Where did I leave off??

My Rock project, Razzor Sharp recorded Wed, Thurs, Fri. I worked on new CD set up online and some of the business stuff releated to the new CD Mon and Tuesday. Wed I was not in recording, the rhythm section tracked, but I worked on all the gear related stuff to try and get ready for my day.
Wednesday night was Bobby Cruz's last night at the Atrium with Bobby Cruz and Power House. After a decade in the room they decided to make it banquet space and this was the closing night. I went in and played along with dozens of old members, subs and friends of the band turned out for an amazing night of music.
Thursday I went in and got sax done on 1 song, then fought the electronics needed to do this guitar thing from an electric sax. It did not go very well and I had to hit the studio the next morning.
Just a note but the lame club that I had Thursdays, left a late night message that I got after getting home from Bobby's gig that they needed to cancel for Thursday night so I had no gig that night. Club owners can really suck sometimes!

Well, tracking went much better Friday and the Guitar/EWI thing was a big hit so I bailed for mixing and went home to get ready for a student and my gig that night. I only have a few students and Matt was on for 4:30. Done at 6 and loading the car, going thru music books to see what was NOT missing so I could call tunes for the night.

The gig was a drag. I got to work and realized in all the rush I had never talked to the drummer that week. I called and found out he had the day wrong and was sitting home, and very far from the gig. He got in the car and drove fast and all, but 2 sets went without drums. It was pretty stressful since a Friday night should be a party and it was missing a lot of energy without drums. Once he got there it was great but the room was pretty cleared. The owner did not seem to mad but it was very unfortunate that it happened and I accepted full responsibility because I knew I should have called and never did.

Home at 2 and to bed at 3:30. Long hard day for $125.00. I slept in a bit and then had to go to the music store to get a few things for my Saturday gig - Wedding and Ceremony - Sax Single - 2-6. Was running late when I arrived to find out I had 3 flights of stairs to get to this backyard party with an entire sound system and all my stuff. That was a back breaker!

Loading out was slow and painful but I did get some help. I got in the car and drove to my 8 pm  gig. Changed in a hotel bathroom and was on till 12:30 AM playing a Newport Beach Hotel jazz/pop gig. Home at 1:30, to bed around 3.

Saddleback Church services Sunday AM. Don't think I was there till about 8:30 and I bailed out as early as I could to sleep in the afternoon before going back to do the 2 evening services. It is a long day, but I had too much to do and got on the computer to fight the USB and hard drive issues on the laptop to get the Reason Refils loaded for the CD project I have been working on. Everything got loaded and it was 4 AM again.

LONG DAYS.

With more highlights and less detail -

Monday the 5th, Bobby and I met for CD work. Shannon and I met for her new CD planning. Then email, a few life things and CD Promo Time. Research, letter, email, package and ship - took Mon-Th AM. Shipped 50+ CDs to internet shows, radio, jazz sites and key manufacturers looking for reviews, airplay and support. It is so hard doing all of this by yourself.

Throw a few band contracts, booking players, visiting a few studios and trying to catch up online and that was most of a week.

I did a fun gig Thursday night. That club issue left me pissed and not interested in going in, so I booked myself as a guest artist for a Junior High Jazz Program and got to play with to young guy bands and then sell CDs. It was really fun and I would like to do more of those in the future.

Friday the 9th was another meeting with Bobby Cruz on the CD, more Reason tracking for the CD and a Friday night at the Island with the James Exchange from 8-12.

Today I slept in a bit and started some office work filling emails and letters on CD Promo, CD sales records, paid some bills, shipped a few orders and started this blog entry. I have Church 20 minutes ago – at least call time. The Island club gig tonight and Church early in the Morning so Very Little Sleep AGAIN Tonight.

Another very busy week. The problem with all this is the billable hours. They don't exist. When you get REALLY Busy, there is more money but there tends to be more expenses too - more driving - gas - gone from home - more eating out - wearing the dry clean clothes - you name it - it is pretty crazy.

So what's coming up. A big Josh Grobam session next week with a stupid crazy horn section, my daughters birthday the 14th, party on the 17th and some fat cash private party stuff the end of the month. Hoping to get the 2 more tunes finished for the new CDS and start seeing some action on the Gospel Truth Revisited release that just came in the end of MAY.

Signing off for now.

SAXBOY Greg