Recent Experiences

OK, been busy of late -- sorry I haven't been around much, but at least I've got good news.

The wedding of my 2 friends a few weeks (er, weekends?) ago went well -- they still got married HA! No, I meant as for the performance 'n' stuff. I'm still waiting to see it on playback seeing as I was behind a curtain casting a shaddow for the bridemaids and bride's entrance, and wasn't staged to come out front until 1/2 way through the wedding. And despite the walkietalkies that we were supposed to be working with disappearing just before the wedding, I understand it all worked out and looked great, changing and using the father of the groom at stage right giving me hand signals while looking out front. The only bad thing -- I had set my pipes down just before the beginning and seemed to bump one of my tenor drones out of tune. Oops... oh well, life happens. It could have been worse. I played all the notes to the tunes and played them right -- I was *VERY* pleased with that part of my performance. I guess all this work toward my album is paying off.

I had quit a hearty laugh at the middle of the wedding. When it came time to hand the groom the ring, unbeknownst to him, the best man had put it in a CrackerJacks box and in the pocket of the groomsman who was furthest out. Man, I laughed at that so hard and for so long I thought I was either going to have to step back stage or that I wasn't going to be able to get a good seal on my blowpipe and play for the wedding's exit.

The exit went well -- including the very last piece I was asked to play by the bride and groom as a surprise to everyone else -- Thunderstruck. Yeah, no kidding.

Things also went well with the dancer I played for between the wedding and the reception -- as a distraction to the chairs and tables being set up. (having fixed my tuning, btw) I screwed up once with the tempo on one set, but she handled it well. It sounds like we'll be working more in the future -- and that it could lead to paying gigs playing for dancers for me (money and gigs are always good).


In other news -- saving you the long worn out story... I've been working for the last few days to get a drum machine. This being toward working on my album -- it's not so much as something that will go on my album (although that is an option I'm keeping open on a tune that I'll probably be finishing composing and putting on my album), but to function as a metronome. And before you ask if you don't know (and it surprises me when folks don't), a metronome is a small machine that usually produces a click or beep marking the tempo of a tune while a person is playing -- so they stay on tempo. What you've probably seen before is a box about 8-10" high with a verticle bar that swings from the left and right -- click click click. That's a metronome. I currently have a battery operated electronic one -- and whenever I'm using it in public, no one seems to know what it is -- even after I tell them. Its often fun, I find, to screw with these folks, and adjust the tempo w/ the setting dial as I step closer to them -- telling them that it's a (and I'm going to spell this wrong) gyger-counter and they're radio-active. Oh the looks on their faces are priceless.

OK, so the reason why I'm trying to get a drum machine.... My metronone keeps time just fine -- but only one tempo -- and not all of the tune sets I'm playing stay the same tempo while I'm playing -- like a Jig Hornpipe Reel set -- starts around 112bpm (beats per minute) on the Jig, and at the point of the Hornpipe, you want about 84bpm all they way through the Reel. The right drum machine can be programmed to make time signature and tempo changes in just this way that I need -- which, as said, my metronome won't do.

I've considered the Yamaha RX15 -- a great retro machine.
I've considered and will probably try to pick up via EBay an Alesis HR-16 -- another great retro machine that can do circles around the RX15. If I can get it cheap on EBay, like $20-30+shipping, I'll probably go for it.... so now you know where to find me Monday and Tuesday mornings this coming weeks -- at my computer bidding.
What I am decided on getting at this point will clearly do the job I want/need *GREAT* -- a Zoom MRT-3B. I'm going to get it new from an online dealer. Sounds like I should be able to pick it up just under $100 delivered. This unit is an awesome little devil -- and I mean little -- about 2"x6"x7.5" (or so -- my metric conversion skills aren't so good). It can be operated on batteries, so I can go anywhere with it and work with it at the same time. Userfriendly, highly recommended by other musicians. And since it works on batteries, technically, I could plug in a set of LabTech computer speakers I have that can run on batteries and play publically w/ a drum track -- like at FolkLife, although I think they wouldn't allow it.... but still, it could be done.

OK, that's the latests -- now this musician has to get his tail to the grocery store before he starves.
(this is an indicator to you that it's a wise time to buy stock on the NYSE in Top Ramman *LOL*)

Well, technically, this is a recent experience -- although obviously it's not a performance I did.

