Insight
How Hard Can It Be?
I realized that on October 2, I forgot to write an article and submit it for the FANTASTIC October issue (and I hope that you’ve all read the articles and gotten some new tips, tricks, inspiration, etc..). I figured an explanation was in order as to my absence, and it’s the day job. As of July 1, I stepped into the job of Asst Manager of Marketing and Social Media at GHS Strings and Rocktron.
Aside from giggling at the opportunity I’m afforded every day by talking gear with fellow musicians, making demos of strings, and representing GHS on forums, it really was a long term plan that was set in motion by taking a chance. And I bring this up in an effort for anyone reading to realize that every little action WILL have benefits/consequences, and it’s how we handle those that will set the next step in motion.
When I say this started a long time ago, I mean a LONG time. Prior to writing for BMM, I would talk and share my experience and knowledge on many a forum and even a BBS back in the day (and I’m probably dating myself then). When the “Age of the Blogger” came about, I jumped on the bandwagon, figuring that if I could share my knowledge on forums, writing it and keeping it for posterity on a blog would be easier. It wasn’t. Writing for a blog takes a considerable amount of time and planning to find current & relevant subject matter, let alone write it in a way to keep it fun and engaging. Because while I enjoy reading a very techie article about string tension (and as an aside, I’ve spent three months working on GHS’ bass string tension charts), it doesn’t make for good casual reading.
Believe it or not, but people read my blog posts, commented on occasion and even shared it online through various social media channels. And when I saw a chance to send in an article for consideration on a very cool bass-centric online magazine, I figured this was a natural progression from my regular blogging and took that chance. But it didn’t stop there.
While reading about music gear is cool, watching a YouTube video about the same piece of gear is even better. The problem that I ran into multiple times was that the demos I was watching were lacking; bad audio, bad video, the demo focusing more on the player than the gear, etc.. It was another issue that I thought I could easily remedy, because I had ideas and a video camera. Again, it took a lot of trial and error, listening to people giving constructive and destructive criticism on forums, adapting and evolving. However, 2013 gave me some tremendous opportunities to provide video content for the likes of Dr. Scientist, Pigtronix, and Creation Audio.
Fast forward to March of 2013; I’m sitting in a Mexican restaurant with Chris, the Artist Rep at GHS Strings and a taco connoisseur. While talking about work and how things were going, he mentioned they were looking for a new social media guy. I jumped at it for a number of reasons, but the driving force was “I do the Twitter with my personal account, so how hard can it be?” An interview and a couple phone conversations later, and here we are.
So, what’s the underlying theme? Taking that chance. Figuring that since it can’t be that hard from what you’re already doing, giving it a shot is something anyone can do. This entire journey was not without its bumps and bruises (and trust me, the first time you deal with an angry customer online is a biiiiiig bump), but the rewards far outweigh anything else. I encourage you, whether it’s in your musical endeavors or in any aspect of your life, when there comes an opportunity that you’re not sure of, take that chance and ask yourself “How hard can it be?”
And then figure out how to make it happen.
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By Daniel Barrera, M.Ed., C.A.R.T., LPC A
Licensed Professional Counselor Associate in Texas, helping musicians and creatives thrive.
Relationships can be wonderful. They can also be a complete nightmare. Most of the time when we talk about relationships, we’re talking about other people. Romantic partners. Friends. Family members. Co-workers, Bandmates, etc.
Of course, musicians understand this idea better than most. Anyone who has spent years with an instrument knows that people don’t just play music. Over time, they develop a relationship with it. But over the years, I’ve started to notice something interesting. Human beings form relationships with all sorts of things…not just people.
That realization really hit home for me during a counseling session several years ago. At the time, I had been working with a client who came into counseling with the usual emotional aches and pains that bring people through a therapist’s door. Their intake paperwork mentioned depression, anxiety, grief…the kinds of struggles that many of us wrestle with at different points in life.
Over the course of several sessions, things began to improve. The client became more hopeful and confident. Life didn’t feel quite as heavy as it had when we first started meeting. One afternoon, I was reviewing their initial intake paperwork to make sure we had covered everything they had originally wanted to address.
That’s when I noticed something we hadn’t really talked about yet.
Buried among the other concerns was a short note saying they wanted to quit smoking. Now, anyone who has ever tried to quit smoking knows that it’s rarely as simple as just deciding to stop. People mean it when they say they want to quit. But then stress shows up, old habits creep back in, and suddenly they’re lighting another cigarette while wondering how they ended up right back where they started.
At our next session, I mentioned the note from their intake form. The moment I brought up smoking, the look on the client’s face told me I had just stepped onto sensitive ground. In my work, I’ve seen people in some very vulnerable moments, but this reaction made me pause for a second. For a moment, I wondered if I had just opened a door they weren’t ready to walk through. Thankfully, they didn’t get up and leave.
After taking a moment to gather themselves, the client admitted that smoking had been a serious struggle in their life. So, I did what therapists often do in moments like that. I let the silence sit there for a bit. Sometimes silence gives people just enough room to decide whether they want to keep the door closed…or start opening it.
After a few moments, I simply said, “Tell me more.”
I could see the client’s facial expressions change and the subtle shifts in their voice as certain memories surfaced. Some moments sounded lighter. Others carried more weight. At one point, I found myself saying something almost instinctively, “It’s all related,” and in many ways it was.
As the conversation continued, the client started describing the culture surrounding smoking. They talked about cigarettes, lighters, the rituals that came with it, and the strange mix of feelings they had about quitting. They recounted times they had quit for several months, only to find themselves starting up again, much to their shame. They even spoke about the unique differences between cigarettes and vaping, and why they preferred one over the other, even while knowing both were harmful. I was fascinated, but I also found myself feeling sad as they shared the suffering they had experienced as a smoker. My client was now in their late twenties, and the rapid approach of their 30th birthday felt significant to them.
Then I asked them to go back to the beginning. Not the moment when smoking became a problem. But the moment when it started. Or maybe more accurately…the moment when they first discovered cigarettes. The client paused for a moment. They then said, “Well, I first met cigarettes when I was eight years old.” That caught my attention immediately. I remember noticing and making a mental note when they used that word.
“Met.”
That word stayed with me.
At first, it caught me by surprise. Then curiosity kicked in. A moment later, I found myself quietly smiling because the idea was so obvious once I heard it framed that way. It was one of those strange moments where a lightbulb turns on and you realize what it’s illuminating had been there all along, hiding in plain sight. As I kept listening, what I realized in that moment was that I wasn’t simply hearing the story of a “bad habit”. I was hearing the story of a relationship…and every relationship has a beginning.
And that’s where we’ll pick up the story next time.
After The Last Note
Music and creativity have always had a way of opening doors to perspectives or parts of life we did not even realize were closed. If a song, piece of music, performance, or experience has ever made you pause, reflect, question something, or see your life or personal or band relationships more clearly, I would love to hear about it.
I am always open to reader questions, topic ideas, or even specific songs you would like to see explored from a mental health perspective, especially where music, creativity, and everyday life intersect. You can send your thoughts, experiences, or questions to: Letsconnect@nlsccc.com
About the Author
Daniel Barrera, M.Ed., C.A.R.T., LPC Associate, is a licensed professional counselor associate in Texas who also spent many years immersed in the creative world as a bass player, graphic designer, copywriter, and voice-over artist. His counseling work lives at the intersection of creativity and mental health, informed by lived experience on both sides of the stage.
Since 2012, he has worked with musicians, artists, writers, and other creatives to help them navigate the emotional realities that often accompany a creative life. His writing reflects a deep respect for the artistic process and the inner struggles that shape it.
Learn more at www.nlsccc.com
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