Goldbrick
562 posts
Jul 26, 2014
7:34 AM
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Eating .
Those other guys get a regular pay check
Last Edited by Goldbrick on Jul 26, 2014 7:35 AM
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Gnarly
1072 posts
Jul 26, 2014
9:32 AM
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Frank--
You have to practice--that means time away from other things.
Be careful what you wish for . . .
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Frank
4926 posts
Jul 26, 2014
10:33 AM
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Wish in one hand crap in the other, see which gets filled up the quickest :)
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Frank
4935 posts
Jul 26, 2014
4:22 PM
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That wasn't directed towards you gary - Its a saying I heard as a kid and the saying "Be careful what you wish for" . . . sparked the memory. Family is most important to me :)
Last Edited by Frank on Jul 26, 2014 4:24 PM
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Gnarly
1074 posts
Jul 26, 2014
6:58 PM
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That was the right answer.
Unfortunately, sometimes you have to sacrifice those sorts of things on the road to your goal. That's what I mean about being sure that what you're doing is going to get you what you want.
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Frank
4937 posts
Jul 26, 2014
7:04 PM
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It's not about getting what you want - it's losing what you need :)
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jnorem
457 posts
Jul 26, 2014
7:25 PM
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Gary, what an interesting thing to say, because as soon as I read it I thought "and sometimes what you want is chaos."
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Call me J
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kudzurunner
4811 posts
Jul 26, 2014
7:37 PM
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I'm at a blues festival in Midland, Texas, and I've just had the chance to watch 60 minute sets by Gregg Wright, Jim Suhler, and Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman). Three remarkable artists; remarkable guitar players; and the last two are fine songwriters. Sipp is easily the best performer--one of the very best combos of singer/player/performer I've seen in years. (Reminds me of Lucky Peterson in his youthful prime. Anybody who says "Young black people aren't into the blues" really needs to wake up. Sipp sings with the churchy reflextes of B. B. King, plays like Freddie King crossed with Prince, and comes out of a church/R&B background.) But each is a thoroughgoing big-stage pro, and each is doing great stuff. The first two have long track records. Suhler was less flashy than the other two but was an amazing rhythmm player. Coleman owned the crowd after one song--and that was before he walked into the crowd, at which point it was all over. After 15 minutes.
There is no "best." But I suppose that the urge to become the best can be a motivation. I never had that dream, but I always wanted to improve what I was doing and that, too, can be a great motivation. The nice thing about that ambition is that even the talent-challenged can embrace it. And if you've got any talent at all, it's a good ethic: just keep trying to improve incrementally.
I feel fortunate in being able to say that I haven't had to give anything up to get where I've gotten musically--except a full-time career as a musician, which wasn't really what I wanted anyway. In 1994, I had to make a choice, though, and I chose returning to grad school over continuing the 100-dates a year thing with Satan & Adam. I was able to continue part-time performing for the next 4 years, even while attending grad school, and when the act fell apart due to Sterling's health issues, I'd laid the groundwork for the next stage.
I admire full-timers, but I don't envy them the routine late nights, often in smoky venues; the ever-present dangers of booze and drugs; and, for those who make the big time, the extended departures from home, bad road food, and lack of retirement planning.
But each person has different dreams, and each of us is presented with a different set of choices. My only advice is to honor your gifts. If music is one of those gifts, honor it. But don't assume that sacrificing the rest of your life to it is the only or best way to go. Maybe you've got other gifts. Find a way of honoring them, too. Don't die having left your gifts unexplored and your dreams dormant.
And if you find yourself just wanting to have a quiet night at home some Saturday, with an early rise (and a clean head) on Sunday morning, for God's sake honor that impulse, too.
Last Edited by kudzurunner on Jul 26, 2014 7:41 PM
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kudzurunner
4812 posts
Jul 26, 2014
7:49 PM
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Last Edited by kudzurunner on Jul 26, 2014 7:50 PM
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eharp
2199 posts
Jul 26, 2014
8:45 PM
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Are there still smokey venues?
The keyboard player in my band always set stipulations on when and where he would play.
Not outdoors. Be done by 10pm.
The funniest was he did not want to play in bars because they were smokey. It had to have been years since he played in a bar because Michigan banned smoking in bars and restaurants close to 10 years ago.
Of course, some states are probably still not there yet.
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Rubes
877 posts
Jul 27, 2014
5:07 AM
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.....yes the family sacrifice for me.....(although I took my beautiful 9yr old daughter to Friday nights gig as my 'manager'.....) for the Fri/Sat nights away from the nest, and I sacrifice VALUABLE surfing and fishing time on some glorious days as I sweat over my harp case in the Shed!!
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Old Man Rubes at Reverbnation
Dads in Space at Reverbnation
Benny and Rubes at Reverbnation
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Frank
4942 posts
Jul 28, 2014
5:16 AM
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Here's a couple goodins :)
Last Edited by Frank on Jul 28, 2014 5:17 AM
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Gnarly
1077 posts
Jul 28, 2014
5:39 AM
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"The best laid schemes o' mice an' men Gang aft agley."
Robert Burns
Thanks Gang.
Last Edited by Gnarly on Jul 28, 2014 5:42 AM
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