Expensive Subtlety

To add subtlety is to spend extra time, energy and money on an aspect of the project that (by definition) won’t be specifically recognized by most people. But subtlety can make all the difference.

‘Felt, not heard’ as we say when adding the fine details to a song.

The average listener doesn’t care about the top end of the snare, the vocal reverb decay time, the guitar panning, or the tambourine EQ…The average listener is simply asking, ‘Do I like this song?’

Subtlety, while expensive to add, increases the chances that their simple answer will be Yes.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Re-Winning The Crowd

When performing on stage and you’re fifty seconds into a song and it’s not working…you don’t skip to the next song.

You have to figure something else out. You have to do something you didn’t think you were going to have to do in order to sell the song. Change the melody, change eye contact, change the volume, change your position on stage…

It doesn’t always go how you think it will. Sometimes you really gotta work for it. This is why playing live never gets old and why the skills of playing live can always be refined.

Professionals have figured out some things that pretty much work night after night…but the thrill of having to win the audience all over again within the scope of a three minute song…that keeps professionals professional.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Like Mike

Michael Jordan was the best in the world.

And Michael Jordan had a coach. Actually a bunch of coaches.

His coaches weren’t better at basketball than he was but they knew how to make him better.

If you wanna be like Mike you need to find coaches like Mike.

»» Shout out to Brad for this one.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Better Players

Hiring great musicians is the best way to get your music to sound like it does in your head…and probably even better than in what you’ve dreamed up in your head.

Top talent is expensive but if the ideas are worth putting into the world, then it seems worth it to give them the best chance to connect.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

A Few Words On Procrastination

If it takes you a long time to overcome procrastination, how do you know you overcame it?

:)

By becoming quick to recognize stuck vs. stalling

By becoming quick to embrace the good fear

By becoming clear about the destination but open to which path

By becoming quick to disregard ideas you aren’t going to take action on

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple

Second Serve

I don’t play tennis.

But the idea of the second serve is interesting…if the first serve doesn’t land you get another try.

The first serve is hard and fast. But the second serve is a little different. The second serve knows the first one didn’t work and also knows there’s not going to be a third. The second serve is colored by the first. It’s a little lighter, a little safer, a little slower, a little less risky…so that it will land and you’ll get to keep playing.

Going all out, hard and fast, all gas no brakes…it definitely makes a statement but if the goal is to keep playing the game, be prepared to make adjustments.

Hum Love on Spotify and Apple