UP EARLY to get the Monday morning sourdough in the oven.
I have a coffee and check emails and socials while it’s baking then jump in. The shower once the bread’s out the oven.
By the time I head to the studio for a Zoom session with a regular guitar student I’ve got a few routine things out the way.
My design for the brass guitar necklaces and pins needs work so I spend a few hours working on some ideas ready for prototyping over the next few days.
I’ve been managing to avoid the lurgy that Margaret had last week but it’s kinda starting to threaten. Hopefully it’ll stay in the background until after this weekend’s shows.
Aberdeen ticket sales could do with a bit of a boost. Hopefully some targeted posing and stuff will help.
It’s not a very nice day but I badly need some exercise and fresh air and head for a walk up the lochside.
AFTER breakfast I finish off engraving a batch of signature bottlenecks to ensure I have some on the merch table at Friday and Saturday’s shows.
I also make up a couple of insulated cups.
There’s various bit and bobs to get done in the studio then we jump in the car to Stirling to pickle up some shopping and go to see the Bob Dylan film, A Complete Unknown.
The film is good. Not remarkable, but pretty good. I’m particularly impressed with the quality of all the actors.
My third attempt at the outstanding brass coin for one of the workshop participants turns out good so I set about finishing and polishing.
I take the car to the studio and unload the PA, guitars and other workshop stuff then try and tidy the studio a little. It’s still a mess but at least I can get some work done in there.
We have a video message to make for a pal in the ’States and get that done…then back to the house to prepare to night’s chicken enchiladas. Betty’s coming for dinner.
UP early to get some brass coins finished for the folks on the guitar workshop…then I get down to the workshop space.
We have a fairly informal morning of sessions looking at songwriting, making up guitar parts/riffs/arrangements and amplifying/performing with the guitar.
All goes to plan and I think everyone has really enjoyed it.
Geoff and Roger are staying an extra night as they have a long drive down south and really need a whole day to travel. Before they leave the workshop space, though, Geoff presents me with a guitar he’s specially put together for me. I’m knocked out!
It’s a fantastic telecaster (my favorite!) styled electric that’s been distressed and styled meticulously.
I nip home for a while then take the car back to get everything cleared out the workshop space, go back home and have a sleep. I’m worn out.
Mikey drops by on his way back to Dundee to pick some stuff then I make some fresh pasta and prepare some Italian sausage sumo for later.
I go down to the pub to join Geoff and Roger for a drink then back home to make dinner and then….bed.
After the workshop I’m humbled to be gifted this guitar from Geoff…
UP early to get a load of stuff done before we head down to the space for the first full day of the guitar workshop.
Everything’s ready for the first session and everyone is there in good time for the start.
It’s a fairly intensive day of group and individual sessions and everyone seems to enjoy it.
We break for dinner and I go back to the house finish some stuff for tomorrow then set up a PA in the venue’s back conservatory for a session. It’s not compulsory for folks to play or perform – those that do enjoy…and those that don’t enjoy listening 🙂
AFTER an early Zoom session with one of my students my in-person student arrives.
Once we’re done we take some stuff down to the space we’re suing for the guitar workshop then I head off for a session with the kids at school in Balloch.
Back home I get a batch of signature bottlenecks engraved in case anyone needs ‘em over the next few days.
Workshop participants are convening at 6pm for a welcome session supported by Smokehead…and they get their goodie bags with a cable form the Music Cable Company, strings from Newtone, an insulated, personalized ‘workshop’ cup from yours truly and an itinerary.
It’s a threat wee crowd and by the time we all go to dinner an hour or so later everyone’s already got to know each other 🙂
TODAY’S diary is all about prep for the guitar workshop.
The goodie bags have to be dye subbed (printed) and some of the content finished.
Indeed, the bags take a bit of time. I’ve been putting off doing them after a bit of a false start the other day which saw me completely waste one bag and make two up that I wasn’t happy with.
It was a learning experience and I solved some of the initial issues by heating up the bags before pressing.
There’s a secret item that all the participants will get on completion the workshop. Producing said items is very time consuming but I’m keen to make it happen and push through the process.
After a walk up the lochside I print out all my workshop materials and blank chord/tab sheets and neck diagrams.
Finally I make up an itinerary. I have a busy day tomorrow before folks start to arrive….
THERE’S a lot to strike off the to-do list before a mid-morning Zoom session with one of my guitar students.
After an early lunch we drive into Glasgow. I have an appointment with a consultant at the hospital about the nerve tumour on my left arm and expect to find out the results of the biopsy. Turns out to be benign, so a relief even though I hadn’t been too concerned.
We stop for some shopping then get home in time for me to do some prep for my weekly livestream into my Wildcats’ Facebook group.
The livestream goes smoothly then we have dinner and I spend some time in the office sorting stuff for this week’s residential guitar workshop.
I manage to get a little work done before Catriona and Will rock up with the kids.
After a nice family afternoon I spend some time in the studio sorting out all the custom tracking tags, Google analytics and Meta pixel stuff for the upcoming Kickstarter launch.
There’s a little time to mess with the guitar and see if a new song idea might have some legs.
