Mary McCaslin's Roundup
Dec. 2000
MUSICIANS' WISH LIST
It's that time of
year when we're often asked by relatives and spouses to compile a list of
items we'd like to find wrapped and waiting for us under the
Christmas tree.
With this
tradition in mind I got to thinking about putting together an "all
season" wish list for musicians. These are also things that writers,
visual artists and performing artists
yearn for. And none of them can be wrapped...
1) Belief in
oneself and one's talent. Obviously, if an artist does not possess this deep
down faith it's hard to expect much support or notice from anyone else. But
this faith is regularly tested and the temptation to give up is ever present.
2) Recognition
from the community and from peers. A compliment or good reveiw can bring a
stuggling musician from the depths of despair. Of course, this goes for
writers, painters and actors, too!
3) A booking
agent or manager to take care of the
business end of music, so the artist can concentrate on the music itself. It's
very difficult to sell oneself in today's vast marketplace of talent.
4) Decent paying
gigs on a regular basis. A musician's life is often one of "feast or
famine" and it can be hard to maintain any semblence of financial security.
5) Radio airplay.
Almost nothing cheers me more than hearing a cut from one of my recordings on
the air. I've never taken this great honor lightly.
6) Time away from the distractions of everyday life to find the inspiration that will result in a new song. Ideas fly through like whirlwinds and you have to "catch them" before they're gone.
7) Freedom of
expression. There are "powers that be" in all of our lives. In the
case of artistic expression record producers, agents or managers, editors and
radio program directors are often these powers that be and they can either have
a positive and nurturing or a devastating affect on the lives of artists.
Sometimes staying true to one's creative ideals can be like tiptoeing through a
mine field.
8) An
understanding mate. This is a tough one. What could seem more romantic than
being with someone who is too unique and creative to fit into the dull routine
of everyday life? Artistic committment and temperament is a two edged sword.
Sometimes there are too many mood swings and not enough income...
9) Affordable housing. Not much more can be said about this ongoing and escalating problem other than some people assume that if a musician or a writer has recordings or books in the stores that he or she has achieved financial security. Take it from me, nothing could be further from the truth.
10) Reasonably
priced health coverage. Please re-read the above paragraph and substitute the
word "housing" with the word "insurance".
11) Making a
difference. I think we all want to believe that we will somehow leave the world
a better place. Artists, especially performing artists are often in the
position to raise awareness (and funds) for various social or humanitarian
causes and projects. It feels wonderful to be able to give something back or to
know you've helped someone else along the way.
ONGOING AND COMING UP
This week I
received word of two venues that are hosting open mics: Rocky's is located in
the old Dale's Diner location on Hwy 9 in Felton. On the 1st & 3rd Fridays
of the month, an open mic will be be held from 7 to 10 pm. Acoustic musicians,
poets and comedians are invited to sign up. The will also be scheduled
entertainment on Saturdays. Call 338-7508 for info.
The "What is
Art?" folks are still going strong even after having been forced to leave
their original building on north Pacific Ave some time back. They are now
presenting an open mic every Wednesday night at the 418 Project, 418 Front St.
in Santa Cruz. Sign ups are at 9:15 pm. Call 466-9770.
Folksinger/Songwriter
John McCutcheon will be making his annual visit to Santa Cruz Friday and Saturday, January 19 & 20. On
Friday, Jan.19, at 7:30 pm he will play a concert at the First Congregational
Church, 900 High St. in Santa Cruz. On Saturday, Jan. 20 John will perform a
children & family concert at 9:30 am, also at that location. These concerts
are to benefit the Resource Center for Nonviolence and are much anticipated
annual musical treats. If you like great singing accompanied by stellar playing
on many different folk instruments don't miss the opportunity to see and hear
John McCutcheon. Call the folks at the Resource Center for Nonviolence at
423-1626 for tickets.
Legendary French guitarist Pierre Bensusan will be playing at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center on Tuesday, January 23. He is world renowned for his haunting style. Call 427-1917 for info.
Have you been
downtown lately and heard some of the wonderful musicians this season seems to
have brought out? A week or so ago, there were two young men in their early
teens playing keyboard and sax on corner of Pacific and Soquel. They gathered a
respectable crowd and kept the entire area serenaded with fine music for a few
hours.
And there are
more first rate musicians gracing our downtown. Take a minute to stop and give
them a listen.
Well, that's
about it for this time. Speaking of time, I can't believe it's almost the end
of the year. Are we having fun yet?
See you at First Night Santa Cruz.
Happy Trails...
Mary McCaslin can
be reached by e-mail at roundup@marymccaslin.com
or at PO Box 3394, Santa Cruz, CA 95063.
She hosts
"The Fat Farm" on Thursday afternoons from 3 to 5 on KZSC, 88.1 FM.
