01/31/13 helping hands

last night i went out with some old friends and some new acquaintances. they, like myself, are aspiring musicians. chasing a dream down a long, emotional and seemingly impossible path. they expressed their desire to play music, embrace their camaraderie and have fun, over making large sums of money. this is a great attitude to have, because if you're getting into the business for money or ego padding, you won't last long. this meeting brought about some really interesting Q&A, as well as realizations on my part. this said band and i have known each other for a quite some time now, it would have been easy for them to just ask me to "do this" for them. (although i would have probably said no because it doesn't work like that. even if i wanted it to.) instead, we all sat down over a beer and they asked, how do WE do this*? how do we do that? they didn't ask for favors or handouts, they asked for knowledge and advice. it's very much like the old saying: "give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime." everyone seems to have forgotten this. bands constantly want this and ask for this and want me to do this... i'm not a fanbase. i'm not something special. i've spent my life preparing for this opportunity and greater ones. i'm still chasing my own dreams. i've given up nearly EVERYTHING i have for this dream and i have no regrets, but even if i COULD put someone on a fast track, why would i? don't you want to earn it? don't you want to build an empire? this goes for more than just bands. people in everyday life want everything and everything handed to them. knowledge is power. it holds keys to all the doors. if there's one thing you need in this world besides knowledge, it's imagination. it's ok to ask questions. learn. apply. don't ask for "the fish". protect and prepare yourselves. someone will always be there to help. i know i always will, just as so many were for me. dream impossible, work hard and chase those dreams, and remember it's ok to ask for advice or help once in a while. (that said, the first time you ignore advice, get burned, don't expect to keep coming back.) be respecful of people and their accomplishments and work hard for yourself. the world will work it out. much love to you all. have fun out there. laugh, learn, love and LIVE.

01/29/2013

Finally home for a hot second. I can't express how much leaving this place has made me miss and love it. The album is coming along great and I'm thankful everyday that I get to play drums, travel and create/inspire as a profession. Being home reminds me of growing up and dreaming of the seemingly impossible. All the things I never noticed that subconsciously influenced my future. The little things that were instilled in me at such a young age that now are the pillars of my personality and life. My work ethic, respect of elders, superiors, and peers; getting up and appreciating the sunrise or a walk in the rain.... The small things that we forget. This is where I learned to dream and work hard, the two biggest contributing factors to everything I do. Spending time with family and talking about past, present and future, expressing my dreams and future plans, always learning. It's great to be home. Family is a strong part of my love and determination. They've always been there for me. Thank you. Speaking of, time to go hang with my mommy, visit my grandma and cool for the auntie. Go out and experience life, laugh, learn, love, live.

01.19.2013

today has been pretty fantastic. lots of great things happening in my world; hockey began today, drums are finished on all 14 songs, management is here and loves the new songs (that never happens haha), had a double dose of crossfit WODs today (Helen and Grace), things are going well. it's a great reassurance that if you work hard and fight for what you believe in, things will EVENTUALLY start going well. we all face dark and hard times, just keep grinding! that said, i know a huge reinforcement of my upbeat and positive attitude is attributed to dreaming, chasing those dreams, and staying healthy. when i exercise physically and challenge myself mentally, i feel the most satisfied. it's a constant challenge - work - get better - win philosophy. i love waking up, getting into a workout, reading about happening and news in my general interests and staying on the contant movement of learning. to me it is my drive and inspiration to stay working and stay happy. i wish you all the best, i strongly recommend taking part in daily exercise, reading, and dreaming. chase your dreams. don't ever give up. time to watch some NHL - GO WINGS.

01.17.2013 CONSUMERS.

woke up today to multiple great texts/emails. not a better way to start the day than reading or hearing good news before i'm even out of bed. most of it was related to dreams of mine and my loved ones. i can't say enough how excited i get when i see people chasing and succeeding their dreams. when you love something so much and you've given up SO much for it, then the payoff... such an awesome feeling.
after waking up i embarked on a little personal adventure today, walking around downtown Chicago and enjoying the view of Lake Michigan. something to be said about getting away, surrounding yourself with good vibes and listening to some awesome music. todays collection: Kanye West Pandora, gearing towards his 808's and Heartbreaks album. artists like Bruno Mars, Kid Cudi, Maroon 5, Kanye, The Fray... definitely one of (if not) my favorite genres. it got me thinking about my love for music all over again and why i do what i do.
i frequently will, for no reason, challenge myself intellectually to question things i see/read/believe in. today, i found myself discussing (with myself) how music is recently so different than other forms of art. when you look at a painting, you don't always, or maybe ever, hope for it to be repetitive, patterned or predictable. why do people want music that is all those things? the same drum beat, a repeated chorus, the same song, played the same way over and over.... i'm not saying i'm anti these traits at times either. but why have we created so many "rules" to popular music. seems sad. you have to play the same drum beat for every verse? for ever chorus? it needs to have some uniformity? unless you're in a prog or math-music band and you're goal is to constantly challenge yourself at all times. but why can't i just "jam" on a song. play what i feel. record it that way, play it different every night, just let me breath. something to think about. art and today's consumption of art, and most things, have become so watered down. we don't want to THINK about anything. just consume. food, beer, wine, music... we want it faster and cheaper... but what about better? what about quality and art and not following the same path, everyday, just being a sheep to EVERYthing. i understand conformity is neccessary in life, but not for EVERYthing ALL the time. think about it a little. challenge yourself. SLOW DOWN and laugh, learn, love and live.