I'm trying to pull things together toward busking (that's "street performing" for those who speak strictly American) at FolkLife at the end of this month. I'm busy with enough other stuff of late that I haven't really had the block of time to do what I need to do out of what I can do at this point. Did that make sense? -- right, anyway... So I'm trying to get boots shined, business cards ready, transportation, an email news-letter sign-up sheet, loads of stuff, but most importantly -- my REPITORIE!

Yeah, it's crazy -- I've been practicing my material toward recording so much, that I've gotten quite rusty on the other 40 or so tunes I currently play. So I'm trying to get that sheet music together and go over it -- brush up, you know. I'm also trying to round out my current album sets so I can feel comfortable performing them while at FolkLife and start promoting my album a bit. *Phew!*--Plenty to do.

I've been working on my playing a good deal lately, and I'm starting to find that I'm getting I think perhaps a little burned-out. It's a weird thing. I'm enjoying playing, I'm enjoying the progress I'm making with my tune sets and with my playing ability, and all of this is really rewarding, but I'm also getting tired of the work -- the playing work, the orginization, the art concept development, working to get copyrights. I've started to think that it must be kind of easier to do an album when it's an actual group -- I'm probably 180-degrees out, dead-wrong... but it seems that more of the work would be shared by the different people involved -- at least the material that will be played, practiced up, everything like that. It seems like people in a group get support, if even unsaid by the very nature of a band. This is just me. In the end, I think this is just content that I'm getting tired of, but that the over all context of making an album will be something I'm pleased with and feel benifit from.

So that's that.

Other than that, this weekend looks quiet... kind of. I'm hoping to get to a park near my place to practice since I've had kind of shoddy practice on my pipes for the last week or two (just been focusing on my practice chanter -- but I need to get ready for 10hrs/day of playing at FolkLife -- ACK!). But I am hoping to get down to the University Diistruct Street Fair for a bit sometime this weekend. I most likely (as in 101%) won't be busking -- as said in my Performance Schedule listing, I think it'd be too loud. But I'll see.

OK, got to go. Hope to talk w/ all of you soon.
Don

PS: I got a response to an email I recently sent to Bruce Campbell in regards to getting legal permission to use some sound bites from two or three of the films he's been in on one of the tracks on my album -- Evil Dead I & II, and Army Of Darkness. No, I am not joking about any of this. Here's what I got back...
~
Don,
Hello there. Sounds like a fun project, but I really can't help you - I'm in Bulgaria working on 2 flicks, and the rights issue is too convoluted - my recommedation is to skip it.
Regards,
Bruce
~
I hope he meant that about the sound bites and not the "fun project" itself. *snicker* I'll try to fill everyone in on the rest of the details later about this, and what I'm going to probably do now in place of these audio samples I was going to use. Oh well... I'll probably still send him a copy of the finished work -- what the heck!

~COOL!~
My drum machine just arrived -- and I was expecting it to come this afternoon.
Gotta finish with some emails (mostly toward perspective gigs this summer -- no kidding) so I can open & play with my new toy.

Yay yay YAY!

In my last little bit of time pulling my poop together for this weekend. Believe it or not, there's actually a lot to prepare for with something like this. Seem to have my music-concerns worked out.

Now all I have to do is figure out how I'm getting there. I have(/had?) a fellow who said he'd loan me a vehicle for the weekend. Earlier this week he said he still needed to get tabs on it, and for for me to check with him later this week. That's kinda cutting it close. I called him this morning, now he's telling me to be at his place around 9PM tonight so we can have "a little chat". Not sure what that's about. I'm thinking if it's anything more than "park it in a good place" and "return it with gas" sort of thing, I may walk away from it -- thanks, but no thanks.

I could make this on my bike, but I'd rather not -- 22 miles/day in addition to performing over an 8-10hr period with everything I'd have to carry. It's a bit too much. If anybody has some ride possiblilities, please let me know ASAP (assuming most of the local folks know me off of tribe and have my or Blacky's number). I might be able to swing a combination of bike, pack, and bus.

