Why do you practice and who do you practice for?

Does it annoy you when people with “half the talent” succeed over you? Why do they succeed? Is it because they have more money? Is it because they worked harder? Were they born into career royalty?

Malcolm Gladwell’s “Outliers” is a great book. We all should read it. The thing about it though, is that it talks about people history will remember. Gates…Jobs…The Beatles. People that have had incredible success along with timing and opportunity. What about those people that are successful in the moment. The one’s we forget about that planted the seed, and forgot to water the tree. The one’s that haven’t put in their 10,000 hours (Seth Godin’s Take on Gladwell).

Why do you practice and who do you practice for?

Is it because you love it, and you do it for yourself? Love it enough to do it for 600,000 minutes?

1 Comment | In: Words | tags: 10000 hours, Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers, Practice, Seth Godin. | #

It’s been a great week musically, and a crappy week for a few other reasons.

Had my good buddy Matt Wigton in town, and we put on a show at 12th and Porter. What started out as an awesome night ended up taking a turn for the worse, when my saxophone in sound check decided it felt like bouncing on the ground, after hitting the piano AND an amplifier. Needless to say, it was heart breaking…

However, we had a great time on Thursday, and the band sounded great. Derek Stroker and Melany Watson were also fantastic. It’s funny, when you leave Nashville, and tell people you live here, they all think it’s a country town. I equate it with those people that think Canadians live in igloos (YAHOO) and Chinese people eat dog (YAHOO). However, there’s not only a great country scene, but there’s some incredible musicians/non pop folks as well. Derek and Melany are two of those types. You definitely need to check them out.

Played a solo saxophone show last night at an incredible house built on a large hill. It was so high in fact, a shuttle needed to be utilized to achieve the height necessary to party.

Had an interesting conversation tonight about the music industry. Money Vs. Talent. More to come later…

Have a great week everyone!

1 Comment | In: Blog | tags: 12th and Porter, Derek Stroker, Matt Wigton, Melany Watson. | #

No Comments | In: New Media Added | tags: Commodore, Mirror Of A Man, Nashville, TN. | #

Confidence makes the world go round. False confidence is more powerful than honesty.

“Whatever you do, do it with confidence”

People gravitate to it. People buy from it. People lie to obtain it.

A bad song can be delivered with confidence to make you believe, just like a man can knock on your door and sell you a vacuum cleaner. I guess the sales pitch exists everywhere, and we have to decide on whether we’re buying the pitch, or the product.

An interesting read – Derek Sivers – “Confidence Required”

No Comments | In: Words | tags: Confidence, Derek Sivers. | #

No matter how hard I try to change it, the clock STILL says 4am. It’s amazing, that with the best of intentions, things happen, you get caught up.

Had a great night tonight. Made some music with two amazing people here in Nashville. Melany Watson and Paul Umbach. It’s really incredible to be here in this city. It seems as though my life seems to fit, and it seems the people here are ones I gel with. There’s a realism that exists I dig. Not only that, there’s some incredibly talented people, and they’re everywhere. I love it because it’s condensed. Like a house full of amazing musicians, as opposed to NYC, where you had to travel far and wide to find your vibe. Sure the real deal existed always a stone’s throw away, but it may not work with who you were. $10 cover charges, hour long rides on the subway, to never find a show that was inspiring, and go broke in the process. Not me. In fact, it was the opposite of me.

I’m a lucky guy to be here. I exist in my own world, and am searching to make that world something I can be proud of, and share with many. I’ve made decisions on where my music will lead. I’ve spent far too long worrying about the many, which further drives me away from the few. It’s funny that when you seem to care less, all your plans come to fruition.

Here it comes. The real me.

Night ya’ll.

No Comments | In: Something About Nothing, Words | tags: Melany Watson, Nashville, Paul Umbach. | #