Jan 16. 2013. Finished. Moving On.

today was a monumental day for me personally. for year i've given everything i have in me to chase a dream. i've sold literally everything i own, left my family, friends and past relationships behind. i've missed weddings, births, deaths, parties, birthdays and graduations. i've suffered blisters, broken fingers, and bloody 'everything'. i've given this dream all i have. and i'll continue to do so... but today was a huge step towards that dream. today i finished laying the drum tracks on the new Pop Evil album.
this is the first place i met with the band after "joining". today is a huge step in making my presence felt and known in this band. i never really felt not a part, but this takes my love and dedication to a whole new level. i'll be able to walk into Best Buys, etc, and look and see an album there that i played on. i made noise, wrote and worked HARD on. it's a huge feeling of accomplishment for me.
being in a band, especially a touring band, is NOT easy. on top of all the stuff i have previously mentioned, we have to get along haha. imagine having 10 people living in your house. now make your house the size of a school bus. now take away the privacy of your own room. take away ALL privacy. now spend 300+ days a year in that home. that's what we do... and i love it. this is my dream. and i will not stop until i've reached my goal(s), and when i do, i'll already have new ones set and be in stride chasing them. i'll never quit, i'll never give up. today is one big step in accomplishing a large part of my goal(s). life is great. Laugh, Learn, Love, and LIVE. don't ever EVER give up.

Jan 15 2013. Back at it

after an awesome weekend, we're back at it in the studio. we watched lots of football and most importantly, spent some time with close friends and family. when you choose a path like the one i live, it can get lonely. it can feel like people that once mattered forget you when you're not around, and the people that now seem to care don't really know the real "me". it can get difficult. old friends get jealous, start their own lives and/or just get caught up in their own dreams and lives. you have to be happy for them, but you might miss what you once had. i try to always remember, in any circumstance, living in the past will get you nowhere but lost in the future. the present will pass you buy and you'll miss out on so many great opportunities. digging up the past always gets you dirty.

it's important to not only keep your eyes forward, but to keep setting new goals as you achieve previous ones. they won't all be easy. some may never be accomplished, but that's ok. keep working. set new goals. you'll grow and learn and change, so should your goals. 

i'm blessed to have a close group of friends and family that continue to always support me in every aspect of the word. no matter how long i'm gone for, how often i call, how often we get to spend time together; when i do call, they always answer. they'll drop everything for a sandwich or a cold beer. having people like that in my life makes me stronger. it's a network that is always there reinforcing me and my dreams. no matter WHAT happens, win or lose, they love me. that's a huge part of who i am and why i am the way i am. i feel free to dream, try, jump, leap and fall... because no matter what, i am loved and supported. be this friend to someone else. surround yourself with these people. no matter how trivial or how badly you might not want to listen to someone "complain" it's what friends do. love and support each other. it's a cold world out there. we don't have to face it alone. much love those spreading the love, support and strength allowing me to laugh, learn, love and live. 

Jan 12 2013 - studio

today has been great already. i'm in a steady rhythm of my day to day, which i like. i love waking up regardless of where i am and having a productive start. wake up early, morning shake, morning cardio, breakfast, shower, then whatever i may have planned for the day. usually, this consists of email, twitter, facebook, PM workout, drumming, reading, walks around whatever city i'm in and of course, listening to music. today happened to be a beautiful 5mi run to lake michigan and the adler planetarium. such a view... listening to music helps reinforce a great lesson that i am a firmly believer of - keep an open mind... about everything/everyone. i love music of ALL genres (obviously i don't LOVE every artist). it all depends on my mood at that exact minute. this is a great way to view life too. i like to keep an open mind about people. color, race, religion, background, financial situation, those things don't define you. they may have a major influence on who you are, but i always like to at least find out. people are interesting. every one has such a unique and special story. i love it.
i apply this same open mind to food. i'll try anything at LEAST once, and i mean anything. craziest thing i've ever eat... probably the Filipino delicacy, beluit. (google THAT). i apply this thought to beers, new cars, new places, cities, bands... whatever i come across. TRY IT. give it a chance. doesn't mean you like it, but what IF you do. this theory kind of brought me to the thought of finding things you don't like which lead me to the idea of making mistakes. i think it's truly important to remember that EVERYone makes mistakes, and it's ok to, as long as you learn from them. this also ties in with losing, it's ok to lose or "fail" as long as you work harder, get better, and come back again even stronger! take a second to try some new things, keep an open mind, make mistakes and always remember that life is always better when you laugh, learn, love, and live it. much love.

