I don't get around here as much as I used to. Since I've joined Taxi in 2003 and my first deal in 2006, my music career has been on a steady ramp up and I spend most of my time when I'm not at my day gig or at home with my wife, writing for several opportunities that have pretty much all come as a result of my association with Taxi.
This past year has been a year of upheaval and growth, mostly of the inner variety but much of it is taking place in the outside world as well. The Rally always seems to stir things up, sometimes in ways that aren't immediately apparent either at the Rally or even several weeks or months after.
This Rally was different in that, for one, I was a one to one mentor, doing two sessions on Friday. I was a bit apprehensive about this at first and yet when I was in the room meeting with fellow members, it felt right. I learned so much from listening to the folks talk and to their music, I'd like to think that I was able to help shed some light on their process and their path, at least from my experience. I was happy to do it and would do it again.
So many relationships have been forged as a result of Taxi and the Rally, and it's pretty astounding to me how these friendships are continuing to grow and evolve and get stronger. The bonds we share as fellow travelers on a road that is filled with so many obstacles and potholes is priceless and precious to me.
There was much deep learning for me this year and I am still feeling the effects of it. Some of the things I learned more deeply were things I'd known about for some time but this year the lightbulb seemed to get a bit brighter (or maybe I just added a few more LEDs to my collection, to use a more 21st century metaphor! LOL!).
I can't stress enough how important it is to continue to learn about the business and how it's practiced. As musicians we like to go to our "safe place" and create (OK I'll speak for myself here!), and yet, without some interaction with "the business" (which is really just people, BTW), there really is no "business" to transact. It can be a pretty scary thing at the beginning but so was playing your first piano recital or junior high dance, right? You didn't stop doing that, you just kept going until you figured it out. The business or the studio or anything new we need to learn is really no different. It's just a different set of chops.
I'm always amazed when I read posts from people that I know from the forum here and also on other social media, and they were there, probably 20 feet from me, but we just never connected personally at the Rally. A part of me knows that everything works out perfectly, but another part of me is disappointed that we simply didn't cross paths this time.
Here's a list, in no particular order, of observations and reflections from the rally, some two weeks or so on:
Do whatever it takes to learn what your music is and where it fits in the world
If you made it to the Rally, you did a huge thing for yourself and your path
The business is us
Keep my mouth shut and ears open (this is my goal every year, every year I fail miserably!! LOL!
)It's a long term business, make friends first, the business will flow from trusted friends. A CD will end up in a pile or in the recycling, a great friend is forever.
Who I am is not what I do
There's only so much time in the day, who do I want to spend that time writing music for?
I can't party as hard as I used to. This is a good thing!
Keep going no matter what. If you are supposed to be doing something else, you'd be doing it.
I could go on but I'll stop there.
Peace, love and blessings dear friends, old and new. Happy Holidays however you choose to celebrate or not.
See you next year.
Mazz