Other than that, with each day that the event gets closer, the weather forecasters predict a little bit more wet and a little less warm weather. Honestly, I'm not banking much on Friday -- when it's supposed to be the cool-&-wettest. I may be down there busking wearing pants actually -- hey, it works for Tim everytime. (If you don't know the Tim reference, he's this piper who used to busk nearly every day downtown Seattle -- he's become a busking/piper friend of mine. I've never seen him in a kilt, and he makes LOADS of dough busking.) Besides, I'm not predicting there will be so much of audience-folk there on Fri given different stuff. Save the whole kilt-get-up for Sat/Sun/Mon, when people are more likely to be there, and we're supposed to have the better weather. We got a pretty good dousing of rain last year on Sat or Sun -- lasted about an hour, folks disappeared, sun came back and everything was fantastic. So its not like this weather is out of sorts for this weekend and this event.

I'm curious to see how things are going to work out this weekend anyway. Gas being about $2.30/gal locally, folks seem to be starting to respond to that with action instead of just complaining about it. So will they not show because of that, or will they show figuring this works better for them since there's no admition for the event? Once there, how willing are they going to be to give it up to the performers (as in money in the instrument case) -- gas is expensive, so is diary, these things can cause folks to nudge off on supporting the buskers.

Ahh well, as said, see what happens. I'm there to have a good time and advertise my skills/services -- anything else that happens is cream, and part of the ride.

Hope to see you there,
Don

I was told yesterday that my posts on this tribe are long.


(Blacky, I hope you got at least some amusement out of that.)

Ahh, Folklife is over. I don't have time to go into it right now -- I have to get ready for my Lindy-Hop Swing dancing class this evening. Besides, I'm beat and trying to put the pieces back together following this weekend. The short of it though is that things went well -- I had fun, did AOK of course w/o a bottler, I made a tighty stack of dough which will help nicely to finance my piping activities, a lot of people expressed interest in buying my album once it's done... and I have more offers of gigs coming in from performing this weekend than I every have -- a couple of weddings, a for-fun Freemot St. Fair gig for some belly dancers, and one gig that could be kinda big for me (leading soldiers in the big Seattle summer "SeaFair" parade I think).

As for pictures from this weekend... I didn't bother to ask anyone that I saw taking 'em to send me digital copies -- I was having too much fun piping my pleats off.

OK, that's the short of it, maybe more later.

OK, so lets see.... Bellingham Highland Games.

This is the first games of the season, nice little games, a great start to the summer -- my 2nd fav games. This time my allergies were worse than they've ever been. I spent the day moving slow expressing to people when they asked "I don't feel all that bad actually; I just can't breath." So I took it easy making the rounds, and didn't get into my kilt until about 4P in time for closing massed bands (_very_ unlike me) once this Claritan pill (or whatever) kicked in. No body seemed that amused by me and my yoyo while at-ease in the midle of massed bands... oh well, I'll have to figure out another gag.

I chit-chatted with The Wicked Tinkers, as always. Got more familar, shared some of my awesome chocolate chip/oatmeal cookies, talked shop, got some tips toward recording, ya ya ya. I also spoke with this one other musician dood I'm already well familar with -- Red McWilliams @ www.flash.net/~celtsong/ -- man, everyones been very supportive of me with my album aspiration. The different musician-types the same, and when I've asked that they might volunteer their skills, I haven't been turned down once -- puts a guy into one hell of a position of gratitude. Red's a hell of a guy, and music is his livlihood and old hat for the old boy. Short story, we're getting set up to perform together probably first at Bumbershoot, him playing his first love, percussion; and when I asked him a question or two about recording, he not only gave me loads of great info, but volunteered to help me in ways I can't even count w/o me asking. Man, talkin' about talking w/ the right person... Like I said, Gratitude.

So that's pretty much Bellingham Highland Games for me this past weekend.
(was that short enough for you Mr.Blacky-Blackiness?)

I arrived barely on time -- had the belly dance group not arranged for a water and gear cart to trail behind them, I probably would have had to scratched (slang for canceling yourself out of an event). I had time enough to toss my gear down, open my case, grab my pipes, and step off on the parade.

