This is only a test. See what happens.
2007-08-18
Growing up in America in the 1970's, the TV or radio would often turn into a long warning BEEEEEP. At the end, an announcer would say, “This is a test. This is only a test.”
Remember that phrase when pursuing your career.
It often feels like everything is so serious - that if you make one mistake, it will all end in disaster. But really everything you do is just a test: an experiment to “see what happens”.
My favorite times in life have often started with a “see what happens” spirit.
Let's see what happens if I run my vocals through my guitar pedals.
See what happens if I invite that famous producer out to lunch.
See what happens if I call that radio station to ask their advice.
There is no failure. There can't be, if your only mission was to “see what happens”.
This is a test. This is only a test. There is no downside. Try everything.
you and like think a like every time i have turned up to do a gig i often had the thought in the back of my mind i am going to try this and it might not work but im going to do it if things arn;t changing then some thing is adrift i love messing round with sound singing my backing vocals through a harp mic pre amped by a marshal 9000 rack on distortion i used this on a my last album a track titled Desperate man when im not playing the blues i am a chef now food is like a jazz player soloing there are varation on a theme i take some french and blend with asain cuisine the best chef's are the best thiefs music can be a mix of styles country with blues mixed with jazz and punk there are some rules but there are no rules if it sounds good taste great smell and looks yummy eat it express it...
I SEE A LOT OF THE THINKING IS ALONG THE, LINES THAT I THINK.IT'S GREAT TO KNOW THAT I'M NOT ALONE.REASSURING I'M HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.NOW!!!!I'M REALLY GOING TO REALLY PUSH.I'M GOING "TO SEE WHAT HAPPENS".
SINCERELY BOBBY HUTTON I NEED ALL THE HELP I CAN GET TAKE A LOOK AT MY PAGE ON [MYSPACE.COM/BOHUTTON]
After finishing school i didn't want to study at all but a friend talked me into starting at the Helsinki Conservatory. So I went there for several years, learned the basics about classical guitar, theory etc, moved to Sweden to a more open-minded school, dropped out, tried to keep my band, Kra together although it was more like a bus station: People coming and going cos we couldn't find people as crazy as ourselves (talking about old study mate and colleague Reijo Lainela and meself). Started driving a taxi in Stockholm got assaulted, but came out of it alive, sent letters and cassettes to people bragging about how good I was. got a job at a theatre in Sweden rehearsing songs with actors, from there to a sound designer job in Finland where I stayed for 11 years though the house was a snake's nest - but the work itself was interesting.
Jumped off into a void - moved to Åland (my old lady's home island) with no idea about a job, but have stayed alive here too taking odd jobs, solo gigs, dance band gigs, driving school kids, laundry etc.
It's OK though I've been mostly broke...
Should I have become a dentist instead? Doubt it - never liked the thought of looking into people's mouths....
The Internet has not proved a gold mine, but some fun. Thanks, Derek, for cdbaby- a company i can't help but love!
am getting veeryy good ideas ....help me work on them am a musician from africa-kenya
So True. Thanks for the ongoing GOOD advice bro!
Kyle Sherman
www.KyleShermanBand.com
Dear Derek, and friends.
I will turn 61 years of age May 8, 2008. Yes to some I'm old, but not quite dead. Last Saturday night I played at the Crawdaddy’s Cajun Cafe. Currently working on my eighteenth CD album, I started three and half years ago. I'm having a ball (their coming your way Derek) I’m only one person. I tell people all the time young and old to show me where it is written life must be perfect. You must fail in order to succeed. Every successful person has failed successfully to become successful. It is all in the learning process one must go through. Yes This is just a test of selecting only individuals with determination to take their thoughts to materialization. It is so easy to comply with family and friends who say (YOU CAN’T DO THAT) get a real job? I tell them all to Kiss My bASS
Look around you and touch any thing man has made. Everything he has made came from a thought or a dream at one time. He then takes his or her thought or dream and turns it into reality. Here you don’t have to reinvent the wheel, turning things into reality is a matter of searching around and finding out how others have made the transition .
Papa Bass
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/papabass1
http://www.papabassstudio.com
Dear Derek, Thanks for the words of inspiration! I often feel if I'm not perfect or I miss a step that I'll fail and never recover from the fall. You're right, it's important to give yourself room to try, try again! Like they say, it's the journey that matters not the end of the road. Have some fun while your at it might also be a good mantra to live by! Thank you to cd baby for all their help along the way. Take Care, K. Osgood "Play to Win"
Dear Derek, I came across a very helpful book recently : Walking in this World: The Practical Art of Creativity by Julia Cameron. I'd highly recommend it to anyone on the creative path of music or any other artistic pursuit. I recently finished my first cd "Play to Win". it was mastered in Woodstock , NY by Tom Desisto who says he knew you when you lived there and first started CD baby! He recommended I join. Thanks for taking the time to read this . It sounds like you're pretty busy actually living life! Now that's an inspiration!
