turn that shit into gold

music is a crazy thing, being a musician even a bit crazier. play original music that not everyone is going to be into? play classics that everyone will enjoy? do something different with the classics and a few people enjoy what you've done while others cringe? get people to your show by trying to be an artist or merely a stylist (see anthony braxton "forces in motion")? push the future of art forward or settle into what's been successful all this time? get paid or not?

it's a personal thing - we all choose throughout spots in our life to do what is right for us at the time. leading a band requires (and reaps) different things than being a sideman, and levels of popularity and respect swoon with repertoire and instrumentation. i've had amazing experiences in front of 4 people and walked away owing money. i've played uninspired music and stuffed my pockets with cash. therein lies the rub...

so my original project "the 3x5" played monday at a popular club in downtown dsm. so many positives came out of this evening. john kz subbed the gig. he was phenomenal in his musicianship and preparation. he easily could have just blown through the tunes, but instead chose to rehearse beforehand and reveal that he had listened to and reviewed the charts for this original music gig (forever indebted to him for that). logan, the sound guy, really treated the music artistically instead of blasting our monitors with shoddy sound and acting without consideration. my friends came out to the gig-musicians supporting musicians! and with all this in my back pocket, the trio played these tunes with a renewed vengeance and passion that appeared to be well-received.

ah, so it didn't pay. yeah-that completely sucks. i don't plan to give this stuff away (and lord knows i'm up invested in it up to my eyeballs), but need to take a step back and find the abundant positives from this experience.

celebrity soul mate

i'm sure you've heard of the latest craziness with conan o'brien.

he is a very talented guy. pretty funny. phenomenal writing. great sketch work. charismatic. attracts good guests and has developed a strong foundation for his ever-growing audience.

it turns out that NBC has decided that they have declining numbers and are frantically scrambling around trying to figure out what to do. they have decided to go to the old cash cow, jay leno, in this time of confusion. they want him to move him from his pastured career (of their own doing) into the prime spot again, while thinking nothing of bumping conan and his new generation entertainment to a different time slot. just move him somewhere, anywhere, so long as they can make room for jay. after all, jay's been here forever and is the safe bet. we can't push him aside. i mean, he used to be really funny.

it doesn't appear that jay is necessarily building a bigger fan base, bringing out more contemporary guests from hibernation, or showcasing musical or comedic acts that "the kids" would want to see. he's doing the same old schtick. that same old schtick is comforting to those with the purse strings. they aren't willing to hold to their commitment to a new generation, a brighter future. it looks like NBC is ready to cling to the old, out with the new.

what will conan do? i bet he's nervous. he uprooted his family and made career sacrifices to take 'the tonight show' gig. doesn't NBC realize that? he's hilarious and ever popular. does NBC know that? he is being shown a lot of support for his work and (what some people call) genius by fans and acolytes. will NBC acknowledge this? he's probably underpaid considering what he brings to the table, yet works tirelessly regardless. can NBC understand that? sure he's young and talented, but he's probably scared shitless about what will happen if they pull the rug out from underneath him. is NBC aware of that? do they care?

people are probably telling conan "ah, don't worry about it man. thinks will work out. you've got a lot going for you. god shuts a door and then opens a window - you know, julie andrews." is conan buying that? i bet he's thinking of ways to pinch pennies, figure out what's best for his family, reinvent himself, reinvest in his career - all while keeping his composure.

huh ... i always knew i could relate to him.