Re: [Harp-L] day jobs

[Joe and Cass Leone <leone@xxxxxxxx>]

On Nov 7, 2005, at 3:30 PM, Chris Michalek wrote:
> day Jobs ain' all they're cracked up to be. I'm getting ready to
> leave my day gig behind to be a road dawg for a few years or possibly
> forever if I'm successful.

 Aaah, but Chris, you have what it takes. Not to mention a TOTALLY 
different style. I remember when we spoke (abt 1997) and you were in a 
quandry, were thinking of giving up harp for a while, couldn't find 
what direction you wanted to go musically, and what did I say? I told 
you it would pass and DON't quit, the lost time would hurt you. You 
wouldn't remember me, but that's what happened.
> If it's a scary move because I have a super gravy day gig for one of
> the world's most profitable companies that more than pays the bills
> and allows me to book tours and come and go as I please while being
> paid very well.

 Not that 'I' could have EVER made it, and of course I wasn't referring 
to myself, but I WAS referring to Madcat, yourself, Randy Singer, and a 
plethora of others, who, for the most part, don't stray from home for 
any great distance or any great length of time.
 But let's suppose that at the age of 16 (many moons ago) I WAS capable 
(which I WAS). I elected to NOT do it because I learned an awfully long 
time ago that 'Medical Insurance' was the most important aspect of 
holding a job and that without your health, you ain't got NUTTIN.
 I had sat in with Guy Lombardo and some other names (back in the late 
50s) but I never pursued it. My parents reminded me that there were 
thousands of starving artists and very damn few actually make it. Since 
I like to know where I'm sleeping and eating next, I opted out.

>   Still it's not worth losing on the dream of being a
> true pro musician.

 On the one hand I have to agree with you and Randy Singer had drummed 
this into my head. On the other hand, since I have never (really) made 
money with the ole Krome Klondike, and as a matter of fact it has cost 
me money to play harp, I don't owe harp anything and at this point 
dreams are a little too far past my prime. Hell, I even sold my 
beautiful big sailboat that I wanted to sail to Australia with, and 
settled down to a life of 'doldrum-boring-practicality.

 If you do do it, you're a better man than I am Gunga Din.
smokey-joe
>

---
[This E-mail scanned for viruses by EWOL using Declude Virus]