2010: The Best of Times, the Worst of Times
Best of luck to all of you this coming year. We’re going to need it. If I can help you with mentoring, production and artist development services, I have a price range you can afford and I know I can make a difference in your career. The world is our oyster right now, and there are a lot of things to stay on top of. A listen to my v-logs at http://www.wedontneednostinkingrecordcompany.com/ and books at http://www.gigsterclinics.com/ should help. Professor Pooch (David J. Spangenberg) and I will keep you up on the latest with our ongoing “Gigster and the Pooch” series at www.youtube.com/gigsterandthepooch. And as Pooch says, “stay tuned,” because there’s a lot more great stuff on the way.
New Year’s Eve, 2010. An incredible year—18 months, actually. Okay, so near-financial destitution does bring a few things into focus: family, friends, stark-raving terror. But as I talk to my friends, we all seem to have gotten a lot of living done and accomplishments checked-off despite the economy.
The first thing I’m thinking of is how thankful I am for the new acquaintances I’ve made, my old friends, and the dozens of opportunities afforded me by my fellow performers, venues, and my contemporary music gurus. The list is way too long to mention everyone, but many come fresh to mind such as Ron Logan, my steadfast friend, engineer, and producer. Jimmy Clark, the best long-term friend I could ever have. Professor Pooch, Rebecca Firstenfield, Wicked-D (Don Harrison)—new business associations with opportunities full of promise. Todd Johnson (Dazed) of http://www.mixposure.com/. Randy Tredway and Helen Kennedy, king and queen of the Texas song-hunters, and their new and fabulous intimate venue “The Music Room.” The inspiring Michael “The Mudcat" Reames and partners Dave Williams and Wayne Folse. Supportive fellow songwriters and musicians, such as Matthew Gaskins, Chad Ireland, C. Aaron Moore, Diane Hart, Sam Moore, John South, Tony Vea, Lee Trawick, Dano Parr, Steve Anderson, Anna and Scott Thomas, Anne Abercrombie. Movers and shakers in my fledgling field, such as the ever supportive GoGirlsMusic.com founder Madalyn Sklar and http://www.openmic.us/ founder David Craver. Throw in new acquaintances such as Steely Dan bassist Chuck Rainey, hit songwriter and inventor Barry DeVorzon, Crystal Clear Sound studio manager Keith Rust, and Performing Songwriters International founder Lorelei Loveridge, and venues such as Lone Star Wine Cellars, Gator’s Croc & Roc, Aloft Frisco, Republic Grill, The Chilepepperama, D’vine Wine, Churchill’s, Thai Star, and Shuckers. It’s been awesome and kinetic.
My family has been both tolerant and supportive of my musical efforts, including my sister and brother-in-law who ask me to jump up and play at family events, my brother and sister-in-law, who facilitate and support epic trips to the Northwest, my mother who has always been there for me artistically and every other way (and especially so this year), my wife and all my children who have put up with missing me on gig nights and tour dates, gone out of their ways to adjust to my schedule and whereabouts, jumped in and played on various sets and jams, helped me set-up, shuttled equipment to me, and applauded while I publicly played the songs I had ruined for them in rehearsals at the house.
Since October 25 of 2009, I’ve made over 370 video blog posts—including some that went beyond the music realm and into autism and Asperger Syndrome, a gift and challenge that I share with a number of family members. Since December of 2009 I’ve played over 100 dates (300+ shows), some with my son Aaron Yuhas playing awesome sax before he left to start his new adventure in the US Air Force. All the while, I’ve managed to continue consulting and mentoring almost full time. I never thought it would be possible to do this and still stay sane (or married, for that matter—thanks Jenny).
The biggest lessons for me in the last year-and-a-half speak to the incredible level of effort one needs to embrace to try for something big. The pace of gigs and blogs was a huge challenge, but proved to me it was possible. The effort resulted in my performances getting to the best level I’ve ever enjoyed, and the reach of my influence going much further than I ever expected to see. Though the direction of my efforts in 2011 will change significantly, the level of activity will not. I advise anyone who wants to get something done this coming year not to take it casually. Your competition is simply working too hard for you to think you can take them on without going over the top.
