Thursday, April 28, 2011

Great Time with Tim DeLaughter, Polyphonic Spree

2nd TUESDAY PROGRAM WITH TIM DELAUGHTER, LEADER OF POLYPHONIC SPREE AND TRIPPING DAISYS

Hope your night was as gratifying as mine. Tim was like a Nikon camera. He opened his f-stop and let light flood in. I feel like he sucked the room into his lens and took us on a mysterious, complicated tour of creativity.

Did he mention college? Maybe I missed it. I know he had an early love for music. Tim is of the moment, whether he's creating a song, singing or telling. The demo song he shared bears this out. There was a switch on his recorder that sped up the song. 'Wonder what it would sound like. Nice. I'll keep it,' and he moves onto the next moment. He's a fluid guy who doesn't ask why. He takes in light until the shutter goes off. You get the picture?

The world is a wonderful place, because we're different. Some are thinkers, some are feelers, some are knowers, and some make salad. Tim told us almost nothing of what he knows, but that doesn't mean he doesn't know. He had no rules, no short cuts, no can't misses. He seemed to have no ego. The brief story of his life was filled with groups of people making music.

LESSONS FROM TIM:
o Don't force the moment
o Be open to suggestions
o Think and live in the moment (Light, shutter, picture. Light, shutter, picture.)
o Free, creative people need help. It's good to have a detail person (Mrs. Tim) listening in and helping out.
o Get a recorder
o Surround yourself with people who can make music
o There is no right plan or master rule
o Let others contribute
o You can make money from tangible things. (Vinyl is good!)
o Digital music is a free spirit's quandary
o Own your publishing
o Make the most of your moment (SXSW, first open mic)
o Less can be more. Leave them wanting more.

The one topic on which Tim broke form was money. He was delighted in the growth in vinyl sales because he can sell vinyl. Digital technology is like keeping music in Pandora's box. Once the song is out, it can go anywhere, and the musician/music industry loses control.

I didn't really know Polyphonic Spree or Tripping Daisy until I researched them before meeting Tim. I heard a lot of positive songs. They are rare and wonderful gifts. Here's one from Tim: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GewbAuTgu5g

What a great night. Wonderful turn out. Thanks especially to Donna and Mary for their efforts to get Tim on board and to get the word out to membership. It was a great RSVP event, and we had to find more chairs.

Of course, some might say the highlight was the 11 songs we critiqued. Roger and Tim did a fine job as panelists, and we made it through them all, and they were high-scoring songs! I love being able to ask a speaker like Tim to sit on our critique panel, because I know we're going to knock his head back. Like a jab in the forehead, the talent this group shows month after month gets the attention of proven, talented musicians like Tim, or Tom, or David, or Randy....

We can learn from Tim, but even more, we can learn from each other. Come to the 3rd Monday Song Swap. Take some knowledge. Share some knowledge. But after hearing Tim, 'knowledge' isn't the word I'm seeking.

This is better: Come to Song Swap. Open your f-stop and let light flood in. Oh, the pictures you'll make.

Buck
DSA prez

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