The power of high cogitation

It's been some time since last I wrote. I feel its a combination of the holidays (there's my easy excuse) and just a lack of inspiration (the cold reality). So what's a songwriter to do? Answer... reclusion. That's right, I go into to hiding. I search for some sort of clarity with which to view the world. I tend to lean toward Thoreau to redirect me onto the right path.

So as I sat in front of my laptop reading through walden pond (pausing only briefly to make myself some mac & cheese) I stumbled onto a passage that would inevitably inspire my next project. Thoreau writes, "...a man is rich in proportion to the number of things he can afford to let alone." Considering I have not much nor need much, those words fell pleasingly (probably not a word) onto my ears. (and yes, I was reading out loud to myself)(try it some time, you'll find you're a much worse reader than you thought). My next task was how do I apply this to my art and in turn to my life. (because music is art and art is life, blah blah blah).

I was asked to write a theme song to a TV series a friend of mine is filming. Its a show about hiking. Now before prejudging this as lame, please note, I would not be a part of something that I didn't feel was at a minimum of 92 and three quarters percent awesome. What would fill in the other 7 and a quarter percent? I'm glad you asked! That's where my song comes in. So I began thinking about all the reasons why I enjoy hiking. I considered all the activities that take place on the trail. I mulled over the act of setting up camp. I pondered the elements involved in bear bagging. I thought about the scenery. I meditated on how my lungs reacted to different altitudes. I even reflected on how to pack my backpack. You could say I spent a significant amount of time involved in cogitation (there's your word for the day. Look it up). Ultimately I arrived at my opening line for the song. I wrote, "I keep my boots on the ground, I leave no foot print behind. I carry nothing but will, I go to war with my mind." Its somewhat metaphorical but at the same time practical. "I keep my boots on the ground" can be taken literally or can be interpreted to mean keeping your head on straight and having your wits about you. "I leave no footprint behind" should be every one's philosophy (i.e. pick up your trash!!!). "I carry nothing but will" means pack light and bring your determination; climbing mountains is never easy. "I go to war with my mind." For anyone who's ever done an overnight backpacking trip you know it's a mental battle the whole way. You have to find pride in attaining small milestones, and your mantra is without exception "just take one more step."

So I peered over my work thus far (and saw that it was good) and said, "these are all things other hikers can relate to but what makes this personal for me?" So I thought about who I am and why I choose to go hiking. I like to be out in nature. It clears my head. The exercise isn't bad either. But what I really enjoy is the challenge. Who will win, me or mother nature. Will I climb her mountain or will she make the journey too tiresome and force me back. This tube of thought led me to my next phrase. "I dig in my heels, my path is less traveled on. My burdens fall by the way, day tripping I'm gone." These words can easily be applied to hiking but I chose them because they speak on other levels as well. I elude that I am stubborn and I don't do things the way everyone else does. Most importantly though, everything that bothers me disappears while backpacking. Now... here's the coup de grace, the title of the show is 'Day Trippers', so my last line had to include those words. I wrote, "day tripping I'm gone." Now I know what you're thinking, and please fear not, you who are smarter than the pinheads I meet on a regular basis, I am aware that the show's title and my written line also work on a couple different levels (including my blessed drugs) and I touch on those in verse two. But I can't reveal all my secrets at once. You'll have to wait till I record a version of the song this next week to hear how it all comes together. I promise it will be worth the wait.

For those of you who know me, I don't usually brag much about my work. I like to let my game do the talking. I am, however, going to part ways with that philosophy for this song and say, "I've written some good stuff in the past but this one takes the old chocolate covered cherry cake!" This one rocks and there's no two ways about it. Your face will be melted and your life will be changed. Simple as that. And finally for you guitar heads out there who couldn't give two shits what the lyrics say, you'll enjoy trying to figure these rifts out. Musically this song steps up to a new level. So please stay tuned to my sites (myspace/facebook/etc.) so I can alert you when I have recorded and posted this song.

One last loose end, if you are an astute reader you'll still be wondering how the Thoreau quote works into my song. Well, just to let you know, it works in beautifully; but in verse two. So like I said stay tuned...

My true intentions

There never seems to be any easy choices left. My catch 22 is my car crapped out again and I was quoted a cool $600 to bring her back to road worthy. The issue is that I don't exactly have that kind of cash just lying around, and the way I make my living is by selling merch (short for merchandise) at my shows. So here I sit, unable to fix my car and unable to get to my shows. Lucky for me, however, I have an uncle willing to let me borrow his car.

Problem solved you might say? Well, this solution comes with a catch. We had to combined our trips this week. So as I write this I'm sitting in his office. Kind of the way a child suspended from school has to accompany his or her guardian to their place of employment. Fortunately for me, I am very skilled in checking my pride and dignity at the door in the face of adversity. By applying a little Jared schmoozing directly to the boss man I had my own office and computer before lunch. (On which I am typing right now)(I used the old take over someone else's office resources without being on the payroll maneuver)(I have to stress that these are advanced techniques so please don't injure yourself trying them at home).

