gilewitz's blog

During one of my classes at the Miami Guitar Festival, I was pleasantly surprised by the insight of some of the questions from the players on the subject of amplifying an instrument. One student observantly asked about the difference in recording in the studio versus amplification of the guitar during a live performance.

LR Baggs continues to be a strong member of the team with their consistent support. During the Miami International Guitar Festival they contributed one of their M1 sound hole magnetic pickups along with a staple in their product line, a Para DI pre-amp unit that comes with my favorite features of a 5 band eq, dual output, trim level adjustment and phantom power.

Another major contributor to the 2010 Miami International Guitar Festival was D’Addario Strings/Planet Waves, who batted 1000 when they supplied the students with a variety of strings (classical, steel and 12 string), t-shirts, peg winders, humidifiers, guitar polishes, and much more - filling up the players bags before they could even get trick or treat out of their mouths.

  Shubb Capos, one of my sponsors for many years, has proven time and again that they genuinely care about the up and coming players on the scene and in the classrooms, along with the abundance of weekend warriors who woodshed away in the privacy of their own homes while juggling families, free time and, as I always jokingly say, "real jobs".

Along with the web designers, writers, and luthiers who make up my musical wheel, another group that simply cannot be left out are the people who help to create, archive, and provide airplay to the music the artists have created or interpreted.

Making up another spoke in the wheel that keeps the music machine alive are the creators of the string instruments. The luthier, as they are commonly called, are true artists who spend tireless hours designing and fine-tuning their instruments.

Among the modern day media publicists who specialize in promoting nearly every aspect of our careers, the graphic designer holds an important position in my corner. Gone are the days of mailing out promo packs with a cassette tape and an 8 X 10 glossy in hopes of securing a gig. Today most of us use web sites, electronic press kits, and MP3 downloads as our calling cards.

When the credits start rolling at the end of the movie, I'm amazed to see 91.65% of the audience drop their popcorn buckets on the floor and exit the theater. Not me. As a huge film buff I love watching the credits - where was it filmed, who wrote the music, who's that furry headed guy I recognize but can't name. In the entertainment industry, loads of people make the wheels turn. Without the directors, filmmakers, writers, musicians, set designers, digital artists, recording and sound engineers, the media and everyone else doing their part, the whole project would come to a screeching halt.

Many people came to mind as candidates for my final chapter about the true sources of inspiration; those folks we all have the freedom to call upon when we are suffering from that flat feeling - when inspiration seems to have leaked out one of our ears during a good nights sleep.

 After a concert and guitar seminar for my friend Mark Tortenson at The Fret Shop in Huntsville, Alabama, I traveled to Birmingham to visit David Walbert, my long time guitar instructor and mentor. In my quest to pick up some inspiration, I set aside a few days for David to help me fine-tune my technique and to teach me a few new ones in order to expand my performance repertoire.

 Drawing on the strength of others has always been one of my sources of motivation, especially during a low point when the creative process seems to have applied its emergency brake to my head. During these times, I often dip into my past and seek out those who have been an inspiration to me.

Throughout my touring travels, many stories pop up about the resilient nature of the human race; folks facing some sort of tragedy or crisis, only to rise up over adversity. The ability and willingness to take a different path, navigating around the one that may have moved out of reach, are human characteristics I like to see.

Touring around the world, whether for festivals, concerts, or seminars, I have known for some time that the role of socialization plays a big part in my travels. Old and new friends meet up with me along the way and when I have a few days to spend in one place, my visits become less like a one night party and more like an opportunity to relax and spend more time with my fellow humans.

Another highlight of my travels during MusikMesse in Frankfurt, Germany, was almost literally running into Peter D’Addario in one of the aisles as I navigated my way through the miles of booths and displays. I rarely get to meet up with my sponsors in person and the folks at D’Addario Strings/Planet Waves have been one of my most staunch supporters for many years, and for that I am truly grateful.  

Prior to my visit to the lovely town of Heidleberg, I was once again thoroughly entertained by the unique sounds heard at MusikMesse as I wandered from hall to hall during the limited breaks in my own performance schedule.