Six Months Have Come and Now are Gone

My, how time flies. As it does time passes continually but our perception of time can vary dramatically depending on our state of busy-ness or lack thereof. The past six months at PAS has been a roller coaster of projects ranging from small sporadic projects to large time consuming projects that seemed to have no end. But I am happy to report that all of the major projects have been completed and the remaining minor projects will successfully be wrapped up by the end of the week.

To give you an idea of the range of projects that have come across my desk or that I have proposed, I've compiled an overview:

482 marketing contacts called and/or emailed, 376 publisher contacts and 3253 reviews organized into a single cohesive document, 140 reviews personally processed and distributed, 183 scores and audio compiled and re-organized for the 2014 PASIC Listening Room, 47 tours ranging in age from 2 to 80+, 2 proposals written and submitted, 18 blog posts, 9 private and special events, and 9 well-known musicians met including (DJ Fontana, Gene Markowitz, Dan Hunt, Musicians and Cast Members from Memphis The Musical, Mark Schulman, Eva Gardner, Dr. Michael Bakan, Brian Dunn, and Porter Carrol), also got to pit sit in a fun show with Jeff Snider for Addams Family the Musical. I've even assisted in the photography of a few museum collection pieces that may or may not have been published in either Percussive Notes and/or Rhythm Scene, along with research for exhibit posters and articles to be written about various objects in the permanent collection.

On top of the various projects that been completed there are a handful of day-to-day tasks that the intern does to keep PAS and the Rhythm Discovery Center operating: Point of Sale cash handling, cleaning of collection and galleries, on-going inventory, receptionist, and security. These are all tasks that must be maintained on a daily basis to ensure the cleanliness and safety of our museum for our guests.

After a long, not so long, six months I am moving on to another job around the Indianapolis area where I will fulfill the remaining terms of my lease at my apartment. After that, my girlfriend and I are planning to move to Orlando where we can both pursue our musical dreams, auditioning for various performing groups and creating unique original music. Looking forward to lots of new things this year and I would personally like to thank the Percussive Arts Society in offering me this opportunity to see a little more of the inside track of the business side of music and a non-profit organization.

Here’s to the future, whatever it may bring!

Field trips, Education, Learning, and Responsibility

I just got word that more and more schools across the country are eliminating field trips. At first I thought, well maybe the budget isn't there? Nope, after talking with various people on the subject there’s just simply not enough time in the day to study for the standardized testing that is being implemented more and more. Therefore, the field trips to theaters, museums, and zoos are being cancelled.

When I was a kid the thing I looked forward to and made sure to study harder for, as to not be left out, were the field trips. The simple truth is that more learning, if nothing else, more inspiration came from going on field trips. No one likes being stuck in a class room with their head buried in a book all day long for months on end; even the most seasoned book nerd needs a breather from time to time. I remember watching students and even the toughest teachers light up at theater performances because we are all children inside and strive to find that sense of wonder in the world. That, to me, was the point of field trips, to inspire and educate from an alternative perspective. Sometimes it just reinforced what we were learning in class, affirming to us students that our teacher was not just feeding us a line of malarkey.

How are students ever going to learn what variety of options are available to them in the world? Besides food service, what they see on television (which isn't great) or whatever their parents already do, where are the next generation of students going to learn that they can be a dancer, singer, musician, artist, zoologist or really ANYTHING they want? I, personally, would not have become a musician had I not been exposed to lots of varying performances through field trips.

The problem is that the people making these changes, the administrators of the world, can’t see past their pocket book enough to know that a world with a strong arts foundation will be stronger in all other areas.

At this point we've put all of the responsibility of teaching our kids into the hands of the government. Let’s be honest, do you really want the government controlling what is being taught to your kids? Do you trust them to teach the truth in history? I know the history that was taught to me did not include all of the truth or at least did not offer up varying perspectives. So it was a bit of a shock to learn the many truths that are skewed in lieu of trying to control the flow of information. 

Math and science are integral to music, but the converse is the true as well. Without music and creative thinking many of our science breakthroughs may not have happened as they did. They work hand in hand. Why not embrace all forms of creative thought? Who knows, this might inspire people to think outside of the narrow minded box that society has built and maybe create some happiness?

Imagine that, a world where creative thought is embraced and awarded more than standardized testing. Wouldn't it be nice to live a happy life not being told you’re not good enough or not as good as someone else based off of a test score? Our society is completely obsessed with numbers and labels. If you don’t fit into a specific number or label of some kind, you’re weird or outcast from the group. But this is where teachers are outnumbered; it is not the teacher’s job to teach students the basics of accepting and understanding everyone, at least it hasn't been. Teachers have always taught math, science, music, art, and history, what have you and the good ones teach us how to love and understand each other as well. Parents have always been expected to love and care for their children and it’s always been assumed that they are teaching them what they need to know to survive in the “real world.” But the truth of the matter is most children have no understanding of these concepts before they enter the school system, leaving the teachers to try and cram in the basics along with all of the specialized areas.

