Hey everybody,

Do what you love, and love what you do.

the end. Your'e welcome.

You pretty much summed it up and that is how I defined it to you in a recent chat.

"Work really hard at something, become good at it and maintain that passion long enough to make it your career, or at least, a lifetime project. Love it that much an it isn't work any more, it's getting to spend the max time (whether it's an hour or 18 hours a day) doing what you love! In other words "Success."

I've been thinking abiut this quite a bit, not just music, but in life. I'll say what I think it is in a minute. But this question is a bit semantics. On one hand, there isn't anybody among us, who wouldn't trade their humble bits of success for a big career in music, where you draw a big crowd, you get on the radio, you become water cooler conversation, you win Grammys, you sell records, and make millions. Anyone who says no is lying! But, I think it changes as you age tono.

When I was in high school, a great success would be getting a band together, which didn't fall apart after two practices, and then somehow getting to perform in the auditorium, where your whole school is watching, that was like the most amazing thing to have happen. Money? Huh, never entered the mind, we wanted to show people we were good for something, lol, we weren't losers, we had things going for us too. That was amazing success at the time

Then you move on to dive bars, where nobody cares one bit if yiu are there or not. I kid you not, I have video footage of me playing in a two man band with my friend, and right in the middle of a song, some guy walks right across the front of the stage to set up for his next pool shot, I mean he didn't even know we were playing. As you hit that age, 25, 30, then you start wondering well, I'm not a rock star, but I better start earning some money, that's when you start trying to find ways to make money off your music, which is futile I know.

Then you hit 40 and your doing it just to make some part time money to supplement your job, your artist inside dies. Then, as in my case, you discover home recording, and you find great joy in hearing your songs go down to tape, or digital, and you don't even care if anyone hears it.

Do that for years and years, and suddenly it does matter it people hear it, I mean you can only amuse yourself for so long, you need people. So I say, success in the long haul, is sticking with it, and ultimately, having an audience. You don't mind some money, but without fans, or eager listeners your pissin in the wind. My success would be having an audience, if it never happens, at least being heard If none of that happens, I had a lot of fun with music, made some friends, went on extensive daydreams, and driving myself crazy trying to be a real artist...lol I won't call any of that success, I'd call it being happy

Which leads me to the point at the start. I think success in life in general is being happy. Being happy tops all lists, and it's not so easy to do!

I asked a fellow veteran once why he got into the music business. Top of his list of answers was "girls".

"Being happy" sums it all up though.

Vic

yeah, in the words of Cheryl Crow "if it makes you happy, it cant be that bad"

Brian, yep ...that's what triggered it. I was planning on a longer bit about it, but decided this was enough.

Well, Mac, it was enough to get some thoughts flowing, so well done, sir!

Midnite

Hey, I was going to post what you wrote at the top in the newsletter and you nuked it...how come?

Wrote it too fast, turned out reading like a rant.

I can always redistill it for you....ha ha

I wrote a lengthy response to the original post, now the post is gone, so it looks really lost now.

We're we supposed to answer what success meant to us?

Yes, and you still should (everyone that is). I think it would be interesting and I may share it on Facebook to get more feedback, so please do re-do it Mac and repost it. There's always a need for a positive hopeful post now and then!

Success, to me is not necessarily how much money you make, but how happy and content you are at what you are doing. If it touches others in a good way, that is success. If it makes others take a second look at their lives, that is success. If it changes others in thought or deed for good, that is success. If it lifts others in spirit, that is success. If it points others to the truth and they accept it, that is success. If a song makes people sing, dance, swoon, love and even cry, that is success.

I played as a solo and many times there wasn't a sole in the place.
BUT Of course the Manager made me play to no one. One time I was
on my fifth set and my fingers were killing me and I was drunk as a skunk
and when I strummed my last strum I head one person clapping. I looked
up and saw the Chinese Cook standing up and giving me a standing O...
I'll never forget that. I even wrote a song called PLAYING TO AN EMPTY ROOM.
Has anybody ever played to NOBODY at 2 am at some dive???

Is there any other kind of gig? Lol I played a lot of those types of gigs, and even back to a time where smoking was allowed in clubs. It was hard getting throw a night when you were smogged out with cigarrettes

One distinct time I recall a customer walking up to us, and he saw my guitar pedals. He somehow felt compelled to start stepping on them, curiosity I guess. He's looking at he ground, smiling, and pouncing on each one, I looked Over at my buddy and his face is like I can't believe this guy is doing this. I put up with it for a bit more, and then I push him away. I don't know of he was drunk or just really light, but he fell back on his butt. He got up and then Threatens me, yeah you wanna push me, I'll stick that guitar up your azz.

Well, the resident drunk, a guy who was there when we would set up on say a Saturday morning, and was still then when we'd leave at 1 or 2 at night, coms up to us. And asks to use the mic. Lol, I say why not. Well he berrates the guy for starting a fight, and mumbles a lecture at the three people at the gig... Arrrr, Deese guhhhsss herrr are farrrrendz of mine, you messes with them, and you mess with me lolllllll Classic.

I played quite a few solo gigs. There was a venue called Hedy's Hawaiian Room. That's where I met my wife. I reckon she liked my keys. Married 3 months later.

John

Barry, I wrote a song called Preaching to empty pews, I often wonder how a preacher feels when he has to preach a sermon he spent hours preparing, to a handful of people, but every soul is important, so preach it he does.