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Friday, May 15, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
A Day in the Life
I gotta tell you guys a funny story. This past Sunday morning Simon was set to fly out to the Bay area for his sister's birthday party. It was a special day: she was turning 30, the party was a surprise, and Simon was an even bigger surprise. It was key he made this flight. Of course it left at 6:15 in the morning, which means that he and the person taking him -- uhm, that would be me -- would have to leave the house no later than 5 am to make the 20 minute drive, check baggage, and get through security.
Ordinarily this would not be too big of a deal BUT we had a gig the night before in Hood River. This typically means that we play 8 - 11 pm, hang out with the crowd for an hour, break down from midnight to 1:30 am, chat a little longer with the staff, and roll out by 2 am to get home around 3:15 am. So, let's take out our calculators, kids: if we get home around 3:15 am, and we have to leave at 5 am, at the most we are looking at a nice little nap of around 1.5 hours. Super!
Well, we do in fact get home at 3:15. I brush my teeth, climb in bed, set my alarm, and I'm out. At 4:45 my alarm rattles me awake. I hit the off button and close my eyes. About a minute later -- or what seemed like a minute later -- I opened my eyes and it was 5:23! Holy shit! I flew out of bed ran down to Simon's room. I heard his radio on but indeed Simon was still asleep -- drunk and asleep, as he had as many free beers as his belly would hold at the Double Mountain Brewery just a couple hours ago. I knock on the door and shout, "Simon! Wake up!" "Huh?" "Get UP. We gotta go!" I rush to the bathroom, pee, brush my teeth. 5:26. I walk back out and he is still NOT up. This time I crack the door, poke my head in and say firmly, "Simon, GET UP. We had to leave 20 minutes ago." At this I heard him sit up, look at his clock, and gasp. He throws on some clothes (I am guessing this was the case though I did not actually see it happen), grabs his bag and his laptop, and we head out the door. 5:30. We pile in Wes' truck and hit the road.
I happen to look down at the gas gauge, which is hovering below E. Oh no! We have to get gas!!!! We just would not make it to the airport. Oh, man. I race to the Arco along the way, roll down my window and say stiffly to the remarkably chipper attendant "$10 bucks please." He fills the tank and we roll out. 5:36. I speed to the highway entrance and once we get onto the highway I am driving 80 in a 55 all the way. Thankfully, its so darn early there is not a shred of traffic on the roads. Simon and I don't exchange many words: Simon is willing time to slow down, and I am praying to God that He extend a helping hand on this one.
After what seems like an eternity, we pull off onto the airport exit. 5:44. "What airline you got?" I ask. "Horizon Air." I motor down the long thoroughfare that leads to the terminals, pull off on departure drive, and go as fast as I can get away with through the drop-off area. The funniest thing was that I forgot I was driving a stick shift (yes, sometimes I'm a dope) and so when I come to a halt at the crosswalk, the truck bellows a gnarly grumble into a stall. (Sorry, Wes!) I totally laugh, start her up again, then pull over as fast as I can to drop Simon as close as possible to Horizon Air. As he grabs his bags, I look at my cell phone to grab the time. "Oh, Simon... It's 5:48. You're going to have to use your good looks." With no time for hugs he tosses a good-bye over his shoulder and runs through the airport doors.
I take a deep breath as I drive away, eager to recover my usual state of peace. I say one last prayer to God, then I turn up KINK FM, roll down the window, and enjoy the drive back. Upon reaching home, I climb into bed mumbling "bed... sweet, sweet, bed." I immediately fall asleep and I am pleased to discover later that no phone call ever came from the drummer boy who missed his flight.
Ordinarily this would not be too big of a deal BUT we had a gig the night before in Hood River. This typically means that we play 8 - 11 pm, hang out with the crowd for an hour, break down from midnight to 1:30 am, chat a little longer with the staff, and roll out by 2 am to get home around 3:15 am. So, let's take out our calculators, kids: if we get home around 3:15 am, and we have to leave at 5 am, at the most we are looking at a nice little nap of around 1.5 hours. Super!
Well, we do in fact get home at 3:15. I brush my teeth, climb in bed, set my alarm, and I'm out. At 4:45 my alarm rattles me awake. I hit the off button and close my eyes. About a minute later -- or what seemed like a minute later -- I opened my eyes and it was 5:23! Holy shit! I flew out of bed ran down to Simon's room. I heard his radio on but indeed Simon was still asleep -- drunk and asleep, as he had as many free beers as his belly would hold at the Double Mountain Brewery just a couple hours ago. I knock on the door and shout, "Simon! Wake up!" "Huh?" "Get UP. We gotta go!" I rush to the bathroom, pee, brush my teeth. 5:26. I walk back out and he is still NOT up. This time I crack the door, poke my head in and say firmly, "Simon, GET UP. We had to leave 20 minutes ago." At this I heard him sit up, look at his clock, and gasp. He throws on some clothes (I am guessing this was the case though I did not actually see it happen), grabs his bag and his laptop, and we head out the door. 5:30. We pile in Wes' truck and hit the road.
I happen to look down at the gas gauge, which is hovering below E. Oh no! We have to get gas!!!! We just would not make it to the airport. Oh, man. I race to the Arco along the way, roll down my window and say stiffly to the remarkably chipper attendant "$10 bucks please." He fills the tank and we roll out. 5:36. I speed to the highway entrance and once we get onto the highway I am driving 80 in a 55 all the way. Thankfully, its so darn early there is not a shred of traffic on the roads. Simon and I don't exchange many words: Simon is willing time to slow down, and I am praying to God that He extend a helping hand on this one.
After what seems like an eternity, we pull off onto the airport exit. 5:44. "What airline you got?" I ask. "Horizon Air." I motor down the long thoroughfare that leads to the terminals, pull off on departure drive, and go as fast as I can get away with through the drop-off area. The funniest thing was that I forgot I was driving a stick shift (yes, sometimes I'm a dope) and so when I come to a halt at the crosswalk, the truck bellows a gnarly grumble into a stall. (Sorry, Wes!) I totally laugh, start her up again, then pull over as fast as I can to drop Simon as close as possible to Horizon Air. As he grabs his bags, I look at my cell phone to grab the time. "Oh, Simon... It's 5:48. You're going to have to use your good looks." With no time for hugs he tosses a good-bye over his shoulder and runs through the airport doors.
I take a deep breath as I drive away, eager to recover my usual state of peace. I say one last prayer to God, then I turn up KINK FM, roll down the window, and enjoy the drive back. Upon reaching home, I climb into bed mumbling "bed... sweet, sweet, bed." I immediately fall asleep and I am pleased to discover later that no phone call ever came from the drummer boy who missed his flight.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
The Trouble with Day Jobs
I am feeling exceedingly frustrated. One of the nagging thorns in our sides is the need to create income. Since we haven't quite figured out how to make enough as musicians, this means we need to pick up side jobs. Now, when you have a group of 7 people with different levels of education, different aptitudes, different areas of skill, and different backgrounds, it can be tough to find jobs with schedules that don't conflict with one another. Add a depressed economy within one of the most economically depressed regions of the country, and it seems impossible to stand in a room at the same time, never mind hold a rehearsal. How can we have jobs and be able to hold the rigorous commitment it requires to be a stellar original band on the path to success?
