I am one of the very few individuals on this forum that met Diki in person. I don't think I've ever met someone that was unhappier with everything in life than he was. He pretty much disliked everything and everybody. And, while he was a very talented musician, I don't believe he was much of an entertainer. Not sure about this aspect, though, because I never got to see him perform in person, or on you tube as a single act.

From my perspective, if you want to survive in this business, first and foremost, you must treat it as a business and run it accordingly. You must be an accountant, tax specialist, bookkeeper, advertising executive, promoter, rodie, web site creator and administrator, etc... But, most of all, you must be a great entertainer. You need to be able to step on that stage, look out there at the people that came to see you, assess that audience, then put on a show that captures their imagination and attention to the point where they are awestruck by every minute of your performance. In order to do this, you must pour your heart and soul into every second of every minute you are on stage. If you have the talent and ability to do this, you will be very successful in the musical entertainment business. If you cannot do this, maybe it's time to take up golf or basket weaving.

Over the past half century I've met hundreds of musicians and entertainers. Of those, less than 10 percent were full time and the vast majority had day jobs in fields they couldn't wait to retire from. Music, for the most part, was just something they did on the weekends to make a few bucks, but when push came to shove, none made enough money to cover their bar tabs. Of those that were full time musician/entertainers, the vast majority didn't have a dime in the bank, no retirement plan, no working capital, drove a junker car that needed constant repairs, and when they were paid in cash, they just shoved the money in their pockets and pissed it away.

In the 65 years of my life I spent working, there was only one job that I burned out on - medicine, and that didn't occur until the very last year I worked in the medical field. During the previous 14 years I loved every minute of every day that I worked. I arrived early and left late. What burned me out was when I began taking care of children with cystic fibrosis. No one can imagine what it is like to hold a 5-year old in your arms as it slowly suffocates to death and you cannot do a thing to prevent it. I had to do this nearly every day of the week for that last year.

The only reason I no longer am on stage entertaining and playing music is due to health issues that make it impossible. I would absolutely love being back on stage as an entertainer again - it was the best job I could have ever imagined.

Mark, to me, from my single personal encounter with Diki, and from reading his many, many posts on this and other forums, I believe Diki is burned out on life itself. I sincerely hope, Mark, that you are not following in Diki's footsteps.

Good luck in all your future endeavors,

Gary