Randy Brown – Performing Philosopher

“I Am Nothing” by Pierce Pettis -From the Album “That Kind of Love” on Compass Records

This month’s lyric is from a song written and performed by a great songwriter from Alabama, Pierce Pettis. While this may not be one of his best known songs it certainly gets this month’s point across in an elegant and poetic way. I highly recommend you check out his wonderful body of work at www.piercepettis.com .

If you are reading this column then you can safely assume that I have had a bad month. I am actually writing it in March of 2010 with hopes that it will never be needed. This column is to be my hold back in the unlikely case that I can’t write for a while. However since you are reading this, things aren’t going so well in my writing world. It seems I have caught the dreaded disease of writer’s block.

Writers block is shorthand in my case for lack of inspiration, focus and passion to write something worth keeping. Nothing seems to move me to write. I am not alone with this malady. All artists face this at one time or other, but knowing I have lots of company doesn’t help much. I use the title “I Am Nothing” because frankly that is how it makes me feel. As an artist who creates, losing the ability to create, even temporarily seems to take my identity with it. Leaving me with that “nothing” feeling.

As an artist, I have found it best to leave the subject of “where does it come from” alone. When it is flowing it feels to me like having a radio tuned in perfectly. When that happens it really does feel as if an “angel” is whispering in my ear. The creative signals are strong and I am sure of myself, I know exactly what I want to say and most importantly it feels as if it is coming from outside of myself. However, most of the time, for me, it is more like listening to a distant station that has a lot of static. It is a little hard to follow and I have to work really hard to fill in the blanks. In that case the results almost never seem to live up to what I had hoped.

Lets face it, many artists including myself are not confident about where the next inspiration is going to come from. I often feel that every song I write is the last I will ever write. But then, lighting strikes and here comes another one. You would think I could simply have a little faith.

The great Oklahoma songwriter, Kevin Welch once said “sometimes you are on input and sometimes you are on output”. I think that captures the truth of writing. Sometimes, I simply need to absorb what is happening around me; read a novel, go to a party, hang with a friend, take a nap, take a walk, whatever activity relaxes you. I find that physical exercise is a useful tool in getting the juices flowing again. My body is busy and my mind suddenly clears and everything comes into focus.

I have found that walking away from a particularly troublesome writing problem often helps. By letting it simmer in my subconscious the answer often comes to me, whole and complete. A few years ago, I was working on a song which was completed with the exception of a catchy and focused bridge. I must have written 20 bridges to that song and none of them worked. Then one day I was taking a shower before a show, when I started singing the unfinished song with no agenda in mind. The next thing you know I was singing a bridge complete with melody. I don’t know where it came from. It was perfect for the song, yet it really didn’t feel like I wrote it. I sang the song without thinking and the bridge appeared complete. Like I copied it from someone else. I guess the angel whispered in my ear again.

There are a million articles out there with a million methods for getting rid of writers block. Each one containing exercises and tools to get you back in the groove of writing. But, I am here to tell you the only thing that consistently works for me is; to have faith it will come again, be patient and don’t force it. It may take a week, a month or even a year, but if you are simply patient and enjoy life I promise you, that angel will reappear once again. Remember; you are still an artist even if you haven’t completed a work in a while. Don’t let the absence of inspiration make you feel as if you are nothing.

This column is intended to be the first in a series about the problems artists face in pursuing their art. In the upcoming months we will talk about; stage fright, balancing family, collaboration and others. This month’s column inspired itself and the the rest were suggested by readers. If you have any suggestions for columns please let me know via: randy@brownrandy.com

See you next time.

Randy Brown is a small business owner and singer/songwriter in living in East Texas and has been involved with many sides of the music business over the years, from being a sideman, a sound man, touring songwriter, operating a venue, produce and a recording studio owner/engineer. He is frequently plagued by writer’s block. But is at peace with the fact that everything he writes might be his last.

This month’s lyric comes from the Beatles “I’m a Loser” a song originally released on Beatles for Sale in the United Kingdom and on Beatles ’66 in the United States. Written by John Lennon and credited to Lennon/McCartney. Lennon said he was influenced by Bob Dylan in the writing of the song. Many think it’s sound and subject matter was the precursor and partially responsible for the folk/rock explosion which began in 1967 with Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds and others. I just think it sets up this month’s column quite well.

