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i tease my aides and nurses by saying: "love and laughter are very powerful medicines so may i please have a big hug purely for medicinal value? jill in billing will find a way to charge it off to medicare or the veteran's administration!" works every time. lol.
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Almost every topic has musical overtones (pun intended)
The cycles of life have rhythm, duration and dynamics...
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My life used to have texture but now I get it in music. All cloth is smooth as silk. My doc says "didn't you lose feeling in your fingertips too?" I look at my wife and say "You mean her skin is not as smooth as a baby's..." at this point she's got her tongue out and he looks at me and goes..."well you to are interesting."
Chemo, just some side effects.
Texture, tempo, timbre...the last is not yer fallin log.
John Conley
Musica est vita
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Quote:
I'm concerned that I'll sort of get stale being in the same place all the time. Any thoughts?
A house gig is highly desirable for many reasons, foremost being predictable income. It keeps you sharp, too. Far from getting stale, it will force you to stay fresh by developing new material (musical and otherwise if you do comedy or other patter) for your regulars. Heck, you'll want to keep the bartenders and wait staff grinning. By a similar token, the regulars will be encouraging and forgiving as you grow and develop. It's a place to take chances that you might not in front of a room of strangers.
When you branch out from there--hopefully retaining the steady gig in the meantime--you will be able to distill the best of what you do in order to provide a more dynamic program than ever. If you do it right it's an ongoing process that keeps you engaged while you entertain your audiences. Knowing you, you will always be looking for ways to improve. Rock on! Or country on . . . or whatever.
Last edited by Ryszard; 11/16/11 05:27 AM.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Good Luck!!!
Gigging is good therapy.
Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton  Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Quote:
...I'm concerned that I'll sort of get stale being in the same place all the time. Any thoughts?
If it is of worry, it is of the devil.
Cross bridges if and when they appear in front of you - and don't anticipate any valleys beforehand, as there just may not be any.
Since you've already given some thought to the "what if" of that situtation, you are prepared to deal with it should it arise. New songs, new presentations, new arrangements of the old songs, change of banter, even change of costume. There are probably other things I haven't mentioned, but you get the idea. (One thing that has always worked for me at the fixed gig forever is the introduction of a few guests who come and sit in and jam etc. - sometimes even going so far as paying them on the side myself, but making it appear as if something impromptu was happening tonight. Those who are afraid of losing their gig to someone else never try this, to their own detriment IMO. This also works extremely well with students and young persons who are itnerested in better honing their skills BTW.)
Was it Sir Edmund Hillary who quipped that the hardest part of preparation for climbing a mountain was the first step? And after taking that first step, Providence steps in and that's that.
--Mac
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Quote:
Cross bridges if and when they appear in front of you - and don't anticipate any valleys beforehand, as there just may not be any.
Mac,
We've never met however you have me pegged. I have gone through live the forever worry wart.Great advice!
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Journeyman
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John,wishing you every success on this venture. House gigs can be a really good gig. Steady work and steady clientel. One thing I used was to try to get to learn about the "steady" customers. Most people like to be recognized by stage performers so I would learn their names, birthdays, etc., and judiciously use it in my program. I would also try to find out about the new customers, where they were from, etc.Keep us posted on how you are doing. DennisD
There are only 3 kinds of musicians: those that can count, and those that can't!
PC AMD A4-5300 APU 3.4 GHz, 8gb RAM, 1T HDD, Windows 10,
Reaper 4.77, BIAB2018, PTPA12, RB2018, Roland VS-880 DAW
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Good for you John! Great news. Keep us posted. And Mac that was inspirational for all worry warts - thank you! 
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Great news John
I'm sure you know enough songs to rotate them so that it will never get stale.
Marc
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I am so sorry for your loss and I can't imagine what you're going through but I’m glad you have music in your life – it’s such a blessing.
Good luck,
Mike
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Well they emailed me and canceled.That's OK though.Lot of musicians very few places to play. I'm too old to want to play that game.
