Heck yeah!!! Bring back the Mockingbird. That podcast was how I navigated the North GA music scene when I was new to the area. Met a lot of folks there that I now call friends.
It was nice running into you. I need to use those trails more often…our city has done a really nice job on them. Glad to see you out enjoying some fresh air.
This topic is extremely timely...pretty sure I've had this exact conversation twice this week... It used to be soo easy... there's a stage, a gig.. do it... The balancing act of becoming saturated and still getting out there..being present..growing your audience... or sometimes shooting yourself in the foot, by eliminating your own fan bases sense of urgency.. (They'll be playing again , next week here, we can catch them then...etc)
How I (Kevin) find my true self is in the silence. No external voices, no media, and no social media. Just me … and maybe the crickets that create a rhythm to my words.
Preach! You got right at what I’ve been thinking about. The free to paid show ratio has to be benefit one another. I’m working on playing more free shows(but paid) out of my market to get exposure. That will mean less shows locally but that will allow me time to work on content. As a musician it’s easy to think about my part as writing, performing and recording. Leaving the social component out is easy because it can feel like yelling down a hallway. In a way it doesn’t feel part of the big three or not naturally to me. Yet it’s just as important as shows. There has to be a way for people to find you and something to keep them coming back online. There might be 70 people at a brewery and hopefully you get a couple people interested. Your online presence is open 24/7 whenever somewhere shares/comes across the post. That’s what I’m working on. Thanks for reminding me that having a plan doesn’t mean that the art is business. It’s my business to get my art to people who might appreciate it.
This is really helpful for musicians to have these kinds of conversations. It’s easy to think that engaging on social media isn’t your thing or ads aren’t worth it. Ultimately, if the goal is to find your people it’s going to take trial and error. Similar to learning your instrument or writing songs. It’s going to take work and there aren’t shortcuts. Saying that, I’m not great at this and it’s hard to know where to start. Having a year goal is something I’m going to work on. Thanks for the push!
I feel like there are some songs up ahead for you. There’s so much there you are thinking about. Can’t wait to hear em. I feel like it’s these types of questions that help us tell our best stories. Keep being you man. Happy to call you a friend!
Feeling like you don't measure up is proof that you are definitely measuring up. A little self doubt while, performing, presenting, or just working on something important, keeps us sharp. It pushes us to be the best we can be. When we get comfortable, we lose our edge. The fact that you care if you measure up means you are staying sharp! Your Mom and Dad are proud!
We all struggle with the consistency…..I do at least. Thanks for opening up about this. Thanks for your honesty and for keeping it real.(and also reel)
Garbage Write your own music leave John Prine's alone. It should be remembered just the way he song it not your rendition of it. + you didn't even get the words right. Joe is somewhere on the road. Who the hell is Bill.
Easy to get heat stroke if your not used to it. Heat exhaustion makes you stop and often you get nausea and woozy feelings first then if you don’t stop and find a cool shady spot and slowly rehydrate you will progress to best stroke which is when a person stops sweating and can be fatal. More insensible loss through skin evaporation when it’s dry. I grew up in Southern California and we traveled frequently to the desert in a travel trailer. I got heat stroke for the first and only time in Portland Oregon. It heats beastly hot and humid, I nearly collapsed on the sidewalk. Sat for nearly 2 hours in a cafe drinking water and holding a wet rag on my forehead. At home lie down and use a washcloth to sponge all over exposed skin. Sips of cool not ice cold water. Our toddler got heat exhaustion on a trip to Fiji, in the rainforest. I spotted it quick and got him quickly some juice and water. Thankfully me being a nurse I notice a lot that others might miss.
Here's what I've got to say Morgan. I discovered your music about 2 months ago and just love you & your songs to death! You're so you in your songwriting & delivery. THANK GOD for Sadler Vaden's work and pushing just the right amount at just the right times that will end up, and already has with me, Making you a music treasure to alot of folks like RL Burnside was.❤
Can you speak on traveling musicians who aren’t traveling for music? Arriving in a new city for work but still wanting to perform, it can get difficult.
That’s a very interesting topic! So, you travel for your career, but when you are somewhere you would like to perform? Meaning finding an open mic, or an actual “show” ?
