Great minds think alike? And, I guess I was writing as you were, - however, you were quicker. (I didn't know your post was here until I posted... so, sorry'bout'dat !)

- So, yes, I'll be doing creatively between now and then

Hello, I'm continuing creating music and collaborating. I'm happy to collaborate all year around, not only during FAWM or 50/90. There is Youtube where we can upload our videos and Facebook page where we can share our songs. Not thinking about performing live at the moment as everything is still veryunpredictable but happy to see it is still a possibility.

For April I am doing some of the prompts for FAWM/Global/National Poetry Writing Month. Some of them may turn into songs in the pre-50/90 Facebook Group. A few more songs may happen and like @Chip Withrow said in another post I'm not song-chasing until July 4th. My artistic painting has been too low considering the amount of free time I have had in the last year. Now that I received my second COVID vaccination shot today, and hopefully will be working again soon, I will probably resume taking a painting class one night a week. Even if not it is past time to get the brushes out and just Slap It On as my musical acquaintance Jefferson Ross says in that song. In an effort that is as more about re-use and physical effort than creativity I have been stripping, cleaning off the rust, and (wife is) painting beginning-to-rust old metal patio furniture.

I've been building some weirdo instruments, trying out different pickups and switch combinations on some stuff...........but its stuff I'm always doing if I have the time. Even if it doesn't feel very creative I've found even just the act of changing a volume pot from 500 to 250 or whatever is often all I need to make me want to play something that much more. I recently just put a different resister on a tone pot and while I could tell absolutely no audible difference, that alone was enough to make me want to play for a few hours.

Also doing some landscaping and getting ready to do a bunch of planting if it ever stops freezing at night.

As mentioned on another thread, I'm knee deep in post-production for my Catharsis album that came out of this year's FAWM (yes @dzd, it's happening ). Just finished editing a video for the lead single (tho, I gotta go back & switch out the audio now that I've re-mastered the track). Been doing artwork (more than just Album covers, mind you) & planning the entire production (including two singles with 2 B-Sides each & videos to match). So yeah, just a little busy . Thankfully ol' Doug Ford has put the Province into Lock Down with a Stay At Home Order (which he just increased for another two weeks & stricter rules starting as of midnight tonight), so that pesky thing called "my day job" won't be gtting in my way until at least the middle of May. Maybe things will be extended to the end of June when I go into my normally scheduled summer lay off I can dream, right?

@dzd: sounds like you'll have a some new toys to play with for 50/90. Can't wait to hear them

See You In The Shadows…

@Chip Withrow you play your cookie-tin with a chain saw? Wow, impressive!

I only use a hand saw, (did that one track ) and, I find that, - no one passes by a guy on the street with a bloody saw between his legs, holding a Bow

It's a crowd stopper, like your's will be with all the sparks, metal on metal.

@ustaknow - is that Busking or Busting?

See You In The Shadows…

I don't remember how to @ people here.................... but I like cookie tins! they make great resonators, but now I can't help but want to record the strings getting buzz sawed off something while plugged in ...........Next time I change strings! My telecaster is due for a fresh set, I think it's working with 3 different sets of different gauge packs hodgepodged together now.

@dzd weirdo instruments FTW! Also to tag people "[ @username ]" without the space(s) between the square bracket and "@username".

@Candle - it's a commitment, to be sure

I love the idea of cutting strings while playing... that's gotta be a good orchestration counter point, - or boink

Add some phaser, delay & reverb to the cut strings & I'm sure you'd get some mind blowing sounds Or just run it thru @dzd's cool reverser pedal (which delays & loops as well, iirc…) & even more fun.

Ok, @dzd now I'm giving you ideas But what else is new, eh?