The audition I'm going out for today is in Huntington Beach. They had some strange requirements in order to audition though. For example, they wanted each auditionist (spell check says that's not a word but I beg to differ) to bring a minimum of two fans. Here's my issue with that. First off, I feel its unprofessional to bring fans to an audition. Not sure why, I just do. Secondly, and much more importantly, my fans have better things to do at 4 in the afternoon on a Tuesday. Like earning a paycheck perhaps. Not to mention, (if I can continue to vent) since its only an audition and not an actual show, I'm only playing one song. How arrogant is it for me to ask my fans to drop what they're doing and drive all that way just to hear me play one song. The longer I live the more I realize the world is run by pinheads.

Nevertheless, as foolish as this whole thing sounds, this is the music game. Play every opportunity no matter what. You never know who's watching or where it will lead. So having said that, I plan on waltzing into this audition, giving everyone the finger (in my mind of course), and proving once again why I'm a pro.

On a different note, I had a conversation with a close friend about my latest strategy to get people out to my shows. I put up a profile on plentyoffish.com and target girls in the towns where I play. Under the guise of dating I invite as many of them as possible out to my shows. Knowing full well that where the girls go, the men will follow.

Now she said there was a chance that this strategy could blow up in my face. I personally can't see how that would happen and even if it did, I can't see how it would be a bad thing. At the very worst it would create a buzz. Still, on the off chance that this swings horribly off kilter, I have a plan. In the interest of full discloser, I linked my blog to my dating profile with the title "my true intentions" written on the link. This disabuses me of all liability. A little due diligence and these girls will have no misconceptions of who they are dealing with.

Imagine if I used my powers for good...

A move for the pros

The day begins at 12:35pm. That's when I woke up. Why so early you ask? (just joking)(anyone who knows me knows I like to sleep in) (I'll answer correctly this time) Why get up so late you ask? Well, I was playing guitar into the wee morning hours. I found some cool jam tracks online and just disappeared into the music for a while. Next thing I know its light outside. But that's not where I'm going with all this.

The day begins at 12:35pm. I returned all the voice mails I missed (while sleeping in), did 3 sets of 10 handstand push ups, put my bed away (I'll let you think about that one for a while), took a quick shower and started packing. I was leaving in a few hours to play a show in North Hollywood and I needed to gather my things. Every time I go to play I have to go through my checklist to make sure I have all the right supplies:

Guitar
Guitar cable
Directions
Driving shirt
Show shirt
Driving sandals
Show shoes
Hair gel
Deodorant
Body Spray

Here's how it all comes together, I have no ac in my car and since its not cool to show up to a gig all sweaty I've developed a system to adapt. I drive with my windows down, I use the driving shirt to sweat into, the sandals to keep my feet cool (driving with shoes in the desert is stuffy and uncomfortable), then once I arrive I simply change shirts, re-apply deodorant (athletic grade or better), body spray to freshen up, gel for wind blown hair, and I'm ready to rock!

So I pack my stuff, get in the car, and take off. I get to the venue 2 hrs and 18min later with plenty of time to spare. (Its always wise to give your self 45min of "stupid traffic" room in your scheduling while driving the 10) I changed my shirt and shoes in the parking lot and decided to go in early and just have a few drinks while I waited for my set.

Its always a risk going into a place to drink alone. When I'm out with friends I know what kind of company I'll keep that night, but flying solo means your drinking buddy at the bar is a wild card. This time I mostly talked to some pretty cool people (mostly).

As a few of my friends shuffled in and I took the stage I noticed the A&R rep I had invited had actually shown up. (Industry people are flaky, its just their nature)(so when one shows up consider your self special) So without further notice I proceeded to melt some faces! (That's rock and roll for "nailed it!")

After the show I sat outside with the rep and we talked business. I could tell from all of my past dealings with the fools that have comprised my experience of the music bis so far, that this was going to be a much better fit. We shook hands (figuratively)(the rep was a girl so to take the formal edge off I gave her a hug goodbye)(that's a tough move to pull off, by the way, the business meeting hug. It's a move reserved for the pros), then I headed back home.

(2hrs and 26min later)(8min bathroom stop) I pulled onto my street, reflecting on my show and the meeting after, I abruptly halted my well deserved back patting with scorn and directed the phrase "you idiot" inwardly. In my preoccupied state I managed to forget that I left my tab open at the bar and that my bank card was still sitting in North Hollywood. I almost stressed for a second but then decided solving that issue would be an activity for another day. I'd rather have a nightcap in peace.


p.s. You know that audition I wasn't sure if I got, I got the gig...

Gig inside a gig

Ah the classic gig inside a gig. Even though I am grateful for every show I play, this has to be my least favorite. Now I was given this opportunity (and I do call it an opportunity) because the person in charge of booking this show took a liking to my style and was kind enough to fit me in. (and what I mean by fit me in, is that she made room for me in the line up) The reason why I didn't enjoy it so much is because I couldn't actually play a full set. I only played 2 songs. The act in front of me got their time shortened and the act behind me started late. All this just to fit in a quick last minute promo set for me. (like I said, an opportunity) So although it wasn't prime, it was steak, and I never turn down an opportunity to eat (I mean play)(sorry...got lost in my metaphor)(or maybe the two are just so inter-related I get confused sometimes)

But I think the show (if you can call it that) went extremely well. As I played my two songs and I could tell the music was moving people just right. There was an almost faint air of disappointment that swept over the crowd when I ended my set so quickly. It was indiscernible to all save for the astute.

