MAB Q&A

Cor Blimey Mate - 'oo the bloody 'ell was that? 

A quick shout out to Ott -- I think he comments on every song in the open mic section.  Well done, you're a good ramper.

I'm sure they were wearing a kilt and were heading to Cousin OD's to steal his beer.  Or it might have been one of them Border Reivers who don't care what side they're on as long as there's money in it!

Is it possible to "second" a shout out?  If so, I second that shout out.  Ott is such a great member of this community.

Hats off to Ott!  I agree.  It means a lot to people.  I just need to get my bum in gear and get producing, listening and collaborating again.

Hi MAB

I was wondering what it is you do when you just cannot seem to get a song together, other things are getting in the way and although you know you would enjoy it, just can't be bothered picking up the guitar?

There was a time I was even busier than I am now but when I look back and listen to what I produced for fun with other collaborators, there is a lot (guitar pieces on people's songs, providing melodies and musical ideas for others, right down to lots of own song ideas).  As a designer, I know all about freeing yourself up from mental blocks, going for walks or good exercise, etc.  But what are your tricks / self-motivators?  Is it easier if your life is steeped in it?  It isn't that easy in design to switch on again

Maybe it's just age or going a little 'mental'   Having said that, I have been putting pen to paper.  A lot of my time is taken up with the sale of my Dad's house at the moment and I am itching to get on the guitar.  So maybe the 'ambience' is changing.

I think some people can push themselves out of an unproductive malaise but if I'm not in the mood, I'm not in the mood.  Call me arty farty but the ambience has to be right.  It annoys me when I do actually pick up the guitar I have a great time.  It's strange because although this is the situation with design and music, I am rarely fed up as a person, for the simple reason I get bored of being fed up almost instantly!

On another subject.  I had to give feedback to a student last Friday.  She had asked for feedback although she had the highest mark in her year.  They had done a small design project to design the Gel speaker technology into a product (she chose a box drum in the end).  I said her drawing and sketching was fantastic (She's first year and this was fourth year standard).  I asked if she did a lot of art at school - none.  Almost instantly, she could pick up a marker pen and paper and produce work of a really high standard.

Years ago a guru in design methodology stood in front of a hall full of designers and said that he had changed his mind on his books on methodology.  Design is like music, you have it or you don't.  Surely that is right for some of the amazing talent we see but having taught mechanical engineers to draw and be creative taught me 1. It is an inherent talent and people do not realise they have it.  2. You can teach technique and develop people to a standard they never thought they could reach - so it's a bit of both ...

... or am I talking nonsense?

Cheers

Nod

Norman,

Hi MAB

I suppose boredom is part of it, when I think of it but was thinking it was more letting things get in the way. In a sense I wonder if there is also a laziness or fear of not fulfilling promise.

I used to work 12 hours a day 6 days a week for many years, usually first in last out. But if it came to sitting down playing the guitar for hours, something I really enjoy, I just couldn't. I wonder if it was laziness or fear that I would never improve or if I had plenty money in the bank I wonder if could sit as long as I wanted playing, recording and collaborating. Though I think it's in my make up. I was good at some sports, etc, but preferred sitting at home listening to great singers and musicians imagining I was them - but dreams don't make reality ;-)

You are right though. I created so much more music helping and adding guitar to other people's songs, for example, and had a brilliant time. So I'll push for this again.

ANYONE RECEIVING E_MAILS FROM SAM COOPER!!!!

DO NOT OPEN ANY e-mails from Sam Cooper or any e-mails that are titled "RE" with Sam Cooper mentioned. Thee are JUNK e-mails!!

If you know anyone receiving e-mails from Sam, PLEASE pass the word along!!!

phil g.

Sam got hacked a while back and probably is going through it again. Too bad. He has had a really tough time over all of this. Again, and again, the Internet proves itself as much of a problem as it is a help.

Thanks for the info. I'll watch out for that.

Cheers

Nod

If you are not on Sam's email list, you have nothing to worry about. Nod, I doubt you got on any of them unless you signed up.

Very true. Though it's amazing what you do receive these days!

