I’ve written about this before today: What way is the best to write, the pen vs. the computer?
My friend, producer Marshall Block once shared that advice, that the best songs are written with pen. Stephen King swears by it.
They may be right, but I’ve tried abandoning my computer many times to no avail; I always come back to the laptop, breathing a sigh of relief. (Heck, I type haikus on my iPhone!)
Sure, the writing longhand in a moleskin notebook is sexier, but when it comes to writing quality work, it’s probably not about the pen or computer; it’s just about sitting down to work, often.
Zentz’s Law: Large vs Small Problems
Laws for Audio Engineers – These are outstanding, and more life tips than exclusive to recording music.
My favorite, Zentz’s Law: “Inside every large problem is a small problem struggling to get out.”
I’ll add, every small problem ignored over time, will compound into a large problem!
My biggest problem as a teacher was inarguably keeping up with the grading. It was a mountain, and the longer I’d wait to climb, the more the mountain grew. As a DIY musician, the biggest problem is keeping up with the smaller problems, too.
(HT to Dan Hosh from Catherine North Studios, who shared Laws for Audio Engineers on Facebook.)
Nov 10: Acorn Theater, Three Oaks, MI–open mic sign up!
Friends in West Michigan, Michiana and Chicago! My fall tour is taking me your way, next week.
I’m the featured act at the Acorn Theater in Three Oaks, Tuesday, Nov 10. and I’ll be hosting the open mic after my set!
Email sammylanetuthill@gmail.com to get on the list before it’s full. Acorn is a dream venue. Incredible place, wonderful nonprofit.
Mike Gentry is joining my caravan. We can fit one person in my car if you want to join us from Ann Arbor. Leaving at 4 PM.
* * * Other Tour News: Radio Appearances * * *
- The Craft Show on WCBE will be airing my interview on Nov 11,, 8 PM (EST) but you can also listen to the podcast here.
- I’ll be playing live on WCBE, Nov 13 at noon (EST before my concert at the Shedd Theater in Columbus that night. Listen on 90.5 FM in Ohio or stream online here.
The best offense to cliques in art scenes
Art and music scenes tend to be a bit cliquey. During my travels, I’ve been told by musicians from other states that Michigan is very insular.
I’m not sure if Michigan is more cliquey than other states’ scenes, but I can understand why we might be perceived to be. (With the decline of the auto-industry, we faced the recession about a decade before the rest of the country; and we tend to be very pro Michigan-made in response.)
Not all clubs are bad. Some of them are wonderful examples of community preservation, local promotion.
For example, to play the Ann Arbor Water Hill Music Festival, your act needs to have at least one musician live in the neighborhood; but in no way is Water Hill excluding. Anyone can attend it, for free; and so many artists open up their homes, quite a few start new bands just for the one time event! People are doing it out for the fun.
However, other some cliques are excluding by nature. How many bands apply to showcase at SXSW or CMJ? Plus, how expensive is it to attend? Money is an ultimately excluding factor!
What’s the best offense to cliques? If you aren’t accepted into the club or scene, go create your own club–one that is a more welcoming scene.
If that showcase didn’t pick you, start your own showcase. If that radio show won’t answer your email, try starting your own Internet radio show. If that music festival selected the go to artist again; start a smaller fest around the corner!
What is Water Hill but one example of starting a scene, right in the neighborhood.
While there’s no guarantees to financial success in the arts, I guarantee you that if you start a welcoming scene, others show up to hang out.
You’ve got to pay your dues to play the blues
Paying one’s dues isn’t pretty.
Saturday, I played two hours at an outdoor event in Michigan City. Before hopping in the car at 5:50 AM to drive to Indiana, I checked the forecast: temperature of 40-43°; 90% of rain. Mother Nature was not kind.
Canceling is against my ethics; however, I didn’t play my best. I barely could move my fingers on the fretboard, and I had to adapt my set, avoiding any complicated guitar work.
But the volunteers of the market’s event were really nice, and I got paid to play music in a town I’ve never been before Saturday. Five people walked away with Where the Sand Meets the Tide CDs. One lady who owns one of the local business gave me a tip, smiling as she said, “I don’t know how you are playing through this.”
Sunday, I was fighting off a cold, popping Zicam like candy, pondering Ringo Starr’s lyric, ‘You got to pay your dues to play the blues, and you know it don’t come easy.”
* * * * * *
Heads up, I have some fun shows coming up on the third leg of the fall tour:
Nov 7 – residency at: mash – Ann Arbor, MI
Nov 10 – Acorn Theater – Three Oaks, MI
Nov 13 – Six String Concerts – Columbus, OH
-I’ll be performing on WCBE 90.5 at noon!
Nov 14 – Taffy’s, Eaton, OH