It was a lot of fun -- I've never seen this parade in full before or been a part of it. For all it's nekid-hippy-wackyness, I have to say, it was a kick, and reminded me much of marching before with pipe bands in small town parades -- people were into the parade, having fun, cheering. I really like the small town parades, maybe more than any other type of parade -- they're a slice of America -- baseball and apple pie, that sort of thing.

My piping seemed to work well for the belly dancers -- all 80 or so of them. We had about 1/2 a dozen drummers and one fellow playing the appropriate eastern horn thingum that looked nearly identical to my chanter -- I even compaired them side-by-side after the parade, and they were _very_ close.... so when folks are surprised when I saw that we (pipers) don't know historically exactally when and where pipes started, but that we know it originates as a mid-eastern instrument.... refer back to this.

After the parade, the belly dancer lady who's the head of the group came up to every one and thanked them for being there, but seened to make a special effort with myself -- mutually much obliged. She told me it was just what they were looking for, as I myself had hoped it would be. Both parties -- her and I -- are interested in my piping for the group again next year... or at least the next time my schedule works out. I hope it works out and I look forward to doing it again.

Later in the day I walked around the Fair and also passively looked for a spot to busk a bit. No luck, but also no worries.

I had a good time.

Just thought I'd do a quick update...

My manager/promoter/HTML'er-goddess/friend is working up some YahooGroup thing (I'm not too clear on what the heck this is just yet) for me for the sake of doing my emailing-list -- which will likely be an irregular-near-quarterly newsletter pertaining to what I'm up to along w/ the progress of my album, and/or (depending on your preference) a notification of when my album is done.

Said manager/friend is also working up the SeaFair Kid's Parade/Magnolia Community parade gig for me. This will be a freeby and funsies gig with lotsa self promotion. The thing is this... One of the guys in charge of the parade liked my thing while performing at Folklife about a month ago and asked that I be a part of it if I were interested. As it turns out, it's on the 7th of August, and they'd like me to go through the 1.5Mi (or so) kid's parade at 10AM and again at the community parade that follows immediately at 1030AM. Here's the cool part, and not so cool part -- they want me to be the number-2 presentation in both events. Now, like I said "not so cool", and I have a laugh at this, particularly with the "number-2 presentation" bit -- I will be right behind the Seattle Mounted Police. To say the least, I have my manager/friend finding out as to the scooper situation -- to make sure one will preceed me.

Other than that, I'm getting a few pay-gigs coming up sorted out, one in Bellingham in September has started to come back across my bow, I'm just about at the point of sending out a ton of copyright-request letters (hopefully most of them via email), and I'm on my last bit of focus toward my playing before I go to record the first few tracks of my album.

Okay Okay Okay....

Previous years at Folklife/Bumbershoot, from busking and handing out my card, I've amassed a number of potential student nibbles, 1 gig nibble, and a gig that conflicted with a time I was previously booked booked for -- so I handed the job off to my instructor. ...For whatever reason, from this past Folklife I've got more gigs coming in than I can count.

I had a notepad at Folklife where people could write their email addresses to get my e-newsletter and/or album release notification -- which scored me 30+ entries. One was from a shop with a note, "We would love you to come to our bookstore & play." I emailed the store lately thinking it was a bookstore downtown like Elliot Bay. Long story short (Blacky), this joint is 520mi's away in Eureka, Montana! They want me to put on a concert and they’ve said that they’d like to sell copies of my album once available.

To say the least, I’m a little blown away -- I've never been asked before to gig out-of-state (well, not by anyone who was serious). It’s reminiscent of when I was asked to do my first pay gig, but with some different terms.

So I'm trying to cook this jobbie up -- when, how, what I’d do -- why not if I can pull it off, right? I don't have a car right now (& that’s a long bike ride) and I’m a bit booked up. At this point I’ve developed an idea that looks pretty good -- going out and putting on a concert with a musician-friend I’m beginning to work with more -- Red McWilliams -- probably setting up a few other gigs while we’re out that way. Between his & my schedules, we’re hoping for this bookstore+gigs sometime in September.
Red McWilliams URL home.flash.net/~celtsong/

So the "World Tour" thing is a bit of a giggle -- it would be my ‘World Tour’ for this year... it’s just a very _small_ tour.