Nod

First off, stop wearing make up.  That should help.  Next - I think we ALL need to get better at making the time and - as MAB said - co-writing. 

I'm as guilty as any - and more so than most.

All Da best Peggy.

I find it easier to remember a melody  If I can pick it out  on a guitar ( keyboard banjo  ukelele or whatever ) rather than  try and keep it in my head  where it often  morphs into something else. .

So,Peggy, follow your instincts .

 John

Well OD, I AM going to take in as many MAB shows as I can. BUT, it's a big family reunion down there. When you go to a family reunion, you don't only spend time with the one cool dude family member. You try to get around and catch up with the whole family.

phil g.

I leave for a few days and here is Phil instructing the a lady at Florabama to knock on his camper door and she can "use him whenever she wants?" Phil you da man!!!! LOL just teasin. Hello all!
Long couple of weeks!
My girl was bit on the foot by a black widow/brown recluse we've determined last week, I was off work for that now Bryson has a 102 fever I'm off today again, so I've been "cleaning up around the house" no song pun intended..

MAB gotta question,

I went through some OLD poetry I'd found I wrote years back, and one in particular was basically a really good song in my estimation that just needed some cosmetic surgery.
I wrote it with a whole bunch of "the girl said" "the daddy said" and left the characters anonymous... But what is your opinion of the need, or lack thereof to give names to characters in songs? Sometimes it works as a filler, my gut says I need to leave it like it is but I wanted to pose the question to you, and the rest of you... Let me give you an example using a song you will recall and explain it a little better...

Here is basically the style I HAVE of a great opening line on a classic song....

"How much do I owe you, said the mother to her son...."

Instead of...
"How much do I owe you, said miss Tucker, to young Paul..."

I feel like giving the characters names in that scenario, would not allow the listener quite the chance to put themselves in the shoes of the song if you will.

Can names sometimes, take away from leaving it a little vague? What's in a name MAB???

Eddie's right. I'll have to stop wearing make up ... more importantly, making excuses!

Cousin OD, I might surprise you one day with some really good guitar playing and songwriting - that is one of my aims. Go for it Peggy and enjoy.

Anyway, it's 1am and I'm up in 6 hours. A busy day tomorrow but some deadlines met ... so I will have more time coming up ...

Cheers

Nod

Peggy

 I have edited your response above.

Whatever  you can do  to get your lyric and  melody  across to the pros  has to be an advantage in getting   the end product the way  you want it..
Let the  pros  have their input  but, at the end of the day ,IF you are paying  you do all the saying, the yea ing  or the naying,  if that is  what  you want.

GO  fer it gal.

 j

Hey MAB! I guess the migration to Nashville continues. I suppose this was bound to happen. LOL!

When you're playing open mic's like me, it sure helps to have friends. I was supposed to go to Gainesville (a 45 min. drive) tonight for an open mic. Thanks to friends, I got a phone call from one of the regulars who told me this week it had been moved to Friday. Saved me a drive! Well, not really. I had another reason for going to Gainesville tonight. A Gainesville local singer/songwriter, Lance Howell, hosts a "invitation only, Songwriters In The Round", the last Thursday of every month. Another local singer/songwriter friend of mine and a second singer/songwriter friend of mine who lives in Sarasota, Florida, are always looking for those kind of venues to play. Tonight, I took their business cards to Lance to let him know there were 2 more really good singer/songwriters I think he should consider for his Songwriters In The Round night. Hope it works out for everyone.

phil g.

Yep, Peggy.  I think being able to strum some chords, come up with melodies and test how your lyrics sing on your own can really be good for your writing.  For me, I write, record a home demo, play it in the car, rewrite, play it some more, rewrite, rerecord, get critiques from fellow songwriters, my wife, my kids, continue to obsess, then record again, and on and on. Finally, when I think I like what I hear, lyrics are tracking with the melody the way I think they should, etc. I hand the song over to the pro demo folks.  I also find that, on the rare occasion when I write the lyrics first, I end up drastically changing the lyrics once I start trying to put them to a melody.  Things on paper sometimes just don't sound right when sung.  I have no commercial success to prove this is the right way to go, but I think it is working for me.