Jan 11 2013 - Pushing and Pulling

in life it's inevitable, regardless of profession, that people are going to push personal beliefs and opinions on you. co-workers and ever more frequently superiors, will use their opinions and positions to influence you. sometimes this may be as simple as which tie, or in my case pants, to wear. after all, looking the part and looking professional is important. however, sometimes we have people pushing much more serious issues on us. people forcing us to do things that misrepresent who "we" are as individuals. keeping this relative to my life as a musician, i am told to "play ball" more than one could possibly imagine. i don't consider myself a rebel or a trouble-maker, so if it's best for the band, the guys or myself, i'll undoubtably "play ball". sometimes though, we're asked, or TOLD, to do things that i consider fake. untrue. misleading. and while they might not physically hurt anybody, they hurt my soul as a person. they damage what i stand for and believe in. i'm in a profession of art, isn't it supposed to be entirely based around my thoughts, beliefs and stances...? i'm not here to please EVERYONE, i'm here to express myself.
for the past 10 days we've been working diligently on our newest album. this album also happens to be my debut album with the band. this means a lot of things... it's a HUGE opportunity and moment for me to show the world who "i am" via drumming. this is what I** sound like. however, i am constantly forced to take in opinions from producers, band mates and management as to what THEIR opinions are on drums. (keep in mind they're not drummers.) i'm not writing this to complain, possibly vent for myself, but truthfully to shed light on what MY world is like. people not in bands don't know what our lives and profession entails. well i'll share. i'll share it all. gladly.
we face many of the same problems. we're not out here just partying and living it up. we have real responsibilities and real problems. daily. the studio thus far has been an amazing experience. i've been broken down and called out. told i'm not good enough. i need to do better. i'm not cutting it. i was given a choice. get better, or quit (recording the album and get a studio drummer). i could have easily said, yeah you're right, and given up. instead, i work every day for hours to get better. to be as good as i can possibly be. since then, i've tracked 9 songs. giving up will never get you anywhere in life. running away from problems isn't a solution. i realize there are times where walking away is your ONLY option, but that's your LAST option. this life is short, and if you continue to give up and run away, you'll never finish anything. unfinished business and loose ends is not a road to happiness or success. work hard and believe in you and what you love. i'll keep working to get better, i'll keep fighting with management and others everyday with what THEY think i should do haha, but realistically, we're going to meet in the middle and do what's best for everyone. that's how you succeed. lifting up the people around you. don't take on the world alone. love and support each other. work hard. laugh. learn. love. live.

Settling In

i've always been the type to set goals and work hard to achieve them. i also have always prided myself on adapting to my surrounding environment. currently, these two traits has crossed paths in a very positive manner. being in the studio drastically limits my contact with outside influence. i'm locked into a room with a specific group, working at a specific task, with very specific goals. this makes it exceptionally easy to set and achieve other personal goals. specifically, my training and diet routine. i'm on a fixed, low income, which limits my eating out. buying my own groceries not only saves me money, but makes it much easier to eat clean and healthy. with such a strenuous schedule, i'm very limited on time spent outside the studio, luckily, there's a gym in our "living room", making it impossible to NOT work out. this overall makes for a very efficient, happy, and healthy lifestyle. achieving goals and success also, naturally encourage a happy, healthy lifestyle. this helps me stay optimistic, eager, energetic and happy.
to review, your surrounding have a GREAT effect on your life. happiness begins with your environment/home. positive vibes, less distractions, healthy/active lifestyle all result in achievement and success, which strongly reinforces HAPPINESS. so, if you're unhappy with yourself or your current state in life, i greatly encourage setting a couple goals, eliminating negative energy and surrounding yourself with a comfortable environment. happiness in many ways is the key to life. and life is so much better when you laugh, learn, love, and live.

How Bad Do You Want It

everyone has a dream, or had one. many have given up on them, let them go, or tried to bury/forget them. some, very few, however, chase their dreams. it's nearly always a long, devastating and brutal road. it never comes easy. sacrifices will be made. tears will be shed. relationships will be made, lost, strengthened and destroyed. it will NOT be easy. 

4 years ago, i was at a point in my life where i was contemplating what it was i "wanted to do with my life". did i want to finish school? work in the music industry? perform music? start a business? get a 9-5 and make some money... then i was asked a question. a very simple question. "what would you do in life, if you were guaranteed not to fail at it?" i immediately answered "play drums". this meant devoting my life to pursuing this dream. this meant skipping weekend parties, playing every chance i got, spending money on equipment instead of beers or cars or clothes, it meant missing time with family, leaving behind relationships and friends... this was it. i was going after it. this was 4 years ago. i now play drums full-time in a "successful" rock band. this, to many, would be a success. it's not good enough for me. there's still too much more to accomplish. so far up to still climb. this past week in the studio has taught me more about drumming than the past year. i've learned how far i am from where i need to be. from where i WANT to be. more practice. more studying, notes, practice, listening, learning, PRACTICE. i want to be the best. you never stop being a student. and as long as you remember that, you remain open, eager and driven, NOTHING can stop you. don't let anyone else tell you what you can and can't do. you can do whatever you set your mind to. but i warn you - it will be beyond "hard". it will seem impossible more times than not. you will shed tears and maybe even blood. others will hate you for your decision. people will think you're crazy and selfish. those people are jealous. they didn't achieve their dreams. they probably never even tried... be different. be better. be unique. be YOU. work hard and have fun, so that when you look back on your life, you'll know that you took every chance to laugh, learn, love and live.

