MAB Q&A

Good to hear from you WAGs. Congratulations on the contest win.

MAB

I remember many articles in various magazines, Playboy, High Times, etc. about a man in Georgia who had been cross polinating all this huge pot plants with a lot of other plants. Had Turnup green pot, Rutabaga Pot, Cabbage Pot, Corncob Pot, seemed this guy was getting people stoned and then taking care of their munchies all at the same time. They said something about it led to him writing all these really weird songs too. 

Its funny, I've never seen Eddie and that guy at the same time. Could they be the same person? You never know. I think maybe Eddie has a few OTHER things growing in the garden as well. I always notice when he comes to Frank Brown, he is always wearing his tie die and peace and love beads, sandals, headbands, etc. from when he went to Woodstock (Georgia). Looks like the old hippie in him might be coming out!

MAB

Eddie - Thanks for that advice. This was just an impromptu 'sing with the band' kind of thing. I sang Crazy by Patsy Cline. Maybe it was the waiting, or maybe it was the fact that it was kind of a shock that I was going to perform, so I coudln't prepare. And I didn't have my guitar. But, lol..all of those reasons (plus age!) are why I'm not a performing artist! I would imagine it gets easier the more you do it...I don't know. I just felt like I was ok with it, but my body was just doing it's own thing! It was 'Crazy' indeed...

Ha ha! That's funny, Gerald. And nice to 'meet you' BTW! I tried picturing them all on the toilet, but surprisingly, that didn't help either. 

I am going to try the prayer route next time...IF I ever do it again. I really hated that feeling. It's happened before but that was really bad. Oh well...think I'll just stick to writing. 
Thanks for missing me...but it seems as though you have kept yourself quite busy on here (eh hmmm). Glad to see the other girls have had the pleasure of getting to you know you You really are sweetie, despite the dirty Old Dog comments...<3 

First off, I remember you telling me that you were nervous that night. Honestly - I could NOT tell at all! You did great. And the kind words are sweet, but you are selling yourself short! I think you play, sing and write great! About the preparation - I think that might have been the reason I was so nervous. I was NOT expecting to perform. I was there running the fundraiser and the ladies kind of set me up! Plus, no guitar, and I was singing a song that I've heard a million times but never performed and wasn't sure of the words. In fact, I had to read the lyrics from my iphone. It was a nightmare! Well...I'll never do that again. Lesson learned. 
Now...someone like MAB would have been amazing in that situation. Just a natural born performer. I think I do 'ok' when I'm doing my own stuff, and I've prepared, like you said. But I'll never be able to shine on stage like that. I'm always amazed by people like that. Yes MAB...I said I'm amazed by you...

I have nothing to say except - A) I knew this was the answer and what you would say. And B) - You're right (yeah, yeah, as usual). I totally battle anxiety all the time. I was getting better a while back when I did play out a few times. BUT - those times I was crazy prepared. Like I practiced each song a gazillion times. I know I can do that. I guess getting better at the unexpected, impromptu performances just comes with confidence, which comes with playing out...you are right. I knew the answer. I was just looking for a different one, ha ha! I know there aren't any shortcuts though. 

Good to see you here Wags. I'm sorry that things are not great for you as far as the Parkinson's goes. I've got a soft spot for people with it, my grandfather has it too. Praying for you...and congrats btw!!!

Well Melissa, now that you have redefined the situation, you have a LOT MORE courage than I do! I could NEVER get on a stage, especially in front of that many people, and try to sing a cover tune I wasn't totally comfortable with.

phil g.

MAB,
       I once bought a baggie of maple leaves - not very good stuff.

OD,

I have spoke and performed to audiences from 1 to 450. There's no difference.

Melissa,
       I started losing things, like a shovel in the garden, a book in the house and sunglasses in my car so I made a list of all the things I had lost and then.....  I lost the list.

Eddie R

                                                                  BEING PREPARED

Melissa,and all.The reason all of you READ and particpate in this forum is so that you will BE PREPARED for anything you come accross. If you want to be proficient in writing, you have to do it. A lot. My process is that you DO IT WITH OTHER PEOPLE AT EVERY CHANCE, because it MAKES YOU A BETTER WRITER. Being able to sit in a room with someone, face to face, spit out some ideas, play around with nothing, and then turn out THREE MINUTES OF MAGIC is the coolest thing you can do as a writer. And when it makes both or more people jump up and down and scream YES!!! THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT I HAVE WANTED TO SAY EXACTLY HOW I WANTED TO SAY IT!!!! There is no better feeling.

