Musician, Writer, and Photographer
Well, it’s the last week of my Cancun tour diary with Cirque Dreams Rocks. I much prefer the adventure of a traveling tour but an extended stay like this 7 week tour at the Moon Palace has its advantages as well. I’ve experienced some unique things I’ll probably never do again. It’s not often one …
I was recently asked about how to avoid wrist pain as a musician. I’d like to address the issue of avoiding wrist pain because applying proper stretching technique can keep you from seriously damaging your arms and hands. It’s not only important to stretch before a gig but before you start doing some serious practicing.
I’ve been in Cancun, Mexico for over a month now with Cirque Dreams: playing the same songs; doing the same moves, singing the same lyrics. Not only that but last year I played the same songs for three and a half months straight. To pile things on, I even practiced these songs on my days …
I was awoken from a strange dream and found myself in a land of sweltering heat and amidst the sound of rolling waves and obnoxious birds. And as the sun beat down upon my brow I was reminded why I came here. Yes, I have a mission: this calling. My sore forearms are a painful …
Wow! It’s amazing how one person’s terrible attitude can kill a gig. Bad morale is like an infectious disease that spreads like a sweeping plague through a crowd. It’s like a scene from “28 Days Later.” Once one person gets bitten then the rest of the crowd turns within seconds. They’ll turn on you and …
Being able to adapt to your surroundings. It is an essential quality in the survival of the species; it is an essential attribute to the traveling musician. While on tour in Mexico I’ve had to learn several lessons from the road. Some of these lessons deal with my playing, some deal …
There’s a level of camaraderie in circus that I find has always been missing in rock groups. Yes, they’re two completely different animals, but really what you’re dealing with is a group of people that have come together in artistic expression with the specific purpose to blow people’s minds. Whether you’re launching your partner …
From Baton Rouge, to Dallas, to Cancun. That was my basic flight plan. As a musician, it was my first time leaving the country to perform my craft and it was the first day of my 2013 tour with Cirque Dreams – starting with a 7 week stint in Mexico at the Moon Palace Resort. …
I’m about to head out on tour today and there are a lot of things to consider when leaving on an extended amount of time. Preparing for tour not only means getting your gear in order but you also have to prepare your belongings that will be left behind. By that, I mean, your vehicle, …
Whether you’re in a band, rehearsing for a solo performance, or just tightening up your chops, recording your practice is one of the best ways you can dramatically improve your overall performance. This is something I swear by. Being able to listen back to what you just played is a huge advantage over anyone else …
