Words of Waylon

The corporate ladder.......and the music business. Some observations from a professional in the no-collar work force.

If you're like me, you play music.  You may even be lucky enough to make a living with your music.  I became one of those lucky few about a year and a half ago, and not a day goes by that I am not completely grateful for how I pay my bills.  Because I am able to make a living...a modest living, but a living nonetheless....I have had the chance to travel to some awesome places, play some awesome shows, spend time with awesome people, and overall just have an awesome time.  I have noticed, though, that professional music (ESPECIALLY that which exists in Nashville....) can have some subtle negative effects.

Let's explore.

One of the draws to professional music for most people...myself included...is that it is an alternative to the white collar world of the desk jockey.  The world of a desk jockey, in our eyes, is a world in which colors are duller.  The white collar, or corporate, folks are always looking for the NEXT thing...the next promotion, the next raise, the next ____________.

I have some startling news.  Professional music can be strikingly similar....

In this corner.....desk jockeys.                In this corner....musicians
1.  Promotion                                            The Artist Gig
2.  Corner Office                                       The Major Label Artist Gig
3.  Quarterly Bonus                                   Endorsement Deals
4.  Sucking up to the boss                         Sucking up to people who could get you work
5.  Shameless Self Promotion                   Shameless Self Promotion....

Alright.  So those are just a few.  It is really quite amazing how similar the "corporate ladder" is to the world of Nashville music.  Maybe you don't have the "grass is always greener" attitude.  But I do.  And it's driving me crazy.  So if you share this attitude...let's try this.  Let's not worry about the guy that "isn't as good as you" who has the big gig.  Let's not worry that the guy who "isn't as good as you" got his guitar at cost.  Let's just be happy that we get to play music, pay our bills, and eat close to 3 meals a day. 

          

Perfection, or a fraction thereof

I've been somewhat obsessed with perfection lately.  Perfection can wreak havoc on honesty.  And honesty is essential to great art.  (Or average art...or even below average art...okay honesty is just essential.)

There is a lot of talk these days about the direction of country music.  A LOT of talk.  There's been name calling.  There's been tight pants.  There's been lip synching.  It has all the elements of a middle school talent show.  What the country music genre doesn't have, though, is honesty.  I don't really care who's fault it is.  Blame the record label executives, blame the songwriters, blame the fans.  You choose.  I have no problem with those people.  I have a problem with myself.  As a professional in this industry, I have found myself more and more OBSESSED with perfection.  Every note has to be perfect, every song has to be perfect, and everything has to be PERFECT.

And here's the problem with perfection...as soon as I say something is "perfect" or "imperfect," I'm judging it based on how I think it will be received.

So let's start making art again.  Just write the song.  Just play the notes.  Just do what you love.  That's what I'm gonna do.  Who cares how our art is received.  I've always wondered why music from the 1500s is still regarded as the best of all time.  We've had over 500 years to improve ourselves...are we not improving because we are not as honest?

The Bottom Line

Finances.  Art.  Entrepreneurship.  They do not go hand in hand.  Even if they did, that would be three hand-holds going on and it would still be weird. 

After my first year as a self-employed musician, I have learned a little about a lot.  Here is my greatest lesson so far:  I will never be able to control my top line.  (For those of you who aren't business savy, "top line" refers to income, cash, dough, benjamins, etc...)  While I can certainly take steps to market myself and my skills, there will never be any sort of guaranteed income.  No steady paycheck.  No amount I can count on from year to year.  There will be good years.  There will be bad years.

My advice to you, then, is to be born into a rich family.  If that isn't possible, here's the next best thing:  Control your BOTTOM LINE.  If you are a musician or of another trade and are considering the step into self employment, there is no greater advice than to control your expenses.  Being able to live a year on less than what most people make in half of that time has proven to give me a jump start in the early phase of my music "career".  It's allowed me the freedom to go on gig runs with short notice, try new things with music, and produce low budget projects.  If I had run out of money, I'd be working at Starbucks and none of these things would have happened.  I would be getting free espresso, though, so I'd probably be able to play that Eddie Van Halen solo that's been taunting me....

I know you need that new Tele.  I know you need that new Matchless Amp.  But trust me.  You need to eat for the next year.  Let's not be starving artists anymore. 

I hope you have learned.        

Georgia Southern

Hey y'all...did I pronounce that right?  I just got back from doing a show in Georgia.  To be more specific...South Georgia.  There is a creatively named college there....Georgia Southern.  I bet you didn't see that coming.  Here is a picture

The show was part of their "Day 1" event which is sort of a pep rally/welcome for incoming students.  As part of their welcome we rocked their faces off.  I think both the students and their faces appreciated the fact that we didn't play our full 90 minute set...

Here is something I think is cool.  Their mascot is named Freedom and he looks like this...

Freedom is the one on the top. 

It's a freakin' bald eagle!  I don't care who you are...that's cool.  Here's Freedom with the band and crew.

