Billy Blaze's Blog

Hey Guys,
I want to explain why this Blog is here.
For obvious reasons, and it’s easier than picking up a phone and calling all the people I know all over the country.
But also, I write things here to warn other Musicians about the dangers, and the advantages of playing or not playing at a particular event.
There is also the fact that I share information about certain products here too.
I have been playing for many many years in a pro aspect and have learned so much about people and the music business and like to share what I have learned.

So often I wish someone would have warned me about a caertain venue or booking agent etc.
I have found often people in general will lay down and roll over and let anything be done to them, and that’s not just in the music business but all business….people in America have lost their spine and ability to stand up for whats right…also their honor and values.

I know that reading this some will think I am a highly negative person, but it really isnt true.
I value truth, ethics, morals,and just plain CARE about my fellow artists and Americans.
So what if I am the only one, at least I can sleep better at night knowing that maybe something I have done has helped someone better their situation.

I believe a Blog is a personal reflection, and insight to the pulse of another person at that particular moment in time as well.
I dont live my life jumping from rainbow to rainbow licking on a lollypop, but rather I am a realist, if it ruffles some feathers then so be it.
I am honest with myself and others.

Just thought I would explain why this is here and why I am using it.

Billy B.

Hey guys,
It’s been a while since I have written as it’s been a hectic time as of late.
Not all bad news though as I have created some great artist relations with Taylor Guitars and Audix microphones.
More to come on that, and there will be a great review section on the equipment I am using coming soon.

Now to business….
You all know, I call a spade a spade and speak out where there is wrong doing.
As many people have asked me if I will play at Weatherford Lake Marina I fealt I should tell why I am NOT and NEVER again will play there.
I had some great times playing there last season!
And made a lot of fans and was able to entertain many old and new friends.
However….
The last several gigs were cancelled on me at last notice, not in time for me to schedule another gig to take their place, not a telephone call OR an e-mail but the most spineless way to cancel on an artist possible.
That is to say, I showed up at my gig and found out through an employee that my current gig and future gigs had been cancelled by the chicken shit owner that didnt have the ethics or courtesy to be a woman and call to advise me of her illegal and spineless actions.
That’s right I said Illegal, see a verbal contract is still a binding contract and I had a verbal contract to finish my seasonal gigs there at the Marina.
Now…
The reasons I got were baseless and ignorant, one excuse was that my songs are too political although I had never performed a political song at that particular gig.
However the person who took my gigs routinely sings about masturbating herself and I suppose that is acceptable.
At any rate people were asking if I would be back and so that is easier than explaining to my fans why I in fact WILL NEVER BE BACK.

So many artists have to deal with chicken shit people like this, it’s truly uncalled for and just dispicable behaviour out of someone who is supposed to be a business woman….ha
Fact is I would have had more respect for her had she had a backbone and the ethics to be upfront and honest about the real reason instead of leaving me to be unable to replace my gigs and leave it to an emplyee to break the news.

Be warned artists that this may happen to you should you deal with this poor excuse for a business woman.

Off to bigger and better things, see you guys down the road, keep a weather eye on the gig calendar ; )

Billy Blaze

Well as you can tell from some of my last few blog entries things havent been going so well for me.

However…..
I am moving forward in my Nightster tansformation which makes me very very happy
AND if you have checked the gig schedule you will see I have 5 shows this month and 5 shows the next month so far which is a dang good start to my playing season.
I will be playing regularly at Augies Sunset Cafe on Eagle Mountain Lake on Sundays!
This place is right on the lake and is a full service bar and has the best Hamburgers I have had in a very long time.
The staff and regulars are very kind and it doesn’t take much to stike up a meaningful conversation with the patrons.
This isnt a biker bar but there are always a few bikes outside and generally people enjoying the sun and fellowship.
So come on out and listen to old Billy Blaze and have a beer and a good ol greasy cheesburger…they really are fantastic!
Much more to come as I start delving more into the booking aspect of this year….keep a weather eye on the schedule I may just be in your neck of the woods some time soon, also if you would like to see me play close to you….visit your local powers that be and throw my name in the hat you all know I am not beyond taveling great distances for my friends and fans.

Thanks so much for sticking with me even in the dark hours

Billy Blaze

At the end of this year I will have been in my new place for 2 years.
Since I have been out here I have not done much with my music. Partialy due to so much work needed of me to improve the place and keep it running.
And another part is I just have lost some desire to play music.
If you read this blog you will get the idea that i have worked hard to advance my career in music but had little luck with it panning out.
Such is the case for many musicians out there hitting the bricks every day looking for work.

After playing many many shows where at the end of the night and after each song you are left sitting in the silence you create….waiting and listening for an answer to why you are there to begin with.
I enjoy playing music as much as I always have but when this happens it is tiresome and cuts deep scars into your soul.
I wonder how easy it must have been before the internet in comparrison to the overwhelming amount of people that play music online.
Each person, bar owner, manager, booking agent, etc etc etc has a quirk and a different set of rules that you cant possibly know but are expected to know.

Playing in bars is like giving blood, you are simply background music for people who want to get drunk and laid.
The phrase “exposure” means only to the sun.
NO record executive will be roaming your little piss ass town festival looking for national artists, people dont look for talent that way.
People use that to get free entertainment out of artists when really they are saying….
Come play my event for free, I think so little about your music, your time, you, or all that you have invested, that I will not pay you, but I will make money off your talent.
And people fall for that over and over again.
Slidding scales, percentage of bar sales, working for the door etc etc etc.
All these terms come with hidden things you done know like for instance your pay could be calculated on what the bar made for the whole day even when the band wasnt there, or they dont count bar tabs, or credit card transactions in the bar sales.
Bottom line is its all a way to get over on the band or artists.
If you are a musician you MUST have the confidence to ask for a flate rate and be true to yourself and ask for what you feel you are worth.
If everyone did this we would all get paid.

But then you have “Billy Joe Bob Stumble-fuck and the Midnight Ass Bandits” who are more than happy to assault people nightly with their shitty music and drunkeness on stage who are more than happy to play for a possible shot at a piece off ass and some free beer.

I hope that one day I can reach someone that can help me, with my music. In all likelyhood it wont happen and if it does they will say I am too old to exploit…..and really I just want the world to hear what I am writting about.
My songs mean something to me and I hope they do to you.

Peace and love through music!
Billy Blaze

So I got an 08 Harley Nightster, I have always wanted one since I was a kid and its a damn shame it took the ecconomy getting this bad for me to be able to buy one.
I started ridding bikes back in 1978 and didnt learn to drive a car till I was in my 20’s.
Just like everything I own, I end up changing it into something I like completely.
So far the transformation looks pretty sweet.
You can follow my progress with it here…
http://www.billyblaze.net/blazesbaby.html

I sold just about all my music gear with the exception of my trusty Takamine guitar and Bose system, sold all my recording gear except bare essentials.
And I have written a new song called “The Cage” which is in my opinion one of the best songs I have ever written, for many reasons I believe this…here are some.
It can easily be applied to many others lives.
The bridge,chorus,and verses came out in a unique arrangement.
I write about serious topics mostly, ya know songs with meaning so it has the tone set as such like most of my music.
I plan to record this one soon and offer it up for download on my site as well as a few other choice tunes.
I am checking into the costs for this soon.
I believe this time I am going to work with digital media rather than tangible CD’s since I still have a shitload of my 1rst one.

Anyhow thats all for now, untill the world screws me so bad again I need to write about it…lol

Billy Blaze