Lastly, my manager/friend has set up a YahooGroup for my newsletter/album-release-notification, and I’d like to invite everyone here to join. I’ll probably send out messages 4-6 times per year, and you can select if you want to be on the newsletter list or release-notification-only list. Since last night when we sent out invitations to the group, already 4 folks from Folklife have joined.
YahooGroup groups.yahoo.com/group/hav...ll_travel/

Hope to see you there,
D

I did a consultation last Wes for a wedding 8.13.04 (BTW, that's Friday the 13th -- I'm guessing that was intentional) -- went well, felt good, I'm looking forward to doing their gig.

My 69yr/old surprise BDay gig this past weekend seemed to go well -- according to the clients. Right now I'm not used to being around people & playing since so much of my time is spent very alone and very focused when I'm working on my music (toward my album) -- so I kept on making errors... which really starts blowin' ya during a performance. I started doing my Folklife/Bumbershoot stich, and that seemed to loosten everyone up (even when I made an off the cuff HAHA-booboo suggesting that Gilda Radner and Rita on Cheers had the same hair and that it must have been a wig that they shared). Nice group of people, and after my first bit of performing, I started playing better. What can I say -- we're our own worst critics... tho I did hear one of the guests say under their breath (I had my glasses off since I was sweating so much and they were sliding down my nose -- so I couldn't see 'em, but I could hear 'me) "Oh, he's good", and the lady who hired me said I exceeded their expectations. So that's cool, but I'm still kicking my own tail. Oh well, back to the personal-practicing-toward-album thing (that's kinda like saying 'back to the drawing board').

I just have to sound this off somewhere...

I'm on a bagpiping forum called Bob Dunsire Forum. Lately I posted a bit of a list there pertaining to tunes I am interested in recording, but need more information on in the way of copyrights, authors, publishers, etc.

One tune that I didn't have much information on -- The Terror Time -- which is apparently an old folk tune and should be in the public domain (I guess) is well known for being arranged by a guy named Brian Niven of The Victoria Police Pipe Band in Australia.

So this eveing, instead of getting information on the tune in the thread, Brian C. Niven HIMSELF posted on the thread that I may use his version of the tune (or otherwise put I think it's the 1st version written for Highland bagpipes).

This makes permission given #2. There are about 40-some-odd tunes I'm interested in recording. Each time I've been given permission (OK, I realize it's a low number), its just like each time someone volunteers a contribution to my album -- the guy recording me, musicians who will be doing accompanyment, the guy who said he'd mix my album, the guy who continues to say he'll do the graphic art, etc -- it puts me in an awesome spot of humility and gratitude.

7.24.04 1PM
Celtic vs. Chelsea football (aka in US soccer) match
Seattle Seahawks Stadium/Seattle WA

So here's the quick run down.

I busked at the NorthWest end of the North parking lot. I got there a little later than I intended, but still did well. It was hot -- 95º -- that'll make a piper sweat. Folk were good with the lovin' in the pipe case, including 3 $60 tickets, $7+ in Canadian, and a €0.02 piece. Another guy offered me another ticket. I ended up selling the 3 tickets I received to this (maybe) scalper guy -- I knew I couldn't use 'em, couldn't get in since I had a few knives on me and I figured that wouldn't fly with security. But what's about the 3 tickets thing -- the last I checked, I still only have one butt -- but it's all good.

I got lunch and read my book at Taco Del Mar. I love TDMar, and it was nice to sit there and read. TDM gives you real sized beverages for your money -- and a medium is HUGE. Cold lemonaid, my book, and a yummie fat borieto(sp?) for lunch.

I got back to my spot about 10 minutes before the match let out. Already I heard that the Celts were behind by 1. Usually that means your busking money won't be so good -- particularly if it looks like you're busking with the loosing team in mind. As with the beginning of the game, it was incredible to hear the fans in the stadium from as far away as I was. I was better set-up this time with my case, jug of water, and back-pack. I played my pleats off and ended the day smelling like a rose (and sweat).