So here is what I am dealing with: Rudy works Mondays and Wednesdays and every other Saturday and Sunday from 7 am to 6 pm. Steve works M-F from 12-3, Tim now works from 1-8 pm, and Ravi works an erratic evening schedule that can be anywhere from 4 pm to 2 am. Now pile family obligations on top of this, and see how difficult it gets to hold rehearsals and the critical band meetings that keep us on inspired and on track?
Ah, I stare out the window in quiet bewilderment. The question has always been how do we become a viable business? With the internet moving increasingly toward the free distribution of music and the club scene so oversaturated that a living wage -- never mind a fair wage -- is beyond reach, how can we both have the time to excel as musicians and performers AND make enough money to eat, have a roof over our heads, and have fuel for tour?
I know it is my fault. I am the manager of the project and the buck stops with me. I do accept responsibility. Maybe I have not been convincing enough in sales calls. Maybe I don't manage my time well enough. Maybe I don't make the right marketing choices. Maybe I have not guided us properly in songwriting or performance. Maybe I just simply have not gotten us into the right hands.
I know it is complicated and frankly, though we struggle, I embrace it all because each day shapes me more and more into the person I am meant to be. But in the meantime, it is hard on us, it is hard on my band mates whom I watch toil every day to bring the dream that they have been given to fruition. They sacrifice and make due and sacrifice again, and I hold deep in my heart the utmost respect and love for each of them.
But then again, I think, there is more to it. We cannot do this alone. If people want to experience TapWater, if people want to feel the joy that the music brings, if people want us to achieve our vision, if people want us to make it -- and keep making music for all the world to hear -- then the people must support us. It is a two-way street: we have committed our lives to serving you. And we will. But we can only serve you if you help us get into the position that allows us to serve you. And right now, we are not in it.
So help us. Encourage us. Tell your friends about us. Make a donation to us. Come to our shows. Request us for radio and internet air play. Refer us to booking agencies. Demand us at festivals. It is only through the power of your unified voices that we may rise up to become what we are truly meant to be: the link that unites all households across the country and across the world in the creation of true and loving community that works for the good of all people.
So here is what I am dealing with: Rudy works Mondays and Wednesdays and every other Saturday and Sunday from 7 am to 6 pm. Steve works M-F from 12-3, Tim now works from 1-8 pm, and Ravi works an erratic evening schedule that can be anywhere from 4 pm to 2 am. Now pile family obligations on top of this, and see how difficult it gets to hold rehearsals and the critical band meetings that keep us on inspired and on track?
Ah, I stare out the window in quiet bewilderment. The question has always been how do we become a viable business? With the internet moving increasingly toward the free distribution of music and the club scene so oversaturated that a living wage -- never mind a fair wage -- is beyond reach, how can we both have the time to excel as musicians and performers AND make enough money to eat, have a roof over our heads, and have fuel for tour?
I know it is my fault. I am the manager of the project and the buck stops with me. I do accept responsibility. Maybe I have not been convincing enough in sales calls. Maybe I don't manage my time well enough. Maybe I don't make the right marketing choices. Maybe I have not guided us properly in songwriting or performance. Maybe I just simply have not gotten us into the right hands.
I know it is complicated and frankly, though we struggle, I embrace it all because each day shapes me more and more into the person I am meant to be. But in the meantime, it is hard on us, it is hard on my band mates whom I watch toil every day to bring the dream that they have been given to fruition. They sacrifice and make due and sacrifice again, and I hold deep in my heart the utmost respect and love for each of them.
But then again, I think, there is more to it. We cannot do this alone. If people want to experience TapWater, if people want to feel the joy that the music brings, if people want us to achieve our vision, if people want us to make it -- and keep making music for all the world to hear -- then the people must support us. It is a two-way street: we have committed our lives to serving you. And we will. But we can only serve you if you help us get into the position that allows us to serve you. And right now, we are not in it.
So help us. Encourage us. Tell your friends about us. Make a donation to us. Come to our shows. Request us for radio and internet air play. Refer us to booking agencies. Demand us at festivals. It is only through the power of your unified voices that we may rise up to become what we are truly meant to be: the link that unites all households across the country and across the world in the creation of true and loving community that works for the good of all people.
Monday, May 4, 2009
The Hood River Tradition
So we have started a TapWater Tradition. Every time we drive back from our gig at the generous and kind-hearted Double Mountain Brewery in Hood River, the guys take the hour and ten minute ride home to drunk-dial all their friends and family at 3 o'clock in the morning. It is simply hilarious. As I drive, I can hear six separate raucous phone calls going on. Wes is open mouthed and cackling at the moon in the front seat, while Simon is speaking in Indian and Chinese voices and Steve is running through the colorful things he would like to do with Crisco and Saran Wrap to the lady on the other end. They call friends, girlfriends, ex-girlfriends, uncles, parents, cousins, and neighbors. My favorite part is when one band mate calls someone that everyone knows so he holds up the phone and the entire Suburban rocks with yells and laughter: "TRRAAAAVVVVVIIIISSSSSSSSS!!!!!! WHAT'S UP BRO!!!" Most of the time, the friends and family members don't pick up, so the guys leave loquacious nonsensical messages for a fun morning pickup. Other times, a night owl or two will answer, and they are blessed with a few minutes to catch up with the people they miss but don't get to hear from very often.
I used to think this was silly, but now I have grown to adore this TapWater Tradition as a string of just a few of the very bright moments that make up TapWater.
I used to think this was silly, but now I have grown to adore this TapWater Tradition as a string of just a few of the very bright moments that make up TapWater.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Parents in town
Sometimes I feel like I'm still 20....and not in a good way. Don't get me wrong, I do really love living in community with my band mates, even if they are all boys. Okay, maybe especially because they are all boys. I love that I come home to the best band on the planet rehearsing in my living room. I love that I get to see Timmy in his flannel pajama bottoms at 3 in the afternoon, and I love that I get to see Simon walk out of his room headed toward the bathroom in a bright red satin robe with bright gold dragons and his hair in a bun on the top of his head. These are bright moments.
But then, there are the other moments, like when your band mate tells you out of the blue that his parents are coming into town tomorrow. Eeek!!!! Suddenly, my shoulders stiffen, I gasp, and my stomach gets tight: oh no, the house is a mess! We are going to look like a bunch of kids!
You see, cleaning the house is a 'band affair' so to speak. I actually work it into the schedule like rehearsal or songwriting or touring because if I don't, it just will not get done. You know how it is: if everyone is responsible then no one is responsible so things just slip through the cracks. Yes, I know we should have a chore list, and I keep saying I am going to do this, and I keep not doing it, so it doesn't get done. And it's really not that our house is that bad -- it's just that it certainly is not in any condition to have both Steve's dad and Timmy's parents in town. Yikes.
So, suddenly I am 20 years old in my first apartment fretting about a visit from my boyfriend's parents. I consider actually taking my afternoon to completely clean the house but then after about 3 seconds I slap myself out of this idiotic notion. Eh, this is who we are -- we have no secrets.
We are the best band on the planet: that is where the focus lay. The housework? Well... I just rationalize it by saying it won't be so important when we are in a different hotel every night. Oh wait a second, there is the issue of the tour bus....
Gosh darn it.
But then, there are the other moments, like when your band mate tells you out of the blue that his parents are coming into town tomorrow. Eeek!!!! Suddenly, my shoulders stiffen, I gasp, and my stomach gets tight: oh no, the house is a mess! We are going to look like a bunch of kids!
