Practical Handbook for the Working Musician, Part 9: More Positive Thinking for the Working MusicianFebruary 1, 2023
by Mike Mindel. This article was originally published on HVmusic around the year 2000.
Don't read this article-- hot licks and a bad attitude is all you need.
If You Think You Can, You Can
If you haven't figured it out yet from my last few articles, I'm a big fan of thinking positive. What does this mean? Ironically, it is easier to tell you what it doesn't mean.
Being a positive thinker doesn't mean when something bad happens you're not bothered by it. It does mean a positive thinker won't dwell on the negative for very long, but will focus their energies on solving a problem and looking for the good that may co me out of it; without prolonging the disabling effect of the negative emotions. The negative thinker tends to over-dramatize the situation and spends too much valuable emotional energy dwelling on the problem instead of the solution.
Practical Handbook for the Working Musician, Part 8: Auditioning for a BandDecember 22, 2022
by Mike Mindel. This article was originally published on HVmusic around the year 2000.
Over the years, I have been a sideman in bands that were auditioning players and have been a leader in bands auditioning players. One event a few years ago gave me a unique vantage point. I was able to hear someone audition for a position in a band and at the same time was 100% aware of exactly what the position required and didn't require. The reason I had this unique perspective was that the musicians were auditioning for my position! One I have held for many years. Observing this process was a great learning experience. I was able to see how other guy's approach a band audition, both in attitude and musicality. It was also reassuring as a player to see how I stood up against other players, in the same setting. Here are some of the things I learned.
Practical Handbook for the Working Musician, Part 7: Positive Thinking for the Working MusicianOctober 24, 2022
by Mike Mindel. This article was originally published on HVmusic around the year 2000.
In a previous article — "B.S.ing Techniques to Get Through a Gig" — we talked about tricks to get you through a sub gig or jam. This month we'll talk about something you can't B.S. — yourself. B.S.ing your way through life will work about as long as trying to B.S. your way through a regular stint in a band. Sooner or later it will catch up with you, everybody will know it, and the reality you tried to postpone will hit you in the face. So this month we get mental. I'll share with you some mindsets and perspectives to guide you down the trails, on the trip of your musical pursuits.
International Strange Music Day is August 24thAugust 18, 2022
This post is from a guest writer.
Obscure instrumentals, unpredictable vocal melodies, unheard artists, and chart-topping ensembles, International Strange Music Day is the day to celebrate it all.
By 2002, August 24th was in the diaries of venues and music loves across the globe as a day to celebrate all things weird and wonderful about music. The day was originally created by Patrick Grant as a day to ‘listen without prejudice’.
Practical Handbook for the Working Musician, Part 6: Studio Time -- Part 2July 19, 2022
by Mike Mindel. This article was originally published on HVmusic around the year 2000.
As a continuation of my last article, this article is geared towards those of you who have little or no studio experience, but want to get a jump on what it's all about before you cut your first recording. Last month I talked about things taking much longer in the studio than you might expect. This time around, we'll begin to break down the process into it's basic components, in order to get a better understanding of where the time goes in the recording studio. And I'll try to offer you some tips along the way that may help save you money. This will give you a better understanding of the process and help you anticipate how much time and money it may take you to record your project.
These first two mentions fall into the 'should be obvious but you'd be suprised' category.
Practical Handbook for the Working Musician, Part 5: Studio Time -- Part 1June 12, 2022
by Mike Mindel. This article was originally published on HVmusic around the year 2000.
Here are some of the many things to consider before you go into the studio and spend your hard-earned money to record your tunes. The more clearly you have your project laid out in your mind, the more efficient you'll be in the studio and the less money you'll waste needlessly. The first and most important question to ask yourself is this: What do I intend to do with this recording? If you are making it to impress your girlfriend/boyfriend, save your money and use a 4-track cassette recorder. It will still sound pretty damn good compared to setting up a boom box up in the middle of the room. If you are making a demo to solicit record companies, a little better quality is needed, but you still don't necessarily have to go top-line. If you are self-producing a recording to be sold at gigs on CD, think about going digital.
