Bob, Not a list to speak of. Just was sitting in front of the computer after finishing the last chart and reading a few blurbs here. Thinking about keeping an open mind and the fingers did the rest. Not reflection so much as train of thought rambling.
Staying on the road. Bugs On Sep 23, 9:20 pm, "Robert J. Dragone" <dragonm...@mac.com> wrote: > It's interesting that you took the time to stop and make a list of all the > things coming your way. Are you looking for some cohesion in all that? I > didn't recognize a pattern, but then it's not my life I'm looking at. We all > recognize the artist that you are but tend to forget that it all boils down > to bills, kids and groceries. Maybe a little satisfaction with all that > toil, but Douglas seems to have hit the core of it. Sure, it's a paycheck > but very few of us get to enjoy greatness with our pay no matter how meager > or rich it may be. Please stay on the road. > > Bob > > On Sep 23, 2010, at 8:11 PM, mistertaterbug wrote: > > > Okay. Here's what happens when a person stays open-minded and follows > > wherever the road leads... > > > This year so far, I've had more work than I've had in a long time. The > > webcam lesson schedule fluctuates depending on the economy, babies > > being born, new marriages, new divorces, new jobs, lost jobs, families > > moving, illness, lost interest, etc. Sort of my own private > > abbreviated view of the 'big picture' we all deal with. But so far the > > last few months there's been at least a dozen new folks coming on and > > a number of old friends threatening to come back on board in a month > > or so. > > > There's been a number of things on my plate this year, some old, some > > new. > > > Still working with the NBB, though sparsely booked. A great band to > > work with and a smart bunch of guys. I always enjoy our gigs and being > > around those guys. The duet stuff with Joe Newberry and David Grier is > > a lot different from each other, but both fill a gap that I'd miss if > > I didn't have them. Plus, it's good to have the time to hang out with > > one's friends and I'm fortunate to count both of them as such. The > > Elvis Costello tour was a whirlwind and a hoot and an experience that > > I'll not forget. I had three months to get ready for the initial blast > > last year and I worked my ass off to memorize 40+ songs and it paid > > off. I am way better now at writing charts (partially in part to > > assistance from Matt Combs and Jeff Taylor's help and endurance of my > > many dumbass questions) and playing chord changes that aren't found in > > country stringband styles of music. Plus, I had to buy electric gear; > > amp, pedal board, pickups, a Randy Wood acoustic/electric mando, etc. > > and start figuring out what that's all about. It's like learning > > another language to me. But as Jerry Douglas says, "There's money > > there". Enough said, Flux. Count me in. > > > The year's count on workshops/seminars has been about half a dozen, > > most of which were week-long endeavors. This year's Monroe Mando Camp > > went over great. So improvements being made. Looks like next year is > > starting to shape up some for more camps and a better Monroe camp > > expected. Planning on it, at least. > > > Now, more TBone work. On my doorstep appears less than one week ago 3 > > CD's of material to chart and learn. Plus, two files with 'greatest > > hits' material...you know, stuff we've all heard on the radio since > > high school. Heavily-orchestrated material. Now, here's the band > > situation for this hillbilly mandolin player: two drummers, two > > electric guitar players, one bass player, background singers, a horn > > section, and a mandolin player. Lord knows what else. Rehearsals for > > the material start Oct. 5 and last for two weeks. Then, about half a > > dozen concerts, some TV, etc. The lineup for the show is: Elton John, > > Leon Russell, Elvis Costello, John Mellencamp, Gregg Allman, Jeff > > Bridges, The Secret Sisters, Ralph Stanley, Karen Elson, Mark Ribo, > > Neko Case, Punch Brothers. Knowing what you know about me, figure > > where Bill Monroe's mandolin style figures into this mix. Or better > > yet, figure in where a derivative of Bill Monroe's mandolin style > > figures into this mix. Also take into consideration that I'm treading > > water fast as I can with just my eyeballs above water. > > > Next year looks promising too. More duet work with Joe Newberry and > > Grier already on the books, solo work in Australia for about two > > months thanks to Paul Duff and associates. Will get to play with > > Bluegrass Parkway there and make a visit to the Gilchrist mansion on > > Lake Gnotuk. Also will get to play with two more of my oldtime heros > > down under, Bruce Molsky, Rafe Stefanini. Some NBB work booked for > > 2011 and some work with Charlie Cushman and Dave Peterson playing some > > straight-forward bluegrass. Looking at probably getting some Hartford > > String Band stuff on the books. Also, it looks like there's probably a > > TBone production coming too. We'll see. > > > Sure, it seems rosey and all that, and I'm glad, grateful to have it > > all. Still, with all this going on, it's hard to keep the car running, > > the mortgage paid, the groceries bought and always a chore to keep the > > middle-aged spread from spreading. But it could be a whole lot more > > uncomfortable. And maybe one of these days I won't be living from > > paycheck to paycheck. > > > Keeping my mind open and doing the next thing that comes down the > > road... > > > Tbug > > > -- > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups > > "Taterbugmando" group. > > To post to this group, send email to taterbugma...@googlegroups.com. > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to > > taterbugmando+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. > > For more options, visit this group > > athttp://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Taterbugmando" group. To post to this group, send email to taterbugma...@googlegroups.com. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to taterbugmando+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/taterbugmando?hl=en.
