When Natalie and I bought our little Ann Arbor house, the side door to the porch wouldn’t open. I assumed it was broken, so the door remained a wall.
39 weeks of pregnancy can’t stop Burg power.
To my surprise, I returned home from a weekend of gigs to find Natalie fixed the door. (There is no stopping Natalie, not even 39 weeks of pregnancy.)
We don’t only have working door, now; we have a changed house.
Yesterday, Natalie and I were sitting in our living room. The door was shut, like it used to be when it was broken, but the living room felt differently.
“Does our house feel changed to you?” I asked.
She agreed. The door now felt like, well, a door! And the living room felt larger. The porch felt connected. It’s weird. One little change makes a big difference.
This is true for art, too. Bear with me while I use a metaphorical analogy:
I think creating art is about fixing the broken doors in the walls that are stopping us from creating. Opening one door can create a big difference in inspiration.
Dave Menzo, an Ann Arbor songwriter, just completed a unique record. He only used musical instruments that he could check out from the Ann Arbor library. (Yes, the Ann Arbor library has drum machines and instruments available to library patrons!) The record is called Shhh…! He’s now using Kickstarter to get the last bit of funding to finish the record.
How often does a creator think, “I don’t own this piece of gear, so I can’t work on my art yet”?
For Dave, opening the door to the library was his path to inspiration. For you it might be a different door, but you simply need to open it.
New Music Coming, Baby Arriving Sooner!
Yesterday, I snuck in one more recording sessions at Solid Sound Recording Company before baby’s arrival. (Her due date is March 24.) I have three songs tracked so far, and I’m planning to get at least nine more done in 2015.
New music is coming soon; baby is arriving sooner!
Tracking at Solid Sounds in Ann Arbor
Like many other sections economies, the musical folks who have an advantage, often do well with the tools the Internet provides.
The best example is crowd funding.
The bands and musicians who rake in the most pledges and backers are the ones who initially had the major label support in the 90s or 2000s…
Amanda Palmer started a Patreon campaign yesterday, and I’m guessing it’s the highest generator of pledges Patreon has seen so far. 2000+ people have pledged to support Palmer, exceeding 20K in two days.
Let’s not get cynical about this.
Yes, Palmer is more well off than the average, successful musician. Yes, she is partially generating big number because of her initial major label works a decade ago; but the success is more because of her continual work ethic, her continual connecting to her fans, her continual risk taking, her continual dedication to making art and music that moves her.
She’s creating and connecting and continuing. All artists/creators should aim for these three Cs.
* * * * * * * *
The big campaigns get the headlines, but let’s not lose sight of the little victories.
My wife self-published her first book with the help of 188 backers two years ago.
188 people helped make Natalie’s work possible.
Sure, we didn’t make a headline from her campaign, but the small successes are just as important at the beginning of a career, as the big successes in the middle of the career.
Watching Amanda Palmer’s journey is a reminder of an important theme, one more important than money or numbers or even crowd funding itself.
The theme is go do it, now. All artists must accept risk. All creators must continue to make things. Nothing is stopping us from making something except ourselves.
Go create, connect, and continue.
Border Crossing Story, Tour Completion, House Show Review
Crossing the border into Canada
Canadian Border Guard: Where are you going?
Me: Hamilton, Ontario
CBG: What’s purpose of your stay? How long are you staying?
Me: I’m visiting friends on my return trip from New York. I’m returning to the states tomorrow.
CBG: What are you bringing?
Me: One suitcase and two guitars.
CBG: Are the guitars returning with you?
Me: Yes.
CBG: Thanks, here’s your license.
Crossing the border into the United States
US Border Guard: Why were you in Canada?
Me: I was visiting friends in Hamilton, Ontario.
BG: What do you have in your vehicle?
Me: One suitcase and two guitars.
BG: Why do you have two guitars?
Me: I played a music event in New York, so I was visiting friends on the return drive home.
BG: That didn’t answer my question. Why do you have two guitars.
Me: Um, I use two different guitar tunings during my shows.
BG: What is a guitar tuning?
Me: It’s how you tune the strings to different notes.
BG: When was the last time you were in Canada?
Me: Oh, I think about a year ago.
BG: So, you only see your friends once a year?
Me: [Pause, confused] Well, I know my friends from their recording studio, so I’ve hired them multiple times over the years to record my songs. This trip I was just visiting on my way back from New York.
BG: What type of place did you play in New York?
Me: A music venue that’s called–
BG: [Interrupting] Are you famous?
Me: No.
[Guard proceeds to search car, and examines guitar cases and guitars for five minutes.]
BG: Here’s your license.
* * *
Set List: March 1, 2015 – House Show hosted by Maisonneuve Music
- Damn Fine Day
- Tigerfish
- Don’t Mess Around with Jim (Jim Croce)
- I Just Want to Be Your Last
- Here Comes the Sun (Beatles)
- Burning Bright
- Drift Away (Dobie Gray)
- Made a Mess (accompanied by Michael Chambers on piano)
- Love Birds (accompanied by Michael Chambers on piano)
- We’re Not Here Anymore
- Mahogany
Big thanks to hosts, Michael and Kathleen! Special thanks to the Shannon and Justin from Pull the Plug podcast, and Glen from Hamilton Music Magazine for attending!
HouseShow hosted by Maisonneuve Music, photo by Pull the Plug podcast.
House Show hosted by Maisonneuve Music, photo by Pull the Plug podcast. Accompanied by Michael Chambers, my producer from the previous records!
House Show hosted by Maisonneuve Music, photo by Pull the Plug podcast. Wonderful opener: Emilio Bonito!
During this February tour, I’m having fun playing new songs, many that were written for the PVSG songwriting club my friends and I do each month. Last night, I played two songs my wife Natalie hadn’t even heard yet, “Tigerfish” and “Little Drum.” Usually, Natalie’s the first to hear everything, but I like to surprise her with a new song from time to time.
Here’s last night’s set:
Thursday, Feb. 26, 2015
Mash, Ann Arbor, MI 48105 (with Carrie McFerrin opening)
- Don’t Mess Around with Jim (Jim Croce)
- We’re Not Here Anymore
- Only the Rain Knows Why
- Tigerfish
- I Just Want to Be Your Last
- Smooth (Santana)
- Little Drum
- Love Birds
- Made a Mess (with Carrie McFerrin)
- Damn Fine Day (with Carrie McFerrin )
- Gypsy Queen (with Carrie McFerrin; Carrie McFerrin’s song)
- Burning Bright
- Mahogany
- Change the World (Clapton; Tommy Simms)
- You’re the One (Tracy Chapmen, with Carrie McFerrin)
*Mike and Carrie also did “Drift Away” by Dobie Gray during Carrie’s opening set. Video clip here.
Photo Credits: Nathan Voght
VIP attendees! Chalk art by David Zinn!
