I HAVE a 9am online session with a guitar student then it’s straight into a local energy club meeting – a sub group with some of my fellow hydro society directors and others.
There’s some time to make up set lists for the album launch shows and run through some of the songs I haven’t played since recording the album
Another online session with Help Musicians then a late lunch.
I get a few admin things out the way then, at last, get out for a paddle. It’s the first suitable day weather-wise in ages and I kill a few birds with one stone by doing some livestreams to punt the upcoming shows.
It’s dark when I get back to shore then I get some of the gear sorted for an early start tomorrow before Betty arrives for dinner.
Good to see my pal Neil for a wee bit guitar action….
UP EARLY to meet someone who has a problem with their MacBook and is dropping it off.
Thankfully I find a way to access and back up all her data and work out the problem. It’s a hardware issue and she can either use some of the workarounds I suggest or take it for repair.
I have a Zoom session to record an interview with a radio DJ in Lincoln then I get into the office and sort some merch for this week’s gigs.
Our pal Neil arrives with his dog Sonny…he’s meeting another pal in the village for lunch then coming to collect some merch and have a wee guitar session.
We have a grand hour or so then Neil hits the road and I get back to some stuff in the studio before getting back onto merch prep in the office.
After dinner – roast cherry tomato pasta which I make too hot for Margaret…oops – I spend the rest of the night on promo for Thursday’s show in Aberdeen.
A new penguin ‘sculpture’ – we’ll see if it’ll work in real life!
THE kids have us up early…but not as early as it mighta been!
After breakfast I get busy with some stuff in the office then we take the kids to feed the ducks. Margaret and the kids go to see Betty and take a walk up the lochside
Catriona and Will come to pick up the kids early afternoon then I have a video session with a new guitar student from Germany.
In the office I start a batch of black and gold guitar earrings for the merch table. Folks were fighting over them in France!
After dinner I mess with the 3D modeling app ion the iPad to come up with a better penguin. I quite pleased with the shape now – if I get time tomorrow I’ll do a 3D print then see if it’ll cast…
WE MANAGE to get up at a reasonable time – Catriona’s bringing the kids over so she can have a night off to herself.
Meantime, I get busy with today’s number one priority – promo for the new album and launch gigs.
I get localized messages out for the gigs via Bandsintown then set about making a video to promote pre-sales of the vinyl and CD versions of the new album.
After a break for coffee when Catriona brings the kids I dot between the house, studio and office getting on top of all today’s tasks….
THE guy from the garage comes at 8am to pick up the car – he’s fixing the front parking sensors. We’ve had a good experience using a fairly local garage to do all our car stuff.
I arrange to go into the optician tomorrow to get the new lenses put in my specs then get on with local and region media stuff for the Darlington show on 13 November.
I’m in the office experimenting with ways to finish some Christmas items I’m conjuring up when Margaret calls me to say my afternoon guitar student and his mum have arrived at the studio. Doh! Totally forgot.
After the lesson it’s dark and raining so any hopes of a walk are dashed. Instead I work out some merch postage rates before trying out a new recipe for dinner…pork tenderloin with a maple syrup, balsamic vinegar, chilli and mustard sauce. Turns out weird but good!
My first metal penguin…still a bit rough but a good starter
AFTER my first Zoom guitar student I work on some guitar stuff and created some new patches on the Quad Cortex.
Another online session then I get my gear ready for the school this afternoon.
I pack some stuff and print labels to drop off at the post office in Balloch later on then hit the road.
When I get home I spend some time trying to finish my wee metal penguin. It’s not bad, but not quite right and a little rough. It’ll do for a starter tho’.
We wander along to Betty’s for dinner. Her pal Liz is staying a few days and we have a fun night of grub, wine and laughs.
I rationalise my online shop to, hopefully, reduce ‘option paralysis’
WE BOTH sleep through the alarms. So much so that before we’ve had breakfast Betty pops in for a coffee!
My main job is to get vinyl and CD versions of the new album on sale…along with the new shirts and hoodies. I also decide to rationalise the online store – there’s so much in there that I think folks might get ‘option paralysis’ and this might help focus visitors’ attention.
A message from the embroiderer in the village lets me know some additional Ts and hoodies are ready for pickup. I also need to get a prescription so get Margaret to drive me to the village, pick everything up then I walk back.
I’d already made the physical copies of Still Friends available to my Wildcats’ group on Facebook in advance of the ‘official’ release date – ie: when it drops for streaming/download on Spotify, Apple Music etc – of 7 November.
Now I wanna make it available to folks on my email list before a more general ‘pre-release’ campaign so I get an eNewsletter out to my list,
My evening guitar student arrives early and we have a good session…then it’s dinner before tackling some of the vinyl and CD orders that have come in as a result of my email out.
I take some merch pix for the online store and promo…and a couple of other fun ones while I’m at it.
EARLY bread-making and while it’s cooling I get some admin and stuff out the way.
After breakfast – fresh sourdough toast with mashed avocado – I hit the studio for an online guitar session,
Once I’m done I set up and take some pix of the new vinyl, CD, Ts and hoodies ready for the online store and other promo.
After lunch I take some time out and work on a Christmas idea for Love Balmaha. If it works I’ll maybe do some ‘Dave Arcari’ versions and some custom options for West Highland Way Gifts,
I manage to get a little finishing work done on my penguin project – don’t ask – before my late afternoon guitar student arrives.
Back in the studio I edit some video to spin into this evening’s Wildcats’ livestream on Facebook and get some other prep done before go-live…
