My friend Pudding Samson is a
comedy/singer/songwriter.
She writes really funny and sharp
material.
She sings well and plays solid
guitar.
One night I ask her if she wants to
do a gig with Astro Al. We’ve done them plenty of times before.
She blindsides me and says “No
thanks, I’m not doing anymore gigs ever. Just going to be a studio thing.”
“That’s
a mistake.”
“Why? Why should I bother? No one
shows up. Ever. Why do you bother?”
“Now
that is an interesting question. See you have to understand something. Doing
these gigs is not about amassing an audience or sucking up the energy of
performing for hundreds or thousands of people. Hell I don’t want to play any
huge shows at all. I like small venues.”
“But what’s the point then?”
“Catch
this vibe. You see as a performer and singer/songwriter you’re good. Your songs
are catchy and funny and have a mellow message to them. I dig it. However they
could be better, just like I know I can be better. How you get better is by
pouring massive amounts of energy into practicing advertising promoting a gig
then showing up and releasing all that energy into the ether of your
performance. It is that surge and rush of emotion and creativity that will
propel your material. You have to do that.”
“The Beatles stopped gigging and did
their best work.”
“No
offense Pudding but neither you nor I or are Lennon and McCartney. You’re good
but not quite there and I’m more Larry Buchanan than Ed Wood. The Beatles were
fantastic but call me crazy, I think if they had played some more gigs who
knows how much better they could have been.”
“Ok let’s gig!”
Yours in self-indulgence,
Count Robot
PS for those who don’t know Larry
Buchanan and Ed Wood here you go…
