Gary, in his recent post, defined his very successful career. This brings up the question, for both performing musicians and hobbiests....how do you PERSONALLY define success when I comes to your imvolvement in music?

Is it the equipment you own...the number of jobs you play...the compensation...the type of music...the type of venues....accomplishments in writing or recording, etc?

I'm not going to bore you with my definition(s), because I've rambled on too many times about my hard headed opinions, but I think taking a minute to define your definition(s) and to recap your impressions of where you stand would do a lot to make us all share a better understanding of how we think and how our definitions differ.

Who's first?


Russ

In terms of "Am I a success as an entertainer" then the ultimate bottom line is getting rebooked for the same venue or function, in some cases two years in advance!

In terms of "can I sing brilliantly and dazzle with my keyboard skills" thats much easier - no!

Ditto on the Mac's 'return bookings' synopsis.

2 new venues booked me throughout the year already. I got 17 bookings yesterday alone.

Being able to touch one's heart means you are doing something special that few can.

And.........continuing to do something you love until you are physically incapable

zuki

I always refer to this quote by Herbert B. Swope,
"I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure: which is: Try to please everybody."

Ian



------------------
Cha d’dhùin doras nach d’fhosgail doras.

It's been said that "success is relative"

(the more success, the more relatives ! )

Good topic, Russ.

It's an old line, I know, but "Send 'em home happy". I think I've managed to achieve that on a consistent basis over the years, at least I hope I have. And if you send 'em home happy, then you go home happy yourself in the satisfaction of a job well done, and are blessed with these wonderful abilities in music.

Of course, you're never going to please everyone, but you can aim for the highest possible percentage. And even now, I have the occasional person come up and say, "Hey, I remember when you used play at such and such venue with so and so's band," and they'd be referring back 30-some years. That's a heckuva buzz.

I've really been just happy to be able to play professionally all my life. Whether it brings big money or not, whether it brings worldwide fame or not, whether it's with the finest musicians or not, whether it's playing my favorite music or not, it is still the best job on the planet.

I guess to make a living at something I would go out and do for free every night anyway, that's GOT to be 'success', no?

Diki,
" Sure Is "


Gilbert.

[This message has been edited by gilbert (edited 03-16-2007).]

BMW - Big Time recording contract, Millions, Women.

Diki got the answer right. Even my doctor says he'd trade careers with me in a heartbeat.