I was able to network a little while afterwards and book a couple more gigs just based on how well the performance went. So I may not have satisfied my instinct to rock and roll all night, but this show gets its very own notch in the winners column.

Afterwards, I had a few drinks, said goodbye to my new contacts and cruised home. I felt like some Tom Petty on the way. "...let's get to the point, let's roll another joint, and turn the radio loud, I'm too alone to be proud..."

Professional Procrastinator

I do what I can to maintain as much of a professional image as possible when dealing with club promoters. But here's the problem with managing myself. I'm a procrastinator. I'm sorry to say it but its true. The real reason people think I'm such a hard and dedicated worker on the business side of the music game is because I do two things to throw them off my trail: I show up on time and I bullshit well. However, on the party side of the game I customarily show up late, then bullshit well.


But I digress, I had an audition at a club in West Hollywood tonight and I counted a total of two things that went wrong. Basically one of them was my bad and the other was my bad by default. When I showed up to the club they had their p.a. set up for a mic but didn't have any guitar cables. Now I should have had a guitar cable in my car but I just forgot to pack one on this trip, plain and simple. So I'll admit to that one. My bad.


After I finished my set (which was pretty much me singing accapella into a mic and playing a guitar no one could hear) I sat down with the club's booking agent and shamefully handed him a burned cd of a bunch of rough drafts of a studio session I did when I lived in Michigan with my contact info and name written out with a sharpy! I did this because I was on the cusp of ordering new business cards and cds after just running out. So technically speaking I can blame this below marginal business front to the companies handling my merch. On the other hand, one could argue that a responsible artist would have pre ordered new stuff before running out of the old stuff. So even though I prefer the former, this one is, by default, my bad too.


Nevertheless all was not lost. Despite all the things that went wrong I still nailed my audition like a champ and can honestly say I gave 110%. So what ever the result, I'm happy with my performance. But I'll find out over the weekend whether or not this club books based on talent or based on professionalism. Mean while, I will try to be more responsible in the future.

85% jaded

I remember clearly the first question I was asked while sitting in front of my first real music industry exec. He said to me, "So have you been jaded by the industry yet?" I had to answer honestly. (Partly because he hadn't done anything to earn a famously crafted Jared lie, but mostly because I had no reason to lie...mostly)

"No sir, I'm not jaded yet. But I'm looking forward to it." (Good one, I thought. Way to throw in some humor) We talked for a while about the more boring points of the business. You know the ones. They have absolutely nothing to do with music.

Finally it was time to show him what I could do. He had heard the mp3's I had sent him, now it was time to prove I was just as good live as I am recorded. I pulled out Miss Taylor (I named my guitar. I know its lame but so what) and began playing through what I considered my top 6 songs. I could tell he was impressed. But this is where things began decelerate the "I'm going to get a record deal right now" train. He started telling me how talented I was...

(quick side note to all aspiring artists, every industry exec tells you how talented you are. Its part of the game.)

...but that the major record labels now days aren't so concerned with talent. They worry much more about how many units you can move.

I thought to myself, "Fair enough, they are after all in the business of making money, are they not?."

"In fact," He continued. "Many labels now days don't offer artist development anymore. Basically, you need to prove you are successful on your own before major labels will even look at you."

This was not good news to me at all. You see, I had recently moved from Michigan to California and hadn't really established a west coast following yet. To put it plainly, I was smack dab in the middle of square one.

Right then I was hit with an epiphany. "Once I get myself to a point where the labels will look at me, why wouldn't I just take myself to market instead of giving away so much to a record label that did nothing to help me get to this point?" I said just thinking out loud.

He squirmed uneasily and I felt like perhaps I had hit a nerve. "Well," He said. "That is the state of the industry right now and that is why major labels are dying out."

We talked a little while longer, he wished me the best, gave me his card, and we parted ways.

As I pondered and poured over how the meeting went I began to realize how truly alone I was. If I was going to pursue my dream of playing music I would have to go about it as an 'Indie Artist'.

To date, I have been through several management companies and agents. I have tangoed with the sharks and the shysters and if I could have that first conversation over again and he asked me, "So have you been jaded by the industry yet?" I would answer proudly (and with gumption) "I am approximately 85% jaded."

I still reserve some room for optimism. Not everyone in the business is out to get you, just most of them. But that's what makes this journey so sweet. Its you vs the world. David vs Goliath. You're music vs the industry. Talent vs. Trendy. (That last one was for you, American Idol)

The fans know there is a difference between good music and that other shit that's out there. The industry is changing quickly and though the road is not getting any easier, the playing field is becoming a lot more even these days.