Take the leap

i was told at a very young age how important it is to set goals for yourself. mentally, written out, however you prefer, but set goals and work for them. as i get older, i realize my dreams are based entirely around my goals.they're one in the same, and i can't help but notice how much and how often they change. as i grow and change and learn, life sends me spiraling down winding, infinite roads that seem to never end. i'm ok with this. i've accepted and even embraced that life is a journey and not a destination. that i should enjoy and learn from whatever life offers me. i've learned that if i'm ever unhappy with something in life, if there's a problem - it's me. i control your happiness, my success, my life.
in order to taste success, find happiness and experience true achievement, risks must be taken. risks and change are scary, but i thrive on this. everyone is different and everyone handles stresses differently. i thrive in high pressure scenarios. i perform best in times of dire need. when success is imperative. others may panic, back down, or never even take a risk. they just sit and wallow in their own sadness, filling their heads with "what-ifs" and "could be's"of negative outcomes that don't exist. if you think negatively, and dream negatively, then you live a negative life and you'll never do anything. you can't do if you don't try. i don't expect everyone to sell everything they own and leave tomorrow, but start small. take control of your life, of your own happiness. live life without regrets. take that leap. sit back, research, make a plan if you're a planner, but then - after all that, CHASE YOUR DREAMS. i can't emphasize enough how much happiness is internal. dream impossible. work hard to achieve those dreams. no matter what anyone else thinks. if that's what you want, then do it. it's the holidays. spread some love. and hold/call/visit your loved ones. a strong support group is key to chasing dreams, there will be lots of hard times. dig in and get ready. it's worth it in the end. take the leap, and during this journey of life, remember to laugh, learn, love and LIVE. 

Real People Problems

it's impossible to not let the happenings of yesterday effect my writing today. the massacre that took place in Newtown will forever be one of the darkest days of my life. the amount of opinions, press, coverage and social media postings is overwhelming. i'm trying to remain positive. it's hard to have faith in mankind at times like this. so many people use happening like this as a strength of agenda. to preach their opinions and their "answers". i think i'll do the same - gun control, school security, religion, video game restrictions... none of these are the answer. the inhuman, beasts who commit these crimes are the problems. they don't follow the rules/laws (gun control). they don't care about "the fear of god" or going to "hell", they don't care what's on TV. they have a mental disconnect from reality. i also don't think people are "born evil". something went wrong somewhere. maybe they weren't loved enough, they were never held, no one ever believed in them, no one ever told them "you can be whatever you want, if you just work hard for it". we as a race are to blame, not guns, religion, music, or TV. those are weak excuses to cope with reality. REAL LIFE. things that are happening in our day to day.
i'm not a father, so i have no way to even pretend i know how parents throughout the world feel today. i can only try to imagine how difficult coping with such an event must be. i wish there was any way i could help. that we could all get together and just talk about our problems. people need to vent. everyone has problems, and a lot of us aren't necessarily looking for a solution, we just want someone to listen to us. be there for each other. no matter how trivial it may seem to you, when someone needs a friend, be that friend. support each other. everyone's problems are different and cary a different amount of significance to each of us as individuals.
this is a sad day. i hope we all learn from this... remind yourselves and teach your kids how important is to take everyday to Laugh, Learn, Love and Live.

Rock n Roll

the music industry is forever changing. growing, evolving and becoming more and more competitive. but is that really a bad thing? and if not, why are so many musicians struggling? did iTunes ruin the industry... here's what i think about the new age of music, what might be to come and where rock and roll stands. 

today, more and more musician "complain" about how hard it is to survive playing music, especially signed bands. they say, "20 years ago, it would have been like this..." but the reality is, 20 years ago, there were a LOT fewer bands. signed and not. so yeah, the bands made more money, but you there were only 100 BIG bands. today, there's 10 BIG bands, 10,000 signed medium bands, and then even more "small, signed" bands. so it may be harder to get RICH and wealthy off music, but it's actually much easier to make "a living". with that said, we look at how this happened... equipment and technology started taking exponential leaps and bounds. now everyone can afford to make a "Decent" sounding demo or EP and that used to be something only "famous" bands could do. we're on a much more even playing field. which in a way, makes it harder for everyone. think of it compared to sports, the league itself now has 1,000 teams playing for the super bowl (or #1 single) versus the league when there was only 100 teams. it's much harder to "win" today. 

iTunes has had obvious effects on the business. it's allowed users to purchase singles. it may have decreased ALBUM sales, but i don't think IT has lowered "sales". in the past, you may not have purchased a bands album only knowing/liking one song, now, you can go buy that ONE song. that's a sale the band would have lost out on. so it's not all bad, labels and bands need to learn and adapt, like every other business. as far as illegal downloads - i'll save for another blog. 