You see, cleaning the house is a 'band affair' so to speak. I actually work it into the schedule like rehearsal or songwriting or touring because if I don't, it just will not get done. You know how it is: if everyone is responsible then no one is responsible so things just slip through the cracks. Yes, I know we should have a chore list, and I keep saying I am going to do this, and I keep not doing it, so it doesn't get done. And it's really not that our house is that bad -- it's just that it certainly is not in any condition to have both Steve's dad and Timmy's parents in town. Yikes.
So, suddenly I am 20 years old in my first apartment fretting about a visit from my boyfriend's parents. I consider actually taking my afternoon to completely clean the house but then after about 3 seconds I slap myself out of this idiotic notion. Eh, this is who we are -- we have no secrets.
We are the best band on the planet: that is where the focus lay. The housework? Well... I just rationalize it by saying it won't be so important when we are in a different hotel every night. Oh wait a second, there is the issue of the tour bus....
Gosh darn it.
New Music!
Well, the day has arrived. We have released Tobacco Row and Better Days on our Myspace page. Check it out! It's all completely done in house, with Graham and Steve on recording and Steve on mixing and mastering. Because we are an independent outfit, this is the process that gives us the most freedom and efficiency in getting our music out to you. We hope you enjoy it! We plan to record two more songs in May.
Post a comment and let me know what you think.
Post a comment and let me know what you think.
Friday, April 24, 2009
TapWater on TV
So two days ago I got a call inviting TapWater to play the morning show on KATU Channel 2 in Portland on Friday morning -- today. I accepted and since we have done a couple of these spots in the past so we were quite familiar with how it all worked. It goes something like this:
We also want to give a warm thank you to the audio engineer Mark Sutton. He was super kind to us, a genuine supporter of our music, and treated Graham with respect. He was always checking on all of us, seeing that we had food and drinks. All of the staff was very kind and professional, but Mark was the shining star. Thank you, Mark.
- Wake up at the crack of dawn.
- Get to the bathroom first to get ready before the boys can steal it from me.
- Wake the band up and then put Ravi in charge to make sure that the rest of them actually become vertical at some point in the next 10 minutes.
- Make a very big, very strong pot of coffee.
- Run around getting breakfast together for the band. Today it was a trip to Noah's bagels for a dozen (which was supposed to take 5 minutes but turned into a 25 minute escapade which made ME late for our call time!!!)
- Pile the guys into the Suburban.
- Make it to the TV station by 7 AM sharp.
We also want to give a warm thank you to the audio engineer Mark Sutton. He was super kind to us, a genuine supporter of our music, and treated Graham with respect. He was always checking on all of us, seeing that we had food and drinks. All of the staff was very kind and professional, but Mark was the shining star. Thank you, Mark.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Photos from the Roseland Grill
Hey folks, it's been a bit since I blogged so I'm doing a double post. I'm also recommitting to getting back into it! Here's a couple shots from the Roseland show with The Duhks, courtesy of Brian McLernon Photography. Thanks Brian!
A Night of Wonder
We had one of the most exciting nights on Friday. Thanks to Monqui, we had the distinct honor of opening for the Squirrel Nut Zippers at the beautiful Wonder Ballroom in Portland. You may know that TapWater has been a huge fan of theirs: we have been covering their song "Bad Business Man" for years. The night was awesome and let me tell you why.
There were a number of things that struck me. First and foremost, when you play the club level, you deal with oodles of unprofessionalism. Inadequate sound system, late and mean audio engineers, rude waitstaff, dirty and stinky rugs and bathrooms, no green room to gather your thoughts, no food and barely a drink, inadequate set up and sound check time, and of course, lousy pay. And don't get me started on the promotions aspect of the show.
Now the pay for the show was poor, but besides this the experience was worlds apart from the club scene. First of all, the Wonder Ballroom is a concert venue. So, they have stagehands who help you load in and set up your gear. They budget adequate time for sound check, even for the local opener. They let us park our vehicle with trailer in the lot right next to the venue. (I cannot tell you how much of relief this is -- we're talking major.) They give us our own green room with good beers and water. And the audio system was rippin. From the moment we got there, everything unfolded smoothly.
What was also cool was that the Squirrel Nut Zippers were some of the coolest down-to-earth musicians. They took the time to talk with us, they jammed with us backstage, a few of them listened to our set. We were even invited us to do a Samba parade after their set where they jumped in with horns. They treated us very kindly and with respect.
The best part of the night was that the place was full of about 500 music lovers who gave us an open ear. They walked right up to the stage and watched us. they danced, they cheered, they bought CDs. We played very well with the full intention of opening the show right for both the fans who deserved the most for their money, and for a group of musicians who surely deserve our very best performance to start their night.
TapWater delivered. I do love my band. We recorded the show of course and hopefully it came out well so you'll get to hear all about it.
There were a number of things that struck me. First and foremost, when you play the club level, you deal with oodles of unprofessionalism. Inadequate sound system, late and mean audio engineers, rude waitstaff, dirty and stinky rugs and bathrooms, no green room to gather your thoughts, no food and barely a drink, inadequate set up and sound check time, and of course, lousy pay. And don't get me started on the promotions aspect of the show.
Now the pay for the show was poor, but besides this the experience was worlds apart from the club scene. First of all, the Wonder Ballroom is a concert venue. So, they have stagehands who help you load in and set up your gear. They budget adequate time for sound check, even for the local opener. They let us park our vehicle with trailer in the lot right next to the venue. (I cannot tell you how much of relief this is -- we're talking major.) They give us our own green room with good beers and water. And the audio system was rippin. From the moment we got there, everything unfolded smoothly.
What was also cool was that the Squirrel Nut Zippers were some of the coolest down-to-earth musicians. They took the time to talk with us, they jammed with us backstage, a few of them listened to our set. We were even invited us to do a Samba parade after their set where they jumped in with horns. They treated us very kindly and with respect.
The best part of the night was that the place was full of about 500 music lovers who gave us an open ear. They walked right up to the stage and watched us. they danced, they cheered, they bought CDs. We played very well with the full intention of opening the show right for both the fans who deserved the most for their money, and for a group of musicians who surely deserve our very best performance to start their night.
TapWater delivered. I do love my band. We recorded the show of course and hopefully it came out well so you'll get to hear all about it.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Tweet Tweet: Discovering Twitter
Okay, so I am learning to use Twitter. Have you all heard of this? It's microblogging -- you post messages of 140 characters or less, which is basically the length of a text message. And each time you do post, it's called a tweet. I've done a little reading on it and I guess the point behind it is to keep up with a community of people on a moment-to-moment basis.
For example, you know all of you out there are at work and you steal a second to text to your little sweetie. Well, what if you could text your entire community at once? This is one part of the idea behind Twitter. The other part is that you can continue to broaden that community, networking with some of the most interesting people on the planet (like Joe Trippi). It's interesting to see what is on their mind and plate as the day rolls by.
So, rather than be inane chatter or empty promotions, I think the object of Twitter is to be interesting and authentic, and when you do this, you naturally attract people. It's really more about who you are, what's genuinely on your mind, what is bringing you joy or challenging you in the moment. I think with a little time, I will become quite good at it and gain insight into how to be a contributor within the world of Twitter. I am a geek but I still wanna be cool!
Another really excellent feature is that I can actually text Twitter from my phone. This makes it so easy and fun to use. I can be out and about meeting with people, running errands, or even going crazy at my computer, and as I think of it, I just send a text and share with you my state of mind.
So, I encourage you guys to check it out. Go to Twitter and look up someone you are interested in. See what you find. And also, I have embedded it here on my blog so you can check it out. It's bottom right. Enjoy!
