04/17/2014
Copied personal post promoting Eskimo Joe's and the Red Dirt Relief Fund's Bob Childer's Tribute Show to Lone Wolf Entertainment's FB page with their permission:
I apologize in advance, but until April 30th, I'm gonna promote the event on the attached pic every single day on my news feed. So to keep it interesting, I'm gonna write about something different each day describing everything i can about being a performance musician, and the experiences i had playing music. I'll cover the costs, sacrifice, trials, obstacles, work schedules, the high times, the low times, the good shows, bad shows, packed houses, empty houses, phone calls, late nights, canceled nights, headaches, heartaches, perks, drawbacks, and anything else i can think of that better illustrates the world of a musician for you. I'm hoping you'll think a bit about the people who make it possible for you to go loco solo vocal in the shower, or play drums on your steering wheel, shut out the world, soothe your soul, drown your sorrows, or shout your joy from the mountaintops. I'm hoping you will give back in a way that goes beyond buying a CD (low artist royalties. Recently saw someone's quarterly royalty statement and it would have covered some Chinese takeout.) or a cover charge/ticket (musician pay is based on turnout, so it's a gamble) Going beyond that is what it really means to support musicians. This event is a good way to do it. I'm sorry in advance if you are pestered by seeing a long post and this picture everyday. If it annoys you, then please just ignore it. But a lot of these people are my friends. They are my family. I owe it to them. And I'll never be able to fully repay them for the gift of their music that i hear everyday. Check back tomorrow if you're interested. Ignore it if you're not. And remember that you're more likely to identify with your local musicians than a corporate act out of Nashville, Hollywood, New York, etc... They come from the same place you do. They know your world and put it in their music. So go out and find them. Give them a listen and catch their shows. Some of them give their music away at their shows. Talk to them! They aren't unapproachable or inaccessible. They're awesome people and love spending time with those who give the effort to come out and simply listen and give them purpose. The only time I ever talked to Bob Childers, I told him thanks for playing. He said, "No. Thank you." I asked why he had to thank me and he said, "If people like you don't come out to listen to my music, then there's no reason for me to play my music." Support local music. You will get a good return on it. You have my word. And when it comes to music, my word is irrefutable.
