For those just starting out in the music business, you must measure you progress in small steps. Everything in manageable; the largest aspirations can be accomplished by planning and moving forward at your own rate. Ill tell you my story; maybe you can learn from it.
It is hard to believe that only a year ago I was just getting my toes in the water regarding performing again after a thirty-year hiatus. I had begun a year before that with a single song and quickly adding two others; at the time I was thinking that if I do get to play an open MIC somewhere I would have three songs ready. Small goal indeed; but my first milestone.
I practiced those three songs hundreds of times. My primary goal was to have an Acoustic show with lots of humorous songs built in. I waited and watched my song list grow slowly. I search the internet for funny songs. It took a long time to build my list because I utilized a Zen approach to my performance. I was less concerned about perf orming an accurate rendition of the covers that I was playing, and more concerned about utilizing my particular skills and talents. I wanted to personalize each pieceput my own spin on them. Everyone knows many players who can accurately depict and reproduce the songs that we have heard over and over. My plan was to provide a fresh view of these songs.
The song list grew to ten, twenty, then thirty. I was so proud. I kept multiplying the number of my songs times three minutes to attempt to determine how long I could play for. I slowly moved on from my goal of comedy and headed more toward Acoustic Rock and Blues. My goal was fifty songsI figured that I could play a three hour gig with breaks; milestone number 2.
One year ago I played my first performance, an inconsequential unassuming open MIC at a sandwich shop a few blocks from my home. I had made the promise to myself months before that I would start showing up and playing but it seems there always was a good reason for not showing. One day Carla (my wife) wouldnt stand for another excuse. She made me go against a wholehearted resistance on my part. I was so glad I did. I showed up with the only piece of musical equipment that I ownedmy trusty old Guild D44, now yellowed with age. I had to borrow Carlas tiny practice amp to play through. Small beginningsyet a huge milestone number 3 for me. I was so pumped up from the performance that I couldn't sleep that night.
The sandwich shop turns out was a good performance workshop. The clientele changed every twenty minutes or so, so if I wanted to I could work on a song over and over. No one seemed to take notice of me. There was no pressure to do well. Although I still managed to invent reasons why I couldnt open MIC there, Carlas stubbornness was unyielding. I kept playing and kept improving; they liked me there and most nights let me play all evening. I kept buying equipment.
In the beginning of 2005 Carla took me on a whi rlwind tour of Open MICs all over Chicagoland. Seven or eight stages in a two week period. I was in heaven. I was beginning to build confidence as a performer. Carla looked on the internet for gman Blues no one had the name, and she suggested it. I began to perform under that name. Milestone number 4. Having a name, is the beginning of having your own brand. My Brand Identiy Statement became: Upbeat Acoustic Rock and Blues
After that first round of open MICs in the competitive world, I continued to open MIC around the city. I played Wednesdays at Ballydoyle Pub, and every third Friday at Sandwich open stage. Ballydoyle had a state-of-the-art Bose sound system, and a professional sound man who recorded the performances. They were a wonderful refinement tool. One of the problems with Ballydoyle however was the excessive number of players. Often I had to wait hours to play. At that time I only drank water because I still was somewhat unsure of myself. One of those times I broke protocol and started drinking Black and Tans while waiting for my set. I was feeling pretty good by the time I got on, and asked the house band to play with me. I did some Blues songs and I really belted em out. The place went completely nuts. Everyone was Rockin and yelling out g-man! Yo da man! I never felt as good as that moment before onstage. Afterwards everyone was shaking my hand and telling me how good I was. So began the growlin thing. I thought that I would never be able to top that moment. I didn't want to go back the next week, because I knew it would be less. It turned out really well however.
Ballydoyle soundman Rick Sullivan gave me lots of good insight about how and when to back off on the MIC when belting out. He also gave me the suggestion for the Aphex Acoustic Xciter which I wouldnt show up to a gig without. I cant tell you how many people think that my guitar is the best that theyve ever heard.
In the spring I had launched my Web Site gmanBlues.com it was a huge milestone number 5 for me. It was like hanging an Open for Business shingle out for me. Things really seemed to be happening. The Web opens many doors, and has many paths to progress on. You should be exploring and leaving your name wherever you go; building your brand recognition.
One Saturday I got a last minute email from Ballydoyle Pub requesting me to play that night the regularly scheduled band couldnt make it. I didnt think that I was ready, but Carla insisted that I was. Ballydoyle on a Saturday night was a huge first gig for me. I was apprehensive for several reasons, the main one was that Rick Sullivan couldnt make it and I didnt know how to run the Bose. But I showed up with my tiny little PA and showed everyone a good time. This was Milestone number 6paying gig.
I realized that if I could do well there, I could do well anywhere. I began to actively look for gigs. Carla was always there, taking photos, and networking. She w as always around to lend a hand, setting up, tearing down, or instantaneously producing a pick when one flew out into the crowd.
It is the end of 2005. There will never be a year like this one for me. I look at all the places Ive been, and things Ive done. I look at all this equipment that I have. I think about all the wonderful friends I've made along the way. Its truly amazing.
Well thats only six milestones you may be thinking. The last was the demo CD.
I performed over 50 times in 2005, from small to large crowds. Ive grown so much in the year. I will be sharing what I have learned with you as we progress in this series.
Gary g-man Wesselhoff is an Acoustic Blues Writer/performer woking the Chicago Metro area. You can contact him at: gman@gmanBlues.com
Please Visit my site: http://www.gmanBlues.com
Author:: Gary Wesselhoff
Keywords:: Blues, Rock, Acoustic, Live Perfromances, Singer, Writer
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