For example, you know all of you out there are at work and you steal a second to text to your little sweetie. Well, what if you could text your entire community at once? This is one part of the idea behind Twitter. The other part is that you can continue to broaden that community, networking with some of the most interesting people on the planet (like Joe Trippi). It's interesting to see what is on their mind and plate as the day rolls by.
So, rather than be inane chatter or empty promotions, I think the object of Twitter is to be interesting and authentic, and when you do this, you naturally attract people. It's really more about who you are, what's genuinely on your mind, what is bringing you joy or challenging you in the moment. I think with a little time, I will become quite good at it and gain insight into how to be a contributor within the world of Twitter. I am a geek but I still wanna be cool!
Another really excellent feature is that I can actually text Twitter from my phone. This makes it so easy and fun to use. I can be out and about meeting with people, running errands, or even going crazy at my computer, and as I think of it, I just send a text and share with you my state of mind.
So, I encourage you guys to check it out. Go to Twitter and look up someone you are interested in. See what you find. And also, I have embedded it here on my blog so you can check it out. It's bottom right. Enjoy!
Monday, April 6, 2009
Feeling the Weight
Sometimes I am a dope. I don't know why this happens, but it does. It's annoying and frustrating and it kinda alienates me from myself. Let me give you an example. I couple weeks ago I sent out a request to our fans asking for someone review our EP World Twang. Nathan in Eugene agreed to do it for us. He lives in Eugene but actually was a fan of ours in San Diego. Super! I was excited! So, I packaged up the EP, addressed it, and wrote 'post office' on my list of things to do.
This was two weeks ago. Do you think I have gone to the post office yet? No, I haven't. I could say its because I'm busy, or because the post office is a little bit of drive, or because my dog ate my homework. But when I look inside myself, I am sad to say I honestly don't know why I haven't gone. I think I am a little depressed and tired underneath the workload. On top of it, now we look unprofessional (aka, flaky!) and Nathan may feel disrespected, which really does bum me out because each and every fan is important to us. Ack! Estupido.
Lately I have been saying to myself so often, "I can't wait until I can actually manage the project and stop doing everything all the time!" I daydream about what it will be like to have a staff: a booking agent, a tour manager, a PR rep, a marketing person, an office assistant .... oh, the glee! I know this does not excuse my behavior. I guess I'm in a little slump.
So, Nathan, I apologize. I am going to have one of the guys take the package to the post office tomorrow.
And the rest of you, if you would be so kind, please say a little prayer for me.
This was two weeks ago. Do you think I have gone to the post office yet? No, I haven't. I could say its because I'm busy, or because the post office is a little bit of drive, or because my dog ate my homework. But when I look inside myself, I am sad to say I honestly don't know why I haven't gone. I think I am a little depressed and tired underneath the workload. On top of it, now we look unprofessional (aka, flaky!) and Nathan may feel disrespected, which really does bum me out because each and every fan is important to us. Ack! Estupido.
Lately I have been saying to myself so often, "I can't wait until I can actually manage the project and stop doing everything all the time!" I daydream about what it will be like to have a staff: a booking agent, a tour manager, a PR rep, a marketing person, an office assistant .... oh, the glee! I know this does not excuse my behavior. I guess I'm in a little slump.
So, Nathan, I apologize. I am going to have one of the guys take the package to the post office tomorrow.
And the rest of you, if you would be so kind, please say a little prayer for me.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
The little girl that could
You all know that my mission in life is to bring TapWater to the height of success. Now, this is no small feat and so to do this, God has endowed me with very special super powers. Ladies and gentlemen, I have the strange ability to tolerate and even enjoy excessive amounts of testosterone. Most of my girlfriends marvel at this. Let's explore:
I am a girl.
I am the manager of six boys.
I also live with these same six boys.
I see them in the morning.
I see them at night.
I see them when I'm dressed up.
I see them when I first roll out of bed.
I share a kitchen with them.
And (here's the kicker), I share a bathroom with them.
And last night 2 guy friends and Graham were at the house, totalling nine boys! Wow. As my brother Marc would say, it was a sausage fest!
I know, isn't this amazing? I had special training in testosterone appreciation when I was young. I was the only girl with three brothers, two older and one younger. I played football, loved Matchboxes, and wore only t-shirts and jeans. I was tackled, farted on, punched, and put into the scissors grip -- you know, when your older brother chases you down, tackles you, traps you between his legs and squeezes your chest to the point that you can't breathe? Yep, good times. On top of it, my mother passed away when I was 14 so then it was just me, my dad, and my 3 brothers. My whole life I've spent the vast majority of my time with guys.
Interestingly, I question: did I recreate my youth by choosing a job of managing six men, or was I given this experience to prepare me for it? I am certain my purpose is to work for TapWater and so I tend to think the latter. But, who really knows?
One thing I do know, though, is that our toilet definitely needs to be cleaned.
I am a girl.
I am the manager of six boys.
I also live with these same six boys.
I see them in the morning.
I see them at night.
I see them when I'm dressed up.
I see them when I first roll out of bed.
I share a kitchen with them.
And (here's the kicker), I share a bathroom with them.
And last night 2 guy friends and Graham were at the house, totalling nine boys! Wow. As my brother Marc would say, it was a sausage fest!
I know, isn't this amazing? I had special training in testosterone appreciation when I was young. I was the only girl with three brothers, two older and one younger. I played football, loved Matchboxes, and wore only t-shirts and jeans. I was tackled, farted on, punched, and put into the scissors grip -- you know, when your older brother chases you down, tackles you, traps you between his legs and squeezes your chest to the point that you can't breathe? Yep, good times. On top of it, my mother passed away when I was 14 so then it was just me, my dad, and my 3 brothers. My whole life I've spent the vast majority of my time with guys.
Interestingly, I question: did I recreate my youth by choosing a job of managing six men, or was I given this experience to prepare me for it? I am certain my purpose is to work for TapWater and so I tend to think the latter. But, who really knows?
One thing I do know, though, is that our toilet definitely needs to be cleaned.
The genius of SolTrekker
Have I told you all that we are working with SolTrekker? Yep, Ty Adams and I are working on a grant for a tour bus. We'll get the money, buy a bus and then the brilliant SolTrekker staff is going to redesign it specifically for the needs of a band. They are going to use all alternative fuel technology, and the bus will double as a tour vehicle and eco-showroom that we use to educate our fan communities. I am very excited about this!
As for SolTrekker, their long-term vision is to be a self-sustaining nonprofit. Instead of scramble all around for grants and donations all the time, they plan to have a fleet of RVs and buses that they rent to the community for income. Then, they will use that income to bring their RVs and buses to schools and events to engage people of all ages in the discussion about alternative fuels. They are brilliant, and we are looking forward to a long and fruitful relationship with them. Check out their web site and send them some love!
As for SolTrekker, their long-term vision is to be a self-sustaining nonprofit. Instead of scramble all around for grants and donations all the time, they plan to have a fleet of RVs and buses that they rent to the community for income. Then, they will use that income to bring their RVs and buses to schools and events to engage people of all ages in the discussion about alternative fuels. They are brilliant, and we are looking forward to a long and fruitful relationship with them. Check out their web site and send them some love!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Golden Graham & The Sun-Powered Knobs
Graham is our new audio engineer. We love Graham. Graham is Golden. How so? Well, first of all, I met him at a Musician's Union Fair Pay to Play campaign meeting, so right off the bat I knew he was good peoples. Second, Graham is committed to shifting the world to sustainability so he created a fabulous solar recording company that he calls The Sun Time Recording Company. Third, Graham is kind and generous and forward-thinking and very skilled, and he has become our trusted team member in just a few weeks. He's got awesome ideas and you are all going to be stoked on the cool stuff you will get to enjoy due to his contribution. In fact, TapWater is doing their first solar recording right this very minute. We are getting down Timmy's Tobacco Row and Wesley's Better Days, which you'll be hearing in about two weeks.