See You In The Shadows…

I'm presently trying to put the finishing touches on some artwork for a CD release of some of my older FAWM and 50/90 stuff (it's actually being released for me on a microlabel, so that's pretty exciting).
Attempting to try to perhaps get the energy to continue with the novel I've been writing; I'm a fan of immediate payoff, so it's been hard going.
Waiting for the last frost so I can really get down to some gardening.
Like @Candle, I live in Ontario, so we're totally locked down and I therefore have no excuse for doing so much sitting on the couch.

@Fuzzy, you'll have to let us know when the CD is released. I'm putting aside some Loonies right now to purchase it

See You In The Shadows…

p.s. Did you get hit by that Southern Ontario Snowstorm like my inlaws? If so, the gardening might be a while yet…

Yes, @Candle, we woke up to an unwelcome blizzard the other day, but then were wearing short sleeves two days later. Such is Spring.

I know the feeling @Fuzzy. It was 17°C here on Thursday. I was outside in shorts & a t-shirt. Yesterday we were hard pressed to hit 1°C & we had flurries. Today's supposed to get to 5°C, which is still 5° below our average for this time of year. Gotta love Spring

Oh well, it's been good creatively, tho. I wrote almost 2400 words for this new Argentrooper story yesterday - & that's not counting a bunch of world building notes I jotted down along the way

See You In The Shadows…

@Fuzzy That's awesome! Yes do let me know when you get it all finished!

@Candle I "changed" my strings today, and got about a 4 1/2 minute .wav of wrecking them with a skill saw(My new personal favorite pick) with the amp full blast and the fuzz pedal about to explode and all sorts of great feedback goodness.........I must say, I've always been a fan of Ernie Ball's, but I'm impressed.....there were still two attached I just got tired I'll post it when I do something more with it, going to attempt to orchestrate at least something around it. It's called Chip's Chainsaw for now

Thanks! @AndyGetch

@Chip Withrow - no, @dzd actually, as commented, or I mis-comment your story, - Cody uses the saw *ON the guitar, the Blade (as I suggest you do with your chainsaw as well, - it is very enlightening ) So, it does sound amazing, much as I thought it would ... hahhh! He has Pictures of the effect and sacrifice for his "art" (Better than Jimi Hendrix with Lighter Fluid!!) People will be throwing underwear at shows; while running the other way, even?

Actually, I think Cody should send the pics or Video to the String Company and ask for a replacement set... it only lasted 4 minutes... such poor quality in a string versus Saw Blade.

- What an ad, marketing element yeehaw!! How they do it in Oak-lahoma!

You crack me up, @dzd.
I feel bad for your poor abused guitars!

@dzd I can't wait to hear that

See You In The Shadows…

I think he should charge, pay per view, - do it again, - and everyone pay'em a buck for it, or download the track

- Autographed pics included!

One day, one day... you'll be able to eBay it for so much more!

(@dzd)

I'd check that out if you do, @Chip Withrow. I should really take some lessons so I can move forward.

We have in fact collaborated before, @Chip Withrow, sort of. I slapped some Melodica on one of your ukulele études a few years ago.
I'd absolutely love to collaborate with you again. Something to keep in mind this summer!

@Chip Withrow the bandcamp release looks real good, great work.

I was not clear that the, push messaged, collection was instrumental only, but I caught one I poked around a bit more and etc.

I like that painting, cover art, from your daughter, - looks great.

@Chip Withrow - yes, great work. I read all of what you wrote. I expected it was coming. I'd just include some indicator of [instrumental, to yoga/meditate by] tag -ism. I thought, hmmm, that's a long intro and not like you, then I caught on, remembered

I get the "marketing" comment. However, "me", just talk'n here, just talk'n... "me", - I burn say, 3 tracks, of your most favorite "Kids" songs, "Yoga", "Dead" covers... just 3 on a CD. Or if you want to get real "tricky" (get a cheap box of thumbdrives ) ... anyway, and put it in a [take a penny leave a penny] type tray but, for $1 and that buck goes toward your favorite 501(c)3 -ism.