Being able to perform, especially if you are a GOOD PERFORMER, is a bit of magic on it's own. And WHY are we performing? To let people SEE us. Particularly if you are trying to find co-writers, develop your own writing circles,and of course, to see if you get opportunities, like when someone ASKS you to perform for larger groups or to do something speical that will advance what you do. What if you found your way into helping a charity? Doing a benefit that raised money for a needy person. You HAVE TO LOOK OUTSIDE OF YOURSELF!!!!!

That is what this thread is all about. YOU HAVE ALL been given certain talents. That might be to write, to perform, to encourage others, to help someone get through particularly tough times. They might be like OD, reporting in his underwear to the ladies here to remind them HOW GOOD THEIR MEN REALLY ARE!!!! They might be Farmer Eddie, growing marijana for the hippies out there, to get them so stoned they will stay in their living rooms instead of driving on the roads, or blocking up the Krystal drive through at 2 in the morning.
It might be Phil, trying to find his musical way, RV'ing his journey through every elderly trailer park in America,or Kevin, coming around to get me back into a web site that I was shut out of. Everyone has a certain thing they do.

With that comes RESPONSIBILITIES to others. Melissa, we look at you as a VERY GOOD WRITER, VERY GOOD PERFORMER. I have many others right here, RiDawn, Heather, that can benefit from your experiences. You all are very similar and I am sure would be great friends. And there are people in your area that could benefit from what you do. You are frankly TOO GOOD to keep your abilitlies bottled up. But you have legitimate things that have kept you off center. Your family situation, dealing with kids growing up, changes in life, you know....LIFE!!!
But you have great instincts and great talents to share with others.

THAT is why I think you should be out there. You NEED some outlets for your abilities. You need to be around other people in this crazy SUPPORT group that we all need to be a part of. 

So performing somewhat regularly gives you a reason to keep writing. Nobody wants to just sit around and do things they have already done. They need new, fresh things to keep them invigorated.  Having places to perform that, to get around others, to GET OUT OF THE LIVING ROOM are essential to our growth as writers.

So it is not needed just for your NERVES. Although that is a benefit of regular performing. It is good for your overall MENTAL HEALTH.

Like  Forrest Gump.....
"That's all I've got to say about that!" 

MAB 

MAB,

You are so correct that we have to write more often and with more writers.  This concept has given me the idea to invite
OD's Girlfriends for a first annual: 

"LIVING ROOM JAMMIE WRITE"  with the Old Dog.  So far on the guest list is Miss Meliss, DiDawn Raelette, Heather,
and Peggy (did I miss anyone???)

I'll supply each of you with a 'one way' ticket (you'll have to buy your return ticket if you ever decide to leave).  
I'll have space for each of you on the living room floor, complete with a personalized sleeping bag.
We'll write day and night; or take a break and watch "Chick Flicks" on TV.
We can do each other's nails and share our deepest, darkest secrets.
The Old Dog will keep the champagne flowing and have assorted chocolates for your pleasure.
I'll schedule a shopping spree at the local "Thrift Shop" for an afternoon of fun and excitement (then back to writing).
I'll have the old girls from Bingo Night drop off their best casserole dishes so we can just "Pig Out".
I'll schedule a round at the local "Moose" club to help get rid of stage fright (I have connections there).
We'll print out and discuss some of the MAB's best comments from past posts on the Ramp.

This is a "Must Attend" event.   Please RSVP
(a show up date will be announced)    The Old Dog can't wait.  This will be fun for all.
(sorry, no male writers other than the Old Dog will be allowed). 

OD

Song Idea Ol Dog

Well I might  come on a little too ruff
inviteing just the ladies
But Im as harmless as can be I ve been to the vet
and  got all my shols courtesy of the Humane soceity
yeah my bark is bigger than my bite
sometimes I like to do ttricks for treats
roll over and ask will you scratch my belly for me
I wont sit up and beg but I can hike my leg

Wags,

You are being a little too crude to descibe the Old Dog and his intensions.

The ladies know I'm harmless.   We'll blame your meds.

OD

REvised

He's baaaaaack.   Take it Wag's.
(much better version)

OD

Girlfriends,

We have to over look comments and jokes coming from the guys.  They are just jealous they are not invited.

This writing retreat is bigger than just ourselves; it is not about us but about our music.

We will make some beautiful music together............ no wait, that didn't sound right...........  we will 'write' some
beautiful music together.  There, that is what I meant to say.

The MAB has said many times you have to get out of your 'living rooms' ;  although I admit he didn't mean come to mine.

The Old Dog has already carried out two trash bags of empty beer bottles trying to "Prepare" for the occasion.

Wasn't that what The MAB was talking about (and the title) of his last big post "Being Prepared"???

The songs we will write and the idea's we will come up with for future writes will be worth the trip alone.

