the way it's done

Pick up an instrument. Write songs. Rehearse, a lot. Play in the basement, Play for family, Play parties, Play locally. Borrow a 4-track. Make a recording.

Start booking shows. Get a list of clubs and promoters to contact. Send out the CD with photo/bio bullshit. Call people. Email people. Call again, email again, wheedle. Confirm, double check, reconfirm, call again. Get a series of shows set up.

Load everything into a van: instruments, band members, CD's, t-shirts, stickers, buttons, friends, dogs, mascots. Drive. Don't get lost. Hopefully the van is in good condition, the show has not been cancelled, the sound is good, people come to the show, they enjoy the music, someone buys a CD or a t-shirt (now there's gas money to get to the next location), someone offers a floor to sleep on and breakfast. Best case scenario.

In any event, you can sleep in the van. Load up and move on to the next show.

A band will tour and probably play 45 minutes at a particular location, spend the same amount of time loading their stuff in and out of the club, setting up and tearing down. 45 minutes of music and countless hours of travel, hustle, and hassle. Some of them develop a following, some of them are discovered, some of them hit it big and become super wealthy.

To the rest ... thank you. thank you for rocking!