Continuing to heed the advice I received to "get out there and keep showin' up", I've got a new record so far this week. I've gone out or played in a musical event 5 out of the last 6 nights.
Sunday - played a jam session at Moe's Tavern (see post below).
Monday - played the funk jam at the Wonderbar.
Tuesday - no music event (though my wife and I did go to a free movie screening)
Wednesday - attended fellow University of Cincinnati alum Paula Douglas's vocal jazz show and sat in on a few tunes (see picture below, if you need proof)
Thursday - hung out at The Whistler and heard he Heavyweight Dub (a cool "dub reggae" band with a couple of musicians I've recently met)
Friday (tonight) - going to an opening at the Zhou B Art Center on the south side to sit in with guitarist/DJ Geoff King Luk.
A quick side note. I'm not trying in anyway to show off about how busy I am (especially when you consider how much money I made at these events, which is a big fat $0). I'm doing this for two reasons: 1. This blog is basically an online journal where I can look back and see how far (or little) I've come. Actually typing these things out helps me to process how well I'm sticking to my goal of living adventurously here in Chicago. 2. Some friends/family/musicians might be interested in what I'm up to, and how I'm attempting to "make it" as a freelance musician in Chicago.
And the coolest thing about point 2 is that these readers then inspire me to go out and take risks even more! As I've said before, if I'm just sitting around night after night, I know that people will have no interest in this blog. And also, if I do take a risk that backfires, hey, it'll just make a better story! So a big thank you, readers.
As far as making a living doing all this, obviously I have a LONG way to go. But I'm definitely noticing how much more comfortable (or at least less scared!) I feel getting around Chicago, meeting and hanging out with musicians, and sitting in on jam sessions. And to me, this is a big deal. If I'm not comfortable doing any of this, maybe I need to rethink what I want to be doing in life.
But don't worry, I haven't gotten so comfortable as to pick up all of the stereotypical vices of a freelance musician
...yet.
Sunday - played a jam session at Moe's Tavern (see post below).
Monday - played the funk jam at the Wonderbar.
Tuesday - no music event (though my wife and I did go to a free movie screening)
Wednesday - attended fellow University of Cincinnati alum Paula Douglas's vocal jazz show and sat in on a few tunes (see picture below, if you need proof)
Thursday - hung out at The Whistler and heard he Heavyweight Dub (a cool "dub reggae" band with a couple of musicians I've recently met)
Friday (tonight) - going to an opening at the Zhou B Art Center on the south side to sit in with guitarist/DJ Geoff King Luk.
A quick side note. I'm not trying in anyway to show off about how busy I am (especially when you consider how much money I made at these events, which is a big fat $0). I'm doing this for two reasons: 1. This blog is basically an online journal where I can look back and see how far (or little) I've come. Actually typing these things out helps me to process how well I'm sticking to my goal of living adventurously here in Chicago. 2. Some friends/family/musicians might be interested in what I'm up to, and how I'm attempting to "make it" as a freelance musician in Chicago.
And the coolest thing about point 2 is that these readers then inspire me to go out and take risks even more! As I've said before, if I'm just sitting around night after night, I know that people will have no interest in this blog. And also, if I do take a risk that backfires, hey, it'll just make a better story! So a big thank you, readers.
As far as making a living doing all this, obviously I have a LONG way to go. But I'm definitely noticing how much more comfortable (or at least less scared!) I feel getting around Chicago, meeting and hanging out with musicians, and sitting in on jam sessions. And to me, this is a big deal. If I'm not comfortable doing any of this, maybe I need to rethink what I want to be doing in life.
But don't worry, I haven't gotten so comfortable as to pick up all of the stereotypical vices of a freelance musician
...yet.
Jamming on 'Route 66' with singer Paula Douglas.