The Gospel Truth

Elephants And Mosquitoes

I had breakfast with the manager of one of the regional groups I mentor. This is standard practice for me, kind of like a tune-up. I like it because I get to help the groups stay on track, and the groups appreciate it because it encourages them to keep on “keepin’ on.”

The conversation led to the discussion of another group in the area that was having a difficult time funding a recording project because their bus had cost them so much in repairs, and this manager asked if I would call the group to try and get them on track.

He said, “Nick, the things you teach us are exactly in line with what I learned from my years at the corporate level of several major manufacturing companies, which is probably the reason we’re growing during a bad economy...but this group can’t make a recording because they’re chasing elephants.”

He went on to explain about the time he attended a corporate motivational meeting. The speaker said, “Everyone who has been bitten by an elephant, raise your hands.” Of course no one raised his or her hands.

Then he asked, “Everyone who has been bitten by a mosquito raise your hands.” Now everyone raised his or her hands.

You see it’s the mosquitoes that will bite you… the little things. Don’t worry about the elephants…worry about the mosquitoes.

There are too many of you concentrating on:

Getting a bus, sending a song to radio, getting on the charts, working for the big promoters, getting on stage at NQC, getting in the Singing News, and getting your name out there. These are elephants.

You should be concentrating on:

Learning music, rehearsing, blending, putting a program together, stage etiquette and presence, getting bookings and keeping your date book full, finances (operating on the net, getting the money, budgeting, royalties), operating a sound system, management, marketing, recording, and promoting your group. These are mosquitoes.

The reason many of are failing is because you are worried about the elephants, but the mosquitoes are biting you.

It’s human nature to want to run before you walk. We all want to succeed. I find no fault in that. It’s the way we are made. However, there is a path to success and this life in SGM is not a Monopoly board where you can draw a card and pass Go and collect your two hundred dollars. It’s hard work and therein lays the problem. We all want instant gratification…we all want a big shiny bus, and want to travel around the country, and sing at NQC, and have lots of adoring fans…BUT…NOBODY WANTS TO WORK!!!!

It is truly amazing! There you are being eaten alive by mosquitoes and all you can think of is getting a bus. I called the group mentioned earlier and they are coming to have a meeting, and the first thing I plan to do is give them a copy of my original poem,

“MANY A GROUP HAS BITTEN THE DUST, SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY BOUGHT A BUS!”

And that’s just one example. Many of you are sending songs to radio but you haven’t yet learned to sing, or blend, or harmonize, and your poorly produced recordings only serve to amplify that fact.

You’re goal is to get on stage at NQC but you still haven’t learned what to do if you did get on stage.

You are trying to get on the charts but have little reason to be there because you haven’t a clue about marketing, don’t travel far enough for the charts to be a benefit, and most importantly, don’t have CDs that are good enough to sell at any retail store, which is one of the primary reasons to be on the charts in the first place.

There is no denying that “Uncle Nick” is telling you the truth here, yet there are many of you who simply will not believe that it is you I’m speaking to. Sadly, you will keep on the same path, guided by your foolish pride, completely disregarding the mosquitoes, always wondering, always questioning, why aren’t we getting ahead?

I can’t do anything about that. I can’t make you listen. All I can do is lay it out there and rejoice in the ones that I get to work with. I love when a group comes in and we spend the day swatting mosquitoes.

As always, I welcome your comments.

God Bless You,

Nick Bruno
http://www.nickbruno.com