The Social Freelancer: Media, Music, TV & Film

The Creative Quandry is just a fact of life for most who have a bent for creative endeavors. It’s the struggle of keeping bread on the table while making music, writing, painting, acting or any form of “art”.

I’ve been deep in this one lately due to a number of client projects booking my schedule tight (a problem I am happy to have). You may have noticed a reprint of some previous articles on this blog in the past couple of weeks, it’s just my effort to keep content moving, while providing good service to my paying clients. But certainly I would rather have the time needed to produce fresh articles multiple times every week, but that’s not my current REALITY.

Merging “work” with creative

What to do? Keep Going. Read more…

Yes! I get to sing some with great friends and fine musicians in my old stomping grounds this Saturday afternoon. Stoked. Come see us, do the “hello” and groove a bit…
Miss Neesie and Tin Can Trio plays an afternoon set (1-3pm) this Saturday, April 13, 2013 at Boneshakers in San Antonio, Texas. Excellent musicians, eclectic set list, happy faces, these folks always put on a fine show. Jump blues, cajun, gospel, rock n roll… yes, it’s all good….
Like!-> Miss Neesie on Facebook
Follow!-> Bassist, Music Writer Jim Beal on Twitter
The Gig:
Boneshakers
306 Austin Street
San Antonio, TX 78215
(210) 319-8155
Saturday, April 13, 2013 1-3pm

Miss Neesie and Tin Can Trio on stage at Boneshakers

TWEET UP WITH TUNES, SAN ANTONIO STYLE!
Please use these hashtags for the event: #TinCanTrio #TraceTrio #Boneshakers
If you know me through Facebook, Twitter or this blog, in San Antonio area:
COME ON DOWN, LET’S DO THE “HELLO” AND GROOVE A BIT THIS SATURDAY 1-3 PM

Read more…

Ideas, like large rivers, never have just one source.- Willy Ley
I have always been drawn to rivers. Near them, I can be alone with my thoughts and yet still connected with the rest of the planet. It’s all tied to my youth, and much time spent splashing around in streams, skipping stones and camping with my family, most often near some stretch of serene river.

The feeling of being connected and yet all alone is still with me today, and rivers have become one of my favorite photographic challenges as well.

I have spent much of the last 25 years bouncing back and forth between Dallas and San Antonio, Texas, personally, professionally and musically. In my travels I try to avoid the mind numbing Interstate experience in favor of Texas Highway 281 and the towns and scenes along that path. Recently I took these shots of the Pedernales and Blanco rivers in the Texas Hill Country, compiling a collection of images for a video to the song The Flood by Trace Relations.

Pedernales River, LBJ Ranch, Texas

New track added! “Tell Me What’s the Reason” by Trace Relations with special guest, Dallas’ blues maestro Hash Brown Calway.

This Youtube playlist streams four music videos from the debut release “Prosperity Street” from Trace Relations Band. A smokin’ Dallas based rhythm section combines with soulful guitar from San Antonio, ending up in Texas Blues, and Americana groove territory. Vocalist Tracy Ready funnels 20+ years of bouncing between these two iconic Texas cities, personally and musically into an eclectic debut release, guaranteed to improve your mood.

Click “play” arrow here to see all 4 videos, back to back, with a :10 second introduction. Read more…

Predictions are novelties but “actions speak louder than words”. The only question about the future that any of us can actually answer is “What will I do?”

Long Live George Jetson
When I was a kid, I loved The Jetsons cartoon. Watching George flying to work, dropping off daughter Judy, Boy Elroy and Jane his wife, then arriving to have his personal air-car “transform” to his briefcase fascinated me. The whole show was a prediction of the future but the characters were just like people in my everyday life.

Live to See it Happen
I have seen much of the technology portrayed in The Jetsons come to pass. Watching this show fueled my own dreams of the future. That was a good thing for me and for that I know that watching cartoons was NOT a waste of time! Most of all, it was FUN.

Any prediction of what will happen in the future is really just a folly, a bit of fun for the mind, doesn’t mean much in “the big picture”.

Resolutions Stink
Big, broad-stroke resolutions don’t work well. If you say you will lose fifty pounds but on this day your diet consists of pizza, burgers and beer with no exercise, you are likely setting yourself up for failure. If you however say “I will change my diet in the next month and start a daily exercise routine, you are much more likely to succeed.

Ask “What will I do?” Read more…