Peace, Love and Rock&Roll…
Ryan Michael Gallowayryan@ryanrocks.com
New Year’s Eve, 2010. An incredible year—18 months, actually. Okay, so near-financial destitution does bring a few things into focus: family, friends, stark-raving terror. But as I talk to my friends, we all seem to have gotten a lot of living done and accomplishments checked-off despite the economy.
The first thing I’m thinking of is how thankful I am for the new acquaintances I’ve made, my old friends, and the dozens of opportunities afforded me by my fellow performers, venues, and my contemporary music gurus. The list is way too long to mention everyone, but many come fresh to mind such as Ron Logan, my steadfast friend, engineer, and producer. Jimmy Clark, the best long-term friend I could ever have. Professor Pooch, Rebecca Firstenfield, Wicked-D (Don Harrison)—new business associations with opportunities full of promise. Todd Johnson (Dazed) of http://www.mixposure.com/. Randy Tredway and Helen Kennedy, king and queen of the Texas song-hunters, and their new and fabulous intimate venue “The Music Room.” The inspiring Michael “The Mudcat" Reames and partners Dave Williams and Wayne Folse. Supportive fellow songwriters and musicians, such as Matthew Gaskins, Chad Ireland, C. Aaron Moore, Diane Hart, Sam Moore, John South, Tony Vea, Lee Trawick, Dano Parr, Steve Anderson, Anna and Scott Thomas, Anne Abercrombie. Movers and shakers in my fledgling field, such as the ever supportive GoGirlsMusic.com founder Madalyn Sklar and http://www.openmic.us/ founder David Craver. Throw in new acquaintances such as Steely Dan bassist Chuck Rainey, hit songwriter and inventor Barry DeVorzon, Crystal Clear Sound studio manager Keith Rust, and Performing Songwriters International founder Lorelei Loveridge, and venues such as Lone Star Wine Cellars, Gator’s Croc & Roc, Aloft Frisco, Republic Grill, The Chilepepperama, D’vine Wine, Churchill’s, Thai Star, and Shuckers. It’s been awesome and kinetic.
My family has been both tolerant and supportive of my musical efforts, including my sister and brother-in-law who ask me to jump up and play at family events, my brother and sister-in-law, who facilitate and support epic trips to the Northwest, my mother who has always been there for me artistically and every other way (and especially so this year), my wife and all my children who have put up with missing me on gig nights and tour dates, gone out of their ways to adjust to my schedule and whereabouts, jumped in and played on various sets and jams, helped me set-up, shuttled equipment to me, and applauded while I publicly played the songs I had ruined for them in rehearsals at the house.
Since October 25 of 2009, I’ve made over 370 video blog posts—including some that went beyond the music realm and into autism and Asperger Syndrome, a gift and challenge that I share with a number of family members. Since December of 2009 I’ve played over 100 dates (300+ shows), some with my son Aaron Yuhas playing awesome sax before he left to start his new adventure in the US Air Force. All the while, I’ve managed to continue consulting and mentoring almost full time. I never thought it would be possible to do this and still stay sane (or married, for that matter—thanks Jenny).
The biggest lessons for me in the last year-and-a-half speak to the incredible level of effort one needs to embrace to try for something big. The pace of gigs and blogs was a huge challenge, but proved to me it was possible. The effort resulted in my performances getting to the best level I’ve ever enjoyed, and the reach of my influence going much further than I ever expected to see. Though the direction of my efforts in 2011 will change significantly, the level of activity will not. I advise anyone who wants to get something done this coming year not to take it casually. Your competition is simply working too hard for you to think you can take them on without going over the top.
Peace, Love and Rock&Roll…
Ryan Michael Gallowayryan@ryanrocks.com
posted by Ryan Michael Galloway at 9:42 PM
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