Some Thoughts Hmmmm

1.Never start a trio with a married couple.

2.Your manager’s not helping you. Fire him/her.

3.Before you sign a record deal, look up the word “recoupable” in the
dictionary.

4.No one cares who you’ve opened for.

5.A string section does not make your songs sound any more “important”.

6.If your band has gone through more than 4 bass players, it’s time to
break up.

7.When you talk on stage you are never funny.

8.If you sound like another band, don’t act like you’re unfamiliar with
their music (“Oh, does Rage Against The Machine also do rap-rock with
political lyrics?”)

9.Asking a crowd how they’re doing is just amplified small talk. Don’t do it.

10.Don’t say your video’s being played if it’s only on the Austin Music
Network.

11.When you sign to a major label, claim to have inked the best contract
ever. Mention artistic freedom” and “a guaranteed 3 record deal”.

12.When you get dropped insist that it was the worst contract ever and you
asked to be let go.

13.Never name a song after your band.

14.Never name your band after a song.

<my personal favorite!>
15.When a drummer brings in his own songs and asks to perform one of them, begin looking for a new drummer IMMEDIATELY.

16.Never enter a “battle of the bands” contest. If you do you’re already a loser.

17.Learn to recognize scary word pairings: “rock opera”, “white rapper”, “blues jam”, “swing band”, “open mike”, etc.

18.Drummers can take off their shirts or they can wear gloves, but not both.

19.Listen, either break it to your parents or we will: it’s rock ‘n’ roll,
not a soccer game. They’ve gotta stop coming to your shows.

20.It’s not a “showcase”. It’s a gig that doesn’t pay.

21.No one cares that you have a web site.

22.Getting a tattoo is like sewing platform shoes to our feet.

23.Don’t hire a publicist.

24.Playing in Portsmouth and Nashua doesn’t mean you’re on tour.

25.Don’t join a cover band that plays Bush songs. In fact, don’t join a
cover band.

26.Although they come in different styles and colors, electric guitars all
sound the same. Why do you keep changing them between songs?

27.Don’t stop your set to ask that beers be brought up. That’s what
girlfriends/boyfriends are for.

28.If you use a smoke machine, your music stinks.

29.We can tell the difference between a professionally produced album cover
and one you made with the iMac your mom got for Christmas.

30.Remember: if blues solos are so difficult, why can so many 16 year olds
play them?

31.If you ever take a publicity photo, destroy it.You may never know where
or when it will turn up.

32.Cut your hair, but do not shave your head.

33.Pierce your nose, but not your eyebrow.

34.Do not wear shorts onstage. Or a suit. Or a hat.

35.Rock oxymorons: “major label interest”, “demo deal”,” blues genius”,
“$500 guarantee”, and “Fastball’s second hit”.

36. 3 things that are never coming back: a)gongs, b)headbands, and c)playing
slide guitar with a beer bottle.