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.)
Seeds of Music – Where Ideas Are Born
Kyle Williams told me he got the idea for Seeds of Music when he was talking to a musical friend about his own music dilemma.
A few years ago, Kyle said he was felt a confused about what to do next as a songwriter and musician with the current chaos of the music industry; his friend offered advice that planted a larger seed.
“Why not interview successful and motivated folks in the music business?”
Seeds of Music was born! And it’s become a great site, full of interviews with music professionals about topics all artists face.
In September, while Natalie and I were living in a hotel and trying to close on our house, Kyle reached out to me. He asked if I’d be interested in doing an interview with Seeds of Music. Our talk was a nice break from my stressful month of uncertainty. Uncertainty, a theme, indeed!
The main theme of the interview was about building a mailing list, but we also discussed some of the other aspects of working in music, aka, making a living! Our video interview is here.
After the interview concluded, I chatted with Kyle for an additional hour about his thoughts on music and goals. Kyle feeds on the positive attitudes, even if the music business is difficult to predict.
I walked away inspired. His site might offer some seeds for you, too.
PS: Here are two of my favorite interview’s Kyle’s conducted so far:
1. Jack Conte – Patreon gives new meaning to patronage and the creative class!
2. Gabriel Mann: How to make a living as a musician? Be Useful (AWESOME THEME!)
Note, I misspoke in my interview and meant to reference Gabriel Mann. (I accidentally said Brandon Mann; not sure why baseball was on my mind.)
Hiking, Looking Backward, and Writing
Every morning, Lois, my dog, insists that we go on our daily run. She’s become my personal trainer.
There is a lovely, wooded, 80-acre park nearby our house that we’ve made part of our route. The beginning of the trail is slightly uphill. It reminds me how out of shape I am. (Lois says she’s in excellent shape.)
Today, after running a mile into the trail, I decided to turnaround and take the same trail home. What does this route looks like from the opposite perspective?
The sun was to our back for the start of our run, and we were treated with the sun peaking through the colorful, autumn leaves on the return home. (Plus, it was easier to hike down hill!)
The forest trail reminds me of the importance of writing, composing, or creating. It offers us to consider multiple perspectives about an experience, the simplest being looking forward or looking backward.
Often, we may find that looking backward is an easier trail to hike.