But what if the roles were reversed? What if parents were required to teach their kids math, science, and history to be accepted into the school system each year leaving teachers free to help kids become more creative and expand their skills? Who better to cater to the individual needs and varying learning habits of each student than their own parents, just a thought? The saying goes, if it ain't broke don't fix it! Well I'm pretty sure our education system is broke and we desperately need to fix it. Hope this inspires some creative thought or conversation about the topic; let’s find a way to help our kids because they don't know any better.

The End is Only Just Come to the Beginning

As I begin the end of my internship here at the Percussive Arts Society I can’t help but reflect upon what I've been through to get here. But more directly what it’s going to take to get to where I’m headed. Sacrifices have been made, but not in vain. From this point on rebuilding is in sight.

I braved bone shattering temperatures during the polar vortex to get to work everyday for months. I've put every relationship on thin ice coming here to pursue an opportunity I wasn't even sure would turn into anything more. But as I do, I can turn even the sourest lemon into the sweetest lemonade. The opportunity I was expecting to pursue folded from underneath me but as life does, it threw me a wonderful curve ball and because I've been thrown so many the past few years I was able to hit out of the park. You can never really be ready for the curves of life, but if you've seen what they look like it’s much easier to adjust accordingly instead of being thrown off balance by them.

So much has happened in the last two weeks. It’s a bit surreal coming back to work and really starting the process over again. From a week long stint on the tour crew for Lindsey Stirling spanning seven cities in seven days, to a Grand Night for Singing at the University of Kentucky, to horse-back riding with my girl at the Kentucky Horse Park gaining grand sunburns, to one of the most beautiful drives I have ever been privy to.

Tomorrow I start training for a job I've been interested in for a long time. As a carriage driver in downtown Indianapolis I will be gussied up in a tux and top hat and courier people about town in a horse-drawn carriage. Outside, breathing the fresh air, getting to meet new people all night, and getting to spend time with grand draft horses. I ask you, what could be better? I only know of two jobs I would rather do than that and if all goes well, when fall comes I will be doing one of those jobs. A bit vague in the description? You bet! Until everything is finalized and I’m doing said job I don’t want to build up too many expectations because I want this to be something that continues further into my career. But for now I’ll be driving horses, looking for daytime work, and drumming.

Even in the midst of all that has happened and is still to come, I can’t forget to keep my chops up. Practicing keeps my hands stretched and my inner clock strong and steady. Opportunities to play may not be flying at me but when I do get one good opportunity I want to be ready for it, whatever it may be.

Bitter sweetness!

After one week out on my first tour, I've made new friends and feel closer than ever to my dreams. Happy to say it was with good people and a great crew with Lindsey Stirling; I couldn't have asked for a better experience. Although it was a tough week, lots of long hours, the performances make it all worth while. I love getting to be a part of the show, the Kabuki drop is one of the most impactful parts of the show and I was responsible for making it happen consistently every night. I also love watching performers who are completely exhausted at the end of a show. That tells me they really are putting everything they have into their performances. She is one of the hardest working people in showbiz right now.

The band, the dancers, and the crew are some of the hardest working and nicest people that I have ever met. Everyone is on board to work hard and help grow. No one ever says, “That’s not my job,” we all just step in and help where necessary. We were all pretty happy and positive, even with the long days; simply because we knew we were are all working toward a common goal, making the best show possible.

The local crews have the potential to make or break your spirit, to a degree. Truth is that not every local crew is created equal. If you ever wonder why touring crew members are always a bit on edge or seemingly grumpy? It’s because they’re never quite sure what they’re getting themselves into. One city can be great, barely having to give instruction and the workers do exactly what you need. But in the next city, not that far away, it can be completely opposite where no one knows how or what to do and even when given clear instructions, Do Not Un-tape ANY of the Cable Looms!, they still continue to undo all of your pre-taped cables.

How bitter sweet it is to realize where you belong knowing you can’t stay. For now I move forward waiting to return to the stage where the comfort of friends and family await.  I hope to continue to find work in the touring world, whether it is on a tech crew or behind a drum set either way I would be happy and willing to work harder than anyone you know.

Walking the path

It seems that people are superbly interested in the success of others but not until after they seem to have arrived. Or where they came from, the beginnings of their stories, intrigue the public. But never do they seem involved in the process while its happening, the pangs of struggle through which their success is created. Truth is no one really knows who will be successful or not, especially in performing arts. But how many captivating stories are we missing out on because they never broke through the steel ceiling of the societal idea of success.

Success contains so many different variables that it truly cannot be measured by all of them. So society tends to focus in on the ones that can be measured easily: money, stature (job title), possessions or perceived stability. But for many these lines drawn in the sand by society are still just imaginary goals. Take me, for instance. At this point in the year I have already made more money than I did all of last year combined and been able to pay off some bills. Keep in mind that I still struggle from week until my next payday. But every time that check hits my account I’m accomplishing goals no matter how small they might be.

Financial stability and stature are structures perceived to be something attainable. Unless you’re independently wealthy and have money in the bank that is making more in interest than you can spend there’s no such thing as stability. The only real stability in life is the trust you have in yourself and those around you. Can you rely on the person you’re standing by to help you when you need it? I have a very small group of people, friends and family that I trust to the ends of the earth.

