As EVERY good story begins, “So I played this gig, right…”
Well, I played this gig a week or so back, with these real deal songwriters.
It was put on by a professor at Full Sail University down here in Orlando. A songwriter in the round type gig where you tell stories, talk about your songs and then take turns playing them. an “Austin City Limits” type thing and HOLY SMACKERS was I nervous. There were only 3 of us on stage. A lady, with about 30 years of songwriting and performing experience, and guy, with about 30 years of songwriting, producing, and performing experience, AND myself. With my fat 5 years of learning to play the guitar….
“One of these things is not like the other”
So the guy, he’s kind of a big shot, seeing as he was Justin Timberlakes producer. You know all those hits for N’sync and The Backstreet Boys?
Me and Veit Renn
Yeah, he wrote AND produced them. Plus a ton for other famous performers as well. He’s 50x Platinum as a songwriter/ producer. (mailbox money millionaire, as we call them) and YOU COULD TELL. This guy was on some NEXT LEVEL SHIT. and MAN, O , MAN, was it incredible to be up there watching him do his thing. Crazy good with his guitar (he was a damn PIANO PLAYER 0_0, to make it worse) Voice all trained up and on key, and songs that were OUT OF THIS WORLD.
I told all my friends, “It’s sort of like getting in the ring w/ Muhammad Ali. You know how the fights gonna turn out, you just gotta do your best not to embarrass yourself.”
Now, Mind you, I HAD practiced. A TON. but I knew what was coming, and it did not disappoint. Both he, and the lady were ON POINT, so I just did all I could to hold my own. There was NOOOOO winning that fight. That’s for DAMN SURE!
It sure doesn’t look like much, but this little pad was host to some next level shit!
But, I tell you what. It was an incredible experience, and I’m glad I had the sack to get up there and do it!
MUCH was learned, and I even went out and bought a new guitar afterwards to try and keep up! (My poor old Guild couldn’t hang 😦
The only way to get better, is to continue having to up your game. and I was up there with the best!
Special thanks to my good friend/ producer/ engineer/ music guru Joe for getting me the gig and for coming out to make sure it went well!
and to David Lareau and the Copperpots for the T-shirt, and for kicking ass!
and to YOU, for taking the time to read this crap, and for caring enough to do so!
Keep at the dream! Never give up! Never surrender! 🙂
Someplace’s own,
HH
Horace Holloway 