- folks will actually listen to 3 tracks on the way home CD/Bluetooth
- folks get to know the "better" (even betterer ) side of you, - Muiscally speaking
- The florida wombats get the aid they need, since need a way back to Oz, if there [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wombat]

So, a good way to not market and yet make everyone else, you and the Wombats happy!

-- Again, just say'n, just say'n

That's a great idea, @ustaknow; leave mysterious thumb drives at various points about the town.
You have me thinking now.

@Fuzzy your idea is interesting. "Gorilla" marketing. It falls under this OP thesis (whatjahdo'n, creative) so, --

For me, if did "that" I'd brand the thumb drives (you said thumb drive, not Thumbs correct? - diff kind of gore-illa marketing otherwise)... anyway, I'd brand them. Or, like, - "Don't Listen to This", etc. other. Or, yes, even "blank" - folks gonna look, aye The Text file would have a BC URL and etc.

- Chip has a Yoga Studio, so as that may go, and in my region, just to comment, -- we do not have nice things/places like that in my region (I do not say lightly, not kidding, an aside point), anyway..., for him in that context is what I was ad hoc, unsolicited "just say'n"

The only reason I do is personal experience in which, sometimes, folks have no idea of the well rounded person, hobbies, interests outside of a certain context. I like keeping things sorted since had an issue one time of just having to discuss "music", not "work". However, if my logic makes sense in this "brief" framing, say a new to some business puts a buck in the cup, takes the 3-track Disc and etc., I know I like finding out "like that".

Now, the "like that" part, not often discussed and possibly the "issue":
If I have a business, job, I'm there to do "that", - not push my hobbies on folks. And what happens, and will reference a real person, this old Jazz guitar player from Philly, -- OMG, you could not be around the guy for him pushing his next "gig", CD "release" and etc., or even live FB Streaming event. It's a great way to "kill" your real job, business. So, if folks happen to go to a "festival" or etc. and see you there, great. But, this kind of non-gore-illa "fyi-ing" to folks is "Creative" as per the OP.

I remember years ago, having no idea an associate could "Sing", - what a voice. And one day, walked in on an audition video being shown to someone, just for in private - what do you think input?

In life, it's great to find stuff like that out, that way, - fun.

Not to make to fine a point on this, yet going the other way:
A buddy was getting "gigs" in my area and kept letting me know. However, he had NO sense of direction, nor the actual address, just knew where that venu was on some off beat road, -as that seems to go since then noise is not an issue. So, seeing his directions sent me to a NJ "Jug-handle" over pass, in the middle of no-where... (and NJ is weird, but not that weird, no bars on OP's, not yet anyway ) ..., so I said, hey, "you are LITERALLY passing my place, pick me up", - never did. And, the thing is, for like every person you tap, maybe 1 - 3 more show up and pyramids and of the kind that "like" that music, etc.
- So, in that regard, he shot himself in the foot by not, not-pushing, but extending himself; if can get my meaning here on this.

So, then, he's the friend who then asks me to do studio work, - now. Hahhh, well, 10, even 20 years ago, I may have troubled myself. But "now", - send a car, come get me, I'm not driving after mid-night on NJ roads, etc., other "today" unless 5-10 mins away. For what?

I had a thread up a few times about "friends that blew you off, back then..." and now seeking favors, etc. other -isms.

I'll throw in that, - in one situation of many with some of these folks I've delt with over time, - there was a time where he was "rehearsing" and I was there and would have gladly picked up an instrument, but did not for various reasons. I'd tell him now, image two people who'd been "jamming" for 20 years, Bass, Drums, etc., the kind of scheit they could pull off "today"... ad hoc, in the moment.

-- People, they, just, don't, listen, and so, I drink Rye...

Oh, well. Life, is the longest short trip, you'll ever take, -- gotta remember, you may be around "here" for a while, waiting, then what?

As an update to my above comment I have resumed painting and plan to take a night class beginning in a week at the local arts center.