Even though this paycheck is coming to a close, I’m already searching for the next step to get me where I’m going. I will get there. It might take me a lifetime but I’ll get there. A lifetime of windy roads and detours will get me where I need to be, for it is not the destination but the path we walk that defines us.

Opportunities Surround Us

Opportunities are everywhere in every single little moment. The decisions we make shape who we become and are affected by the environment that surrounds us. If we put ourselves in the best possible position for success then it’s only a matter of time and determination. “Success is the intersection in which preparedness and opportunity meet.”

I used to think that opportunities came in gigantic life changing events. They sure can, but the ones that shape our day-to-day are tiny. Often indistinguishable to the average person, opportunities pass us by every moment of every day. Creating and maintaining a strong work ethic has kept me in the good graces of many great people, but has now provided me an opportunity. Most would look at it and see it as an unstable life choice, but I see much more. Because how I conduct my work in the next 10 days could affect my whole life.

Now, not to break the creative and spiritual mojo here but I need to put everything into perspective. I have built my life upon lowering or eliminating my expectations, because if I go into an opportunity with the highest of expectations to rule the world afterwards, I’m going to be let down. But if I go into a situation looking for the smallest things I can improve upon or just simply bringing everything I have to the table, no opportunity will be wasted. So with the next week I invest everything.

Sometimes it takes someone willing to take a chance or at least not to say “No” right off the bat. I’ve always maintained that those who are willing to talk to me, to look me in the eye, will see the fire that burns deep inside. But in this day and age electronics and social networking make it far more difficult to reach out and convince people that there’s something different about you.

If you haven’t figured it out yet, there’s something different going on here something you’ve never experienced before. It will be good regardless, but you have the power to make it great, to help me share my voice with the world.

Life is a Gamble

Yesterday I launched the Kickstarter campaign for my first solo record, AD4L. So far it’s been a good response but I know the hard work comes after the initial wave of front line supporters. So far just over $200 dollars of a $2000 dollar goal has been raised. Not bad for the first day but we have 28 days and $1800 to go just to reach the minimum goal. If you’re not sure whether or not you should support, here are a few things to think about.

It’s true that giving money for a project like this is a gamble. But with this project I’ve created it’s FAR less of a game of chance. When you donate your money is held until the project is completely funded, which means that I we don’t reach my funding goal you are out nothing, no money is transferred. But if I do meet my funding goals then not only have you supported a friend, family member, and colleague but you are getting more than your monies worth in return. I would say that’s not much of a gamble. I know many of you would happily drop 10x that amount in a trip to Vegas where your odds or astronomical.

Judge me based off of my actions, not those of others. I’ve spent years honing my art. The art of keeping time is far more than just keeping a beat. The rhythmic foundation can change the entire feeling of a song. How many sad pop songs have you heard paired with an upbeat rhythm that didn’t feel sad? Far more than you think. Even more than the feel of a song, I can change the color and texture of a song all depending upon the choices I make with my drums. Now imagine that level of specificity and creativity wrapped up in a whole record. That is what you can expect from my solo record, AD4L.

I have far more to lose in this situation than anyone who supports me. I’ve spent years working toward this goal, poured my heart and soul into every bit of this project. It means the world to me. If the project isn’t funded it would be a huge emotional blow for me and you would be out nothing. If the project is funded you would be out a minimum of $5 but my dream of producing my own solo record will become a reality. But remember also the amount you fund gets you far more than just a copy of a record by me. Options range from digital downloads to custom t-shirts and hats to pieces of the recording process to custom drumheads.

Whether you’re inclined by the words I write here on this blog, or the time we’ve spent in person together, or even by the music that I’ve created please share this with everyone. You never truly know who will be interested or able to support. Thank you all for your support. Let’s do this!

 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/240245732/ad4l-is-clay-barnums-first-solo-record

Transitions, a Moral Imperative?

"Absorb what is useful. Discard what is not. Add what is uniquely your own." - Bruce Lee

As I transition to the beginning of the end I am saddened to leave this place in my life. It has been a very difficult struggle and wish I could have stayed just a bit longer, but I will not be staying on as the Fall Intern for PAS. I’m happy to be a part of this organization and hope to see it and help it grow further into the future.

Life is all about transitions. We are constantly moving and changing, hopefully toward bettering ourselves which if perceived by others will change them.

In every situation there is an opportunity for growth not just by taking something from that moment but by giving to it that which is uniquely your own. So many people on this earth take and so few give back. Giving doesn't mean you have to donate your money to some charitable cause, although that helps. What it means is to leave a part of you in everything. Contribute what you can, even if you have nothing physical to give. This is why it is so imperative that you invest your heart and soul into that which you love. Some would say it’s a moral imperative. You will be a happier, healthier person for it and those around you will appreciate the motivation (perceived or not).

Don’t waste time on tasks that are not completely of your heart. From this point on I have a focus. I have S.M.A.R.T. goals: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely. Those who know me know that my determination is unmatched. I do what I say, one way or another. The outcome is not always what was intended, but such is life; we learn, we grow. 

I've got some big things planned, here's to the next six months. # AD4L Adventure is out there!