Feeling inspired to write today, so this is what you're getting...
My mind has been, as I'm sure you've already guessed, on music today. Same as any other day. It's my raison d'etre, if you will. A wiser man would have walked away from it by now, but luckily, I'm not a wiser man. I find too much joy in it to simply walk away because I'm not earning great Mammonian piles of cash from it. Every day in music is, to me, a new adventure. No matter what the weather is like outside, or how my body feels, or what is going on around me, my head is filled with music. New ideas, new spins on old ideas, a different arrangement, different voicings, there's always something to keep me happily occupied.
I'm working on putting together a new trio. This one might make some money...then again, it might not. Either way, it's giving me a lot to do; coming up with arrangements, plotting the course I want this venture to take, exploring potential venues, etc. Always something!
This gets me to thinking just how long I've been doing this. Damn, have I really been enveloped in the world of guitar for 36-37 years? I honestly can't recall if I was 11 or 12 when I started. It's been so damned long. This leads me to a question I've been asked, easily, 1000 times or more: Is it easy to learn to play guitar?
Quick answer: NO. At least it wasn't for me or most of the guitarists I know. While I'm sure there are a select few out there who just happened to pick up a guitar one day and were magically gifted, for most it doesn't work that way.
What it takes is a level of dedication bordering on fanatic obsession. Once you start, you just can't stop. There are hurdles. The fingers aren't accustomed to doing the things necessary to play an instrument. You develop calluses. Muscles and tendons that you rarely use are awakened...and they will hurt at times. Sometimes you'll play until your fingers bleed...and then keep on playing. You'll often fall asleep with the guitar. My girlfriend often tells me that I play in my sleep. We've been together long enough that she can tell if I'm playing guitar, slide guitar, or bass in my sleep!
For a kid as young as I was, and playing the type of guitar I was (an old Silvertone classical...which had a very wide, flat neck/fingerboard), some chords seemed damned near impossible. I still vividly recall the old Learn To Play Folk Guitar book that dad had. The chord charts and fingerings were damned near sadistic in my estimation. To a young kid, they seemed impossible...but that just pushed me harder! "I WILL master the G chord, dammit!", I often thought and even shouted out loud. "A barre chord? Who am I? The Incredible Hulk? How am I supposed to hold all of these strings down with one finger while making a chord under it with the other fingers???" "I don't WANT to use my pinky!" Yeah...that's what it's like. But a budding guitarist does this...because it's all he/she wants to do. They've opened Pandora's music box. They know what could be...what can be...if only they push harder and go farther. There is no end to the learning. No one ever learns all of it. Why?
Because There Are No Rules!
Ask 10 guitarists who they think the best guitarist is, and chances are you'll get 10 different answers for 10 different reasons. It might be a matter of their skill or technique or tone or a combination of all of the above.
There is no right way or wrong way to play. There are basic guidelines...but even those aren't necessarily 'rules'. I've seen people play guitar on their lap. I've seen a guitar played with a spoon. Keith Richards often only uses 5 strings, instead of 6. I did a show in upstate New York once with a guy who only used 4 strings, and a capo. Big Joe Williams used a 9 string guitar! There are 6 stringed guitars. There are 12 stringed guitars. There are 10 stringed guitars. There are baritone and tenor guitars. There are nearly limitless different tunings. There's fingerstyle, slide, picking, tapping, chord melodies, single line playing, claw style...and every decent guitarist at least tries different ways to do things. At least they used to. I hear too many kids today say things like, "That's not how it's done!", thinking there is only one way to do it. It's sad. It says a lot about the mindset these kids are brought up with. A bunch of little future corporate slaves. (Yeah...you knew I was gonna work that in somewhere.)
My question to all musicians anymore is this: Why do you play?
Knowing that your chances of making it "big" are slim, and the financial rewards that used to exist no longer do...why do it at all? Is it a matter of ego? Instant gratification? Some inner need to feel special? Or is it something more?
