Plan Ahead for Charitable Busking

Yes, it's only September as I write this, but it's time to think about getting signed up - getting the paperwork through takes longer than you'd think, since you have to go through the same background checks as any Salvation Army employee. And it wouldn't hurt to start practicing specifically for this opportunity either.

Here's an article about my first attempt to help the local Salvation Army this way.

http://familychristmasonline.com/musings/give_a_toot/give_a_toot.htm

Sentimental Journeys - Horns and Fretted Instruments I've Loved

A couple years ago, in response to questions about C melodies on my SchoolOfTheRock.com site, I started researching vintage saxophones. I learned a lot, including the fact that several of the horns I owned when I was kid would be considered legitimate collector's items today, and were close relations to desirable vintage pieces. Eventually I wrote a memoir about each horn and my experiences with it, hoping that other folks with similar horns and experiences would get in touch. Many of them have.

Later, when I noticed a decent singer-songwriter being snubbed in a venue because he played a "student guitar," I though it might be worthwhile to do the same exercise for the fretted instruments I've owned and played. Unlike the saxophones, many of the fretted instruments I learned and played on would not even be considered musical instruments today. That said, it's worth remembering that jazz, blues, and rock and roll were all invented on things that would not really be considered musical instruments today. How many hipsters do you know who would confess that their first guitar was made of furniture wood and had a fake pickguard silkscreened on the plywood soundboard? But some 47 years and umpteen real guitars later, it's just a reminder that someone who really wants to play will learn to play on virtually anything, as long as the instrument can be made playable.

Again, folk with similar experiences have responded very positively. Some have shared their own experiences of how one instrument or another helped shaped, not only their playing, but even their lives.

If you'd like to see our School Of The Rock articles on "Horns in my Life," please click the following link:

http://schooloftherock.com/html/horns_in_my_life.html

If you'd like to see our Creek Don't Rise article on "Axes (fretted instruments) in my Life, please click the following link:

http://creekdontrise.com/acoustic/axes_in_my_life/axes_in_my_life.htm

Take Advantage of Free Performance and Career Tips

Here's one whose updates I signed up for. He has products and services you can buy, as well as a professional subscription (called Backstage Pass) that costs money, but every so often, he and his people give some valueable advice away for free to anyone on his mailing list.

Nearly 30 years ago, I met a fellow named Tom Jackson who, after a brief music career (mostly in Jesus music) had begun coaching other artists on how to put together memorable performances. For the next ten years or so, Tom worked mostly with Contemporary Christian groups, but he has expanded into several other genres. He's not allowed to tell you which bands he has coached, because the bands' managers always want to make it seem that the band has achieved all of that momentum, excitement, and emotion by themselves. But once you're familiar with his methods, you can spot his clients in a hurry. They show not only confidence and rapport with the audience, but above all the ability to turn each song in the concert into a memorable "moment." Which leads to more loyal fans, better word of mouth, better gigs in the long run and serious boosts to CD and merch sales at their concerts.

Tom and his collaborators often post free tips on his web site. Again, some of the examples may seem skewed toward Christian music, but the logistic, performance, and financial challenges most CCM groups face are exactly the same for almost every other independents I know. In other words, 99% of Tom's recommendations apply to us all.

To see a list of example free articles, check out our forum page on the topic:

http://creekdontrise.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=19

More to Come

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In the meantime, if you want to see last month's newsletter, please click the following link:

http://creekdontrise.com\newsletter\mdl_14_08.htm

Keep playing, keep singing, and keep sharing!

Paul D. Race
http://CreekDontRise.com
http://SchoolOfTheRock.com
http://classictrainsongs.com