This is not my favorite time of year. Yeah, I know it’s springtime and everything is blooming and all that stuff but for me it’s “losing time”. I know that art is not about competition, I know that doing your best work and saying what you mean is all that really matters. I know that, I really, really do. However, this is also the time of year I get emails and letters from various important (to me) songwriting contests, telling me that the competition was tough, perhaps the toughest ever and the judges job was so hard this year they almost came to blows and I should be proud to have simply entered in such an auspicious line up, but unfortunately I was “not selected” as a finalist. Sorry guys, all my brain thinks when I see those dreaded words, “not selected” is L-O-S-E-R in flashing red neon 50 feet tall. I walk around in a funk for days, amazed and embarrassed to think I had the nerve to enter the crap I entered in the contests this year. Wondering why I continue to torture myself, knowing full well it wasn’t good enough this year to be “selected” in that particular contest and that I am never going to be “good enough” to be “selected” ever again for anything anywhere. Who the heck am I kidding?

So enough of the poor me already, let’s talk about this honestly. I have never discussed this with any other artist but I don’t think I am that different from everybody else. I do art for public consumption and while it is true I would do a certain amount anyway, one of the driving factors for me and I think most artists is to be appreciated for their work. Art shows, songwriting competitions and other similar competitive functions are very much a part of the current art scene and often an important stepping stone to greater things including greater appreciation and acceptance. But I, for one, have never been comfortable with competitions and the reason might just be that, I am not a good loser. Oh, I congratulate the winners and sincerely mean it. But, all the time, all I can think is; “hey this guy is better than me, maybe I should find another line of work”.

Fact of the matter is; most folks, myself included don’t always know what is good or bad as far as art goes unless someone else tells them that it is or isn’t good. That is why critics, which includes contest judges are so important to any art scene. They tell us, the consumers, what is good and what isn’t, what is old versus what is new and in style. They don’t create art they criticize it. Some critics even make more than those they criticize. Now it sounds like I am coming down on critics but I am most certainly not. I have judged a couple of such contests myself and it is very difficult. I had an opinion about the songs I heard and attempted to be fair and honest in my judging. I did my best, took it seriously and even though I rated some higher and some lower than others I wasn’t saying any were bad, I was only saying that what they were doing didn’t appeal to “me” at that moment as much as others did. It almost never a good idea for any of us to judge art solely by someone else’s opinion, In fact, I believe it is dangerous and does not serve to expand the experience of art but rather to shrink that experience to only go by what the judges or the critics say. Remember that bias is at the core of almost every decision, no matter how hard we try to be unbiased. How well you slept last night, your current personal situation, background and many other factors can and do bias one direction or another. This isn’t bad or good, it is simply the way the world works.

So take the critics, art jurors, and contest judges’ opinions of what is better with a grain of salt. Keep striving to be better than you were yesterday and keep entering those contests. Keeping right on losing and maybe, just maybe, the stars will align and the judges will think that you got it right and you will get the notice that you were selected. It could happen. But it won’t unless you keep on at your art.

I am glad we had this talk; I feel a little better, thanks. Right now I am still totally disgusted with all these contests, upset that I waste so much time, writing, editing, and perfecting every word, every note and every subtle nuance. But 9 months from now I can guarantee you; I will be entering them again and just like always expecting something great to happen. You know the old saying “Hope springs eternal”, and it certainly does, especially for us losers.

By the way, if you have comments, suggestions or criticisms about this or any my columns feel free to send them to me: randy@brownrandy.com or just leave em’ right here. Next time…

“Garden Party” by Rick Nelson

This month’s lyric is from a song written and performed by the late Rick Nelson. He wrote it after he performed at Madison Square Gardens in the early 70′s at a 50′s Oldie Show with Chuck Berry, Bobby Rydell and many others. It seems that audience only wanted to hear his old hits recorded as a teen heart throb called Ricky Nelson, while he wanted them to hear his new sound and songs under his new grown up moniker of Rick  Nelson.. He was booed, left the stage and did not return that night. The song “Garden Party” from 1972 is a document to that night and lessons learned.