now onto rock music... why is it struggling so much right now? well here's my take... 

rock has been an always changing, always evolving genre. beatles - zepplin - motley crue - stone temple pilots - nickelback... and now mumford and sons. this seems to have created a void in "active rock". but it's ACTIVE ROCK'S FAULT. rock* isn't dead. it's changing, just like it always had. active rock is a sub-genre that has excluded itself. alt rock bands (today) like mumford n sons, Fun., and gaslight anthem receive radio on multiple stations. top 40, alt rock, mainstream rock, active rock and hot a/c. (this may be complete news to some of the listeners, understand, these are different categories of stations found on the radio today). country artists have country and top 40 play. hip hop reieves hot a/c, top 40, hot 100, top 40, and so on... however, active rock bands have limited and pigeon holed themselves to JUST active rock. we need to diversify to survive. staying the same ensures extinction. think of evolution and darwin's theory. we as rock bands need to keep growing and changing, or just keep hoping and praying top 40 picks "us" back up. we haven't created a new "sound" or a new "look" in over a decade. we're boring people. and the one HUGE core that was always rock, partying and going crazy, has been squashed as the industry has become such a "business". that behavior is no longer tolerated or encouraged. it's a tough day for these rock bands... 

people playing music today, for the MOST part, make very little money, and do this strictly to play music, the love of art and travel, and the camaraderie of meeting new people. there's many lonely, BROKE, discouraging days we all have to remind ourselves and each other to Laugh, Learn, Love and Live. 

Fakers, Chasers and Facebook Haters

Everyday, someone, somewhere faces an extreme challange. i don't mean getting out of bed or forcing themselves to work out. i'm talking about real, true, challenges. some days, something might nip me in the butt, leave a bad taste in my mouth and i get a little upset. but i try to remind myself, if this is the WORST thing going on right now, if i can't find ANYthing else to bitch about, my life's pretty great. remind yourself of the things that you've accomplished. that you've done and of what you will do. relax and breathe.
i realize everyone out there has their little quirks that annoy people. i'm very aware that for everyone out there who doesn't like all the negative social media buzz, there's also people who hate "motivators". and i understand, it looks like so called "optimists" don't have bad days and honestly, we all know they do. the difference is, they don't post/share about it. i have bad days, i face trials EVERY day. something goes wrong nearly everyday in my life, it's true. most of these things are quickly pushed aside and i move on knowing, that little mishap, not going to effect my life. so move on. the most optimistic and positive thing about my life (aside from my AMAZING support group of my family and loved ones) is the fact that i'm chasing my dream. i haven't achieved it. but everyday i wake up knowing there's nothing else i'd rather be doing, and when you're in that position, not much else matters. there's a TON of info that the general public, friends, family, fans don't know about artists or musicians. just like i'm sure i don't know all about being an accountant or an actor. things are rough these days for musicians if you're after fame or fortune. i'm not famous. and i'm BEYOND poor. but, if as an artist, your goal is to be heard, to help people, to change peoples lives and believe in what you're doing - i'm lavishly rich.
realize what's important to you and chase that. identify dreams, and when you're chasing them, really going after what you want in life, little things won't matter. you have all you need - family, friends, loved ones, and your dreams. i'm thankful everyday for these things. sure things get my blood boiling, but get over it. relax. enjoy your life and let others enjoy theirs. little things i promised myself, no matter how poor i get, i'll always find a way to afford starbucks, music, and french macaroons. it sounds silly, but on days i can't afford other things, i remember, hey, i know i'm poor, and i can still afford coffee and kickass tunes. support the things you believe in and love or they won't be there. loosen up. and chase your dreams. always. chase your dreams.... chase and Laugh, Learn, Love and Live.

