Guess what our little minstrel will be!
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.
This Wednesday, EJ’s Cafe on Max Ink Radio will be broadcasting a pre-recorded studio interview and songs captured from my Madison show at Deerwood Studios. Stream at Maxinkradio.com from 8-10 AM CDT.
Oct 29, 2014
EJ’s Cafe on Max Ink Radio
Madison, WI
8-10 AM, CDT
With Eric and Julia from EJ’s Cafe
It’s a damn fine day, to stop procrastinating…
In his legendary blog titled “how to make a living as a musician,” Danny Barnes posits, “be wary of someone that talks about gear a lot.”
Sure, music equipment is important; but the ability to play, show up on time, and following through is more important than having the perfect piece of gear.
I’ve been waiting to have the right gear, space, and time to record some simple music videos to Youtube. Yesterday, I decided to stop procrastinating, even if I don’t have great gear.
I only had an hour to get a video recorded, edited, and uploaded before Natalie’s doctor’s appointment. (PS: Baby’s doing great in trimester two, and mom is too!) My goal was to simply get something posted. Wade into the waters, rather than take the plunge.
So I posted a simple video. I used the simplest gear I have: Natalie’s iPhone 4s, a Zoom H4 audio recorder, and iMovie.
The first comment was that I did something incorrectly. (I know, the video is vertical.) I’ll get the video horizontal next time. And hopefully get better as I go.
For now, it’s a damn fine day to stop procrastinating.
Fighting Ebola, and Fighting Fear (and Koji Donates Music Sales)
Rather than view our current two, USA cases of Ebola with fear and anxiety, we have an opportunity and reminder to have empathy for the West African countries that have 1000s of cases this year, with less resources than our own country.
Also, go purchase Koji’s music on Bandcamp; he’s been donating his sales to charities fighting Ebola since September 5. We’re in this together. (Click the news article; and Koji’s Bandcamp site.)
