Creatives Often Live In The Moment. Our Art is Our Life and Life Is Now!

EntreMusicians Equally Embrace & Employ Such Instantaneous Inspiration, but We Know that Our Ultimate Advantages are Rooted in Intense, Focused Planning for the Days, Months & Years Ahead. We Define Ourselves Differently.

The Tightrope for Most Musicians I know is Scheduling Time to SCHEDULE Time for Their Dreams & Goals because the Phone is Constantly Ringing.

That's A Good Thing. Their Working! 

But, While This Next Gig and the Gig After That provides the Oft Needed Money and/or the Exposure to Book Yet Another Date, Their Lives Suddenly Are Not Their Own. Frequently They Find Themselves Taking Calls, But Never Making Any. Obviously, That's Cool - If That's All They Want. But Many Want More.

Once You've Asked Yourself Exactly What You Desire to Accomplish and Determined Exactly Where You Want To Be, You'll Need to Immediately Grasp the Required Discipline and Take Time to Make Time to Realize Your Goal and Your Dreams (which may/may not be one and the same).

Proper Planning Takes Precious Time. Sometimes Days, Often Weeks. Time Needs to Be Scheduled. Time Demands a Different Approach. Time Cannot Be Managed, But It Can Be Harnessed. Time Insists Upon a Calculated Thought Process that's as Critical as it is Creative. You Must Spend Time with Your Calendar, Your Team, Your Family, Your Thoughts and Look Into the Next Two Years and then 'Back Time' to the Place You're Planning to Go.

You Must Make Absolute Decisions as to What Your Core Priorities Will Be to Move the Needle Forward. It Might Mean Gigging Less. It May Mean Gigging With Different Musicians. It May Mean Taking Lessons or Learning New Skills You Don't Yet Possess. 

This Was Tough for Me To Do Early On.

After playing a boatload of shows that didn't accomplish what we thought they would, my band, SounDoctrine, decided we would forego the smaller, weekly shows and concentrate only on the larger dates, opening for Name Acts and Playing Festivals. This meant infrequent income initially, but by associating ourselves with headliners, we eventually began playing for larger audiences and received greater rewards as a result.

For You, This Might Mean Redefining Your Artistry, Genre or the Configuration of Your Group, Arranging it into Components which Serve Diverse Audiences and Allows Your Music to Expand into Different Markets You had Not Taken the Time to Explore. The Sky Really Becomes the Limit as You Focus and Imagine The Life You Endeavor. 

Eventually, I Would Need to Place SounDoctrine on a brief hiatus, as it remains today - for several reasons, but most importantly was to Take Time to Make Time with My Wife Lori & Our Daughters, Tejai, Nia & Ayana. The Younger Two are Now in College. My eldest has just received her Doctorate and is following her own prosperous career path. I Didn't Want to Miss these important milestones when my children needed me most. Madison Square Garden & The Hollywood Bowl Can Wait and Will Be There when I Return. By slowing down and savoring these moments, I have no regrets that I've created memories that will last generations, although I had to Secure Additional Night Work when Money Got Tight. Now Lori & I are currently planning for the Next Phase in Our Lives as Empty Nesters.

In the Meantime, I've become a better Composer, Music Producer and Event Coordinator in my region by remaining close to home and studio. I'm Making Time for the Next Chapter of SounDoctrine, A Documentary release and A Solo Project that will surface within the next few months.

Now, If I Can Only Learn to Play These Drums Better...

 

I was listening to Freddie Hubbard's "Super Blue" on Vinyl while Composing This Blog