Pros and Cons of Being a Professional Musician

Recently I was afforded the opportunity of becoming a "Full-Time Musician" (read Unemployed), and I have been weighing the pros and cons of my decision over the last few months. While there are some glaringly obvious pros (sleeping in, not having to punch a clock, etc.) and cons (financial instability!), I'm finding lots of other little details that used to go unnoticed, by me anyway.

Pros

• Time - It's kind of hard to be a songwriter when you don't have the time to actually write, and my "day gig" was really getting in the way. I now have time to practice my writing (between hustling up gigs and keeping my web presence up-to-date) and have quite a few new songs as a result. Progress. That's what we're shooting for. I also have time for friends and family, since I'm not working 40+ hours a week and gigging 3-4 nights on the side. I've seen my parents more in the last week than I have in the last 10 months! I have time to practice guitar or learn a new song or two. I can blog more, call a few clubs, or just sit and enjoy being alive. More people should just sit down and enjoy being alive.
• Rest - Since I'm a musician and out until the early hours of the morning playing music and moving equipment (who has time to party?), and I have nowhere to be at 8:00 AM the next morning, I'm able to get the proper amount of rest and all the health benefits that come with it. Proper rest also leads to a better disposition, and when mixed with time to do everything you need to do, creates the third pro, which is
• Less Stress - Stress is quickly killing off the human race. I would get knots in my muscles and become so irritable that I was losing friends and quickly running out of places to hide the bodies! I always had a cold of some kind and never felt like doing anything other than what I was obligated to do, and even then I had to make myself do it. Taking back 40 hours every week was the only thing left to do.

Cons

• Financial Instability - Because I have no "day gig," I don't have the steady paycheck coming in, and must spend every second of every day in "work mode." I'm not allowed to step away from my phone or computer at any time, as I may miss an opportunity to "hustle up some revenue," and let me tell ya, that's some hard friggin' work! I have about 15 seconds to sell myself to an owner/booker, and blues ain't an easy sell. Financial instability also causes a different kind of stress that will almost negate the pro. Almost.
• It's a lonely life - It takes a special kind of person - one who loves music as much as musicians do - to be in a long-term relationship with a musician, and not everyone is cut out for it. We've all seen the same scenario; a musician friend meets a girl at a gig, they start talking, hit it off, and start dating. Then, a few months in, she's upset because he's got a show and she doesn't want him to go because other girls will be looking at him! Soon, the shows start to die down, he cuts his hair and gets a normal job. It's all downhill from there. But there are those special people out there that understand, or so they say. I'm still looking. 

Half full or half empty? I don't really know. Perception is the key, I guess. For the moment, I'm still focusing on the pros of being "full-time."

What do you call a guitar player without a girlfriend? Homeless. :-)

To everyone who downloaded "Lost In Mississippi"

What do you think of the album. I would love your feedback, what you like, what you didn't care as much for, what you would like to see on the new album. Leave a comment below telling me exactly what you think. Yes, I said that out loud.

For those who haven't purchased the album yet, what are you waiting for?

New audio and video

As you've probably noticed, I've been quite busy today uploading audio and video from the weekend at Vanelli's. My youngest son took the video on his iPod Touch and didn't think to set the orientation right, but he did manage to get decent sound. The two songs are songs off the Album-in-the-Works. It's too early in the game to name the album, so from this moment on, I will refer to it as New Album (cleaver, huh?).

I also uploaded a couple of rough mixes from the recording session last week. These songs, "Call My Name" and "Hypnotized," foretell the direction this album is headed in. I'm really excited to get this album underway. Not sure how it's going to turn out, but it's going to be me, no matter what.

Please take a little time and give them a listen as I'm anxious to hear your opinions. Leave comments below telling me what you like/don't like about them and help me record an album that you want.

Later!

Kevin

Quiet in the studio

Foosh, Jay, Jason, and I are headed into Double Wide Studio today to start recording for the new album. I'll be sure to post some snippets in the days to come as we get things closer to finished. I'm really excited to record some of these new songs. All of these were written while I lived on Madison St. downtown and they mean a lot to me. I hope you like them.

Android Mobile App

I'm pleased to announce that the mobile app for Android is now here! Follow THIS LINK to download it to your android phone.This free Mobile App lets you listen to music, check out photos and videos, read blog posts and get exclusive push notifications straight to your Android phone. Check it out and let me know what you think. 

Oh, and for the iPhone users (like me), it costs $299.99 a year to have an app in the iTunes app store, so it may be a while before I can have it placed.

Tips For Being a Lady's Man #19

Compliment your lady! Let her know you think she has beautiful eyes. Tell her how her smile makes you melt. Women will tell you they don't want to hear these thing, but don't believe them. Any compliment is a good compliment, and the more you give them, the better things are for you. Just make sure you MEAN IT! Don't offer an empty compliment, as she will see right through it.

Tips For Being a Lady's Man #18

Be on time! Traffic and other distractions must be taken into account and planned for, but don't be early, either. A maximum of five minutes early is acceptable. Any more and you come off as desperate. Any later and she may not even answer the door, if she's even there. There are others who want her attention, too.

Tips For Being a Lady's Man #17

Never rush a lady. This seems like an obvious one, but you might be surprised at how our actions alone work to rush them. Stop looking at your watch and relax. You'll have a much better evening when she's happy with the way she looks.

Tips For Being a Lady's Man #16

A woman is never in your way. Never let her think she is.

Tips For Being a Lady's Man #15

(This tip courtesy of the Immortal SuperFoosh) Spectacles, Testicles, Wallet! In other words, always be prepared.

Here's to 2013 being better than 2012

What an incredible night at Romie's Barbecue! Everyone definitely came to party, and the party was good. Special thanks to Michael Brose for laying down the groove on the Bass guitar and Brock Robbins for sitting in on drums for "Voodoo Child". You guys ROCK! Foosh and Carter were in rare form, as well, and the whole night was just magical. The plan was to record the evening, but due to technical difficulties beyond my knowledge of expertise, it wasn't to be, and I'm a little bummed that unless you were there you'll never know what it was. But enough rambling.

I've been writing a lot over the last two months and have almost a new album on songs. The guys and I are going to get together soon and begin rehearsals to iron out the kinks and get these things recorded. I would love to have an album of new material to release by the end of 2013, and that's the goal I have set for myself. We'll see how it goes.

Hope you all have an happy new year. Luv ya. Mean it.