Why are musicians luckier than most people?
...most people get to die only once.

​Music gives us a chance to test our reliance in the face of disasters, big and small. Here is the story of a small one. 

​Last weekend I performed in a street festival here in Toronto, playing drums in a classic rock band. Let us count the challenges.

1. ​I have a wax plug in my good ear. I can't hear hardly a damn thing in it. I will rely on the other ear to get me through the set. Being deaf in one ear is a strange uncomfortable sensation. But, I don't tell anyone and put on a brave face. The show must go on!
2. It was raining when I arrived. The previous band was standing on stage silently waiting for the rain to let up. They finally play 3 tunes. The drummer is curiously playing softly, while the rest of the band blasts away. Hmm?
3. Our turn to set up in the rain. The backline on stage is ready to go. I sit down and adjust the drum throne. We start.
4. Disaster, the bass drum pedal is broken. Each time I play it, it bounces back and whacks me in the shins. It gets worse. There are no monitors on the drums, I can only hear the bass which covers up the rest of the band. Of course the pervious drummer was playing softly, he couldn't hear and the damn pedal whacks your shins if you slam it. I'm singing along with the bass, hoping to stay in place and make my cues. 
5. Students are standing in front of the band stand smiling. I'm gritting my teeth and trying to look cool, while playing half deaf, unmonitored, with a increasingly black and blue shin.

​Forty five minutes later it is mercifully over. The bass player remarks, "you didn't sound like yourself today?"

Cheers,

​David

"If you are not appearing, you are disappearing" Art Blakey

​Good advice. Being visible is more important than ever. Gigs are few, there is an oversupply of competent musicians. To this I would add the following.

​"don't be the best in the world at what you do; be the only one in the world who does what you do." Gaping Void blog

​Business books warn us that if we don't have a competitive advantage don't compete. See the book, "Purple Cow" by Seth Godin.

​How does this apply to a musician?

1. Who's buying what you have on offer?
2. What is compelling about your offer?
   
3. What is your pricing strategy?
   
4. What are you planning to do to keep your music fresh?
   
5. How do you present yourself to the world? Eager and prepared or jaded and faded?
   

Best, 

​David Story

Gary Marcus' short video introduction to learning something new. He explodes the idea of 10,000 hours. But, he reiterates the importance of correct practice habits, commitment, and bias for action. 

​Another good example, that you can participate in, is the Jamey Aebersold Jazz Workshop in Louisville Kentucky this summer. Each year hundreds of adults from around the world gather to play jazz together. Some are beginners, some are pros. They are all obsessed with learning to play jazz. Starting at 8 AM and going to 11 PM, they chase the jazz rabbit. A truly thrilling and inspiring bunch.

Cheers,

​David Story