The start of the month and the colors of autumn  are still rich on many of the trees, Its cold but with blue skies. Today I have been watching the US presidential elections weird dysfunctional drama unfold.  At the time of writing we have also moved in to a 4 week period of restrictions in the UK intended to limit the spread of Covid-19.  So not exactly a fun time.  I am trying to keep my mind engaged as much as possible, so I am now revising my French language among other things. 

Musical doings continue in a similar manner with a couple of projects and also some work on weak points in technique and other matters related to it. Its a bit hard keeping up motivation now though frankly.  Some days are better than others.  Today was a bit hard going as I had not been at all today.  The walls do start  to  close in a bit after  a while.  

its that time of year again when some believe the barrier between what is and what was is thin and messages may be passed to us. Or else its just the change of the seasons.  All depends on what you believe of course, but there is an atmosphere at this time when we will lose those remaining leaves and the wind will get colder and stronger.  This has been a very strange year, last year was a struggle and this year has been too for very different reasons.  But maybe there is more, we just dont know and we cant predict anything. maybe a bit of hope won’t hurt even if its just a phantom or smoky dream. Sometimes the imagination is better than the realty. 

Ego, too much or too little can be equally damaging.  Something I posted as a Facebook comment in response to a comment that was made by  a musician claiming that his work was being taken away by non-professionals. In truth it dosent work like that and it never has.

I have been playing since I was 15 (keyboards , violin, guitar and stuff). My first paid gig though was at the age of about 48 having played for years but having had day jobs many and various. For about 15 years I supported myself with income from gigs averaging about 130 a year. Many were pubs with a few notable exceptions so HMRC think I was a professional musician, though i think they have paid me more in tax refunds than I have ever paid them in the last few years.

My last paid gig was in February this year and due to a combination of Covid-19s effects and the loss of a my long term musical partner who I had been working with since 2004 I am now by circumstance back to being a part-timer or almost no timer.

I still occasionally make some money from music from time to time from PPL and PRS and have even had some paid recording session project work.

I hope to get back out there post Covid but its unlikely to be some thing I personally can make a living from again.

The reason that I got into music was to be creative and to have fun and it has also provided me with a social life I might not otherwise have had. At present though I am mostly stuck at home recording, writing , practicing to keep my technique together.

So perhaps now I am again a hobbyist? That’s OK. Its just another label really.

if I was offered a gig tomorrow I dont think it would be taking anyone else’s work.