Nobody Tellls This to the Beginners (Quote by Ira Glass)

Some quotes are too good not to share.

Ira Glass

“Nobody tells this to people who are beginners, I wish someone told me. All of us who do creative work, we get into it because we have good taste. But there is this gap. For the first couple years you make stuff, it’s just not that good. It’s trying to be good, it has potential, but it’s not. But your taste, the thing that got you into the game, is still killer. And your taste is why your work disappoints you. A lot of people never get past this phase, they quit. Most people I know who do interesting, creative work went through years of this. We know our work doesn’t have this special thing that we want it to have. We all go through this. And if you are just starting out or you are still in this phase, you gotta know its normal and the most important thing you can do is do a lot of work. Put yourself on a deadline so that every week you will finish one story. It is only by going through a volume of work that you will close that gap, and your work will be as good as your ambitions. And I took longer to figure out how to do this than anyone I’ve ever met. It’s gonna take awhile. It’s normal to take awhile. You’ve just gotta fight your way through.” ― Ira Glass

How true is this statement? When I shared this on Facebook, it really resonated with my fellow musicians, and the dancers, and the writers. All of us who create know this feeling.

Just because you feel what you're creating now isn't good enough, doesn't mean you should stop.

It's good to have lofty goals and visions for what your work can become, but you need to keep going. Even if you do a little bit every day, it adds up.

I promise.

The Music Business and Making it Happen

One of my band members said something really wise yesterday that I just wanted to share with you. In the music business, you have to make things happen. 

They don't happen... unless you make them happen. It sounds so simple but it's really true. 

There's no one handing you anything, and if you're not "doing", nothing ever happens.

At a minimum, you have to at least ask, at a maximum, you have to climb and claw and hang on for dear life. What he said really resonated with me as I announced my event on Facebook today. 

So, whatever it is- stop waiting. Make it happen. Whatever it takes.

Understanding the Language of Music

I count it a blessing to be able to read, write and understand the language of music. I've had many teachers along the way, most notably from Duke Ellington School in DC and the jazz program at UNLV. 

And I grow more grateful to them with each passing year! 

This knowledge is how I'm making the transition away from relying on my lame guitar skills into communicating my ideas to a band. 

Such a small effort but very important. 

It's so cool to see my music on real music paper haha! The tune on the screen is a praise song I wrote to keep me grounded before writing out some blues!

The Terror of Vulnerability

I'm starting to learn the terror of vulnerability, and it's really humbling. 

The past few days have shown me how challenging it is to show your original music to people, even good friends. 

You'll know from watching me on stage that when I'm singing other people's music, the fear just isn't there for me! 

But in performing my own music the stakes are SO much higher. As it is right now, I'll clam up midway through a song and never finish when I'm showing someone. It's really sad! 

Yes, being in the spotlight can be fun, but it's also totally terrifying. 

Time to let go of the fear and jump this big hurdle so my music can finally be heard.