Life Change

The danger of being an artist is that your identity gets wrapped up with your job. When you tell people "you're a musician", then you suddenly aren't doing it anymore for a living, that creates a deep sad hole. Though the craft of playing and writing songs is still in my body, to not present myself from the stage on a regular basis will be missed. I took a job that pays and provides for my family. I did what I needed to do late in life under the gun. Things seem so different now. I can't imagine weathering this change. I'm grateful for my job, but I grieve the loss of the few times that I ever felt whole as a person, when I was performing. Lost.

Singers and Musicians by David Ackert

"Singers and Musicians are some of the most driven, courageous people on the face of the earth. They deal with more day-to-day rejection in one year than most people do in a lifetime.

Every day, they face the financial challenge of living a freelance lifestyle, the disrespect of people who think they should get real jobs, and their own fear that they'll never work again.

Every day, they have to ignore the possibility that the vision they have dedicated their lives to is a pipe dream.

With every note, they stretch themselves, emotionally and physically, risking criticism and judgment.

With every passing year, many of them watch as the other people their age achieve the predictable milestones of normal life - the car, the family, the house, the nest egg.

Why?

Because musicians and singers are willing to give their entire lives to a moment - to that melody, that lyric, that chord, or that interpretation that will stir the audience's soul.

Singers and Musicians are beings who have tasted life's nectar in that crystal moment when they poured out their creative spirit and touched another's heart.

In that instant, they were as close to magic, God, and perfection as anyone could ever be. And in their own hearts, they know that to dedicate oneself to that moment is worth a thousand lifetimes.”

- David Ackert, LA Times

Never to Late to Learn to Play Music

We now know that it's never to late to learn to play a musical instrument. In these modern times of 24/7 information, and YouTube. com instruction, there remains no more excuses. Start online and move to private instruction, but start. Pick an instrument and start. Ignore the reaction of others. Ignore your "i-can't-ness", grow your "I can" into "I will" into "I am". It will transform your consciousness of music from the audience to the stage, and enhance one of the greatest passions of your life.. music. Take the time, find the time. Don't go to the grave only a mere spectator. Even if you only learn one song, and only play it in private, the benefits to you will be great. Music is for everyone, not just the select few. Fall in love with it on a whole new level. Get your hands and feet involved, and feel the power it can bring to you, your world, your mind, your body. Nothing can enhance your life, brain, emotions, and sense of well being like the creative process. You CAN do it!
Yes YOU! ;-)

Have Hope in Ideas, not in Washington

All recent proposals and long term plans from both parties won't work. Why? Because the very nature of "work" itself has changed and commerce and communication and and and.. The elephant in the room is the obsolescence that technology has brought and the affect on the human work force. Name one aspect of life on earth that digital technology has not affected. We need less people to do more things, yet their are more people who need jobs. The world is changing and Washington isn't. Their will be another depression if we don't have a massive retraining and a mass refocusing on our current reality. The new job sector could easily be sustainability and energy programs that fix our problems all while mounting new business models and upgrading the country at the same time. What's happening is not Washington's fault, it's just the reality. We as a people have to change, Washington can't change fast enough and won't. We have to upgrade our infrastructure and power grid and this can all be done without Washington. We're paying more taxes for less services and war is the only way to keep the death merchants solvent. It's a bad situation. Neither Bush nor Obama have created these problems and this change in our world. Every industry is affected by the changes brought on by digital technology. The finger pointing toward Washington is misguided. Technocracy and solution- based ideas are out there and will emerge in the near future or we'll perish or collapse into civil war and abject poverty, an oligarchy. New solution-based thinking must emerge and new business models as a result. This can and will happen. My hope is in ideas, not in Washington.

"Not How Cheap, But How Good"

Excerpt from Elbert Hubbard's
"Little Journeys To the Homes of the Great"
Elbert Hubbard
Memorial Edition
Printed and made into a Book by The Roycrofters, who are in East Aurora, Erie County, New York
New York
1916

"There is a market for the best, and the surest way, we think, to get away from competition is to do your work a little better than the other fellow. Our motto is, "Not How Cheap, But How Good."
This is the richest country the world has ever known, far richer per capita than England—lending money to Europe. Once Americans were all shoddy—pioneers have to be, I'm told—but now only a part of us are shoddy. As men and women increase in culture and refinement, they want fewer things, and they want better things. The cheap article, I will admit, ministers to a certain grade of intellect; but if the man grows, there will come a time when, instead of a great many cheap and shoddy things, he will want a few good things. He will want things that symbol solidity, truth, genuineness and beauty."

Toward Human Viability

As a human being, I recognize that I am part of a species that has yet to prove its viability as a productive member of nature. Problems like global hunger, violence addiction, drug addiction, global warming, war, and other destructive realities, can never be solved utilizing the tenets of politics or religion only. As shown consistently throughout history, problems are solved by the solution-based ideas and philosophies of a few individuals who operate independently of thought systems and groupthink; humans who want to understand, know, and respect the mysterious natural world that spawned us; humans who want to learn from, become creative with, build upon, and improve upon our daily lives as well, all through invention and discovery. Through thoughtful and critical scientific method and processes, these inquisitive individuals continually learn, create, and find ways for our species to be a part OF nature, not apart FROM nature. All aspects of our lives have been helped by the technologies and discoveries of these unique and talented members of our species. Throughout history, every time that we have allowed the renaissance of thought to flourish, we all won, and we saw "all boats rise". That must continue, especially now. The true success of solution-based thinking requires no belief, no hope or faith, but ONLY true consistency of observation for what is already thankfully known; a thinking fueled by a burning and sensual curiosity, an imagination and hunger for the mystery that remains out there, and a yearning for what has yet to be discovered about our origin, our planet, the galaxies, and what it all means. This is the mission.. to continue to "boldly go" far beyond the human fantasies and stories of our darker arcane past. We have done it before and we can do it again.

Just me, my stories, my mind, and my banjo.

This weekend begins my journey as a solo artist for the first time in my career. Up until now, most everything I've done has been associated with band projects, which has been an amazing experience on many levels. However, I'm excited to share my songs, stories, and mind with live audiences of all kinds in different formats, as myself. Some shows will continue to be with musicians backing me, and some will be just me with various types of banjos. The Mosier Brothers will remain intact, but less active as I pursue this change. I have many exciting things that I am working on and some really progressive producers, promoters, and musicians helping me to reach my goals of making the world a better place by building sustainable and civil community through artistic collaboration and of course music, music, music.. Stay tuned for more details on my upcoming site.

"People have the music in their heart, and they have it in their feet. It makes them laugh and makes them cry, remembering to dream.
Remind us that the songs we play can bring a brighter day, the music is for the ones who hear it, and for the ones that play." - from the song "On My Way"

Pick Up The Fork in 2013!

More beauty this year: health, color, light, and variation. More output and rest; less input from sources that will never render better ways. Attuned to all five senses, be a part of nature, not apart from nature. Cleanse and purge your soul to the joyful noise of life's music. Let the music dust you off like a sonic broom, helping you celebrate each new day of your life. You're already on the train, now be on the train.. don't die while waiting blindly at the station. Nothing was ever "meant to be". It is IS, then it becomes WAS, it always happens.. When it changes, calmly move away with gratitude, looking ahead to what is next. Don't dwell at the scene, go to where life is NOW. NOW is the only place where life will ever be. The pie is not in the sky, it's right in front of you. Pick up the fork!

(Thanks to my editor Kelly Gilbert and friend Bill Zorn)