For me, it's simple. It's a never-ending race to get these ever-accumulating ideas OUT of my head. I've often said that creativity is a form of psychosis. I hear things that don't yet exist outside of my mind. At any given point in time, I have a multitude of symphonies playing in my head. I'm, luckily, able to weed through them and focus on one or two things at a time, as well as temporarily mute them when I have other things to do...like work, or pay bills, or any number of every day things we all do. But give me a minute to myself...and I let them all come flooding back to full volume in my head. It's beyond wonderful!
Some people enjoy the music I make. Some don't. Some couldn't care less either way. Yet, I still do it. I feel compelled to make music. I know how I react to music. I'm pretty sure that most people have an innate reaction to it. There have been studies done as to how and why...but the point is, we do react to music. Even the deaf can react to vibrations. That's one of the reasons I enjoy playing loudly. I know that I enjoy the vibrations from it...and I've seen deaf people have a positive reaction to it. If it's too loud...you're probably too old. Get some ear plugs. You'll be better off in the long run.
If you're a parent, make sure your kids learn music. Don't make it a hassle. It's not like they have to be Beethoven. Just open that door to them. If your kids' school doesn't offer music (sadly...some don't), buy them an instrument. Expose them to all different types of music. You might be surprised what moves them. You might learn something yourself.
It's never too late to learn to make music.
Monday, October 13, 2014
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Door Gigs N'at
For those of you not in or familiar with the glamorous life of show biz, a door gig is where the act gets paid whatever is collected at the door (or a portion of it), aka the cover charge. In a large venue with a built in crowd, this can be a nice payday for the act. The reality though, is less wonderful.
20 or so years ago, I used to play a joint called Kangaroo's. It was a large venue and there were easily 400-500 people there on any given weekend night. When we discussed our deal with the manager, I suggested giving us a buck a head. He was more than happy with that. We usually made at least $500 a night out of the deal, it was close to my house, the drinks were free, and all was well in the universe. Mind you, this was one of 4 or 5 shows we'd do every week. We actually made some decent jack for making music.
Things have changed. A lot of venues now go for the 'showcase' type show. This means 3 or 4 acts sharing the bill for one night. I understand the idea - it will, ideally, bring in more people. More people equates to more money, right? Wrong.
The showcase show is almost always done wrong. All this leads to is one group of patrons coming in to see their friends while the others are leaving. It also leads to long lags between bands while they switch over gear. If you're going to do a showcase, set up a backline. All of the acts get there early, set up the gear they're going to need. Share some gear. It ain't that hard. If you really know how to play, your sound will be the same as if you're playing through your own oh-so-unique amp. The trick to these showcases is fast turnover. If you can't do that, don't play a showcase. Get there early, stay the whole night.
A bigger problem for bands, with these type of gigs, is the pay. There won't be much of it. The average bar will hold 50-70 people comfortably. If there's a $5 cover charge, which is really pretty low considering how many need to be paid from it, this means $250-$350 coming in, minus whatever you're paying the door man, security, sound man, etc. This equates to little more than gas money. Is it worth it? Are you that much of an attention whore? Is this really the best way to promote your new and exciting sounds?
It is what it is. If you expect to make any kind of living as a musician, you have to ask yourself if it's worth doing these shows or these venues. They're a great way to get your name out there, provided anyone sticks around to actually hear you and pay attention to what you're doing. You have to be even better when doing these shows. You have to catch everyone's attention and get them excited. If you don't, you probably won't be back...and you probably won't be getting many other gigs in the area.
If you're a musician, here's a few tips for doing the door gig/showcase gig. Come in with the realistic knowledge that you're not going to make money. Be there on time, or better yet, early, for load in. If there are 3 bands on the bill, EVERYONE should be there at least 2 hours prior to show time. This gives you time to figure out the backline, how long each set will be, and what order every one is going on. None of you are rock stars. If you were, you wouldn't be playing these gigs. Leave your ego at home. Act like a professional. Be polite and courteous to the other acts, as well as the venue staff. Especially the venue staff! They will remember you. Act like a douche, and that will be your reputation. Act like a civil, professional musician, and that will be your reputation. Once you have a bad reputation, good luck getting rid of it. The people in this industry all know each other. They talk. They network.