Toward the end of my busking, this guy came out of his appartment and asked that I might come in and play for his party. My mom would be very displeased for taking up a stranger on such an offer -- but lets keep in mind, I'm a 6'4" 200+# hairy-arse guy in a kilt with bagpipes and afore mentioned knife. I wasn't too worried. I asked that he might do a hat-passin' for my coming in -- he said sure. I played, had a good time, no one tried to compromise me in anyway, good group of folks, and clearly there was some money there. When I decided it was time for me to go, the appartment guy asked for my card and said he could help promote me (he name dropped Paul Allen earlier). He appologized that the hat-pass didn't occur, but he gave me his card to his investor company and asked that I contact him with my mailing address, saying that he'd send me a check for $100. Dang, OK, that's cool -- I had figured with a hat-pass maybe I'd make $20-50 more than I had busking. I've since sent him an email thanking him for getting to play and if he wishes to send some bagpiper-support (aka $$$), that's cool.

That's the story -- Enjoy!
Daegan

OK, so stuff of late -- Wow, it's been busy...

7.30-8.1.04 Seattle Highland Games
Always a great weekend. This time, aside from my being as so usually busy and social, I played 2ce for a Royal Scottish Calidonian Dance group (I don't think that's their correct name, but I'm close eh) -- they appreciated that and I got the opportunity at the games to be a bit of the focus on the stage. I'd gladly work with/for them again. All weekend long I was promoting the product of a new pipe company that's forming -- pipes that are functioning pipes on the inside, and appear as anything the client wants on the outside. The webpage is a bit underdeveloped at the moment, but go to www.pipefetish.com (w/o the E on com as w/ one of my other threads -- oops!haha). That was cool -- these pipes went over well, and it got all my expenses paid for the weekend. We busted our pleats (that's my nice way of saying I busted my butt) and had a good time. At the end of the weekend I was beat -- felt like I had gone through the ringer -- like I had just gotten off of some big world tour. Met some other pipers/drummers -- new friends, that was great. Saw a new Seattle kilt shop doing their first year at these games -- this is a shop I mutually promote -- they did well and we had a good time. I also got to work with the Wicked Tinkers having to do with these art-pipes -- they're great guys and put on a hell of a show. One of their drummers may be featured on my pending album.

7.31.04 Surprise BDay gig, Lake Sammamish WA
I did this with the daughter of another piper I know -- the daughter is a snare drummer. We were running a smidge late, and just before we arrived at the gig, she realized that she only had one of two drum sticks. We _tore_ her van apart looking for the other. GHESH!, like there hadn't been enough problems with this gig already. Once at the gig, we came clean about the problem -- and lo if luck would have it -- someone there had a set of regular sticks (sticks for Highland snares are a bit different). We played the gig, did well, had a blast, they loved us -- it was all good. All this on one of the biggest, busiest, most important, funnest nights of the year -- Saturday at the Seattle Highland Games. The other cool thing about this gig, on my album, I'm planning to have 4 tracks that have drumming. 2 of these tracks will have Wicked Tinker style drumming. 2 of these tracks will feature percussion using contemporary Scottish drums. One of those 2 tracks will just be a solo snare. I liked working with this gal and liked her drumming; I told her that if she's interested/willing, I might have her do this track. She's cool with that. Also, if someone asks me again for a gig w/ a snare drummer, she'll be the first one I call. Good stuff!

8.4.04 The Otherwise Quiet Day
I received 2 calls this day for gigs -- I've _never_ received 2 calls in one day for piping jobs. One was yesterday (Saturday) and the other is 9.18.04 (I think). Crazy! Things are hopping of late. My (annual?) 9.11 gig got confirmed the other day. I'm starting to get more rolling w/ the possible small tour through NW Montana this fall. I've got dates right now going into October of this year. It's never been like this before. It's difficult too, I'm trying to do studies toward getting some computer certifications and going back into the day-job grind, but all this music stuff is getting in the way now that it seems I have the mind to work on them and should have the time to focus on them. So is Fate & Providence giving me the opportunity to work on my music, or trying to teach me the lesson of how to say no, keep things prioritized, in balance. So far it's going OK, but it's tricky. Regardless, I want to go for this music stuff as best as possible -- I don't want to miss this now and look back in years to come with regret and say "what I could'a done".

