Summer is here in all its glory and heat. My body has a natural cooling system and it works quite well...so I sweat a lot!
Looks like Ukulele Ray and Kokonutz could take off and provide more work for the fall. I'm still getting to know the guys...so its one day at a time. I'm excited about getting a group together that can play tropical music, I've always loved playing calypso, reggae style, and beleive there is a large market for the music, so I've got my fingers crossed.
The Open Mic is doing well...very unpredictable, but I like the variety..."life is like a bowl of chocolates. You never know what you're going to get." I have maybe 2 or 3 regulars, but there are always different people coming in. I love meeting and chatting with everyone.
What a great season I've had this year. The Timeless Melodies group has been a blast, I've learned a ton of new music and really stretched myself, doing real shows where people sit and expect to be entertained. I haven't done this stuff in a long long time. I'm hoping it will build for even more work next year.
I recently aquired an upright bass, and what a great instrument to tackle. I use tackle because it requires strengh and power to make it work. I've played electric bass for years and knew the transition to upright would take some time, and it's coming along well..Doing the Gospel shows with the Timeless Melodies group was my main motivation for getting an upright. The southern style gospel music just sceams for the upright. I may join another group to jump start my upright playing. If I can find some steady summer work, I'd be a real upright player by fall.
Entered 1/27/08
Hoping to spend more time in the next month getting back to my solo act. Lately I'm spending all my musical persuits rehersing and performing with either Timeless Melodies, doing my church thing or hosting the Open Mic.On the other hand trying to find solo gigs that pay is not easy. It all in who you know, and being at the right place at the right time. The challenge is meeting the right people, and getting out to be in the right place at the right time.
Speaking of Open Mic. WOW is this thing starting to take off! I'm getting 6 or 7 acts to perform every week. The place is packed, the mangement is happy and hopefully I'm developing some regular open mikers that will continue to come every week.Its been fun meeting all the new folks coming in. I feel like my sound engineer skills are definitly being challenged, and its an area I need to work on.
