I never wanted to be a salesman.

Traditionally, salesmen are known as liars, deceptors, manipulators, and cheaters. All for the sole purpose of selling you something you probably don’t need. At an early age I saw that people disliked even hated salesmen. Who can blame them?

In this day and age we are forced to survive, to do anything necessary to put food on the table in the hopes to pursue some level of happiness or this “American dream” people talk so fondly of. Most do what they feel they have to, some do what they’re told to, but a few of us work hard and struggle through thicker forests to pursue a passion that is less of a choice and more of a necessity to find happiness. The job, whatever it may be, is simply a means to get to the real work.

I’ve worked many jobs, most of which did not require me to sell anything or at least not direct sales. Along the way I’ve learned many aspects to being a good salesman. In good business it’s important to have all of your employees really buy into your company. The more your workers feel good about their positions the more likely they are to sell your product with little assistance from cold call selling.

Currently I work at the Rhythm Discovery Center (R!DC) in Indianapolis, IN owned and operated by the Percussive Arts Society. To be honest, when I first accepted this internship I didn’t think I would be selling much. Tickets at the ticket counter and merchandise in the gift shop but not pushing people to buy things they don’t want. The best part about a company with a great product is that it tends to sell itself. Selling memberships, gift shop items, and tickets at the front desk is easy as pie because we have a great product here. Drums and percussion is something that everyone likes on some level harking back to a time when our primal selves wandered the earth. Most kids, of all ages, come out smiling from ear to ear and want to come back and are inspired to know more about our business. I find myself talking to people and selling the product of R!DC without even realizing it.

As a musician my job is no longer to just be creative and make the best music I can. My job is wrapped up in marketing, audio/video editing, promotion, networking, design, etc. with as much creativity as I can squeeze in. At the heart and soul of my music career I have to be a salesman, not necessarily to sell something people don’t want, but to convince people that I’m worth the risk they’re taking by spending $5 on a record. I noticed recently that the salesman tactics I use in my day-to-day work and career have begun to seep into my personal life and it’s ruining everything I work for.

The pendulum of life has started to swing toward happiness again. For there to be happiness we first have to wade through the trenches of the past and learn to forgive or at least purge the negativity to make room for enjoyment. Absolution is on the horizon, keeping the ship afloat just long enough to see the sunrise to see the sandy beach on which we can rebuild. May the salesman in all of us take a break, at least for a little while and remember that we are here to make magic.

Life Choices

Most people have a hard time with life choices such as, should I get married, have kids, or buy a house? These are, in their own right, very big tough decisions but at least they are accepted by the majority of society.

Every day of my life I make choices that are, in general, looked down upon by society. And no, being a musician is not a completely unacceptable lifestyle but truth be told most people don't agree with staying up until 5am working on music and going from job to job just to maintain a performance schedule. Even harder when it comes to maintaining any sort of relationship, including friends.

I know what you're thinking, "I chose this life." To be blatantly honest with you, I did choose to continue to pursue this life, but in the beginning this life chose me. I'm a complete addict. Going from playing 6-7 days every week to playing no more than twice in a week, I feel like a heroin addict. I can't get my fix fast enough or for long enough. Somedays I don't know what to do because it feels like this will be a life-long process that may never "pay off" in a monetary sense. Most days I find comfort in the process and continue to work my ass off finding and creating projects.

There's always another hurdle, always something new to learn.

What Most People Don’t Know about the Process

Its true I spent five years working on a degree at the University of Utah and had my share of trials and tribulations on the way. But now that I am here and have officially completed my degree, as in I finally received the paper in the mail with my name on it, its time to shed the truth and let go of some of the emotions that I have collected along the way.

I’ve been through five years of school at University of Utah but also did a year and a half at Utah State University. I went through five fairly serious/not-so-serious relationships and even finalized the papers on my divorce. Had a handful of days where food was not only scarce but also non-existent and I have a small handful of friends and family to thank for buying me lunch or dinner on those very stressful days. From re-igniting a distant relationship to nearly estranging my family these experiences have built a foundation for me to stand on and more importantly to follow these dreams through to the end.

Even now, as food is scarce and the prospect of work is unknown, I still feel an intense amount of accomplishment. True that mine are not as famed or outstanding as some, but for me they are mountains that have been conquered.  The amount of information that I’ve acquired along the way is ridiculous but the knowledge is priceless. My hope is that I can do the people that have helped me along the way justice by succeeding in my life goals and happiness. Because everything they have done has been because I was too stubborn to give up on a dream.