8.7.04 Magnolia Community Parade
This was yesterday a.m. -- I thought they wanted me in both the Kids Parade and the Community Parade. When they got there, they just wanted me in the Community Parade, which was fine -- and still, they wanted me as the #1 act in this. My manager/friend was there taking pictures which I hope to get up on my URL soon -- she said everything looked and went well. I couldn't really look around as I had to focus on what I was doing, but she said the audience was into it. I was supposed to be in front of the Seattle Mounted Police -- but I never saw them. Weird, I've been in loads of parades w/ pipe bands, but never as a soloist -- it was a whole different feeling.... including nervousness -- what was up with that?!? Regarless, it was fun. My former apartment manager/now friend and his family who now live nearby to the parade all came out and caught up with me after the parade. Last, some act had a LOUD EFFING CANNON behind me. The first time that went off it shocked the &@*$#%! out of me, but I stayed steady. Made a lot of smoke.

8.7.04 Surprise BDay gig
This is the one that came in last Wes. My manager was involved in this one too. Things went wonderfully. My playing was good, timeing was good, the BDay girl was very pleased, great group of folks. They fed us, they were interesting, and very authentic. I'm very pleased to have gotten to play for them and I hope they have some other work for me again some time.


OK, I better end this or Blacky's going to complain ;)

So like, I haven't posted here for a while because I've been busy 'n' stuff. I'd like to try to give a Blacky-friendly update now... Wait a minute -- I'm just going to speak my truth -- who cares if this is too long from Mr.Blacky -- HA!


Things are finally quieting down following all the playing I did this summer and I'm getting past the burnout I built up. The drive over my studies has gone from pilot-light to fire-in-my-belly, and things are getting rolling again there -- I'm hoping to be ready to test and start looking for the ol' day-job again around the end of Jan'05.

In conjunction with things quieting down, I've started busting my arse again on my album material. Right now I'm particularly focusing on a track that is mostly a reel set which will feature other musicians and sound like an Irish Trad (traditional) Session. For the past week+ of working on this, I've been playing against my Zoom MRT-3B drum machine -- a groovy little portable unit I picked up a hand-full of months ago. Today I plan to work with it and for the first time start recording my practices -- which my instructor suggests goes a long way toward improving one's playing -- looking forward to getting into this.

I'm also focusing on this set with the intention of performing it for a very private party of about 300 people over TGiving weekend in California. Progress on this seems to be going well, and I'm grateful of the assistance my instructor is giving me. If things are going well before my departure with this set and working with my drum machine, I'll either schlep it down there with me, or some how make a tape or CD of this drum track to perform this set with -- I can only imagine this would make my audience go off -- the same reaction as I have received and should receive again when I play Thunderstruck (yeah, the AC/DC tune -- this is mostly a group of teen-aged folk). Should be a blast either way.

I'm hoping to have this bit of playing and about 2 other sets ready to record in the next 3-4 months -- suffice it to say, things are getting exciting. Perhaps it would be a good time to get back to work on getting those copyright permissions -- ya think? LOL As these tracks get recorded, it's my hope and intention to put samples up somewhere online so you can get a listen as progress is being made.

I've gained an additional student in the last 2 months. A local 11yr/old boy who's just fantastic to work with. The kid's got a ghod-given gift for playing and a lot of dedication and passion for playing -- if he keeps on it like I predict he will, he'll likely be a frighteningly phenomenal player in just a few short years. This kid's got a great attitude and I'm enjoying getting to teach him (I just hope he doesn't get better faster than me -- HA!).

Lastly, I've been asked to play 1 or 2 Robert Burns Suppers/Nights down in Oregon in January. With my focus on my recording work (aka I'm UBER self-conscious about my playing/public-performing) right now, my studies/start-new-career endeavors, and some other stuff I'm dealing with, I'm debating about taking up the offer(s). I'm sure it'd be fun to do one or both of these, but I'm feeling a bit of the no-wine-before-itt-time sort of thing -- I think I'd feel more prepared both in my playing and presentation as a performer around this time next year -- also when my album will probably be done and ready for distribution.

OK, that's things -- gotta scoot. Thanks for your interest & support, and I hope to talk w/ all of you again soon.
Best,
Don

OK, so I haven't posted a thing here lately.
Been a busy boy, what can I say?
Got some stuff to yammer about from right around the holidays here...