Clay Brains

I spend a great deal of my time wandering. thinking. dreaming. and as i do think, i think about an endless amount of "stuff". some of these things are crucial to my well-being and very existence, and some of these things are baked goods. it's an infinite amount of random thoughts i've, throughout my life, allowed my brain to always entertain, no matter what. some of this time is spent about my blog - and i've decided to make a few changes. for example, i don't care about capital letters, lol. also, i'm going to post fewer and more in depth posts, some that may be very personal to me. so, with that out of the way, lets get to the current post.
the other day, i went for a walk, crossing the brooklyn bridge headed into manhattan. for those who have never made this mile long excursion, it's absolutely gorgeous. while on this walk, my thoughts and conversation carried to how i and we all, got where we are today; not in terms of career or achievements specifically, but as people. i began thinking about, what if i had kids, would they be like me? would they like the same things? would they be absolute heathens? the conversation was long and very in depth, my favorite kind. it really had me thinking about my childhood, and how early i began taking shape.
my mind goes a billion miles a minute, i have so many likes and interests that it's often difficult for my friends to mingle or converse because they actually have nothing in common. i have so many crazy sides and i began to wonder why this is and how early i began showing signs of this. then it dawned on me, at a very young age, i wanted to try everything. i had many interests, but the part of my life that truly DEVELOPED this extremely large portion of who i am, is my parents support. for as long as i can literally remember, my parents not only supported WHATEVER i wanted to do, then encouraged me and did all they could to help me, all they asked was that i tried my best. if i wanted to be a boy scout, play football, freestyle wrestle, partake in Youth in Government, tee ball, student council, jazz band, marching band, concert band, choir, it didn't matter, my parents did all they could to make it happen.
my parents divorced when i was just five. it wasn't life ending or excruciating to me, especially at the time. i didn't really know what was happening, other than i had to look after my little brother early on. as with many divorce cases, money was tight. extremely tight. my mom worked two jobs and my dad is STILL at the same factory position after 35 years!!! the point i'm making is, we didn't have money. i didn't get to do it all because we were rich. my parents scrimped and scraped to TRY to allow me to keep up with every kid in the world. they did all they could and more to ensure i had the best opportunity possible. i didn't have a rich aunt or grandma, i had a family, who were middle class AT BEST that loved and supported me.
20 years later, not much has changed. my dad is still at the factory. my parents both work and "get by" and they still love me and support me in every one of my insane, crazy ideas. they've never once told me i couldn't do something (as far as goals and dreams go). they taught me that with a strong, loving family and a hard work ethic, dreams can come true. shut up and work. i'm sorry for all the people out there who don't have it easy, i wish it was easy for everyone. but it's not. but that doesn't mean you CAN'T. it means it's going to be hard. you're going to sweat, cry, bleed, probably throw up and at times, damn near go hungry. DON'T EVER GIVE UP. if you want something bad enough, you'll make it happen.
i'd really like people to take a couple things from this...
-Parents, support your children. i was a hellion, ALWAYS wanting to do something new, always on the go... embrace your children's dreams, do all you can to show your love and support. not just in money, in love, in hugs, kisses, be there. they need you. they'll realize it someday.
-kids/teens, don't ever stop dreaming. listen to your parents once in a while, and develop a work ethic early on. if i could tell every kid in the world to do three things, they would be Love, dreams, and work. you'll never be unhappy with your life. people of ALL ages. Love will keep you strong and humble, your dreams will keep you motivated, hungry and hopeful, and hard work will achieve those dreams.
i really hope some people benefit from this. and i really want to thank my parents for everything. i'd have never gotten this far without you. YOU taught me anything is possible. you taught me to dream and to work, and you ALWAYS made sure i remembered to Laugh, Learn, Love, and Live.

Eat. Exercise. Enjoy.

Fitness and foods have become a hot topic throughout the US in recent years. Hundreds of diets have swept the nation from vegan, atkins, paleo, etc... workout regimes are being sold all over to transform your body like Insanity, Crossfit, and TRX. It's a bit overwhelming. One mainstay to remember is Diet is about 75% of your results, exercise is about 25%. With that said, enjoy yourself and lets explore what we can do better. What works, what doesn't, what's healthy, what's the fastest. I know there's a ton of questions and concerns, so today, I'm going to do my best to shed a little light on some of these, and throw my personal experience with these into the mix for your own reading. I'm going to try to be as quick and informative as possible.
Let's start with exercise. I was raised on standard, free weight lifting, strength training. Barbells and a squat rack was where I lived in the gym. Bench press, squat, clean and deadlift. These exercises all encompass a great deal of muscle groups. None of them are targeting a specific muscle. This means you're probably not lifting to get "ripped," but instead, lifting to get strong. That's what I did, I got stronger. This example is a method of training that the average person doesn't understand, before you can select a "type" or style of exercise, you need goals. SO, let's Quickly, go over some guidelines of goals and their associated exercise...

Lose weight. You want simply lose weight, just shed pounds, not focus on strength, or getting Shredded, just lean out. Your best options are high cardio, bodyweight circuits. This is a very healthy, low risk style of exercise that can be performed nearly anywhere. Running, jogging, cycling, rowing, push-ups, pull-ups, bodyweight squats, burpees, mt. climbers, jumping jacks... all very simple exercises that are highly effective and healthy. Combine this with a balanced, healthy diet, and you'll see results.

Strength. You want to get strong. Not ripped, not BIG, but stronger. You should be pursuing very low rep, very high weight lifts. minimal cardio is required with this, and a very high protein/high carb diet to fuel your body. lifts like bench press, overhead press, squats, power cleans and deadlift is where you want to be. set of 5-7 with reps of (something like) 1-6 tops. This type exercise can be dangerous and should be done with a partner or group.

Shredded. This exercise style is probably the most demanding. I prefer a mixture of various styles. High cardio, HIGH INTENSITY, no rest, circuits. some with weights, some just bodyweight. Exercises like sprints, push-ups, pull-up and box jumps; combined with kettle bell swings, thrusters and crossfit like exercise. Crossfit and insanity blended together is my preferred approach. However, the KEY to getting ripped, the KEY to that "6pack" is NOT, I repeat, NOT NOT NOT sit-ups/crunches; it's diet. You HAVE to eat right. Some prefer a paleo approach, others vegan. Both of these, when executed correctly are very effective. Not quite THAT disciplined, then focus on SMALL meal portions, lots of veggies, eat breakfast everyday and don't eat late. Stay off sweats and deep fried food. Eat "clean" and don't overeat, that's a HUGE issue with Americans.

