Getting old sucks!!!

Getting older is really starting to suck. I can take the hair loss and the sometimes confusion of what I was about to say. However, my body seems to be telling me that something better change or else. It’s taking longer to recover from a night of drinking. Starting to get tired around mid afternoon and a bunch of other things that I’ll leave private for now.

While at the shore this past August I had a picture taken in the ocean that really struck a chord. What was once a well symmetric fit body is now just a blob. I have been watching what I eat and trying to get a regular diet that does not include Burger King, Wawa and the other junk food places I travel by during the day job. A few pounds were shed but now I’m stuck. So I thought it was time to once again get back to pumping the iron. Got the Olympic weight set and a kick ass Smith Machine that can do everything except give me a blowjob. Well the day after my first session I didn’t even think I could walk. Even turning the steering wheel was more than my chest muscles could endure. WTF!!!! They used to say no pain, no gain. In the younger days of going to the gym, I would agree. However after breaking the 40 year old mark, I would say that is now bullshit!!! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not being a puss. I know a few more weeks and everything should be ok. I’m just amazed at no matter how young you think you are, the reality of how old you really are, creeps up fast.

This is a time of year that I like to scout bands for future shows with HBGOnline. I get so many emails from bands wanting to be involved, however unless I see them, I don’t book them. Of course there are few exceptions. There are only a handful of people (Jersey Mike, Single Girl, Frank Phobia and Brian Keys) that I value their opinions of who is good and who should be a pass. I’ve always stuck to this principle for one main reason. I always believed if you book a show you should know first hand about the quality of the band. I can’t tell you how many times I went to a venue and saw a shitty band. When asking the venue owner, why the fuck did you book these guys. They usually responded with “Their demo sounded good” or “They were cheap” or “So and so said they were good”. When I have my name attached to a show that I book, it will be a quality event. Because god forbid if you want to be known as “the guy that books shitty bands” in this small town. So if you want to be involved send me an invite to a show or two at jimo@hbgonline.com . I should mention that I when I have my kids every other weekend, I don’t go out, so don’t be offended if it takes a few invites for me to see you.

This year the MMC is moving back to the winter. This is one move I’m looking forward to for two reasons. One, being in the wintertime the bands playing downtown will not have the advantage of the weather and a place being packed no matter what. Bands will have to promote more to get people to their showcases. Two, it’s during the winter. What else is there to do in February? Most people are suffering from cabin fever and are looking for something different to break out of the winter doldrums. Plus during the wintertime most bands aren't really playing out as much as the summertime. So I’m guessing more local bands will be available for the showcases. I really hope more local bands take the opportunity to participate in the MMC conference. The networking alone is worth the time and effort. Every year as the MMC draws near, the Message Board fires up with all sorts of comments, usually negative, about the conference. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Like everything in life you’ll get out of it, what you put into it. Every year I discover new bands and obtain new contacts from the MMC. The MMC is now taking band submissions. Click here for the info.

I mentioned before that some people thought it would be easy to cheat for the 2006 Central PA Music Awards. Even after I caught them and sent emails saying I caught them, they still did it. Well my new tactic was to reply back that if they continued to cheat, I would pull the band from the nominations and forward the email addresses of those responsible for the deletion to the band. Guess what? It worked!!!! Haven’t had one cheater all of last week. This is the 3rd week of voting and no one is breaking away from the pack in any category. All categories are still pretty tight and anyone could win. I would mention that we have a knock off of our awards going around on My Space. I have noticed that the bands that try to promote both, aren’t doing as well, as the bands that just promote our awards. Just thought I’d pass that little info out there.

Finally, my computer is getting ready to take a dump. Something is fucked up with my operating system, I think. Lost using my video capture program a few weeks ago, now Photoshop is the latest to fail. So I’m guessing everything will crash before to long. So pardon the lack of updates until I get this problem fixed.

Well that’s more than enough for now. Don’t forget, if you go out for a night on the town, be sure to check out a live band. They will appreciate your support!!!!

Lator Gators!!!!
BigJim