January 14th, 2016

Kicking off my first blog post with some advice I hope to pass along to as many young musicians as I can.  I have learned this from years of experience and finding out the hard way the consequences of being "stubborn" with your talents and abilities.  Humility goes a VERY long way as a performer.  Even today, I won't say that I am completely humble about my abilities.  I know my weaknesses and strengths.  It is important to be confident, but don't put that confidence above anyone else and their talents.  

The easiest, yet sometimes difficult, way to be real about your talents is to be open to criticism.  Seems obvious, but even the most talented musicians need to be able to listen when someone has a point of criticism.  Doesn't matter if the person offering up the points is less experienced, it is always worth listening so that they felt heard.  I spent the first 10 years of my gigging career in Milwaukee refusing to listen to others trying to help me and it held me down as a performer.  I'm not a perfect musician, but I drive myself to get better and my biggest tool to help me is taking what people say as fuel to improve.  My hardest thing to overcome is how to be receptive to those criticisms at first offerings.  Initial reactions can turn off the person offering.  It's hard to resist the initial brushing them off, as is my habit, but eventually it comes back around and makes sense. (usually)

All that said, as a young or old musician, you're never to old to improve and need to be willing to listen to everyone around you' and their viewpoints.  The best bands work as teams, the best teams listen to each other and help each other improve.