Once again "Please RSVP"

OD

The kid is back in the building, and OD  I did read your little jab about "give us some line about studying for a test" well the day you texted I was literally given time to study. I have two statewide exams I MUST pass immediatley to keep my job. Class D water and Class D wastewater, other than that, while your chugging lukewarm schlitz in your undies I'm pounding the pavement of these Houston streets cowriting with artists left aind write. Don't think cause I don't post on the ramp as much, I ain't out doing my thing, making contacts, and getting out of the living room No sirreeee I'm in it to win it. But in all honesty there are many days now I get home exhausted, eat dinner, spend a little time rolling on the floor with my kiddos, then it's bedtime for them brushing teeth, and i get back up at 530am. Trust me, ask my guys on my crew, when I'm not working i'm writing. I just don't have near the time I did as when I sat behind a desk all day, plus my laptop annoys me cause it's slow. But I am hustlin' every day. No excuses here, just cause I don't post as often don't mean I'm off my game. LOL

Philinmyinbox

I did see an email from you but haven't checked it yet, I will as soon as possible I'm alone tonight with kids, wife is on a ladies retreat with women from the church.

As of late,

I'm writing songs, and working on 3 websites I maintain for side money, and finishing up final product development for my clothing line. (I know you guys are gonna laugh at me) but frankly it's really starting to make some noise hear locally, and really is helping to supplement my income. Got some big things coming down the pike soon. So that's taking what little free time I have. Still making all my NSAI meetings ...etc.

To the gentlemen about to go on tour with MAB, bottom line. Worth... Every.... Penny....

And to brother oTT,

I may have a bit different take, but i kindly disagree with your statement "what young kid wants to hear that" my generation is the generation who saw friends/family fighting in Iraq/Afghanistan people my age. When George Jones heard "He Stopped Loving Her Today" history tells his first words were "Nobody will want to buy that morbid piece of s**t" well he was proven wrong in a good way. Just my opinion our generation and those following many (yes im painting with a broad brush) are MUCH more emotional than our parents, be it medications, the breakdown of family structure, a miriad of reasons, the "emo" culture has spread even by little bits into all younger people, being tough isn't what it used to be (sadly in some cases) I believe that is why a song like drive your truck is so well embraced. Young kids DO WANT TO HEAR THAT. R. Murphy says your never over thirty and never a loser THESE days in a popular country song, he is right... for now. In my opinion the tide is changing and sad songs WILL come back. and folks appreciation for them. I know many will say I'm wrong, but that's just my opinion.

Kid,
   Good to see you're back. I was starting to worry about you, that maybe you had outgrown us. I have a gig coming up where I am allowed ten minutes. I could probably squeeze three songs in there but I think I will relax and just go for two. Good to know you're sticking with it and it sounds like you're being pretty successful. I've got this mental image of your clothing line: shirts with no sleeves, bandannas with the Rebel plag on them, stretch blue jeans and a baseball cap with a bill in both front and back. Am I close?  OD is not the only one who can tease you.
Eddie R

Justin! Welcom back!! I KNOW you WILL pass your test. Didn't know you were starting a clothing line. Maybe you can make me a t-shirt, or maybe a line of them, for "older" folks. Mine I want to say something like, 'I'm only 35 (the second time around)". Need it by Dec 3rd. Send it to my wife, Billie. I'll e-mail you my address. Also, about that e-mail I sent you. I've rewritten that song about 6 times since I sent it to you LOL. I'll send you a new copy.

phil g.

LOL Brother Eddie and Phil, I ain't never leaving my Songramp family... Shoot you guys are like FAMILY to the kid all of y'all... Just to be honest when I get home I am BEAT, literally dead on my feet, many nights I stare at my computer like "Man I should jump on and post" but with the kiddos running around, banging on my laptop, wife needing time, i just can't post like I used to when I sat behind a desk all day and could keep my computer open all the time.

Eddie, LOL nah no redneck and "clothing line" is a VERY loose term, that makes it sound to official, as MAB has always taught to earn any money in music nowadays you gotta have a "niche" luckily in Texas I've found mind... in my shirts just say "Support Texas Country" it has NOTHING to do with downing Nashville AT ALL... it's just a way of supporting artists around my state. Some people just like the Texas Country sound only down here so I'm just kind of capitilizing on that. I'm taking a big risk, that may not pay off, but with my preorders I think it will, I've developed enough relationships I think it will be successful if only regionally. Nashville is where the bread is buttered so as MAB teaches I'd NEVER make one of those "thumb your nose" at Nashville shirts, these are just about supporting local artists in the small pond I live in. Wife has been out of town this weekend so I've had some downtime, at the moment my kids are jumping off a laundry basket and throwing doughnut holes around the house. I've got some more stuff up my sleeve, but that's neither here nor there, mostly Texas related stuff.