Sooner or later, someone somewhere will want to change your art in order to “please the crowd” to “follow the trend” or to “cash in on the style”. I have one statement on that: “bad idea”. If they can’t accept you for what you are then why would you want to be someone else? If you really are an artist you need to be honest with yourself about what you do and why you do it. Artists tend to have an unusual relationship with their fans and patrons, who often want an artist to remain in that place that is relevant to them. The artist instead, may have mined that vein and have moved on to new ideas, forms and styles. In order to stay interested and challenged in your art, you need to keep digging deeper and further afield. After all, what is art about if not change and experimentation?

Happiness may be many things to many people, but I will tell you that for an artist, happiness is creating something that pleases and something that endures. This can be a bit of a double edged sword as Rick Nelson learned. But, no matter how wonderful and enduring the art you create may be, I think every artist moves on after a work is complete. While you still like the old stuff and may be very proud of what you have accomplished, it is always the new stuff that you are excited about. But for the fans and patrons it isn’t necessarily that way. Heck, I am like that to some extent about music and I am even worse about totally new genres or art forms. I will freely admit that I am not the first or even among the first to get on board with new art or music. It takes me a while for what at first may seem, jarring, inappropriate or just weird. However, I find that upon repeated exposure to new art or music, I start to let go of my preconceived ideas and then I start to “get it”. That doesn’t mean I will like it. But then as I have stated in previous columns, art doesn’t exist to be liked; it only exists to be experienced by others. Mine and your reaction may be polar opposites, yet equally accurate and valid within our own personal context.

For most fans, particularly in the music world, songs are bookmarks for particular points in their life. Fans love a certain song not because it is really great but instead because it makes them think of a sweetheart, a poignant moment or a happy time in their life. Not really much different from sounds, tastes or smells that evoke memories of your childhood. All songwriters have to contend with the oldie factor, some to greater and some to lesser extents but the fact that most folks won’t like your new stuff as much as your old stuff, on first hearing is pretty much a guarantee. But it is always good to remember that it also may be that what you or I reject at first may over time become our favorite. A good example of this might be buying a new recording of a song you heard on the radio. Now you probably bought it because of 1 or 2 songs out the more than a dozen on the CD. However, as you play the CD your old favorite seems to become less so and other songs will come into sharper focus, seeming more relevant to you, consequently becoming your favorites. This is what art is all about in my opinion, extending the human experience and helping us relate to each other by viewing the universe as others see it.

I know this conversation has strayed pretty far from Rick getting booed off the stage but I think it is necessary to understand the artist’s and the fan’s side of the equation. Then as artists and particularly as performing artists we need to walk that fine line between the old favorites and the new exciting stuff. Don’t ditch the old stuff, heck it got you to where you are and it got the fans in the door. But, don’t forget to serve the artist in yourself too. Mix it up, throw the new stuff in there, rearrange the old stuff, and make it fresh again (think Eric Clapton and Layla). Do whatever it takes to keep you, the artist, pleased and interested in your creations. This will make you confident and happy and the fans love to be around a confident and happy artist. Please you, please the audience, it is almost is that simple. Then in the unlikely event, they boo you off the stage, as happened to Rick, you can at least know you did good work. In the end that really is the measure of an artistic career.

I will close this month’s column with the final lines of Rick Nelson’s Garden Party, the song lyrics that begun this column. “If memories were all I sang, I rather drive a truck.” Nuff said!

By the way, if you have comments, suggestions or criticisms about this or any my columns feel free to send them to me: randy@brownrandy.com or just leave em’ right here. Next time…

It’s Your Thing – Written and performed by the Isley Brothers

This month’s lyric quote and column theme comes from the Isley Brothers, late 60’s release, It’s Your Thing. This was pretty much an alien concept in the 50’s and early 60’s, when the country’s mantra was “conform, conform, conform”. While the counter-culture movement was well underway, it had yet to permeate into the “radio” culture of middle-America.  This was an interesting song at an interesting time, as the spirit of the 60s social revolution was finding it’s way even into top 40 radio. It embodied the spirit of doing things your own way. Well, isn’t that a coincidence; because that is exactly what we are going to be talking about this month.

The music business is like any other, focus counts. What I mean by that is that you need to specialize to some degree in order to separate yourself from the pack, narrow your view or pick a niche market; however you want to say it. I am going to be talking about music, because that is what I know, but this applies to all art equally, I think.

