Photo credit: Kim Maguire
Tell us about your tour vehicle. Any notable breakdown stories?
I’m actually on my 5th or 6th vehicle in 8 years. These days I’m in a red Chrysler Town and Country. It’s a 2006 with 132,000. No major repairs. No notable breakdown stories (knock on wood). I have lots of stories about trains and planes. We usually fly in, rent a car, take a train, and do the tour if it’s too far to drive. Too far to drive is anything over 20 hours to reach.
How do you eat cheaply and/or healthy while on tour?
I am a protein junkie. I buy protein snacks and bring them on the road with me. I joined “Ideal Protein” group August 2018. I lost weight and have a goal of keeping it off. It’s really easy to stress eat. Traveling can be stressful. I like peanut butter sandwiches and will often eat one right after I play to ward off the late night cravings for junk food.
How many strings do you break in a typical year? How much does it cost to replace them?
I change strings a whole lot. I am fortunate to have a deal from GHS Strings. I hate breaking them on stage, so I am pretty meticulous about changing them.
Where do you rehearse?
My rehearsal space is either at my home studio or at a facility in Austin. One time I was recording here and rehearsing here and a cow was mooing so loud I couldn’t get anything done. It was raining and cold and windy. Regardless, I went outside to try and get the cow away from the house. In doing so I slipped on a snake. I live in the country. Was definitely weird.
What was the title and a sample lyric from the first song that you wrote?
My brother is a female dog. That’s all I remember. I was in the 4th grade.
Describe your first gig.
My first gig was at Katy Station in San Marcos, Texas. I was scared and threw up right before I played. I wore a goofy hat and it kept slipping off my head. I couldn’t get my guitar parts right. I was doing all this country blues stuff at the time and my hands were shaking too bad to nail it. The bar was loud. Folks were talking loud.
What was your last day job? What was your favorite day job?
My last day job was waiting tables. If every single politician had to wait tables, they would do their job better. Being in the service industry changed me. It definitely changes the way you work with other people. My favorite day job was waiting tables. I really did enjoy making folks happy. WORST one was selling roses for Harry Little in seedy clubs in downtown San Antonio. I only lasted one day on that job.
How has your music-related income changed over the past 5-10 years? What do you expect it to look like 5-10 years from now?
My first demo was on a DAT tape. Then cassette. Then I qualified for my home based on CD sales. I had a proven record of earning a solid income off CD sales. Once I sold 1000 CDs I was in the green. That was $15,000. From there on out everything was profit. I ran a little Amazon.com before it was Amazon.com. Bypassed labels because Lloyd Maines and I were doing well independently handling our own business. We did huge mail outs. $1000 + postage bills a month. We had national airplay and toured around the airplay. Bug Music was Bug Music and not BMG. This meant we had folks that actually cared about our music publishing. I felt like we had an advocate. We did smart things that laid the groundwork for where I am today. We kept our masters. We had a real successful run as independent artists releasing CDs.
In 2006 we released a kid’s record that continues to be my saving grace. We ended up with something of a hit on that record called, “Nerves”. We continue to do well on Sound Exchange because of this song.
But I’m laying the groundwork for that all to change. I ordered the last CDs I’ll ever order October 2019. I’m done making CDs. Downloads are next on the chopping block. Streaming is here. Will it hurt my income? Yes. And because of that kid’s record, it’s real hard to have streaming stations pick up on any of my other music. They have me categorized in “Children’s Music”. But I refuse to cave into negativity. I’ll find a way to get my music out there. I always do.
What one thing do you know now that you had wished you knew when you started your career in music?
You can not outperform your own image of yourself. Embrace who and what you are as an artist. Don’t compare yourself to others. Chill out. Enjoy the ride, or change drivers, or take the wheel.