I intend to have a lot of fun with this page! Anyone who knows me well can tell you that I am not shy about my opinions. In fact I don't consider my opinions to be opinions at all: To me they're FACTS! I hope what I write here helps someone from time to time. If you have something to say, email me and I just might put it on this page. If you have a problem with what I think, also feel free to write me: If we disagree, I'll straighten you out!!!! |
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I was pondering about how to begin this page, and it occurred to me that it would be wise to begin with the most current and frequent thing on my mind: These days it's all the helpful advice I receive! Whether they mean well or not, some folks just can't keep it to themselves. We all have ideas we'd like to share and opinions about how others should do things, but "PLEASE", take a moment to consider whether the other person wants to hear it! That being said; One of the things I hear most often is comments about my show. I appreciate the help, really I do. BUT: I've only been playing on stage for pay for about 40 years, so give me a little time to grow into the job! In the old days, there were some "Hot Dogs" who were always ready to lay some crap on you about what they had done and who they were hooked up with. Most of the real players would think "OK! Just shut up and play". The civilians ( audience ) were a lot more spectator than they are now. Other players were more courteous: Even if they were only there to steal your licks. Here are some of the things I hear and suggestions I receive. From the civs: "So and so plays at such and such a place and the crowds are huge! " You otta do more new stuff " " You otta have a cd so and so has a cd, he sells them at his show." " Your not really playing that guitar; are you?" " You need to sell stuff like T-Shirts " From the Players: " You otta drop the background music and connect with the crowd." " I do all my own background tracks " " I work 7 nights a week " " I don't use background tracks, I play it live " " I have such and such a famous person's side man on my cd ". " I backed up such and such a famous has been " " I recorded a cd in Nashville " These are some of the more frequent items on the B.S. roster! OK! So here goes: To the audience: " I play small and very profitable venues " " I do the material that most crowds want" " CD's cost money and have to be sellable. If you want to put up the dough, let's talk, I'll cut you in ". " Yes, I really am playing that guitar, and in the near future, I will ad pedal steel and keyboards and will be playing them too!" " I'm not a department store: I don't sell clothes. Most bands that do, sell them with the idea of turning a fast buck!" T-SHIRTS are an advertising tool! To the players: " I use backing tracks the same way I would use side men if the venues could afford bands ". " I don't do all my own tracks because it's an ego trip and a waste of time in most cases ". " I don't have to work 7 nites a week because I charge enough in the first damn place! " " I don't have a CD, It wasn't recorded in Nashville, I haven't backed up anybody famous or near famous, and if ever do a cd of my own, I'm capable of covering the Guitar, Bass, Piano, Organ, Synth and more: I will hire a drummer ( maybe ). I feel so much better now! In all seriousness, if you do this for the love of music only, almost anything will work. If you do this as a profession; Remember that, at the bar and restaurant level, your just "Blue Collar", even if you aspire to something more. So give the audience what they want, even if you don't want to: You'll be amazed at how they respond to what you really want to do, when you get the opportunity! Don't worry about what techniques you use to put the song across; If it works for you, it will work for the crowd. First things first: You're there to make money for the place your playing at: No one owes you a booking! And finally even when you make the big-time, it's still a profit driven business! And to the audience; I love you all dearly! Without your attendance, I would not work. So if it seems that I am not taking your advice to heart, fear not, it's just that I'm most likely ignoring it! ( My wife often tells me that I'm too stubborn, I don't listen to her either! ) I thank you all for reading this and being so patient. I look forward to hearing from some of you. If you have any comments; You'll know better in the future! God, I crack me up!!!!!! Love and Thanks! GUITAR DAN 5/28/07 |
Now that Memorial Day has past, most of us will go back to our regular routines until the next party day. We have a tendancy to only contribute at times when we are compelled to, or show respect on days of observance. I am not writing this to criticise anyone: Life can be difficult and require so much that we have all we can do to take care of our own square foot of earth. Believe me, I know! Veterans and other members of organizations like the V.F.W., American Legion, Amvets and other Similar groups have the same life requirements as everyone else: But with all that, they seem to find the time to continue to serve their country! Year round, you will see notices of charitable events being sponsored by the Legion, V.F.W. etc.. The causes are numerous. The effort is endless. The benefit to the country is immeasurable! I do a lot of work for these organizations and I know the amount of effort and heart that goes into what they do. They have provided me with a portion of my earnings as a musician and their existence does the same for many others. It has become fashionable, in recent years, to say: " Thanks for Your Service " to the vets. I'm sure that, in most cases, it's sincere. I simply request that the next time one of these groups asks for your help with a cause, that you do whatever you can to help. If you want to honor the vets: Thats the best way you can. To find out how, watch my homepage. I list every event that I donate my time to. Thanks for reading this. Guitar Dan 5/31/07 |
