When faced with a problem we want to come up with a solution that will be repeatable when a similar problem comes up later on down the road.
If it’s a solution we can replicate, then having the tool already in our belt allows us to fix the problem faster next time.
It would seem there’s more value, more currency in solving a problem in a way that is repeatable later.
However…
I played a gig a couple years ago where we were all required to wear black shoes.
An hour before the show we were hanging out in the loading dock of the venue when the saxophone player realized he didn’t bring his black shoes. All he had were the flip flops he had on. Big no no.
(In fact, as a rule for everyone forever, no flip flops on stage.)
What to do. No one in the band had extras his size. It was later in the evening, no shoe stores were open near by. When someone needs black shoes at a few moments notice what do you do???
And this is completely true, no lies, no stretching the truth…he looked down and to his right at the 55gallon trash can sitting there, and right on top were a pair of black dress shoes exactly his size. He picked them up, put them on, played the show, and as we left the venue he placed the shoes right back where he found them. Problem solved.
It’s certainly not the most reliable, repeatable way to fix the problem of forgetting black shoes.
But it’ll work. And sometimes that’s all we need.
***Yes, the shoes were pretty gross
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Drop me an email: gabe@gabethebassplayer.com