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Quote:
John,wishing you every success on this venture. House gigs can be a really good gig. Steady work and steady clientel. One thing I used was to try to get to learn about the "steady" customers. Most people like to be recognized by stage performers so I would learn their names, birthdays, etc., and judiciously use it in my program. I would also try to find out about the new customers, where they were from, etc.Keep us posted on how you are doing. DennisD
Excellent advice, DennisD!
(And I ahould take heed and implement this more often myself as well...)
--Mac
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nothing endears you to your audience (or people in general) than/then to be recognized and referred to by name. apparently, i have a gift for remembering names. no iron-clad method but i subconsciously use word association. try to associate a "memory key" with the person/name. even ridiculous "memory keys" work beautifully. i have an aide named catherine. in keeping within the medical theme, i call her "catheter" never fails to bring a smile. tracy is "trachea" melissa is "malicious" etc. they start competing for my attention to name them.
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Quote:
Well they emailed me and canceled.That's OK though.Lot of musicians very few places to play. I'm too old to want to play that game.
Not sure why I'm writing this but I am.
I sent the place an email letting them know that I wasn't happy with being canceled out so that the Line Dancers that are usually there on WED could come in on Tues. because they didn't want to come the day before Thanksgiving.They emailed back that they were in financial trouble and needed the business that the line dancers provide and couldn't afford no to let them take my date.You all know were my head is at these days. The thought of playing again was really hard but what I did was go around with posters, called, emailed people all sorts of stuff.Forcing myself to have a life. This was so that I wouldn't be able to go through with the thoughts of canceling myself.This just gave me an excuse to not work with them so that I didn't have to play.
I just can't seem to get the interest, ambition and staying power to go through with anything.I keep trying but keep falling back.I feel like an idiot exposing myself here however you folks are all I have. Really.  
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Lay it all on the altar.
Trust in Him and keep on keepin' on, John.
PM me if you like.
--Mac
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Quote:
Lay it all on the altar.
Trust in Him and keep on keepin' on, John.
PM me if you like.
--Mac
Thanks Mac. I do trust in Him. He's just making it hard.I hope someday the answer will be there as to why.
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There is no why for day to day things. The good book clearly says "time and unseen occurance befall all men". Stuff just happens, the question is not why, but What! What to do! What to do with each day. Live it, feel it, touch it, and love it.
When we go through deeply painful experiences, like losing a spouse, child, or parent, we lose a piece of ourselves. The remaining parts hurt for that loss. Nothing will heal this except time.
God does not try us, we try ourselves. You, our dear friend, will heal. Mac's quote of Sir Edmund Hillary was priceless, keep taking first steps after a while you will look back and you will have traveled a long ways.
One thing that pushes me onward, is the understanding the God does not take away our pains, any more than he gives them, rather he gives the strength, courage, and faith to endure them.
What you are experiencing is very normal, and expected. Keep stepping, keep breathing. It seems to me that you and your dear wife had a very good relationship, she must have loved you very much, as you did her. I bet you viewed her as warm, loving, caring, and wise. If that was true then know this, that love and wisdom helped her to love and value you. Honor that love and wisdom, and fill your life with good things, honor her, by ascribing value to your life, and live it fully.
We are all here pulling for you, and offering encouragement. You RB buddy, Rob
HP Win 11 12 gig ram, Mac mini Sonoma with 16 gig of ram, BiaB/RB 2026, Reaper 7, Harrison Mixbus 11 , Presonus Audiobox USB96
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Some very nice thoughts and comforting robh thanks.
I'm just going to back off a little and try to reconnect with life. Me & my dog.
Last edited by silvertones; 11/18/11 03:01 PM.
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Congratulations and continued better luck, John. Never stop moving, m'friend.
Best, Tom SmithWin10/64 • i7-8700K • 24 GB RAM BIAB 2026 • Reaper 7.57 • Izotope MPS AKG C1000S • IK iRig I/O Pro
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