I've been contacted by a guy who wants a piper at his wedding. That's nothing new. What's wild -- also refreshing -- is that his wedding is in June. A frequent complaint among pipers when it comes to getting called for wedding gigs... (this is the perspective client on the phone talking to the piper) "Yeah, hi, we're looking for a bagpiperist to play the bags at our wedding -- do you do weddings? ... It's this weekend ... All the way across the state ... What, I thought it'd only be like $20!" Yeah, that's always fun to deal with -- someone ought to make a film to spoof Adam Sandlers and call it "The Wedding Piper". So anyway, I'm starting to talk with this guy -- hopefully I can do it for him. In addition to playing my Highland bagpipes, he also wants me to play a kind of pipes (not at the same time) that are Scottish, that he's not familar with, and of which a set I don't own. Anyway, working on seeing what I can do.

3 times around the Xmas holiday I took to the streets and did some busking with a fellow I jammed with at the end of this past summer's BumMershoot (it's actually called Bumbershoot, but w/ all $@#&%!!! stuff that went on this year I feel due to the Bumbershoot orginization and the vendors 'n' stuff and the lack of $contributions$ in the pipe case, I'm not giving Bumbershoot the full credit of their name). This guy -- JesseB -- plays a drum set the way other folks can only get a drum machine to function -- very groovy. He also records every performance he does -- digital audio recording and he frequently also has a video camera pointed at the audience (allegedly some woman flahed him at Bummershoot and it's on the video *snicker!*). So anyway... Right now I have in my hot little hands (er, actually, cold -- I don't heat my apartment) a CD of our jam session (which includes a marching band snare drummer I had playing all weekend with me and a hand drummer who played with JesseB). I was absolutely BUSHED after playing for about 40hrs over the weekend, and I can hear it in the recording... but the concept is very cool. Theres a few things to get straightened out, but I'm hoping to get these piping/drum-kit recordings somehow available for sale -- so I'll let y'all know what develops with that if you'd be interested in hearing it, getting copies for everyone you know, etc etc.

So as said before -- SO ANYWAY... JesseB, the hand drummer, and I jammed in the heart of Seattle's shopping district (aka Westlake) 3 times on the weekends around the Xmas holiday. We made a few bucks, got a lot of attention, make some better recordings (looking forward to getting my hands on those soon too), met some folks, had a good time, froze our tails off, and even got bounced by the police -- ahh, the holidays *sarcastic warm grin LOL*. So out of all this... it looks like we're putting together something in the way of a band type thing -- very avant-guard combo here -- and we're getting some bookings apparently for St.Pat'sDay in line already. Good stuff.

Anyway, aside from busting tail on my own album aspirations and trying to get a few things together, that's pretty much the latest. I'm hoping to record the first 3 sets w/in a few months from now -- wish me luck, and thanks for the support!

All the Best in the New Year,
D


PS: Jan1'05 I was a part of a Seattle "First Footing" for the 3rd time. "First Footing" is a part of the traditional Scottish observation of Hogmanay (aka, New Years) that goes on during the first day(s?) of the New Year. Basically, it's a roving community party with kilts and bagpipes and food and friends and merriment(sp?). This year we were in the same location as we were 2 years ago with about the same weather (good, considering the usual at this time in the season). Last year the group was small, we were in a bit of a bummer location, and the weather was HARSH -- last year sucked. This year RAWKED! We had the most people and most pipers I've seen yet -- mucho-fun-o! In addition to haveing such a great time, I also got to reconnect with a good friend whom I've lost touch a bit with. Made plans to start hanging out again, and he's going to help get me hooked up with some additional equipment I want/need toward practicing for my album.


PPS: The Masters Of Scottish Arts (aka MSA) concert at Bennaroya(sp?) Hall is coming up I think at the end of the month. If you like piping and you're in or close to Seattle, this is a do-not-miss event. The concert every year is made up of some of the top pipers, drummers, dancers, and now fiddle players _in - the - world_. If you're interested, look this up on the Beneroya (as said, sp?) Hall web site for the date and/or tickets. I think I'm getting a ticket out of a block of seats toward the front, and as far as I know I can get other interested people in on that too -- so let me know if you're interested.