So next time you come to the show, say Hey to Graham behind the board. He makes us shiny happy people!
So next time you come to the show, say Hey to Graham behind the board. He makes us shiny happy people!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Night & Day
One of the things I love about my job is that sometimes our days can be vastly different from one another. Let me give you an example of the last two days. On Wednesday night we played a rockin' show with The Duhks at the Roseland Grill in Portland. We reveled in the nightclub scene with the Buddies turning out and making the whole room bounce with their movement. Yeah!! The place had a robust sound system, sparkly lighting rig, and roomy wooden stage. We also had the pleasure of a private green room, which actually makes a big difference in our ability to mentally prepare for a show. Everything unfolded smoothly and it was fantastic! We then watched the Duhks, and at the end of their set, joined in with a Samba jam that brought the house down.
Then the next day, around noon, we headed to play an acoustic show for a group of senior citizens that go to my church. Each month they get together to share a meal and some entertainment donated by the local community. This month it we stepped up. We brought in our Travelin TapWater set (different from full production TapWater), consisting of banjo, steel pans, accordion, acoustic guitar, upright bass, and Simon on various percussion (pandero, djembe, shakers, bongos). It's easy and fun, and it's perfect for seniors. We were treated to a lunch of chicken and pasta with marinara from Sckavones, and then rocked 30 seniors for 45 minutes with our grassy World Twangy-ness. They were blown away, both touched that we volunteered our time, and more, that the music was so super. We made a difference to them and it felt good.
After I left the show that Thursday afternoon, I felt really grateful to and proud of TapWater -- that they can be so many things to so many people. That they can be the outrageously fun party band that rocks the club, that they can be the light-hearted acoustic band that cheers some people who maybe don't have the same opportunities we do, that they are good, kind people who care enough to be responsible to their community.
I love my job! And I love my band!!
Then the next day, around noon, we headed to play an acoustic show for a group of senior citizens that go to my church. Each month they get together to share a meal and some entertainment donated by the local community. This month it we stepped up. We brought in our Travelin TapWater set (different from full production TapWater), consisting of banjo, steel pans, accordion, acoustic guitar, upright bass, and Simon on various percussion (pandero, djembe, shakers, bongos). It's easy and fun, and it's perfect for seniors. We were treated to a lunch of chicken and pasta with marinara from Sckavones, and then rocked 30 seniors for 45 minutes with our grassy World Twangy-ness. They were blown away, both touched that we volunteered our time, and more, that the music was so super. We made a difference to them and it felt good.
After I left the show that Thursday afternoon, I felt really grateful to and proud of TapWater -- that they can be so many things to so many people. That they can be the outrageously fun party band that rocks the club, that they can be the light-hearted acoustic band that cheers some people who maybe don't have the same opportunities we do, that they are good, kind people who care enough to be responsible to their community.
I love my job! And I love my band!!
Monday, March 16, 2009
Birthday Madness!
I'm feeling tired today. In fact, I had to take a 3-hour nap to recover from Birthday weekend. Aye caramba. I must be getting old! We had three days of merriment and I was grinnin' the whole darn time. On Friday, we had pasta and wine for Ravi's birthday, burgers and taters and Jameson for Timmy on Saturday, and coffee and scramble brunch for Steve on Sunday afternoon. And -- this will crack you up -- since we're on a budget (translation: broke), we went to a local tap room called the EastBurn every single night because you and your 9 friends can drink for free for an hour. Oh yes, baby. We all piled in our 1988 Suburban we call Bud and headed over to the Burn where we attempted to put them out of business.
The short version is that the boys were in top form on Friday night. Even I had too much to drink so we had to walk home (I figured I was technically off the clock so a few glasses of wine were in order!). Saturday everyone slowed way down, except for Timmy, who ended up passed out in the third row of the Suburban next to the pile of hamburger helper that he created. Yummy! Ravi took a fantastic photo but I'll spare you. Sunday rolled around and well, Timmy decided he just couldn't hang while Ravi and Wes had a contest to down one beer every 10 minutes during their hour of free for all. The results? Ravi managed to get 6 beers down (with Wes hot on his tail with 5) but he ended up tossing his cookies, and along with it, his buzz. Good times!
The whole weekend was awesome. It's rare that I get to just be with the guys celebrating and enjoying each other's company. We live communally but nevertheless we all have busy schedules and don't spend as much time as we should sharing a meal and laughing together. I really enjoyed it. Happy Birthday guys! Stayed tuned for Wes' birthday on March 26th.
The short version is that the boys were in top form on Friday night. Even I had too much to drink so we had to walk home (I figured I was technically off the clock so a few glasses of wine were in order!). Saturday everyone slowed way down, except for Timmy, who ended up passed out in the third row of the Suburban next to the pile of hamburger helper that he created. Yummy! Ravi took a fantastic photo but I'll spare you. Sunday rolled around and well, Timmy decided he just couldn't hang while Ravi and Wes had a contest to down one beer every 10 minutes during their hour of free for all. The results? Ravi managed to get 6 beers down (with Wes hot on his tail with 5) but he ended up tossing his cookies, and along with it, his buzz. Good times!
The whole weekend was awesome. It's rare that I get to just be with the guys celebrating and enjoying each other's company. We live communally but nevertheless we all have busy schedules and don't spend as much time as we should sharing a meal and laughing together. I really enjoyed it. Happy Birthday guys! Stayed tuned for Wes' birthday on March 26th.
Friday, March 13, 2009
School of Fish
You know those weird things about life that make you say, "No way!"? I love those things. They are shiny and open up my mind in an unexpected way. One of those things within TapWater is our our 3-day Birthday Run. Yep, of the six band members, three of them have their birthdays right in a row. Ravi is today, March 13, Timmy is tomorrow, March 14, and Steve is Sunday, March 15th! This is totally weird and bizarre to me, and I love it! I don't know exactly what it means but it's gotta have some significance. One thing of course is that they are all pisces, a school of fish swimming through life. I don't know much, or really anything, about astrology but I hear pisces are associated with music and art, and so they add a richness to life that is beyond day-to-day living. I will definitely say this is true about all three of my business partners.
I adore Ravi. He is the kindest, most compassionate person you could ever hope to meet in your life. He always walks on the bright side, and if you ever need to be reminded about what is good in life, call him. Within several minutes his light will rub off on you and you will remember who you really are.
I also love Timmy. Tim can walk into a room and smile and the whole room lights up. He has one of the most beautiful smiles I have ever seen. Even more, he has these really bright eyes and he will crack you up until your stomach hurts. He imitates people, does voices, tells stories, and he never fails to expose exactly what is so hilarious about real people and real life. So, if you are taking someone or something too seriously, call Timmy. After laughing with him, you will remember who you really are.
I love Steve, too. Steve is the silliest, sharpest, most quick witted person I know. Steve is a master at greeting life and instinctually twisting it into brightly colored energy. He will think of things that no one else in the entire world thinks of, like seeing how many bananas he can put on a sleeping Ravi before he wakes up. Or riding his banjo case like a make pretend donkey. If you ever forget the power you have in creating happiness, spend some time with Steve, and you'll remember who you really are.