So, I realize this isn't Everything you need to know, but it's not a fitness blog. It's a guiding hand hoping to shed some light and help your direction. Health and diet isn't a "diet," it's a lifestyle. A healthy lifestyle promotes a happy lifestyle, and happiness is what we're all after, right? Eat smart, exercise and be healthy. Also, remember to enjoy yourself, Laugh, Learn, Love and Live.

Not Just for Clowning Around

I promised as a preface that fashion would be a favorite topic of my blogging, and I wasn't lying. Today marks yet another new experience for me... I tied my first bow tie. Now this may not sound like any kind of accomplishment, but let me assure you, it was no easy task. I'm educated in tying about three-four-ish different tie knots, however, a bow tie is a horse of a different color.
For starters, bow ties are back, they're big, bold, and breaking down barriers all over. This is great for us guys. It gives us another option of dressing up shirts, dressing down suits without coats, and mixing super fun patterns and prints for new seasons. Not to mention, bow ties are much more affordable (if you look in the right places) than neckties. Bow ties have always been a way of looking classy, dapper, and ready for the most high profile of events. Now, they're being worn out for parties, dinners, and even casual wear, I love it. Embrace the new! It's a simple and affordable way to totally change the look of your outfit for the day/night.
Wear them with polos, button downs, and if you're really adventurous, flannels and even t's with a jacket! Bow ties, overall, just say "I want to look nice, but I like to have fun," and who doesn't want to portray that message?!? Bow ties have been around since the 17 CENTURY !!! Fashionably, since the 18th/19th. That's a LONG time, obviously they're doing something right. I'm sure it doesn't look like "you" right away, and that's ok. Have a little fun, get outside your comfort zone, like I always say - "try new things."
So, as a recap - bow ties are no longer ONLY for black tie events, weddings and clowns. They're embraced and encouraged for casual meetings, parties, a night out, dinner, and daily wear. So break out of the box men, and show those ladies what you've learned! Below I'll list a great "how to" video for tying your first bow tie (took me about 20minutes, no lie).
Look good guys, hell, look great. Use that look to embrace some confidence, women love it. There's no better way to show off the new confidence and new look, than to Laugh, Learn, Love, and Live.


How To: (i know he's older, but this guy nails it in the video - it was the 4th one i watched and i finally got it after this one)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VJv4Qh7zR3E

Know It All

As an 18 year old senior at Constantine High School, I knew it all... I was legally an adult, I had a job, I had chosen a career path, I could vote, I had a license; there was no more to know or learn. Right? That's what I though at least. I quickly learned how much more existed as I embarked on a new journey to a public university. Living away from home, cooking, cleaning, making all my own decisions. Essentially living life with little to no supervision. Freshmen year at Ferris State definitely taught me that there was more to the world and more to myself than I had thought. The following three years at Ferris were much the same. Every year I seemed to gain exponential knowledge and realization of how little I had actually known prior. Surely by now, after four years from home, nearing the end of my degree, and having traveled around the state and midwest (with Saraph) I had a much better understanding of what the "big picture" is all about.
I left college early to pursue touring with my band full time. We performed in 13 states, traveling through nearly 20, booking, managing, promoting, EVERYthing in house. It taught me a great deal about responsibility, chasing your dreams, hard work, business, and more than anything, it taught me a great deal about me. It was my first real taste of the "world." Although it was a very small, tiny taste, it was more than enough to provoke my insatiable hunger for travel, adventure, and the experience of new things.
A year or so later, I returned to school after mixed feelings of heavy travel arose within the band. I obviously was ready to be a road warrior, other not so much. I don't feel angry or remorse towards this person or their opinions in the least. It's a long and grueling life, it's not for everyone, but I wouldn't stop my chase.
Nearly a year later, Pop Evil called. It presented me the opportunity of being on the road for 300 days a year, for a living! My life in Grand Rapids was great at the time. I had a steady job, I LOVE Grand Rapids to this day, and I was learning about a lot of my other hobbies in interests. Grand Rapids was essentially a city of growth and coming to terms with me, so lets rewind and touch on this...
Grand Rapids was a city I learned about "cities" in, it sparked my interest and educated me in craftbeer, food, and wine, it pushed me out of my little box and awoke my internal entrepreneur, it's also the city I met and networked with Pop Evil in. In so many ways, Grand Rapids has made me who I am today. So needless to say, leaving wasn't that easy... or was it.
It was the opportunity of my lifetime; so with 30 hours notice, no sense of their songs or how to play to a click live, I took the job.
That was nearly two years ago now and a lot has changed, but some things haven't changed. Some things have only made themselves more clear and more prevalent in my life. I'm even more enthused with beer, foods and wines, more fixated on fashion, and more business minded than ever before. Something else has remained the same also, my knowledge and experiences have continued to grow at an exponential rate. Ever year since my 18th birthday, I look back at the year before and think to myself "I can not BELIVE how much I've learned in 12 months." This happens ALL THE TIME. I frequently will challenge myself to learn something new on a daily basis; a new book, new beer, reading online, visiting new websites, reading the news, SOMETHING new. After I do this, I'll pause and try to summarize the past year and look back and I'm absolutely floored by how little I knew last year. We never stop being students. Embrace this. Take it for all you can, learn so much you forget things. Never stop growing as a person, it's an essential part of growing, maturing and learning about yourself. Teaching yourself new things also reflects back on you and teaches you about yourself, and that's important. Take a chance, everyday if you can, and remember to Laugh, Learn, Love and Live.