So you say these are the only gigs available to you. It looks like you have a lot of work ahead of you then. No one, especially in this day and age, is going to hand you gigs. You have to search for them and work hard for them. Each show has to be better than the last one. You like to be a drunken smart ass onstage? Dandy! Some places are OK with that. Some ain't. A lot ain't. Treat this like your job. If you're lucky, it will be. Do you get drunk at work? Probably not. If you do, you probably won't be working there for long. That said, it's OK to have a drink or two...just don't get hammered. Don't go get high. Trust me, you might THINK you play better then...but you don't.
Unless you want to do nothing but play these types of door/showcase gigs, you better have your shit together. You better be able to play at least 4 hours, nonstop. You're not guaranteed a break. Think about the last major concert you went to. Do the bands onstage take a 'pause for the cause'? No. They keep on playing. I've seen a lot of acts do nonstop 3 hour shows. If you can't, stay home until you can. Stay in shape. Keep your energy level up. The audience will be infected by your energy and they will groove right along with you.
Here's some things you shouldn't do: Do not show up late. Showing up during another act's set is disrespectful. If you can't bother to be on time, just don't bother. Sure, things happen sometimes...but do your best to not let it happen. Once you're there, don't leave! Stay the whole night. Get to know the other acts - network a bit! You just might even enjoy their music. If you can't do that, don't bother. Here's a biggy - do NOT try to cut out early and ask if you can get your band's cut of the door. Ain't gonna happen. That money has to be counted and accounted for. If the door man, security, and/or sound man is getting paid out of it, they're getting paid first. Unless you have a contract that states how much you're being paid, when, and in what form (cash, check, etc.), you're just going to have to wait. Balking at the money that came in the door won't win you any friends either. As a musician, you should know what's going on. If the cover charge is $X and there are only XX number of people in the room, you should be able to figure out how much money you're going to make, if any. No one cares how much you made last night, or how much you made the last time you played here. Seriously...as a door man, I'm forced to endure these conversations. As a musician, I'm appalled at how unprofessional a lot of acts are. It's that type of behavior that makes us all look bad.
Want to know why your band isn't making any money or any progress? Think how many things you're doing wrong. What have YOU done to pack the house? Oh sure...you've written some amazing, mind-blowing songs that will change the course of mankind as we know it. Who hasn't? How much promotion have you done? How much time and effort have you put into the show? If you're counting on the venue to do it all...think again. If you're lucky, the venue MIGHT have a person who is dedicated to good shows at their venue. Most joints, though, do not have such a person. Music is merely an added bonus to bring in warm bodies that they can sell booze to. If your crowd of 300 friends/fans shows up and only drinks water...you probably won't be back. If your crowd of 50 shows up, and they each spend $25 or more, you will. It's economics.
If you're planning a tour, and you have a bunch of door gigs, I hope your piggy bank is full...because kid, you're gonna need it. Door gigs, as I said, equate to little more than gas money. If you're on the road, you need to eat, pay for motel rooms, do laundry, AND buy fuel and maintain your vehicle. Plan for it.
Lastly, tip the servers/bartenders. That's how they make their money. They are busting their humps to serve YOUR friends/fans. Their prompt, excellent service will often be a deciding factor in just how good a time your fanbase has at your show. Make it worth their time and show them your gratitude. A decent tip plus some free merch is always a nice touch. Give them a CD and a t-shirt. They'll remember it. They'll wear that shirt. They'll be more likely to say, "Hey! THESE GUYS are coming back. They were awesome last time! You should come check them out!" Treat them with anything less than respect, you've just lost a big chunk of your PR frontline. Years ago, I used to give shirts to the bartenders BEFORE the show. A lot of them would wear them during the show...MORE PUBLICITY! Then the patrons would ask where they can get one of those cool shirts...CH-CHING! Merch sales!
Yeah...show biz is harder than ever...but it IS do-able. Approach it professionally. Leave your ego at home. Don't be greedy. Don't be an ass. Play your ass off. Push yourself. Promote your shows. Promote your merch. Need help? Ask someone. If you see a band doing better than yours, ask them what, if anything, they're doing that maybe you're not. Ask the staff at the venue. They'll tell you. Most importantly, use a contract. Always. It takes out any and all guess work.