For the past few months, I've been playing a few originals I haven't played in years and years, as well as covers, via Zoom with some people I met through a friend who moved to Atlanta. It's fun and way for me to keep in touch with my musical side, though I haven't written any songs since February

I've been quite busy since the end of FAWM. I've just completed a two-month online course on piano improvisation that was very good indeed. I've recorded and mixed tracks for the band I play with including some folk music songs - not something I would usually do. Every year before 50/90 I plan to organise my Bandcamp site and never do. However, this year I really will!

Just finished a 50,000 word manuscript for a story that takes place in my Sci-Fi "Argentrooper" universe. It'll sit on the backburner while I drop the backbeat ( ) here at 50/90 & Rocktober over the next five months or so. That's enough time for it to marinate & maybe I can do a full revision before FAWM 2022 - depending on how life-back-to-normal (i.e. back to work) in the Fall rolls out. (Do I really have to go back to work? )

I'm glad my Muse has decided to switch creative gears just in time for 50/90. She was on quite a "write the damn story already" roll for the past few months I think she enjoyed 50/90 last year & doesn't want to miss it. It's great when we're both on the same page (tho I never go against her when she's insistant about something - which is the wisest thing a Creative person can ever do!)

See You In The Shadows…

Been doing a lot of lyric writing/revising and collaborating with different musicians, plus taking part in diverse challenges.

Also busy with my other hobby, which is making jewellery (using acrylic paint or polymer clay). Now that the local art museum/crafts gallery and other shops are open, I hope to start selling things again, especially with tourists trickling back in.
Working now on making some wall art (with acrylic paints, maybe mixed media), and have also begun to fool around with watercolours and gouache (with abstracts in mind). Never a dull moment.

I've been doing some songfight challenges at songfight.org and I'm currently judging the Nur Ein challenge (a subset challenge on the boards at songfight.)

Also, I have an album due out 2 July. *cheer*

Getting music (almost all 5090 and FAWM) cleaned up, curated and published, at least the stuff that appeals to me. A couple of long improvisations both of which are on youtube are now on timfatchen.bandcamp.com as well as all my timfatchen back catalog albums. But part of it is to get registered music permanently (or more permanently than my remaining lifespan!) into reference.

Also: a solo piano CD/album done and out. An instrumental CD/album in preparation. and a Flying Tadpole catch-up (other than Blues and CBG stuff) where the songs make me so happy it's going to try for a kickstarter shortly.

The point of all this? Scrambling to create new music in FAWM and 5090 gives me the luxury of going back anything up to 4 years back and pickign the best (the long-term "keepers") for putting in the effort on. Tho' production of "All along the sidewalk" which I thought was close to final in its original incarnation is running at over 40 hours .... so I'll keep using 5090 etc for new creation, folks!

making a game

https://twitter.com/HotDogVehicle

That looks awesome @IA

See You In The Shadows…

I'm working on my social media presence. I really want to get more gigs in the next couple of years. Trying to expand my performance rep with originals that I wrote and never learned as well as covered and traditional tunes. I'm also in the early stages of learning freestyle rapping. I would love to be able to improvise song lyrics and rap verses as a performer at renaissance faires, and nerdy conventions. First because how much fun would that be, second because I think it would improve my songwriting, and third because I think it would make me very marketable as a performer in my chosen communities. I suspect that I will be doing a lot more skirmishes this year.

@ustaknow You can also get QR codes on business cards so I hear. Pretty cool if you could pass out business cards that lead directly to some free downloads and a link to a charity of your choice. I've thought about stuff like that for self promotion and for fundraising, but I haven't figured out how to make it work.

@katpiercemusic that's a great idea.

It makes other thoughts come to mind, in the flow.

