Shinybass Journal Entry 07-15

(SEE PREVIOUS POST)

I woke up this morning and sat down at my computer at 6AM with nary a thought in my head. I really want to heed my own advice, which is to wake up and be creative, but well, we know how these things go sometimes. So here I sat, and wanted to see where the last journal entry left off. Then it hit me…

We know what we have to do. We really do. (This is the theme and lesson for the day, so if you have something more pressing to get to, I totally understand.) Thanks for coming by for a few moments. If you want a little more inspiration, read on, MacDuff.

I really should have had the forethought to label these posts ‘Part I and Part II’, but I am simply not always that clever. The last entry was about using our time to the fullest, which is a crazy thing to talk about right now, but man, the Netflix binging just rages on in the ranks. Which is totally fine. We all need a break. But maybe it’s time we need a break from the break.

Just as with the rest of the world, my industry is in a wicked amount of uncertainty. We can’t tour, so we can’t eat. That’s the long and short of it. And it’s not fun to think about. What do I miss most about touring? Honestly, finding indie coffee shops and exploring small towns via my electric bike. And the 30 seconds at sound check when I can hear bass by itself through the PA. I miss the sunrises from the jump seat (the passenger seat at the front of the bus). And I miss the energy of a really great crowd.

But with all that, there is so much I don’t miss. Long travel, not-so-glamourous accommodations, and the constant and steady stream of pork products we get fed on the road. (COUNTRY MUSIC PLAYERS DON’T NEED BBQ FOR DINNER) On the road, you adapt. You find a way to make all the bad better somehow. Some drink, some exercise, some just huff and puff and complain. And I wonder if, like Iron Man with the Infinity stones, I snapped my finger, and all was right with the world, how soon would we settle back in to the things we don’t really like, or into the routines of just 6 months ago that weren’t the best? If everything were back to normal this moment, would we be up to our old ways in a matter of…well, minutes, probably.

Before all this went down, we maybe didn’t eat right, didn’t make great money decisions, or didn’t exercise enough. As a musician or creative, maybe we weren’t pushing ourselves enough to find the new sound, new texture, or new muse? So have we changed? Have we evolved?

Evolution right now is key. On a global scale, we have to rethink everything. On a family scale, we are rethinking school, social events, even play dates. On a personal level, we have to rethink a lot of things, and still push through with new songs, new paintings, and new productions. So back to me for a minute. I sat down and read the last entry that said something like ‘Blah blah blah, be productive, get up and work, etc.’, and you know what? Since writing that, I’ve witnessed it happening. Not only with me, but with my friends, and the results have been stellar.

And now the sales pitches.

I have launched into some new territory, and I am elated about the prospects. I am directing an online TV show, which is a campaign that means a lot to me. Not only do I get to work with some amazing people in our industry, but I also get to help spread the word about charities across the country. The show is called ‘The Heartbeat’ which features hosts Ken and Drew, long time friends and members of the band Sister Hazel. You can find the episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLckJuIRzIwR_tw9gRupVhN3TKKJa43B53

For musicians out there, I will be selling preset packs for Line 6 HELIX and HX gear, which are available online through the Line 6 Marketplace. https://shop.line6.com/marketplace/?addon_vendor=171 The first offering is called ‘The Nashville Pack’, which is a group of bass tones designed to be a great starting point for any bass player or producer (in any city). It’s my first step of many into this realm, and I couldn’t be more excited. I wish we had gear like this when I was a kid!

Now, for the really cool part. I have friends texting me and saying ‘i just bought _____ program, and I am going to learn video editing/coding/graphics/French.’ I LOVE THAT. The first step into anything is the absolute hardest. I am happy that I see firsthand the movement into new directions, which has taken all of us a little bit of time to figure out.

Which brings me to the point. (She’ll be coming ‘round the mountain when she comes…) We’ve hit that time in this lockdown where maybe the money is tight and the thoughts of something different are creeping in. So maybe you are laboring over this new path? And it may not be work-related. You may not know which direction you want to head. That’s OK. The big part is knowing that you need something to change. That realization is the spark. Now add some gas to that pile of leaves. Or don’t. That’s bad, especially if you haven’t had any rain in your area for a while, and, well, you get the point…

Make the change. Take your first step. Map out the plan and execute. It’s really that simple. Even as you are planning to be a homeschooler for a little bit. Small victories will be adding up soon. Good luck, we’re all counting on you. And I’m here for support if you need.

See you on the…Zoom meeting?