Happy birthday guys! You are all so awesome, and I am very lucky I get to spend my days swimming amongst the school of fish.
I adore Ravi. He is the kindest, most compassionate person you could ever hope to meet in your life. He always walks on the bright side, and if you ever need to be reminded about what is good in life, call him. Within several minutes his light will rub off on you and you will remember who you really are.
I also love Timmy. Tim can walk into a room and smile and the whole room lights up. He has one of the most beautiful smiles I have ever seen. Even more, he has these really bright eyes and he will crack you up until your stomach hurts. He imitates people, does voices, tells stories, and he never fails to expose exactly what is so hilarious about real people and real life. So, if you are taking someone or something too seriously, call Timmy. After laughing with him, you will remember who you really are.
I love Steve, too. Steve is the silliest, sharpest, most quick witted person I know. Steve is a master at greeting life and instinctually twisting it into brightly colored energy. He will think of things that no one else in the entire world thinks of, like seeing how many bananas he can put on a sleeping Ravi before he wakes up. Or riding his banjo case like a make pretend donkey. If you ever forget the power you have in creating happiness, spend some time with Steve, and you'll remember who you really are.
Happy birthday guys! You are all so awesome, and I am very lucky I get to spend my days swimming amongst the school of fish.
Monday, March 9, 2009
The Vision of TapWater
Every day I get up and work hard. Very hard. I have been doing it for almost five years now. It's hard to believe really, that so much time has passed. Some have asked me how I have stuck with it, while others ask why. The answer to both questions is the same: I am driven by the vision of TapWater.
TapWater is not 'just' a band -- TapWater is a community with a purpose. Let me explain. As a band, we bring large numbers of people together, all ages, all backgrounds, all races. And within that group of people is a set of skills and talents. We are all uniquely gifted, aren't we? You guys are chefs and marketers, mechanics, writers and stockbrokers. You work in business development, law, green technology, and construction. You work in corporations, you work in nonprofits, and you are entrepreneurs. You are all so different but two things tie you together. First, you want to live a good life and make a difference for others. And, second? You come together to see TapWater.
So, you see, we are in a unique position. We could let shows be the extent of it -- having the honor of providing you with the joy and the merriment of music and dancing -- but we want to do more, much more, since we have the opportunity. We want to pay you back for your support, and we want to make a difference ourselves. So we are committed to helping you pool your resources for the betterment of us all. Imagine if all of us -- band and fans, with all our unlimited resources of talent, skill, and experience -- were committed to uplifting the United States. Imagine if we banded together and took down each issue our country is facing, one by one. There is nothing we could not do, together. There is no issue we could not solve, there is no challenge we could not meet. We would create an America that works, and together we would impact the entire world.
This is the vision of TapWater that I go to bed with each night. It is the vision I wake up with in the morning. It is my purpose for living and it is why I am patiently, steadfastly committed to the unfolding of the dream.
TapWater is not 'just' a band -- TapWater is a community with a purpose. Let me explain. As a band, we bring large numbers of people together, all ages, all backgrounds, all races. And within that group of people is a set of skills and talents. We are all uniquely gifted, aren't we? You guys are chefs and marketers, mechanics, writers and stockbrokers. You work in business development, law, green technology, and construction. You work in corporations, you work in nonprofits, and you are entrepreneurs. You are all so different but two things tie you together. First, you want to live a good life and make a difference for others. And, second? You come together to see TapWater.
So, you see, we are in a unique position. We could let shows be the extent of it -- having the honor of providing you with the joy and the merriment of music and dancing -- but we want to do more, much more, since we have the opportunity. We want to pay you back for your support, and we want to make a difference ourselves. So we are committed to helping you pool your resources for the betterment of us all. Imagine if all of us -- band and fans, with all our unlimited resources of talent, skill, and experience -- were committed to uplifting the United States. Imagine if we banded together and took down each issue our country is facing, one by one. There is nothing we could not do, together. There is no issue we could not solve, there is no challenge we could not meet. We would create an America that works, and together we would impact the entire world.
This is the vision of TapWater that I go to bed with each night. It is the vision I wake up with in the morning. It is my purpose for living and it is why I am patiently, steadfastly committed to the unfolding of the dream.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Coaching the Coach
Today I had my first coaching call with my friend Jen who is a certified life coach. She loves me and believes in TapWater so she offered her services to me for free. I have to be honest and say I was skeptical: I had a preconceived notion of life coaching as a nebulous and fruity service that anyone can claim to do -- you know, they help you set your goals or whatever. In reality, its a very methodical set of skills and frankly, I was blown away. Jen opened up my thinking and really inspired me.
As I understand it, the process she used is neuro-linguistic programming (NLP). She focuses intently on the language that I use to explain things. My choice in language betrays a hidden pattern of thought that has been neurologically written into my body and therefore shapes my experience of the world around me. I think a thought about something, so then I experience life in a way that supports that thought. The thought gains more traction with each experience and I unknowingly cut off the possibilities of what truly exists, living in a reality that supports the thought pattern. And because its unconscious, I don't even know it's happening. Super!
So, she uses a combination of self awareness and compassion to expose and diffuse the thought pattern, and then guides me in setting a new intention in that area.
Let me give you an example. At the beginning of our call I said in regards to TapWater "a breakthrough is not close to happening." She asked me a question like "what makes you say that" and after a couple exchanges she said, "You have bought into the belief that a breakthrough is not close to happening. And as long as you believe that, it will not happen. So I want you to write down:
I forgive myself for buying into the belief that a breakthrough is not close to happening.
So, I wrote it down. And then, I started to cry. Apparently, I needed to be forgiven for this. Then she said, "Now I want you to write:
The truth is ...
So, I wrote it down. "What is the truth, anne?" She asked. I sat for a minute in complete silence. I have no idea. She waited. Then, with a little help, I said,
The truth is I don't know how close the breakthroughs are.
Then I felt it. I felt a shift in my cellular structure. My posture became erect, my shoulders went back, I felt lighter, I felt more confident. It was the truth - I really didn't know when we were going to have a breakthrough -- in fact, it could be tomorrow. My brain opened up and possibility came rushing in. I smiled.
And then, the kicker, she said "So, what do you intend for a breakthrough?" Again I sat quietly on the other end of the phone. After a moment I said "I intend to have three breakthroughs by June 1st." And she said, "what are they?" And then I told her to sign TapWater with a boutique booking agency, to get them an opening spot on a tour with a big band, and to form a fantastic partnership with Joe Trippi.
We continued for an hour where she went through a series of things like this, each time opening up my thinking. Write down "I forgive myself for buying into the belief that...", Now write down "The truth is..." She was so quick and so skilled and by the end I was a shiny new woman, excited about my path and my life, and believing in myself more than ever.
Thank You so much, Jen, for your time and expertise. You are a blessing. And for any of you readers out there, Jen is the best. If you would like to get in touch with her for coaching, email me and I will gladly connect you.
As I understand it, the process she used is neuro-linguistic programming (NLP). She focuses intently on the language that I use to explain things. My choice in language betrays a hidden pattern of thought that has been neurologically written into my body and therefore shapes my experience of the world around me. I think a thought about something, so then I experience life in a way that supports that thought. The thought gains more traction with each experience and I unknowingly cut off the possibilities of what truly exists, living in a reality that supports the thought pattern. And because its unconscious, I don't even know it's happening. Super!