If one lives in a touristy area... here's a scenario that came to mind just now from this, so, they -- take a 3-song CD from the "Row with Chips, Yojurt shop" (see what i did there), and drops a $1 for it, but then take a business card and goes to "Joe's Music Wonderland Pizza Hut" that get's them a free Slice, where then if you buy a regular Pie or larger, get - something else yet again that takes you to some other local thing-y or benefits the FL Wombats trying to get back to Oz if I remember this correctly?
- Folks listen to your music, while eating a slice and then... ... I think if all get the value from the new faces and etc., the "pay off" is in the new Relationship.

I wish the "small town" isms of kind of "hokey" stuff came back a bit

Like me, if I sold guitars like at a local shop, (one day maybe after the apocalypse and the internet is gone ), I'd host open mics and free lessons and actually for every guitar, the next set of strings on me (but, you have to come back within a year, and I'll even put them on for you...).

I think, imo, after this lockdown stuff, and etc., folks will be "ripe" for some FtF easy stuff, no sweat, no pressure, no scam, - just face time.

As a PS, sort of, it's kind of why I fell in love with, at that time, my experience in the Keys..., I wanted a cheap guitar for the week to then probably just give to someone when took off, (I think I told this story here once...), so, at this (then) half open guitar store, sort of... I got a little "lost" after picking up a guitar and was noodling away, and of course facing the wall I pulled it from... and nearly scheit my pants when turned around to ask "how much", - a little wall of people standing right there. And, it's not like I'm a great player, they were just into the "lost soul playing an instrument" that may have come across...

But, that stuff gets lost in time it seems. I see other "Musical" cities... and now, it's a "gimmick" to go "busk" and annoy folks begging for money, (like what happened in AC, in NJ). That's gone now. It used to be a pretty fun thing to do, engage.

So, let's all invent the next thing for this summer that's so great, it then gets ruined hahhh... but that's okay; we'll invent more later, no lack of ideas. (Making it so good, it gets "ruined", = success! ) I'm sure the lower hudson valley could use a little of that!

For the last two months I've been doing Gundam model videos on YouTube. It's been pretty fun so far and I'm hoping to make better videos as I go. I want to make stuff that everyone can enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-5zcYc_J7tC6mDjsIH-c_A

I've been working on assorted music bits. I want to get a better drum sound and improve my mixing so I've been recording song ideas or covers lately. Anything really. The wheels are moving so I'm hoping to really take off next month.

Designing a music studio!

Nothing flashy. Just a decent-sized room in the back yard. It'll be big enough for e-drums, guitars, keys and vocals, with space for a couch and mini-fridge. My very first designated music space!

So far we've got the room dimensions, I've bought the lights (3 smart LEDs), picked the paint colour, approached an artsy friend to do custom artwork on the walls, designed a custom desk, chosen the insulation and plasterboard (but not yet ordered them), chosen the carpet, and today I ordered the acoustic panels and bass traps!

So I've been designing that space in my head for a month now. Probably won't be ready to use 'til halfway through 50/90, but whatever. STUDIO!!!

It'll also give me room to expand my music gear collection. Gonna get monitors, a vocal booth, a cymbal, and probably a new mic and flute!

When finances allow, anyway. Damn you, money! *shakes fist* Probably won't have any of that 'til FAWM 2022.

That's awesome @cblack! You'll have to post pics when its ready

See You In The Shadows…

Your, this, in general, -- post makes me think this morning, - to be glad to have the talent, interest and capability to even consider using any of this gear. If not for that, - ...just another couch potato living the joys of life via the national ratings monitor for the TV (which explains allot of "today").

The greatest thing in life is to want and need, - it makes the day of use!

Yes, post pics, it'll be great to see "it" develop and for what "you" use it for, the want, need of it. It all sounds great!

- When I think back, and, only having a TASCAM DR-1, and wondering how to best use it, and etc., through and up to the present time. Even my krappy of krappiest songs *should, likely impress me, (anyone?), - so to speak in that context of what it is, means. So, again, good for you-all too!