Bottom line: In the words of Dave Courtney, OBE: "It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice."
20 or so years ago, I used to play a joint called Kangaroo's. It was a large venue and there were easily 400-500 people there on any given weekend night. When we discussed our deal with the manager, I suggested giving us a buck a head. He was more than happy with that. We usually made at least $500 a night out of the deal, it was close to my house, the drinks were free, and all was well in the universe. Mind you, this was one of 4 or 5 shows we'd do every week. We actually made some decent jack for making music.
Things have changed. A lot of venues now go for the 'showcase' type show. This means 3 or 4 acts sharing the bill for one night. I understand the idea - it will, ideally, bring in more people. More people equates to more money, right? Wrong.
The showcase show is almost always done wrong. All this leads to is one group of patrons coming in to see their friends while the others are leaving. It also leads to long lags between bands while they switch over gear. If you're going to do a showcase, set up a backline. All of the acts get there early, set up the gear they're going to need. Share some gear. It ain't that hard. If you really know how to play, your sound will be the same as if you're playing through your own oh-so-unique amp. The trick to these showcases is fast turnover. If you can't do that, don't play a showcase. Get there early, stay the whole night.
A bigger problem for bands, with these type of gigs, is the pay. There won't be much of it. The average bar will hold 50-70 people comfortably. If there's a $5 cover charge, which is really pretty low considering how many need to be paid from it, this means $250-$350 coming in, minus whatever you're paying the door man, security, sound man, etc. This equates to little more than gas money. Is it worth it? Are you that much of an attention whore? Is this really the best way to promote your new and exciting sounds?
It is what it is. If you expect to make any kind of living as a musician, you have to ask yourself if it's worth doing these shows or these venues. They're a great way to get your name out there, provided anyone sticks around to actually hear you and pay attention to what you're doing. You have to be even better when doing these shows. You have to catch everyone's attention and get them excited. If you don't, you probably won't be back...and you probably won't be getting many other gigs in the area.
If you're a musician, here's a few tips for doing the door gig/showcase gig. Come in with the realistic knowledge that you're not going to make money. Be there on time, or better yet, early, for load in. If there are 3 bands on the bill, EVERYONE should be there at least 2 hours prior to show time. This gives you time to figure out the backline, how long each set will be, and what order every one is going on. None of you are rock stars. If you were, you wouldn't be playing these gigs. Leave your ego at home. Act like a professional. Be polite and courteous to the other acts, as well as the venue staff. Especially the venue staff! They will remember you. Act like a douche, and that will be your reputation. Act like a civil, professional musician, and that will be your reputation. Once you have a bad reputation, good luck getting rid of it. The people in this industry all know each other. They talk. They network.
So you say these are the only gigs available to you. It looks like you have a lot of work ahead of you then. No one, especially in this day and age, is going to hand you gigs. You have to search for them and work hard for them. Each show has to be better than the last one. You like to be a drunken smart ass onstage? Dandy! Some places are OK with that. Some ain't. A lot ain't. Treat this like your job. If you're lucky, it will be. Do you get drunk at work? Probably not. If you do, you probably won't be working there for long. That said, it's OK to have a drink or two...just don't get hammered. Don't go get high. Trust me, you might THINK you play better then...but you don't.
Unless you want to do nothing but play these types of door/showcase gigs, you better have your shit together. You better be able to play at least 4 hours, nonstop. You're not guaranteed a break. Think about the last major concert you went to. Do the bands onstage take a 'pause for the cause'? No. They keep on playing. I've seen a lot of acts do nonstop 3 hour shows. If you can't, stay home until you can. Stay in shape. Keep your energy level up. The audience will be infected by your energy and they will groove right along with you.
