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Anyone coming to the APAP convention tonight? I know there are hundreds of groups performing.

This is what I call the grind. Trying to get gigs and things happening at these conventions is crazy. The thing about it is I sat at a table of musicians who have played this convention for years and all said they have never booked a gig through this. This is a HUGE convention. Someone said there's a 20-30 minute wait for the elevators... and I'm playing on the 4th floor.

Hey everybody, it's Tjaco's birthday today!

Happy Birthday Tjaco.

Up their with Marie, Tjaco is an indespensible part of this site, making lessons, helping out with the organization and problems with the site.

Tjaco is the best!!! Hope you have a great day!

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Tony

A member of the site here just got his first gig on vibes. I thought I would mention that and mention how important it is to play live. Yes if you haven't done it, the first times are a little scary and might even be a disaster, but this is a huge part of getting better and you need to do it.

Thought maybe we could discuss this a little bit if you guys wanted to. Playing in groups and playing live is a important as practicing, if not more!

Man I do a lot of vibe talking because of this site. It's pretty incredible and sort of a dream come true. We live pretty isolated lives don't we?

One topic that has come up recently is acheiving your goals. I go straight to the word energy when I hear the word goals.

To achieve a goal is going to take energy and for most of us a LOT of energy (I've said it before, haven't I?). But if you put the right energy in I think most of our goals are achievable. Now that being said we all have to be reasonable.

I am learning Skylark and decided to have a duet with Tony while he was at my house. Bass and drums are Band-in-a-Box RealTracks.

Barry

Tony wanted me to come over his house to hang, and record the Arabesque that I am working on. Since I don't play vibes with graduated bars as well as non-graduated bars, Tony offered to come my house!

I had a lot of fun. I got to try out a bunch of different mallets and play a tune with Tony on piano with Band-in-a-Box RealTracks bass and drums.

It looks like we're over the 3000 mark with posts! That's a lot of information on the vibraphone!

Just thought I'd announce that.

Ok, so trying to run a site and practice can cause marital problems.

My wife was on my case big time about not doing enough around the house. I don't have time, I said. But she kept the verbal abuse coming. So I bought a Roomba.

As I write this I'm actually cleaning my upstairs. You see I told her I'd take over the vacuuming and she agreed. So I went out and bought a Roomba which is a robot vacuum cleaner. So now I can practice and clean at the same time.

Now she's saying that that doesn't count, but she's not going to win that one!

Hi Workshoppers,

Just stopping by to say Happy Holidays to all!

Did anyone see today's Dilbert?

I don't know whether to laugh or cry :-).

Tom P.