So, she uses a combination of self awareness and compassion to expose and diffuse the thought pattern, and then guides me in setting a new intention in that area.
Let me give you an example. At the beginning of our call I said in regards to TapWater "a breakthrough is not close to happening." She asked me a question like "what makes you say that" and after a couple exchanges she said, "You have bought into the belief that a breakthrough is not close to happening. And as long as you believe that, it will not happen. So I want you to write down:
I forgive myself for buying into the belief that a breakthrough is not close to happening.
So, I wrote it down. And then, I started to cry. Apparently, I needed to be forgiven for this. Then she said, "Now I want you to write:
The truth is ...
So, I wrote it down. "What is the truth, anne?" She asked. I sat for a minute in complete silence. I have no idea. She waited. Then, with a little help, I said,
The truth is I don't know how close the breakthroughs are.
Then I felt it. I felt a shift in my cellular structure. My posture became erect, my shoulders went back, I felt lighter, I felt more confident. It was the truth - I really didn't know when we were going to have a breakthrough -- in fact, it could be tomorrow. My brain opened up and possibility came rushing in. I smiled.
And then, the kicker, she said "So, what do you intend for a breakthrough?" Again I sat quietly on the other end of the phone. After a moment I said "I intend to have three breakthroughs by June 1st." And she said, "what are they?" And then I told her to sign TapWater with a boutique booking agency, to get them an opening spot on a tour with a big band, and to form a fantastic partnership with Joe Trippi.
We continued for an hour where she went through a series of things like this, each time opening up my thinking. Write down "I forgive myself for buying into the belief that...", Now write down "The truth is..." She was so quick and so skilled and by the end I was a shiny new woman, excited about my path and my life, and believing in myself more than ever.
Thank You so much, Jen, for your time and expertise. You are a blessing. And for any of you readers out there, Jen is the best. If you would like to get in touch with her for coaching, email me and I will gladly connect you.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Pounding the Pavement
It's one o'clock in the morning and I've been working since 9 am. I wish I could say this isn't typical, but it is. I'm feeling a little frustrated tonight because we had a band meeting that spun in a circle for about about two hours. We were dealing with some tough issues, like how to continue to feel inspired to write songs when your circumstances are difficult. And how, as their manager, I can support them in this task. But then the conversation moved into much more challenging waters like our booking strategy and how in God's name we are going to make something remarkable happen for ourselves by summer. We know we have what it takes, that we are special, but sometimes it just feels like "pin the tail on the donkey." The question has always been: how do you build a fan base - how do you get noticed -- how do you breakthrough to higher ground?
There are tons of ideas: slow and steady, hitting the same three markets every 8 weeks until the word gets out to the point that you grow into 500 person theaters. And well, maybe you can underwrite these tours with some high paying summer concert series gigs. Or, wait -- let's jump on tour with an established band like Umphrey's McGee or, no, even better, Widespread Panic. Or, I know... let's pester a boutique booking agency every day for a month until we convince them to sign us. OH, let's make a brilliant YouTube video and skyrocket to success. Does anyone know David Letterman??
It seems to me that these ideas just don't work. We have tried them all and more, without success. We have toured the country playing every kind of gig you can think of. We have literally busted into booking agencies and started playing for agents. We have driven to LA to court Tom Petty's manager, annoyed Sheryl Crow's agents, and tracked down business partners of Jack Johnson. We've applied for grants, created catchy YouTube videos, played inside investment firms, snuck into green rooms, and met with independent label owners. We have played benefits, street corners, radio stations, newspaper offices -- and nothing has propelled us beyond the glass ceiling of the club scene where we can't even fit on the stage. On nights like these, I have to call to mind my good friend Thomas Edison. I think he failed something like 10,000 times before he invented the light bulb.
Frankly, there is something that we are missing. We do finally understand the importance of the internet and I do feel confident around our ability to now start harnessing it. But there is something else. What is it? I know we have the answer. We do. We just have to have it occur to us.
There are tons of ideas: slow and steady, hitting the same three markets every 8 weeks until the word gets out to the point that you grow into 500 person theaters. And well, maybe you can underwrite these tours with some high paying summer concert series gigs. Or, wait -- let's jump on tour with an established band like Umphrey's McGee or, no, even better, Widespread Panic. Or, I know... let's pester a boutique booking agency every day for a month until we convince them to sign us. OH, let's make a brilliant YouTube video and skyrocket to success. Does anyone know David Letterman??
It seems to me that these ideas just don't work. We have tried them all and more, without success. We have toured the country playing every kind of gig you can think of. We have literally busted into booking agencies and started playing for agents. We have driven to LA to court Tom Petty's manager, annoyed Sheryl Crow's agents, and tracked down business partners of Jack Johnson. We've applied for grants, created catchy YouTube videos, played inside investment firms, snuck into green rooms, and met with independent label owners. We have played benefits, street corners, radio stations, newspaper offices -- and nothing has propelled us beyond the glass ceiling of the club scene where we can't even fit on the stage. On nights like these, I have to call to mind my good friend Thomas Edison. I think he failed something like 10,000 times before he invented the light bulb.
Frankly, there is something that we are missing. We do finally understand the importance of the internet and I do feel confident around our ability to now start harnessing it. But there is something else. What is it? I know we have the answer. We do. We just have to have it occur to us.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
The Highlight
Last night we played a semi-private party at Crush, a bar in Portland on Morrison and 14th. We were hired to play Becky's 30th birthday. She loves TapWater and her boyfriend Glen hired us as a surprise -- good man! She looked beautiful, the crowd was bright and alive, and the show was awesome.
On our end, we allowed lots of time for load in and sound check and we had a 90-minute break before the start of the show to shower and eat. It was a great day and a long one -- we started packing up the gear at 3 pm and we got home from the show at 3 am.
I ran sound for the band and so I spent most of the night behind the board. Deep into the set, the band left the stage while Simon was doing a drum solo to walk to the adjacent room to get their Samba drums. The highlight of the night for me was when Ravi, as he was walking by, quickly snuck up and kissed my cheek. It was the sweetest thing.
A moment like that washes away the aches and pains of a long day's work.
On our end, we allowed lots of time for load in and sound check and we had a 90-minute break before the start of the show to shower and eat. It was a great day and a long one -- we started packing up the gear at 3 pm and we got home from the show at 3 am.
I ran sound for the band and so I spent most of the night behind the board. Deep into the set, the band left the stage while Simon was doing a drum solo to walk to the adjacent room to get their Samba drums. The highlight of the night for me was when Ravi, as he was walking by, quickly snuck up and kissed my cheek. It was the sweetest thing.
A moment like that washes away the aches and pains of a long day's work.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Infinite Collateral Duties
I am the manager of TapWater. Ordinarily this means that you manage operations and department heads, and keep the whole thing on task. Well, if you are the manager of a young band, this actually means that you manage on top of handling the booking, marketing, promotions, financial planning, bus driving, even gear humping! You gotta do anything and everything that comes up. Most of the time, I take it in stride and even welcome it -- it can be overwhelming at times but its exciting, never boring, and always challenging.