Here's some things you shouldn't do: Do not show up late. Showing up during another act's set is disrespectful. If you can't bother to be on time, just don't bother. Sure, things happen sometimes...but do your best to not let it happen. Once you're there, don't leave! Stay the whole night. Get to know the other acts - network a bit! You just might even enjoy their music. If you can't do that, don't bother. Here's a biggy - do NOT try to cut out early and ask if you can get your band's cut of the door. Ain't gonna happen. That money has to be counted and accounted for. If the door man, security, and/or sound man is getting paid out of it, they're getting paid first. Unless you have a contract that states how much you're being paid, when, and in what form (cash, check, etc.), you're just going to have to wait. Balking at the money that came in the door won't win you any friends either. As a musician, you should know what's going on. If the cover charge is $X and there are only XX number of people in the room, you should be able to figure out how much money you're going to make, if any. No one cares how much you made last night, or how much you made the last time you played here. Seriously...as a door man, I'm forced to endure these conversations. As a musician, I'm appalled at how unprofessional a lot of acts are. It's that type of behavior that makes us all look bad.
Want to know why your band isn't making any money or any progress? Think how many things you're doing wrong. What have YOU done to pack the house? Oh sure...you've written some amazing, mind-blowing songs that will change the course of mankind as we know it. Who hasn't? How much promotion have you done? How much time and effort have you put into the show? If you're counting on the venue to do it all...think again. If you're lucky, the venue MIGHT have a person who is dedicated to good shows at their venue. Most joints, though, do not have such a person. Music is merely an added bonus to bring in warm bodies that they can sell booze to. If your crowd of 300 friends/fans shows up and only drinks water...you probably won't be back. If your crowd of 50 shows up, and they each spend $25 or more, you will. It's economics.
If you're planning a tour, and you have a bunch of door gigs, I hope your piggy bank is full...because kid, you're gonna need it. Door gigs, as I said, equate to little more than gas money. If you're on the road, you need to eat, pay for motel rooms, do laundry, AND buy fuel and maintain your vehicle. Plan for it.
Lastly, tip the servers/bartenders. That's how they make their money. They are busting their humps to serve YOUR friends/fans. Their prompt, excellent service will often be a deciding factor in just how good a time your fanbase has at your show. Make it worth their time and show them your gratitude. A decent tip plus some free merch is always a nice touch. Give them a CD and a t-shirt. They'll remember it. They'll wear that shirt. They'll be more likely to say, "Hey! THESE GUYS are coming back. They were awesome last time! You should come check them out!" Treat them with anything less than respect, you've just lost a big chunk of your PR frontline. Years ago, I used to give shirts to the bartenders BEFORE the show. A lot of them would wear them during the show...MORE PUBLICITY! Then the patrons would ask where they can get one of those cool shirts...CH-CHING! Merch sales!
Yeah...show biz is harder than ever...but it IS do-able. Approach it professionally. Leave your ego at home. Don't be greedy. Don't be an ass. Play your ass off. Push yourself. Promote your shows. Promote your merch. Need help? Ask someone. If you see a band doing better than yours, ask them what, if anything, they're doing that maybe you're not. Ask the staff at the venue. They'll tell you. Most importantly, use a contract. Always. It takes out any and all guess work.
Bottom line: In the words of Dave Courtney, OBE: "It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice."
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
WBS
What does these 3 guys have in common?
I went for what I thought was routine blood work a week or so ago. I figured, "No biggy". I get this done once a year, as I'm on regular medication for my heart condition and high blood pressure. Doc wants to make sure we're not wrecking my liver in the process of keeping my ticker working.
Well, the next day I heard from my doc. She had some news that I didn't particularly want to hear. Bottom line, I now have Wilford Brimley Syndrome (WBS), aka Type 2 Diabetes. OK...no one calls it that but me...just remember - humor is how I deal with things. On a more positive note, the rest of my blood work was amazingly good!
I really shouldn't be too surprised. I'm 48, overweight, and while I try to take care of myself, I can do better. Also, I had a few episodes of dizzy spells over the summer. I attributed them to the weather. The first one, I was painting a house and thought I had heat stroke. The second time, it had been particularly warm, and as I was getting up from the couch, I got pretty light-headed and had to sit right back down. I've also been pissing a lot more than usual lately...but honestly, I attributed that to being a prostate cancer survivor and to drinking as much coffee as I do. I had a few other very minor episodes, and I just attributed those to my lifelong habit of forgetting to eat. As big as I am, you'd be surprised at how infrequently I eat a meal.