Unless you are the new Michelangelo, I seriously doubt that you excel in every aspect of your art. You might be a great player, but not a singer or a writer but not a player; I think you get my drift. The same goes for bands, you might be great at covers, but have no really compelling originals; again I think you see where I’m headed, don’t you. You need to determine your strengths, weaknesses and goals, then decide how to proceed; create a niche.

The ideal niche is what you like AND what you are good at. If you do great klezmer style covers of Led Zeppelin tunes and you are passionate about them, then that could be your niche. Not a particularly, broad-based niche, I admit but certainly one that you can become well know for in the “huge” klezmer-Zep market, playing bar mitzvahs for baby boomer grandparents.  Whatever you do, you have to stand out. For example; you might say that my niche is acoustic songs about ideas, philosophy and science. Narrow, yes but because that is what I enjoy, it is easy for me to wrap my mind around how to proceed; where to and where not to book shows and which songs to record or perform.  I can promise you that tiny bit of knowledge is responsible for my becoming an overnight hundred-aire in the business.

A very important point to make about your niche is that you need to “be” your niche. What I mean by that is to embrace it with everything you have. Dress like it, act like it, smell like it, breathe like it; I mean LIVE IT to the hilt. Exude your niche. That means that your niche can’t be some random thing you thought up, it has to be you. It really needs to be the distillation of every aspect of your personality, focused and intensified like a laser. Do it well enough and pretty soon others will start imitating you. When that happens it means you were successful. After all as they say; “imitation is sincerest form of flattery”.

While I’m at it, never ever apologize or make excuses for your niche, not ever no matter what. After all if it is the real you then why should you ever be ashamed of that? Now, I am not naïve enough to believe that is not sometimes difficult. For example imagine you are playing a gig and someone who has no clue who you are or what you do comes and asks you to play Silver Wings, for example. Now there is nothing wrong with Silver Wings, I personally played it every night for an untold number of years,but it is no longer a part of my niche. So, when this happens, do you apologize for not playing the song they asked for? NEVER!! Pick something out of your repertoire that you think comes as close to their request as possible and play it. Don’t make excuses, simply do it with grace and style. If the patrons don’t understand art then it is time they were educated.

So to sum it all up, figure out what makes you unique then build and focus on those aspects of your art. Make all your judgments about what to play, who to play for and how to conduct yourself based on that focus and BINGO, you have created your niche. I can’t tell you who to sock it to, but never forget, it’s your thang!

“The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There’s also a negative side” – Dr. Hunter S Thompson

Good old Hunter Thompson, he could always be counted on to take the cynical approach. I am certainly not as down on the music business as Dr. Thompson. It is full of pitfalls and yes, there are even some thieves and pimps. However, I am aware that most of my readers are not worrying about the thieves and pimps but instead are wondering how to proceed with their art. Art is a tough business.

Let us say that you are a struggling [insert the art form you are struggling in here]. You have talent but don’t know how to move forward. You are not sure of your next step but you know you must take it to keep progressing financially, professionally and in your art. Your [insert relationship of encourager here] insists that you are the most talented person ever to walk this earth. If the previous blank was filled in with any of the following: friends, parents, husband, wife, significant other or anybody else you are close to, then you don’t need a lawyer or an agent, what you really need are unbiased professional opinions.

Most of us think that we have to pay big bucks to those, who might possibly be thieves or pimps, in order to get useful professional opinions. I promise you that you alredy have 10’s or perhaps 100’s of great professional opinions waiting to be asked for and they are all free. They are called your artistic peers. By peers, I don’t mean the folks at the same level you inhabit in your particular corner of the art world. Nope, I mean the folks who are 2, 3 or even 4 rungs up the ladder, who have “been there and done that”. I have found these folks to be honest and forthcoming with praise, criticism, cautions and advice. They care about their art but they also remember how it was to be starting out. Listen and learn when these folks speak, they are voices of wisdom, which can save you much money, time and aggravation. If they say you need to woodshed with your instrument or that you need to play out more or maybe work on certain aspects of your writing, you should listen and act on what they say. If they think you really have talent they could possibly take you under their wing and use you as an opener on their tour; don’t laugh it happens all the time. They might want you to do a couple of dates with them and man the merchandise table. If so, jump on the chance and be the best merchandise person that ever was. Or barring the last two offers, simply go to a few shows and pay attention, lurk if you will. Watch everything, the performance, the audience, what works and what doesn’t. In short, watch everything. If possible, ask questions and listen very carefully to the answers, because the real truth of the music business lies in these answers.