One of the things that causes me alot of stress is that I have to run the band's sound when we play a place without adequate audio. Uhm, let's just say, I am not the most mechanically inclined individual and standing in front of a 36-channel sound board is not really my ideal place on the planet. But, I had no choice, I had to learn. Ravi, who is a professional production guru, and Wes, who is also a professional audio tech, both taught me as much as I was willing or able to learn. I do understand the concept of mixing sound -- layering the levels of the instruments and voices so that they blend together in a way where all the sounds are accented and complement each other. But, dang it, I just don't get how EQing works, no matter how many times they explain it, so I just am not equipped to deal with feedback. And when you are dealing with 5 monitors and 14 mics, let's just say feedback is a familiar friend.
So, its scary. Once TapWater starts playing, Ravi and Wes are on the stage and its just me at the board handling it all. If feedback occurs, I gotta just do my best and sometimes I just can't fix it. Its frustrating for all. In fact, running audio is the most important job at the show. If the sound person isn't skilled, the band sounds awful (no matter how great the music is) and the crowd will not enjoy the show.
Thankfully, we have recently found an amazing audio tech who has been donating his time to us. We call him Golden Graham. He ran our sound at the Aladdin and did a fantastic job. As we gain more traction in Portland, we want to take Graham on full-time. He can't make it to our show this weekend, so I am behind the board at least one more time.
Send me good thoughts!
One of the things that causes me alot of stress is that I have to run the band's sound when we play a place without adequate audio. Uhm, let's just say, I am not the most mechanically inclined individual and standing in front of a 36-channel sound board is not really my ideal place on the planet. But, I had no choice, I had to learn. Ravi, who is a professional production guru, and Wes, who is also a professional audio tech, both taught me as much as I was willing or able to learn. I do understand the concept of mixing sound -- layering the levels of the instruments and voices so that they blend together in a way where all the sounds are accented and complement each other. But, dang it, I just don't get how EQing works, no matter how many times they explain it, so I just am not equipped to deal with feedback. And when you are dealing with 5 monitors and 14 mics, let's just say feedback is a familiar friend.
So, its scary. Once TapWater starts playing, Ravi and Wes are on the stage and its just me at the board handling it all. If feedback occurs, I gotta just do my best and sometimes I just can't fix it. Its frustrating for all. In fact, running audio is the most important job at the show. If the sound person isn't skilled, the band sounds awful (no matter how great the music is) and the crowd will not enjoy the show.
Thankfully, we have recently found an amazing audio tech who has been donating his time to us. We call him Golden Graham. He ran our sound at the Aladdin and did a fantastic job. As we gain more traction in Portland, we want to take Graham on full-time. He can't make it to our show this weekend, so I am behind the board at least one more time.
Send me good thoughts!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The Idea Factory
Sometimes I really just cannot get my brain to stop. Camp TapWater is an idea factory and it is the most exciting thing about working for this band. We all believe our music to be special, and we believe that we were given this gift to make a difference. Here are some of the ideas we are currently kicking around:
1. A partnership between Portland's City Repair and Hopworks where we throw an event to raise money and recruit volunteers for City Repair. They are a fantastic nonprofit with tons of personality that reclaims public space. They help communities create public gathering spaces. They help neighborhoods build tea houses and pizza ovens out of cob, create public gardens, and rip up concrete that really isn't needed. And Hopworks is a totally green, organic brewery with the kindest most down-to-earth staff. They are perfect for each other -- lots of overlap between our fans, City Repair supporters, and Hopworks customers.
2. A partnership between us and SolTrekker, this amazing nonprofit that has converted an RV into an environmentally sustainable show room. They use this beautiful RV as an educational tool and a symbol of the change in energy that is approaching. We would like to write a grant with them, buy a tour bus, have them go to town on it and then give tours of it while we tour, using it as an educational piece. Did you know we can make biodiesel from algae and that there is enough right now to free us from reliance on foreign energy? Check out their web site.
3. A partnership with Joe Trippi, the legendary campaign manager for Howard Dean who knows how to build and mobilize web communities around issues the people find important. He is a true believer in democracy and believes that America can be a beacon of light to the world. His book The Revolution Will Not Be Televised has changed my life. I finally understand what the web means for us as a country, and what it means to really embrace technology. So I have now committed to learning how to create online communities that have a say in the future they want to create.
That's just a few of the ideas spinning around. The challenge of course is turning those dreams into reality. It is what we all work for each day. And what keeps us going is that we do believe we can make a difference for each other and the world.
1. A partnership between Portland's City Repair and Hopworks where we throw an event to raise money and recruit volunteers for City Repair. They are a fantastic nonprofit with tons of personality that reclaims public space. They help communities create public gathering spaces. They help neighborhoods build tea houses and pizza ovens out of cob, create public gardens, and rip up concrete that really isn't needed. And Hopworks is a totally green, organic brewery with the kindest most down-to-earth staff. They are perfect for each other -- lots of overlap between our fans, City Repair supporters, and Hopworks customers.
2. A partnership between us and SolTrekker, this amazing nonprofit that has converted an RV into an environmentally sustainable show room. They use this beautiful RV as an educational tool and a symbol of the change in energy that is approaching. We would like to write a grant with them, buy a tour bus, have them go to town on it and then give tours of it while we tour, using it as an educational piece. Did you know we can make biodiesel from algae and that there is enough right now to free us from reliance on foreign energy? Check out their web site.
3. A partnership with Joe Trippi, the legendary campaign manager for Howard Dean who knows how to build and mobilize web communities around issues the people find important. He is a true believer in democracy and believes that America can be a beacon of light to the world. His book The Revolution Will Not Be Televised has changed my life. I finally understand what the web means for us as a country, and what it means to really embrace technology. So I have now committed to learning how to create online communities that have a say in the future they want to create.
That's just a few of the ideas spinning around. The challenge of course is turning those dreams into reality. It is what we all work for each day. And what keeps us going is that we do believe we can make a difference for each other and the world.
Monday, February 23, 2009
The Conundrum
I face seemingly infinite challenges as TapWater's manager. One that has been on the table for quite awhile is where to book TapWater, especially here in Portland where it seems that people are really starting to follow us. For one thing, you know if you have seen us that we have a ton of gear. In fact, we have a running joke called "You guys got alotta" because at least once each time we play a fan, a bartender, a passerby, someone always comments "Wow, you guys got alotta [shit, stuff, gear, equipment, whatever]." We have so much gear that we can't fit in the smaller clubs because their stages and audio systems are too small. But we don't quite have the following to be playing 500-person theaters that do have the adequate room and audio. So, what do we do? We often end up crammed inside smaller venues, spilling out onto the dance floor and forced to augment their audio system with our own mics, cables, stands, monitors, and sometimes even amp racks. Ack! The sound tech -- if there is one -- is generally totally overwhelmed and we are often pressed for time because the venue does not allot us proper time to set up and sound check.
Some people have suggested scaling back our set up. I have thought about this, and well, we don't wanna! The fact that everyone plays multiple instruments is part and parcel to who we are -- our sound, our versatility, our vibe. And I observe that it's what many people like about us, the way we combine many instruments and genres in unexpected, fresh ways. We could leave out the marimba or the upright bass but then you wouldn't be hearing the music the way that it is indeed meant to be played.
This challenge has been a difficult one to deal with. Any suggestions out there?
Some people have suggested scaling back our set up. I have thought about this, and well, we don't wanna! The fact that everyone plays multiple instruments is part and parcel to who we are -- our sound, our versatility, our vibe. And I observe that it's what many people like about us, the way we combine many instruments and genres in unexpected, fresh ways. We could leave out the marimba or the upright bass but then you wouldn't be hearing the music the way that it is indeed meant to be played.
This challenge has been a difficult one to deal with. Any suggestions out there?
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