Crazy world we are living in.... I keep looking around and wondering how IS THIS GOING TO WORK?? Everywhere around us, everyone seems crazy. I am not going to dwell on the crazy with the exception of how Music in America and around the world has been destroyed in recent years.

I must be nuts too! It has been said the definition of crazy is expecting a different outcome with no change in direction. Every year for the last 10 years, I have stood in January with the greatest of expectations and hope and somehow have found myself looking into the end of a really hard year - AND - harder than the previous year I was convinced HAD TO GET BETTER!

WELL - it appears that the music business has continued to blow up - year after year - in every area of the business - GIGS, Tours, Recording Session work, CD Sales, MP3 Download sales, any and all Artist Royalties, Publishing, teaching and clinics, private parties and club dates........  There is no safe job area. I have seen friends move to the safe and look so smart until that area blew up too. Many made the final sacrifice to teach, all to see the funding on education blow up and music cuts hitting K thru Grad School.

2010 State of the Band Address is bleak. Music was always the one, and I believe, only area of the Arts that an individual could make a living while developing more skills and preparing for bigger things. Actors, Painters, Writers, Poets, Dancers, ect... Often had a job trying to survive while working on breaking into that field. How many times have you met a waitress that is really an actress??

I saw this as a kid and was excited because, on top of this, old musicians only seemed better and cooler. Music was a viable way to support your art as you grew it, and it only got better with time. I saw this as a win win!

In 2010 - it is still my passion and not an option. I love music and always want to be better! But, in 2010 it is harder than it has ever been to eat and stay clothed. Add some kids in and it gets complicated. Still not an option! This is what I was made to do. I have done music for 30+ years now. I love the passion and expression found all thru the arts and know that music does the job as well as anything can.

I just miss the days that musicianship was appreciated and sought. I still look for that which is excellent!!

SO - the holidays are around the corner and yet again I am totally sick of that garbage they play on radio!! SO LAME!! I had XM Radio when I got my new truck and have decided to get XM AGAIN! I can not deal with this LA radio - commercials every 7 minutes, other language stations than ENGLISH ALL OVER THE DIAL! NO real choices.

I am revolting and leaving links for Sirius here for anyone that might want to make the move to selection and quality. The Christmas channels on XM are great and that is the main reason I am going to start paying again. They start the Christmas programing November 1st and have a few theme stations to choose from. Add to that, good jazz stations and all the political TV stations are streamed too for the elections. Now's the time!

The Christmas Sites were updated again yesterday. Check out the Christmas Song List on www.ChristmasSongs.cc !!

Have a safe and blessed Holloween, Thanksgiving is around the corner and Christmas stuff is already hitting the stores! See you next post!

Greg Vail ~ SAXBOY ~ gvSAXBOY
www.gregvail.com
/>Remember the BLOG - Sax Players Bog Dot com - www.saxplayersblog.com