Thank you to everyone who has been there, bought me food, put up with rehearsal schedules, and the many frustrating moments which helped me stoke the fire enough to not only survive but to press on head-first into my dreams. I couldn’t feel more blessed and humble to have such great friends and family. Here’s to a long life following the stars. 

Who knows where this will lead? All I know, is that the creativity is flowing again stronger than ever before and now I'm armed with the proper tools.

Turning Points

Don't have the right connections to perform music for a living, and haven't been working consistently enough as a stage-hand to have any connections. Stuck in limbo. Day-jobs are unattainable. Feels like being picked last for kickball. People are always surprised when they finally do work with me and realize that I'm not full of shit and I know what I'm talking about. Aside from the personal connections  (networking) that others have, I can hang with the big boys. Its not about chops anymore, its about networking and the drive to succeed. I have the drive and the heart but the path is unclear at the moment. How can I get this fog to lift to show the world what I'm made of?

You get what you pay for?

Lately I've been trying to find work. In all of the avenues I have available to me, the work that I am best at and ultimately happiest doing is playing drums live and/or working as a stage-hand for venues. As I have been perusing the internet I keep coming across similar posts and similar ideas that, quite simply, disturb me.

In regards to whether or not someone should be "hired" (get paid) to play drums for a band or just simply join a band for enjoyment (as-if getting paid to drum isn't enjoyable). In the articles I've read there seems to be a clear line distinguishing whether or not you do it for fun for no pay or you play in a band for money that you may not enjoy as much. I understand that if you don't LOVE the music that is being played it can seem more like work. BUT, those of you who are getting paid to play, isn't that the purpose of what you're doing? If not, move over so those of us who love to play and are struggling to eat can get a chance. I can tell you honestly, regardless of the situation, if I'm getting paid or not to play I am treating it like its the best gig in the world.

On top of that the idea of "you get what you pay for," to me, is going out the door. You might be hiring me as a drummer to play for your band but whether you're paying extra for it or not you're also getting an experienced stage-hand with years of experience with sound, lights, cables, stage managing, rigging, crew management, etc. This day in age we, as musicians, have to be flexible and marketable. Regardless of job responsibilities if I'm on a show or a tour where I'm paid to be the drummer, you can bet your sweet bippy that if something needs to be done (running cables, setting up stage, organizing, anything at all) to better the setup or the show..... I'm going to step in and do it. I spent far too much time in bands with certain members who refused to help the group with setup or tear down and ultimately fired said members. There's just no room in this industry for anyone to be lazy or have that kind of attitude/ego.

This was made overly obvious to me when I attended the Rancid show recently. One of the musicians on-stage was working his ass off and still seemed to be loving his life. Justin Bivona played guitar for The Interrupters, played Bass (keys) for The Transplants, then played Keys for Rancid. Guaranteed he's part of that entire family.

This is the attitude I have always approached music and work with. I'm here for the long haul, you may as well put me on the payroll and get more than you bargained for.

Publishing

There is a book in the works. A collection of poetry, prose, blogs, and creative free writing. I am still in the process of combining from so many notebooks tossed aside over the years and scraps of paper kept in files. Going through such old emotions and seeing where I've come is an intense experience. Most of these writings I have not seen in over ten years but they still hold so much truth and emotion because they were written with nothing but heart. Although my heart, for many years, was broken and hurting its nice to see the transformation into brighter days and more recently into love.

The bulk of the work is done, but decisions to be made still are whether or not to have them printed through a self-publishing company or to just simply make them myself. Literally build the books my self, so then every single one is a unique custom piece of art?

Once the compiling is done, or at least to a stopping point, I will be posting more about the layout, design, and the final outcome of the book here as well.

Sacrifices are Being Made

Sacrifices must be made to follow this path.
Withdrawing from personal interaction
I have put myself in a position
Far from contact

Like a drug, personal relationships bring me to life
But without them, I am insufficient and broken

I am addicted to people and music
Many these days seem
fearful of starting new conversations
Running, hiding, avoiding

Breaking in half from withdrawals as friends go on with their lives
Re-focus on changing the outside to match the inside

Days will come when I can enjoy the path I have taken
But for now, work, work, play, work
Seven times down, eight times up