I am curious what typical day is like for you. It is all business? Do you play scales until you fall asleep at night? ;) I can only dream of playing bass as day job...I would love to hear how great it is.

I am curious what typical day is like for you. It is all business? Do you play scales until you fall asleep at night? ;) I can only dream of playing bass as day job...I would love to hear how great it is.

Woke up, ate breakfast with fam. Returned about fifteen emails, did a new edit for an upcoming European single of one a band that I A & R over at Dangerbird (called La Rocca - from Ireland). Wife needed to run some errands, so I volunteered to watch our daughter for an hour or so, so here I am with the laptop doing internet on the couch while my daughter listens to a vintage Alice and Wonderland record. :)

Later, more edits in the studio for La Rocca, working out a tune I'm going to submit to Shirley Manson and/or potentially another artist, then probably an hour or two on the phone to discuss a few upcoming projects this year with various people, mainly managers. Out to a gig tonight (Bob Mould at the El Rey). That's a day. Kind of mellow, nothing terribly exciting!

JMJ

Sounds fun. ;)

Sounds fun. ;)

Thats what I was thinkin'. Stay at home with family and work always beats going on the road I bet.

How much are you on the road? Not with tours, but with recordings and other business?

Thats what I was thinkin'. Stay at home with family and work always beats going on the road I bet.

How much are you on the road? Not with tours, but with recordings and other business?

Depends - every year is different. Maybe 2 solid months a year if it's a light touring year. Heavier years have taken me out for as much as 5-6 months total time. This year won't be that much out of town stuff, as far as I can see right now.

I LOOOOVE me some touring, though! It's always fun for me.

JMJ

Simply amazing! Your Tuesday trumps any day I have had many times over. Enjoy. ;)

...while my daughter listens to a vintage Alice and Wonderland record. :)

Awesome! That's a great choice over a Dora the Explorer video. :)

:)

When you have a three-year-old, you have to sometimes hold your nausea in check when it comes to jive children's programming. And I do mean programming!

Actually, we limit the TV hardcore...when she wants some TV, we usually just put on a record and that will satisfy her nicely.

JMJ

Actually, we limit the TV hardcore...when she wants some TV, we usually just put on a record and that will satisfy her nicely.
Same here. We actually dumped our TV before having kids and now if they get bored we turn on the music and set them down with markers and crayons and paper.

It's really neat that you get to be home with your kid so much instead of going to a 9-5 all day (touring aside). To me that would be one of the best benefits of being a pro musician.

As a dad of three boys (3,7,9) I can relate to limiting tv time. Its tough to do though. We don't always have the greatest weather here either so I've equipped our family room with a small drum set, bass, and guitars and am hoping to get them into jam sessions instead of tv and video games. Gotta get a keyboard now though because the oldest takes piano lessons.

Music for kids can be really hit or miss. My favorites are some old muppets albums. They are hilarious. I'm also partial to Dan Zanes. I've even been known to leave his music on after the kids have left.

Muppets!! That's it! Gotta find some Muppets vinyl.

Great call!!

JMJ

I have a stack of ancient Disney 45s--Snow White, Cinderella, you name it--love it--classic.
Kids music is a really viable market these days too!
But aside from the more mercenary possibilites of making dough at it, it can be hella fun. Man, I did a gig the other weekend, sitting in with some friends who have a kid's band--very pop/punk--great singalong choruses, etc. We played at a daycare/nursery school and it was the most fun I've had in a LONG time. Best audience I've played for in a while! I highly recommend it if you have the opportunity. I was doing my best Pete Townsend leaps and all kinds of stuff I never normally do at "proper" gigs. Plus my 3 year old got to see dad play bass for the first time live!

:)

When you have a three-year-old, you have to sometimes hold your nausea in check when it comes to jive children's programming. And I do mean programming!

Actually, we limit the TV hardcore...when she wants some TV, we usually just put on a record and that will satisfy her nicely.

JMJ

I know of what you speak - I have a 3-yo (and 9-yo) of my own. Prying my little princess away from her Dora fix is going to be tough, but I really like the idea of some vintage Disney music. For car rides, I have both my girls curretly hooked on Tegan and Sara :)

Yes, the muppets rule. We borrowed some episodes from the library and my kids loved them. Of course thinking about the show leads me to youtube and a massive loss in productivity.

must.....not......watch...

Johnny Cash + Muppets
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4TRvYAyt3k
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R2M-s2HEC8&feature=related

Piano playing chickens
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqyFjVnWwto&NR=1

Animal vs. Buddy Rich
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhbxN4NO38k&feature=related

and who could forget Marvin Suggs and his MuppetBalls
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgzVJhAEe-c&feature=related

sounds cool! geez, i can't wait until i retire from the military :D