be curious enough to check it out.

Metallica fans would run the other way.

Do you want new fans? What do you want the new fans to be fans of?

What about the old (loyal) fans? Are they worth losing in order to gain new ones?

If you lose the old fan but don’t gain the new one, are you still glad you took the risk?

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

The Next Creative Outlet

You’ve written and recorded the songs.

Now you’re practicing the songs for the show.

So when do you go from practicing the songs to working on the show?

One possible answer is…once you’ve practiced the songs until they’re ‘perfect’, have one more rehearsal.

Without any music to get better at, creative people need the next creative outlet which is to try something new. A different part, a dance move, a new section, a different delivery, a different groove.

And now you’re working on the show.

Important to note…Most artists and bands want to rehearse the song properly before getting creative with it for the show, which is when the preceding idea applies. But you don’t have to do it that way. You can take of the training wheels from the start. There’s no rule that says you have to know how to play the recorded version before you can come up with the live version. The live version is the only one you’re ever going to play. So it might be helpful to just start there.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple