*...NEPOTISM! ---> The practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs...I've been paid to fly far away and play music on 3 continents promoting my music and the Yukon, closer to home I've played weddings, funerals, deportation parties, political parties, album releases, fundraisers, community centre openings, in schools, for community dances, taught in schools and music camps, played on the radio and TV, recorded a native language CD with kids and elders, played for musicals and theatre, played parties, parades, bars, churches, weddings, coffee houses, birthday parties, retirement parties, recorded people who've used those recordings to get into festivals and get grants, been with many people when it was their first gig or first time on stage, mentored lots of young artists, tried my best to show them how fun music can be and that it takes you far from home, be it in the physical sense or just mentally. Played for artists from all over Canada, Alaska and beyond. I've played almost every genre save classical: played jazz bass, funk, African, Cuban, blues, rock, country, metal, reggae, pop, alternative, grunge, indie, top 40, rap, hip hop, rapcore, folk, punk, gypsy, celtic, swing, surf and etc. Wouldn't say I'm a master at any of those by any means, save a master of puppets (metal reference there)...As a sideman, in other people's bands, I go home and learn my parts. When I show up I dress the part (even matching outfits over in Oman). Except for a few rare occasions I am sober on stage (sorry again Chloe) and so that means I'm consistent. Have headlined many festivals in groups I've been a part of. Taught a lot of yukon musicians. That to me is what culture is all about, and I feel very lucky to have been a part of these events whether they were happy or sad times. Yet somehow I never get picked for big cultural events or festivals in the north. If I get a call it's to work tech and plug in cables or run a soundboard. This might seem like sour grapes but try hitting dead end after dead end in your job when you know you've got what it takes. Now this is only one small avenue of music, but it's one that it's always a 'do not enter' for me and it always bugs me. There is a pretty strong clique and you either is or you aint. I'm old as hell so I've weathered many of those just doing my thing, but it would be nice to see my name on one of those posters...Someone could say that maybe my songs suck and that would be fair. They might not be everyone's cup of tea but I know my songs are good cause they've been tested live on stage, in bars and festivals, in between famous cover songs and they keep people up dancing. That's the true test of a song, can it move people, in their hearts or their hips, one or the other, or both. I've had songs of mine used in funerals and for much happier occasions. I've played probably 2,000 shows in my musical career (not nearly as much as some of the people I play with who are at like 9,000 or whatever) but I've learned how to work a crowd, or maybe suck less at not reading a crowd. I try every day to learn something. I'm still a nerd who practices and spends way too much time alone with my guitar or bass, but it makes me happy. Whitehorse makes me happy. This is my home and I love it here! I'm here cause right now I need to be close to my family and am finishing my CDs finally. I do know I need to be outside to make a bigger splash and soon I will go out and dive on in (American dad reference). I have many friends who are doing just that and playing really big shows, touring like crazy, and endorsed. My side job here is teaching and I do that so that I don't have to do mornings and when I show up to a gig I'm ready to go and peaking and not tired from working all day. I'm not saying I am better than anyone else or my songs are better. There are people who are really, really talented here and I could go on for days about them. So many musicians here inspire me. I'd even play some of their songs overseas when I was doing my shows. I'd find myself using the same lines over the mic that I learned from watching the masters here at work or playing with them, or how they'd approach a certain chord progression etc. And there are people here who have toured all over the world and it's cool to see. However, I can hang. I proved that to myself when I went overseas, and when I've backed up people from outside of the territory, outside of the country or continent. This post isn't about most of the musicians I know, for the most part we're on the same team, it's about the people in charge pulling the strings. Just once it'd be nice to play one of these events, cause it's good exposure and they pay well. My goals and dreams are far bigger than a cultural show in the north, but it stings a bit that I never get the nod or call. So the take away from this (your philosophy moment) is : When life throws curve balls at you, choke up on the bat and instead of taking a swing at the ball, which you'll probably miss anyway and strike out, charge the mound and take a swing at life, and don't stop swinging til it's lying on the ground and done twitching : ) Anyway...Shows 7, 8, and 9 of the year are this weekend, should be fun, so hope to see some familiar faces. Lessons are rocking, even taught a lesson to a 4 year old (a first for me teaching someone that young. Very cool and I love a challenge). Pretty inspiring when that 4 year old walks in with a cool black electric guitar with a speaker built in it and wants to play guitar. Getting more bass students again which will kick my ass to practice more bass. Vocals are getting stronger (one day they may even not suck), guitar is getting jazzier and more Eric Johnsony, and fingers are speeding up so that is fun. Recording is coming along and making me realize I should practice even more, but the results are something I'm pleased with. I think people are gonna like it, but I'll also design my CDs with a coaster circle in the middle in case people hate is so I can still sell them ha. In any case people will be glad to see me not posting about it anymore. Got a lot of new comedy material so will hit up the next comedy show and make people haha. I don't have to give my liver after all and am glad my friend Nessim is healing. Thanks for reading this very novel rant (novel cause it's long). Have a great night, go easy on your bodies, and stay warm if you're in the Yukon. Cheers to the weekend to all my friends all over the world, except the middle east, cause it's the middle of the work week there, so get back to work ya lazy bastards :) (And no I didn't waste an entire hour writing this, and re-wording this, so it sounded more concise, less whiny, more positive and more thoughtful ha)...* 