I play if you have the money Or if you’re a friend to me But the one man band By the quick lunch stand He was playing real good, for free. -Joni Mitchell, Real Good for Free Despite my best aspirations as a performer and a songwriter, I have more in common with the one [...]
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It’s Tuesday. Do you know where your fashion tips are? If you’ve “liked” Magoo’s Facebook page, you know it means it’s not just the day after Monday — it’s Fashion Tips Tuesday. Magoo is a veteran songwriter, perpetual Blue Skies host, family performer, a winner of the “Off Beat” Porcupine Award, parade leader, a major [...]
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Dear Mother Maple: I love song circles. But I get serious nerves when it comes around to me to lead. Can’t I just be the side-guy and pass my turn? Bill Wyman Wannabe Dear Bill: There’s nothing wrong with being a sidewoman or sideman. Elvis had Scotty Moore and James Burton; Johnny Cash had Luther [...]
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Dear Mother Maple: I was at a music festival recently when a light rain began to fall. There was a young couple next to me, and we’d been chatting back and forth most of the day. When the rain started, they opened up a HUGE umbrella to keep themselves dry. Unfortunately, the umbrella began to [...]
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Dear Mother Maple: I run sound at a local club, and last week I had a hard time. The act I was running sound for didn’t like what I was doing. I couldn’t find a sound to please him, the sound check didn’t go well, and between sets he chewed me out. But he couldn’t [...]
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We talk a lot on this site about music, but less often about some of the important aspects of presenting music. One that’s close to my own heart is hosting shows. Hosting, in my experience, takes as much preparation and skill as any other form of public performance. The host is responsible for maintaining the [...]
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Many artists have their own domain name, often a .com, .ca or .net. It’s not hard to register one: pick something that isn’t taken, pay $10 or so a year with a domain name registrar to claim it, then maybe another $6-8/month for some basic web hosting. Some web hosting packages will even include a [...]
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Dear Mother Maple: I do house concerts. But the hardest part of my hobby is turning down people. How can I soften the blow? Living roomer Dear Living Roomer: You house concert people are the salt of the earth. You give up your time and your homes to others so that music and musicians can [...]
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Dear Mother Maple: I know this is going to happen this summer, because it happens EVERY summer. I love Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, my girlfriend loves Mighty Popo. They’re doing separate workshops AT THE SAME TIME. How do we have a good time together without undercurrents of resentment? BARK at the moon Dear BARK: [...]
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Dear Mother Maple: I can accept that roots musicians are never going to be the rich, powerful jetsetters of the music world. But wouldn’t a little recognition once in a while be nice? — Left out. Dear Left out: Well, you’re right. Recognition is a good thing. For example, my granddaughter came running downstairs [...]
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