To summarize...your Monday probably wasn't as cool as my Monday because you didn't get to hang out with a bald eagle.

Little Portugal

We arrived in Toronto on Thursday afternoon for a string of shows through Tuesday night...

Toronto has to be about the coolest city I've been to.  It's clean, fun, active, and they have a freakin' space needle.  Speaking of cool, check out the view from our hotel bar....

 That's right.  Left field of the Rogers Centre where the Blue Jays play.  Not a bad choice as far as lodging is concerned.

We played a small club in a Portuguese area of town; it's what we call a "fill in gig".  Sometimes bands play small shows between the big shows to keep the schedule full.  It was a ton of fun.  Small bars in cultural areas are some of my favorite places to play.  It's a much more personal performance and the band really gets to interact with the folks.  And in this case, those folks are Canadian.  So that means they're extra nice.  Here's a picture of the Dakota Tavern in Little Portugal...

String lights AND an upright piano?  I don't think you could ask for much more....

Start Your Engines

Nascar?  Awesome.  Pocono Raceway?  Also awesome.  Playing the pre race concert at Victory Lane before the Go Bowling 400 at which my friend and frontman Eric Beddingfield sang the national anthem?  More towards the upper end of the awesome scale as compared to the previous two subjects.     

Is there anything that stands atop the awesome scale, a full spot above playing in front of the grandstands at a 100,000 seat raceway?  Yes.  Here is a picture.

That is, in fact, the real Chuck Jones in the background.  What is that we're sitting upon?  Oh yes, you guessed right.  It's the pit box of the Burger King car.  That's how we roll.  Pun intended.  I shall leave you with one last picture....my view from the stage during sound check, if you care to take a gander...

On The Road Again

Hello reader.  I decided to start writing on this again because my life is getting interesting to the outside world.  While I find grilling every night and teaching every day to be quite interesting, it probably isn't to you.  So here goes....

I've spent the past few months away from stages and roads.  Most of my time has been spent teaching guitar lessons or producing songwriters' demos.  I absolutely LOVE both of the aforementioned activities.  The next few months, though, will be quite different.  August 1st will bring with it a very big change of scenery: a 5 week tour.  Here is a picture of what you can expect that to look like:

Pretty crazy, I know.  Try to contain your jealousy.  The road will take us up through the Northeast for some NASCAR races, into Canada for some festivals, back down south for more NASCAR, and back up to Canada for more festivals. 

I hope to keep you updated as this tour unfolds.  Until next time....here's another picture from a previous ELB gig.

Worship With Some Music

If you are a Christian musician, I want you to try something.  I want you to sit down with your instrument and worship with it.  Forget about art.  Forget about vocation.  Remember that you have been blessed with a talent.  So "play skillfully on your instrument and sing with joy", for the Lord delights in you and your praise.  If at all possible, get some other people to join you.  There should be no lights, PA systems, or teleprompters.  Only instruments and voices in unison.

We were created to worship.  Don't let it be misguided.

The Competition of Music

When did music become so competitive?  How can art be competitive? 

Two days have passed since the Grammy awards and I can't stop asking these questions.  I live in Nashville.  Music City.  Most of the country's most popular music is recorded here.  Underneath the artistic surface, though, is an extreme sense of competition.  Everyone is always looking for the next best gig.  Everyone goes to shows and stands in the back with their arms crossed saying "I can do that better."  I'm guilty of it.  I used to play music for free in church bands and local rock clubs because I loved it.  It was so fun.  But since I've entered into a professional music realm, I've noticed the competitive nature in me slowly creep up and begin to snuff out some of that raw energy and passion that consumed me early on in my musical life.  Does it come with age?  Does it come with money?    

I haven't been able to stop asking myself...why do we make music so competitive?

A Business Endeavor

I like playing guitars.  They're fun.  But while traveling around on a bus with a bunch of dudes that play notes is fun, it was always a means to an end for me.  My ultimate goal has always been to be a music producer.  So I basically wanted to go on the road so I could get off the road.  And then I wanted to be a session player so that I could quit to be a producer.  In all of my planning it never dawned on me to just skip ahead to what I want to do....

So here I am.  Music producer.  Awesome.  What does that mean?  I don't know.  Ask 100 producers what they do and you'll get 100 different answers.  Here's my best answer.  I work closely with an artist to create a product that fully retains his or her musical and artistic vision.  Whoa.  How'd that sound?  Hopefully good.  I spend at least 7 minutes thinking it up.

Here are the facts.  I work from home.  I am not rich and, therefore,  I don't have a $50,000 gear collection.  So it is pointless for me to say I can create a product that is sonically comparable to records on the radio.  But what I do have is musical talent and vision.  My focus is ALWAYS on helping an artist develop the songs.  I spend lots of time arranging and writing parts that enhance the message or story of the song.  That way, when they decide it's time to drop the bucks on a "pro" studio or pitch their songs to publishers, nothing will be lost in translation.

