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.