It's way too late to be writing but...

Just finished playing a "happy hour" about four hours ago.  If you want a shore atmosphere in your backyard, go to Cherry Hill, NJ to Top Dog.  The place is huge and has all kinds of weekly things to do like cornhole and beer pong tournaments.

I wish I could read an audience as easily as some others.  I know when people want us there and when they don't, and I'm pretty sure tonight was one of those where there was no energy, and there were distractions like the Eagles' game in the background.  We did get the chance to play there again, and we also got a gig in October for a birthday party, which is nice.

For the first time since I bought it in 2004, my Crate sounded good!  Our guitarist wasn't there, so we had a guitarist-by-committee approach where someone would play a few and then pass off the guitar.  We used my awful Crate, and it sounded pretty decent.  At least the sound carried, unlike when I was in "Code Mid-skey."  I was always completely buried by a wall of Marshall sound, and my amp wouldn't cut through anything.

I also used my new 1 1/2 C mouthpiece.  I bought two new mouthpieces because I needed something smaller that wouldn't swallow my face.  The 1 C made me really tired really quickly, and this 1 1/2 is a little brighter but has a nice warm sound when I need it.  It's gold-plated and pretty.

I'm going to buy a new guitar soon.  Hopefully, I'll be playing more guitar in MLA when a second guitar is appropriate.  Everything will come together piece by piece, and I will have an awesome rig set up for myself.

This weekend...two more weddings...then Ocean City for a few days.  I'm pretty excited.

On the road with MLA

Just played two weddings this weekend, and I gotta say I've seen some cool places so far.  My first wedding with Main Line Affair was two weeks ago in Hammonton, NJ right beside their river.  It was outside and kinda hot, but it went over ok.  The next wedding was in the Hotel Du Pont in Wilmington, DE.  That place is awesome!  We got great food...the theme was "Breakfast at Tiffany's," so there was a large brunch buffet.

Last night was a wedding in Doylestown at the Fonthill Museum, which looks like a castle with towers.  The crowd was very small, but the scenery was pretty cool.  It's a very old building; I'm assuming from the 1700s since this is a pretty historic place.  Tonight was a wedding in Center City at the Mutters Museum.  I didn't get to check out the actual museum section that has the oddities and medical freaks, but the rest of the place was very fancy.  The main party was held in a large ballroom where there were pictures all around of very important physicians back in the 1800s and 1900s.

There is also a lot of travel involved.  Doylestown was the closest place so far that I've played.  I performed for the first time in two new states the first weekend, and I've never traveled less than 30 minutes to get to any of them.  On October 10 (10-10-10), we're headed to New York City in Times Square to play the Harvard Club.  That's going to be such a cool trip.  I love NYC, and I don't have to drive.  It's gonna be a blast.

This gig is taking me down to Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and New Jersey, and all the way up to NYC.  Maybe we can even go farther and take a trip to Pittsburgh.  I know all the cool hangouts...

The band nicknamed me Buford.  I'm not sure why.  I don't...understand why they are calling me Buford...I thought my name was...A.J...  Those in the know will get that reference.

In other news, I'm really tired and about to pass out, so until next time...

Beginning of my career blog

I have been thinking about this for a few days.  Many people have blogs about their own lives, but I think they're typically boring unless they have a little something extra to offer.  My something extra is going to be charting my journey for the whole world to see, from inception to total launch.

I wasted soooo much time in Pittsburgh not capitalizing on opportunities that could've turned into serious professional engagements.  During school, I was referred, helped out, handed extra gigs, etc., and I spent way too much time worrying about what I was going to do with my friends that weekend.  After a year out of school and nothing to show for it, I decided that my new start would be my move to Philly.  Since that move four months ago, I've been working hard to develop a plan to build a reputation and, ultimately, a career.

To date, I have launched a website (which is pretty good for someone who knows nothing about html), bought fresh business cards reflecting my new info, and connected myself online via Twitter, Myspace Music, Facebook, and this blog.  I immediately got my feet wet performing with volunteer organizations like the Warminster Symphony Orchestra and a brass group from Fairless Hills called "A Wing and a Prayer."  I continued to commute across the state to Pittsburgh and play with my kickass band Panama Rock Machine.

I recently answered an ad on Craigslist for a band looking for a trumpeter.  I joined Main Line Affair in mid-July and played my first two weddings with them on August 6 and 7.  What I think made a huge impression on the band is that I can do more than just play trumpet.  They heard me sing some typical 80s tunes, and since they liked it, they wanted me to do some of those at their weddings.  I'm glad I get to act out my rock star fantasies for a few songs a performance.

I still have much work to do before I achieve my immediate goals of starting a teaching studio and performing more.  It would be nice to find a place to teach.  Some people aren't necessarily comfortable with a stranger (...only until they get to know me) coming into their homes.  That's a place to start, though.  Also, I need to make serious lesson plans and finalize my policy.  Finally, I need to advertise the hell out of it so people know I exist.  I can only do so much online; gotta talk to people.

My biggest question for myself (and you) right now is this:  I am a multi-instrumentalist and would like to perform/earn money playing trumpet and guitar and singing.  However, my goals for the next few months are to build a successful trumpet studio, eventually adding guitar students, and to perhaps start a brass quintet.  How should I market myself right now - as mainly a trumpeter or as a multi-instrumentalist that can "do it all?"

Here's to a great weekend...

I recently entered my fourth month in the "City of Brotherly Love."  When I first moved here, I absolutely hated it.  First, nothing was familiar, especially the sounds.  While the terrible accent still bugs me a lot, I'm used to it and have come to terms with the fact that I'll never hear an overabundance of drawls ever again except when I visit home.  Should I start calling this place home?  Not yet...that'll be a little while down the road.

Now, I'm not ripping Philly.  I do like it a tad more than before.  There are lots of things to do, albeit it takes a lonnng time to get anywhere.  Every corner has a Wawa, and it's still Pennsylvania, so beer distributors are in abundance.  Craigslist's "musicians" section isn't full of people trying to rip yinzers for trying to make it in Pittsburgh.  It's actually full of opportunities.  Also, there is a large market to make something of yourself as a musician.

I am pretty proud of myself for figuring out the lay of the land within two months.  How many other people can honestly say they've figured out Philly in such a short period of time?  Yeah...I know.  I actually think I know it better than some other people I know who have been living here their whole lives.  That's probably just because I'm a dork and love geography.

On to the subject of this blog...this weekend.  Kerri and I decided that she needed a mental break from her work and should come home.  I kept it a secret from the Gatti family, and they were shocked when she walked through the door during dinner last night.  Again...proud of myself.  She'll be here through Sunday, and we're meeting with a photographer that afternoon for our wedding next year.  I finished most of the major work on my website (www.ajcutright.com), so I have the weekend to devote to Kerri.

We're going to a Steelers bar on Saturday to watch them play the Lions.  Today we're just gonna lay around and veg, get cat food for Hank and Ashley, and take a walk later.  It should be a relaxing weekend (I hope).  If she isn't refreshed when she goes back, then I haven't done my job.

So, here's to a great weekend...

Later,