No matter how good of a band you are, if the sound engineer working your gig doesn’t know what he’s doing or doesn’t like you, you’re going to have a bad night. If you’re a mediocre band and you piss off the sound guy, you’re going to have a bad night. But! If you are a mediocre band and you have an amazing sound man who also likes you and has your back, he’ll make you sound like a Rock God.
People like the sound engineers get forgotten a lot in the grand scheme of music. Whether it’s in the studio or at a live gig, this man – or woman is the person to keep happy because they can make or break your gig. In our case, on Saturday night, we had the most amazing guy. Now, I’ve actually known him for a while because I always see him at the venue we played at because it’s also one of my neighbourhood’s local watering holes. I’ve always known he was good at what he does but I was reminded of that fact when we actually played. He was wonderful to me and soothed all my insecurity worries. He was on top of everything the whole set and really had our backs. He made sure we sounded amazing despite the fact that I did hit a few wrong chords. I was a little nervous at first.
So the moral here is never to forget anybody who may aid you in your creative endeavours. So the Sound Guy is key. Remember that. Don’t piss him off.
Another important group of people: your friends, fans and anybody who takes the time to encourage you, show up at a show or just plain believe in you. I was reminded of how blessed I am to have the amount of friends I do that constantly pull me up to see my own potential. They believe when I’ve lost faith. They carry my passion for me when I’m too tired to think I can ever go on. I realized something when I was playing the gig on Saturday, that I have an obligation to my friends to step up and believe more in myself. It’s not fair that it seems they believe in me more than I do. It’s my responsibility to carry on their belief and to show them that I respect what they know and what they love. And it seems that they know they like what I’ve been doing musically. And it seems that they love me enough – if not more – to show me their love by taking the time to cheer me on in my creative euphoria. I’m a lucky, spoiled brat.
Gaga and her fans
This is why someone like Lady Gaga is so adored by her fans. She’s aware and truly touched by their faith in her. She feels the love they shower her with and she showers it right back at them. In the end, isn’t that the only thing we can take with us anywhere – the love we feel inside? It’s the one thing you can carry with you anywhere in this world and beyond and that is love. It really is the greatest treasure of all.
So to all my beautiful, friends I’d like to say with all my heart that I am humbled by your affection for me. I am so thankful for having you in my life and I vow to strive from here forward to live up to the belief you have in me because I respect and value your opinions and I value you. I love you. Thank you for walking along side me on this journey of mine.
Much love,
Nowhere Girl
The Nowhere Girl's Music Blog 