[Dixielandjazz] Mental Illness . . . You Gotta Be Nuts

[BillSargentDrums at aol.com]

Honestly though,
 
You really have to be nuts to do what we do . . .
 
Practice, practice, practice . . . and that's to just get the sounds to  come 
out, then
 
 
Practice, practice, practice . . . to get the first scales, then
 
 
Practice, practice, practice . . . play our first songs, then
 

 
Practice, practice, practice . . . cop the first gig, then
 
Practice, practice, practice . . .  to keep the first gig, then
 
 
Practice, practice, practice . . .  to keep getting the abuse from the  
bandleader, then
 
Become the bandleader yourself, so you can keep getting the abuse of the  
club owner AND the sidemen . . .
 
or the drunk in the front row that wants you to play the one song everybody  
on the band hates . . .
 
or abuse from the Bride from Hell accompanied by her mother . . . 
 
Or to travel half way 'round the world to play a festival that doesn't even  
pay what local scale is back home . . . only to sell 75 of those CDs you just  
spent $4,000 to produce . . .
 
To load up the band equipment, travel 75 miles to play a gig, set up the  
band before the others get there, play the gig, tear down the band after  
everyone leaves, get home at 2:30 in the morning, unload the band equipment AND  . . .
 
because the compensation for all the above equals wages hovering  around the 
official poverty level in the US, you get to get up in 3 hours and go  work 
your day gig . . . so you can come home and practice afterwards . . .
 
Yea, ya gotta be nuts . . . and if you're not to start with, you will be a  
few years into it.
 
The above example is purely fictitious, not inspired by or reflective of  
anyone on this board. The names have been omitted to prevent homicide.
 
If the above give you thoughts of suicide, just keep reminding yourself,  
it's PLAYING the gig . . . you're going out to PLAY the gig . . . you're gonna  
PLAY that song you hate to that drunk that annoys you . . . and the fact that  
yur an arteest. Then go take the purple pill you got from your shrink :-)
 
Just remember, it's an honorable personal sacrifice your making all in the  
name of Cultural Preservation in America.
 
God Bless America & Happy Thanksgiving!
Bill
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 








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