Listen to this...

Creation

When's the last time you listened to a song because of how much money it made?  When's the last time you listened to a song because of how you felt other people would react to it?  When's the last time you liked a movie because of how much it grossed on opening weekend?  What's that?  These have never happened to you?

That's because you're human.

I live in Nashville.  Music City.  There is music everywhere and most of it is less than awesome.  There is SO MUCH talent here, yet the music that Nashville produces leaves a lot to be desired.  Why, you ask?  It's created for you, the listener.  It's created as the product of a business.  From the moment a popular Country or CCM song is conceived, there begins the question process: "how will this be received by the public?"  "Is this radio friendly?"  "Should we add a keytar?"  (Answer to the last one = ALWAYS add a keytar)

What would happen if songwriters and artists created music for the sake of creating music?  What if people made music for themselves and just shared it with people for the sake of sharing it with people?  I'll tell you what would happen.  We would get timeless music that could impact people for generations. 

200 years ago, Beethoven wrote his fifth symphony.  Still awesome.  40 years ago Led Zeppelin released their 4th album.  Still awesome.  In 30 years, people will hear about big trucks, loose women, and beer.  Not awesome. 

If you are a musician, create music for the sake of creation and just go where your art takes you. 

Word To Yo Moms

Hello person.  I have been away from music...well, lucrative music...for a short while but a project recently fell into my lap.  A cool project with fresh hip to the hopness.  A Christian Rap project.  I wasn't sure what to expect when I first learned that those files would be sent my way but... I was amazed.  There is an AWESOME movement in the Christian Rap industry right now and I HIGHLY encourage you to check it out.  Some of the most passionate delivery of the truth of the gospel that I have heard in a VERY long time.

Some Geetar News

Anyone there?  No?  Well I like talking to myself anyway. 

Some news from the guitar world if you all are interested.  There is a young artist in town named Jesse Keith Whitley.  He's a pretty cool guy.  I've known Jesse for over a year now but I just recently started playing with him.  We played the National Cornhole Tournament at Gaylord Opryland on Saturday.  That is what's up.  I think I foresee a 2013 tour of above average not so competitive drinking game competitions..... 

Let there be Vocals

I'm nearing the end of a pretty cool recording project involving a friend of mine.  It's one of the few times I get to work on music that involves vocals so it's been very fun and challenging to record and produce an artist.  I usually just produce my own material and I think all of my ideas are awesome.  There is very little conflict.

Play Ball

Well a few days ago something cool happened.  A commercial that my friends at Rhino Media Productions created was shown on national television during a White Sox game.  That's pretty cool.  Another cool fact about that commercial is that I produced the music for it.  So my music was heard by a national audience.  A national audience of people watching the commercials during a White Sox game during the afternoon on a weekday, but a national audience none the less.

Audition

Hello friends

Well...I have an audition next week.  Out of NOWHERE.  Seriously.  A friend of my girlfriend's friend's boyfriend (Got that?  There will be a quiz later.)  plays for Randy Houser and Randy is on the hunt for a guitar player.  Well....that trickled all the way down to me.  I have an audition set up for next Wednesday.  I'll be honest...I'm a little nervous.  This would be my first legit gig.  It's very daunting.  But equally as exciting.  Thank you for reading.  Goodbye for now.

Out With A Bang

So how have you been?  I've been alright, thanks for asking.  It's been a busy couple of weeks.  Here is a picture.

Isn't that cool?!?  I honestly never thought I'd get to say that I played the Riverfront stage at the annual CMA fest in Nashville.  But I did.  And it was awesome.  It was by far the coolest gig I've ever been a part of.  They had M&M's in the green room so you know it was legit. 

The CMA fest marked the end of the road for me with ELB.  I am extremely grateful for what this past year has brought me and I am nothing but excited to see what the following years have to offer.    

The Devil Went Down To Arkansas

What's big, has a beard, wears a huge hat, and plays a mean fiddle?  Ok besides your grandma...

Mr. Charlie Daniels.  Hopefully there isn't too strong of a resemblance.  There is a stage in Newport, Arkansas that he will be headlining tonight and I'll be in the opening act juggling flaming chainsaws.  Blindfolded.  In a space suit.  Oh wait no that's tomorrow night.   

Change Up

So there has been a slight change of direction in my musical career as of late.  My time with ELB is coming to an end.  We will be parting ways, on good terms, after we play the CMA festival in Nashville.  (Pretty cool, eh?)  The long, grueling van trips on the weekends were starting to impact my health.  As much as I enjoy playing with that band, it's time to be done.

The next chapter in the book of Steve's life: starting a business.  I have been producing production music for a video production company that produces videos.  I also eat produce that produces nutrients....productions.  But seriously, I make custom production music and it's time to take that seriously.  So here we go.  A new adventure.  Hopefully it's as exciting as my early days as a Native American fur trader.