Real Sustainability

When I’m pedaling I get to thinkin’. Yesterday I was thinking about sustainability, particularly how it relates to musicians. Not necessarily a touring musician or a recording artist. Just a plain old “I-love-to-play-tunes-and-write-songs” musician. And it occurred to me that the most sustainable thing I could be doing is hangin’ around my home, drinking a local brew and picking tunes with some friends. No stage, so sound system, no tour bus, none of the crazy business stuff… just some whole-grain, social music.

So, why all this fiasco with the bicycles and community based shows and all this talk about “ditching the van?” I guess because, on a business level, I’m a frustrated touring musician. Not frustrated with the road. I love performing and meeting other folks and passing around stories. More specifically, I’m frustrated with all the sensational chores and extra-human acts we try to accomplish as professionals that have little to do with being a musician. And the fact that all these tasks, the “ropes” that we learn, consume SO much energy.

I’ve reckoned with myself that, between the shows and the audience getting to the shows, there is nothing “green” or sustainable about being a touring musician. But I can be conscious. I can slow down a little, enjoy the music I’m making with other musicians, and try to be a little more involved in the communities that support my work.

On this level, I can’t expect all the arms of my business (management, booking, publicity, etc…) to draw as much sustenance as I do touring by bike. But I do hope one day, that touring by bicycle will not diminish the over all value of a music tour, but rather be considered equal to or greater than traveling by any other means in the eyes of the industry.