The NAMM (National Association of Music Merchandisers) Show is held less than a mile from Disneyland. One is a commercial shrine to prepubescent entertainment and sensory overload. The other is a theme park. Or, maybe I should say the NAMM Show
Funny stuff
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Choosing material for your new band
I’ve devoted the previous several columns to the subject of band self-management. There won’t be many more, I promise, because let’s face it: all this management gets tiring after a while. Sometimes you just want to go play the show. Let’s
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Managing bluegrass
This has turned into a lengthy series on bluegrass band self-management, which is fitting because we live in a do-it-yourself era, from self-service gas pumps to self-checkout at grocery stores. I’ve even recently learned to eat meals without professional assistance.
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Blue Yodel #14 – Ask Mr. Blue Grass Smarty Pants
Dear Mr. Blue Grass Smarty Pants, How come you didn’t call this column Blue Yodel #13? Did you skip a number? —Lucky 13 Dear Lucky 13, Yes, I made that mistake once in high school when I took number 13 on the baseball team
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Book your first gig
Somewhere deep in my list of items that are on a new bluegrass band’s to-do list was this little, seemingly trivial task: “Book a gig.” I think it was somewhere after selecting stage clothes and seeking endorsement deals. Many—though by no
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Blue Yodel #12 – Ciúnas Gan Uaigneas
This year, I mean it. No more abandoning resolutions to learn the fiddle or write a song every week. No more good intentions turned into shovel-ready projects to hell. No more orgy of self-loathing with two guys named Ben &
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Top 11 signs your band is breaking up
I hope the holiday season has treated you well, that the relatives who gave you that sweater that was two sizes too small saved a receipt, and that you didn’t get sick of Christmas Times a-Comin’ before Christmas time actually