UP EARLY to get some media calls in before I go for a paddle with Fiona.

Margaret has Maggi and Julie coming up to chat through ideas for the local place plan..I hit the studio and call the BBC in Belfast to see if I can get onto any of their Friday night or Saturday morning shows to play a few songs and promote the Out to Lunch festival show (which is sold out, but still no harm one extra exposure!).

When Fiona and I head out onto the loch there’s a layer of cloud/mist/whatever. It’s eerie, but very cool…eventually we get through it and the sun breaks through.

It’s a beautiful day and water is pretty flat. Although we’d only planned an hour or so’s paddle it’s so nice we decide to carry open across the loch to Luss. I call Margaret to see if she’d come and get us and she’s happy to do so.

We have a couple of rest stops the let out feet come back to life. The second is on Inchconanchan where we wander ups he hill in the hope of spotting some wallabies but to no avail.

At Luss we leave our board on the beach and wander up to the shop and grab some lunch while we wait for Margaret.

Back home I wash down my board, have a shower then have a nap not he couch in front off the fire. A bit of. skive, but it’s worth it.

I get back onto my emails and have a message from the BBC suggesting a session and interview on Saturday morning. Success 🙂

It dawns on me that few musicians bother doing any press/media promo, especially if a show is already sold out…they don’t see the point. That amazes me – it’s not all about the fee…or getting folks through the door. Any newspaper, magazine, TV or radio stuff helps maintain raise profile in a. wider sense. And if there’s live playing involved – ie: radio or TV session – then there’s a good chance it’ll generate some income int he form of PRS royalties.

I know I’ve debated the role of traditional media recently and I stand by my views – BUT even if such exposure doesn’t have a direct or short-term benefit, it does provide content for socials, social proof and, as a good pal often says, at least “…dae sumthin’…”!