Gems&Jams reached 2 milestones recently.
‘The End Justifies the Meanness’ was one of the most-read blogs ever on G&Js, with over 400 hits and still counting.
Last week’s blog, ‘Passing Thoughts on Passing’, set a new high for percentage of subscribers who opened their email, 83%. Average open rate is around 75%, so that’s a good number.
Thanks for reading.
I’m giving all new paid subscribers free downloads of my recorded music, so if you can afford a few shekels, I’d appreciate it. You might want to go month-to-month, considering…things.
Lots happening these days. Too bad I can’t be ‘present’ for it.
After winning a bazillion film festivals, I decided to hire a publicist. I don’t really have the money, and some might argue money could be better spent, considering…things. But I’m on a little bit of a crusade with Band Boy. I think it’s really unique (as opposed to the many fakely unique movies), funny, meaningful, and, most importantly, salable (not soluble)(although I haven’t tried).
My publicist agrees that it has ‘cult’ movie (or series) possibilities, and she thinks it’ll land somewhere, which is more than you can say for Pan Am 103 (too soon?). The Hindenburg? There, is that better??
So, anyway, that’s exciting.
‘My’ band, The Sirens (I’m only music director) is creating something of a buzz, and all they’ve done so far is rehearse (sporadically), and record two songs. But it’s nice to see such enthusiasm amongst the otherwise-blase public for a new project. Gigs will start happening this summer, and they should be ready, even if I’m not, considering…things.
Some other stuff is happening, or about to.
Which brings me to my dilemma. As I wrote about recently, I’m used to living, working and striving for future results. As is everyone. Things that can happen immediately don’t require lots of work or planning. Sure, it’s work to, say, cook a meal, but it’s not like you’ll have to wait months/years to eat it. You follow a recipe, and chances are it’ll taste pretty good. Same thing with life. Go to school, follow orders, and you should be ok. Sure, it’s work, and sometimes it sucks, but you had many years to think about what you wanted, and decided to do. Some people start out in one direction, then change paths. It’s all geared toward future results. The paycheck just keeps you alive until…the future. If you enjoy it, that’s gravy (or sauce, depending on where in Italy/Brooklyn you grew up).
But what happens when you get a death sentence? Suddenly, there’s no future. What is there to motivate you? You lived your life, it was what it was, and it’s almost over. No going back, no going forward. Hmmmmmmm.
If you know the exact date of your demise, you could plan stuff. Especially if you’re still healthy. The edict comes down: ‘YOU WILL BE HIT BY A TRUCK ON DECEMBER 19th’. Ok, fair enough. You have a future, albeit a short one. You’re not handicapped by illness, so you could climb Everest if you’d like. In fact, I’d stay there at the summit…no truck could get up there (maybe God meant a ‘figurative’ truck, or maybe you’ll freeze to death, because on December 19th, the last place you want to be is on top of a mountain, and as they rescue you and rush you to the hospital, your ambulance is - hit by a truck! See, God knew.)
But alas, when one has the ‘chinese water torture’ type disease I’ve been blessed with, one has no such options, and no sense of what or when the future is.
You know that Broadway guy who wrote ‘Rent’? Died before it was a hit. Tick, Tick….Boom! Legacy, schmegacy.
So while I’m excited that Band Boy is being seen, and The Sirens are performing my songs, it’d be nice if it could all happen - tomorrow. Or at least in the next few weeks. Beyond that, I can’t be sure I’ll be there to soak it in, considering…things.
Being essentially house-bound has its advantages though. Unlikely a truck will go out of control on my little cul-de-sac.
Not that it matters…I was already hit by a figurative one.
Give a listen…I like it!
❤️
Substack says that the average open rate is 31% so your rate is amazing!