Gigs, repertoire, band, and more....

Now I'm moving into the music venues. I'm excited that I've booked another gig in Munich. On September 25, 2008, I'll be performing at the Oklahoma Saloon. This venture is progressing. In the past year I've been doing mostly events that I've scheduled and organized myself. I liked having the control of the room, as if it were my own venue. I invited my own people and sold tickets. But the music venues will be doing promotion too. That's what I was missing.

I'm trying to get a better handle on the songlist. I told you in another post that Bob and I have memorized our repertoire (ready to jump up and sing at the drop of a hat!). Now I'm doing the same with my other music. I made a list of 100 songs that I want to be sure that I know by heart. Then I made a second list of 100 for when I'm done with the first. Just think of the confidence of knowing all the text off the top of my head, without fumbling for a songbook. It's funny though, on the Bose website forum we have been talking about songlists and music stands. Some of these guys have thousands of songs at the ready, just a few clicks away in their laptop and they can read as they go. I've heard some professional bands use a teleprompter. Gee!

I just put out the word on the Toytown Germany Munich forum for musicians. I have been griping about this for the past few months. I want to find musicians who are skilled, reliable, professional (not to mention drug-free!). I need some people I can work with to make the sounds that I want to make. Should I go with professionals? Should I seek out classically trained musicians or the folks that improvise everything? Where are these people?

The other day I met with a musician who told me about his groups that are playing in front of thousands of people. We talked all evening over dinner and drinks about many aspects of making music. I have this thing where I don't like to think of music as "hobby" or something you just do for "fun". To me it is more than that. It is an art. I told him that sometimes when I am rehearsing at home, the beauty of a sing just hits me in such a way that tears come to my eyes. He responded with some comment about it being sad or depressing. But that is just not it! How can I make it clear to people that the sensibility for music -- understanding, feeling, expressing -- is the most important part of learning and performing music. Fun? Money? Well, they are part of it too. But if I want to fill the bank account, I just get another tech contract. A musician in it for the money? .... Show business! Good grief, Charlie Brown.