"I don't know how you do it"
This is a comment we hear often. It arises in conversations about music as a full time lifestyle and the question comes when people stop to think about the hours, days that we have to operate and the travel involved. There is many a late night for us followed perhaps with an early start then often, followed with a long day of travel to get to the next gig.
How do we do it? It's a relevant question and understandable that it gets asked.
So, here's the thing...it's not difficult!
Firstly, a late night playing music for a cool bunch of people never feels like hard work or for that matter, work at all. We get to share a little slice of different peoples lives each night in the form of celebration. It is something we consider an honour and a treat. Something that we love. There is an incredible energy that an audience generates with dance, laughter and singing that is something infectious and addictive. Up comes the adrenaline and away goes the tired. Simple! Sure, sometimes we can be a little tired if it's our fifth night running and we've just traveled another six hours to get to the next gig but when that crowd energy begins, we are swept away and the night disappears in fun.
Travel around Aotearoa is also not a chore, it's a privelege. Look at this beautiful home of ours. Our roads are generally quiet, the people relaxed and friendly and the scenery is something to behold no matter where you are. We are never far from an ocean, a lake or a space where you can be away from people for a little solitude should you choose. Every road trip we see stunning places, meet fantastic new friends and get to know our wonderful country that little bit better. So a six hour drive is not that, it's a six hour adventure with amazing sights and some cool new friends to meet at the other end.
Take a moment yourselves, look around for the next stunning location, the next friendly new face to meet or friend to make. Or just stop, take in that beautiful, quiet moment in a gorgeous place with no-one around. We are privileged to do this every week but in actual fact, we all are. In New Zealand it is never very far away...