Today's Music ? I couldn't let this pass without comment! I sat down tonight to watch some TV after a long day of dealing with club owners and managers. This business is tough enough without what's been happening lately. I spent the greater part of my evening listening to "musicians" who couldn't get a call-back in days past. I understand this because; unlike me, most of the smart players have gotten out of the music scene after 1990 when the road was finished! I also mean, most of the good players. I know 'many' who are now running DJ and Karaoke services: Making good dough and hating every minute of it! I made the choice to stay in the rat race: Performing my one man show in bars and restaurants. Personally, I know I made the right choice for me. Getting back to my point. I made the mistake of tuning in Austin City Limits, which I've taken to calling Awful City Limits! The first act was ( I kid you not! ) some jackass in a high school band outfit with colored wings on his back!!!!!!! The rest of the band was dressed as badly. Now I come up with some wacky ideas, but if I proposed this to ANYONE, I'm sure they would consider having my ass hauled off for a few months rest and a liberal dose of Thorazine! Anyway, this jackass is call Sufjan Stevens. This guy should be court ordered to stay away from anything related to music or poetry, not to mention hair or fashion!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am in the business of creativity. Every time I take the stage, I stretch out to add something new to my show: But nothing I do is half-assed! It seems to me that too many acts today have attended the 'Tiny Tim' school of art: Throw some shit on the wall and see what sticks! PART TWO: I personally feel that the new crop (CRAP) of Country 'Artists' just plain stink! I'll name names: Kenny (look at my pecks) Chesney, Kid Rock, Keith ( I wish I was Bryan Adams ) Urban, (Shani,Shawne, you know, that Twain chick),and God forgive me: Josh Turner ( I ask for God's forgiveness, because I'm often obliged to sing 'Your Man'). Perhaps there is nothing really bad about the music, but it sure as hell ain't Country! Most is formula, the performance is cheesy, the guys are PC if not effeminate, and I would be afraid to slug it out with most of these broads on my best day! I don't think I've ever had as much Testosterone as they seem to have: They're Tough! I really pissed off the crowd at one of my gigs last week! Someone put on a half hour of the new country on the juke box. Big & Rich came on and it was 'Save a Horse'. I proceeded to Rap a Little bit of 'GIN AND JUICE' over the song: and it fit quite nicely. The crowd proceeded to Boo loudly: I loved it! I just told them it was the same thing! They didn't like it, but nobody argued the point. Just so you know: The show went great, my bookings were extended through 2008 and I got a raise that night. People expect me to say whats on mind. I really wish that someone would come out with some decent music that I could cover. I find myself more and more reaching back into the past to get stuff my audience will like. I haven't written songs for many years, but I'm seriously think- ing of starting again: I know I couldn't do worse than what's being passed off as MUSIC today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Guitar Dan 8/11/07 |
| The World According to Dan |
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| 'Performance Rights Organizations' 8/14/08 In recent months, I've been getting numerous questions about groups like A.S.C.A.P., B.M.I. and S.E.S.A.C.. The subject comes up when club owners are approached or receive a bill from one of these groups; usually A.S.C.A.P.. The venue owner is surprised, to say the least. In a perfect world, you would think that someone who takes on the task of running their own venue would have the experience to have become aware of this part of the business: I'm not making a criticism, only an observation. I have no particular axe to grind. I am simply writing this as a tool to help anyone who may not be up to speed. I will also include an example of my experience with A.S.C.A.P. which may help when dealing with these groups. I was going to do this in paragraph form, but I decided to do an itemised list instead. Here are the important points: 1. There are three main groups in the U.S.: a. A.S.C.A.P. - The American Society of Composers Authors and Publishers b. B.M.I. - Broadcast Music, inc c. S.E.S.A.C. - Society of European Stage authors & Composers 2. These groups represent the people who hold rights to music that is copy written and published. They have the legal right to collect fees for the public performance of material which they hold in their catalogue: For example, A.S.C.A.P. has the Josh Turner tune 'Your Man' listed in their catalogue. 3. It is impossible to keep track of what a given performer might have in their set list; therefore, the venue does not pay by the song, but pays a flat fee annually for the right to have an entertainer play this material 'live' at the given venue. 4. The license fee is based on seating and sq. footage of the venue being licensed: My experience has been that it works out to about $6.00 to $7.00 per seat. Please don't hold me to that, it's a rough calculation. 5. I am researching details regarding Radio and TV services to determine who is responsible for these fees. ( This article is to address the matter of 'live' entertainment.) 