Another benefit you get from these mostly unpaid experiences with higher level artists is that you get to see what the music business is REALLY like. You will learn quickly that being on tour is hardly glamorous. Instead it is fast food, long drives, late nights, cheap motels and hours of boredom with an hour of two of face time with an audience. Then back to the fast food and long drives. That doesn’t mean you won’t like it but it sure ain’t what you see in the movies and TV. This is the REAL music business.

Many of us, yes I once believed it too, think that we aren’t really successful in this business unless someone else is doing all the footwork. Don’t you NEED booking agents, entertainment lawyers and publicity agents? Well, think about it, if you can play regularly, get paid an acceptable amount, have folks listen to you and fans that buy your product, then what the heck do you need agents, lawyers or managers for? Besides, those guys don’t do it for free; nope they do it for a fee. They don’t care if your car breaks down, if you are behind on the rent or you need to have a tooth filled. They want their money first and will expect you to play in places that don’t suit you, your songs or your performance. They want you to make money because that is how they get paid. That doesn’t mean that agents, lawyers and managers aren’t necessary. They are really necessary, but only when your music career has become so successful you can’t manage it all yourself. Which would be a wonderful problem for any of us to deal with.

Always remember what my Dad said; “just because a big dog licks your hand doesn’t mean he likes you. he may only be checking out how you taste.” Watch out for those thieves and pimps.

And she said…
Flowers are red young man
Green leaves are green
There’s no need to see flowers any other way
Than the way they always have been seen

But the little boy said…
There are so many colors in the rainbow
So many colors in the morning sun
So many colors in the flower and I see every one
Harry Chapin – Flowers are Red

The late, great Harry Chapin was unparalleled at getting his point across without beating you on the head with it, as in this month’s lyric from his song Flowers are Red. If you have never heard the song, I strongly suggest that you go to YouTube and search for it. There are several videos of his performances of this song. I think it applies quite well to this month’s column.

I recently had the opportunity to be in the company of some very good but unfamiliar, to me, songwriters. In our discussion of our shared passion, I mentioned that I believed it was important that we don’t forget the fact that we were artists before it became our business (the topic of last month’s B-Side). Well, the reaction wasn’t quite what I expected as I was greeted by several looks that indicated I might as well be from some other planet. Upon further discussion, it appears that many songwriters don’t consider themselves artists. So, my idea that art and the love of art, comes first before the business just ain’t necessarily so. “Houston, we have a problem.”

It appears that there are a lot of folks out there creating new writing, painting or [insert favored art-like endeavor here], who don’t consider themselves artists. The only response I have to that assertion is “baloney!”. If you spend some of your precious time on this earth thinking about and creating and tweaking into existence anything that honestly conveys to others your own unique sense of the world then, my friend, YOU are an artist. To be an artist doesn’t automatically make you dress funny, act weird or become the local eccentric, though there is certainly nothing wrong with that. However, you might find if you think of yourself as an artist, then you will begin to treat yourself and your creations differently, think differently, see the world differently and pretty soon you may start to dress funny, act weird and become the local eccentric. To be an artist means nothing more than you have a passion to create something that expresses your essence or your ideas.

Now, I am sure that some of you will disagree and you are certainly welcome. But before you write me an objecting letter or email, ask yourself this one question. Do I care about the things I create? If so, then save your breath, time, ink and paper because, I am correct and you ARE an artist, despite your arguments to the contrary. If not, I concede that you aren’t an artist and suggest that you stop wasting your time creating something you don’t care about. Also, I can suggest a couple of good therapists.

If you have comments, suggestions or criticisms about this or any my columns feel free to leave a comment.

By Tim Grimm – The Girl – from the CD “Holding Up the World”

I have talked a lot in the last few columns about relationships and their importance in the business of music. This issue we are going to talk about the MOST important relationship of all: your relationship with your art. I can hear you now, “Well of course, that should go unsaid”. But I beg to disagree. It needs to be said over and over again. You wouldn’t be in the business if it weren’t for your first love; the art.

The lyric quote this time is from Tim Grimm, a wonderful singer/songwriter from up Indiana way. The four lines I am using are the chorus of a song called “The Girl”. The thing I love about the lyric is that art is represented as not separate from life but instead as an integral part of it. According to this song our lives are our art. I could not have said it better. However, as we all know life isn’t always happy and agreeable and art has the same attributes.