------------------------------------------------------
Correct spelling below
THE ROUNDUP
MUSICIANS' WISH LIST
It's that time of year
when we're often asked by relatives and spouses to compile a list of
items we'd like to find wrapped and waiting for us under the
Christmas tree.
With this tradition in
mind I got to thinking about putting together an "all season" wish
list for
musicians. These are also things that writers, visual artists and
performing artists yearn for. And none
of them can be wrapped...
1) Belief in oneself and
one's talent. Obviously, if an artist does not possess this deep down faith
it's
hard to expect much support or notice from anyone else. But this
faith is regularly tested and the
temptation to give up is ever present.
2) Recognition from the
community and from peers. A compliment or good review can bring a
struggling musician from the depths of despair. Of course, this
goes for writers, painters and actors,
too!
3) A booking agent or
manager to take care of the business
end of music, so the artist can
concentrate on the music itself. It's very difficult to sell
oneself in today's vast marketplace of talent.
4) Decent paying gigs on a
regular basis. A musician's life is often one of "feast or famine"
and it can
be hard to maintain any semblance of financial security.
5) Radio airplay. Almost
nothing cheers me more than hearing a cut from one of my recordings on
the air. I've never taken this great honor lightly.
6) Time away from the
distractions of everyday life to find the inspiration that will result in a new
song. Ideas fly through like whirlwinds and you have to
"catch them" before they're gone.
7) Freedom of expression.
There are "powers that be" in all of our lives. In the case of
artistic
expression record producers, agents or managers, editors and radio
program directors are often
these powers that be and they can either have a positive and
nurturing or a devastating affect on the
lives of artists. Sometimes staying true to one's creative ideals
can be like tiptoeing through a mine
field.
8) An understanding mate.
This is a tough one. What could seem more romantic than being with
someone who is too unique and creative to fit into the dull
routine of everyday life? Artistic
commitment and temperament is a two edged sword. Sometimes there
are too many mood swings
and not enough income...
9) Affordable housing. Not
much more can be said about this ongoing and escalating problem other
than some people assume that if a musician or a writer has
recordings or books in the stores that he
or she has achieved financial security. Take it from me, nothing
could be further from the truth.
10) Reasonably priced
health coverage. Please re-read the above paragraph and substitute the
word "housing" with the word "insurance".
11) Making a difference. I
think we all want to believe that we will somehow leave the world a
better place. Artists, especially performing artists are often in
the position to raise awareness (and
funds) for various social or humanitarian causes and projects. It
feels wonderful to be able to give
something back or to know you've helped someone else along the
way.
ONGOING AND COMING UP
This week I received word
of two venues that are hosting open mics: Rocky's is located in the old
Dale's Diner location on Hwy 9 in Felton. On the 1st & 3rd
Fridays of the month, an open mic will
be be held from 7 to 10 pm. Acoustic musicians, poets and
comedians are invited to sign up. The
will also be scheduled entertainment on Saturdays. Call 338-7508
for info.
The "What is
Art?" folks are still going strong even after having been forced to leave
their original
building on north Pacific Ave some time back. They are now
presenting an open mic every
Wednesday night at the 418 Project, 418 Front St. in Santa Cruz.
Sign ups are at 9:15 pm. Call
466-9770.
Folksinger/Songwriter John
McCutcheon will be making his annual visit to Santa Cruz Friday and
Saturday, January 19 & 20. On Friday, Jan.19, at 7:30 pm he
will play a concert at the First
Congregational Church, 900 High St. in Santa Cruz. On Saturday,
Jan. 20 John will perform a
children & family concert at 9:30 am, also at that location.
These concerts are to benefit the
Resource Center for Nonviolence and are much anticipated annual
musical treats. If you like great
singing accompanied by stellar playing on many different folk
instruments don't miss the opportunity
to see and hear John McCutcheon. Call the folks at the Resource
Center for Nonviolence at
423-1626 for tickets.
Legendary French guitarist
Pierre Bensusan will be playing at the Kuumbwa Jazz Center on
Tuesday, January 23. He is world renowned for his haunting style.
Call 427-1917 for info.
Have you been downtown
lately and heard some of the wonderful musicians this season seems to
have brought out? A week or so ago, there were two young men in
their early teens playing
keyboard and sax on corner of Pacific and Soquel. They gathered a
respectable crowd and kept the
entire area serenaded with fine music for a few hours.
And there are more first
rate musicians gracing our downtown. Take a minute to stop and give them
a listen.
Well, that's about it for
this time. Speaking of time, I can't believe it's almost the end of the year.
Are
we having fun yet?
See you at First Night Santa Cruz.
Happy Trails...
Mary McCaslin can be
reached by e-mail at roundup@marymccaslin.com
or at PO Box 3394, Santa Cruz, CA 95063.
She hosts "The Fat
Farm" on Thursday afternoons from 3 to 5 on KZSC, 88.1 FM.