6. These groups have reps. who contact the venue to license them. They are backed by the laws which allow this practise. And, by the way, these groups are 'non-profit'. The money is distributed amongst the members that belong to the organizations and hold rights to the material. A.S.C.A.P. has about 12.5% administration costs. If a venue refuses to acquire the license, these groups can and will settle the matter in court: They have lots of lawyers! The only thing an owner can do is to stop live entertainment or make very sure that his performers only play original material written by them. 7. Finally; All three groups can require a license and it can get a bit costly. Mostly, the only one who will approach a venue will be A.S.C.A.P.. I recently lost a gig because an A.S.C.A.P. rep called the venue and said they knew that 'Guitar Dan' was playing there on such and such a night. They requested a license fee of $819.00 per year. The owner was freaked! I said that I would call A.S.C.A.P and have a talk with them. The venue owner agreed. I called the A.S.C.A.P. rep and asked him how may seats he had the venue listed for. He informed me that it was 130. I explained that the bar was outside and had a capacity of about 60 and that it was a once a month show. He reduced the license fee to $378.00 and a 10% discount for pay in advance. The other option was $94.50 per quarter based on the $378.00. These people will work with you. The upshot was that the club owner cancelled the gig and did not want to "play their games"; referring to A.S.C.A.P.. I'm sorry to say it, but I don't blame A.S.C.A.P. for this one! If you've got a business and won't shell out a hundred bucks to have live music, there's a real problem. I don't like paying for a lot of the stuff that I pay for. I would like to see my taxes reduced and no annual corporate filing fee, but that's the cost of doing business. I'll grant you that these P.R.O.'s have had some bad press which they've earned, but until something changes, that's the way it is. I don't work cheap and don't expect anyone else to. With all the expenses I incur, I still manage to turn a profit. All I can say is know your business or you deserve whatever surprises you get! Thanks; Guitar Dan |
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| 'A change is as good as a wreck' 11/10/08 Be careful what you ask for: You just got it! I have watched this for the last half dozen years: Like watching some jerk speeding down the road and knowing that it's only a matter of time before he wrecks! I'm speaking about not only the economy, but the state of our society. They are tied together. I've had a particularly difficult time since I moved to Florida 10 years ago. I made a couple of financial mistakes, which we all do from time to time. I didn't realize how far down my health, as well as my wife's would go. I had never faced 'middle-age' before. Our severe health problems, coupled with the 2004 Storms, which wiped out my business, made for a massive debt load I could not have foreseen. What I did know, is that when your heading down a steep hill and your not sure your brakes are good, it's time to pull over and check them! And that's exactly what I did. I took a realistic and painful look at where we were and how I could fix it. I had a number of options and none of them were pretty. I could secure a mortgage and hope the equity would rise enough to borrow against it in order to lump everything together. I could file for bankruptcy and start from scratch. And finally, knowing that the monthly payments and increasing medical costs would eventually catch up with me, I could go to my creditors and explain that I saw trouble ahead and find out what could be worked out. I did the latter. After some belt tightening and re-negotiating, I had everything in place. The end result was that I was able to wipe out 60% of my debt in the last 4 years and I am now in a position to pay the rest over the next 18 months. My point is that we have become a 'shoot from the hip' society. Too many of us take big chances in order to solve our problems. Nobody wants to feel any pain or go without. They continue to take bigger and bigger risks: Knowing that they can walk away if things get too tough! This will catch up to you. There is a time to stop and appreciate what you have and cultivate it: More is not better! The day of reckoning is here. For those of us who have struggled and taken the slow and steady course, there will be a harvest. For those who measure their worth in acquisition and what others can do for them, there will be famine. Change was not needed, common sense was. We have been promised a vague plan to solve the problems that we ourselves have created. As a result, we've elected a man who will deliver little but grief. It's not his fault: If you walk around drunk in a bad part of town, you deserved to get mugged. The thief is just doing his job! The only 'change' needed is on the inside. Desire less, be grateful for what you have, no matter how little. Don't measure your happiness or value in terms of what others have: Someone else will always have more than you do. Finally, remember that everything you have and everyone you know is on loan. Appreciate and care for it while you are it's steward. I would like to have learned these lessons years ago, it would have saved me a lot of anguish. I hope anyone who reads this will take a moment to stop and take a look at what they value. When someone tells you they can fix all your problems, ask yourself what they want from you. The price is usually more than an honest man would be willing to pay! Guitar Dan |
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