Dreams and Real Life Sacrifce

Some aspire to be actors; some accountants, musicians, astronauts, world leaders, business owners, we all have dreams. Some of us gave up a long time ago, but that dream is still embedded in your soul. Growing up your imagination runs wild. It's an infinite knowledge that exceeds anything 99% of adults could hope for. Children don't live in a limited box of reality. They drive cloud cars, learn to fly, and when friends are hard to come by, they make there own. It's a beautiful and amazing ability we all lose as we grow and learn from experience.
Chasing yours dreams, whatever it may be, isn't hard. The chase is simply a matter of pursuit, it's capturing these dreams that is nearly impossible. The normalcy of life is we dream an amazing, lustful dream that at some point, we give up on. The sacrifices become too much to endure. We don't make enough money, we don't get to live where we hoped, we have to go to school too long, there's an infinite number of LEGITIMATE excuses for giving up. It's survival instinct, at some point out brain tells us, this isn't working, abandoned ship, SETTLE. This piece, today, is for all the crazy, childish, insane, borderline "stupid" people who refuse to quit the chase. I'm a musician, so I'm going to reference this strongly, I realize we ALL make impossible and unique sacrifices.
Musicians, today more than ever, are nuts. Artists in general. You're pursuing a career with no rules. No guidelines, absolutely NO guarantees. You're putting your future and career, your life in the hands of complete strangers. You make less money than ever before, the potential to make a "livingL is there, maybe more than ever, but the potential to be a STAR has is nearly 0%. You leave all your loved ones, you never get to see your family, whether that be mom, wife, grandma, brother, children... It's an extremely long, lonely, HARD road. And we love it. Right? It's a job you can't do unless you love it. The sacrifices are too much, too great and too life altering. You could deliver pizzas and hate it, but it doesn't change your life. It's like betting the minimum in a poker hand. Musicians are ALL IN every hand. Everything to lose with the hopes of "making it".
Musicians sell everything they own, they live out of cars/vans; musicians will do ANYTHING for someone to just give them a chance. It's a hungry, ruthless, insane breed. Bless you all. Bless all the doctors who said, "4 years of school ain't shit, I'm doing this", all the police officers and service men and women who put their lives on the line everyday to defend others, thanks to all the astronauts for being crazy enough to train for years for one mission that could change all mankind, everyone out there who have nearly lost it ALL, I mean down to the last thread of your strength and life... Thank you. You get it. Before you can win big, you have to lose ALMOST all of it. Big risk = big reward. So here's to tall of you out there, living your lives, chasing the "nearly" impossible, and remembering everyday that its all about remembering to Laugh, Learn, Love, and LIVE.

Small Things

Everyday we pass by strangers. People we've never seen before and will probably never see again. Walking, jogging, shopping, driving, strangers are everywhere. Many of times I've been with friends (usually male) and they make comments about strangers similar to "what are you staring at?" These comments are rhetorical and are actually only spoken to themselves, however, there's a certain anger in their tone when reciting these words. This has always been a bit puzzling to me for various reasons; in order to see someone looking at you, you mustlook at them as well, also, people tend to look/stare at things their attracted to (not necessarily sexually) which is complementary, and WHO CARES of someone is looking at you? With this in mind, if like to suggest another approach. The next time you pass by a stranger and exchange eye contact, try smiling. You don't have to hi-five and exchange numbers, but just simply smile. Not only will you feel warm and good about yourself, you'll force the other person to smile as well. It's like spreading happiness to someone else's day, as well as your own. No conversation needs to happen, and it doesn't need to be a long, drawn out event. Just a smile. Feel good, feel happy and spread those feelings. The more happiness and love in the world the better.
This suggestion is just that, one very small gesture that can be done daily to improve overall happiness and feel good energy. There's so many other things we overlook that provide similar results; holding the door for someone, opening the door for others, letting someone with fewer items cut in line at the store... Slow down and think about your actions and your options. Too often we're in such a pointless hurry, we are inconsiderate and even rude. Life is meant to be enjoyed and appreciated. Slow down. Appreciate your company and surroundings. Living your life happy and positive can have an amazing effect on your attitude, outlook and career. Remind yourself to enjoy the small things. Be the person your grandma would be proud to see, helping others, being polite and putting a others first. Just a suggestion, life is so much better when we Laugh, Learn, Love and Live.