Free For The Taking

If you haven’t been following Jason Heath’s "A Week in the Life" series of posts at Arts Addict then you’re missing out. I’ve written it before and I’ll write it again; Jason’s ability to present an unfiltered, honest look at the life of a gig musician is simply unparalleled. The real bonus here is that what he writes is equally useful for managers as well as musicians…

Personally, I think Jason’s writings on life as a gig player should
be required reading for any high school senior interested in attending
music school and those who do attend should have to read them again in
the final semester of their senior year. This isn’t to imply that what
Jason presents in his writing is negative, positive, discouraging, or
encouraging. Instead, it is simply a sincere account of the day-to-day
realities that musicians face and allows the reader to take from it
what they will.

For managers, it is an invaluable tool for anyone working in
operations or human services. In particular, anyone interested in
becoming a personnel manager could learn more about what needs to be
done than any training manual I’ve come across. In particular, it
reminds me of watching game films to improve future performance. Seeing
all of the little things you don’t realize were even problems yet can
be easily avoided next time because now you’re aware of them are worth
their weight in gold.

Best of all, it is entirely free for the taking:

• Part 1
• Part 2
• Part 3