Here’s a thought - maybe musicians could use Craigslist “Rideshare” listings for inter-city travel? Thinking bigger, maybe you could plan a regional tour that way? I’ve never used Craigslist for rides, so I don’t know if it’s sketchy riding with random people. But maybe if musicians en masse started using it, at least they’d be my particular variety of sketchiness.
How about a Facebook group to help musicians get in touch for rides? Or an app that would let you search ride postings by city and date in a social network? Maybe it exists already, I haven’t checked. Or a carpool website equivalent of CouchSurfing.com?
Logistics example: getting from Raleigh NC to Atlanta GA. You’d either need to be the driver or find someone else who’s going all the way, and you could rideshare with folks heading to Durham, Chapel Hill, Greensboro, Charlotte, Greenville SC, and maybe even Athens GA.
Practically speaking, if you aren’t driving, you’ll need to be dropped off either at your gig venue, at a public transport hub, or at a friend’s house. Getting home could either be done with another carpool, or via bus or rail.
It could be cheaper than driving yourself, especially if you consider the 51 cents/mile standard mileage rate. Just simple gas costs could be comparable too, though.
The tradeoff would be time. Organizing the rideshare, then adding the pickups and drop-offs to your overall trip time. Plus hygiene and psychological (and, gulp, safety) issues relating to a being in a car full of weirdos.
And of course, I’m also speaking as a solo performer. Bands might have a harder time finding available seats and room for their gear.
Because of the complexity this model adds to the beautiful simplicity of “get in your car, drive to your destination,” I don’t think it’s the answer to all the needs of a traveling musician, but it could be a part of it.
This posting is inspired by Jonathan Byrd’s blog request for new touring models.
The rain sounded really angry last night, but this morning was cool, breezy and lovely, perfect for playing outdoors at the Hillsborough NC Farmers Market. Since it was my first time there, I got there early to set up and found a bluegrass band already playing.
It appeared to be a double-booking, and I was a little downcast, a little cloudy like the day, but the band, Bolin Creek, was really nice and took a longer-than-necessary break to let me play a bit.
At the end of my short set, a lady approached me and said “Hey, I think they’re looking for you up the hill at the other farmers market.” Aha! There was no double-booking, I just was at the wrong place. I went up the road a couple blocks and they had a sun shade tent set up for me and everything.
Today was the first time I’ve ever received cheese in my tip jar. I also got a loaf of sourdough bread and a jar of blueberry preserves. Pretty sweet.
Gotta share this because it’s just too weird. I went on vacation to Europe a couple weeks ago (the day after the Berkeley show, actually) and on the way home I had to check my guitar as baggage. When I finally got it back at the end of my trip, some gear from the little box compartment inside was loose in the case, indicating that it had been rifled through by security people.
Two items were missing: a partial capo and an empty tin of ginger Altoids which I use to store metal fingerpicks. I’ve had my string clippers taken from me in the past because, ok, they are technically a kind of scissor. But how is a tiny round clamp with rubber on the ends a safety hazard?
Maybe my banjo fingerpicks looked like claws, but come on, they were in a piece of checked luggage. Even if it were possible to harm someone with fingerpicks or a capo, I couldn’t have gotten to them during the flight.
I think what really happened was my baggage screener in Poland was a part-time folk musician and couldn’t resist lifting some shwag when he saw my supercool partial capo and ginger-scented picks.
Or maybe it’s the ghost of John Fahey trying to get me to retune my guitar to DADGAD instead of using capo gadgets to simulate the effect. Phantom folk purists and air security personnel, I defy you both!
I ordered replacement gear from Elderly Music today and the next time I fly overseas, I’m carrying it on board in my pocket.
You can now translate my whole website instantly by clicking one of the flags on the right. Yes, I have way too much time on my hands.
At the WKNC radio interview last Friday, a certain record producer of some stature requested MY opinion of home vs. studio recording. Woo! Later that evening, I had a blast listening to how we all sounded through the big rock club speakers. Kind of awesome to hear it in full color after rehearsing in my living room through a practice amp. I was a little distracted actually, just listening to the band rocking, but I don’t think I missed any lyrics too badly.
Pinch hitter Jack Hill carried the day on bass, and here’s a ticker tape welcome home for Hugh Swaso, who has played guitar with me a number of times in smaller settings, but never on the big stage. Finally, drummer Rob DiMauro brought both Bonham and Copeland to mind while employing mostly brushes and hotrod bundles, which is to say I hardly ever have him use normal sticks and yet he brings the rock, and smart.
And of course big thanks to Don Dixon, Jamie Hoover, and Jim Brock for having us open and being gracious and cool guys, and to Marianne Taylor for setting up the show, and for working hard in general to put on great Americana shows for Triangle twang and roots fans.
The picture above appears courtesy of Merch Mike.
Tonight I play with my band at the Berkeley Cafe, and before the show, sometime between 5 and 6 this evening (Friday June 13) I’ll be live on the air at WKNC 88.1 FM in Raleigh, North Carolina. You can listen online at wknc.org. It’s primarily an interview with the show headliner Don Dixon, the legendary producer and musician, but I’m pretty sure you’ll hear my voice and even a little live music from me, too.
It’s the Local Beat show with DJ Hand Banana (no pun intended). Afterwards, we’re off to soundcheck at the club. I’m opening with my band, so come early at 9! Doors open at 8 and tickets are $15. I know, I know, pricey for a Tad show, but just remember all those coffeehouse shows you never had to pay for and add them up…
I’ve been doing some sessions recording at Jeff Crawford’s Arbor Ridge Studios, and you can hear an instrumental track for “The Makeup Company” over at his site. In this picture, I’m getting ready to record a nylon string guitar track for the song “Telephone.” Apparently I frown when I tune. In the background you can see the blankets and comforters Jeff hung all over the vocal booth to deaden it. It’s pretty cozy in there. I like recording, but it is hard work and, as evidenced by the green bottles overflowing the studio’s recycling bin, it can drive a man to drink Sun Drop.
Hey folks, I was just going through my archives and found this live recording from 2006 of me at Bridgewater College. I had the audience play a word/picture game called Telephone Pictionary, then I sang their handwritten results to produce this, um, classic piece of music?
Enjoy!
My three albums have been on iTunes for awhile, but now you can actually buy MP3s directly from me here at my website’s Music page, which is a better deal for the artist (me). Each song is $1, or you can pick up a whole album for $10, using PayPal or a credit card. A download link will immediately be emailed to you by my online team of elves, and in no time, you will have digital Tad Dreis music on your computer. Let the buying begin!
