Today, Seth Godin wrote about self promotion. Read about it here.
Lesson: When I’m playing music for you, it has to be for you. You are the center of attention. Songs can be like little wrapped presents containing mysterious joys and surprises. Sometimes they can be hard to open though, and as a performer and a songwriter, I want to be focused on helping you tear off the paper and get a peak inside.
In other words:
“These songs won’t let go of me and I want to share them with you
because they matter” (One of Seth’s examples).
vs.
I need a lot of attention, validation, and love, so listen to me while
I play songs that may or may not be good.
Yesterday, Brett told me how “A Thousand Skins,” one of my songs, has changed his life, how it’s becoming a symbol for the redemption of some very old pains, a placeholder for forgiveness.
The chorus of “A Thousand Skins” says:
I would shed a thousand skins
To make myself look new for you
I would sing one hundred million love songs
To make you know
That I forgive you
I don’t know if all or any of my songs will touch you, but I want to share them with you because maybe one of them will, because they matter. I think if we both try our best, we’ll both be changed.
Congratulations to my parents, Lynn and Steve Bunting, who renewed their vows and celebrated their 25th Wedding Anniversary on Sunday, April 21.
It’s even more amazing in a society of rising divorce rates and the disintegration of the traditional family structure.
Congratulations Mom and Dad because you have thrown off the zeitgeist. I am proud and grateful.
Special thanks to my friend Phil! On Saturday he got me a show at Northstar Coffee Shop in Santa Barbara.
Friday, May 9th, 7pm.
Phil is a master of the Rubik’s Cube (fastest time: 50s). He also writes one of my favorite blogs of all time (
CLICK HERE!) about his adventures substite teaching in SBs public school system. My favorite post is
this one. I want to bring the fun!
He also has an amazing voice and is a good songwriter, bassist and all around musician. He’ll be accompanying me on Friday, May 9th.
Please come to our show if you’re in Santa Barbara. Again (for the hard of hearing) it’s on Friday, May 9 at 7pm. Joe Bunting and Phil Van Nostrand at Northstar Coffee Shop on State Street. It promises to be a wonderful time.
This was written on Wednesday, March 5th.
I played at the Artfolk Open Mike at Muddy Waters last night. Some unbelievable performers play there every other week to just a handful of people. If you’re not busy in Santa Barbara on the first or third Tuesday of the month you should definitely go. I try to go at least once a month and am always impressed by the talent of the musicians.
My view of the role of the artist is shifting as I absorb a lot of the ideas in the blogosphere and in books, people like Seth Godin, Kevin Kelly, and Joe Taylor Jr. I’m starting to see the artist as a servant of the “tribe,” as Seth puts it.
The tribe needs the artist for entertainment and prophetic vision, but just as much, the artist needs the tribe’s enthusiasm, energy, and support. Last night, I needed–really needed–my friends Travis and Graham. I needed someone to play for. I needed someone to interact with my songs and join the conversation. I needed someone’s ears to try and make them happy.
An artist is only as good as those who love them. An artist can be good, great even, the best. But without people to play for, who’s minds are ready to hear them, their artistic seeds will fall on rocky soil and wither.
You can find countless artists throughout history who weren’t counted as successful until they had a great champion of their message, a critical voice in the masses, a curator who tells the world why they need to be listening to their artist.
Blake would have been nothing without Alexandar Gilcrist, the unexpected biographer of his life. The Beatles might have played in Liverpool and Hamburg for the rest of their lives without Brian Epstein. Jesus wouldn’t have been half as successful without John’s preparation and Paul’s translation.
Support your local artists. Be a curator. Discover new talent and tell your friends. The world needs fans just as much as artists.
By the way, here’s one of my favorite videos from ImprovEverywhere. I love it.
It’s time to stop worrying about the next month and start worrying about the next 40 years. Seth’s musings on Dustin Hoffman follows my own train of thought after reading about the economics of Free! If you’re interested in how the internet is effecting the economy or are someone who makes their living on copyright, you should read it.
You know, I might not make any money at music in the next 3 years, but I might gain a few friends in the process. Those friends could be more valuable in 40 years than if I got an MBA and made $150K a year. Valuable in more than monetary terms, too.
If you’re reading this and you’ve been here before, thanks for coming back! If you’re here for the first time, WELCOME! I hope we can get to know each other. You are the reason I do this.
You’re awesome!
Joe Bunting
PS The YouTube video has gotten like 32 views since we put it up Sunday! We’re pumped about it! We also know it could be getting much more attention. Please go watch it now or forward it to your friends. Only 220 views before we put up the next one!
I just wanted to share with you that my roommate just gained a new baby brother! Rider Stuvland was was welcomed to the world yesterday morning to his overjoyed parents, Megan and Craig. Congratulations to Brett and his family! We’re all very excited for you.