My best to you , Sincerely, K. Osgood
D
Thanks Kathy!
Yeah Julia Cameron is wonderful. Artist's Way is a classic, too, of course.
Oh man, needed to hear that so hard core.
what a great outlook. thanks so much for brightening this rainy day!
Hello All,
I like this link, thanks Hans.
I’m pretty damn relaxed now; 3rd glass of wine, in my nice home, with my girlfriend and cat asleep upstairs.
But often I take things too seriousley, allways have. I’m 33 now and am actually feeling younger than I have for years in some ways. I remember feeling too old and ‘washed up’ as a musician at 24, but teally it was the effect of depression, insecurity and a negative attitude.
I now work in a very corporate company (though still do music) and see so many stressed out people who find their worth, purpose and esteem in their essentially horrible job. But not me. I get stressed too, but in the end I know that it is the cumultive weight of the adventurous, loving and peacful moments of your life that truly make you happy.
hye brother derek.this is just a test and i always have hundred pesent after the example set imagination is in my heat and heart like a house full of beautifull girls and traps every where.music is one page of the on countable contens i have NO deplome of eny school level but i wish to.breck in to my heat you will fine all the tools you need for that your project.but am too far to be covince that maybe one day i will see the light and almost lost.and that will afect the hole world for the world just lost a new neautrah wearpon sent by the all mighty it will be with great honor if brother derek is part of this mission thank you very much for the petience bye
Just found your blog today..love it.
Thanks for this post in particular. I'm a pastor, and you inspired me to preach again (:
Story here:
http://davewainscott.blogspot.com/2010/02/this-is-only-test.html
Just read this from the bottom link of your below average post and I would say this an approach I've been trying to take with things lately and it seems to be working out for the better.
Brandon
Reminds me of some wisdom from Leonard Cohen:
"Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in"
Thanks Derek, for your provocative posts.
Hi Derek,
Who made that illustration of the TV?
Hans Annellsson
Heather Q, an artist in Portland Oregon. Hired to make it for me, so you're free to use it. -- Derek
The reason for asking was that it's a nearly a completly corrcet illustration of the Swedish "test picture". It even says Sverige (Sweden) down at the bottom. The other word is probably Norrköping (a town in Sweden).
HA
I met you in NYC about five years ago, Derek and you said you liked my album cover, Blue, it looks like a Picasso painting. Since then, I made a little money here and there on downloads but since I have added my other cds, mainly the Holocaust composer, Max Kowalski, Opus 1 and next week, Opus 2. I have started to see something very special happen on the web. Five to ten years back, if you googled the name "Max Kowalski" you would get the Max Kowalski of "Streetcar named Desire" and Max Kowalski, prize fighter. Now, with the constant writing and surfing and promo I have done all over the web. Guess who comes up, Max Kowalski, composer of beautiful German songs.
Your articles give me good ideas and I try to read your emails as much as possible. Thank you. Suzi
Hi Derek,
You make me smile when I read your pearls of wisdom. It's so right on.
I think today was a perfect time for me to read your article, it reminds me about "What Is"! Thanks.
This is encouraging. I'm in between jobs/trying to start a company and this is what I needed to hear.
Henry Ford said, "If you think you can, or if you think you can't, you are right"
Thomas Edison, when confronted by an assistant on his 5000th time 'failure' to find the filament to the light bulb said " What are you talking about,I haven't even failed once, 5000 times I have LEARNED what doesn't work.
A couple of things I have lived by.
"Try everything".
Very true brother Derek.
Everything you write is gold. Thanks for this. I am hooked on your website.
I can't believe how much inspiration Im finding on your site. I feel like a traveler lost in the desert coming across an oasis and not being able to drink the water fast enough! As though, if I don't get my fill I might realize its actually only a mirage! lol
Thanks Derek. Very encouraging indeed.
Found this post from exploration... let see what happens if i click this link. Kewl..kind of like reading Dungeons and Dragons back in the day.
Thanks for thinking the way you do.
Relative to the post, love it... my favorite 3 questions are "What if?", "Why not?" and "Who says" .. i think these are the spirit if see what happens
I remember those Emergency Broadcast Warnings.. heelarious.
This remind's me of the Schrodinger's Cat story.
We won't know what happened to the cat unless we look inside the bunker.