News.

01.25.12 : The Science Experiment

Sometimes it’s hard to tell if something is working or not. With things like computers and cars, it’s quite obvious when something is broken, and it’s quite obvious whether or not what you’re doing to make it work is, in fact, working. But when it comes to something as subjective as writing and recording your own music and touring to make a living, it can be very difficult to figure out whether or not what you’re doing to make it work is, in fact, working.

A tour can be successful because you’ve managed to book a show for every date and have no days off. A tour can be successful because you have a couch to sleep on for free every night, and you never have to pay for food. A tour can be successful because you brought ticket-buying friends and fans out to the show in every city. A tour can be successful because you met some great bands who share your values and want to play shows again with you in the future. A tour can be successful because you left a good impression on the promoter and venue staff at every show. A tour can be successful because you made enough money each night to pay for gas and expenses, and managed to come home with a little bit of money in your pocket. A tour can be successful because you put on the best show you possibly could, every night, and your music affected people and earned new fans in every city. A tour can be successful because you are reminded each night of why you love to play music, why you feel the need to share your music with other people, and why you are okay with the sacrifices you have made in order to live your life in a way that allows you to do so. Ideally, your tour will achieve all of these things.

When I go on tour, I’m constantly trying to determine if what the tour is offering at each show is worth the time, energy, and money that ticket-buyers, promoters, venues, and other bands have put into making that show happen. I ask everyone what they think about the show, the bands on the bill, the venue, ticket price, promotion, and performances. I somehow combine everyone’s feedback with my own thoughts and feelings about the show, and then I check that against the excel grid I have on my computer with a running total of expenses vs. revenue. It’s like one big science experiment.

I can’t say that I know for sure whether or not what I’m doing to make G,NA work is, in fact, working. And I won’t know in what way(s) the tour was successful until I get back home. But so far, according to my scientific calculations, I can honestly say that this tour with Dinner And A Suit offers more value than any tour I’ve done so far as Gardening, Not Architecture. I’m proud of the tour as a whole, from the quality of music and performance to the quality of the human beings who are on the tour. The bands, promoters and venues have all been amazing to work with, and the people who have come out to support us are proof that something in what we are doing must be good — because only something good could attract such high-quality individuals.

Thank you to Richmond: The Camel, Breton, Nathan, Tribe Of Soul, Emma, Brett, James, Jason, and all our new friends there.

Thank you to Baltimore: Ottobar, Craig, Cindy, Rob, MusicBox Productions, Boy In The Well,  Survival Society, The Baby Grand, Ben, and all our new friends there.

Thank you to the Beretta family.

Thank you to Rockville Centre: The Vibe Lounge, Anthony, Dan, Travis, Sean, Club Loaded, Signal For Pilot, Family Lumber, Liars Etc, Giovanni, and all our new friends there.

Thank you to Alex Mohler.

And of course, thank you to Adam Kreeft of Kreeft Booking.

All of you have helped us get to Danbury, CT, today with gas in the tank and food in our bellies, and the feeling that there is a good reason for us to be doing what we’re doing!

Love,
Sarah