Sideman Blues
Always on stage but never the star.
The plight of the hired musician. The sideman blues.
It’s fun to get hired. Partly because it means you’ll get paid. But if you’re hired onto someone else’s gig…you’re helping to build someone else’s gig. It’s fun to cash the check…but the person writing the check is on a different course than the sideman.
But if you’re hired onto someone else’s gig…you can take it upon yourself to make it the best it can be, to make the artist look like a genius for hiring you, to contribute something extra special…more than just being a hired gun.
»» Shout out to Sadler for this one.
The Dark
The dark isn’t scary because of what’s there…the dark is scary of what *might* be there. And might gives the story machine license to go crazy.
The boogie man has never jumped out.
But the boogie man still gets added to the script of what might happen…which can turn into what will probably happen…which can turn into what will happen…which can turn into turning around and going home.
Don’t let might get out of control when you’re facing the darkness.
»» The Darkness…also a great band.
Speaking The Culture
First Monday of the month, new Hum Love playlist on Spotify and Apple
We can technically speak the language but what we usually mean when talking about speaking the language is…speaking the culture.
Because the words only get us so far.
Knowing how the words and attitudes and norms and inflections and slang and how it all connects with the world around us…that’s what elevates speaking the language to speaking the culture.
Trophy Case
Maybe it’s near the locker rooms, maybe it’s by the administration offices, maybe it’s just inside the main entrance…but every high school, big and small, has a trophy case. And there’s always more than one trophy.
You may not be in the midst of a winning season…but over time, you’re going to get some more trophies for the case.