Shoes Or Boots

I was playing a gig with an artist and had brought a pair of high tops and a pair of brogue boots as options to wear for the show.

It was my first show with the artist so after soundcheck I asked the manager if I should go with the shoes or boots. He said shoes.

Important to note…He answered immediately. He didn’t know what pants or shirt I’d be wearing with the shoes. He hadn’t even seen the shoes.

He answered the question based on what the choice would be saying to the audience. Based on marketing. Based on story.

On the other hand…

If I would have asked a stylist…a stylist would have asked to see the shoes and the boots and my clothes and everyone else’s attire. A stylist would have answered the question based on how good it looks. And hey, looking good is important.

All things considering, I’m sure the shoes were the right call. I just hope I looked ok.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

The Invitation

That’s what a show is. Putting on a show means going first. Taking the initiative.

We’re doing this…You can join us or not…But we’re doing it either way…It probably won’t be perfect but we’re the kind of people who aren’t afraid to try and you’re invited to be a part.

And it turns out people like people who are willing to go first because it relieves them of the pressure and stress of going first.

We are putting on a show…So you don’t have to…You don’t have to figure out what to do on a Thursday night, we got you, everything is gonna be ok…It’s a show, there’s gonna be music, there’s gonna be people, you’ll know a few of them, you’ll see other people you think are weird and you can quietly make fun of them.

And if people can rely on you for this invitation, it’s a gift to everyone involved.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Three Cookies

You may have three cookies.

It’s not that four is to many but if I don’t say three you’ll eat three hundred.

And that’s too many.

We are only as fit and as focused and as productive as the boundaries we build (or adopt) and stick to.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Artists Smashed Together

First Monday of the month, new Hum Love playlist on Spotify and Apple

The artists on this weeks playlist have between ten thousand and twenty million monthly listeners…and you can’t tell which is which by listening.

It all sounds good. It all IS good. Everyone has the tools. Everyone has the opportunity.

New artists and well known acts are smashed together side by side on playlists.

We just want to hit play on a good song.

We want to hit play on a playlist and feel good about just letting it play.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Five Shows

What if FIVE was the the maximum amount of shows you could play per year?

If you could only play five shows you couldn’t just say yes to say yes.

You would have to really sit down with everyone and discuss what the criteria is going to be for a show that gets the green light. Because the price of wasting a Yes is pretty big when you only have five yes’s per year.

What’s at the top of the priority list for your five shows?

Money

Audience size

Venue size

Venue notoriety

Road lifestyle

Association with other bands

Appeasing promotors, agents, labels

Playing to the hardcore fans

Getting more new fans

If you only have five to spend, you get specific about what their value needs to be.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Personality And Skill

When boy bands and girl groups get put together, the personnel is chosen more on account of personality and marketing than skill and quality.

It’s not the worst idea in the world.

The powers that be know that personalities are more likely to evoke emotional connection quickly than leaning strictly on great material and quality music making.

As for you…We hope you connect with us on both fronts.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple