Little Victories: How a Bad Gig Became Great Success
In 2011 and 2012, I felt like I had a lot of ground to make up in music.
I had traded grading essays for performing gigs, quit my job as a teacher to be a full time musician. I felt like it was time to play some gigs outside of my home towns, so I booked my own tours outside of Michigan without knowing what to expect. January and March 2012 were a crazy set of ups and downs.
I left Michigan excited to be playing shows in other states for the first time. I was also worried that no one would show up; worried that a snow storm would happen; worried I’d go insane driving 6-10 hours by myself.
Fortunately, most gigs on my first tours went fine. Yes, I drove through two, insane snow storms, but I made it to all of my gigs. I also played a few shows that felt like complete failures.
One gig I played at the Froth House in Madison, WI had two people attended the show: one regular customer named Richard Wilberg and the barista named Eric Stimson.
I played my best songs like the room was packed. Richard bought all of my merch after my set and took my business card. Eric was kind enough to give me a free meal and let me sleep on his couch that night, so I didn’t have to pay for a hotel room.
Eric and I joked that I sold a CD to 100% of the crowd that night.
Later, what has surprised me was how important that gig became for me. Richard happened to be a songwriter, and he hired me to sing on his music release of folk songs. Eric started a radio show on Max Ink Radio, and he invited me to play a house concert at Deerwood Studios for a pre-recorded radio show. (Note, that airs tomorrow.)
Over two years later, a gig that I first considered a failure became a stepping stone. I now see that first gig in Madison as a great success.
Evan Weiss (Into It. Over It.) says it best about DIY touring in his blog titled, “Start a Band, Throw a Brick“: “Touring in a band is singlehandedly the most fortunate lifestyle I can consider for human beings living near or below the poverty line. It’s a way to see the country (or even the world)…”
Performing music–and doing any creative career–is about little victories. We can’t always wait for the right opportunity where we have a guaranteed success. We have to face some failures, but sometimes those disappointments will lead to great moments.
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