While I won't run right out and play "Round Midnight" in a chicken hat for Chas, he does do the "wise ole sage" thing occasionally, and hit a topic right on the head.

His description of the differences in attitudes and the dynamic of the relationships between musicians and entertainers was dead on (Mikey's post on arrangers).

He also made a refrence to the need to define "success".

In our business that's a pretty heavy, sometimes involved concept. Ray Brown told me a few years before he passed on that he had made about as much the previous year as I had the last year in my corporate days. Here's a guy at the top of his game; world renown as the best in his field.

I was a moderately successful corporate director. There were thousands of people in similar jobs doing as well or better than I was, financially.

How do you define success as it relates to your involvement in music?

For our purposes here, lets not limit the paramaters to financial compensation.

Should be interesting...


Russ

When I play at Church, success to me is the emotion felt by my congregation, by the music I provide.

When I play out, success is knowing I did my best to provide the best possible show I could.

When I create music, success is knowing I put my best creative thoughts, with the tools I have to create the final song and recording.

Dan O'


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http://www.esnips.com/web/Songs

When I see the faces of the KIDS or the Seniors in a Wheel chair when I put a chicken hat on them dancing in a circle or sing a love song to a sick person which brings a tear or old memory or.....
God Bless America to wounded Veterans while they can hardly stand on crutches to sing with me,

Doing it day after day for 40 years ....

I have arrived for Them, & in my Heart!!

Now that's Success bar none!

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 04-25-2008).]

Donny, Perfectly Put!

Maybe my chicken can come to NJ to meet your chicken. I use the elope chicken hat, It that the version you use.

Poultry Rocks!!

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God Bless,
Mikey

www.mikeymaestro.com
www.myspace.com/kidconcert
www.balloonanimal.com
www.1000colorcards.com

Mikey these work great !!!
http://tinyurl.com/6rnt8j

Success is not measured in finances..but in happiness...

I know of many friends and associates that are "rich" financially..and "poor" in their happiness..

I also have a couple friends that are successful financially and are happy..

For me I am blessed beyond measure...Family, health, and totally happy in what ever I do.....That is success..

I go by the wise words of Albert Schweitzer, "Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful".

Ian

Success for me is finally having the choice to say no to things and gigs I do not want to do.

Its getting to go to work rather than HAVING to go to work. It's taken 30 years to get there and putting off and sacrificing many things I no longer have to put off. Most of which I do not even want anymore...and never needed in the first place.



[This message has been edited by Kingfrog (edited 04-25-2008).]

I agree

Success is playing 500 NH gigs a year, and never having to work with those pesky 'musicians' that keep coming up to me and telling me I'm 'cheating'

Success is turning up at the gig and inflating my pocket arranger and PA

Success is walking out into the crowd, and having no-one even care I'm not playing (or if I ever was!)

Success means never having to learn to play, and still being booked solidly [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/eek.gif[/img]

Lot of 'successful' musicians here... [img]http://www.synthzone.com/ubbs/biggrin.gif[/img]