ION INDIE MAGAZINE April 2015, Volume 11 | Page 88

I would like to take this opportunity in my column this month to encourage Independent musicians to explore
booking themselves into "alternative" venues. Not that I discourage anyone from playing in nightclubs or
bars, I did that for 35 years and still do just for fun. But I stumbled upon a huge untapped market last
summer with my former band, which I plan on capitalizing on this year. Block Parties have been around as
long as there have been neighborhoods full of people who get along and love to dance and drink. I did one
in Akron where the corner convenience store hosted the event, blocked off the streets on either end, and
hired the best BBQ man in the area to bring the giant oil drum BBQ cookers and grill away. 2,000 people
showed up and danced, ate, drank--and really listened to us. It was a fantastic experience!
Another route I have discovered is art galleries. I have kind of an ”in” already since I know everyone on the
scene, but I got invited to play at two local galleries recently. Depending upon the venue, the kind of music
can be very diverse. It isn't all drawing room Bach cello music. The advent of social media has changed my
mind about being a snob about where I will play. You have no idea which crowd will embrace you and share
your webpage or download information with others. If you can benefit playing the local bowling alley that is
filled with fervent Metal fans, go. If you can get on the festival or seasonal circuit, do it. If the children's zoo
has a spot in front of the fish aquarium, take it. My friends who are doing well with this are EVERYWHERE. It
takes a relentless attitude, along with impeccably professional on and off stage conduct to make it in this
field. Explore all possibilities.
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DOWNTOWN TOMMY GUITAR LESSON OF THE MONTH: ALTERNATE PICKING
Hello Friends! This month I would like to expand on our last lesson about improvising with chromatic scales,
and introduce my lightning-quick alternate picking technique and practice drills with it. As a kid I was a
maniac guitar student, and I was fortunate to have a Musician's Institute, then called G.I.T., degreed
instructor to teach me. He was a student of YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, among other greats who passed through