For the record Eddie since you asked here is the final print above. Getting these off the ground and working with vendors out of state is taking alot of my time too, once the cash flow is positive and I have some steady inventory 'll be getting child sizes, coozies, and stickers made up. Again I'm making sure not down Nashville but to Build UP my States sound.

Looks good Justin, and that is just what we talk about here all the time, finding your niche. I like them. Keep at it. You know something you might think of.

A lot of artists might have a song or a line, they like to feature, sort of like my 'Sometimes I Feel Like I'm Playing to Tables and Chairs" or "You Don't Choose Music, Music Chooses You". I don't know what is involved in doing your shirts, your product runs or whatever, but you might think of being able to do short runs (20 and under) of some specialized shirts, and approach artists with things like that. Could be an interesting thing if you could do it fairly quickly, say meet them at one of those big festivals or something, take advance orders and ship them a few days after.

Always finding a niche.

MAB 

Hey Kid,

Good idea with the T-Shirts.  Wags and MattC would like to order a plain white t-shirt.  No print just a plain white t-shirt.
(that should be an easy order to fill) 

Hey,  you and Mommy watching several episodes of your favorite TV program (Shark Tank)  has given you an entrepreneurial
sense of your own. I do have some questions before I make my offer.   Are these T-shirts done by the "Heat Transfer" method;
or by the "Screen Printing" method.  How long have you been in business and what are your sales to this point.  Are you selling
primarily over the internet; or do you have any retail markets in play yet???   What are your projected sales for next year???

Okay,  I'm ready to make my offer.  OD will give you $50.00 for a 20% stake in your business.  Ha!!!

I already have another t-shirt design for you.  On the front will be the same state of Texas design with "Texas Pride" written above it.
On the back will read "Keeping It Alive" with a bar-be-que grill outline, a guitar, and a football beneath them.  Awe man, OD is going
to sit back and wait for my first royalty check.  Set up that account with Russell's Drive-Thru you once promised me, I'll take my
payment in beer (maybe I can get them to deliver)  (I probably shouldn't drive).  Ha!!!

Hey, here's another idea for you to pitch to EddieR.  He can sell these at his speaking engagements.
On the front it reads "I Grow Plants",    on the back it reads "My Profits Go Up In Smoke".   Ha!!! (just teasin EddieR) 

Seriously, very good idea on your part.  Good luck with it.

OD

LOL, thanks MAB.... My MAIN focus was to AVOID coming across as "Anti-Nashville" which I believe these shirts did just that, nothing about them is having anything to do with Nashville, it's mainly about SUPPORTING THOSE AROUND me and the sounds people in my small pond like to hear. I love your idea about the slogans, however I have talked with some high profile artists who have said they would let me use their merch booths to sell them and then cut them some money for use of their name recognition, booth etc. I'd still turn a profit but would have to give up a little to the artist but I don't mind, when people are "tipsy" at shows they wouldn't know the difference. I'm pretty excited because in the last 3 days I've received a total of $620 in preorders alone before they even go to the screen printer. The design is going viral locally, not trying to put the cart before the horse, but I want to do coozies, and stickers next once I recoup my initial investment. I like it because it's not merch supporting ONE SINGLE artist like at shows, it's just a support of Texas Music all together so it is a niche that many in the state would love to be a part of (I hope) I am glad you guys like the design. I refused to make anything ANTI NASHVILLE i think that is cowardice and bites the hand that feeds us Texans (Nashville) but I don't think there is anything wrong with supporting those around me. I'm excited to see where this goes, the grassroots following has been great so far, I just need to maintain the momentum, and the capital to get the initial inventory in, once the brand is established, I think I will go to some artists with your idea about solid lines from hit songs. But then i'd be treading into legal waters i really don't want to mess with. If this develops ground swell I may stick with it. Only time will tell. Glad you guys liked it.

OD,

I appreciate your offer, but I have to say "i'm out" I LOVE SHARK TANK wife and i watch it every friday LOL!!! They are screen printed on 50/50 pre shrunk poly cotton blend, Projected sales within the next month are $2880 dollars minus a $917.77 initial investment... ;

 Kid,
     I used to sell tee shirts at gardening symposia. One said "More Grass, Less Lawns" and various other sayings related to gardening. They were heat transferred by myself. Here's another example: "Yes, there's country music in heaven,
why else would they call it heaven?" I never made a lot off them but did make enough to pay for my trip, gas, meals, room and symposium fees. I sold more than tee shirts, I sold: painted gourd birdhouses, rabbit tobacco joints, and more that I can't remember.
Eddie R