A Step Out Of Stuckness
Sometimes I get stuck while in the middle of writing a blog post.
Sometimes I get stuck while deciding which gig to say yes to.
Sometimes I get stuck while making plans for the coming year.
Most of the time my stuckness comes from not knowing (or forgetting) what the point is.
What’s the point here? is step out of stuckness.
Remembering The Opener
I was at an amphitheater show recently, five or six thousand people. The headliner was a household name. Big shows, big tour, vibrant fans.
Every ‘indie’ band under the sun was vying for the opening slot on this tour. Every agent and manager who had connection to the headliner was pulling strings trying to get their act on the bill.
After all that scrambling, one act got the prize.
So much work and sweat and favors and negotiation to get to be the opener. And they were a good band, quality songs, strong voice.
But they forgot the most important part of being an opener on a big gig like that…If you’re opening up for thousands of people who don’t know you, be sure they remember you. For something. For anything. Do jumping jacks while wearing clown shoes. Doesn’t matter. Give them something you know they’ll remember you by.
Because if you play your songs and no one remembers them or you, why are you on this gig?
»» I must say, openers have a special place in my heart. I love talking about (and helping with) the dynamics of being an opening act because it’s such a strange, complex, tricky situation.
Just A Little More
Since you’re already here. If you have a minute. It’ll only take a second…
When someone says this to you they’re about to politely ask for a little extra. More than was agreed upon with no intention of paying more. A favor. But it’s an on the spot favor so there’s a certain type of tension added in.
And it’s your job to figure out where the line is. Sometimes you should definitely say yes. Other times you should say no or explain why it’s not as simple as they think and you’ll need to charge more.
But here’s the thing (and a bit of a left turn)…
The phrases above are also the underpinnings of all that extra meaningless scrolling and clicking around we do. Every free platform saying ‘hey since you’re already here could we get you to check out the next thing too?’…and it keeps going.
They want a little more of our time, and then a little more and then a little…you get the idea.
And most of us are all too quick to say yes, not realizing what it’s costing us.
If any of us had a client or customer who was always adding ’hey since you’re already here will you check out this other thing too’ we would fire them.
All The Same Chords
Jelly Bean Idea
The step beyond having the idea is to be able articulate a skeleton of what it looks like.
I want this song to feel like I’m flying through the air on a rug made of jelly beans.
Ok cool…can you keep going with that and tell me what sounds might be the foundation of building that?
It’s rare (and valuable) to find relationships where you can say the jelly bean thing and everyone immediately goes to work on the same page.
»» Special shout out to all the producers in the house.