Along with the WBS, I have a mild blood condition, polycythemia, common among diabetics. Long story short, I have sludgy blood. Needless to say, the past week has been a pain in the ass for me. I've been working on booking 2 tours for next year; Europe and Australia. I've been feeling very positive about life in general, so I should've known it was all going too smoothly! LOL Needless to say, I'm cancelling the tours. I need to work on my health more than I need to tour. I've seen a lot of musicians wreck their bodies just to keep playing music. I don't want to be that guy any more.
Being told that I'm now a card carrying member of the Wilford Brimley Dia-beetuss Society just didn't sit well with me. It doesn't run rampant in my family. In fact, I can only think of 2 blood relations who had it; my paternal great grandmother, and a great aunt. Neither of my parents are/were diabetic...to my knowledge, no one on mum's side had it...so, just my luck! I got it. It looks like I'll finally be slowing down a bit. Damn it. I'm not happy about that. But...a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do, right?
I'm now in the process of making some significant lifestyle changes. Sure, diet and exercise...but for me, it's a lot more. I've been in show biz for decades. I'm used to late nights, smokey bars, partying, living it up...you know, all the fun stuff that is really bad for you. I've never been good at moderation. But I'm working on it! I've already lost a couple of pounds just by making some diet changes and walking a bit more. Time to take this bull by the horns and get it under control.
My goal now is to attempt to reverse this. While I'll never be a non-diabetic again (barring a miracle of modern medicine), it is possible to get myself off of the medication I am now on. It's going to take a lot of work on my part...mostly behavioral. Lucky for me, behavior is what I spent 25 years doing for a living! I know that I can do this and that the end result will be positive and beneficial to all aspects of my life. What it's also going to mean is changing more than just my diet and exercise regimen.
I am going to have to take a few healthy steps away from the rock and roll lifestyle. Let's face it; there are a lot of negative influences and temptations there. In my case, it's the booze. I can outdrink almost any human, and have on many occasions. I don't drink all of the time, and haven't for years...but I can still hold my own. That's got to stop...and spending too much time in that environment would make it tricky. I also work door at a bar. Last weekend was tough...but proved to not be impossible. I worked both nights and instead of my usual 3-5 beers while working, I had 3 over the course of 2 nights. I would've only had 2....but ran into an old friend, so I cheated. I paid for it.
A few of you already know about this, and now the rest of you do. To those that already know, thank you for the kind words and support! I can do this! I don't want attention about it, don't really care to discuss it, and unless you're a diabetic or an endocrinologist, don't really care to hear your two cents worth on the subject. I'm working very closely with my doc (a great gal!) and we've caught this early and are getting things under control. Like I said, I'm already working on the dietary changes and getting more exercise. I'm now on medication and monitoring my glucose levels and following the doc's orders. I had a few more tests done this morning, and all in all, I feel fine. My biggest battle is going to be behavioral. I have 48 years worth of bad habits to undo. But like I keep reminding myself, I can do this. I have a lot of reasons to want to stay healthy for a long, long time.
Don't worry...I'll still be making music every chance I get, albeit maybe not performing it live. I'll still be the same cantankerous old smart ass you've come to know and love. I'll just be even better looking...I almost feel bad for y'all! Clean, sober, talented, AND good-looking! Can you handle all of that?
Little chocolate donuts...I think I'll miss you most of all!
I went for what I thought was routine blood work a week or so ago. I figured, "No biggy". I get this done once a year, as I'm on regular medication for my heart condition and high blood pressure. Doc wants to make sure we're not wrecking my liver in the process of keeping my ticker working.
Well, the next day I heard from my doc. She had some news that I didn't particularly want to hear. Bottom line, I now have Wilford Brimley Syndrome (WBS), aka Type 2 Diabetes. OK...no one calls it that but me...just remember - humor is how I deal with things. On a more positive note, the rest of my blood work was amazingly good!
