The Real Work Starts NOW!
As you all know, I’ve been working pretty hard, in the wake of the insane disruption to ‘life in general’ that was covid, to breathe some life into the Brattleboro music scene. I’ve had my successes, and I’ve had my setbacks along the way, but I’m determined to keep plugging away at it. Like anything of great value, it’s going to take time and energy to build.
Many of you may also know that I am not working at the moment. My plan is to take the next year to focus on two priorities: Integrating myself into the local music scene, and my own writing (music and prose). For the first time in my life, I have the resources to do this, I have the time, and I have the place – this amazing town, with so much pent up potential. I’m jokingly referring to this next year as my ‘shit or get off the pot’ moment. I have no more excuses for NOT doing what I’ve always wanted to do.
That said, I wake up every morning and make a list of what I want to get done during the day, and I rarely get to half of it. I have just as many responsibilities, just as many distractions, I struggle with the ‘discipline’ I need to maintain, I have good days, and I have bad days, I have kids, I have pets, I have a seemingly endless list of BS chores, and on top of all that, I have too many things I’m absolutely fascinated by, and want to try my hand at, then…not to mention all the great shows to go to, and the opportunities to play, just like so many of us. I’m just like everybody else. I’m just like all of you. I’m one person, with way, Way, WAY too many ideas! (And I wouldn’t have it any other way!)
Here’s a list of some of what I want to see happen in the near future:
- A regular venue, with weekly shows, for the “Local Music Showcase”
- Ongoing Sunday night “Open Jam”
- Possible “Music Walk” (like Gallery Walk, but ‘local music’-focused)
- Managing the “Community Stage” at Gallery Walk
- “LMS On The Road” – a core group of local performers playing paid, multi-bill shows outside of the immediate area
- Outdoor ‘pop-up’ shows during the summer months, maybe even an actual festival, somewhere down the road
- Video interviews/performances with local artists, online and in local media
- Expanded online, social and traditional media presence
- Recording facilities
And give me a day or two, and I’ll come up with more… I’m going to need help.
I will be looking, in the coming months, to build that ‘core group’ of people, to help me build the local music scene, and help this town and all its talent achieve its untapped potential. I hope you’ll all join me. Despite all the ‘distractions’, and ‘responsibilities’ and ‘endless chores’, I try really hard to be the person who finds an excuse to DO a thing, rather than the one who finds excuses to NOT do a thing. As little or as much as you can offer, I hope you’ll get involved. Contact me ASAP, to do so. The work starts NOW. All my contact information is at the end of this message.
“A rising tide lifts all boats.”
I, of course, have my ‘selfish’ motivations for wanting to have a great music scene in this town – I’m a singer/songwriter, and I want to develop an audience for my own work. However, I can also say, I am absolutely and perpetually blown away by the incredible wealth of talent we have in this little town, and its surrounding environs. (And I’m aware, in the year or so I’ve been doing this, I’ve only scratched the surface of all that’s out there.) Beyond that, I’ve gotta say, I’m also blown away by how just and truly ‘decent’ so many of you seem to be, as human beings. It’s been my experience, so far, we have an abundance of incredible talent, coupled with a noticeable poverty of the egos that so often seem to accompany that kind of talent. This is one of the reasons I believe so strongly in the potential of this time and place. This is why I am willing to work hard, devoting a significant portion of the next year of my life, to making a great ‘scene’ happen. As far as I’m concerned, you all deserve a wide range of opportunities to ‘strut your stuff’, huge crowds of adoring fans at your events, and ample compensation for you efforts and incredible energy. If I can somehow ‘ride your coattails’ to get a little recognition for my own work, well, that’ll just be the icing on an otherwise big, beautiful, and delicious cake!
There will be more announcements coming SOON!
Feel free to contact me with any ideas or questions.
Regards,
Don M.
802-380-3101