I know you have all heard the old saying “you can’t make a cake without breaking a few eggs”, well you can’t make a lot of art without pissing a few folks off. Don’t be afraid of upsetting people, if your art demands it. While not all art is confrontational, some art always is. That is why artists and intellectuals are the ones who get thrown in prison when there is social and political unrest. Artists are envelope pushers, speaking the unspeakable, unearthing the buried, and thinking the unthinkable, all that in public no less. Art is often an instrument of change in society. Heck, just look at Bob Dylan, he sure wasn’t worried about what others thought when he started out. While he claims he was simply writing down what he thought, his songs inspired and riveted a generation.

I recently had a personal experience with this: I had written a song called “Lloyd” which by some, especially here in ultra-conservative East Texas, I thought, could be construed as irreverent and disrespectful of deeply held religious views. For those who know me personally those words “irreverent and disrespectful” pretty much embody my personality. But, I wasn’t really sure I wanted to put it out there in performance and alienate friends or fans. My wife, who is ever my sounding board on such things, said that if the song was really my feelings on the matter then, what was I afraid of? I needed to hear that. So, I introduced the song in a concert performance earlier this year and got many comments about it but they were ALL positive. OK, so maybe the ones I upset with it just walked off never to listen again. But, art like everything else in life can’t just be lukewarm and always happy and non-confrontational. For art to have power it MUST have conviction. Even and maybe most especially if it makes you or your audience uncomfortable or challenged.

The most important thing to remember is that if you create only for money or accolades you will be almost certainly disappointed. But if you create from the heart and to your art, you will always be at the very least satisfied with your creation. Not everything you create can be popular or even accepted. But everything you create can be art.

Art is and always has been the barometer of a society. If artists aren’t free to express ourselves then there is no freedom for anyone. Our job as artists is to interpret the world and life though our emotions, experiences and gut feelings and give it back to our audience. So, play for money, chase fame but don’t forget the art. I promise you won’t regret it.

If you have comments, suggestions or criticisms about this or any of my columns feel free to comment. To hear a demo of the song I thought was so controversial click on this link –> Lloyd and listen to “Lloyd”. Let me know what you think.

Nashville Cats – words & music by John Sebastion

Performed by The Lovin’ Spoonful 1966

For me, those lines from Nashville Cats epitomize the reason that humility is always the best route in this business of music. No matter how good or successful you are, there will ALWAYS be someone better or in the case of the song “twice as better”.  I know some of you are thinking about how contradictory I am being, when it was only in the last issue I was encouraging everyone to Respect Yourself.  But music just like every other endeavor in life is a balancing act. Maybe it is even truer in music because what is good and popular right now is really just the “flavor of the month”. The “next big thing” will always quickly turn into “that old thing”. If this is going to be a lifelong pursuit for you, the best thing to do is savor every bit of success and accolades you receive. But recognize those things for their fleeting nature. Enjoy every bit you get but be confident of one thing, it will not last. Keeping the ephemeral nature of success in mind seems to help me keep my humble quota.

So, what in the heck does this have to do with business? My contention is that it has everything to do with business. When music is your career or simply a large part of your life, your attitude as seen by others will leave a longer lasting impression than any song or performance you can possibly achieve. The performance arts, like music, have two very different aspects that can be very difficult to reconcile. You need to be confident and bigger than life during performance and when you get down off the stage you need to be congenial and empathic. If you keep that stage attitude going off the stage your potential fans will never connect. No connection, no product sales, no tickets sold. It is really that simple. Greet your fans like long lost friends. Remember their names, ask them about themselves, be a real caring and humble person. A tiny bit of humility can pay giant dividends in your career. In addition you might just find you enjoy it.

I have attempted to use humility as my guiding mantra for my entire music career. Unfortunately, I have not always been successful. But to the credit of the universe, every time I thought I was something special, somebody would come out of nowhere and show me I am not as hot at I thought. No matter who you may be, you can and will be humbled in this business of music. So, in my opinion the best thing is to be humble in the first place. It benefits you as an artist, as a person plus you have to eat a lot less crow. That last bit, the eating crow part, it really important to me.  So if you, like me, don’t care for the taste of dirty feathers and greasy, stringy dark meat, stay humble.