The other day while grocery shopping with my mother she asked me the question, "How can you do things like play in a band or do a podcast and not get paid? I wouldn't do things that make me spend money, waste my gas, if I wasn't making money."
It didn't take me long to articulate a good response. I already knew the answer from the first time I committed to all these projects, "because I love it."
Currently I play in two bands and record a podcast with long time friend Hector Gomez. Plus I have a full time job. Aside from that I also help out in other projects whenever the opportunity arises. I learned a long time ago that the chances of getting paid good money for any of my endeavors was slim. Did I want to stop playing drums just because I wasn't going to get paid? I did stop for a few years in my life and it did not make me any happier; in fact, I felt restrained when I wasn't allowed to release my creative side. I'm much happier now. Here is a typical week.
I regularly practice one day a week with Kinship. I have been with that band for almost two years now. I love it because two members are like brothers to me. We've been friends since I was around seven years old. Our first band was together until I decided to venture out. I'm glad there was an opening in the group after so many years and they happily let me back in. If we have a show late in the week, we will still throw in a practice earlier in the week to refresh our memories.
I also practice with Sci-Fi Caper at least once a week prior to upcoming shows. We tend to start two months in advance to prepare and work on any new material. That includes possible cover songs for upcoming shows. I got asked by high school friend Sam to join back in July. Originally it was a two piece; which included guitar, bass and vocals. After an acoustic show with other full bands they asked me to join in on the drums. I was ecstatic and now it's three months later.
Recently I started the Screaming Rebels Podcast with long time friend Hector Gomez. It just sort of came together by accident. I mentioned a podcast but he didn't want to do it. Several months later he sends me a message saying he's being doing research and is ready to partake. He did all the hard work, so I drive an hour and twenty minutes every time we are going to record. Although it's a bi-weekly podcast, I do need to research the topics we are going to present. That is why we decided to make it bi-weekly as opposed to weekly. I spend at least one hour everyday if not more trying to get the right information.
At least three full days go to my creative projects. Sometimes more when the need arises. e.g. The third week of November has three shows with Sci-Fi Caper and a live podcast.
With these major projects taking up so much time, other projects will wane (e.g. this blog, my personal reading, video games). The way I see it is, I spent too much of my life saying, "I don't have time for that," or not having enough ambition to do something. Finally with others helping me, I can honestly say I am living life to the fullest. On the days when I think I am not living life as if it were my last day, I just get up and do something about it...
because I love it!
I agree with you my friend. Its seem to me that people would rather live a mundane life and happy never to fulfill a dream and just walk the earth without any real tangible aspirations in life. Then there are people that always go all out to reach for something bigger then just to accept the 9-5 and sleeping in on the weekends. Like you I dabble my hands in other endeavor, such as film I don't do it as a chance as to hit the big leagues. I do it because if I never tried I would regret it for the rest of life. I guess the way I see with all the projects in life I do is that I do not want to be the what if, rather have the satisfaction of knowing I try to do it then to just be with a what if.
ReplyDeleteI also love everything I do my videos my stories and Podcasting. I am also blessed to have a handful of friends that help me with Podcasting or my movies such as making a whole soundtrack for free. I always know when I have a good partners when there not like, "Well what am I going to get out of this?" So Jorge thanks for being a great host with me on Screaming Rebels and always seeing what we are doing is because on the show is because we love it doing the show.
Hector G.