Greets from the road!
Each tour has an outer experience and an inner experience. This tour has been especially wonderful in terms of the inner journey.
Outer stuff: The shows, posters, Facebook posts, and fan interaction, travel, making new friends, etc.
Inner stuff: What’s going on inside emotionally, reaching for artistic goals, new melodies / tunes that become a fresh “soundtrack” of the tour, where I stand on my scale of inner peace, etc.
The last few gigs have been quite satisfying on the inner plane, and here’s why – I am experiencing a new level of “harmony” between my playing on stage and my core values.
Here are some guidelines which hopefully will stimulate some ideas – and please feel free to disagree with me:
Becoming the Artist You Are Supposed to Be
You can’t get the deep satisfaction I am describing through imitating someone else. (You may have to start there, but that’s not the “goal”…)
Others may inspire you, but the gem and the gift to the world is YOU in your full honesty. It might feel fragile and unfamiliar to you at first to accept the idea that YOU are valuable and precious, but it’s special and that’s what I’d want to hear from you.
The big question you need to ask yourself is “what is my musical slam dunk?”
Examples:
- For some, speed is their slam dunk – and that’s fine. If so, then do it to the max!
- For some, introspection and a meditative atmosphere is their slam dunk, and that’s fine too. Go for it!
- For some, being perceived as the “best” is the slam dunk. Be careful here – as this has more to do with “perception” than “the music” and can be an ego pitfall.
- There are many possibilities – so just be clear on what has meaning to you, musically.
Be clear on what your values are, and work at them day by day as you practice. If you are blown about like a leaf in the wind, imitating someone one day, then something or someone else the next day, or employing a “gimmick” – you can’t get to this deep satisfaction I am describing.
Or if your slam dunk is “A” but you are doing “B” because you want others to accept you, you’ll probably never achieve the artistic heights you could – because being an artist is a 360 degree full on, HONEST endeavor.
If you are a beginner or a young person learning who you are and just starting to play, be clear on what you like about other people’s music as you learn the craft of music.
This can be tricky when you are under a teacher’s guidance – as students tend to adopt the likes and dislikes of their teachers.
Just be honest. What do you like and what do you dislike? It’s all ok!
My “slam dunk” is a combination of things…
- I want people to hear clear melodies, groove along with me, and get a “variety” of tempos, textures, keys and musical styles along with some friendly entertainment.
- I want to hold people’s attention.
- I want to see my audiences true bubbling enthusiasm, smiles and beaming faces after the gig. I know when people are really touched as opposed to just offering “obligatory applause.” I want to really tickle them!
After two separate gigs people told me they felt a “warm flow” come over them during my gig as their smiles beamed. Dang, that’s what I’m talking about! I made people feel good – that’s evidence of my slam dunk!
Knowing what I don’t like helps too.
While this may sound grumbly and negative – I am clear on these points.
- I don’t like being bored by a performer or by the music.
- I don’t like if I can’t tap my foot for at least some of the concert.
- I don’t like when a musician tries to “impress” and forgets about groove and melody.
- I don’t like “too much” of one thing, it dulls my senses.
- I don’t like when a performer hasn’t practiced enough.
- I don’t like when someone is too “careful”.
- I don’t like music that wanders and has no recognizable melody
- I don’t like when I see someone simply imitating someone else, (although I give beginners a break regarding this!)
Only honesty with your own values combined with diligent work of slogging it out day by day, will ultimately bring about a deep, meaningful experience for you and the audience.
What are your values, musically or entertainment wise? (be honest!)
What’s your slam dunk?
Since the original 2009 post is outdated, I have made 2 NEW walkthrough videos showing how I do all my processes when I record guitar for YouTube videos. Check these newer videos out, and be sure to get the current “7 recording tools” cheat sheet.