I really shouldn't be too surprised. I'm 48, overweight, and while I try to take care of myself, I can do better. Also, I had a few episodes of dizzy spells over the summer. I attributed them to the weather. The first one, I was painting a house and thought I had heat stroke. The second time, it had been particularly warm, and as I was getting up from the couch, I got pretty light-headed and had to sit right back down. I've also been pissing a lot more than usual lately...but honestly, I attributed that to being a prostate cancer survivor and to drinking as much coffee as I do. I had a few other very minor episodes, and I just attributed those to my lifelong habit of forgetting to eat. As big as I am, you'd be surprised at how infrequently I eat a meal.
Along with the WBS, I have a mild blood condition, polycythemia, common among diabetics. Long story short, I have sludgy blood. Needless to say, the past week has been a pain in the ass for me. I've been working on booking 2 tours for next year; Europe and Australia. I've been feeling very positive about life in general, so I should've known it was all going too smoothly! LOL Needless to say, I'm cancelling the tours. I need to work on my health more than I need to tour. I've seen a lot of musicians wreck their bodies just to keep playing music. I don't want to be that guy any more.
Being told that I'm now a card carrying member of the Wilford Brimley Dia-beetuss Society just didn't sit well with me. It doesn't run rampant in my family. In fact, I can only think of 2 blood relations who had it; my paternal great grandmother, and a great aunt. Neither of my parents are/were diabetic...to my knowledge, no one on mum's side had it...so, just my luck! I got it. It looks like I'll finally be slowing down a bit. Damn it. I'm not happy about that. But...a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do, right?
I'm now in the process of making some significant lifestyle changes. Sure, diet and exercise...but for me, it's a lot more. I've been in show biz for decades. I'm used to late nights, smokey bars, partying, living it up...you know, all the fun stuff that is really bad for you. I've never been good at moderation. But I'm working on it! I've already lost a couple of pounds just by making some diet changes and walking a bit more. Time to take this bull by the horns and get it under control.
My goal now is to attempt to reverse this. While I'll never be a non-diabetic again (barring a miracle of modern medicine), it is possible to get myself off of the medication I am now on. It's going to take a lot of work on my part...mostly behavioral. Lucky for me, behavior is what I spent 25 years doing for a living! I know that I can do this and that the end result will be positive and beneficial to all aspects of my life. What it's also going to mean is changing more than just my diet and exercise regimen.
I am going to have to take a few healthy steps away from the rock and roll lifestyle. Let's face it; there are a lot of negative influences and temptations there. In my case, it's the booze. I can outdrink almost any human, and have on many occasions. I don't drink all of the time, and haven't for years...but I can still hold my own. That's got to stop...and spending too much time in that environment would make it tricky. I also work door at a bar. Last weekend was tough...but proved to not be impossible. I worked both nights and instead of my usual 3-5 beers while working, I had 3 over the course of 2 nights. I would've only had 2....but ran into an old friend, so I cheated. I paid for it.
A few of you already know about this, and now the rest of you do. To those that already know, thank you for the kind words and support! I can do this! I don't want attention about it, don't really care to discuss it, and unless you're a diabetic or an endocrinologist, don't really care to hear your two cents worth on the subject. I'm working very closely with my doc (a great gal!) and we've caught this early and are getting things under control. Like I said, I'm already working on the dietary changes and getting more exercise. I'm now on medication and monitoring my glucose levels and following the doc's orders. I had a few more tests done this morning, and all in all, I feel fine. My biggest battle is going to be behavioral. I have 48 years worth of bad habits to undo. But like I keep reminding myself, I can do this. I have a lot of reasons to want to stay healthy for a long, long time.
Don't worry...I'll still be making music every chance I get, albeit maybe not performing it live. I'll still be the same cantankerous old smart ass you've come to know and love. I'll just be even better looking...I almost feel bad for y'all! Clean, sober, talented, AND good-looking! Can you handle all of that?
Little chocolate donuts...I think I'll miss you most of all!
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